Assignment #1

Assignment Due 9/17: Choose a quote from Bourne and write it out in your blog. Under that write your interpretation of what you think the author is trying to say and explain that. Then, after that write out your own explanation of the meaning of this passage and why you chose this specific quote and how it relates to this class.

QUOTE: "Of course paternity or maternity suggests a sense of obligation to the parent as well. Instead, nationality is a more or less made up idea. This is not to deny the influence or power that this idea has over people. In fact, cultural constructs such as nationalism seem to have even more influence over people, than supposedly "natural behavior." Nationalism persists: because many share this value already, because it is supported by the state, and because it gives people a sense of meaning in life."

Interpretation: The author that wrote this quote i believe was trying to make a connection with how a parent has an obligation and how nationality has the same value but different. People have to help each other with their beliefs and have to be there for each other as a country. Yes Nationalism does persist because people give it a meaning. Paternity and Maternity have duties in which they need to work together and approach. Nationalism is the devotion to ones country making it not so different in meanings.

Meaning: This passage is mainly about letting new and different people in the country and how people can work together to give life a meaning. Of course many americans fear immigrants coming in to their country and think about the adaptation they are going have to do to fit in. Variety in ethnicity is not a bad thing or is it for the country. Multiculturalism is never bad and if immigrants leave their someplace to come and be part of the american life why should we make it difficult for them.I chose the quote above because life can relate so much to being a parent. As a parent myself theres many obstacles that i approach daily and i believe that as a country we all see it too. If we dint have a diversity in our country what would our country really be like. Same as a parent if we dint have a little one to look after and be our next generation, what is life going to be like 20 years from now. This relates to this class because people are afraid of change sometimes and since politics have so much to do with change is a great importance to learn about these struggles.