Response # 3

A wealthy poverty stricken Country

“My America is one of iconic landscapes, places of lost dreams and hard-lived lives.”(pg 2) This quote stuck with me while reading Someplace like America. The author painted a picture and provided me with even more proof as to why I strongly agree with his statement. Outsiders like to think that America is the land of the free and a place of opportunity. But in reality there are millions of Americans that are struggling. People who have to work 2 or 3 jobs to barely survive and provide for their families. There are Americans who are unemployed, don't have homes, live on the streets and have to beg for food. Or what about those Americans who die every year due to health conditions which couldn't be treated or weren't treated because of their living conditions or because they didn't have the means to pay for treatment. I once lived in a third world country looking in. Of course at the time, I was too young to even think about the wealth, opportunities and/or problems of this great country.

The author speaks about how “America is also seen up close in the eyes of its people.They are eyes that speak without words.”(pg 3) This statement tells me that the people who see the worst of America are the citizens which have to deal with the hardships. The way he described the eyes of the people who spoke of their struggles with tear filled eyes, eyes of fear, numbness and toughness. We see people who get shunned or talked about due to their economical situation.

People that have no money and many times no place to live are outcast and ignored by most in our land of dreams and opportunity. Hardships make these poverty stricken citizens hard hearted and often times dangerous. Pure necessity drives people in need to commit deeds or acts, that would normally not cross their minds, just to survive. Instead of reaching out to the wealthy, we as a thriving society should provide assistance to help the less fortunate to progress in a way they can afford a home, food and/or health care. Our society should create jobs so they can earn a living to move them out of poverty and into the land of growth and strength. Assisting the less fortunate to progress makes our country stronger and we can live up to the legacy of “the land of opportunity.”

Finally to conclude with these questions that were asked long ago but are still valid today. “Do we want to tolerate hunger and desperation, with a large and growing portion of our population living in Third World conditions? Or do we want to care for one another? Do we want to reserve life changes for a very few who are wealthy, or do we desire to be a nation of opportunity, offering a level of playing field for everyone?” (pg 4) I believe these questions are very important that as Americans we should be concerned about and need to address.