FDR's famous quote in his inaugural address "We have nothing to fear but fear itself" says a lot about this time period of doubt and economic turmoil. People were afraid for their jobs, afraid that they might be thrown out on the streets, afraid that their savings might disappear if their bank failed. All of the stuff that they had believed in about the American Dream - work hard, save money, follow the rules and you'll be rewarded - was crumbling before their eyes.
During Herbert Hoover's administration, however, President Hoover tried to reassure the nation that the economy was basically sound and that Americans needed to follow the example set by many of rugged individualism. This concept was widely accepted before the turn of the 20th century when Hoover grew up - the idea that life is a race; "[Americans] give [everyone] an equal start; we provide in the government the umpire of fairness in the race. The winner is he who shows the most conscientious training, the greatest ability, and the greatest chracter" (Hofstadter 387). Hoover followed this creed as did thousands others who became rich in the time before the Depression. The problem was, millions became poor and showed that the race was far from equal or fair. Those with the greatest ability or character did not always win.
Before you answer the question below, click on the link for Journal #2 and read the article about rich and poor in today's society. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070122/lf_afp/useconomysocialwealth
My questions for you are this:
1. Is life like a race and those who are the strongest, smartest, etc. win the race? If so, explain. If not, explain your alternative.
2. Do you think life in America is fair? Why or why not?
Please don't forget to leave your name on your comment. Thanks.
60 comments:
Yes life is like a race for those who are the strongest, smartest do win the race in most cases. Respect also plays a large part in the race and you need it to even finish. The ones who are weak and unintelligent usually don’t have good jobs or succeed. However there are exeptions just like any rule. American life is not always fair because things could happen such as a disaster that you have no control over. If you play by the rules and do everything right, things could still happen that you can’t control. Therefore American life is not always fair.
Yes I believe that life is like a race and those who are the strongest and the smartest will win. In life long race you fight for a good healthy full life. You have to be well educated to provide for yourself and your family. You have to be in shape and in good health, eat well and don’t do nasty habbits you will survive the race longer.
I do think that life in america is fair. Those people who have a bad life didn’t do the things necessary to have a good life in america. They most likely didn’t go to school, their to lazy to go out and look for a job, and they just live off their parents most of their life. Because of people like this who just wont do anything for themselves this is why I believe that life in america is fair.
Zack Silver
5th hour
No, i dont believe that life is like a race for the smatest or the stronger we are all the same except that we do have people that are better than others. There is actually no race that exist there is the Human race for sure but that'it we are all the same but we do have a different intelligence but it doesn't mean that we have a race. I do not think that american life is fair therer is like so much rules that are not good. I will not write a novel about it but for example there is not a lot advantage for poor people,not a lot associationsto help them I mean if you are poor you cannot go to the hospital or to see a doctor because it is so expensive!!!!! But that's a example even tough there is more example then just this one
No, i don't belive life is like a race. Life is what ever you make of it.However i belive some Americans view life as a race."Who can be the richset, and most successful the fastest"."Who gave more money to charities, and shelters"? It seems like a big popularity contest to me, not the American dream.
No, i don't think life is fair. Different disasters occur daily. When the economy fell back in the 20th centry, that wasn't fair. Peolpe who are very sucessful tend to make comments such as "life is fair, and just live the American Dream". Hoover was one of these people to me. These are just reasons why i belive life in America, isn't always fair.
Yes, life is like a race. A race filled with people trying to reach the finish line of success first. People who sometimes concentrate so hard, they forget what they already have. Life in in Ameriaca isn't fair. Life in general isn't fair either. Life in America and life in general tie in together. Perhaps you get fired for no good reason, sure it's not fair but it's life. the problem with the race for success is that because so many people are so occupied with their own well being, they hardly stop a little to help fellow Americans.
Elise Lieberman
1/26/07
5th hour
Yes, I believe life is like a race because the ones who can take on what life has to offer are the ones who can achieve and become more advanced in life. Life in America is not fair because NOT everyone can or will get the same equal opportunities as others due to education, money, or past life experiences( criminal records, job experiences, and childhood)-Adriel O.
Yes, I think that life is like a race, those that are stronger and smarter will always accomplish more then those that are not stronger or smarter. I do not think that America is equal becuase not everyone has the same oppurtunities as other people do, not everyone has the same education level, or anything as othe people do. So I think that yes life is like a race but no america is not equal.
I dont think that life is like a race because we are all different. Each one of us has things that we are good at, and bad at. I dont think it matters how much talent, or how smart someone is, it only matters at how they use what they have. This would apply to the Great Depression, in that if someone had a little bit of money and a job, if they used thier money wisely, then they could end up with a bunch more money then they started with. I also do not think life in America is fair. But again, some people who utilize thier talents will have an easier life and a better one. Also, your life could be harder depending on what kind of person you are. For example, there are people that recieve money from the government, which would make their lifes easier, but thats not fair to everyone else who doesnt, and to all the poor and homeless people.
Kevin Kesler
1/26/07
6th Hour
Guys and gals, Please, Please, PLEASE don't forget to leave your name on the comments. I need to make sure that I give you credit. Some people didn't get credit for Journal #1.
Thanks.
Mr. Wickersham
Yes, I think that life is like a race and the smartest, strategic, and strongest win. In a race you fight till the end. You have to be so smart to support and provide your family. You have to well nurished and phisically fit, have a lot of food and money, plus good hygiene to survive the race longer.
I dont think America is fair. Some people grow up with bad opportunities to start with and others are blessed with the wealthyness of the people before them. Some people aren't blessed like other like i said before.The people that are in the streets have kids but how are the kids going to grow when their parents havent grown up yet. How are they suppose to get a job wen they get older and they dont know how. The parents cant get no education because parents have no moey to pay for school. When they grow up they are going to have no job experience and eduaction so pretty much they are going to be just like their parents unless some miracle happens. Because of people that cant help themselves because of their personal situation and nobody is really helping the poor out because it increases every year i beleive America isn't fair..
Gil Clark 5th hour
Yes, life is like a race because the people that are going to end up winning are smarter and stronger then those that are going to lose. Life in America, I think is not fair at all because the people that are not strong and are not smarter then the rest unforunately do not come out on top. Some people put themselfs in bad situations, and never get a second chance to fix it, but then again there are some people that do not want a second chance, and do not care about what they are going to do in there lives. But I still think that America is unfair because although it is said to be the land of the free, and everyone is supposed to be treated equally, it seems to me that people that do not get a second chance are those that need it.
Alexandra Stender
5th hr
Yes, I do feel like America is a race. I think that the people who are wealthier, they have a higher chance of winning. But that's not to say that the person losing the race can make it up to the front and actually win. Most of the time the wealthier do win though. The less fortunate people don't succeed because of the decisions they made earlier in life. This affects where they will be in the race.
I personally don't think that life in America is fair at all. It seems like the government now only favors those who are wealthier. They don't look out for the people who are struggling. If this keeps out our economic status will go down significantly. The United States is already 23rd in the world. Instead of decreasing, we need to increase. It wouldn't be that hard if the government just tried to help everybody.
Eboni Bell
5th Hour
Life is a race and the smartest and the greatest drive will always be ahead of the competition. Those people before the great depression were citizens who believed in Hoover worked hard for each penny they earned and following him put it all away in a bank. These people were the ones who succeeded because during this time period you cant be lazy or just whatever about jobs and money. People didnt think they had to work that hard during this time period and in the end since they had overconfidence in the society they suffered the hardest.
Before the Great Depression Life was fair. Everybody in America had an equal chance. Black Americans still had been segregated but if they really wanted to succeed in life they could. There were some that pushed past the fact that the were black and proved everybody wrong. Many of the black americans that were successful came from nothing and they worked from nothing and became something. Everyone had and equal and fair chance if they worked for it and pushed back andy boundaries that were set upont them by society.
Christina Leong
U.S History 6th hr
1-27-07
Yes, I do think that life is a race. But, what I don't agree with is the fact that the strongest and the smartest win. For example, you could be the smartest person in the world, but if you’re lazy then you’re not going anywhere. I believe that the determined and the wisest make it to the end of the finish line. If you have drive and put all your effort into something, then you’re destined to be a winner. Also, I don't believe that life in America is fair. I think that America is more concerned with people of high social standing and class. I definitely don't feel that America is fair to people that are a part of a minority. If you’re a part of a minority then you may have to prove yourself or work a little bit harder. Yes, everyone in America is offered the same opportunities, however, some people may have to research or seek out the available opportunities more than others, simply because the information is not easily accessible to all people.
~Shayla McElroy~
5th Hour.
I do not believe that life is like a race. Sometimes life isn’t fair. How many times have you had a disappointing moment and someone tells you life isn’t fair? It just isn’t sometimes. Occasionally you may think that one person has it all but really, they have they have problems of their own. Life is definitely not a race. You should live your life the fullest and do not let anyone tell you differently. Yes, the strong and healthy people may live longer, there are also those who are strong and healthy and die at a young age. No one can say that they have a perfect life. There are those who live to be 100 and still they don’t have perfect lives. Those same people could want to die to be with their loved ones. It the little things that make life unfair for example, someone’s health over another. Don’t sit around waiting for your life to change. You are the only one who can control your life. You can measure your own happiness and that’s what makes life beautiful. You should live every day as if it were your last. I know this sounds cliché, but you really never know what’s going to happen next.
Evie C.
6th Hour
Yes I believe life can be compared to a race. The strongest, smartest and those who work hardest will win the race. You can be smart, but if your lazy and don't work at it you will not get as far as you could. The hard worker could beat the smart one with their motivation. If you look at Bill Gates he didn't come from a very well off family, but through his smarts and motivation he has become a very well off businessman. Also, many people believe that to win this race that they have to have higher education because that is the key to success. People need to keep in mind that some degrees out there can be very helpful in finding a better paying job, but other degrees can be very interesting to study but take you no where when you get out of school. When you look at some of the richest people in our society they have made the most money with their own business not always involving a degree. Usually working for them selves.
i would not say that life is a race, much more practice for a race. for example a formula one race: if you are a good racer there is the chance that you could win the race but there are still factors you can't control such as the weather, parts of your car that brake or the simply the actions of other racer that could lead to an accident. therefore you can't make sure that you win the race you can just make your chances better in driving more carefully and trying to be aware of what you will find behind the next turn. it's the same with your life. you can never make sure that you will have success in "the race of life" but if you try and work hard enough it is still possible to reach everything the American dream stood and still stands for.
life wasn't and will never be completelly fair. there are always people who go in the "race" with better conditions like conections through family friends or simply inherited money. but these drivers have the same chances to get into an accident than other racer if they are not aware and so it is possible that they get passed by racer with worse conditions who are simply the better drivers.
-Martin S.
I believe that life in America is like a race. The American dream is built on the idea that hard work, honesty, and persistence in pursuing your goals will eventually pay off. That’s not to say that there are not a lot of bumps in the road along the way. Our economic, political, and social systems are designed to give our citizens a fair chance and an equal opportunity at success. Unfortunately this is not always the case and the systems have to be constantly altered to continue to improve them. Ways to assist the underprivileged to better utilize the system to their advantage need to constantly be devised and improved. This gives a better chance for everyone to be able to participate in the “race.” As imperfect as our system might be, it remains one of the best models of democracy and capitalism around the world. Andrew Wehbe-6th
Yes, I think that life is a race, but I don't always think it is won by necessarilly the smartest intellectual wise or the strongest strength wise. I think it is won by the smartest who can manipulate people or know ways around the system or have the habit of helping important people that will later owe them favors. I think the most of the rich, like celeberties, are not the smartest people or really do all that much besides acting, and yet they get paid the most and then waste it on a $10,000 purse. I beleive that people like firefighters who risk their own lives to save others and really are the strongest in body and mind, but they don't get paid that much. And I beleive that that is not fair. It's not fair that someone like Paris Hilton can waste so much money partying and doing nothing while police men or firefighters are working so hard and actually make a difference in the world. So with that, I believe that life is not fair.
colleen moran
In cases similar to this life is a race, although I wish it wasn't. People with advantages usually come out stronger. In my opinion we have a head start, we go to fortunate and great public schools. At some times life is easy for us. When you think about it people who aren't strong in the sense of confidence and support don't usually make it big although they could be trying as hard as they can. Also, a person that isn't smart will probably not make it big in the business world by being a President, CEO, or any other high position at a company.
Life in America isn't always fair, just like life isn't ever fair. I would say some of the reasons why life in America isn't fair is because of the brutal discrimination that still exists. Also, other aspects that don't make America fair is that it can be hard to move up the social status ladder, and that if your parents have once been in the public eye or spotlight at least once, gives you a much better chance of becoming successful because they have heard of you. Another aspect is that there is a huge difference between the upper and lower classes, and the things that resources that are avaiable to the people in those classes. For example, in Michigan the upper class has the oppurtunity to go the expensive private schools, and the lower class doesn't have the oppurtunity to go to those schools and therefore later in life things may be a little more difficult for them.
-Mariah Van Ermen
5th Hour
I don't think life is like a race, and that those who are stronger and smarter always win. You never know what life could bring you, just because someone is wealthier then you doesn't always mean their ahead of you in life. It's the same for being smarter and stonger, just because someone went to a better school then you doesn't mean they will get farther in life. unfortunatly i don't think life in America is always fair. Things could happen that you don't have control over that could destroy your life. For example no one had cotnrol over hurricane Katrina and how it changed their lives.
-Shayna S.
Yes, I do believe that life is "a race" and there are winners and losers in our country based on certain factors. It is not always true, but generally those fortunate enough to have a good education as a child and achieve almost whatever they want to achieve are the ones who are successful, and those who don't have such a good education or great role models or a good path to follow are not as successful. It's not to say that those who start at the bottom can't get to the top, but typically in our society you've got a pretty big advantage starting in a place, say, like Oakland County. Are the kids who graduate from International Academy going to go to the same colleges, get the same jobs, and lead the same future lives as the kids who graduate from an inner-city Detroit high school? Probably not. Of course life is a race and smarter people will typically succeed more than those without an education, and it is the truth of “survival of the fittest” or social Darwinism. That’s how life works, and that’s why certain species on our planet don’t survive. It isn’t realistic to say that life isn’t a race because people constantly struggle and compete every day. If an employer looks at several resumes, he isn’t going to pick one at random; he’s going to pick the most impressive one, the one with the highest qualifications. That’s the nature of living things.
Is life in America fair? That's a tough question. Is life, anywhere, at all, ever fair? Is it even possible to judge what is considered fair and what isn’t? If you mean does everyone abide by the same rules, and discrimination by law is nonexistent, then yes---life in America is fair. But we are not all born with the same privileges, the same opportunities, and many people out there would claim that is unfair. Is it fair that some kids are born to parents who make $30,000 a year while other kids are born to parents that make $130,000 a year? Was it fair that during the Depression, while a quarter of the nation was living below the poverty level that some people weren’t suffering at all, still leading a similar life to the one they had prior to the stock market crash? No, but that’s LIFE. Life isn’t fair. Life in America is more equal and life in other countries, you might say, because we have a government that works hard to establish laws and policies that accommodate the large majority of people. But is life in America fair? You can’t fairly say that.
Jill Mailing-6th hour
Life is like a race. The problem is, the competitors run on different paths. Some run on smooth, hard cement, while others run through forests and over hills and rivers. Even if you win the race, it doesn't necessarily mean you're the strongest and smartest.
Just look at "Persuit of Happyness" The movie is all about a man struggling to support his son and himself. He faced homelessness and starvation, but ended up successful in the end. Other people have it so easily. All they have to do is take over their dad's coorporation or work hard at school.
Those who struggle will tell you, that America isn't fair. In fact, life itself isn't fair. It will never be fair. Some will always start off near the finish line, while others will have to run their hardest to win.
~Chelsea Rabano
5th Hour
Yes, I believe that life is like a race and that those who have good buissness skills or come from rich backrounds will win it. Those people who get good educations are usualy the ones who are sucessful in life, and that high school drop-outs usually end up working mimimum wage down at Mcdonalds. I also believe that life in America is not fair because of the fact that people who are poor are usually the ones that didn't recieve good educations or who don't have jobs, and are drug users. But you can't always place the blame on them, because not everyone recieves a great education, orgrows up in a great crime-free neigborhood. Like for example people who lost all of their money in the stock market crash didn't exactly live a fair life, where the rich could pay off there debts while others could bairly stay alive. Many people say that this is the land of opprotunity, but you really have to get lucky in order to succeed in getting the "American Dream."
I believe that the "American Dream" only happens when you are sleeping.
Alex L.
5th Hour
Life is very much a race. Life is a series of obstacle you need to get through to survive. The most important thing is being mentally and physically strong. The strongest step up to the plate ready to take on any challenge that is put their path. People that are weak will run in a different direction hoping their problem will go away.
You need street and book smarts. The smartest people get in the best colleges and will take advantage of opportunities to get a great job. Those kinds of people make it to the top and make lots of money.
Another part of the race is who has the most money and material items. People think you have to have the most expensive stuff and best house. It all comes down to the every aspect of our life is a race and you have to face it head on.
Life in America is fair. I believe that you make your own opportunities and that you are responsible for your own life. People always find someone else to blame. Your life is like politics. Everyone points fingers at the ones making decisions. For example, your parents make decisions and you blame them later. If one thing goes wrong in our country we do not stop and look at what we might have done to cause that. People just blame the president. People don’t take responsibility for their actions, and they should.
Megan Tomaszewski 6th hour
I would definatly agree that life, at least in America is like a race, but the idea that the strongest and smartest are the winners is certainly not true. Everyday talented smart and amazing people are passed by the world unnoticed because they dont have the money or pwoer to be known and get ahead in the race. Winning this so called race in the country is more about finding loop holes rather than just playing by the rules. I would think that winning this race is to be succesful. That could mean money, family, love, anything that YOUR american dream is. Life in America is definatly not fair. Perfect example, Paris Hilton. Is she the strongest, smartest individual? Not nessicerily but she does always get what she wants, and technically speaking lives the American Dream. This shows how unfair life is in this country. Like i said before you could be the most talented and intelligent person in the world but iwth insufficient resources, you wont be able to get to the end of the race or through it.
lori b.
6th period
Yes, I do believe that America is very much like a race. I don’t think that it’s necessarily the strongest and smartest that win, but the wealthiest. People who are wealthier have an advantage in America and have a better chance to win the race. They have more resources available to them. Occasionally someone less fortunate will overcome the obstacles to win the race but it’s not as common. People who don’t have money or power have to work twice as hard and still aren’t considered as good.
In my opinion America is not fair at all. There is no such thing as everyone having equal opportunities. Depending on how much money and power you have allows you succeed in America. The government doesn’t even help out the poor people and neither does the wealthy. America is full of people who are greedy when it comes to money and people mainly look out for themselves. Some would like to believe that things are equal in America, and social status and race don’t influence how well or not well you do in life, when in all actuality it does.
~Brandi B.
I do think life is like a race. The people who are smarter tend to do better in society, but that is not necessarily true for all. There are certain instances where people make a lot of money without going to a top school. People don’t have to get all A’s in school to be a millionaire today, but it does certainly help. Some people learn and take in information in school better than anybody else, don’t turn in their homework, and get C’s. Others don’t necessarily learn the information and understand it, but rather cram it in at the last minute, get a B, and turn in all their homework, and still manage to get A’s in school, but that C student is smarter. Today it seems like what’s on paper is all that matters, but I guess it’s a matter of how you apply your knowledge when it comes down to it. In the real world, knowing what to do in the right situation is how people get by easily. When you obtain the right kind of knowledge for your own job, and know everything there is to know about it, it makes the job easier. So, it’s definitely “the strong survive.”
I don’t think that life is fair at all. I think a lot of people are born into having things way better off then others. For example, a person living in the ghetto, and a person living in a rich neighborhood. For the person in the ghetto, opportunity is a lot less than a rich kid. I guess things come easier more so for some than others.
Jordan Najor
I think that life feels like a race for those who are not the strongest, samertest ect. They are the people who have to work the hardest just to get by. For them it always feels like they are racing with the richer people to get more money. To them the stronger and the smarter are winning the race. I am sure life probably feels like a race to the strongest and the smartest people also. For them they are racing to see who has the most money. The wealthier people in America have more of a chance of winning the race then the not so wealthy people.
I do not think that life in America is fair. Some people just have better opportunities then other. Some people are born with money so they are better off in life then other people. Other people are born into poor familes and they do not get as many opportunites as other. They do not get the same chances as the people born into wealthier people. Life also isn’t fair in America because of the discrimination that still exists in our country. Many people get turned down from great opportunites because of discrimintaion.
--Claire M
5th hour
Yes. i do believe that life is a race. People must be smart and strong to survive like they want to. You can't have any kind of education and think your going somewhere in life. Things don't work that way. I'm not sayin that if your weak and inteligent you won't get anywhere in life, just don't expect to fulfill high dreams.
Yes i do believe that America is fair. Everyone has the same privaliges and everyone is treated equally. We all go by mainly the same rules. Everyone has to work to get what they want. Simple, if you don't work then you don't get anything. It's not like the government just looks at a person and say he likes them and gives them money, everyone earns it. So yes i do think America is fair.
Ciara Embry-Brown
6th hour
My beliefs of that state meant life is like a race, I do believe it is. Many people believe that the smartest and strongest will make it to the finish lane, and most of that time that what happens. The strongest of people do have so down falls they might have to make enemies on the way to the top of the so-called finish line. In some cases I do believe life in American is fair, if you look at other countries they are not treated as fair as we are. We have the ability to speck are minds and have May freedom people do have. In the earlier days American was not fair, we were racist and discriminated against many people.
Ashley B.
Yes, i think life is basically a race. Life is a survival of the fittest, and the strongest are the ones who survive. This is the way to world works, the smart go to college, to get a job, to live a successful life (usually). The ones who dont apply themselves, usually dont go to college, therefor do not get a job, and do not have a nice, successful life. Although this is not always true, this is usually the case. i do not think life in america is fair, people rarely get second chances, if they screw up early, there is no way they will get anything later on. Life in america is the survival of the fittest, and the stongest are the ones who survive. This is unfair to the ones who arent stong and smart. because, not everyone is stong, and smart.
Ryan Day.
6th hour.
No, i don't belive life is like a race. Life is what ever you make of it.However i belive some Americans view life as a race."Who can be the richset, and most successful the fastest"."Who gave more money to charities, and shelters"? It seems like a big popularity contest to me, not the American dream.
No, i don't think life is fair. Different disasters occur daily. When the economy fell back in the 20th centry, that wasn't fair. Peolpe who are very sucessful tend to make comments such as "life is fair, and just live the American Dream". Hoover was one of these people to me. These are just reasons why i belive life in America, isn't always fair.
Friday, January 26, 2007 3:21:16 PM
MR. WICKERSHAM THIS IS MY QUOTE! I FORGOT TO PUT MY NAME ON IT!
IMANI ROBERSON
5 HR.
If life is like a race, then what are we racing to? It is human nature to make everything a competition. But I don't think you have to be the strongest to win the competition we call "life". You just have to be the most determined. Perserverence plays a big part in the "American Dream." We always here about these success stories of some one being dirt poor and then finding a way to make themselves succesful. But that doesn't happen with laziness and doubt. I believe poor to be a state of mind. Those who have financial trouble don't have to be poor. The poor people are those who have a mindset that they will never make it in life.
Life in America is fair to every one who is willing to put a little effort into their lives. No body becomes successful by just sitting around and doing nothing all day. You have to take charge of your life and make life worth while.
Annna Badalamenti 6th Hour
Yes, I think life is a survival of the fittest. Some people are successful, while others aren't. The largest obstacle is beating out your competition. To be successful in the world, people have to be the best out of everyone. Unfortunately, America has exceptions. We try to make laws to give everyone a fair chance. This defies Social Darwinism, the survival of the fittest. I think that america is not yet fair, but we are well on the way to making it fair for everyone.
Andy Rovinski
6th hour
No life isnt like a race where the strongest and smartest win. Life isn't a race, it isn't a competition, you just do what you do and work hard at it, but there's no first place, second place, or any place, your fte is you fate. Also i think life in america is fair. It's set up that as long as you work hard you will do fine, which is right.
Yes, I think life is like a race. People are competing for success. People are constantly trying to out do each other and be better and make more money than the other. People often think more money means more success. These people need to remember that having a lot of money doesn’t always make you “successful”. The people that are smarter and stronger usually end up doing well in this race because they do not give up until they get what they want.
I do not think American life is fair. In life there are always things that happen that we can not control. This is not only in America, this happens in other countries too. People can not control certain things; some people have certain privileges that others do not. Some people are born into certain things, like a person who is born into a middle class family. This person will most likely have a better chance of getting a college degree. Where as a person from a poor community does not have this option. However some people do live the American dream and branch out from their class. Although Americans do not always have the fairest life, I think it is a lot better than other people’s lives in other countries.
Allison L.
5th
Yes i think life is like a race. Those who are stronger and smarter always win. If you look at the buisness world the smart people are the ones with the best jobs. The unintelligent people in life end up with jobs that involve manual labor.
American life is relativley fair compared other countries like Russia or China. Racism and sexism still isnt perfect but its better. Things still progressivley get better in America and work its way to complete perfection and equality for everyone.
King Carr
Yes i think life is like a race. Those who are stronger and smarter always win. If you look at the buisness world the smart people are the ones with the best jobs. The unintelligent people in life end up with jobs that involve manual labor.
American life is relativley fair compared other countries like Russia or China. Racism and sexism still isnt perfect but its better. Things still progressivley get better in America and work its way to complete perfection and equality for everyone.
King Carr
I do think that life is like a race because why else would people go out of there way to keep a job or a way of life. An example is when people work for a boss that they don't like, but that person is high on the "latter". They don't want to start over, because they fear that they will never get to where they were.
I don't think that America is unfair, compaired to other places like Iraq. Here there are jobs and oppertunities, but there, many people can just get by. Many times because the market that many of the people rely on is a big target. So America is unfair in a sence, but it's not the worst place to be.
Patrick H.
6th hour
First of all, I do believe that life is a race of people competing over each other, to determine who lives the better life. The only exception is that the smartest, and the strongest do not win this race most of the time. The people who keep competing to be the best, are never content with their life. They keep pushing themselves, and pushing themselves and they never take the time to acknowledge what they already have. People who live the best lives are those who have great relationships, with either family members or friends, and those who are content with what they already are, or already have.
Secondly, I do not think that life in America is fair. Someone who is born into a house that is severley poor cannot live happy, content lives because they have to worry about when they’re going to get their next meal. Someone who is born into a family that really cares about them and they have the essentials to survive have it easier off than that of an abused or poor child.
Leah Jackson Fifth Hour
I do not agree with the idea of life being a race in which everyone starts at the same place. Everyone actually starts off in totally different places. People born into poor families will always have a harder time becoming as successful as others. Some people are born with advantages over others. They might inherit a good name or an automatic career in whatever their parents may have become successful doing. Many people in other countries have probably heard about the American dream, and immigrants come here looking to find easy success. However, it isn't that easy. Everything depends on who one is. Different people run different races based on their history, their own dream, and their ability. Life in the United States is not fair, but for some people it is a race.
Kaitlyn M.
If life is like a race think that those that are the strongest, and smartest will win the race. I don't think people could win the race any other way. You need to be smart and tough in order to succeed in life other wise it is very hard to survive or even cross the finish line.
I think most of the time America is fair, this is not always the case but i think a good majority of the time if someone really wants something bad enough and if they work hard they can get it. There are exeptions to this rule where as people barely work at all and get evrything they want. For example there is a television show on MTV called "My Super Sweet Sixteen" this show is about extremely rich teenagers getting everything they want just because they turn a certain age. They get more things in one night than some people get in their entire life. In one episode a girls parents got their daughter a brand new jaguar. In this case America is not fair. These kids did not work hard at all, and yet they get the benefits that their parents get even though they are the one's who worked so hard.
Other than exeptions like these, i think most people that work hard get what they deserve, making america a fair country.
Jonathan Klar
6th Hour.
Yes i feel like life is a race and if you do the right things in life it will be easier. If you try to take shortcuts in the race you will be cut short. I think having money also plays a role in winning the race because with money life is so much easier. Being a wealthy person in America is better than having to live check to check.
I think life in America isnt fair for some races. Some races dont get full respect and get all the things in America. Also if your immigrant or from differnt country tryin to live here some Americans dont want you living here. So i dont feel Americas is fair and it will never be fair.
Aston Williams
6th Hour
Yes, i belive that life is like a race. The people who are the strongest, smartest or have the best luck usually win or in other words succeed at life. America is a survival of the fittest, If you don't go to a good highschool, chances are you won't get into a good college, without college, you don't get a good job, and its pretty much downhill from there.
The American life is somewhat and somewhat not fair. Many would argue that it's not fair because awful circumstances fall into peoples laps such as losing a job, or physical disabilities, and these days finding a decent job isn't all that easy. Which is absolutly true! There are people who sit at State DHS offices all day and search for a job, apply and apply and apply. And it's not just that, when you start from a bad home life where education and success are not a priority, your pretty much screwed. And although some may say you have to want it enough, how do you teach someone to want? When that is all they've ever known, how do you teach someone what they are capable of? On the otherhand, there are hundreds of success stories of people who rise out of the ghettos and become millionaires. I guess in a way nothing is fair, it's all just luck. How lucky you got with your family, your moral and social values, your social status, your physicial and educational abilities. It's all just luck, and all we can hope for, is to get lucky.
Crystal Schein
6th Hour
In the quote "We have nothing to fear but fear itself", I think its sayin we cant be afraid of whats going on now we have to think of what could happen by what we are doing now and be afraid of that. I think in a way life could be a race but not really because you don’t have to be the strongest, and smartest person so have an amazing life. People don’t always start at the same point and so you could really turn life into a race, people are all different and have different strong points. People that are rich arnt always happy. I think it is fine to be average and not be the best at every thing you do because that’s just boring but to have strengths in some things that you do in like we good because you have the strong things your good at and the weak things that you arnt so great at but if you try that’s all that really matters. I do think life in america in most cases besides the pay for jobs I feel people like teacher, pliceofficer,ect. Should be getting payed better than they are, I think that may be the only thing I dissagree with in america.
erin d.
Yes, I believe that life is like a race and that those who have good buissness skills or come from rich backrounds will win it. Those people who get good educations are usualy the ones who are sucessful in life, and that high school drop-outs usually end up working mimimum wage down at Mcdonalds. I also believe that life in America is not fair because of the fact that people who are poor are usually the ones that didn't recieve good educations or who don't have jobs, and are drug users. But you can't always place the blame on them, because not everyone recieves a great education, orgrows up in a great crime-free neigborhood. Like for example people who lost all of their money in the stock market crash didn't exactly live a fair life, where the rich could pay off there debts while others could bairly stay alive. Many people say that this is the land of opprotunity, but you really have to get lucky in order to succeed in getting the "American Dream."
I believe that the "American Dream" only happens when you are sleeping.
Alex L.
5th Hour
It is true, life is a race. The winner’s of this race are the survivors of the fittest. But how they survive are different in every situation. The smart man trying to get a job and who is good with his hands and has a large work ethic will not get a job if another man is applying who knows the manager. And the sad thing is, the man who is friends with the manager has no resources, no skills will come to work late daily and half does his job while the other man and his family starve. The way America is run is unfair. It is land of the opportunities as long as you know someone or naturally have money. Out of all the geniuses in history they may have went to a college like Harvard. But, who can afford Harvard. There were many other that could only afford to go a local community college, but were intelligent to go somewhere like Harvard. But, without money they could never be recognized and go down in history with others like Franklin.
Ashley L.
Yes, I do believe that life is like a race, and the main people who do win are the smatest or strongest people in the crowed. America isn’t fair because some people cant win the race or they come far behind because of past records, disabilities, etc. Many people struggle every day to stay somewhat higher in the race of life and some survive but others do not. Overall I strongle think that life is like an unfair race.
-Kellie H.
5th hour
I do think that life is like a race in most cases. It is much easier to be successful and achieve more if you are stronger and smarter. It's like a race also because it's much esier to win when you have a lot of training and endurance. The smarter you are, the more better job you can get. I think that American life is not always completely fair. The rules and laws we have are always changing and sometimes we don't have much control over it. The way that I think American life is fair is because the people that work harder are generally going to have a better life than the people that sit around all day complaining about everything. Although, some people can't afford to even go to school and I could see how others have an advantage. Thats why I think that American life is only sometimes fair.
Kristin Mafrice
6th hour
If life is like a race I think the ones who have the most drive win. I think you have to set goals for your self in order to achieve what you want. I dont think you have to be the smartest or strongest, I just think you have to want it in order to succeed. I think life in America is fair. I think everyone can get the same oppertunities if they work hard for it. I think you also need to compete with your standards in order to succeed.
Hannah Burch
Hour:5
I agree that life is a race because if you just sit around and be lazy you won't get anything accomplished. On the other hand, the people who work hard and go after what they want succeed in life. There are people out there that want the same things as you and they are fighting hard for it so you have to fight twice as hard to get ahead. I don’t think America is a fair place because if it was nobody would be below the poverty line and everybody would be able to support themselves comfortably. There would also be enough jobs for everybody and enough food but that’s not the case so you have to work extra hard for what you want and need to survive.
Jasmine Windham
5th hour
I believe life is like a race because in soceity or the world the strongest,smartest do win the race sometimes. I think power and respect helps you win the race because to me with respect you have people look up to you and want to be around you or they want you to be around them.With the power you can basicaaly get anywhere in life becuase you will have people at your fingertip so therefore these people probably will be making alot of money and get better jobs. In the other these statement tells us that the weak people lose the race and dont make it anywhere like they are stuck at a dead end and it is a struggle to get out to make it in soceity becuase as we know soceity eats up people and spit them out like we are nothing if we are not fit to stand up to soceity standards or expectations. I dont think america is fair becuase if that was the case then we would all have the same job and the same amount of money, we would alll live in the same size houses but it doesnt work like that. If American life was fair then we wouldnt have all the issues that we have right now today and we wouldnt have to struggle for survival in this world.
Yes life is like a race beause during the Great Depression, many people rush to get their money out of banks, many people try to find jobs and homes. For those who are the strongest and smartest would probably win the race. They could have long, healthy life. For the weakest ones, they probably won't be able to work if they are disabled. So therefore they wouldn't have any money. Also they wouldn't be able to take care of themselves if they were living alone. I believe that American life is not fair because if you done something wrong, maybe if it was something by accident during work, they would kick you out and wouldn't give you another chance. Ellen Rutila
U.S History 6th
I do believe that life is very similar to a race, although "race" may not be a perfect analogy for the situation it is the closest we can use. I say this because you do need to be smarter, faster, stronger and all in all more mentaly and physically equiped to take on the toils that come at you in the real world. Unfortunatly not all are equally equiped for this "race" and though it may be their fault in some areas, it most certainly is beyond their control in others. Areas such as socio-economic background, and race (as much as Americans feel this has become a non-issue) are factors that can not be controlled by the individual. So, in the end life is a race but an unequal race none the less.
Thomas Hess
6th Hr.
I truly don’t believe that life is like a race; the strongest and smartest will win. People in this world move at different paces and follow there own rules you cant just say because the are smarter or have more money they are truly a successful person. More people might look up to them. It lost likely depends on the person you are talking to, it seems like the more driven someone is they believe life is like a race. In many ways America is fair but over all America does not treat everyone else in this world as fair or independent as they should become.
Ashley B 5th hour
Yes I believe that life is like a race, and those that are better and stronger then others always end up on top. The ones that are weak and not as intelligent as others do not get good jobs, which causes promblems for their families. And when you can not get a good job you can not give your kids a good education. Unforunately it is a cycle from generation to generation.
That is how life is a race.
Eric Pina
5th hr
In fact, life is a race, its a race to all the finer things in life. It seems as if only the strong will survive. The strong ones are the people who are well educated and have the high paying jobs. The weak are ones ones who were brought up in poverty and are surrounded by criminals with no guidence in life. The weak are the ones who have to steal and kill just to make to next weak and i think that the strong is failing to realize the struggle that most american go through with their everyday life. Everyday some of the weak are being eliminated and the strong grows.
K.Reed
6th hr.
Life is a race. we may not think it is but its like an unwritten rule and everyone knows it. its always who has what and who has it better. everybody has compettion with everyone. Life is just a game. i think that even if people dont have good jobs they can still be the strongest and win the race. and i dont think you need to follow any certain rules to get through it people should live up to what there standers of their life are. and just because america is the land of the free its not always that way. Life is barely fair and we just need to learn how to get stronger to get through it
-Jessica P 6th hour
I believe that life is like a race and the strongest and smartest do win, but there are also some who don't even care about the race. If you are one of the people who feel competitive about life and want to climb to the top, then the rules do apply. You need to be strong, emotionally and physically, and smart to 'win'. I also believe that if you don't let the material things and you're place in life bother you, you can be very content without 'winning'.
Life in America is fair. We have so many great things that many people in other countries don't get. We have a lot of freedoms that we should be thankful for. It may seem unfair at times, but I believe that's because life isn't always fair in general. There's a lot wrong with our country, but living here isn't bad at all.
Lauren Lounsbery
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