Blog post: Mr. Sam and Jazzy

      In these two articles, Sam Walton and Shawn Corey Carter, better know as Jay-Z, are both examples  of a "rags to riches" story, with a twist. Both of them had fallen to the "easy road" to success, notably Jay-Z has spent a large chunk of his young life hustling and dealing illegal drugs. Walton took advantage of small towns and basically ran out the local businesses and threatening to alter their way of life, and when his company exploded, necessities such as employee wages were neglected. Jay-Z took a much more underground approach with his drug dealing, undercutting other dealers by setting a lower price and getting his "product" cheaper than anyone else. It became a symbol of capitalism, with "America had become more like Wal-Mart. It had gotten cheap. Prices were lower, and wages were lower. There were fewer union factory job, and more part-time jobs as store greeters."
      Jay-Z developed a similar method, by creating his own line of personalized products such as clothing, sneakers, vodka, cologne, and his records. His response to those who called him a "sellout or materialist", he replied that selfishness was the appropriate response to the events he faced.

Sam Walton and Jay-Z

Sam Walton made business with his philosophy of selling more for cheap, which got him a lot of buyers and a lot of success. Walton was more to save money which is where he bought in bulk and sold the items to make profit. He never splurged with his money even though he was at one point the richest man in America. Walton would do anything so he could save money on items. His savings on buying items to sell in stores would turn into more profit.

Jay-Z was a man who wanted the money and would do anything to get it. He would keep working and working to get the money. Especially with his label and music, he worked hard so he can get the money. His way of getting money was a chase. Jay-Z would do anything, even if it meant to put it life on the line. When he had the money, he would help his mom because his dad had left them. But because he loved money and had a lot of it, he would also spend it on unnecessary things like jewelry and on women.

The similarities that these two articles have is the way both Sam Walton and Jay-Z started poor and became rich. They both want to make money, but for different purposes. They both are also talked about badly for what they do for their business. Walton would sell items that Walmart claims is made in the states but is actually from overseas. Workers and buyers would dislike these type of actions Walton would do for his business. Jay-Z would be talked about his disloyalty to his partners and the music that put out that parents wanted their children to stay away from.

The differences would be Sam Walton was cheap. He would get cheap haircuts and even pick up a nickel on the ground even though he had so much money from his business. With Jay-Z, he loved to get money but also used liked to spend it. He didn't care about cutting people out of his business or paying his workers less than they should be earning. Jay-Z did this for his profit to become richer, not because he thought he doings help them.

Response article #4

In both of Parker's articles, he documents the two business giants of Jay-Z and Sam Walton. They both have succeeded in the "American Dream". Although they came from "humble" beginnings, they both sacrificed happiness and morals for success. Jay-Z would sell drugs and later in the future would sell music. Then Sam Walton who would sell clothes and merchandise. Walton only at first wanted to provide for his family and get them a good education, however jay-Z wanted to achieve is lifelong goals and not let anyone interfere. We see both of their tactics and mind-set to achieve this dream resemble almost a ruthless greed. With evidence of Sam Walton's empire affecting employees and local businesses. Then Jay-Z's song content to connect better with listeners to revive more popularity. I begin to wonder, if we're following false icons to success.

Response #4

     George Packer's articles of "Mr. Sam: Sam Walton" and "Just Business: Jay-Z" provides strikingly similar stereotypical stories of 'rags to riches'. Both Jay-Z and Sam Walton had unparalleled motivation to money, perhaps it is not an exaggeration to say it was an obsession. They both valued monetary success higher than anything, at the cost of morals and sometimes happiness. George Packer rightfully portrays the lives of both icons in a negative manner; Jay-Z as a paranoid mobster contributing to pretentious and violent values, while Sam Walton created a culture of cheapness and low quality.
    Jay-Z and George Packer's difference is in that Jay-Z was making money to survive, whereas Packer was a miserly man from the start. The background of the two is drastically different; George Packer was a man with education from mainstream society (high school, college, retail) and Jay-Z was a man who started from selling drugs and rapping. Both carry themselves dramatically differently as well, Jay-Z chooses extravagance and flamboyance while Packer displays stinginess and obscurity. In contrast to the similarity in that they both value money over everything they hold different philosophies on what money represents and have been brought up from different backgrounds.
    It is my opinion that these two figures are the type of people that are destroying society. The two people are so glorified in society that people view the values of pretentiousness, stinginess, and condescension as something that's good. These values are a part of what is destroying America, and these values are making monsters from the lowest of social classes to the highest. Money holds way too much value in today's life, and there needs to be a fundamental change in that philosophy.

George Parker’s articles, Mr. Sam, Sam Walton, and Just Business, Jay-Z shares the story of how these two mega-businessmen went from rags to riches and their own version of the American dream. In both articles we see the both situations, Walton’s story of growing up a white entrepreneur who would go on to create one of the biggest franchises ever. Whereas Jay-Z’s story is less subtle, doing anything that he could to make a dollar, even if it meant putting his life on the line. In both articles, I noticed that both men had started their journeys only as humble Americans just like the rest of us, but with enough hard work, dedication, and some luck on the way, success for these two embodied what it means to achieve the American dream. Although their come ups were quite different, their persistent efforts to put out their product to the American people truly are inspirational stories; giving me hope that maybe one day, I’ll get to marry a Beyonce too.

Parker's Articles Response

In Packer’s articles, both men, Sam Walton and Jay Z, are similar to each other by working their way up from low class to upper class (upward mobility) which is one of definition of American Dream. Sam Walton saw American dream in a different way. It’s not about becoming super rich because he said “money never has meant that much to me.” He define rich, which I believe his American dream, as  “ If  we had enough groceries, and a nice place to live, plenty room to keep and feed my bird dogs, a place to hunt, a place to play tennis and the means to get the kids good education.” This means that he just wanted enough money to provide his family and give his children a proper education. On the other hand, Jay Z grep up from “a Marcy kid no one ever noticed before in the middle of a crowd, rhyming , throwing out couplets…” to a very successful rapper today. He taught as that in order to achieve the American Dream, “don’t let them diminish your accomplishment and dim your shine.” Meaning that don’t let anyone interfere your achievements to gain the American dream and not let other stop you from getting it. 

Jay-Z and Sam Walton

George Packer's articles documenting the rise of two megabusinessmen, Sam Walton of Wal-Mart fame and rap legend Jay-Z, bring to light some interesting and rather dark perspectives on what success is and what it means to us. We see in both of them a passion for thrift and merciless efficiency, and in Jay-Z a willingness to sacrifice righteousness for money, power, and success. Walton's immorality is more subtle, but it his visible in how he treats local businesses, not to mention the lack of philanthropy. As repulsive as their tactics can be, we can't help but be inspired by how these two men quickly rose from low-income lives to explosive luxury. It leads us to wonder: is the American Dream really just...greed?

Mr. Sam and Jay Z articles

The articles: Mr. Sam, Sam Walton, and Jay Z, just business tell two somewhat similar, but unique, versions of the American dream. Sam Walton, the man who created and ran Wal-Mart, grew up with a few unique opportunities, but was clearly driven by a desire to create the most efficient business he could. Sam had the privilege of growing up white, male, and having support from some of his family members. His relentless work ethic combined with the opportunities he was given allowed him to create one of the most successful franchises in American history. Yet the story of his American dream has a tragic ending. Sam Walton knew business, and only business. He had a clear disregard if not disdain for workers unions, and his employees worked very low paying jobs. The business he created ended up undercutting American producers, and when he moved to buy from business over seas he would simply put a big made in the USA sticker over his imported brands. The man became obsessed with money whether he admitted it or not, and even on his death bed, "nothing cheered him more than a visit from a local store manager who wanted to talk about sales figures"(pg. 105). Sam's obsession with money and his version of the American dream ended up depriving the Americans around him of higher standards of living, and his own life became more about business than it did about family.
Jay-Z experiences a somewhat similar version of the American Dream. He grew up chasing money by any means necessary. Even the violent murder of his drug supplier wouldn't deter him from aspiring to become a drug dealer if that was the most profitable thing he could do. Jay-Z eventually stopped selling drugs, met the right people, and had the right rhymes to make it big. But even when he became a star it wasn't about the music, or the art, it was about selling a product. Like Sam Walton, Jay-Z was obsessed with business and tried to make money by any means. He dumbed down his lyrics and sold his rags to riches success story through his rhymes. Ironically the money he made off of rap was by writing lyrics about making money, and people listen as if its them in the song, climbing their way to the top, all the while their really being sold a product and an unrealistic idea of what it is to be wealthy. In the end both Jay-Z and Sam Walton lived their version of the American dream and sold it to the American people; yet, in order to make it big they had to set aside moral values and turn the priorities entirely to business and the art of ripping off the American consumer.

Mr. Sam and Just Business

Packer's articles about Sam Walton and Jay-Z are similar in the sense that both are stories about successful men who have come from lower class backgrounds. Jay-Z had the hope of becoming successful so people would stop looking down on him. In a sense, he wanted to show that he was better than everyone else. Sam Walton's story was a similar case. In his quest to become a successful entrepreneur, he watched what his competitors were doing and always tried to do it better. The main difference between the two was that Jay-Z didn't only want to be on top of the world, he wanted to show people that he came from the bottom. He wanted people to not only acknowledge his success, but he also wanted them to relate to him. Sam Walton however, was shown to be quite the cheapskate. Despite his millions, he did little to give back to the people. At his "five-dollar haircuts," he wouldn't even leave a tip. Both men came from similar backgrounds and had similar success stories. The difference is, the world saw them for who they were in different lights.

Jay Z and Mr. Sam

The two stories, “Just Business:Jay-Z” and “Mr.Sam: Sam Walton” are similar in a few ways. The Jay-Z article is about how Jay-Z was living in poverty and selling drugs yet, he used rap to escape that but in his eyes hustling will not ever go away. But, eventually he got in contact with well-known rap artist around his town and kicked off, Jay- Z wanted to take over the world and not just live in it. He did everything he could to get to the stop and he had to be real and aggressive about it. In the other article involving the founder of Wal-Mart, Sam, his life was more of being involved in everything and knowing what other people are doing so he can do it better. Like, Jay-Z he was addicted to the “hustle” he too wanted to be on top.The American Dream to both these entrepuners meant being on top and trying one’s best to get what they need to get that dream done. Both entrpuners took over the world in a different way, changing how America functions. 

Mr. Sam: Sam Walton/ Just Business: Jay-Z

Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, did achieve his own American Dream as he came from an area in Oklahoma where "people were cheap." The same thing occurred to the world famous rapper and producer, Jay-Z, rising from a "Marcy kid no one ever noticed before, in the middle of the crowd, rhyming..." Both Walton and Jay-Z are similar in a way that they barely survived in economic condition that each family had to struggle in the past, but then they made their way through success with stood-out talents and opportunities.

In Packer's article "Mr. Sam: Sam Walton," taken from The Unwinding: An Inner Story of The New America, he describes Walton as someone who's willing to keep on growing and working. He had this cautious attitude toward money, which was the way he was brought up; he was just plain cheap. Regarding parents' role in the two men's childhood, Jay-Z's parents had a million records stacked in the milk crates, as Packer claims in another article titled "Just Business: Jay-Z." Shawn would sang and spun around the room with his sisters singing backup while listening to the music.

As they grew up, Packer states that the two men started to show their interests in different areas that lead them toward their career when they became big. Living in a tough suburban area made things tight for Shawn when he was a kid, but he never loses his passion in rhyming. He wrote them down in a spiral notebook until they filled up. "It gave me an unbelievable rush to play it [recorded rhyming] back, to hear that voice," as he recalled. Sam Walton also found out pretty young that he could sell things. He started off in high school by delivering newspapers and selling subscriptions door-to-door, working in J.C Penney retail store, until he started to buy franchise goods. He would wander over and spend hours studying how the competition did things, which then became his lifelong habit.

The places that Sam Walton and Jay-Z originated from played a big role in each person's success in becoming few of the richest men in America. Packer argues in his article that Walton had seen people in his area struggled to fulfill their daily needs that he tried to buy low, sell cheap, high volume, and fast turn. "He [Walton] was so cheap that he kept the sign to as few letters as possible: the new store was called 'Wal-Mart.' It promised 'everyday low prices.'" On the other hand, Jay-Z spent years on the streets that took him further away from the notebooks, so he learned to memorize longer rhymes without writing them down. He was trying to live to the limit. The hardships that he experienced from meeting new people and trying to prove his skills had brought him 'selfishness,' that others called materialist; in fact, that was a rational to the reality he faced.

Sam Walton and Hova

Reading Packers two articles, I see similarities and differences between two very well known men in the world, Sam Walton and Jay-Z.

If the objective is to compare the two of them then the most notable thing that I saw while reading was that these two came from "humble" beginnings. They were both from family's that were getting by (they weren't middle-class status though nor were they homeless). The two worked very hard to get to where they are today (in Walton's case, where he was). They spent a lot of time focusing on their respective careers to amount to the wealth that exists for them now. They are both well known men and to sum it all up, that is what makes the two of them similar.

But there are definitely difference between them. To start it off, they are from completely different areas of America, thus having completely different upbringings to each other. They are also born in different time periods and that would contribute to the difference as well. Sam Walton is a man who doesn't like fame at all and believes that if he had a big enough house for his family and a good education with them, he'd consider that rich enough while Jay-Z firmly believed that he had to get to the top. True they were both competitive men who strove to win but other than that, they had different ideas for lifestyles. Jay-Z was extravagant, going to buy the best of everything he can get while, Walton was a very cheap man. Walton also abode to the law, doing everything he did legally while Hova was completely different. He enthuastically believes that to make it to the top, you have to break the rules and live a life of danger.

All in all, these men are similar in the sense of their past (to a certain degree) and the wealth they managed to amass but other than that, these men are completely different. 

Mr. Sam Walton and Jay-Z

George Packer's articles on Mr. Sam Walton and Jay-Z demonstrate the possibility to succeed even when coming from underprivileged homes. Walton grew up in the Depression era in a rural Oklahoma town while Shawn Carter, Jay-Z, was raised in the Brooklyn projects in the 70s'. While these separate societies pose their differences, both Walton and Jay-Z grew up surrounded by poverty and despair. While Walton accompanied his father to foreclose the properties of farmers, Shawn witnessed shootings and drug abuse among neighbors and family members. Both figures were able to break away from these conditions through learning from their hardships and aiming to improve themselves rather than giving in to self-destruction like their peers. Both Walton and Jay-Z shaped their struggles into their careers. Walton, brought up in a time when money was scarce, made his fortune on selling products at an accesible price to low-income individuals. He also made a point to build his stores in more obscure towns, like his hometown, to promote jobs and attention to these areas. Jay-Z made himself known through his memorable lyrics expressing the struggles of living on the streets. Both individuals, in a way, pay homage to their roots in their chosen career paths. You can say that Walton and Jay-Z attained the "American Dream" with their massive fortunes and legacies, but I think Walton put it best when he said, "'If we had enough groceries, and a nice place to live, plenty of room to keep and feed my bird dogs, a place to hunt, a place to play tennis, and the means to get the kids good educations--that's rich'"(101). Sometimes, we see the powerful stories of people like Walton and Jay-Z going from rags to riches and we think that this monumental fame and fortune is the true American Dream. We forget to take note of the essentials like groceries and education, privileges less common in other areas of the world, and remember that it is the mere access to these that embody the American Dream. In the land of opportunity, anything is possible so long as we never lose faith in ourselves and strive to better ourselves in spite of animosity.

Jay-Z vs Sam Walton

Packer’s Articles are similar in the sense that they both were able to have a huge significance in America even though they were raised in the lower class of society. They both had dreams of making something out of themselves and making money. Sam Walton was a cheep man who ended up becoming the richest man in America after he founded Wal-Mart from scratch. Shawn Carter (Jay-Z) imagined himself becoming a rapper at a young age. “I could just feel that stink and shame of being broke lifting off of me..”(253). He wanted to become wealthy and come out of poverty so that people would not look down on him anymore. They both worked hard and did whatever it took to make their dreams come true. On the other hand, Jay-Z made sure that the public could relate to him and therefore support him. This is why he did what all the typical celebrities did. Sam Walton did not care what people thought. He sat on 2.8 billion dollars and did not leave tip when he got his five-dollar hair cut. He barely gave any of the Wal-Mart profit to charity.

Mr. Sam Walton vs. Jay-Z

Both Sam and Jay-Z became rich because then wanted to become someone different than their upbringing and make it BIG. Mr. Walton came from a cheap family, however he used his cheap knowledge to stay cheap and changed America. Just like Mr.Walton, Jay-Z was very motivated, determined and focused. They both had a passion for what they did. It was inbeded into their identity.

Mr. Walton loved money and he wanted to get rich, and he did it by being cheap as well as exploiting people and raping their rights. As to Jay-Z what drove him to get rich was anger. He hated being poor. He loved music and he had to hustle and bustle to work his way up. Like Mr. Walton he also exploited people by selling them drugs and setting a role model to young children. It take guts, determination, passion and boldness to become rich from dirt. Some people just love money and they do whatever it takes to do it. The question is, once they have worked their but off... Does this truly bring them happiness?  And does the American Dream mean that you have to get rich, from the nitty gritty straight up down and dirty? Where is the moral and values of these people. It seems that the evil spirit of money has posed their souls. Good for them, they are rich. At was cost?  Mr. Walton died, and what did he take with him? Nothing! Jay-Z made it big, when he dies, what will he take with him? None of this materialistic money crap matter, because when you die, you do not take anything with you. What is the point?

Mr. Sam: Sam Walton / Just Business: Jay-Z

The first article is about Sam Walton founder of Wal-Mart. The second article is about Jay-Z the rapper.

Something they both have in common is that they came from humble beginning. They both as a result of enduring struggles financially had to become persuasive in selling things. Sam Walton sold clothes and other merchandise in order to make money. Jay-Z sold drugs and later sold his music. something else that they have in common is that they are both criticized. People criticize Walton because Wal-Mart seems to have created some negative financial issues. Jay-Z is also criticized for making his music materialistic in order to make his it more relatable to a bigger audience. They overcome their life struggles and became exceptionally successful and wealthy people.

There are some differences in both articles. In the first article Walton is more portrayed as a cheap person who never donated much of his money. Jay-Z is seen as a person who overcame adversity. It is also mentioned that Walton didn't care for money that much but that Jay-Z loved money.  

"Two Classes Divided by 'I Do'"

Jeannette turned out to be a pretty successful woman, considering she came from a family with little to no income. This is contrary to what the article says, when it states that children that come from a family with two parents, two incomes, are better off than children with a single parent.  Therefore, Jeannette story is and exception of what life and reality truly are. However, Jeannette did marry and her economic status did improve.

Response to articles by George Packer: "Mr. Sam: Sam Walton" and "Just Business": Jay Z"

Post a brief response after reading "Mr. Sam: Sam Walton" (Course Reader p. 163-165) and "Just Business: Jay Z" (Course Reader p. 166-169) about one of the following topics:

• What do these two men, Sam Walton and Jay Z, seem to have in common? What connections and/or differences can you find between these stories?
• What does each story reflect about the American Dream? 
• How is each man's identity shaped by a particular place, or places? Does this man embrace or reject the place where he is from?

"Two Classes Divided by 'I Do'"

In the reading by DeParle, the main points are about marriage, education, and income. I would say that there isn't a relation to DeParle's article and The Glass Castle because of how the Walls family is struggling being a married couple and Ms. Faulkner is thriving still in a marriage. The article talks about Ms. Schairer's struggle as a single parent raising her kids without child support and without a husband. She blames her decisions but makes of what she gets. Ms. Faulkner is still married and her family receives two incomes, where their family has no problem with money. The Walls family has very little income even though Rosemary and Rex are still married.

Two Classes, Divided by I Do Compared to The Class Castle

In the article, "Two Classes, Divided by 'I Do'" talks about how family structure and marriage affects the lives of their children. Where a family with 2 parents makes more money tends to grow up and be more successful than children raised by single parents.  It also states that children tend to follow their parents footstep not only in education but also.in marriage.  Although DeParle's article separated families into two classes, in The Glass Castle, Walls family cant be categorize by the two classes. Because Rex and Rosemary are married but they don't have the stable job, that can provide the needs of their children

Two Classes, Divided by 'I Do' & The Glass Castle

In the article "Two Classes, divided by 'I Do" by Jason DeParle, The "American Dream" is again discussed but towards a different idea. This article explains how family structure has an affect on the social class. The two mothers Ms. Faulkner and Ms. Schairer. Both friends and have similar pay, they are separated in this article by their martial status. Ms. Faulkner is married and lives on two incomes, while Ms Schairer has to support herself. When you compare this article to The Glass Castle, Rex and Rosemary stay married throughout the book. Similar to Ms. Faulkner situation, a mother and father brings different perspectives to the table. In The Glass Castle, Rex is a very mathematical and logical man. While Rosemary is very original and likes to think "Outside the Box" a little. Also the article gives an argument that families with two incomes have an advantage in terms of income and nurturing time. Although The Walls family wasn't in financial stable. I do think that the parents in  The Glass Castle gave their children plenty of nurturing time. Rosemary and Rex did give their children plenty of lifelong lessons that gave them success in their adult lives today.

DeParle Two Classes Divided

The reading from Two Classes Divided doesn't really surprise me about the opportunity difference between uneducated single moms versus educated married moms. I think that this reading relates to the book because Jeannettes parents weren't exactly stable enough to provide the right type of environment that allows them to receive extra curricular opportunities. Also at times the Walls kids did only suffer from their father not being around but their mother wasn't emotionally there as well. The kids were basically forced to learn to be independent from their parents at a very young age. Maybe it was because Rex and Rosemary were together the children were able to make it to college rather than dropping out and having children without an education.

DeParle's "Two Classes Divided by 'I Do'"

In Jason DeParle's article, "Two Classes in America, Divided by 'I Do'", he suggests that having a home with married parents brings not only more income to the family but is essential to the upbringing of the children and family life. However, in Jeanette Walls' memoir "The Glass Castle", she rebuttal through her own life experience that having two parents may not always lead to a traditional nurturing environment. 
Wall's family may not have been the most traditional, but her mother and father's marriage may have been the only thing "normal" aspect of their peculiar lifestyle. However, despite the marriage that was suppose to unify the Wall's as a family, according to DeParle's article, it seemed to play a paradoxical role in their family dynamic. It goes so far that at one point in the memoir, Rose Mary Walls, the mother of Jeannette Walls, refers to her husband as "a cross we [the family] must bear" (Walls, 105). Seeing as Rose Mary is saying this to her children, shows that their marriage does not unify their family, but in contrast, is a burden on them. 
DeParle's article states "changes in family structure also broadened income gaps and posed new barrier to upward mobility" (DeParle, 1). Though DeParle supports many of his opinions with factual statistics, he does not take into account that not all children from married couples do not come from a "privileged" households that have "traditional" financially and emotionally supportive families. Walls' parents did not find financial stability through marriage due to their lack of responsibility and pursuit of their own personal "dreams". Rex's unrealistic quest for gold is ultimately what continuously held him and the family back from being able to focus on realistic successes. Rex would mask his addictions to gambling and alcohol with his prospector and glass castle dreams. Likewise, Rose Mary's dream to become an artist held her back from being a teacher to have financial stability for the family. Both of Walls' parents go back and forth with their own dreams and leave their children to raise themselves and each other. 
Though Jeannette did have unique challenges, despite coming from a home with married parents, she eventually found the drive to follow her sister to New York and become a successful journalist. DeParle's statement that, "You're more likely to rise out of the bottom if you live with two parents, and you're less likely to fall out of the top" proves to be true for Jeannette. And even though her parent's are still living as they did when they were children, Jeannette and her sibling rose above poverty to pursue a better life for themselves. 

Two classes divided by i do

Two classes divided by I do relates to the glass castle because it talks about families and children growing up in poverty and their chances of success. However The Glass Castle defy the statistics because even though they grew up in a poor family, they were still able to rise and become successfull people. Which brings me to question, does the fact that the Walls children's parents stay together greatly improve their chances of success regardless if they grew up poor or not?

"Two Classes, Divided By 'I Do'" and "The Glass Castle"

Jason DeParle's article about how marital status affects people financially opens up some interesting questions to readers of Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle. Rex and Rose Mary Walls are married for the entire book (or at least until Rex's death), and theoretically their children should have been raised by both parents -- but in reality, the number of present parents is closer to zero. As much as the two love their kids and root for their success, they are not fulfilling their roles as parents, and the four children are closer to raising themselves. Rex is an alcoholic who eventually becomes desperate enough to sponge off Jeannette's meal budget to get himself a drink, and does practically nothing to help the family. Rose Mary is a distracted dreamer who lacks the attention span and work ethic to bring steady income. Their financial status is a weak counterexample to the thesis of "Two Classes, Divided by 'I Do'" -- their family is impoverished because they are not being parents.

As a sidenote, DeParle tells us that "scholars have found that marriage itself can have a motivating effect, pushing men to earn more than unmarried peers." From a strictly Rex-centric point of view, it is interesting to analyze how his life is affected by his relationship with Rose Mary. While Rose Mary was not a strong force in fighting her husband's misdeeds, her mere presence probably helped Rex stay
more grounded in reality. Without his wife, Rex would have been even more of an unstable, wandering drunk. It leads us to wonder, what if Rex had married someone with a stronger interest in reality? What would his immovable object do in the face of an unstoppable force?

Rose Mary was mostly unimportant to the story until the latter part of the book, where Rex is mostly absent. Because of this, the effect that Rex had on Rose Mary is less clear to me.

Two Classes. Divided by "I Do"

In the article " Two Classes, Divided by 'I Do' " by Jason DeParle, the idea of the American Dream is once again discussed. This time, it is focused around the idea of family structure having an affect on one's social class. The article mentions two women, Jessica Schairer and Chris Faulkner, who are both friends and have relatively similar pay. The big difference however, is the fact that Ms. Faulkner is married and has the income of two people to live on and to support her family, while Ms. Schairer is struggling to raise her family by herself. In comparison to The Glass Castle, I feel like this idea of being married means higher class standing is inaccurate. Rex and Rosemary walls are married and have been trying to support their family for most of their lives but they live in poverty. Yes, having two working parents could mean a solid income for the family, but because the Walls parents choose not to work, it makes life much harder in terms of trying to feed their children and make sure they have a decent place to live. The only thing that is stopping them from living comfortably is them choosing to live life how they are. Rosemary is a qualified teacher and it sounds like Rex is qualified in different fields of work so if they choose, they could be living in better conditions than they have for most of the book. Instead however, they choose not to work and believe that trying to scrape by to survive is the best option for their family.

Two Classes Divided and The Glass Castle

Jason DeParle's article titled: Two Classes, Divided by 'I Do', covers the affects of marriage on the lives of children. Family's with two parents tend to make more money, and their children more often than not grow up to be more successful when compared to children raised in single parent households. DeParle's article is an interesting contrast to The Glass Castle. While Jeannette was raised with two parents, she grew up quite poor and for the most part, only one parent was making money for the family. Although there is a difference in the income Jeannette's family received compared to other two parent households, the outcome managed to be somewhat similar. Jeannette was able to escape poverty and enter the middle class with good values and find a rewarding job for herself.

DeParle Article,The Glass Castle Response

Well, what can I say about DeParle's article in The Times. I think that this article is a perfect article to parallel with The Glass Castle. 

I think it clearly not only talks about the difference classes of the society, but also the social construction 

it have become, how we are raised to think in a certain way, and "do what we are suppose to do".

 However, I could help thinking the way the article show what parenting should be about, and the responsibilities that

 comes with it. This is something I personally think that the parents in the book turned a blind eye to. 

The article shows the problems with parenting and the need of be able to pay the bills as a single parent, not to mention 

the hard work a single parent need to work to be able to pull through to get to the next day, with the pressure to be able to have food on the table every month, 

This is something really interesting if paralleling to the book, where the addiction and self pity makes 

the parents not being able to see the severeness or the size of the problem with not being able to feed your family everyday. 

However, I do love the fact that The New York Times always writes in a way that makes you think and understanding the real meaning with "life".

DeParle's article "Two Classes, Divided by 'I Do'" Response

Although Deparle suggests in his article "Two Classes, Divided by 'I Do'" that marriage seem to bring more fortune, in both income and creating family and home for the children than single-parent does, but Jeannette Walls in her autobiography titled The Glass Castle proved that it is not always the case.

Jeannette Walls, along with her brother and two sisters grew up with both parents. Their family moved from town to town across the U.S., and throughout the journey the Walls' parents had shown little effort in making a stable living for their family. During their nomaden living, there were times when the children had to look through the dumpster for food. This reality of Walls' family does not lift up the expectation that marriage help them stay privilege.

According to DeParle, college-educated Americans are increasingly likely to marry one another, "compounding their growing advantages in pay." The essence in the argument is that raising children with paychecks that come in twos is more likely to lift the family out of poverty than that come in ones. In The Glass Castle, both Walls' parents are college-graduates; Rosemary had a degree in teaching, while Rex experts in math, physics, and engineering. Rex Walls, as Jeannette describes, was an 'entrepreneur;' he lived in his dream and that was passed onto his children, but he was rarely in a sober condition due to his drinking habit. His wife, Rosemary, is an "excitement addict," as Jeannette puts it, and she had huge passion in art and painting, that often she would sit in front of a canvas all day instead of finding a job with her teaching certificate. Rex, with his extraordinary views of life, got in quarrel with many people which put him in disadvantage because he kept losing jobs. He did not allow his children to receive food coupon or any charity that was offered to them, because they were not "poor." The Walls' parents eccentricity prevented them to live in a way normal American family would have had.

Despite the series of unfortunate occurrences that they had to live through, their struggle as a family and Jeannette's experience with her parents did motivated her to succeed. At age 17, Jeannette followed her older sister to New York, and tried to make her own living while she pursued a degree to become a journalist. Winship states in DeParle's article, "You're more likely to rise out of the bottom if you live with two parents, and you're less likely to fall out of the top." In the end, Jeannette and her family settled down in New York. Even though the Walls' parents still lived on their values, but the children had succeeded in their own way without having to live in poverty as they did in the past.

DeParle Article/The Glass Castle Response

In Jason DeParle's article, "Two Classes in America, Divided by 'I Do'", he discusses the prominent influences of marriage on children within family units.While, DeParle investigates the effects of single parenting versus having two parents, his views can still apply to Jeannette Walls' memoir, The Glass Castle, which depicts a family with two parents. Both pieces show that a couple's relationship and their resulting parenting style has a great effect on their children's individual success. Deparle states that "Sara McLanahan, a Princeton sociologist, warns that family structure increasingly consigns children to 'diverging destinies'"(214). One's personal attributes and tendencies are likely acquired through a parent's raising techniques. As children grow up under the company and discipline of their parents, they tend to emulate them subconsciously. In Jeannette's case, she and her siblings were able to see beyond their parent's rationalizations so as to not repeat their mistakes. Despite their questionable parenting, however, the Walls certainly ingrained valuable life lessons and values in their children. The presence of both parents within the family helped shape the children into who they are.

Two Classes, Divided by "I Do"

The article "Two Classes, Divided by "I Do" is focused on the "American Dream" in way of being married therefore being able to provide for one's family and live comfortable. Yet, it focuses on the single adulthood raising a family and having the single adult do everything they can for their family.  In the article the women mentioned: Ms. Schairer makes an effort to be involved with kids at school and at home but she wished she had an extra person around. I believe some people may take that for granted not realize how much work it is o provide. When I compare this article to The Glass Castle it completely contradicts what this article is saying simple because the Rosemary and Rex Welch were not well off and is living in poverty and are dirt poor.  But, the difference is they chose to live that way when in fact they both could have got a well paying job to support their family and it sucked for the kids who wanted a better life.

DeParle Article Response

The article Two Classes in America, Divided by I Do by DeParle, make for a good comparison to The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Basically, what DeParle says in her article, is that children who have both parents are more likely to succeed then their single parent counterparts. the best example of this would be the study made by the Brookings Institution, "Among those raised in the poorest third as teenagers, 58 percent living with two parents moved up to a higher level as adults, compared with just 44 percent of those with an absent parent"(9). This shows for the most part, the importance that parents play on a child's development and their eventual well being. this is because having two parents, for the most part, lends to a stable environment for them to grow and learn. This however is not always the case according to Scott Winship, "And even if the marriage helped the people who got married, he warns, it might hurt other families if it tied them to troubled men"(9). This is when the caparison to The Glass Castle really makes itself clear. Because she had two parents, Jeannette Walls should have pulled herself up out of lower income. She did, but that does not mean that having two parents helped, in fact it hurt her chances in many ways. This is because her father and mother were not stable people, her father was a drunk and would disappear for days at a time, and her mother cared more about art then her children. The reason why Jeannette Walls was able to make it out of poverty was because she worked hard and chose to get an education, not because her parents were married.

DeParle’s article reflection

DeParle’s article, Two Classes, Divided by ‘I do’, talks about the importance of marriage in a family setting. It starts off my saying that family structure deepens class divides. I agree with this statement because when I look at Rex’s family, I see that other families on Little Hobart Street consider his family to be different than them due to the way his family functions. They judge Rex’s family from the beginning because they see that their family unit works differently than how the other families work. The article also says that family structure broadens income gaps, which poses barriers to upwards mobility. I also see this in the Walls family because of how Rex and Rosemary behave themselves. If they were more responsible parents; they would make the effort to get a job and support their kids. That way they wouldn’t have to starve. The article states, “The people with more education tend to have stable family structures with committed and involved fathers” (2). This makes me think of Rex’s kids and how they are affected by his lack of involvement. It also raises the question of their education and whether or not they are considered to have a good education that could help them in the future to have a stable family structure of their own. There is also the issue of there being less “marriageable men” out there, which lessens the chances of having a stable family. The last issue I would like to point out is that the article mentions that less educated women are more likely to have children with more than one man. This got me thinking of Jeannette’s future. To some, she might have a valid education, to others it might not be sufficient or profound enough. Therefore, will Jeannette end up having children with more than one man as a result of her childhood?

Response #3

     The article "Two Classes, Divided by 'I do'" by Jason DeParle is an article that primarily analyzes the significance of marriage and education to the widening scale of inequality. DeParle's main objective is to portray the dramatic differences between the economically stable two parent family and the strenuous conditions of a single mother family. The story develops with contrasting anecdotes in similar situations of the Faulkner's and the Schairer's. There is a drastic distinction in the amount of opportunities, emotional support, and general quality of life between the two families. The importance of education and the role of a father for a prosperous family is especially emphasized throughout the article. "Two Classes, divided by "I Do'" is an article that questions and endeavors into the whole theme of the American Dream. Therefore, it holds relevancy to the novel The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and the overall theme of our class.
    Both Jeannette Walls and Jason DeParle's works question and endeavor into the characteristics of current inequalities throughout society, the ideology of family, and the enigma of the American Dream. Furthermore, they both use anecdotes to build an emotional connection between the reader and the families depicted in the article/novel. The style of delivery is distinctly different, but both the article and the novel are alike in this respect. The two compositions are also different in that DeParle clearly identifies the superiority of the economically stable, whereas The Glass Castle does not.
    I prefer the complexity and expressiveness of The Glass Castle. Adding on, the intricacy of Walls' stupendous journey leaves the story open for interpretation (such is the beauty of literature). However, DeParle's article holds an advantage in that it is more straightforward and relatable to the mass. The Faulkner's and Schairer's are ordinary Americans living as members of society, in complete contrast to the extremities that the Walls family endured. It can be safely said that the attributes and perspectives of the Faulkner's and Schairer's are shared by many American families, whereas it is much more difficult to grasp the outlook behind quintessential nonconformists such as Rex and Rosemary Walls.
   The correlation between "Two Classes, Divided by 'I do'"and The Glass Castle raises many questions: Are there concrete traits of the American Dream, or does it differ based on the person? Is marriage more an economical thing than an emotional one? How are we going to change this? Are the Faulkners truly happy? Where are the boundaries between conformity and nonconformity?

Two Classes, Divided By "I Do" and The Glass Castle Comparison

The Article "Two Classes, Divided by "I Do" by Jason DeParle focuses on the differences in income, education and family structure between Married, unmarried couples and single parents. This article has information that would seem contrary to the family structure portrayed in the book The Glass Castle.  The author makes the main point that married couples should be able to more easily provide for their children and have a financially stable life, than unmarried couples or a single parent. This however is not the case for the Walls family. Rex and Rosemary are a married couple who seem to struggle financially for the majority of their lives. The Walls unlike the happily married Faulkner couple who provide their children with abundant opportunities and luxuries, raise their children in ways that are sometimes abusive. So why does the Walls family seem so unstable when the statistics and odds are in there favor? When you really think about it the walls family usually only receives income from one parent Rex so most of the time all five of them are living on one income. They are sort of most relatable to Schairer because she also struggles financially with only one income. One major thing that separates the Walls family from the two other families is that Rex and Rosemary don't seem to want stability in their life. They don't like to stay in one location for a long period of time. The most relatable part this article has to the book is when it discusses that the structure of a family and how stable it is does impact the children in sometimes negative or positive ways.

Despair & Hope

Despair - This is an image around 1979 when the Khmer Rouge was in full effect. This little girl is holding her sibling. They have no home and was pretty left out to die. Pol. Pot was the leader of this ruthless regime. He didn't care what he was doing to the Cambodian population. In fact, he said he was doing all of the "peasants" a favor by putting them out of their misery. If this picture doesn't represent despair then I don't know what will. Imagine being in the girl's shoes. Hungry, scared, and tired, she lost all hope in the world. Asking herself how could someone be so heartless to such innocent people.




Hope. - This is a random picture I found on a religious website. Not sure where it came from, but at first glance it made me smile. Not only does it have the Disney font that gave me a flashback to all the awesome Disney movies but a simple message as, "Don't stop believing," could make me imagine that nothing is impossible. When I read this, I felt like there is a little glimmer of hope. That all my struggles will be worth it some day. I know I have a long road ahead of me but I will overcome every obstacle. Sometimes I would write little notes to myself like, "hang in there," for that motivation whenever I feel like I want to give up.

Leslie Tiongco - Despair and Hope

Image of Despair

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3557/3512014784_b777e4d910_z.jpg?zz=1

Analysis: This image represents despair to American society to me because of how most of America looks at homeless people. The numbers of homeless people on the streets have increased and society's attitude towards people who have nothing and need help is tragic. Many people can pass by a homeless person with a sign asking for help and feel no sort of emotion. We the have tunnel vision to achieve our American Dream that helping others rarely happens. Homeless people are human, and have their own dream, but hope is lost because of becoming homeless and having no one to help them. Their American Dream is lost and changed because of their situation. Money brings greed out of many, which is why people with just enough money would choose not to help a homeless person. Because giving at least one dollar is too much money to give. Others never think about how hard it is without having the essentials of living. I chose this image for despair because it captures two main objects, the homeless person, and the sign "NOTHING TO SEE HERE MOVE ALONG!" The way the sign is next to the homeless man shows how society is now. Before we would help each others, and now it's all about everyone for themselves. That is what we do when we see homeless people on the street, we just move along and just pass by because they aren't important enough to help.

Image of Hope

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8496/8295539976_a71676b1a3_z.jpg

Analysis: I choose this image for hope because this is a picture of a food pantry service. In this image, there are many people who are helping pack food in a box to be given out to people who need it. This service and many others that help people that are struggling brings hope to the American Society. The people in this picture are wearing thick jackets, scarfs, beanies, and gloves while packing the food. The people pictured were able to volunteer their time to help others who need the food on what seems to be a very cold day. In the back you can slightly see the stacked boxes stacked high, that may be ready to be given out. The man on the other side of the table seems to be wearing less expensive clothing compared to the women who are packing the food. It seems that they are helping him pack the food that he needs displayed on the table. Food pantries and other services that help others that are struggling helps American Society because these services save families from starving or being kicked out on the streets. Food pantries for example may help a family or an individual save their money to pay for their rent, or to help them from starving because they don't have enough money to buy food.

A two sided Dream

Despair

These images from a punk rock band named Anti-Flag say it all. The American dream is a myth in the eyes of this band and many other people. The first image represents how the freedom of speech  has its limitations and how terrorism can be used to control what people say. One example of this is the case of the infamous Edward Snowden, who leaked secret information about the CIA, NSA and the American government. Now he is labeled as a traitor of the United States and is shunned upon, but in a way Snowden was only exercising his right of freedom of speech, which is a big part of "The American Dream".  The second image mentions a few words that are thought to be affecting the American society. For example Homophobia, is causing a lot of problems in the LGBT community and not letting them have their own "American Dream". Whether it's to get married or just to simply be themselves people who don't understand LGBT, community will always stand in the way of the LGBT's American Dream.

Hope

This image represents the next generation of kids that will carry out the "American Dream" and hopefully make society a better place for us. With the rise in the S.T.E.M. community we can expect an improvement in our society. The "American Dream" for most is to have a well paying job and a nice house to live in, with the boom in the S.T.E.M. field more jobs will be available which will open many doors to other industries. 

With more students going into that field, companies will be able to offer more jobs in the future for people who can contribute into that society. 

Despair

Analysis: One of the greatest American disparities directly correlates to the false notion that the American dream can be achieved through hard work alone. This is because unfortunetly, due to the worlds rapidly increasing population, the American dream has become something of a myth. It seems as if in todays economy, the only way to achieve the American dream is to pursue a college degree. More and more, students find themselves pursuing professional occupations with hopes of one day being able to achieve this white picket fence dream; only left to find themselves graduating from an institution that has left them in crippling debt. In this picture, graduating college students use their grad caps to express not only their frustration, but also potentially a feeling of remorse. Which really leaves to me question, is a college education really set out to be as essential as predicted?

Hope

 

This particular image evokes hope to me in a way that I find to be truly human. For centuries, religion has been depicted as a beacon of hope not only for Americans, but the entire world. Although I myself am an atheist, I respect and accept the idea of an almighty higher being because of the hope that it has represented to many including me in desperate times. Whatever representation of hope religion has on a person, whether it be hope for a loved one, being able to live another day, or enable the ability to start fresh, religion has served to be a positive reinforcement of the human brain for centuries.

 

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Visual Analysis

When we the younger generation were told about college and university, many of us assumed it was all work that was for our eventual dream job in whatever field we studied. The universities and colleges don't tell you that you actually might not get a job straight out of college. Part of the American Dream was the idea that anyone could succeed no matter where they started. There are now more than ever, certain criteria that one must follow to begin your path to success in modern society, making the American Dream not necessarily possible for all people as it was intended. Success in many people's minds involves having a well paying job. The man in the photo is not much older than us students and is nevertheless jobless. He is sitting on stairs in the street like someone without a home and yet he is wearing a suit and tie. That contrast speaks to the fact that something needs to either be done to make college and university experience worth while as it was or to change the entire system of education to make getting a job a priority.

This image has a dual meaning as it the amazing technological progress that has been made as well as many car company's drive (no pun intended) to save the environment. This is an image of a "solar tree" that has been developed by GM where electric cars can park and recharge using solely solar power. These mini steps towards a more sustainable way of life are important to American society as it shows the population what is important through a product that is highly valued, the car. As American car companies continue to develop more models of electric vehicles, the world will follow suit and the US will be setting a positive trend in the world. These vehicles are very much a part of the American Dream because many car companies are making the electric models much more affordable in order to cater to just about anyone with enough money to buy a car. Perhaps it is not so farfetched to think that owning a vehicle like the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt could be a part of the "new" American Dream.

4/11 Visual Image Analysis: Despair and Hope

Despair:

This picture represents despair in the US because although there politicians who promise us change that could benefit everybody, instead they used a portion of our taxes that we pay or government money for their own benefit. This is why government corruption is one of the roots that make it difficult to attain American Dream. Because if you think about it, if there wasn’t any corruption going on, there won’t be much state budget guts. In the article, “A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College” by Martin and Lehren, it said that “”If lawmakers cut state financing, the school could make it up by raising tuition.” This means that college tuition would keep on rising as long as there is a state budget cut going on. And we all know that one of part of the American dream is being able to finish college. If tuition keeps rising up, it would become too expensive to many people. And this will limit people trying to gain a college degree from achieving their American Dream.

On the other hand, the picture below represents hope in United States because achieving higher education is one step closer to get the job or career that you want. There are many people that this is a part of their American Dream like a puzzle. Having more education does not only open us to the job or career that we want, it also expands the opportunities that you can do. It may not be related to the job or career you really want but you can benefit from these opportunities such as learning a new soft skill or improving it. Those soft skills you learn or keep on improving on will be one of the factor that will help you get employ in the job or career that you are applying to. This separates you from people who didn't try to achieve higher education.

Hope:

Hope and Despair in the American Dream

Despair

The above image is a polluted river, added due to pollution caused my major factories and coorporations. While this does have a detrimental effect on the environment, it also makes one think of the views held in doing so. A coorporation, led by one or several business owners do so thinking only of the benefit it holds (not polluting the river but the money made from the factory), and viewing a fine for polluting this river as a business expense, because assuming there will still be a profit after the fine, the business will continue to do this. It is an aspect of the individualistic aspects of American society that is propelled by the American dream, making sure to take care of yourself and achieve your goals (regardless of how big or small), not considering to think about society at large, or how everyone could benefit if all thoughts, actions, and plans made by individuals, business, and the government were made for society as a whole, and also our planet (to be preserved for the future).

Hope

The hope that I see, comes in those who do act for society. Coming together to build a sense of ocmmunity and helping to establish equality in all ways, social or economic, to help eliminate descrimation for race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. As well as to bring a larger economic equality, and lower amounts of poverty and the separation of classes. A couple of examples would be the more recent increase in the LGBT rights movement, or the Occupy movement a few years ago.

Despair and Hope

.Despair
This image represents the growing number of people imprisoned in The United States. Behind bars there is no hope, there is no escape. The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates of any country. The growing prison population is extracting funds that could be used for more productive means, rather than trapping people in metal cages.  It is tragically ironic that a country that claims to pride itself on freedom, would at the same time imprison such large percentages of its' own population


Hope
In this image we see a young man about to begin breaking down the Berlin wall. The wall was constructed after World War II, and separated East Germany from West Germany. The image brings hope of a unified country and represents hope around the world. Borders and barriers may someday be torn down so that citizens may live harmoniously with one another.