AWOL (Draft)

PERSPECTIVES

Many people in America never ask themselves the question what is the American way of life. One never asks questions to what they do everyday because they adapt to it and it is a normal thing to do. To get a better understanding of what others thought about this life we live, many others and myself went out on the streets of New York and asked busy pedestrians what were their perspectives.

While asking questions, an adult said, “wow, I don’t even think about these things and it is the biggest thing ever.” When he said that, I was surprised for the reason that I am a teenager observing about life, instead of flying through it, and here is an adult who is doing exactly that. That was truly appealing. "What are the good aspects of the American way of life,” was one the questions I have asked many people in the busy streets of Manhattan. Many didn't acknowledge me, while others stopped and gave me short answer responses, not really thinking about what they were saying. Other than those, a middle class female who was in a rush said, "Opportunities to succeed, and thrive." While a High class Male said "you are able to take advantage of opportunities."

It is ironic how different social classes say the same thing about the good things in the American way of life. I would have thought that they would have different perspectives because of their social status. Their life styles are different but yet their opinion of good aspects of the American life is the same.

What is also interesting is that a black man and a white man both said that the bad aspects of the American way of life are "Greed". The white man had a cocky attitude when he spoke. He spoke as if "I got it like that, I am the boss, your wasting my time" type of attitude. The Black man thought out what he was saying even though he to go, he was also was glad we was asking him these type of questions because of our ages. While the white man was in a rush, and was too good to talk to anyone. It demonstrates that some white people only think about themselves. If it's not then they take those who are another race, a joke. Just like this white Male, Another White male Sounded Sarcastic when I asked him what he thinks the good and bad aspects are. He said, "The good is that we are here" and the bad is, "That we are not somewhere else like the moon." Then he just walked away. It seemed like the majority of the white men I asked, did not think out any of the questions I asked. They answered me as if they wanted me to get out of their face. But at least not everyone was like that.

On the other hand I noticed that some females had the same idea about the American way of life. A Caribbean teenager, an African American woman and teenager, all said, "It is the big things in life; fancy cars, big house, jewelry and all the finer things in life." That is interesting because they say life is all about the fancy things but yet that is exactly what people want. It is the "Greed" that makes people eager for it, which makes others think, that is the way life is suppose to be. What is appealing about this is that the females are the ones who think this is how life is suppose to be, or how they see it. Woman is known for wanting the finer things in life; the diamonds, the pearls, the fancy clothes, as well as money. It makes me question whether if that is what women are suppose to have or desire.

All throughout the interviews, only one person, a Hispanic female, who worked at American apparel, talked about the ghetto and kept it real. She talked abut how “the white man makes them sell these books about marijuana to little kids but yet she can’t do anything about it because she signed the paper giving her rights away.” What caught my attention was when she said, “The poor helps the rich get richer.” I never actually thought about, but it is true. Just like Andy said in class. The rich wants to get richer so they make these jobs so the poor can work for them. The poor get money but the rich get more money because they own the business. When you are rich you can do what ever you want, but when you are poor, you struggle, trying to get through everyday.

Understanding Capitalism:

Our life is shaped by capitalism. It divides the rich, richest, poorest and the poorest from each other. Capitalism is all about money and getting from "rags to riches" like Horatio Aglar said. There is not a Specific definition of what capitalism is. But what people know about it is it is an economic system in which goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed through the mechanism of free markets, based deeply on the right to private property and the profit motive. The good thing about capitalism is the poor help the rich get richer. The poor benefit from it because they get to have jobs to support their families and themselves. With out the rich they would not have jobs, houses, or the things they have now because the rich make all of those things, because of capitalism. That is also known as the "invisible hand", When the market organizes things that others can benefit off of. It just magically appears. There are no ways to disagree because in America people get jobs to survive in the world. One needs money to eat, buy clothes, pay rent and live. Capitalism is universal meaning everyone works together in it with out even knowing it. That is something we all benefit from. There are negative sides of how it affects us Americans. It causes recessions and depressions, which we suffer from. We are currently going through one now. Prices are rising and people are losing jobs. In this time the poor is getting poorer but that is how our American way of life. There are times where capitalism works in our favor or disagrees.