Chesterton Response

"America invites all men to become citizens; but it implies the dogma that there is such a thing as citizenship. Only, so far as its primary ideal is concerned, its exclusiveness is religious because it is not racial."

This quote shows what a walking contradiction America is, being that they want people to come join their country but they do not want them to be part of their country. America wants to be seen as making its rules based on the "religious" scale, by questioning polygamy  and anarchy, but it wants to be ran by humans who would use this to benefit themselves.

          Reading this passage, what I can conclude that Chesterton was poking at was the advertised concept of America is not exactly what it's cut  out to be. When he is applying for his passport, he is asked invasive questions, by people who do not necessarily care for outsiders; the same outsiders they dupe into feeling welcomed. Chesterton also kindly calls the government a band of fools, for some of the questions they asked in the application. If anyone were trying to come into the country and they had beliefs opposite those of the nation, why would they display these beliefs? They would wait up until they were granted access before assessing their beliefs. America wants to be taken seriously, but does not want to act or perform seriously. Once again, a walking controversy. In the quote, America is opening doors for others to become citizens, but also reckons the meaning of a citizen to be naturalized on their soil; if others, who aren't naturalized on American soil can be made into citizens, then where does it put those who are originally naturalized in America? Is it recognition that the nation came to be because of multiculturalism?

Bourne Essay Reflection

Cindy Dickson

"The foreign cultures have not been melted down or run together, made into some homogeneous Americanism, but have remained distinct but cooperating to the greater glory and benefit, not only of themselves but of all the native "Americanism" around them."

This quote emits the notion that the older meaning of "Americanization" has been watered down to have one sole meaning and one sole representation where one's level of "Americanism" must be measured on a scale. Bourne is sort of introducing a slight concept of American individualism vs. Foreign collectivism, where Americans are unsatisfied and self absorbed without considering others, and always looking for more advances without considering variety within their boundaries. 

Bourne's essay is to suggest that America change its limitations and consistently placing its "naturalized citizens" on a pedestal, thus making it difficult for the "unnaturalized" to feel as part of the nation. Basically, America is neglecting the fact that this country came to be from different branches of input stemming from various nationalities and backgrounds. It is not understood as to why back in the day, prior to this essay, immigrants were better welcomed when we knew nothing of what they could bring to the table, but now that we're aware of their positive input, we choose to exploit and oppress them. I chose that quote specifically because I agree with it completely, there is no sole definition of what it is to be "American" other than being foreign and living on American soil, that's as American as it gets, so why must there be some differentiation between people living on American soil, when neither of us can trace our very first ancestors back to living on this soil? The quote relates to political science because the government instills the concept of always going above and beyond other nations in the minds of its citizens. Proletariats don't usually wake up and change the rules of what makes you an American and what differentiates you from one.