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"In comparison to other countries, we do have a better overall lifestyle and living standard, but even then mortality and life expectancy are lower than France or Germany. I did a little research, and from 2011 to 2014 there was a drop of 10% for those who believe America is the best country in the world. The declining percentage of American patriotism can be attributed to the widening gap between the rich and poor. This problem is also prevalent in Saudi Arabia, where the government officials deny the existence of poverty although a quarter of the population earns only $530 a month. Merely donating to the poor does not help. We need to establish a firm foundation to hold our society together. We cannot follow in the footsteps of Saudi, where the middle class barely exists. A cliché that I often hear and agree with is, "The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.""
--( posted on May 5, 2015, commenting on the post American Exceptionalism (Continued) )
 
"This essay is very deep, both intellectually and emotionally. As a child, I did not grasp the idea of "home" because I was constantly moving from one country to another, and from state to state. If I lived in my childhood town for more than two years, I would have missed the environment and my surroundings even more. Cogen's thoughts relate to my parents' experiences because they often complain about missing their hometowns and the familiarity of it. I find America more pleasing since this is where I actually grew up. It all depends on your experiences and how well you became accustomed to the "landscape of your childhood.""
--( posted on Apr 28, 2015, commenting on the post The Meaning of Home )
 
"I completely agree with the author's point of view in this article. As a child, I went to school in Thailand, an East Asian country. I was only in preschool, yet there was an intense focus on education and a necessity to earn the top rank in class. I was drilled to study and practice math problems 24/7. The best accomplishment is when a student earns a certificate for their academic success, which I earned. When we moved to America, my parents kept the same conservative mentality on education. I think the Asian immigrants are drilled to work hard and study because they were conditioned at a young age to do well. Also, Asian parents believe the real money is made in professional careers, since liberal arts careers aren't always successful. I disagree with this mentality because a person, no matter their ethnicity, should become what they're passionate about, not what their parents want. Actors and painters can make a lot of money too; it's not all about the sciences."
--( posted on Apr 28, 2015, commenting on the post Article from Tom Schactman: Please discuss! )
 
"As a former ESL student, English always seemed difficult to write and understand. I speak Thai, Hindi, Urdu, English, Spanish, and a little bit of Arabic. Five out of six of those languages stress descriptive and flowery sentences. Throughout high school, my teachers urged me to write complex sentences using elaborate language, in which case I always had a thesaurus nearby. William Zinsser’s piece completely changed my perspective on writing, and I could not agree more with his explanations of concise sentences and active verbs. Complex language takes away writer’s voice, an important concept that allows each writer to differentiate himself/herself from others. Clarity, Simplicity, Brevity, and Humanity are the four key words that I will definitely take away from this reading."
--( posted on Mar 3, 2015, commenting on the post On Writing )