Ethnic Groups in America

Ethnic Groups in America Free Online Research Papers When the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock they brought with them the dominant human characteristics of risk taking, perseverance and determination for the end result of abundant prosperity. While at first look one would assume that these are desirable traits to have in any ethnic group. However not when the prosperity of the newly colonized people involves its ability to invade, displace and eradicate the native ethnic groups in its pursuit of expansion. After the American Revolution, Americans would import foreign African ethnic groups establishing an economic and political system that would escalate into a heedless nation that’s only cultural contribution to the world is its obsession for greed ,wealth, and power at the expense of all ethnic tradition and customs brought here by immigrants from around the world. The problem facing all ethnic groups in America today is the growing consumerism that has been incubating an emerging culture for the last 150 years. Unlike other countries where other ethnic groups are forced to assimilate due to foreign invaders, America invited with open arms a diversity of multi-cultured ethnic groups. All these different ethnic groups each brought their own customs traditions foods and religious beliefs with them. As we finish the first decade of the 21st century individuals find themselves more concerned with who is going to be eliminated this week on American idol, while watching it on the television screen in their cars with 24 inch spinning rims, on our way to the Olive Garden to eat Italian food made by a Mexicans, all while updating their Face book page with their new I phone. This is a terrifying definition of what one might call American culture. However it is not culture at all but the end result of extensive consumerism. Corporations produce goods in s uch mass volume so we can easily afford them. They also spend millions of dollars on advertising to the point we feel we can not live with out them. This is causing people to work more hours to purchase luxury items in an attempt to compete with their peers. This is causing a generation to abandon the values and traditions brought here by previous generations who migrated to America. This problem faces every ethnic group in America today. If left unresolved, all the diversity that makes this country the great melting pot it is today, will instead turn it into a cultureless country of money-grubbing, mindless zombies that behave and purchase everything corporations want them to. Corporate retailers support the social influential broadcasting media networks such as MTV, CNN, ESPN, and the Disney channel by purchasing the commercial time the networks sell to generate their revenue. This also allows the Corporations to influence the programming shown on television which plays a signific ant role in creating American culture. This is an important issue because in a country that prides its self in its ethnic cultural diversity, it is slowly being erased by the corporations that were born in its free market system. Immigrants have come to America to escape political and or economic hardships. They have also come here to work or start business and have a piece of the â€Å"American dream†. As newly relocated immigrants they bring with them the culture of their homeland. As time goes on they can pick and chose the extent of their assimilation. Their native born or even young children on the other hand only know the Americanism consumer society they grow up in. As they go to school they discover the importance placed on material possessions as they are judged by their peers by their clothing and possessions placing them in social categories. This is when they learn the value and necessity of the items they see on television commercials (Brenagain). For first generation Americans the only exposure they g et to the culture and tradition of their native land is what comes from their parents. As they grow up and assimilate they will abandon the culture taught by their parents for the materialistic American consumer way of life. Advertisers started to reach out to large groups of people in the 1920’s as consumer spending fueled by consumer credit helped people make purchases they might not be able to afford(GMU.edu)With the invention of the radio, advertisers could reach all the people in a city. Radio also helped expose products to people that were illiterate and normally never saw adds in magazines or newspapers. Using new techniques such as music jingles and having radio actors promote products, was the beginning of playing on peoples desires to want to be like celebrities and buy what they said was necessary and fashionable. (JDU.edu)Commercial television advertising began after world war II in the 1950’s . The three major networks (ABC NBC CBS) broadcasted nationally and the commercials shown were made by the largest corporations that had their goods sold in stores nationwide (JDU.edu). Nothing has changed in the last sixty years; the growth of television has created more channels with more commercials. Corporate retail giants are continually telling us we need their products to enhance our lives, while molding our culture to their liking destroying the diverse cultures of all ethnic groups in America. Immigrants that came here originated from many different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. They brought with them a rich heritage. However the youth of today holds no value to that heritage and is throwing it away and trading it for prime time television and whatever new clothing line is popular at the time. If society does not wake up and recognizes that they are being brainwashed by corporate sponsors that fund the programming they watch on TV and figure out that the shoes you wear, the car you drive, and the jewelry you flaunt does not define your character .It is this kind of mentality that fuels American consumerism and will lead to the downfall of all the diverse culture ethnic groups brought to America making us the great melting pot of the world. If I was president and could implement any action to rectify this issue that faces all ethnic groups today, my solution would be simple but possibly have a catastrophic impact on our society as we know it. I would create a law that places a financial ceiling on the amount of money any business in America can spend on advertising. I would allow businesses to spend only up to 100,000 dollars on advertising each year in every state. This would allow nation wide corporations to spend up to 5.2 million dollars a year but no more then 100,000 dollars in any particular state. However I would allow additional spending over the cap so long as any amount of money spent in any particular state by a corporation is matched with a 2 to 1 ratio payment to that states public school system. That way if McDonalds wants to spend 10milion on commercials in Los Angeles County they would also have to give 20 million to California’s school system totaling 30 million for only 10 million in advertisin g. My intention for this radical form of legislation would be to cripple the hold that advertisers have on the television media potentially destroying mass media as we know it. Two possible results would occur if I could implement this law. With out the millions dollars corporations spend on add revenue all the mindless programming that is on television would be taken off the air. This would not allow television networks to pay actors absurd amounts of money but instead direct that money into bettering our local school systems and pay teachers the money they deserve to educate our children benefiting our society and all ethnic groups as a whole. This way our county could redirect its value s away from material possessions and the need to own everything shown on TV. and more on sciences , the arts, family values, and improving the community. Then ethnic culture will grow and thrive in communities and the rich diverse ethnic heritage and history?that made our county the unique meltin g pot will continue, and not be erased by corporate profiteering.? American Advertising: A Brief History. History Matters: The U.S. Survey Course on the Web. George washington university, n.d. Web. 6 Mar. 2010.

The Morality of Using College Essay Consultants

The Morality of Using College Essay Consultants I’m inspired today to address a sticky topic:   the moral issues around getting help with your personal statement/essays for college or MBA admissions. Let me start by saying that The Essay Experts college essay consultants and MBA admissions consultants do NOT write essays for college and business school applicants.   When I get calls requesting that service (and I do get those calls), I have no problem turning down the business. What Do We Do? What do we do at The Essay Expert?   We coach.   We explore ideas.   We help applicants see what is unique about them and their life experiences.   We draw connections.   We suggest directions to take, layers to add, and ways to best impress an admissions committee.   Sure, we also might suggest a few grammatical or organizational corrections.   But in the end, the essay is ALWAYS the client’s essay, NOT ours. Still, there are people who are troubled by the concept of what we do.   Here’s a comment I received after posting a request for a college essay coach: â€Å"†¦ I find this topic/profession very troublesome. Its a slippery slope from coaching a young person about choosing a topic and format and helping them focus to, in effect, writing it for them or do such extensive edits that its no longer the students PERSONAL essay. Yes, Im sure there are essay consultants that put on the brakes, and this one could be one of them, but a position description that is so blatant about the role (take a drab college application essay and turn it into gold!) †¦ gives me pause. Im not naive far from it but of all the pieces in the college application package subject to help, the essay should be the most sacrosanct.† The concerns expressed here are my concerns as well, and my promise is that The Essay Expert does not go down that slippery slope.   Yes, I promise to turn the drab into gold, but by asking key questions of the applicant – not by writing the essay. The NYT and The WSJ Chime In Not long after receiving the above comment, I also came across a New York Times article, Crafting an Application Essay That ‘Pops’, which related the results of a conference attended by nearly 5,000 admissions officers and counselors.   The group, which included professors, admissions officers, and other college administrators, offered nine pieces of practical advice for writing personal statements.   I was happy, and frankly relieved, to see â€Å"Have an editor. All panelists advised having a close, trusted editor and an objective, outside reader.† Soon after, an article came out in The Wall Street Journal with a similar message to M.B.A. applicants:   In Looking for an Edge:   MBA applicants are turning to pricey consultants to help them navigate the daunting admissions process , The WSJ reports that 20% of admitted students say they used an M.B.A. admissions advisor in the application process.   Furthermore, the article relates, â€Å"As the consulting industry has grown, some business schools have become more accepting of it.† In fact, the managing director of M.B.A. admissions and financial aid at Harvard Business School uses admissions consultants as a resource â€Å"to ‘get some field intelligence’ about how prospective students view the school and its admissions process.† The Difference We Make It is unquestionable that having a talented editor can give applicants an edge.   And not everyone has a family member, guidance counselor or close friend who can serve as an editor or consultant.   That’s where The Essay Expert comes in.   Indeed, what we offer that a friend or relative cannot, is an objective eye and the perspective of someone who has read dozens, if not hundreds, of essays.   We will make sure your essay does not sound like anyone else’s. It is especially difficult to find a reliable advisor for M.B.A. admissions, where very specialized knowledge of business schools and their admissions processes is key to choosing the right essay focus and application strategy. In fact, one of our recent clients had enrolled several business school graduate friends to review his essays, yet still required ten hours of our consultant’s time to retool just two of his essay sets. Lingering Questions I understand there is still an issue present.   What about people who don’t know someone who can help, and who also can’t afford to hire someone? I am concerned about that point myself, and do provide assistance to a limited number of clients for a reduced fee or some type of trade.   I don’t believe I have been contacted by anyone thus far whom I turned away solely due to lack of ability to pay. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this topic. Admissions officers seem to have accepted that many applicants use paid consultants to assist them with the admissions process. Does this fact allay any of the concerns you might have had? I believe The Essay Expert provides an extremely valuable service and that we do not cross the ethical line that would have students presenting an essay that is not theirs. And we do help students transform pedantic or blah essays into stories that capture the hearts and minds of the admissions committee.