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America the Beautiful Is Changing

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America the Beautiful Is Changing
America the Beautiful is Changing Americans believe they live in a beautiful country. There are many advantages to living in America, such as having a secure government, a controlled military, a judicial system that works, breathtaking landscapes, cleanliness, and the many freedoms that are granted to citizens in the U.S. Constitution. America became a rising power early in its life, allowing for these benefits. Although the United States of America is one of the great world powers, and perhaps the most supreme, its economic practices are driven toward the idea of spending and consumerism and the population’s values have become entirely reconstituted since its founding. “My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing; land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims ' pride, from ev 'ry mountainside, let freedom ring!” (Comissiong 11). Every American, perhaps, is familiar with this song. “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” is a widely popular song taught to children in elementary schools, sung at commemorative military ceremonies, and played before national celebrations. The song, like America’s national anthem, the “Star-Spangled Banner,” is a patriotic representation of America, created by an American for Americans with an intention of inspiration and pride. From the very days of the founding of the country, Americans have been extremely patriotic. After winning an almost impossible battle against Great Britain, American patriotism has been strong. The line “…the bombs bursting in air” from the “Star-Spangled Banner” represents the cannons firing in celebration of the victory of the American Revolution. These songs condition Americans to believe that their country is a magnificent one. Thoughts such as these have led to a belief of supremacy (Comissiong 11).
Earnest Beginnings Turn the U.S. into a Leading World Power. The powerful spirit of the First and Second Great Awakenings – a series of revivals in the late 1700s and early 1800s that took



Cited: Bauman, Zygmunt, and Jerome Roos. "Bauman: Consumerism Coming Home to Roost." Reflections On A Revolution. 18 Aug. 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. Comissiong, Solomon. "Euro-American Songs of Racism, War and White Supremacy: an African Perspective." Black Agenda Report. N.p., 21 Aug. 2012. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. Duiker, William J., and Jackson J. Spielvogel. The Essential World History, Volume II: Since 1500: Sixth Edition. Boston, Massachusetts: Wadsworth, 2011. Print. Lapsansky-Werner, Emma J., Peter B. Levy, Randy Roberts, and Alan Taylor. United States History. Boston: Pearson: Prentice Hall, 2008. Print. Fox, Louis, dir. The Story of Stuff. Perf. Annie Leonard. Free Range Studios, 2008. Film. Leopold, Todd. "We 're No. 1! We 're No. 1! We 're... Uh... Not?" CNN U.S.. 2 July 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. Luce, Clare Boothe. "Is The New Morality Destroying America?." Human Life Review 25.1 (1999): 15. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. Rathus, Spencer A. Psych Second Edition. Belmont, CA: Linda Schreiber-Ganster, 2012. Print. Shapiro, Gary. "Is America the Greatest Country in the World?" Forbes. 25 July 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. Sunami, Christopher. "Spend 'till You Drop." Yes And Other Answers. N.p., 1 Sept. 2011. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. "The Rise of American Consumerism." PBS. N.p., 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2012.

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