First Entry Assignment: A Quilt of a Country: Out of Many, One?

In the article,"A Quilt of a Country: Out of Many, One," by Anna Quindlen, Quindlen explains how the United States, although diverse in cultures and nationalities, comes together as one population when tragedy strikes the country. Although the United States is very different in that sense, we all manage to come together in times of need to comfort one another over the same topic; America is our home. She discusses the hatred of nationalities like the Irish versus the Italians, and yet, she herself is a combination of the two. This is a good example that shows how well different people can come together and live as one. Quindlen writes,"Pride seems excessive...But patriotism is partly taking pride in this unlikely ability to throw all of us together in a country...as different as a dozen countries, and still be able to call it by one name." These few lines sum up the main idea of her article. America is like an old quilt made out of different bit and pieces of other quilts, yet come together to make one beautiful and cozy blanket.

I agree with the author and what she wrote about the United States. Although it is a very diverse country made up of "ever-changing disparate parts," it is what makes the United States so strong in times of crisis. This article was written in response to the September 11 attacks. Quindlen writes,"Terrorism has led to devastation-and unity." This is very true. There is no other time one will see diverse people come together than in a time of tragedy. The September 11 attacks made people become more patriotic and helpful towards one another. Like Quindlen wrote,"...a mongrel nation that somehow, at times like this, has one spirit."