Quindlen Vs. Lincoln: Equality, Unity, and Patriotism in America
Are equality, unity, and patriotism important to you? Anna Quindlen and Abraham Lincoln both thought they were crucial to the success of our nation. This essay will compare and contrast the way Quindlen and Lincoln discuss equality, unity, and patriotism in their works “A Quilt of a Country” and the “Gettysburg Address.” The first point to consider is equality.
Quindlen and Lincoln both talk about equality. Both authors agree that equality is worth striving for, even though we don’t have it yet. Quindlen explains that our nation has held onto the value of equality since its creation. She writes, “America...is held together by the notion that all men are created equal” (Quindlen 3). Here, Quindlen highlights the value of equality, not only as something we should fight for, but also as a value that has held our nation together. Although both authors value equality, Quindlen points to cultural inequalities while Lincoln faced the much more severe slavery issues of his time. Lincoln, like Quindlen, saw the inequalities in the way people in our country are treated, but he fought a civil war to free slaves. In his speech, he says “We here highly resolve...this nation, under god, shall have a new birth of freedom” (Lincoln 28). Lincoln wanted equality to keep our nation together, but he didn’t see the fruits of his labor. Quindlen and Lincoln both recognize the value of equality, but they saw it in different ways. Both recognized its potential and pitfalls as a national value, and both argue that it is something the United States needs to continue to work for, just like unity.
Lincoln and Quindlen both think unity is hard to achieve. Quindlen explains that we have failed often. Quindlen says “Amid all the failures is something spectacularly successful” (Quindlen 4). She is pointing out how unity is hard for people living in our time, but we keep trying. While the authors agree that unity is a critical, difficult ideal of our nation, they saw unity in different ways. Quindlen’s focus is on unifying the diverse cultures in our country on a social level, While Lincoln’s priority was unifying America politically. Lincoln struggled to unify the government. “It is for us living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work, which they who fought here have thus nobly advanced” (Lincoln 28). The author is talking about the sacrifices made for unity. Unity, according to both authors is difficult to achieve; the authors see unity differently because of the times in which they lived, but they both see its value, nonetheless.
Both Lincoln and Quindlen agree that patriotism is having pride in America, flaws and all. They also see the importance of national pride in keeping the country united. Quindlen says patriotism means being proud of the fact that we are very difficult, but we are still one nation.. Quindlen says, “But patriotism is partly taking pride in this unlikely ability to throw all of us together in a country that across its length and breadth is as a dozen countries to call it by one name” (Quindlen 6). Quindlen recognizes that patriotism requires U.S. citizens to be proud that we are divers but united. Lincoln was proud of America, too, but what he needed from citizens was devotion. Following the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln said “We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave thier lives that that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln sees patriotism as being willing to sacrifice for your country. In both cases, patriotism was necessary for unity.
Quindlen’s essay “A Quilt of a Country” and Lincoln’s speech the “Gettysburg Address” address the topics of equality, unity, and patriotism in ways that are similar and different. Both authors saw equality as an important ideal, but their struggles to attain it were different. Each of the authors wanted unity for different reasons. Quindlen and Lincoln are both patriots, but they show their loyalty to America in their own ways. So, considering all this, what do you think the role of equality, unity, and patriotism is in the U.S.?
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham. “Gettysburg Address.” Collections, Edited by Kaylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William
L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 27-28.
Quindlen, Anna. “A Quilt of a Country.” Collections, Edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William
McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.
Are equality, unity, and patriotism important to you? Anna Quindlen and Abraham Lincoln both thought they were crucial to the success of our nation. This essay will compare and contrast the way Quindlen and Lincoln discuss equality, unity, and patriotism in their works “A Quilt of a Country” and the “Gettysburg Address.” The first point to consider is equality.
Quindlen and Lincoln both talk about equality. Both authors agree that equality is worth striving for, even though we don’t have it yet. Quindlen explains that our nation has held onto the value of equality since its creation. She writes, “America...is held together by the notion that all men are created equal” (Quindlen 3). Here, Quindlen highlights the value of equality, not only as something we should fight for, but also as a value that has held our nation together. Although both authors value equality, Quindlen points to cultural inequalities while Lincoln faced the much more severe slavery issues of his time. Lincoln, like Quindlen, saw the inequalities in the way people in our country are treated, but he fought a civil war to free slaves. In his speech, he says “We here highly resolve...this nation, under god, shall have a new birth of freedom” (Lincoln 28). Lincoln wanted equality to keep our nation together, but he didn’t see the fruits of his labor. Quindlen and Lincoln both recognize the value of equality, but they saw it in different ways. Both recognized its potential and pitfalls as a national value, and both argue that it is something the United States needs to continue to work for, just like unity.
Lincoln and Quindlen both think unity is hard to achieve. Quindlen explains that we have failed often. Quindlen says “Amid all the failures is something spectacularly successful” (Quindlen 4). She is pointing out how unity is hard for people living in our time, but we keep trying. While the authors agree that unity is a critical, difficult ideal of our nation, they saw unity in different ways. Quindlen’s focus is on unifying the diverse cultures in our country on a social level, While Lincoln’s priority was unifying America politically. Lincoln struggled to unify the government. “It is for us living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work, which they who fought here have thus nobly advanced” (Lincoln 28). The author is talking about the sacrifices made for unity. Unity, according to both authors is difficult to achieve; the authors see unity differently because of the times in which they lived, but they both see its value, nonetheless.
Both Lincoln and Quindlen agree that patriotism is having pride in America, flaws and all. They also see the importance of national pride in keeping the country united. Quindlen says patriotism means being proud of the fact that we are very difficult, but we are still one nation.. Quindlen says, “But patriotism is partly taking pride in this unlikely ability to throw all of us together in a country that across its length and breadth is as a dozen countries to call it by one name” (Quindlen 6). Quindlen recognizes that patriotism requires U.S. citizens to be proud that we are divers but united. Lincoln was proud of America, too, but what he needed from citizens was devotion. Following the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln said “We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave thier lives that that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln sees patriotism as being willing to sacrifice for your country. In both cases, patriotism was necessary for unity.
Quindlen’s essay “A Quilt of a Country” and Lincoln’s speech the “Gettysburg Address” address the topics of equality, unity, and patriotism in ways that are similar and different. Both authors saw equality as an important ideal, but their struggles to attain it were different. Each of the authors wanted unity for different reasons. Quindlen and Lincoln are both patriots, but they show their loyalty to America in their own ways. So, considering all this, what do you think the role of equality, unity, and patriotism is in the U.S.?
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham. “Gettysburg Address.” Collections, Edited by Kaylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William
L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 27-28.
Quindlen, Anna. “A Quilt of a Country.” Collections, Edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen, Carol Jago, William
McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Stack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.