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each of us — then we find our path to true affected us whether we were black or white,
4
solidarity. I may be brown, conservative in Democrat or Republican, common man or pres-
DIFFERENTIATION Identity my politics, and Hindu. My colleague at work ident of the United States. Diversity means
may be white, liberal, and Christian. But we something only in the context of a unified whole.
Collaborative Learning share a passion for unlocking the mysteries of As Americans we say E pluribus Unum (“out of
Throughout the essay, Ramaswamy makes human biology to discover new medicines for many, one”), rather than the reverse, for a rea-
many provocative claims, often presenting serious diseases. My neighbor may be black son. Without a common creed, we are nothing
them as truisms. You might give students a and progressive, but we are both fathers of more than a group of higher mammals sharing a
list of them and ask them to choose one or children who we hope can play sports together, common space while staring at our iPhones.
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs have been used for this sample chapter.
two to defend, challenge, or qualify (in the go to class together, and learn from one Without the sense that we are all in this together,
®
phraseology of old AP Language argu- another. We don’t need to have everything in we cannot defend ourselves against the threats
ment prompts). You should task them with common with one another. We need to share we face together — be it a virus or a terrorist
finding specific and sufficient evidence to only a few things that bind us together and attack.
support their views. Working in small focus on those. This year’s election, which was imminent
This year’s election, which was imminent
groups should prompt debate, too, as Consider our vulnerability to COVID-19 when this article was being prepared, is
when this article was being prepared, is
could a whole-class discussion afterward. this year. Out of this tragedy, we have seen another example of our commonality as a
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.
another example of our commonality as a
These could also turn into argument many examples of shared sacrifice and people. That might sound surprising, since
people. That might sound surprising, since
prompts for essays. Here are a handful of patriotism. My wife, Apoorva, is an airway partisan division runs deep and the acrimony
partisan division runs deep and the acrimony
claims from this page of the essay, and you specialist who faced a difficult choice this between our political leaders is painful. It
between our political leaders is painful. It
could find many more throughout the spring — whether to head to the front lines to reminds me of the misguided feeling that I
reminds me of the misguided feeling that I
essay, or ask students to find their own: treat patients or stay at home to begin raising sometimes had as a kid when I heard my par-
sometimes had as a kid when I heard my par-
ents in the depth of a heated argument and
“We don’t need to have everything in our son, born in February. Ultimately, we ents in the depth of a heated argument and
worried that they might get divorced (they
common with one another. We need decided that, in this case, it was Apoorva’s worried that they might get divorced (they
remain happily married to this day). But even
to share only a few things that bind us duty to treat patients during her hospital’s remain happily married to this day). But even
across those partisan divisions, we share an
together and focus on those” (par. 10). hour of need, when they were short-staffed at across those partisan divisions, we share an
ideal as Americans that we resolve our differ-
the height of the pandemic; and it was my ideal as Americans that we resolve our differ-
“Consider our vulnerability to COVID-19
ences through democracy, not tyranny. This
this year. Out of this tragedy, we have duty to become the principal caretaker of our ences through democracy, not tyranny. This
year we cast our ballots for elected leaders in
seen many examples of shared sacrifice ed sacrifice
seen many examples of shar son during those months. She went on to year we cast our ballots for elected leaders in
positions ranging from county commissioner
and patriotism” (par. 11) (if your stu- become infected in the line of duty and was positions ranging from county commissioner
to president. Whatever disagreements we might
dents have strong memories of the early ong memories of the early separated from our family for longer than we to president. Whatever disagreements we might
dents have str
have, we are united by our commitment to
pandemic). had planned. She would have been a good have, we are united by our commitment to
doctor even if she had made the opposite participate in a free, open, and deliberative
participate in a free, open, and deliberative
“It’s also about recognizing that our choice; she was a good mother even in making process for selecting our leaders — and to live
process for selecting our leaders —and to live
diversity is meaningless without the the choice that she did. The same went for my with those results whether we like them or not,
with those results whether we like them or not,
things we have in common—even our choices as a father and as a CEO. American knowing that we’ll have another chance to
knowing that we’ll have another chance to
vulnerabilities” (par. 12). pluralism is about embracing the multitude of make our case in the future. If that sounds
make our case in the future. If that sounds
“Diversity means something only in the identities in each of us, rather than reducing obvious to you, then I am grateful: It should
obvious to you, then I am grateful: It should
context of a unified whole” (par. 12). ourselves to just one of them at a time. be rightfully banal to all Americans, regardless
be rightfully banal to all Americans, regardless
of party.
“Whatever disagreements we might It’s also about recognizing that our diversity of party.
Just like you and me, America isn’t just one
have, we are united by our commit- is meaningless without the things we have in Just like you and me, America isn’t just one
“thing” either. That’s what makes America spe-
ment to participate in a free, open, and common — even our vulnerabilities. Like 9/11, “thing” either. That’s what makes America spe-
deliberative process for selecting our COVID-19 offered us the stark reminder that our cial. Most countries in the world, and indeed
cial. Most countries in the world, and indeed
most nations throughout human history, are
leaders—and to live with those results greatest vulnerabilities are shared: The virus most nations throughout human history, are
whether we like them or not, knowing
that we’ll have another chance to make 256
our case in the future” (par. 13).
DIFFERENTIATION
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Connections to World CLOSE READING
Ramaswamy notes in paragraph 13 that he Key Passage. The highlighted text is a rich
wrote his essay before the 2020 election, passage suited for close reading. Students
which also means before the events at the can annotate this key passage in the book’s
Capitol on January 6, 2021, and persistent digital platform, or you can print it to be
claims of election fraud. Those events may annotated by hand.
change contemporary readers’ perceptions
of some of his claims in that paragraph,
such as “Whatever disagreements we might
have, we are united by our commitment to
participate in a free, open, and deliberative
process for selecting our leaders—and to
live with those results whether we like them
or not, knowing that we’ll have another chance
to make our case in the future” (par. 13).
You might challenge students to rewrite
paragraph 13 in a way that could support
Ramaswamy’s argument but still account for
subsequent historical facts.
256 chapter 4 / Identity
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