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Ashley Cubos

Dr. Schuetze - Coburn

AP English Language, Per 3

9 May 2019

Unit 6 Synthesis

Like most class projects, everyone must work together to make the project successful,

working properly, and to have the project functional for future use. Likewise, the United States is

presented problems and opportunities within it’s diverse culture, and must consider the same

factors: collaboration, having a plan -- as well as a backup plan -- and future use; when tackling

either a problem or opportunity.

September 11, 2001, a day everyone has heard about. From the common teachings that

the Twin Towers fell, to the lesson underlining the fact that society changed in the way people

portrayed others. Yet, the opportunity to have an equal and fair society still lays out in the open.

More specifically, the opportunity to accept people for who they are and not what others portray

them to be. Fortunately, during the 9/11 attack, a small island, Newfoundland, Canada (and other

communities) took in American citizens, with different backgrounds and languages. Within

Newfoundland is a town called, Gander, which took in about 3,000 of the American citizens,

who were on one of the 38 planes. The people of Gander paid no mind to the language barriers

and difference of cultures, and instead mingled with the American citizens. Thus, collaborating

with one another to make society brighter and full of life. As President George Bush states,

“With the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers who came to give blood and

help in any way they could. … This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in

our resolve for justice and peace” (Bush 929 - 930). Bush is telling the audience that working
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together, collaborating with each person’s different skills and assets, can push forward for a

change in the way society is pictured after a tragedy. In other words, the opportunity to have a

fair, equal society can be taken and achieved, if everyone in American society collaborates with

and works with each other.

As the cliché goes, “Nothing goes the way you plan it,” which is also why it is best to

have a Plan B or a back up plan. Hence, the problem that may be presented when either creating

a plan, or after the plan is complete and tested. In Naomi Shihab Nye’s short story, “One

Moment on Top of the Earth,” Nye presents the story of a young maiden who unexpectedly lost

her eyesight. In response to the turn of events, the young maiden moved on with her life, making

minor changes here and there, until her day of passing. Another example is the, 2019 LAUSD

Teacher Strike. The original plan was to negotiate a way for the teacher’s demands to be met,

through going to court and conferences. However, since negotiating by a box conference did not

work, the teachers went on strike, until their demands were met in about a week. These two

examples, show that problems are presented constantly, but having a plan can help organize

which problems may arise or which problems that may be a slight concern. Along those lines, if

a plan does not go well, then that is when a back up plan comes into play. The young maiden’s

original plan was to go through a life full of color, yet when she went blind, her back up plan was

to live somewhat normally. The teacher’s originally planned for only conferences to be held, yet

their plans changed, due to their demands not being fully met, by going on strike. Having a plan

can minamilize or extend the chances of having a problem of a project or movement presented

within society.

“I pledge allegiance..” (American flag Pledge), along with, “Land of the free, and the

home of the brave,” (“Star Spangled Banner”) all relate to the American flag. Throughout
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history, even today, the American flag symbolizes freedom, honor, and liberty, along with the

number of states within the U.S. It is still used by hanging or attaching the flag on a pole that

allows it to wave freely. However, in society today, the opportunity to make another use of a

national symbol is presented. Much like in Anchee Min’s, “Footprints on the Flag,” an American

artist set up their display, which had the American flag being purposely stepped on. Min writes,

“The American artist protested that he lacked freedom. In my view, he had too much,” (Min 953)

to tell the audience that the flag was not being used as a symbol of peace or nationalism, but a

rather as a controversy of perspectives between those who had been born in America, and those

who have not and have traveled to live in the U.S. In the growing world of science, opportunities

arise ranging from the change of purpose of an object, to the idea of a product that expresses

one’s idea.

Problems and opportunities all fall in line. Once an opportunity comes along, a problem

arises. After considering the factors to tackle these opportunities and problems within a diverse

society, one may also consider the factors that may come after tackling the situation: time (Is the

plan well developed enough to continue to play a role in the government?), amount of difference

(How much will society change?), and significance (Will the concept of the plan remain the

same?).