lewin 2005 - iEARN Australia International Education and Resource ...

Conflicting views
Some people are very proud of their country while others really have a
strong distaste of the principles for which they think their country stands.
Truthfully, I am rather ambivalent toward my country, the United States,
where I have lived all my life.
I live in a nation that is quite rich in a sense but which faces problems as
well. With all the money our nation gives to other countries (nearly $241
billion according to American Association of Fundraising Council's
Trust for Philanthropy in Indianapolis), one might wonder why there still
are homeless people on the streets. Also, some people, especially the
elderly, lack the money needed to get healthcare and medicine. The flu
kills 31,000 American senior citizens alone, probably due to shortages of
the vaccine.
Still, America is changing, growing, and working toward better
conditions. For example, the United States is fighting for freedom and
world security in the Middle East, an idea which some people may say is
not working. However, Saddam Hussein has been caught, and America
is searching for more information that will get us the answers for a better
world. Moreover, leaders of the United States are trying desperately to
keep America safe. I can see both sides to the story as the troops are
fighting hard, but at the same time, we are wearing out and using a huge
concentration of people in certain areas.
In addition, doctors, scientists and others have developed innovative
technologies that are saving and improving lives for all. From a personal
perspective, I am very lucky to still have my grandmother, who fought
off her breast cancer through the technologies of today.
On the other side, are we creating a competition that will lead to more
tensions and aggression? The Cold War was just that with a build-up of
weapons.
Moving on to current politics, at this moment in time, we are having a
presidential election in America. Are the issues really being discussed, or
are the politicians just trading barbs against each other over personal
issues?
Because of the aggressive way the politicians have been campaigning
and the manner in which the debates have gone, I have not taken much
of a stance on the election. In the debates, the candidates make personal
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