SWA #3

John Morin

English 102-111

January 22, 2012

SWA #3, Draft 1

Short Writing Assignment #3

            One of the least talked about issues in American society is the institutionalization of our elders. While many countries provide a place in everyday life for the elderly, America does the exact opposite: nursing homes, foundations where old people are grouped together to live in enclosed communities, are common resting places for many Americans. Like unwanted objects, many of these people, once lively and considered the backbone of the American workforce, are placed in these homes by the very children they raised. Why is this done? One in favor of the nursing home could say that it is both traditional and practical. As our nation becomes increasingly more focused on being the best, most powerful, and most productive country in the world, those who are not physically able to support the drive to advance are pushed to the side. The key population targeted, of course, is the elderly. For many families, having an elderly parent live at home in in times where the economy is weak is extremely costly, as one must pay for extra food, utilities, and medicine. Thus, many people choose to hide their parents and grandparents away, where they cannot play an active role in the everyday activities of their family.

This topic is increasingly becoming more aware in society, despite the lack of publicity in the media. As health care and quality of life increases, our nation’s life expectancy is steadily increasing, and the amount of elderly who have a right to be active in society increases also. In the future, it is possible that the customs and traditions dealing with our elderly will change as our parents, and eventually ourselves, could be forced into nursing homes.

The image on page seven of Writing Arguments is a patriotic depiction that appeals to the pride of Americans. A bald eagle against a sky colored background, staring fiercely into the world, is colored in the red, white, and blue of the American flag. Captioned underneath the picture, in bold lettering, is the phrase, “These colors don’t run!” This image is an accurate portrayal of the history and power of American patriotism. Since the nation’s founding in the Revolutionary War, men have fought, killed, and died to preserve the independence and freedom that this flag represents. Over time, as the might of the United States grew, the ideals that this flag represents on a global level have changed. During World War I, where America first arrived on the global scene as defenders of the weak and oppressors of the cruel, the flag stood for protection and righteousness. No other nation had a government like America: we were truly a unique land. Since the First World War, the American flag, as well as the bald eagle, have come to be synonymous with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The bald eagle, in turn, represents the authority of our people. Its noble features, etched all over the land, stand in hand with the flag and its colors: “These colors don’t run” is an excellent phrase that captures what America stands for.