A new phase for the ‘nouveau riche’?

As the forthcoming generation of American innovators prepares for upcoming final exams and graduation fulfillments, I have begun to wonder the shape America will take once we establish ourselves in society in the next few decades.

Perhaps we’ll emulate the classic parvenu Americans – celebrated in the early 20th century through illustrations of Gatsby, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s brilliant novel. Sickened by the majestic kingdom of materialism and looming depression, we’ll be forced to create new levels of status and class to judge one another. Or maybe we’ll continue the trend of the new parvenu.

Our athletes and musicians who rise in the ranks quickly, spending lavishly on the items we have so deeply craved over the years and hope others, much unlike us, will continue to envy. The accumulation of wealth will be a simple factor of the American dream as represented by individuals such as Chris Gardner.

What will the Internet generation produce as a whole, in terms of class and society? So many of us are the products of hard-earned dollars; yes, many rely on the support of family, whether that is the old money of generations past or the result of long hours worked for years on end.

But for many other members of our generation, we depend on our own ability to strain our labor mentality and physicality at jobs we love and jobs we hate and those jobs in between. We are hard workers as a whole because we are the children of hard workers.

In my opinion, we are the foundation for Nouveau Riche Americana. We’re the cohorts that shall establish a new definition of American class and sophistication. As we spend hours on end studying, determined to become successful and obtaining dual degrees, we are officially the possessors of supreme passion and motivation.

Of course there will always be the underprivileged and the overly compensated, but I take pride in my elite future membership as a building block of Nouveau Riche Americana.

Ashley C. Emerole sophomore majoring in political science and regional development

Passover lasts eight days, not two

Although I totally appreciated the article about Passover (“”Passover: The alpha and omega of holidays””), you mistakenly wrote that Passover occurred Monday and Tuesday. Actually, Passover is a seven-day holiday in Israel and is an eight-day holiday outside of Israel. So we are still observing Passover. Thought you should know.

Jon Sloven theatre arts graduate student

Polluting helps to ‘supply’ trees

How logical is it to regulate greenhouse gas emissions? According to the Supreme Court’s decision, we are all involuntarily polluting the environment; maybe if the ozone man Al Gore hears about this he will do us all a favor and save the world by not breathing anymore.

But seriously, we should not deprive the billions of trees in this world from the carbon dioxide they depend on us to produce. I love trees, so I plan to do my part to keep them well-supplied with all the carbon dioxide they need to thrive, and I encourage everyone else to do the same – unless, of course, you don’t like trees at all.

Alex Hoogasian political science senior

Best respect the … wheels?

Over the past few days, I have read several stories regarding the success of the Arizona men’s baseball team. I think this is fantastic – it gives a moral boost to our campus and student pride.

However, I was surprised to read Ryan Casey’s article Wednesday (“”A season’s worth of motivation””). His opening featured a story involving Colt Sedbrook being confronted by a clerk at a convenience store regarding his plays during a game. Instead of taking the criticism and using everyday people skills to let the clerk know he overstepped his boundaries, he chose to downgrade the individual due to his employment position and went on to describe that it would be different if he (the clerk) drove a “”Beamer or Benz.””

Mr. Sedbrook, as a professional representative of the UA, are you saying that your respect of another human being is based upon the vehicle he or she drives? If so, I highly doubt my beat-up truck would gain your approval. If you are not respecting me, than why should I give any respect to you or to Arizona baseball?

John Kozel communication sophomore