Неличные формы глагола. Артикль. Гоголь О.В. - 40 стр.

contest. Nevertheless, the main importance of this association has been      overseas relatives and continue to retain the traditions of the old coun-
its efforts to prevent strict gun control legislation. The association has   try. Americans, therefore, take great pride in their bicultural status and
great political support in small towns and rural areas especially in the     continue to keep alive the customs and traditions of their ancestors
West and the South where hunting is especially popular. Those who            which in no way diminishes their loyalty to America. Because they feel
favor the right to possess guns insist that the second amendment to the      very much connected to the country of their origins they enjoy cele-
constitution provides the right of people “to keep and bear arms.” They      brating the traditions of their parents and forefathers. The Irish, for ex-
believe that gun control laws will not solve the problem of crime and        ample, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in March with a gallant parade and
violence in America. Recent events in America, however, have shown           parties which involve the family. The Italians, for example, in New
that the question of gun possession is now out of control and strong         York’s “Little Italy” hold a festival honoring San Gennaro every year
lobbies in Washington have called for immediate action to be taken. In       in September. The Germans celebrate Octoberfest every fall and the
seemingly peaceful schools students have gone into classrooms and            Hispanic culture remains always vibrant and alive. Likewise, other
cafeterias and opened fire upon their own classmates. In horror and          groups celebrate their own ethnic awareness on different occasions
shock America has been traumatized by such incidents which seem to           throughout the year. The Polish, who make up a large minority group
occur with greater frequency. The periodic deaths of innocent citizens       in Chicago, celebrate Kosciusko Day to proclaim their ethnicity. Thad-
and even foreign visitors from guns have forced legislators to enact         deus Kosciusko, a Polish general and patriot, fought for the colonists in
laws to stop these senseless killings. Some have suggested that the dis-     the American Revolution against the British. He became a champion
tribution of ammunition be strictly controlled and heavily taxed,            for independence and his birthday is celebrated among Polish-
thereby making it difficult to acquire bullets for weapons. Others have      Americans today. In the 1970’s for many Americans the cultivation of
proposed that a strict test be offered to anyone applying for a gun to       their ethnic heritage became an avocation. Buttons and bumper stickers
ascertain his mental competency and stability. The day may not be far        essayed their ethnic origins and the study of ancestral languages and
off when America will be transformed from a gun culture to one which         culture became a matter of fashion and vogue. Americans became ob-
controls their use and possession.                                           sessed with their roots and visits to the ‘Old Country’ were all affirma-
                                                                             tions of ethnic identity. The TV series “Roots” which explores black
TEXT TWO                                   ETHNIC AMERICANS                  culture and the popular film series of “The Godfather” documenting the
                                        AND HYPHENATED ONES                  Italian immigrant culture further emphasized the value of one’s ethnic
                                                                             background. At election time politicians try to exploit the ethnic vote
Most Americans can trace their family roots back to another country.         and they cater and adjust their campaigns to appease the priorities of
Perhaps it is not an exaggeration to claim that almost every country in      ethnic minorities.
the world has some migration to America as part of its history. The          There is, however, a large group of people who are not hyphenated
ethnic diversity found in the United States displays a uniqueness found      Americans. They are the Native Americans. Their ancestors belonged
in few other societies. America’s greatness is based upon its ability to     to the land long before the coming of the early discoverers and first
absorb the cultures of the world into its borders. Very often in conver-     settlers from Europe. In a true sense, the land which is America really
sation the term “hyphenated American” is used. This term refers to           belongs to them. It is theirs. Their history, unfortunately, is a tragic one
those Americans who can trace their origins directly back to another         and lies in the shadow of shame for the way in which they were treated.
country. More often than not these Americans may be fluent in the lan-       These Native Americans are also justly proud of their cultural heritage
guage of their ancestry, speak it in their daily lives, and make frequent    and hope that it will never be allowed to die. In the past they were a
visits back to the “home country.” They also maintain close ties with

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