American Studies Digital Journal Entries by Alison Berner

Hurricane Ida Approaches NOLA

msberner — 2021-08-31 17:50:08 UTC

Hurricane Ida recently landed in Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf Coast, bringing with it destructive winds and painful memories for those who endured Hurricane Katrina 16 years ago. I connected this post from Twitter to the perseverance of the American spirit. The people of New Orleans have faced enormous strife for many generations, including hurricanes that have left its citizens without power and sometimes even without a place to stay. This video shows a citizen of the city celebrating one of the most prominent parts of NOLA culture: music. The lone trumpet playing in the midst of a cleared-out French Quarter in the midst of Ida's landing is symbolic of the spirit of the people in New Orleans. In the face of something catastrophic, they find ways to uplift one another in the spirit of the city.

Pearl Harbor and the effect on society

2021-09-09 04:23:28 UTC

When I went to Hawaii, I learned a lot about Pearl Harbor and how it affected society. Pearl Harbor was a devastating bombing that resulted in shock and devastation throughout the nation. I connected this occurrence to the perseverance of the American spirit because of the way it brought determination to U.S. citizens to make a change. After the devastating attack, Eleanor Roosevelt would give a speech on national radio declaring "We must go about our daily business more determined than ever to do the ordinary things as well as we can and when we find a way to do anything more in our communities to help others, to build morale, to give a feeling of security, we must do it." At the time, Hawaii was still a territory, but that did not restrain Americans from fighting as if it was their home soil. They took their pride as American citizens and fought for justice, even when Hawaii was not officially a state. This evidence shows how the American spirit and influential people helped many citizens persevere and stay hopeful through such a hard time in American history. - Tyseer Nabi

Effects of materialism and advertisement

008801 — 2021-09-09 15:36:08 UTC

I think when it comes to materialism and consumerism we as a people tend to always want more and more. And I think a very large part of this is advertisement. While looking at a news article for another topic the entire rest of the page was just ads. These large companies are so money hungry that they make it look like you need their product which is directly connected to consumerism. And because of the way our society is we feel that “yes we do need this product”. So because of the constant push of advertisement we constantly feel as if we need more “things” in our life. Doesn’t matter where you look, there will be advertisement everywhere. On the side of the road, in a bus or on every single website you visit. like in New York square where the entire thing is just a massive advertisement for anything you could possibly want.

The Perseverance of the American Spirt

2021-09-09 15:36:53 UTC

I say this artwork that was created about 9/11, and I know 9/11 wasn’t within the last year. That doesn’t change the fact that I still think it is a great example of how American persevered through hard times. I like how the painting portrays 2 airplanes and the face of someone crying, and just from that you are able to grasp at the sense that this painting is about 9/11. I think the artist did a great job at taking the key details from this event and portraying them is such a way that you can tell what the painting is about.
By:Gloria

Covid variants (Leo Pederson)

2021-09-09 15:37:32 UTC

The era of Covid has been a hardship for all Americans. It has taken the lives of over six hundred thousand people in the U.S. Even if you’ve never actually caught it, the lockdowns and mandates has lead to high rates of depression and anxiety among Americans over the summer. Americans have tried their best to find the balance between normal life and Covid protection, more so over the summer and now than ever, though it is a very divisive topic in politics. Over the summer, the rates of the original virus have gone down. However, the rates of variants of Covid, most notably the delta variant. This topic best reflects how Americans have shown resilience in times of hardship. Even though it was a new and unexpected event at the time, and still is, many could say it has United Americans, though some would say it divided us based on how we believe we should control it. Either way, how we have reacted to the new variants over the summer is a good example of how we have persevered the American spirit and how Americans have shown resilience in times of hardship.

Photo: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/coronavirus-variants-beyond-delta-new-covid-19-variants-lambda-covid-variant-mu-covid-variant-are-causing-alarm-2534735

2021-09-09 15:37:35 UTC

Throughout this summer and past few weeks COVID cases have risen tremendously, the government is still urging the youth and others to get vaccinated. Hospitals have filled up once again and things are going back to restrictions. Yet still people are keeping brave faces keeping precautions but still hoping things will get back to normal soon. Throughout these hard times we keep going and have shown resilience.

-Manal

Aren Burgoyne

2021-09-09 15:37:48 UTC

Connecting to the subject of how war has shaped American domestic culture, I have found recent details over the withdrawal from Afghanistan worth mentioning. In this time of war, the American spirit persevered, but many families also faced challenges as husbands went away to war, some never to return, while others did return, but were severely injured for life. An article I read this summer by the Washington Post related details about why America wanted to leave and why we wanted to focus on domestic issues more than foreign squabbles. It is worth noting how quickly the Taliban seized control after we left, to suggest that the Afghan people did not benefit from this war and wanted us gone. All of what has been said supports an essential theme about how America changes in a time of war. --Aren Burgoyne

by the way, I'm sorry that the article locks out because "you need to register", and hides away its picture, but it cannot be helped.

Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/biden-us-troop-withdrawal-afghanistan/2021/04/13/918c3cae-9beb-11eb-8a83-3bc1fa69c2e8_story.html)

An Economist Article and Conversation

0049222 — 2021-09-09 15:38:06 UTC

Link: https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2021/08/24/anne-marie-slaughter-on-why-americas-diversity-is-its-strength

This summer I got to visit my great-great uncle, and he shared an article with me from the Economist on the topic of the changing American identity. The main idea of the article was that America is becoming increasingly diverse. Based on said article we then had a conversation about how race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social class continually shape our identities as Americans. We agreed that because America is a wonderful cornucopia of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, a singular American identity is impossible. Thus, we came to realize that the “American identity” is completely dependent on a citizen’s personal experience. My uncle observed that society’s influence on citizens’ experiences plays a crucial role in sculpting identities as well. When he married my aunt in the 1950s, for example, they received very negative responses from their respective families who belonged to different social classes, religions, and ethnicities. However, over the years relationships and marriages between segments of society have become more widely accepted. Moreover, such societal changes have made it possible for people to consider their identities more broadly. Therefore, the Economist article and subsequent conversation created a foundation for understanding that identities, especially in America, are always changing and dependent on a myriad of individual factors.

Andrew Skarohlid

2021-09-09 15:39:06 UTC

One way wars, conflicts, and speculations with other groups and nations have affected the people of America beliefs’ is by making an American think heavily against the Middle East area due to the amount of criticism it gets for having and being in many wars. When many children hear about war, battles, or groups such as the Taliban they start to relate those groups to being bad since they know that war is not good they connect that topic to the Taliban or the area of which it is happening. I saw this when the news about the United States pulling out their troops and soldiers from Afghanistan.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj_y-71nPLyAhVIJt8KHX_nDysQFnoECBYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2021%2F08%2F24%2Fpolitics%2Ffirst-us-troops-leaving-afghanistan%2Findex.html&usg=AOvVaw1WJqng5Urr2LBE3D7wG5zW

Showing resilience during a pandemic

2021-09-09 15:40:52 UTC

An example that is very relevant and recent is the COVID-19 pandemic. After being socially and physically distanced from one another during this time of hardship, many of us need more social connection. We began to find resilience in each other using the one thing we had, which was being online. So many people worked together to make empowering music, bring communities together, and start amazing movements to help empower one another. There was a sense of community because we knew that we were all going through the same thing. -Ava W

Link: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2020/05/activism-in-times-of-covid-19/

Showing resilience during a pandemic

2021-09-09 15:40:54 UTC

2021-09-09 15:41:18 UTC

For the perseverance of the American spirit, over the summer I observed how many things were going back to normal after COVID. One of the more specific things I saw that made me think of this theme was America winning the summer Olympics. I hung out with some friends to watch the track and field portion of the olympics, and it reminded me of this theme.
- walker

2021-09-09 15:41:23 UTC

After 20+ years of having American soldiers in Afghanistan and then pretty suddenly taking them out a lot of Americans had different opinions on wether that was the correct decision to do. Blaming Joe Biden and getting mad at what they did. On the other hand instead of placing blame I saw that Airbnb took matters into their own hands. The company is giving free housing to 20,000 refugees, I think this connects to the essential theme because even though it wasn’t directly happening to us (we aren’t in grave danger here) they still decided to help. Looking out for one another even if the people they helped weren’t Americans, they went out of their way to help. I think that’s what the American spirit is about.
-Claire Kohler

Sophia Aschoff - “At Trader Joe’s in South Pasadena” from “Glory to all Fleeting Things” by S. Erin Bastiste

2021-09-09 15:42:42 UTC

At Trader Joe’s in South Pasadena is a poem that centers around the idea of how our past affects our present, specifically with the idea of racism. The focal point of this poem is a black woman who, as she lives her life normally in the present day, sees all the ways racism has shaped her identity through memories of her grandmother. I think this poem has to do with the theme of the changing identity of Americans because it describes how, while the way black Americans are seen in our society has changed drastically over the last 50 or so years, so much is still the same.

0082051 — 2021-09-09 15:42:51 UTC

Americans have shown resilience through the pandemic. They have shown empathy and compassion towards others by wearing their masks, being respectful of the distance between others, and staying inside and away from others during quarantine. The stores, schools, gyms, and restaurants had stayed open while covid continued to hit this nation for the sake of their workers and others who needed it. Also, the government has changed and put into effect different regulations to help keep the nation safe and help bring some money back to communities and families who are in desperate need. On social media, like Instagram, people share ways to keep safe and protected, new rules set into place, and vaccination and booster shot information. They continue to hope and push through these hard times, which further shows the resilience that Americans have.

The preservation of the American spirit - Caden Anderson

2021-09-09 15:42:53 UTC

I saw how the American spirit was preserved in society this summer when I went to lake Harriet. We were walking around the lake and saw that there was a group playing at the band shell. Once we got closer we saw there were tons of people dancing in the front. This theme comes into play because there were all different kinds of people dancing together, kids, old people, millennials, all different races, genders, and ethnicities. This past year there has been a lot of disagreements and different opinions in society but this showed that even though we have differences, we can still come together as Americans and celebrate each other. This scene definitely showed me how Americans show resilience in times of hardship because everyone there had different opinions on things but were still able to accept each other. It was obvious that everyone was just enjoying being together especially after a long year of being isolated.

014770 — 2021-09-09 15:44:20 UTC

Over the summer I read a book that was about an outbreak that wiped a most of the population and in the book the people that were left came together to form a village and made a life for them selves by helping each other. They stuck together through hard times and it turn formed a community. It reminded me a lot about COVID because a lot of Americans helped each other and aided in the success of lowering the cases. In the beginning we didn’t even have a vaccine and everyone was unsure of how the months would be to come. There was a lot of doubt and fear but a lot of people kept high spirits and persevered. As the pandemic continued a lot of Americans aided in the process going much better than it could have. We had healthcare workers risking their health to travel to other states and other cities to help people that were sick. We also had people were at home supporting small businesses and supporting others in need and when they were going through hard times. There were a lot of big issues that happened to the entire country but little by little, people from throughout the states were helping each other and building each other up. I believe this just demonstrated how much resilience people showed and will continue to as well. Although COVID was and is a hard time in our history we have helped each other over come many challenges.
-Bertha

Hurricane Ida

2021-09-09 15:44:26 UTC

Hurricane Ida was a devastating blow to Louisiana and caused serious amounts of damage. I was inspired by the resilience of the people of Louisiana for their acts of bravery and heroism before and after hurricane ida. From helping friends and family evacuate safely to random acts of kindness they showed to people that didn’t get off as easy in the presence of the hurricane. My family knows some people in Louisiana that endured the damage of hurricane ida and it inspired me how, after their school got severely damaged, they got back on their feet and wasn’t negative or angry but took it as a pause in life.These U.S. citizens showed great signs of American spirit and is why I put it in this theme. In the future or in times of hardship, I will try to show acts of American spirit just like the Louisiana citizens that lost their homes and property due to Hurricane Ida.

Rosie the Riveter

2021-09-09 15:44:35 UTC

One of the impacts of war was extremely visible during World War II through Rosie the Riveter. This summer, I went to Oshkosh Wisconsin for an air show. Oshkosh is the biggest gathering of aviation enthusiasts in the US, and it was super fun. In one of the souvenir shops, there was a whole wall of Rosie the Riveter action figures, magnets, and more. Seeing this reminded me how important Rose the Riveter and WWII were in changing the world of aviation for women. Rosie the Riveter was used as a way to get women to help support the war. Women helped build airplanes, pack ammunition, etc. and we’re for the first time in history, encouraged to do “men’s jobs”. This certainly changed the culture of America.
-Valerie Nelson

End of the mask mandate on the 4th

2021-09-09 15:44:57 UTC

This past summer on the Fourth of July the mask mandate ended in many states as well as the White House. This was a great representation of a milestone of the American people overcoming hardships due to COVID. Even though this did not mark the end of the fight it gave many Americans hope for the end. The use of the Fourth of July was great because it showed freedom and from the disease and began a new journey to try to completely rid it from the states . Thee way I saw this this summer was by living it because I was able to go out to eat and do activities without a mask for the first time in a long time. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/04/fourth-of-july-us-celebrates-white-house-event
-Cameron Borgendale

2021-09-09 15:44:59 UTC

This summer while I was visiting Minneapolis I saw some graffiti and art on the boards of a building. The first piece reads “I hope you hear inside my voice of someone sorrow and that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow.” This short but powerful quote reminded of the last year and how many people with similar beliefs banded together and protested against the tragic death of George Floyd. I feel that this quote really relates towards the.need for change when it comes to how Black people in our community and across America are treated by police forces and other members of government. The people who took to the streets and peacefully protested to me are true American hero’s because they helped change and shape our future for the better.. Because of how people collaborated together we were able to get change and also made sure that Derek chauvin was able to have a trial and was arrested. I think that in this case the people used there freedom of speech to demand positive change. Libby regan

2021 Olympics

2021-09-09 15:45:19 UTC

In the picture above, Gable Steveson (Minnesota wrestler) just barely got team U.S.A the gold during the last few seconds of his match. Over these past chaotic years, it appeared that safety precautions and social conflicts within our country had dimmed the “American spirit”, leaving many feeling disconnected from the core beliefs of what America claimed to be founded off of. The 2021 Olympics seemed to be a small light shining, that guided many Americans back to a place of unity. This lead me to believe that this was a great example of one of our essential themes, the perseverance of the American spirit. Millions of Americans watched as our country collected gold after gold. As the events unfolded from our devices, it gave way for more uplifting conversations to be had. In the end, America came out on top with 39 gold medals and an overall 113 medals, giving us all a reason to reflect. Though many are not currently proud of the state of our country, the 2021 Olympics reminded us that we can acknowledge the faults in our country while also supporting some of the advances this country has made.

Hagen B

2021-09-09 15:45:26 UTC

My theme is impact of war on domestic culture. There has been a large output of news on the recent issue of the Taliban in Afghanistan. I have observed many various opinions on the matter some positive some negative. These sources were mainly news broadcasts on networks such as nbc. The way this war impacts Americans is it is creating a divide in people. Some people believe we are doing the right thing and others believe the opposite, which, creates division.

Pull yourself up by your bootstraps

2021-09-09 15:45:33 UTC

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RByA_9IxdR93T_QDvhL9noyxNhn58AE017gsl4OvCMg/edit
I’ve watched and read many people say to others who don’t have a job or education to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and live the “American dream”. This saying fueled by the economic idea that America will support you and anything is attainable.The “American dream” is a big part of American values saying you can do anything but saying to pull yourself up by your bootstraps is an impossible thing to do. The phrase was made as a way to say that thing was impossible or absurd. The meaning was changed to mean that it was attainable the origin however contradicts the “American dream” and that it can be attainable. It contradicts American values whenever you connect it to that.
Annika S

Katie Garner

2021-09-09 15:47:31 UTC

Recently, I learned about the new abortion ban coming into effect in Texas.

https://www.npr.org/2021/09/01/1033202132/texas-abortion-ban-what-happens-next

I connected this to our main theme of the limitations and subsequent establishment of civil rights and liberties in American society because this is a very clear and recent example of a limitation of reproductive rights. The ban makes abortions after a heartbeat can be detected (about six weeks) effectively illegal; by that time, a person may not even know yet that they’re pregnant.

This is another way that our country has, and continues to, fall short of its founding ideals of liberty. Anti-abortion laws such as this one restrict, and in some cases completely take away, a person’s right to decide what’s best for their own life and their own body.

Maya Hawley

2021-09-09 15:48:13 UTC

Israel’s occupation of Palestine has been going on for decades, but the issue hasn’t been getting the media coverage it deserves until fairly recently. Model Bella Hadid has been very vocal about the topic. Hadid herself is Palestinian, and she voices her opinion very strongly and passionately. She has raised so much awareness, attended rallies and protests, informed and educated a countless number of times, and she has posted sources and donation sites for people to help out.

2021-09-09 15:48:19 UTC

I came across this article while on the internet. It explains that all while doing the same exact job with the same exact quality of job, women still aren’t getting paid enough. Women haven’t earned the same as men since 1979, the first year with data available to the world. Our jobs are apart of our identities, as we go to them everyday and work, come back home, and do it all over again the next day. Race is also a huge component to the amount you are being paid, which shows that more progress needs to be made in America.

- Amelia C

Lauren Lamb

2021-09-09 15:48:29 UTC

COVID19 has affected and changed the lives of many people. People lost their jobs and homes, and maybe even lost some family members or friends to the virus. Throughout isolation, our means of communication were greatly reduced, the only way to talk to friends and family was over the internet. Many schools started teaching online, where students go to class on a google meet or zoom call. Though things were looking down, Americans were still hopeful a vaccine would come out and COVID would end. We stayed indoors, wore masks, and stayed 6 feet apart from each other, doing our best to protect the lives of ourselves and the people around us. Luckily, scientists found a cure. This summer, I had time to reflect of how crazy the past year was. After getting the vaccine after school ended, I realized, we could stop wearing masks in certain places and we could go outside again. Things started getting better, and life is starting to go back to normal again.
-Lauren Lamb

Bridges over Ohio river (Ian Owens)

2021-09-09 15:49:25 UTC

Cincinnati is located on the Ohio river. The river is a big reason why Cincinnati exists. It allows easy transportation of bulk goods. This drew a lot of business and people to the city, and created a booming economy. Multiple bridges have been constructed to allow people to commute to work from suburbs in both Kentucky and Ohio as Cincinnati grew. These bridges have increased prosperity in the city and surrounding areas.

How does race continue to shape our identities as Americans? Molly Kingston

2021-09-09 15:49:39 UTC

Over the summer I read a book that included fascinating theories on how we shape ourselves as Americans towards race. One quote that came to my attention by Audre Lord in 1980: “We have all been programmed to respond to the human differences between us with fear and loathing and to handle that difference in one of three ways: ignore it, and if that is not possible, copy if we think it is dominant or destroy it if we think it is subordinate. But we have no patterns for relating across our human differences as equals”. This quotes brings attention to the subconscious racism that shape most Americans. While the racism shapes the identities of Americans who create separation.

A link about America’s materialistic society in the clothing industry and example.

0104651 — 2021-09-09 15:49:47 UTC

American Values: The Role Of Materialism In American Society

I read this article that talked about how America is becoming increasingly more materialistic in the clothing industry, and that it was affecting people’s expectations for clothes. This connects to theme number four because of how it talks about popular brands in America that sell basic things such as jeans, shirts, or belts at such a high price to make people feel “expensive” or “privileged” for buying those things. One example is this Gucci belt for $530. It’s just a belt, but it sells at a high price to make people feel like they need to meet the expectation of getting these expensive clothes for personal status. People then want more and more items that look expensive even though the functionality of the item nowhere near measures up to the price. However, people purchase these clothes because they are a symbol of economic status.

George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

021662 — 2021-09-09 15:50:00 UTC

https://civilrights.org/2021/06/29/civil-rights-leaders-demand-results-in-george-floyd-justice-in-policing-act-negotiations/
How and why have civil rights both been denied and protected. 11 months ago many Americans watched the murder of George Floyd all over social media. In March-April of 2021 the police officers involved were convicted on all counts. Many will view this as indictment of the policing system as a whole, but this conviction was just one of many. This was just one conviction, but what we really want and need is accountability for the system as a whole. The “bad apple” narrative gets magnified, individualizing the court system and letting institutions that are just as guilty off the hook. Police brutality has been common for years now, with rarely ever any consequences for those a part of the system. The George Floyd justice in policing act was created to combat police misconduct, excessive force, and racial bias in policing and though it has passed the house, it has not yet been voted on by the senate. I feel like passing a bill like this shouldn’t even be a question. Many people are choosing to ignore the systemic racism that is and has always been prevalent in America, in some way denying poc of the civil rights they deserve as American citizens.

The 1983 movie “Wargames”

009377 — 2021-09-09 15:50:52 UTC

A couple of weeks back I watched the 1983 film “wargames”, where a kid buys a computer and begins to play a strategy game, called wargames. Unknowingly, however, the “game” is actually a top secret US military program ran by a supercomputer he gained access to that is used to predict Soviet missile launches and impact points. It’s a pretty good movie, eif a little cheesy. The movie, however, is also a perfect example of how the Cold War had affected the US’s culture. The high tension between the US and the soviets had become so ingrained in the minds of the citizens of the US that it had become a part of everything; books, movies, and even beliefs. During the Cold War, a common thing to do was to blame anything that the general public was contested on to be the work of communism. This period was called the “red scare,” and was really similar to how people would blame things on witchcraft around the 1600-1800’s. Even today, while obviously not as prominent, we still get movies and other forms of media where the soviets are the bad guys. It really shows how much the Cold War had and has affected the culture in the states.

How the negative impact of COVID on the economy is keeping people from getting back financial security

2021-09-09 15:51:00 UTC

Name: Lily Kowal

Theme: The impact of the economy on America in times of poverty and prosperity

The beginning of COVID led many people to lose their jobs, and now, for many people it is still difficult to build up financial security again. This summer I read this article online after having a discussion with my friend about the impacts of COVID. The article said that the lack of ability to build financial security again is due to two reasons: many people are not able to get jobs back, and property values/asset values are going up. Many people are still not able to get their jobs back after losing them at the start of COVID, especially people in minority groups. Many workers in the service industry are also having trouble getting their jobs back. Housing values and stock market values have risen greatly since the start of covid, also affecting the problem. People who owned property and stocks at the beginning of COVID are now prospering, as the value has gone up, however people who did not own property at the beginning of COVID are being very negatively affected, as it is now more difficult to find affordable housing, and rent is only going up. This, combined with the difficulty to get lost jobs back, has deepened the divide between social classes and people experiencing poverty and prosperity. This relates back to the topic because the negative impact that covid had on the economy caused many people to lose jobs, which they are now having trouble getting back, and it made it so that people who don’t own property are now facing rising rent and property prices.

Madeline Hillmer

2021-09-09 15:51:01 UTC

Simone Biles is a gold medal winning Olympian who recently talked about being one of the dozens of women who were sexually abused by the former USA gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar. She says in a Facebook series that she faced depression after the abuse but she knew she had to return to the 2021 Olympics because she didn’t want the news to be forgotten, she wanted a person who faced the abuse to be at the Olympics so she did just that. She showed perseverance despite what she had been through, even though she ended up putting her mental health first and withdrawing I believe that she showed great American spirit.

The impact of the Afghan war

014116 — 2021-09-09 15:51:32 UTC

This summer, I documented an example of the impact of war on domestic culture, specifically the effect of the Afghan war on my life. Only a few weeks ago, with the evacuation of American troops from Afghanistan, did I become aware of the war; I learned even more about it when I arrived at my youth group and my pastor’s sermon focused on it. He informed us about what was occurring in the country and why the Taliban and Afghans conflicted so traumatically. He also explained how we teenagers can be aware of, care about, and pray for the war and the Afghan people. This connects to the theme of war because it demonstrates that the war has become a household word as of late; it is the subject of discussion among families and was directly incorporated by my pastor into the lives (or at least minds) of all the teenagers who were listening. It has indeed affected my beliefs and behaviors; I pray and think about the issue daily now and sometimes read news about it; I have begun to gain a deeper understanding of what the bad parts of the world are really like.

Since I was unable to take a picture of a scene from the sermon, the photo is a picture of my church to represent the effect it has had on my everyday life.

By Sophie H.

Texas Abortion Laws

005850 — 2021-09-09 15:52:40 UTC

I learned through various articles, Instagram posts, and news stories that Texas has recently created a law banning abortions after the fetus has a detectable heartbeat, which is only around 6 weeks after it has been conceived. Women are enraged across the country as laws are being created for their bodies by those who should not have a say. People have begun protesting as they do not find it fair or equal that men are getting to decide what is right for people who have a uterus. They feel violated and are doubting their rights and places as US citizens. People are banding together through times of adversity to fight for their civil rights and freedom to choose for their own bodies. This also involves America’s social and religious ideals placed on women which limit and reduce women to men’s expectations.

Link:

009256 — 2021-09-09 15:52:41 UTC

https://twitter.com/i/events/1402637550460674048

On June 9th on Twitter I read a post stating that President Biden’s Department of Justice said it could strongly defend religious exceptions from the federal civil rights law. That of which allows federally funded religious discrimination against LGBTQ students. This connects to Civil Rights and Liberties because it provides further protection of discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community. Considering religion isn’t one unified group and there’s various types, it isn’t right that the community should be blocked out of religion because of who they are and what they’re personal lives may be with. It’s not effecting anyone else except them, so really, why is it so profoundly wrong in the first place? Because of who a person is no less, something they can only discover, not choose. Following which, the Supreme Court also has a case about same sex couples adopting. Which again, if anyone fit is able to support a kid, why wouldn’t same sex couples be fit too?This is very fixed into the theme of denied Civil Rights which brings in the standard of if any minority is considered equal in the country’s eyes as a whole It puts our country and its views back a few decades or centuries, and disrupts the progress the community has made thus far.

Pipe line 3

0094311 — 2021-09-09 15:52:42 UTC

There were protests at the Minnesota capital to stop pipeline 3 from being built. Many people are trying to stop the pipeline from being built because it would go through territory’s and the people of those territories have been told that they have the right to own government therefore they should be able to refuse to let them build it in their land however the US has still not stopped it. During the protest the police showed up and some were arrested however some were able to stay for the were in ceremony/ pray circle.
-Liliana

“In the Heights”

2021-09-09 15:52:57 UTC

Over the summer, I watched the movie “In the Heights”, which is based off of a Broadway musical with the same name. It’s about the community living in Washington Heights, New York, and the hardships that they face. “In the Heights” is one of my favorite musicals because it shows how even though they are faced with challenges, the Latin community still celebrates and enjoys life through dancing, music, and spending time together. They lift each other up and are able to persevere.

-Adilynn Cardenas

0087642 — 2021-09-09 15:53:33 UTC

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/08/17/afghanistan-troop-withdrawal-war-on-terror/

This summer, we received news that all US forces had pulled out of Afghanistan, with the Afghan government having collapsed. In light of this news, many Americans began to think about the 20 year long war in a new light. Just within my own family, several family members expressed their disdain for the war and how they believed that this conflict was drawn-out and unnecessary, a sentiment shared by many on social media. Overall, the rushed evacuation of American troops has caused many Americans to develop a more cynical, negative view on both this war and the US’s involvement in global conflicts as a whole.

Preserving the American Spirit

004832 — 2021-09-09 15:54:19 UTC

I think the pandemic is a great example of the American spirit, because the pandemic was hard being quarantined. But a lot of Americans found ways to still be strong, people picked new hobbies, people mastered google meets, people still found ways around it and stayed connected and somewhat cheerful. And thats why I think the pandemic brought out the American spirit- Emilie Mortensen

2021-09-09 15:54:24 UTC

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/08/nyregion/nypd-9-11-police-surveillance.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/us/politics/scotus-abortion-decision.html I connected these articles to the limitations and subsequent establishment of civil rights in American society because these are examples of rights being taken away currently. Throughout 2020 and 2021 we have seen so much struggle and hardships faced against many different groups of people. This essential theme connects well with the following articles because with everything that has happened and is continuing to happen, basic rights and liberties are being taken away because of others actions and judgments. These links include different groups of people who are making choices and decisions for others that are limiting rights and therefore making their lives harder and more of a struggle. The government, police officers, influencers, and more high status people are creating a more difficult time for POC, women, LGBTQ+, and other citizens by taking their rights and life decisions away because of what they think is best for themselves and other highly ranked people. These groups may be benefiting themselves, but they aren’t taking what others may have to endure as time goes on and more rights continue to be taken away. -CeCe Nesseth

The American Military Budget(Louisa K)

2021-09-09 15:55:05 UTC

Here is a brief analysis of how much good could be done if the US stopped spending so incredibly much on war. The military budget of the US is 703 billion dollars. The approximate cost of ending homelessness in the US is 30 billion; fixing this problem lowers the budget to 673 billion. The approximate cost of forgiving student debt here is 373 billion, which lowers the budget to 300 billion. To end world hunger for a year, one would have to pay 265 billion. That lowers the budget to 35 billion USD. Yet more problems could be solved with some reshuffling. This would lower suicide rates by reducing hopelessness and giving people improved means to survive and support themselves and their families.

Soldiers Killed in Kabul

2021-09-09 15:55:28 UTC

I was seeing a lot of videos on social media talking about what happened in Afghanistan, U.S soldiers were killed in the Kabul airport. Thirteen U.S troops and dozens of Afghan civilians were killed in twin explosions in the airport. It was sad to learn that soldiers that were trying to help in Afghanistan were killed. I think this connects to the theme because even though the explosion in Kabul was frightening, the remaining U.S soldiers are still in Afghanistan helping.Albane

Alexandria Rodriguez Mejia

2021-09-09 15:56:54 UTC

American identity has always been something that me and a lot of the people around me struggle with because I come from an immigrant family and community. I went to a family reunion cookout over the summer, and the backyard was decorated with brightly colored decorations and flags. We had a Cuban, Mexican, and American flag because those are the countries we’re from. I saw a lot of people celebrating their native countries and heritage, while also celebrating America and the life they’ve made here and I started to think: what does being American mean to them? And what does it mean to me? To a lot of my family being American just means that they live here now, to some it means having freedom, and to others it means having opportunities. There isn’t one single American identity it’s all about personal experience, but the people around you help shape it. My idea of being American probably differs from my grandparents or parents even.

World War I: Women’s Rights movement

2021-09-09 15:59:29 UTC

Lily W
World War One helped strengthen women’s rights, people started to notice how women could fill the role of men. Many more people believed that women should have the right to vote. This is impact on domestic culture because soon after more people thought that women should have the right to vote the 19th amendment was signed by Bainbridge Colby stating "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." Which impacted women’s rights because World War I it impacted women rights and how many viewed women had changed and women activities and support during the war and helped convince women’s right to vote.

People of Arkansas Support Hurricane Ida Evacuees - Grace Pralle

2021-09-09 16:01:44 UTC

This article relates to the perseverance of the American spirit theme. It is a short article about how people in Arkansas stepped up to help a family that was displaced because of Hurricane Ida. Hurricane Ida has devastated many communities and caused insurmountable damage. The family mentioned in the article had two young children and was in need of food and shelter. When a local news station shared their story, they received an outpouring of donations as well as a hotel room to stay in. This relates to the theme because it demonstrates that people are still willing to help and support others in difficult times.

Gun rules in the state fair (Sally Krantz)

2021-09-09 16:04:51 UTC

Every summer I go to the Minnesota state fair with my family. I loved seeing the new crazy foods, rides, and stands. This year I learned that guns aren’t allowed within the state fair, wether or not they are open or concealed carry. This can be seen as a limitation to the civil rights in America because the second amendment gives us the right to bear arms. Though some people may be angered by this rule in the state fair, I personally think that this protects the safety of people attending the state fair. I agree with this rule because if guns were to be brought in then there could easily be an act of gun violence, including a mass shooting.

Charlie Barry

2021-09-15 12:58:49 UTC

This summer I went to Alaska and I realized that the restaurants in the area I was in where very low quality throughout the trip. I think this is because of the low amount of tourists in the area and the lack of other competition. When we went out on a charter I noticed how every boat was in extremely good shape because there is a lot of competition in the charter business for who had the better crew, boat, and gear. Throughout the entire trip I noticed that fishing/hunting charters where a large percent of jobs in that area. I think that is due to the lack of big corporations in the area.