Raymond Anthony Porreca
This I Argue Essay
America's Unforgivable Act
Throughout its two hundred and thirty-eight year history, America has been a nation that is not afraid to stand up and fight against injustice. Time and time again during America’s journey, the country has proudly stood tall against oppression – from the horrible crimes committed by the Nazi regime to the current chaos in the Middle-East. For as noble and inspiring these efforts have been, America has long neglected one of the most egregious crimes against humanity, one that occurs daily on its own soil. Each and every day that passes in the Land of the Free is rife with injustice and dangerous policy that is essentially handicapping countless citizens. If there has ever been a time for America to declare war, it is now, and it is against the rampant hunger that persists in every state across the country. The facts, when examined, are shockingly simple. In the richest nation in the world, one in six Americans is food insecure (A Place at the Table). Food insecurity, the concept of not knowing where your next meal will come from, has spread across the country like a plague, virtually unchecked. Many will scoff at this statistic, looking about their peer groups and think that these are loaded numbers, but the truth remains. In a nation that was founded on the concepts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the various policies and regulations regarding food programs are so backwards that these three ideals are becoming increasingly difficult to fulfill. This food crisis in many ways is the death of the American Dream.
The most glaring example of America’s ignorance to their ever-growing food crisis is also its most painful to see. America’s youth, those who have every right to grow into some of the most influential and important leaders of tomorrow, are being left in the dust thanks to horrifically outdated meal programs. There is undeniable scientific evidence that sheds light on the importance of maintaining a healthy and balanced diet and its relevance to academic success. A 2005 study conducted by The American Society for Nutritional Sciences found that food insecurity directly affects not only the academic performance of students, but also ‘weight gain and social skills’. According to the 2012 documentary, A Place at the Table, federal reimbursement for school meal programs has not increased since 1973. It does not take an economist to understand how these numbers are in no way acceptable. Taking into account inflation, wages, and other miscellaneous costs, this leaves less than seventy cents allotted per meal per student (A Place at the Table). So many of America’s youths depend on the school system for their meals, and while there is always food to be consumed, it is rarely enough or of a nutritious caliber. By not consistently providing the types of food and meals that our youths need, we are denying them the ability to stay healthy, grow and learn. By cutting corners and providing poor meal choices, America is essentially handicapping its future. As America’s thirty-fifth presidents, John F Kennedy famously stated, “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” Sadly, the America of today has forgotten this.
Poor meal conditions in schools are not the only problem creating America’s food crisis; much of the problem can be traced back to America’s roots – the farming and agriculture industry. The notion of the strong, solemn farmer is one that Americans have hung their hat on for generations, a global identity that no matter how technologically advanced the nation becomes, still hearkens back to America’s humble roots. Farming has always been an integral part of American society and thanks to the shocking subsidization programs set up in the country, it will forever stay relevant. These programs, however great and important they were when they were initially created during the dawn of the Great Depression through the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1936, have become one of the cornerstones of America’s food issues.
While subsidization helps ensure that farmers will be able to earn wages for their efforts and crops, big business has ensured that the money farmers can earn is specifically centered on what will make the most profitable end product, rather than what is the best for the consumer to eat. In doing this, America has been overcome with snack foods consisting of sugar and chips as opposed to healthier ‘green’ alternatives. Because of this, America’s youth is considerably more inclined to eat foods that – much like our nation’s poor school food systems – handicap their ability to stay alert and focused. There is nothing innately wrong with enjoying simple snacks occasionally, subsidization on foods that create for cheap and unhealthy products; those with lower incomes are often caught in a cycle of using what little money that they have to purchase items such as chips that are impossible to stay in good shape with.
The fact of the matter is that in a society that prides itself on being global leaders, America’s attention is often pointed anywhere else but on its own soil. As the decades pass, the crisis that is America’s neglect towards her own citizens – especially its youth – becomes ever more glaring. The fault lies on no one person in particular, but rather years of emphasis on providing quick convenience and instant gratification instead of bettering the lives of all who reside in our country. This marks an important time in American history, because if the state of the country’s food issues continues, the potential for the future fades. No child should be left behind, but unfortunately this is exactly what happens.
Throughout its two hundred and thirty-eight year history, America has been a nation that is not afraid to stand up and fight against injustice. Time and time again during America’s journey, the country has proudly stood tall against oppression – from the horrible crimes committed by the Nazi regime to the current chaos in the Middle-East. For as noble and inspiring these efforts have been, America has long neglected one of the most egregious crimes against humanity, one that occurs daily on its own soil. Each and every day that passes in the Land of the Free is rife with injustice and dangerous policy that is essentially handicapping countless citizens. If there has ever been a time for America to declare war, it is now, and it is against the rampant hunger that persists in every state across the country. The facts, when examined, are shockingly simple. In the richest nation in the world, one in six Americans is food insecure (A Place at the Table). Food insecurity, the concept of not knowing where your next meal will come from, has spread across the country like a plague, virtually unchecked. Many will scoff at this statistic, looking about their peer groups and think that these are loaded numbers, but the truth remains. In a nation that was founded on the concepts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the various policies and regulations regarding food programs are so backwards that these three ideals are becoming increasingly difficult to fulfill. This food crisis in many ways is the death of the American Dream.
The most glaring example of America’s ignorance to their ever-growing food crisis is also its most painful to see. America’s youth, those who have every right to grow into some of the most influential and important leaders of tomorrow, are being left in the dust thanks to horrifically outdated meal programs. There is undeniable scientific evidence that sheds light on the importance of maintaining a healthy and balanced diet and its relevance to academic success. A 2005 study conducted by The American Society for Nutritional Sciences found that food insecurity directly affects not only the academic performance of students, but also ‘weight gain and social skills’. According to the 2012 documentary, A Place at the Table, federal reimbursement for school meal programs has not increased since 1973. It does not take an economist to understand how these numbers are in no way acceptable. Taking into account inflation, wages, and other miscellaneous costs, this leaves less than seventy cents allotted per meal per student (A Place at the Table). So many of America’s youths depend on the school system for their meals, and while there is always food to be consumed, it is rarely enough or of a nutritious caliber. By not consistently providing the types of food and meals that our youths need, we are denying them the ability to stay healthy, grow and learn. By cutting corners and providing poor meal choices, America is essentially handicapping its future. As America’s thirty-fifth presidents, John F Kennedy famously stated, “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” Sadly, the America of today has forgotten this.
Poor meal conditions in schools are not the only problem creating America’s food crisis; much of the problem can be traced back to America’s roots – the farming and agriculture industry. The notion of the strong, solemn farmer is one that Americans have hung their hat on for generations, a global identity that no matter how technologically advanced the nation becomes, still hearkens back to America’s humble roots. Farming has always been an integral part of American society and thanks to the shocking subsidization programs set up in the country, it will forever stay relevant. These programs, however great and important they were when they were initially created during the dawn of the Great Depression through the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1936, have become one of the cornerstones of America’s food issues.
While subsidization helps ensure that farmers will be able to earn wages for their efforts and crops, big business has ensured that the money farmers can earn is specifically centered on what will make the most profitable end product, rather than what is the best for the consumer to eat. In doing this, America has been overcome with snack foods consisting of sugar and chips as opposed to healthier ‘green’ alternatives. Because of this, America’s youth is considerably more inclined to eat foods that – much like our nation’s poor school food systems – handicap their ability to stay alert and focused. There is nothing innately wrong with enjoying simple snacks occasionally, subsidization on foods that create for cheap and unhealthy products; those with lower incomes are often caught in a cycle of using what little money that they have to purchase items such as chips that are impossible to stay in good shape with.
The fact of the matter is that in a society that prides itself on being global leaders, America’s attention is often pointed anywhere else but on its own soil. As the decades pass, the crisis that is America’s neglect towards her own citizens – especially its youth – becomes ever more glaring. The fault lies on no one person in particular, but rather years of emphasis on providing quick convenience and instant gratification instead of bettering the lives of all who reside in our country. This marks an important time in American history, because if the state of the country’s food issues continues, the potential for the future fades. No child should be left behind, but unfortunately this is exactly what happens.