Argumentative Essay On "American Jerks" By Todd Schwartz 

The article "American Jerks" by Todd Schwartz opens my eyes to the real social background of the modern global world. We do not live in an actual society. We are surrounded with cell phones, iPads, laptops and other gadgets, which mediate people's communication, but, as a matter, all these innovative technologies prevent us from face-to-face communication. We create some things to facilitate our lives, but they prevent us from living real lives. Political correctness is a masterful façade, which hides away real attitudes of people to other people of different skin color or disable ones. It is better for us to position ourselves as sound citizens and global society participants. I agree with the author and think that our society is far beyond civility. Racial, sexual and religious discrimination still exist in our world.  
Civility and thoughtfulness are danger (Schwartz.) Teachers avoid using red pens in order not to avoid feeling of some students, who are less able to get good grades in comparison with other talented children. It seems to me, that in such a way, the society takes care about unimportant things, but we close our eyes on something vital and crucial in our lives. It is better to be civilians and not to position us as civilians. It is much more difficult to be someone than pretend being someone. I agree with the author and I think that there is an evident social disintegration of the American society. Lawmakers introduce political correct laws and behavioral regulations, but they do not take much care about their citizens. They think about their positive and tolerant image, which is popular nowadays around the world. Globalization requires numerous changes and transformations. We should open our eyes and hearts and become politically correct civilians. This is irony. of course. Todd Schwartz makes a transparent hint about the fact that contemporaries are not civilians, but jerks. 
We live in the twenty first century and it is unfair to solve current problems with the help of hedging. It means that we prefer creation of political correctness concepts and follow them instead of tolerant behavior, open hearts and mind. People neglect their daily duties of ordinary civilians (green light road crossing, being environmentally friendly and so on). We expect rule obeying from other people, but we often neglect our own civilian-duties. 
Schwartz underlines degrading nature of the American society and transforming its members from civilians into jerks. The author's style may seem to be too hard and straightforward, but it is the only way to reflect his discontent win the modern American society. Politicians like populist expressions concerning civility. They choose political correctness concepts in their speeches. Unfortunately, they do not want to change their policies and their citizens. Well-bred members of the society may occur in this world, but they need sound holistic upbringing from the first days of their lives. When they are grown up, they want to hide their real concerns behind political hedging and fake political correctness concepts. Speeches of politicians, articles in scientific journals and may other resources provide the idea about American civilians, who are sound members of their society. Nevertheless, a political and social gap between different representatives of the society and our leaders remains widely open and this gap prevents from civilian principles development. 

Works Cited 

Schwartz, T. American Jerks. Web. 2009 March 12, 2015.