Category: Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

Through Chapter 2 in Samuel P. Huntington’s Who Are We?, a clear understanding of the concept of identity as it will appear in the book is portrayed. Huntington begins by defining the term identity as “an individual’s or group’s sense of self” (21). He furthers this definition by stating that individual identities are often more fluid than group identities. People are often members of multiple groups and can shift their identity based on those groups, whereas a group’s values and goals are often set in stone. Additionally, identities are created by individuals and groups, and therefore it is possible to have multiple identities or different aspects of one’s identity. It is also necessary to keep in mind that although humans define their own identity, it is also shaped by one’s interactions with others. 

After clarifying the concept of identity and the different variables that play into a person’s or group’s self understanding, Huntington moves into the topic of “others.” Once an identity is constructed, an “other” is constructed as well. Groups and individuals tend to favor their own identity and their own group. It is innate in human nature to crave an enemy, or an individual or group to strive to beat. I found this idea to be especially applicable to the two-party system that exists in the United States today. A large portion of the country is split politically between republicans and democrats. Often, these two parties seem to face conflict and tend to compete. Huntington would assert that this is due to the human need for enemies when identifying with a particular group or defining oneself.

In the later part of the chapter Huntington addresses the dichotomy between civic nationalism and ethnic nationalism. Civic nationalism is the idea that any person, despite race or ethnicity, is able to be a citizen. Ethnic nationalism generates citizenship based off of one’s ethnic background or community. However, he then argues that this polarity is over simplified considering that culture and ethnicity are not the same thing. Culture is fluid while ethnic background is more rigid. 

After considering all of these important ideas that Huntington has addressed in chapter 2, I am intrigued by how these concepts apply to greek life in the United States, particularly at Bucknell. I feel that greek organizations are effective examples of the concept of identity as it applies to groups and the ways in which other groups become enemies. In addition, I am curious to hear my classmates’ responses to the ways in which greek life alters a person’s identity at Bucknell or if it does not alter it at all. 

The chapter Exterior Form of North America in Tocqueville’s book Democracy in America is interesting because it gives the reader an insight on the landscape of North America before it was completely settled and explored. Tocqueville describes different geography in North America in different regions. 

Tocqueville speaks of the separation of land and sea and mountains and valleys.  He says that “This continent is divided almost equally into two vast regions, one of which is bounded on the north by the Arctic Pole, and by the two great oceans on the east and west.” Tocqueville speaks of the continent forming a triangle towards the south with its sides meeting in Canada. The second Tocqueville mentioned in the chapter takes up the rest of the continent, sloping towards the North Pole. Tocqueville goes on to break the article into two regions of geographical features. He describes a northern region of mostly plains with not many high mountains. He says the second region is more “varied in surface” with different mountain chains separating land from the ocean. He goes on to speak about other various geographical features especially the Mississippi river. 

Tocqueville changes the concept of the article to the Natives that were using these resources from the land. Tocqueville talks about these people being uncivilized saying “The Indian was indebted to no one but himself; his virtues, his vices, and his prejudices were his own work; he had grown up in the wild independence of his nature.” He goes on to say that these people were using the land at no charge and not giving anything back in return. When the Natives began to be tormented for this by European settlers they were confused as  to why they were being prosecuted.