Essay 10-2

                Historians have put forth several reasons to explain the sense of placelessness that many Americans feel.  Americans have constantly been a nation that has been on the move. It was one of the driving forces behind the idea of progress, the pioneer vision to go out west and establish one’s own way in life. Yet this same driving force is what partly accounts for historians explanations of the sense of placlessness. Some say that American lacks a historical consciousness because of the fact that we are enabled to be so geographically mobile.

                Another point of historians that Glassberg brings to attention is the fact that ethnographically, America is extremely diverse. When we refer to a sense of place, just whose place are we referring to? The country is full of unique cultural groups that each has their own views on what accounts for lasting attachment. Recent immigrants or Native and African Americans that have been forced to leave their land have very much reason to be confused as to their sense of place and what they feel attached to. 

                Overall, Glassberg thinks that there are major limitations to concept of placelessness.  For each of the points that he brings up about historians and critics views on America’s sense of place, he is quick to bring up counterpoints to their arguments.  He acknowledges that the concept has some very strong points that must be recognized, however, he also acknowledges that the way in which Americans identify with their sense of place is far more reaching into the Americans psyche than many Americans give credit to. I would have to agree with him as well.

                I would say that a sense of place did indeed have something to do with the overall failure of Disney’s America. From the outset, there was opposition to the construction of the theme park due to its close relative location to the Battle of Masses battlefield. Many citizen groups were up in arms over the impact that development would have on the region and felt that all the shopping malls and hotels would ruin the emotional feeling that surrounded the region and the battlefield. There is also the speculation over whether Disney could truly do justice to the complex and often conflicting history that has formed American. A Disney theme park typically takes on a utopian edge, and is that truly an accurate representation of American history? For example, they proposed to tackle the Vietnam War, and as the cartoon that begins the chapter so elegantly puts it, just what exactly was America’s place in that war? It is not an issue or identity that everyone agrees upon.