http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp-SqZ63Ga8

The link above is a song called 'Leaving Jesusland', by punk band NOFX.

I think that this is a perfect contemporary critique on modern day America as it touches on the topic of religion, which is a touchy topic in America with 77% of Americans claiming Christian faith*.

The song criticises the conservative and seemingly narrow minded views of those in the bible belt, also known as Jesusland, Which can be found in the south and mid western states. Hence the line 'What makes this country great is living on either side', referring to the north east and south west.

I think that the song does a good job of capturing a general overview of American society as the divide between religious and non religious, as well as conservative and liberal is often drastic, and clearly visible. The song also makes reference to nihilism, an idealistic and extremely left wing view of government, or really, non government. One line in the song really sticks out to me, 'Need to punch new holes in the bible belt', i think that this line works well on two levels, firstly, it works well as a tongue in cheek jab at America's obesity problem, while secondly, it suggests that these conservative religious views are spreading further across the country.  







*Taken from 2012 poll by Gallup politics http://www.gallup.com/poll/159548/identify-christian.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njEFkKuRBRY

This is an advertisement for Macy’s department store in America. This advert is promoting the Black Friday sales. The way in which they have prompted the store is by asking One Direction to make an appearance in their video. By bringing in this iconic world wild known band, the department store is attracting viewers whom are huge fans to come to the store. At the end of the advert, though it is spoken very quickly there is an offer on the fragrance and $2 of every purchase of the product goes to charity. This shows Americas good values and the idea of looking after one another.

By having one direction in the video it is making fans think that if one direction will shop and appear in the store it’s more than good enough for me. One Direction affect such a wide fan base therefore Macy’s have thought through their chose of Celebrity to bring in the wider range of fans to come to the store to bring more sales to the store.

Having the multimillion band in the store to promote their fragrance and the store is presenting America to be to some element followers in their values. Could you say to some extent they followed/ copied England centuries ago in terms of settling?

It also shows America’s values in terms of support and commitment as many fans dedicate themselves to idolized celebrities. This compleiments Americans forsage of being a friendly helpful nation.

http://idiamonds.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/to-what-extent-is-american-dream.html

This is a blog post that talks about the fact that the American Dream is a really thing and how it has changed over the years. I chose this because it is an important fact that it has changed. depending on what is happening in America and what is happening in the world at that time.

Date and comment on the values of the period?

‘Rags to Riches’

I have done some research to a story of someone who achieved the ‘American Dream’ but like within Ragged Dick had battles in which they faced. Within Ragged Dick fame fortune or even a stable life does not come easily and, elements like street rats and homeless children of course play a huge role in the book.

A contemporary life story which I find has a few elements of being related to the book Ragged Dick is the super star Kelly Clarkson. Kelly Clarkson is the 2002 winner or American Idol, but the way she came about winning was down to ‘luck’ and ‘pluck’ which relates to the book ‘Ragged Dick’.

Kelly Clarkson had a troubled life when she was younger her parents split up when she was 6 years old with her brother living with her father, sister with her aunt and herself living with her mum. Her mother would work long hours and Kelly was constantly moving. Kelly had to be responsible for herself and was very much neglected as a child as her mother did not have any time for her and Kelly was responsible for making food for herself including pack lunches for school this was all at a very young age of 6. Kelly’s mother didn’t earn a lot of money and on many occasions Kelly would have to make new clothes if she had grown out of her old ones.

But then however one of her friends told her about American Idol and how she should audition and through her talent and determination Kelly Clarkson managed to sing her way to having her own recording contract selling multimillion record al around the word. Her music especially the song ‘Break Away’ expose her hidden horrors of neglect and abuse as a younger child. By her hard work determination and coming from nothing shows how I believe a modern contemporary example of the achievement of ‘The American Dream’.

The way in which I believe Kelly Clarkson’s story links into Ragged Dick is through the ‘pluck and luck’. She has had a lot of luck being blessed with a talent like her voice and hearing about the audition similar to how Dick is often in the right place at the right time, Kelly was to hear about the audition. Pluck resulting in sacrifice and courage. Dick had to defend for himself and learn how to survive with not to the same extent Kelly also had to do as she was basically neglected by her family. Dick gets a tutor to learn more and this also links to Kelly auditioning for the show and in her earlier life making demo C.D’s to try and learn for herself about the industry and what is wanted of her again with Ragged Dick the idea of what is wanted to become a gentleman.

Both work hard and show determination to achieve the American Dream when they have both come from nothing and had to learn to defend for themselves from a very early age going through trial and error to find out how to survive and strive to be better than their parents.

Sources

http://www.free-scores.com/boutique/history_102_biography_Kelly_Clarkson.htm

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=5176

Gun Control

http://membership.nrahq.org/about-us.asp
The NRA is the National Rifle Association of America and is pro youth shooting sports across America. They were formed in 1871 by war veterans due to the fact that there was a lack of marksmanship from their troops. They wanted people to be educated in how to handle a gun. Children are learning from a young age how to handle a gun. This could be seen as a positive as they are educated in the safety of a weapon, but a negative due to the fact a child has the ability to handle a lethal weapon.

http://www.demandaction.org
The demand a plan campaign is for citizens to demand a plan from their government for gun control. In this video they list out the names of school shootings and places where guns have caused caused question to humanity. The fact that celebrities have done this video is so that fans may have the same belief as them, as they would look up to them. They are not saying that guns should be banned, they are just suggesting a plan of action to sort out the terrible situations that not having gun control has created.

In my opinion gun control is a must due to guns getting in the wrong hands. If every person who had a gun had to have a licence and take courses to know how to handle a gun that would be understandable. Also the fact that more populated states such as New York and California have higher gun control show that it is not everywhere.

http://momsdemandaction.org
This is a website which I found off

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/12/us/a-face-off-outside-dallas-in-the-escalating-battle-over-texas-gun-culture.html?_r=0

This site is written by an organisation made up of mum who believe that they find guns very intimidating and don't think that they are necessary to have carrying on them at all times. They believe that guns pose too much if a danger and can be a huge safety hazard. There have been many many incidents where there have been terrible shootings killing over ten people at a time. This organisation believe that this should not even be possible and would like guns to be banned.
I can understand the point of view of everyone int he organisation. As carrying guns can pose a threat and result in deaths even if it wasn't intentional, anything could happen and they pose too much of a risk. Many teacher say that they wish to have firearms in the school desks but the risks I believe in a school especially are too high. As although the teacher says that they would be able to protect the children there are other ways to protect them. Firearms are not needed and it only takes a child to accidentally come across it when their unsupervised and result by accidentally killing another child. An accident which could have been prevented.


http://www.opencarrytexas.org

This website links to the moms demand action group. This group all held a protest to make an impression and whilst the moms demand action group where having a meeting on mass the group of open carry Texas came to the parking lot with their guns to prove a point. How it is fine to hold arms in public and if people wish too as the laws says they are allowed to they believe that they should be able to. On the site page for the open carry Texas they state how they want to make sure people feel comfortable around them whilst they are carrying their guns.

On the website it presents what their aims are and these are all very legit. Some people in America feel that they are safer carrying a dun around with them as it makes them feel safe and secure. In the past there have been many shootings and people whom have been involved have said that if they where allowed to carry a gun in their purse, freely and openly, they would have been able to help minimise the death toll.

Can this be argued as a good point to carry a firearm with you at all times? The chances of mass shootings happening is very low it does not happen all of the time and here are services who can come, such  as the police, within minutes to help sort out the situation. It also suggests that the people who carry firearms would be able to cope with the possible chance that they could kill someone and live with that.