How America Shapes People (Most Important Stories)

Izzy Rapacz

English 363

27 August 2012

Glass

How America Shapes People

            My idea of America is the raising of the flag at the Olympics, by the national anthem sung at my volleyball games, by the pledge of allegiance I hear every morning, by any honorable ceremonies, by the monuments and statues I see every time I visit downtown Chicago, the July fourth parade and fireworks honoring our independence, and by the country I represent when I go to other countries.

          The America I love has taught me all about the American community and how it joins people together. You never sing the national anthem or the pledge of allegiance alone or fun or honorable ceremonies aren’t spent sharing the feelings of only one person. It’s more of something you do not alone, but all together to create something better. These stories have taught me what it means to be an American – that you’re never really alone. You always have at least one person who is going through the same situation or feelings that you are going through. How the ceremonies or honorable statues make others feel.  America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.

Check it Out, #1: The National Anthem

Since this post can be about anything, I decided to bring the National Anthem sung in the beginning of all my volleyball games and my tournaments.

"Leadership cannot really be taught. It can only be learned."

I feel like leadership is definitley a quality that is showed when we sing that song. It represents what we do on the court, where we live, and how we reprsent our country. It's also symbolism that you bring to the song. I agree with the quote that leadership can't be taught, but only learned. You need role models and good examples to get you started so you can something to look up to. I feel that is what we do to the younger levels or girls volleyball. It's very important that we sing this historic song because it also brings us together and has a big impact on how we play and who we are playing for. Also, it's not just the players, but the audience in the stands. All the men take their hats/caps off and everybody stands and sing with us. It's a symbol of saying that we are proud to represent our country, the U.S.A. It also connects to what we are talking about in class and American Literature. The National Anthem is a historic event that took place, stood with us, and is present with everything nationally done.