America

[inkandpen]

I sent off a pair of syllabi to one of my committee members yesterday (Aaron) and one of his recommendations for revision is that I replace my secondary readings in the first week with primary readings. I found myself puzzling over what would be appropriate to introduce an American history survey-- we aren't doing any material yet, but rather

Comments

[jofish22]

oh, cummings!

next to of course god
america i love you
land of the pilgrims' and so forth
oh say can you see by the dawn's early
my country 'tis of
centuries come and go and are no more
what of it
we should worry in every language
even deafanddumb
thy sons acclaim your glorious name by gorry
by jingo
by gee
by gosh
by gum
why talk of beauty
what could be more beaut-
iful than these heroic happy dead
who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter
they did not stop to think they died
instead then shall the voice of liberty be mute?

He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water

Aaron's suggest is a good one, I have to say.

Maybe a good amendment? Perhaps the 13th or 19th, depending on when you're looking at? Or the 18th & 21st.

[inkandpen]

That's fabulous, I hadn't seen it before. Thanks!

An amendment (a 'good one') is also a good notion... I'll poke about a bit in that there constitution and see what I can see.

Perhaps too Classic

[westwasp]

Not that I know what course you're teaching....
I'd go with an excerpt from De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" which is helpfully public domain - the wikipedia entry links to a UVA version which is TOC'd into bite-size chunks. Hmmm, ok it is before 1870 but still so good yeah?

The song "Land of my Sojourn" by Rich Mullins is something I like - very much about the psyche of modern America, from an authentic Christian perspective.

Although I despise it, a more widely relevant song would be "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood. It has almost no content, but is essentially the anthem of evangelical jingoism.

Re: Perhaps too Classic

[inkandpen]

Ah, right, I didn't say. This is actually an exam task (not a real class to be imminently taught) but it is for the American history survey, 1870-present. Assuming, I guess, that they've already done 1492-1870 in a previous term.

Nonetheless, if the objective is to have big broad generalizations about what is American on the table to debate, those are both excellent suggestions. Thanks!

Re: Perhaps too Classic

[inkandpen]

I hadn't seen the Rich Mullins song before (perhaps unsurprisingly) and just looked it up. It is a beautiful piece, and I'm totally adding it. Thanks!!

I'm also adding Greenwood, because you know what? It would be good for discussion.

Re: Perhaps too Classic

[westwasp]

:-D Any time I can introduce someone to a Rich Mullins gem is a happy time.

[kdcayuga]

What course is this for?

[inkandpen]

Ah, right, I didn't say. This is actually an exam task (not a real class to be imminently taught) but it is for the American history survey, 1870-present. Assuming, I guess, that they've already done 1492-1870 in a previous term.