Who is the real upper class?

There is a noticeable distinction in Ragtime between wealth and class. There are even distinctions between impoverished people. In a scene in chapter 3, immigration officials sort newly arrived immigrants. The officials are likely to be not well paid and to not rank high in societal class; still their power over the immigrants is extraordinary.

“They were immediately sensitive to the enormous power of the immigration officials. These officials changed names they couldn’t pronounce and tore people from there families, consigning to a return voyage old folks, people with bad eyes, riffraff and also those who looked insolent. Such power was dazzling. The immigrants were reminded of home.” Pg 14

What struck me in this passage is the immense power title. To have any form of respected ancestry could be in some situations considered more important than wealth. This can be seen in the class difference between old wealth and new wealth. Old wealth requires being born wealth. Being for any period in your life un-wealthy or of lower status hinders ones ability to be part of high society later in life. This poses problems for those of new wealth, like Tateh and Houdini, who must feign aristocracy in an attempt to be accepted by high society. I would argue chooses a more successful title of Baron which alludes to old wealth. For this reason the family feels more comfortable in the presence of Tateh than Houdini. As Tateh is part of a fake aristocracy and Houdini is a common who somehow managed fame and wealth.
The greatest irony in this is that Tateh and Houdini must hide there true identities in order to gain status, yet they seem infinitely more talented and motivated than Father or even JP Morgan. JP Morgan, while talented, was raised in a family of bankers of considerable wealth; he is more a product of heritage than raw talent and motivation. Father’s skills seem almost inexistent, as mother is able to easily adjust to running the company with no prior experience while continuing to run the household. In contrast Tateh and Houdini risk their lives so that they and their families can live a better life. The safety of their families is more important to them than anything, and for that reason they devote themselves fully to their work. JP Morgan and Father feel compelled to travel the world and become part of history as if to justify or prove their own importance in the world.

The Statue of Liberty in Ishinomaki/ Women at War WWII

Shortly after posting my statue of liberty poem i ran across this image from Ishinomaki Japan. September 11 not only marked the 10 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America, but the sixth month anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I find it very interesting that in a day a mourning for both our countries that the statue of liberty stands as a symbol of hope. Perhaps the reason the statue of liberty wasn't attacked on September 11 is that it isn't a symbol only pertinent to American ideals; it is a symbol of liberty to all. Whereas the Twin Towers and the Pentagon were symbols specific of American military and economic power.

See more of the photo gallery here: http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/09/japan-earthquake-six-months-later/100146/

You guys should also check out this way cool photo gallery of "Women at war in WWII" :http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/09/world-war-ii-women-at-war/100145/

Statue of Liberty Poem

the green statue
reaching tall and sharp growing broad
standing above the trees
and the flowing river
its staircase rising
to liberty
to freedom

An Ideal within an Ideal

The Statue of Liberty is an ideal within an ideal. The statue itself can be said to be a symbol or an icon on to its own. It marks entrance into the United States and it once served as a beacon and welcome to immigrants. Today it is a moment to American ideals and history. However Lady Liberty herself tells another story entirely. She is the finalized product of generations of American’s use of idealistic symbols to portray American ideals. The image of Lady Liberty evolved alongside the nation, it went from the harsh and savage Indian queen, to the milder Indian princess, to the classical and sophisticated, even orthodox Greek goddess. However, lady liberty has never been an entirely accurate portrayal of American ideals. Instead it was a manifestation of how Americans wanted to be perceived by the world, in particular Europe. In early colonial days they wanted to be regarded as natives to the land and distinct from Britain, regal yet dangerous and brutal. As America became a nation and started rising as a world power Americans wished to viewed as respectable, and as having roots in European wisdom and culture. So the image or American ideals changed from an Indian princess to a Greek goddess. Lady Liberty symbolizes our idealization of American values. We want America to be viewed in a certain way so we create fictional images that glorify what we value as a nation and a culture.

First Blog! Hope it didn't have too many typos.