I hope that by now you have come to understand that in some ways the different aspects of cultures are consistent (e.g., why hunters and gatherers practice reciprocity) and that in other ways they are contradictory (that is, that there are often differences between what people say and what they do).  American culture, of course, has its own contradictions and complexities.  Ron Kovics book Born On the Fourth of July describes some important aspects of American life.  What are some of the contradictions in American culture that he portrays?  Can any of these be observed in our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?  Provide specific examples.