Traditional America

I found the article about Henry James returning to America especially invigorating. There were so many good points and excellent proposals. A few lines that especially stuck me are " New York resembled a pincushion, he noted after his return from New England, studded with skyscrapers 'grossly tall and grossly ugly' that overpowered church spires" (pg. 340) and " A typical suburban house lot recreates in miniature the farm of the past" (pg. 342). First of all, I think it important to recognize that traditionally, great churches have been a vital part of American towns. They are normally the tallest, and most elaborate buildings and symbolize the community as a whole. This is especially true of small New England villages. Furthermore, I found the comparison of the traditional American farm to the typical suburban lot very stimulating. I think this symbolizes what the American Dream means to many Americans - living in the suburbs, mowing the lawn, building a garage, playing catch with the yellow labrador. This article does a good job of portraying how Americans still admire the past. I doubt that Americans will ever stop appreciating the countryside, the privacy that comes with that, and the values that it represents.