positive & negative

I would say this image represents the negative side of America. It was made in response to an American-Indian winning this year's Miss America pageant, and suggests that a woman has to hold to stereotypical American ideals in order to be a real American woman - and, of course, be white! It showcases a rather exclusionary attitude held by many Americans, a hostility to things that are different or unusual that has led to many sordid episodes in America's history and is currently one of the things responsible for the discrimination faced by homosexuals. The fact that one of the images displays her in military gear is also telling, especially as it is paired with the caption "loves her country" - patriotism and the military seem to go hand in hand to some Americans.

While this is something of a clichéd choice, I feel this image - of American astronauts landing on the moon - appropriately represents the better part of American culture as it is the ultimate expression of the mythical American dream: anyone can achieve anything if they are determined & driven enough, even if this drive comes from nothing more than a desire to beat the competition (in this case, Russia) and be #1. The American flag still stands on the moon to this day as a testament to the constructive power America's infamous patriotism can have on its people.