Edwin Damian
Ms. Lehmann
English 1-1A
10 October 2019
Quindlen and Lincoln Discuss Equality, Unity, and Patriotism
Julian Castro once said, “In the end, the American dream is not a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay. Our families don’t always cross the finish line in the span of one generation. But each generation passes on to the next the fruits of their labor.” Throughout American history, the struggles to attain an equal, united nation have been passed on. This essay with compare and contrast how Anna Quindlen’s “A Quilt of a Country” and Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” treat the issues of equality, unity, and patriotism in their visions of the American dream. Equality is the first ideal both authors discuss.
Quindlen and Lincoln both discuss equality in their works. Both authors agree that equality is an ideal worth striving for even though we have not yet achieved it in our nation. 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. Quindlen also saw the difficulty is attaining equality, though. Quindlen points to cultural inequalities in our nation, but Lincoln faced much more severe issues surrounding slavery. Lincoln, like Quindlen, saw the inequalities in the way people in our country were treated, but he fought a civil war to free slaves. In his speech, he says “We here highly resolve that...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. Both authors value unity as well as equality.
Both authors examine and discuss the value of unity. While unity is important to both authors, they also recognize that it is difficult to put into practice. Quindlen knows unity is important and that we often fail to achieve it. She writes, “This is a nation founded on a conundrum, what Mario Cuomo has characterized as ‘community added to individualism.’ These two are our defining ideas; they are also in constant conflict” (Quindlen 4). Quindlen is saying that the U.S. values unity, but we also value individualism, which doesn’t always align with unity. Quindlen urges readers to keep trying for unity anyway. While Quindlen wanted the country to be more united socially, Lincoln was trying to put the U.S. back together after the south seceded during the civil war. Lincoln needed more than pride. He needed devotion to the nation. At the dedication of the National Cemetery, Lincoln said, “We have to have come to dedicate portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that...that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln’s definition of patriotism was being devoted enough to fight for, or even die for, your nation. Both authors agree that patriotism requires pride, though Lincoln also wanted devotion.
Equality, unity, patriotism are all ideals that Quindlen and Lincoln share, though they value them in different ways. Quindlen and Lincoln both agree that equality is worth striving for, they also agree that unity is important but also difficult to achieve, both authors agree that patriotism is necessary to keeping our nation together. So, Julian Castro’s ideas about the American dream are proved by Lincoln and Quindlen; it’s a relay, not a sprint.
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham. “The Gettysburg Address.” Collections, edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen,
Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Strack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 27-28.
Quindlen, Anna. “A Quilt of a Country.” Collections, edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen,
Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Strack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.
Compare and Contrast Reflection
Please answer all questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
We read about Quindlen and Lincoln, we took notes, then we put it into essay, had it revised, and corrected it.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
These two story’s make it into a compare and contrast because they compare how Quindlen wanted unity and what she thought about it. Lincoln also wanted unity and we talked about what he thought about unity. Also how they both fought to get unity, patriotism, and equality. We compared and contrasted how they fought/felt about it.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
Probably reversing the essay was one of the more difficult ones that got me but ms Lehman helped me and that’s how I overcame it.
Ms. Lehmann
English 1-1A
10 October 2019
Quindlen and Lincoln Discuss Equality, Unity, and Patriotism
Julian Castro once said, “In the end, the American dream is not a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay. Our families don’t always cross the finish line in the span of one generation. But each generation passes on to the next the fruits of their labor.” Throughout American history, the struggles to attain an equal, united nation have been passed on. This essay with compare and contrast how Anna Quindlen’s “A Quilt of a Country” and Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” treat the issues of equality, unity, and patriotism in their visions of the American dream. Equality is the first ideal both authors discuss.
Quindlen and Lincoln both discuss equality in their works. Both authors agree that equality is an ideal worth striving for even though we have not yet achieved it in our nation. 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. Quindlen also saw the difficulty is attaining equality, though. Quindlen points to cultural inequalities in our nation, but Lincoln faced much more severe issues surrounding slavery. Lincoln, like Quindlen, saw the inequalities in the way people in our country were treated, but he fought a civil war to free slaves. In his speech, he says “We here highly resolve that...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. Both authors value unity as well as equality.
Both authors examine and discuss the value of unity. While unity is important to both authors, they also recognize that it is difficult to put into practice. Quindlen knows unity is important and that we often fail to achieve it. She writes, “This is a nation founded on a conundrum, what Mario Cuomo has characterized as ‘community added to individualism.’ These two are our defining ideas; they are also in constant conflict” (Quindlen 4). Quindlen is saying that the U.S. values unity, but we also value individualism, which doesn’t always align with unity. Quindlen urges readers to keep trying for unity anyway. While Quindlen wanted the country to be more united socially, Lincoln was trying to put the U.S. back together after the south seceded during the civil war. Lincoln needed more than pride. He needed devotion to the nation. At the dedication of the National Cemetery, Lincoln said, “We have to have come to dedicate portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that...that nation might live” (Lincoln 27). Lincoln’s definition of patriotism was being devoted enough to fight for, or even die for, your nation. Both authors agree that patriotism requires pride, though Lincoln also wanted devotion.
Equality, unity, patriotism are all ideals that Quindlen and Lincoln share, though they value them in different ways. Quindlen and Lincoln both agree that equality is worth striving for, they also agree that unity is important but also difficult to achieve, both authors agree that patriotism is necessary to keeping our nation together. So, Julian Castro’s ideas about the American dream are proved by Lincoln and Quindlen; it’s a relay, not a sprint.
Works Cited Page
Lincoln, Abraham. “The Gettysburg Address.” Collections, edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen,
Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Strack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 27-28.
Quindlen, Anna. “A Quilt of a Country.” Collections, edited by Kylene Beers, Martha Hougen,
Carol Jago, William L. McBride, Erik Palmer, & Lydia Strack, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, pp. 3-6.
Compare and Contrast Reflection
Please answer all questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
We read about Quindlen and Lincoln, we took notes, then we put it into essay, had it revised, and corrected it.
2. What qualifies this paper as a compare and contrast essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
These two story’s make it into a compare and contrast because they compare how Quindlen wanted unity and what she thought about it. Lincoln also wanted unity and we talked about what he thought about unity. Also how they both fought to get unity, patriotism, and equality. We compared and contrasted how they fought/felt about it.
3. Tell me about one challenge you faced writing this paper and how you overcame it.
Probably reversing the essay was one of the more difficult ones that got me but ms Lehman helped me and that’s how I overcame it.