an exam

First Question of my English exam:

Please write a substantive reflection on what your perception of American Identity is.

My extremely unique views on American Identity will likely fall into the massive middle, "we". Although my story is different and how I got here is unique, still hundreds of thousands can likely relate or find that their story overlaps with mine, just a bit. Born daughter to an immigrant-entrepreneur-father, I see America as the land of opportunities. Definitely not equal opportunities, I've learned better, but unending. Vastly different trajectories sought by a vastly diverse nation of people.

I see clearly that being poor in America is still rich by World standards. So much STUFF in this nation-- good stuff, bad stuff, plastic stuff, disposable stuff, they-say-it's-everlasting stuff, big stuff, little stuff and so on. True, many people work very, very hard for their stuff, but has the white noise of subliminal advertising drowned out the ringing true of what we really want?

"Kids cost money!" "Work hard, play hard!" Suddenly our pace of life comes to a halt, forty-year old women are childless and the job won't give you the vacation time to enjoy what you've been working so hard towards.

Personal pizzas, drive through coffeehouses, one-car-per-person ratio, it seems that the American Identity is growing to an exponential state of lonely. Immigrant families, they know: hospitality, hope and community- they're my hope, to show us how it's done, but after a generation or two, they too find themselves (by lead of their offspring) synchronized with the fast paces, me-minded country I call home.

Business endeavors, always at someone else's expense; social networking, but who really knows anybody? We've learned how to work hard, dream big, look cool and act like we've got friends. It's the passionate lovers, that make this nation my proud homeland. Lovers of books, people, pets; people who find freedom in art, knowledge and God. I'm inspired by the people of a counter-culture, those who "live simply, so that others may simply live". People who work less and hang out with their neighbors more. People who forfeit high paying stable jobs and tenure to start grassroots revolutions and make their heart's burden their active pursuit.

I come from a land of plenty.

Plenty of good.

Plenty of bad.

Plenty of beautiful.