The American Idea

To clarify:
I want you to look over the American Idea essays from the The Atlantic (the link is on the blog) and come up with your own. It should be only 400-600 words (roughly one page to one and half pages). It should answer, what is the "American Idea" to you (does it have a future? what are some obstacles to it). The problem is there is no one definition of the "American Idea," so you must develop your own based on your experience and study of America. Please feel free to interpret this prompt liberally, as the authors for The Atlantic do (hey if you want to make a comic strip--see Stan Lee's submission--go for it).

Since we have such a diverse class in such a diverse school and some of us may not have been born here, some of us may not be citizens, we have each "experienced America" differently (so there isn't really a right or wrong answer here). You can compare this America (of your experience to other places you know). You can address how certain events, texts, or anything else have solidified your belief of what America is. Also, use the texts we have been studying--the Declaration of Independence, Letter from A Birmingham Jail, Ch. 5, Barbara Jordan's piece, the Obama inaugural address, for inspiration and to help firm up and support your beliefs. Answer, what is the American Idea (to you) and use the ideas presented in The Atlantic to help guide your definition. Have fun with it. Rough Draft due Tuesday (3 copies).