Abstract
This paper examines the history of American individualism, culture, community and civil rights using Bellah, et al's "Habits of the Heart" and Morris' "Origins of the Civil Rights Movement".

From the Paper
"Social scientists have long debated the relative influence of individualism and community in shaping the American political culture. Bellah, Madsen, Sullivan, Swidler and Tipton make the case that American nationalism is essentially Eurocentric, based in large measure upon the values and norms of the Anglo elements and groups within society and representative in many instances of the British legal and social traditions. While recognizing that this is the case, Aldon Morris suggests that in a society which promotes assimilation as..."

Tags:individualism, culture, community, civil rights

Abstract
This paper provides three essays that answers questions related to American-Indian culture as illustrated in three works: Sherman Alexie's "The Business of Fancydancing;" Jaime de Angulo's "Indian Tales;" and Tony Hillerman's "People of Darkness."

From the Paper
""Indian Tales", "People of Darkness" and the poems and stories in "The Business of Fancydancing" provide us with fiction focusing on American Indians and their way of life. In doing so, they open the world of the American Indian to us in a much more engaging way than scholarly and factual articles on Indian culture. Though such articles often provide factual information on American Indian culture in fiction like these three books, we are able to become more enmeshed in the American Indian way of thinking..."

Tags:Navajo, Coeur D'Alene, reservations, alcoholism, culture, magical realism, mysticism, nature, religion

Abstract
In this paper, the writer notes that the article 'Living with Diabetes: Holistic Experiences of Nigerians and African Americans" portrays diabetes as a cultural issue as well as a holistic issue. The writer maintains that confronting and coping with diabetes is a cultural matter. and not just a health issue. The writer presents a personal perspective and notes that the writer's own culture perceives diabetes in much the same way as Popoola's article presents it. The writer maintains that the most important point about diabetes is that it is a holistic experience that changes every aspect of the person's life. The writer concludes that because of the way it is dealt with, diabetes is first a very negative experience but is then changed into a positive force through spirituality.

From the Paper
"My personal perception of the cultural issue of diabetes is that such a disease is seen as occurring for several reasons. It may be God's will for the person, or sometimes it is viewed as a matter of bad luck. Medical approaches may be ignored and almost always are delayed because of fear of Western medicine. In any case, home remedies will be first attempted. Folk practitioners are common and their advice is very often sought. When medical care finally is sought, the home remedies will usually not be mentioned because people are afraid they will be criticized."

Tags:disease, remedies, spiritual, alternative, medicine

Abstract
The paper studies the rise and evolution of American youth culture over the last decade. This is achieved through a critical review of two literary works. The first is a novel called "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac and the second is the 1955 film, "Rebel Without a Cause." Both plots are reviewed to show what they reveal about American youth culture. The paper continues with an exploration of American youth through the generations, beginning with the start of the 20th century, and it concludes with a look at the prevalence of youth culture in adult American society.

From the Paper
""What's wrong with these kids today?" The inter-generational howl of frustration and confusion echoes down through the decades as those devastatingly cool and disdainful teenagers grow up, marry, and produce the next generation of rebellious teenagers. Because even though each generations comes of age with what it believes to be unique feelings of angst, despair and isolation, those agonizing emotions have tortured the young souls of every generation to emerge on the American landscape, at least over the course of the last century.
Jack Kerouac's On The Road is considered my many scholars to be the best novel to come out of the so-called beat generation. It is the story of Sal Paradise, an aspiring writer, and of his experiences on the road as he makes several trips across the country to meet friends in Denver and San Francisco."

Tags:rise, evolution, critical, review, ?On, The, Road?, Jack, Kerouac, ?Rebel, Without, a, Cause", generation, 20th, century, prevalence, society

Abstract
In this paper, the writer discusses that the major factors of civic and social institutions define a connection between marijuana usage as a gateway for higher level drugs within American drug culture. Furthermore, the writer maintains that there is statistical evidence that many young people find it safer to use marijuana, which can be scientifically connected with neurological factors that prime individuals for heavier narcotic progressions in adulthood. The writer discusses that although the medical evidence does not always empirically prove marijuana as a physiological gateway drug, the social and institutional role that government imparts on the legality of drugs often places marijuana at the lowest deviancy in narcotics hierarchies.

Tags:marijuana, drugs, gateway

Abstract
This paper looks at the culture that developed in the African-American and Canadian population. It discusses the main events that brought about this culture, how, in some ways, it represented a resistance to oppression, and how some within the African-American/Canadian community held conflicting views about the development and expression of their own ethnic culture.

From the Paper
"The music/dance culture became an all out rejection of Victorianism and middle class control. (LN, OCT 9) The popularity of this era could be attributed to the fact that the majority of African Americans/Canadians that immersed themselves in this culture were working class and the dance/music created in this era spoke the truth!"

Tags:northwest, racial, tolerance, black, music, dance, ragtime, blues, gospel, american, cultural, life

Abstract
This paper discusses Don Delillo's novel, "White Noise", which sarcastically comments on modern American society, specifically the education system and the consumer culture. The paper discusses the main character of Jack Gladney and how he seeks to align himself with commercial and Hollywood archetypes devoid of any substance.

From the Paper
"The extent of Jack's consumer foundation and his commercially visual thought process, along with its affects on his career and by extension, the education system, is again delivered in the monotonic but specific tone of Jack's thought process as he describes his class. "They were all Hitler majors, members of the only class I still taught, Advanced Nazism, three hours a week, restricted to qualified seniors, a course of study designed to cultivate historical perspective, theoretical rigor and mature insight into the continuing mass appeal of fascist tyranny, with special emphasis on parades, rallies and uniforms, three credits, written reports" (Delillo, 25). It reads exactly like the course description would be advertised to the students, rather the "customers" of the institution. It's an advertisement to those who are paying large sums of money to the university for its education. Furthermore, Jack speaks of "mature insight" but then goes onto say that his course emphasizes the "parades, rallies and uniforms" of Nazi Germany. What mature insight can one achieve from observing the images of Nazi Germany without speaking about what they actually did while wearing their uniforms. There is no mention of the genocide; aggression, racism or destruction the Nazis should be remembered for. Jack does not mention of the evil nature of Adolf Hitler."

Tags:consumer, education, commercial

Abstract
This paper presents a foundational review of the American political system and then takes a look at the role that values, unique and original to America, play in the political system.

Tags:Progressive, Era, Alexis, de, Tocqueville, Federalist, Papers

Abstract
The paper looks at the role of radio, in the years ranging from approximately the 1920s to the 1950s, in shaping the popular culture sensibilities of Americans in areas such as music and fashion as well as general attitudes towards authority and social organization. The paper hopes to show that radio "collectivized" Americans by bringing them together in a way that arguably no other previous medium ever did, at the same time as it became a powerful tool in the hands of elites looking to maintain the social "status quo" by providing Americans with shared experiences and with universal messages.

From the Paper
"There can be little question that radio has played a major role in the development of American popular culture during the last three-quarters of a century. With that in mind, this paper will look at the role of radio in the years ranging from approximately the 1920s to the 1950s in shaping the popular culture sensibilities of Americans in areas such as music and fashion as well as general attitudes towards authority and social organization. In the end, what the next several pages hope to show is that radio "collectivized" Americans by bringing them together in a way that..."

Tags:radio, american, culture

Abstract
This paper gives an in-depth examination of the cultural issues associated with diabetes, comparing Nigerian and African-American outlooks. The paper reviews an article by Popoola entitled "Living with diabetes: Holistic experiences of Nigerians and African Americans." According to the paper, the problem of diabetes is not just a health issue, but also a cultural issue. The paper concludes with the author giving a personal comment about cultural outlooks on this disease.

From the Paper
"The problem of diabetes is not just a health issue; it also is a cultural issue. My culture perceives diabetes in much the same way as Popoola's article presents it. The most important point about diabetes is that it is a holistic experience that changes every aspect of the person's life. My personal perception of the cultural issue of diabetes is that such a disease is seen as occurring for several reasons. It may be God's will for the person, or sometimes it is viewed as a matter of bad luck. Medical approaches may be ignored and almost always are delayed because of fear of..."

Tags:diabetes, culture, coping