Sunday, September 11, 2016

"Land of Limitations?" Piece

U.S.A., Land of Limitations? Nicholas Kristof
In the Op Ed piece U.S.A., Land of Limitations?, Nicholas Kristof argues that there are several social factors that can cause our “land of opportunity” to seem to have more boundaries than ever before. Kristof touches upon the fact that “children that are born into a low income family, typically do not rise to the top quintile” (Kristof). Basically, you are raised in it and usually become it regardless your skills.  He refers to this when talking about Rick Goff who he claims was a talented man that had several outside factors that unfortunately had caused him to not excel past what he began with. This issue is very common but there are others that do break through those barriers. Kristof also adds to the argument that these “few” who do manage to succeed are very slim which is also very true. Attending a high school that had these kinds of issues showed me how true it is only a dime in a dozen push through. I know only a handful of students who came from poverty and having very little, but working hard to find a way to attend college given their present circumstance. Kristof at one point turned me off from his piece because he says that many people believe that if you work hard enough, there are basically no excuses,which I do believe to only a certain extent. However, he continues his argument and points out how money isn’t the only thing that can potentially holding someone back from truly exceeding but, “ how often a child is read to or hugged. How often a child is beaten, how often the home descends into alcohol-fueled fistfights, whether there is lead poisoning, whether ear infections go untreated. Thats poverty that is far harder to escape” (Kristof 4). I can relate to this because of attending Woonsocket High school, where there is a very diverse group of students from several different backgrounds. There are many students that we are unaware of their home lives and it causes their education to falter in some ways. Their homelife can affect their views of what success is or their motivation and drive may be suppressed by their parents thus they may be discouraged. Finally, to bring it all together, “disadvantage is less about income than environment” (Kristof 4).

This is a great video that shows how poverty can affect students and their education.
He also brings up valid points about the gap between the rich and poor and entitlement. He asks the reader, “If you’re troubled by publicly subsidized meals, what about the $12 billion in annual tax subsidies for corporate meals and entertainment?”(Kristof 4).  I found this interesting because it put the reader in a position to view it from the other side if they have not experienced some level of poverty. Also to question our society and the choices the “entitled” and “privileged” are making while others are living in legitimate poverty, or in some cases like Goff, were hunting and fishing to put food on the table. I think this puts a different type of lifestyle into perspective for many and as future educators makes you really think. Kristof's main points in this piece want the audience to recognize these issues and how this "land of opportunity" has diminished and boils down to, "your outcome is largely determined by your beginning" (Kristof 4).

1 comment:

  1. I agree with your point of view and experiencing some of the points Kristof talks about. I grew up in Fall River and most of my friends do not go to college or further their education in anyway simply because of where we come from and their family situations. I also see it at work, where some children feel school isn't for them because of how their parents were with school or the amount of income their family has.

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