Optimism

Daniel Boorstein realizes that America is a wonderful place full of opportunity. He grew up in a wonderful town, one which had everything going for it. Oklahoma had been admitted as a state only 10 years before he and his family came, and in the time he was there it began to thrive. He was very politically educated and informed. Although he seemed to live in this perfect world, life was hard for some people--with the Klu Klux Klan and other race riots in the 1920s. He grew up in an optimistic and successful family, and the hardships he encountered never fazed him. Boorstein has this great wonder and awe toward America, and realizes it is a place where success can happen to anyone.

Boorstein dwells on what he believes are the positive aspects of America--religion, language, law and wealth. Boorstein mentions that, even though America is a diverse country, we have never suffered a religious war--one of the few diverse countries with the ability to say that. He mentions that our language is beautiful, and it is the English language that makes us so global and diverse. The English language has been made up from words many other languages and cultures. Our thought of law originates from England, the very country we were trying to escape. The United States is a rich nation. Rich not only in our monetary wealth and possessions, but we are rich in culture and social well-being. "Wealth is what someone possesses, but a standard of living is what people share." This quote emphasizes the American culture and our ideas of capitalism.

British immigrants came to America as a way to get out of British rule. Our "Founding Fathers" started this country, and we began with only 13 colonies on the Atlantic Ocean--later becoming the first 13 states--and have grown to 50 states and a couple territories. We went from being ruled--harshly--by King George, to being one of the most powerful nations in the world, under the leadership of our president. We have definitely advanced from our first settlements in the 1600s and 1700s. Now, in the year 2007, we have so much technology