As I read Ray Oldenburg's excerpt "The Problem Place in America", I realize that many of the details he discussed were issues in today's world. Oldenburg basically believes that suburbs are the reason we as Americans are losing touch with our communities and friends. I, however, believe that the severe modernization of American society is to blame for the fragmentation of American lives. I also feel that suburban areas are helping in the fight against the loss of community togetherness. .
Oldenburg's excerpt begins off with his thesis in which he states: due to the automobile suburbs, American life has become disjointed and that the American people are restless and discontented. The author then goes on to describe suburbs. In one paragraph Oldenburg states that in a suburb, "a man works in one place, sleeps in another, shops somewhere else, finds pleasure or companionship where he can, and cares about none of these places". The author uses this quotation to prove his point that the life of a suburban man is fragmented. .
The writer then details how negative the effects of living in a suburban area are. Starting off he claims that each suburb is intended for families with certain size, income, and ages, and that in these suburbs there is little sense of belonging and almost no opportunity to put down roots. These neighborhoods also promote bored housewives and children, loss of family, and high stress. According to Oldenburg, living in these areas generates the loss of social interaction. In way of providing solutions, Oldenburg simply suggests a place to interact socially without interference from the law. .
I, however, provide a different view to the problem of the endangered American "community". Even though, I grew up in a rural town, each day the town was becoming more suburban as the cities around us grew. Many of my close friends lived in suburban areas, and even though Oldenburg presents a convincing argument, I know that not all people were affected with the negative effects he describes.
