Compare/Contrast Essay

‘Land of the Free’ Versus ‘Land of Milk and Honey’
Known as the ‘melting pot’ and ‘the land of opportunity,’ the United States has grown to become one of the most sought after places to live, work, and study. Many people immigrate to this great country because of the many opportunities to excel in nearly everything. Here, if one puts his or her mind to something, he or she can truly become satisfactory and continue to progress in the area which they are chasing. Israel is famous for being the birthplace of nearly all religions. Also, Israel has more museums per capita than any other country, and Israel has more engineers and scientists per capita than any other country. Israel is slightly smaller than the size of New Jersey, so there, people have to adapt to different things, including the housing situation. Due to its location and historical value, nearly every country in the Middle East wants control of Israel. For this reason, Israel’s army must be very well trained, powerful, and big in size. However, the nightlife, just like in the United States, is still alive and thriving. Although these two countries are thousands of miles apart and nearly on opposite sides of the world, people in both places are determined and willing.
The area of the whole United States is approximately 9,161,923 square kilometers, which is a little more than 3.5 million square miles. Due to this vast land space, people can afford to spread out and build houses on acres of land. People usually live in single-family homes that have backyards and a driveway. In Israel, the situation is very different. The majority of families live in apartment buildings. Because Israel is so tiny and has to occupy many people, the government decided to build up instead of out. On average, about fifteen families live in one apartment building. A set of similar-looking apartments, usually between five and fifteen buildings, makes a neighborhood. In each neighborhood there are parks and playgrounds for children to play in. Although they are sufficient for Israeli kids, American kids may think these playgrounds are far too small. Pets in the apartments are no problem at all. They are totally welcome, and residents don’t have to pay a down-payment or a monthly fee. However, there is a very small percentage of the Israeli population that lives in single family homes. Although they are tightly packed and have virtually no yard space, these houses are definitely bigger than apartment living. In most cases, the people who own these houses are doctors, lawyers, or company CEOs. In the United States, people would most likely not think these houses are luxurious in comparison to the ones available to them.
In all of United States’ history, there have only been six drafts into the military. Today, one joins the army on volunteer terms only. These are not the procedures in Israel, however. In Israel there is always a draft. Once a child turns eighteen, he or she must serve in the Israeli Defense Force, or IDF. Boys serve for three years minimum while girls serve for two. Every Israeli citizen must pass health exams, join the army, endure basic training, and be a part of the army. There is one exception to this rule. If one is an Orthodox Jew, he or she does not have to serve in the army, due to religious reasons. However, they must still serve the country by doing volunteer clean-up work on the highways and in cities. Most eighteen-year-olds in America, especially the girls, could not imagine themselves going to the army right after graduating from high school. On the other hand, Israeli teens could not picture themselves going to college right after finishing high school. There, it is just the way of life, and it is what everyone does.
The nightlife in Israel and in the United States differs greatly. For the most part, in the U.S. people do not party or go to clubs until they are at least eighteen. In most states, children under eighteen have a curfew, which states a time when they need to be at home, usually around midnight. In Israel, a ‘curfew’ does not exist. During the summer, teens and young adults will stay at home with their family until around one in the morning, and then head out with their friends. Teens usually go to the beach, but towns are completely open at night! Bars, restaurants, and clubs are open until the wee hours of the morning. Teenagers sometimes get back to their homes at around the same time their parents leave for work. During the school year, nightlife is much the same as in the U.S. Parents choose a bedtime for their kids, and the kids wake up early for school. American parents most likely would not let their ten-year-old child wander the streets with his friends on a summer’s night, but in Israel, it is almost customary.
However far away and different these two beautiful countries may be, they are quite similar in their way of life and in the attitude of their citizens. Israelis mostly live in apartments, and Americans live in homes, but home life is relatively the same; the value of family is maintained no matter what kind of house you live in. The nightlife in both areas is different through the summer days. Throughout the school year, children in the United States and in Israel have the same routine. The places are equally excellent to live in and to raise a family in. The maintenance of peace is the sole goal of both the American army and the Israeli army. However, the way of obtaining military men and women is quite different. Although the reasons may be unique to each country, people in both places are motivated and proud.