Читать книгу Let's Explore America - Raj Boone's Gadasalli - Страница 4

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The Land and the People

The Land

The United States of America is the fourth largest country in the world. It is a varied land of forests, mountains, great lakes, fertile plains, deserts and high flat lands. The country lies mostly in the temperate zone although extreme temperatures are common like the minus 10 degrees F in the north and Midwestern states during winter and 100 degrees plus, during southwestern summers.

Some of the world’s greatest rivers flow in the USA. Native Americans called the Mississippi river “father of waters”. Water from the source of it’s main branch, the Missouri River flows about 4000 miles from the northern Rocky Mountains to the mouth of the Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico.

Other important rivers are the 2000 miles long Yukon River in Alaska, the 2100 miles long Rio Grande which forms the US – Mexico border and the 1500 miles long Colorado River which begins in the Rocky Mountains and flows south west. For nearly 200 miles the Colorado flows through the breath taking Grand Canyon carved by the river waters through the ages.

Spanning the east coast and mid west are five great lakes – Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. The great Niagara Falls is on the Erie.

Lake Tahoe in Northern California covering 193 square miles with its deepest point at 1645 feet is situated an elevation of 6228 feet above sea level. It is unsurpassed for its beauty. And the scenery around it is simply breathtaking.

The country is rich in mineral wealth. The fertile lands of the Midwest alone can feed the entire world.

The US comprises of 48 contiguous states called the Continental United States and stretches for 3600 miles from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west. It borders Canada in the north and touches Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico, 1500 miles to the south. The states of Alaska and Hawaii make a total of 50 states.

The country is so vast that from east to west that it spans four different time zones. When it is 9 a.m. in New York it is still 6 a.m. in Los Angeles!

The City of Washington in the District of Columbia is the US capital. It is referred to as Washington D.C.

The People

USA has been called the “melting pot” because most of its’ population consists of descendents of early settlers who moved from England and the Netherlands to make America their home. New waves of immigrants numbering some 60 million also poured in between 1820 and 1990. Even today America has one of the most liberal immigration policies in the world.

Before the discovery of America by Columbus in the year 1492 Native Indians (Red Indians) Eskimos and Aleuts, with a rich history and Culture inhabited the land for at least 8000 years. It is believed that these people came to America from India, China and Scandinavia. After European arrival their numbers dwindled and today less than 2 million Native Americans are living in the United States. Native American history and culture is detailed in Appendix 7.

Black people were first brought to America from Africa as slaves. Slavery was abolished in 1865. Although they once lived in the agricultural south they are scattered all over the country and are now referred to as African Americans They constitute roughly twelve percent of the population.

Hispanics (Spanish race) and Asians are present in large numbers and it is predicted that soon Hispanics would turn out to be the largest minority group. The Asian Indian population (Yes, the real Indians are called Asian Indians!) is about 2 million. Chinese and other Asians number about 8 million.

Despite advances made in Science and Technology, assurance of equal opportunity for all irrespective of color, race and religion, race plays an important part in American life. Discrimination is not blatant as in the past but has taken subtle forms. It is difficult to perceive subtle hues unless one has lived in the US for a while. But in general Indians and other Asians are faring better than some other ethnic groups. Here too, light skinned Indians do much better. Americans in general are very nice people who often wonder why others do not appreciate them. The events of September 11, 2001 have added a new kink in ethnic relations. Hopefully American values will prevail in the end.

Language

English is the official Language of the United States. Spanish is spoken extensively too.

Government

The United States is a federal union of 50 states, with the District of Columbia as the seat of the national government. The constitution outlines the structure of the national government and specifies its powers and activities. The states have their own constitutions and laws. Within each state are counties, townships, cities and villages each of which has its own elective government.

All government in the United States is “of, by and for the people”. Members of Congress, the President, state, city and county officials are elected by popular vote. The voting age is 18. The constitution divides the power of the government into three branches – the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial. The constitution limits the role of each branch to prevent anyone branch from gaining undue power.

The whole System of American government is based on the principle established in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The people believe that the government should provide a framework of law and order in which they are left free to run their own lives.

The state governments follow much the same pattern as the federal government. Each has a Governor as the Chief executive. However the cities of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles have City - Governments headed by elected Mayors. Thus these cities do not come under the jurisdiction of the respective Governors.

Executive Branch

The President of the United States is the head of the Executive branch. He is chosen in a national election for a four-year term of office and may be re-elected for a second term. He cannot run for a third term.

As per the US Constitution, the President has to be an American by birth and at least 35 years of age.

Almost all past Presidents were White Protestant Christians with the sole exception of John F Kennedy who was a Roman Catholic. Election of the first African- American, Barack Obama as President in 2008 is a historic event.

The Whitehouse is the President’s official residence. He works out of the Oval office, which is a part of the same building.

Legislative Branch

The Legislative branch called the Congress of the United States, comprising of two chambers - a Senate and a House of Representatives is on an area called Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. The constitution provides for two Senators from each state and a number of Representatives proportional to population. Thus, currently there are 100 Senators and 435 Reps, collectively called Congressmen.

Senators are elected for six – year terms and Representatives for four- year terms in national elections held during the month of November. Mid term elections are also held for the Senate. Senators are very powerful figures with most of them holding office for decades.

Judicial Branch

The Judicial branch is headed by the US Supreme Court in Washington D.C. The President appoints the nine- member Bench for life after confirmation by the Senate. Honb’le John Roberts is the current Chief Justice.

The American Flag

The American flag is also called, The Star Spangled banner or Stars and Stripes. Red White and Blue are it’s three colors. It has 13 stripes representing the original colonies created by early European settlers and 50 stars representing the 50 states of today.

American National Anthem

The Star Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming! And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh say, does that star-spangled banner wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines on the stream: 'This the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore . That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion. A home and a country should leave us no more? Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand. Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!. Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

God of our fathers

American National Hymn by Daniel Roberts

This National hymn was written for the 1876, July 4th centennial by Daniel Roberts. It is sung at other important ceremonies.

God of our fathers, Whose almighty hand

Leads forth in beauty all the starry band

Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies

Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,

In this free land by Thee our lot is cast,

Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay,

Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,

Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;

Thy true religion in our hearts increase,

Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,

Lead us from night to never ending day;

Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,

And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.