American Future: Jimmy Carter’s and Mark Twain’s Points of View

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Table of Contents

Anti-Chinese prejudice
Satire
Police incompetence
Jimmy Carter’s view point
Jimmy’s proposals
Personal opinion
Reference

Anti-Chinese prejudice

The piece by Mark Twain shows several prejudices performed against the Chinese in America. In the mines, Chinese are discouraged from immigration by imposing on them twice the amount of tax that other people pay. When a Chinese is caught in a robbery incident, he is killed (by hanging) yet any other group of people found is only chased away from the camp. In many parts of the Pacific coast, any crime committed and not resolved fast enough gets blamed on a Chinaman, and the unfortunate Chinaman gets killed. And while Chinamen could easily get a vaccination in San Francisco for only 50 cents, they are forced to get it at the wharf, where they pay 10 dollars to the state-appointed officer (Mark, N.D.).

Satire

Now satire, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the art or practice of mocking people, institutions etc and making them look ridiculous in order to show how foolish, wicked or incompetent they are (Hornby, 1995:1042). This piece by Mark Twain is satirical because under the guise of praising the police and media systems, he is actually pointing out the inconsistencies within those systems. He also seems to be sympathetic to the young boy who stoned the Chinaman, but upon deeper analysis of the work, it is clear that he is in fact against the stoning.

Police incompetence

Mark Twain ridiculous several police traits. He points out their tendencies to arrest innocent Chinamen, while the real criminals walk free. He also ridicules their gross inconsistencies. For example, while they proclaim to be making every effort to capture law breakers, in reality they are just fuelling the prejudices against Chinamen. Every little arrest by the police has to be applauded and splashed on the media, for their gigantic egos (Mark, N.D.).

Jimmy Carter’s view point

President Jimmy Carter describes several problems in America. They include the gradual reduction in the commitment of the average American to peace, economic and social liberties, the environment and human rights. He also points out the endangered personal freedom of expression, and the fact that any unorthodox perceptions are receiving less and less tolerance. The fact that the political leaders have flouted international agreements on weapons and justice is also a point of concern. In this, he points out the fact that America, traditionally a pacifist, now considers war amongst the first options to resolve international crises. America seems determined to exert its dominance on the rest of the world, regardless of the cost. Yet in all this, the majority of Americans are shielded from knowing the ugly face that America is showing to the rest of the world (Jimmy, N.D.).

Jimmy’s proposals

Jimmy Carter proposes several remedies for the problems pointed out. The underlying theme in them is that America should wake up and act as a role model for the rest of the world. It should become a champion of peace, freedom and global unity. The political divide within the country should be mended, and the noble history of America revived and nourished. Other countries should be able to turn to America for assistance with security issues and other forms of sovereign strife (Jimmy, N.D.)

Personal opinion

Jimmy Carter’s proposals should be heeded. This is because, though at present America is sovereign, it is still vulnerable to the very same global issues it is ignoring. The ongoing economic crisis is a relevant example here. No state, however powerful, can afford to stand alone and separate from the rest of the world. Global cooperation is important if the sovereign entities are to progress forwards. So pursuing peace is not a matter of choice – it is a necessity, if America is to have a future at all.

Reference

Hornby A.S. (1995) “Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary” 5^th Edition Oxford University Press, page 1042

Jimmy Carter (N.D.) “This isn’t the real America” Provided as a PDF

Mark Twain (N.D.), “Disgraceful persecution of a boy’, provided as a PDF

Click Here To Order Now!