Is "The American Dream" still alive? is it attainable? Do you think it's become more an illusion, or do you still see it as a real promise? Or has it somehow changed in our current society?
Use this blog to have a dialogue with your classmates about these questions. You can share your own opinion, but also use some of the readings or resources to back up your thoughts (referring to the sources you looked at). Please post one paragraph with your own ideas, and respond to one another as well. Please post your comment no later than Wednesday, April 12th at 8:00 pm
The two articles that I focused on were “Checking My Privilege: Character as the Basis of Privilege” and “Dear Privileged-at-Princeton: You. Are. Privileged. And Meritocracy Is a Myth.” The first article was written by a freshman at Princeton, Tal Fortgang, who believed that the American Dream was still alive and that “white male privilege” was a myth. He talked about the fact that his ancestors had to work for everything they had and that he had to do the same. Tal said that he doesn’t think that being white and a man had anything to do with his accomplishments and even thought of it as reverse racism. He said that people used the fact that he was a white man to belittle his accomplishments and hard work. He said that the American dream was alive and well and basically that he was the living proof that if you work hard you can accomplish anything you want. He finished the article saying “I have checked my privilege. And I apologize for nothing.” The second article that I focused on responded to my first article. It was also written by a Princeton student named Briana Payton and it refuted everything the first article said. This student talked about how Tal doesn’t understand the meaning of the word “privileged” and that he is wrong. She brings up major issues such as the wage gap, police brutality and how people of different races and religions are treated. She says that, “Ultimately, success is when hard work meets opportunity” and shows that yes Tal has accomplished a lot, but only because he was given the right opportunities. I agree with the second article. I don’t believe that the American Dream is completely dead, but I definitely think it is corrupted and has been for a very long time. The fact that their is still a wage gap between men and women and racism still exists proves just how corrupted our system and our “American dream” is. Many white males are given opportunities over women or people of different races because it is believed that they can do the job better and this is proof that it is sometimes opportunity that makes you successful and not hard work as stated by the American Dream. In conclusion I think that the american dream is not accessible for all people in our society due to gender, race or religion.
ReplyDeleteThe Dream can be seen as being corrupted. The point about women and men getting different wages is important, but I also think that since the American Dream is not accessible to everyone because of our gender or race it can be seen as dying rather than just degrading over time.
DeleteI agree that the American dream is corrupted because certain people definitely have more opportunities than others just because of their race or gender. A great example of this is the wage gap between men and women, which shows that the dream is not as easy to attain depending on who you are.
DeleteThe American Dream is an ideal often referred to throughout US history classes. It is the ideal that if you work hard, you can succeed. This, to me, is an illusion. It is not just a work ethic that makes the rich the rich. It is not just a lack of effort that makes the poor the poor. In the Time magazine article on Princeton and privilege, the author defines privilege as, "the very real benefits that society affords certain groups over others". This made me think of how hard it would be for an immigrant to make it big in the US right now. There is a large stigma against immigrants especially those who are muslim and those who are hispanic. Our own president has referred to hispanic immigrants as rapists and murders. This societal ideal puts up a large barrier on the American Dream. Sure, if you were a white male from a solid background you could achieve the American Dream. But, it seems less and less likely that any minority could do the same. Even half the population, women, face huge barriers with a lack of access to reproductive services. In many southern states, there are very few clinics that provide birth control and important cancer screenings to low income women. This leads to unwanted pregnancies which vastly decrease the opportunities they have to work and obtain the American Dream. So, this begs the question: Is the American Dream accesible? I would answer this simply by saying that if the opportunity is not equal for all people, it can not be seen as the American Dream. The point of the concept is that no matter what your background is, if you work hard enough, you can become rich. But, if this is only true for a small portion of the population, it can't be true in general. The American Dream is an illusion that only some can obtain.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you that the American Dream is just an illusion. It isn't just about who works the hardest because their are people out there that give their whole life to becoming free and they never succeed.
DeleteThis is actually pretty much the topic of "Defending the Dream: Why Income Inequality Doesn't Threaten Opportunity" in which an entire section is devoted to "Equality of Opportunity vs. Sameness of Opportunity." It argues that so long as there are no legal barriers that are halting the advancement of a specific group, then the government has done its job. The fact that certain people or groups are going to be more advantaged or more privileged than others is just that, a fact. It really isn't the job of the government to equalize everyone and such an endeavor would likely have a net negative effect.
DeleteJulia, your assessment that "if the opportunity is not equal for all people, it can not be seen as the American Dream" really connects with me and seems to hit the nail on the head. Throughout history, the American Dream is synonymous to equal opportunity to opportunity- so without equality, which hasn't been reached by America yet, the American Dream isn't accesable.
DeleteI think that the American Dream is still very much alive today. Although it may have changed forms throughout history it has still prevailed. The question as to whether or not the American Dream is attainable is a difficult one. There are so many aspects that factor into people's success in life. I personally believe that it is attainable to anyone who is willing to work hard for it. This thought of mine is shared with Sergio Garcia, a man who is living proof that the dream is possible. Sergio said that "with a great deal of hard work and sacrifice, not only from me but all of those around me, I managed to realize my dream and finish my education as an attorney". Sergio was an illegal immigrant who spent his whole life dreaming of becoming an attorney, worked extremely hard in school, and eventually his dreams came true. It is very possible for a person to make whatever of their life that they so chose. Attainability can be gauged by how hard they are willing to work. Yet, I do feel as though the American Dream has taken a large change in the past few decades. Bernadine Watson stated that "the system does not encourage higher education, but is much more focused on services intended to lead to immediate employment. Often the jobs are low-wage and dead-end". She feels as though today the social welfare programs do not set people up to sustain a truly successful life no matter how hard they work. This goes against the dream that hardworking people will be successful. Bernadine was correct in saying this, the dream is more easily attained to those who live in certain areas or who have higher incomes. The portion of America that see's the benefits to the American Dream were not the bottom class that the dream was initially meant for. The people below the poverty line do not have the same opportunities that other people do. They cannot easily gain a great education which is needed to be successful in todays society. The American Dream is very much still alive today, but it is much more difficult to attain for anyone who has been struggling monetarily.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Kelly that the American Dream still exists today. It is true that those who don't have as much money may not be able to attain "The American Dream" however they can work their way up and may be able to reach a version of the American Dream. Since there is not complete equality across America certain things are more attainable for some people over others which might be a reason many people think the dream no longer exists or is attainable.
DeleteI agree that the American Dream is hard to attain for low income Americans. This is why I believe the American Dream is no longer attainable as these are the people the idea of the American Dream were created for. People should be able to get the help and aid they need to be able to go to college or other opportunities they desire to be able to achieve their goals, but with the cutting of welfare programs this is no longer possible.
DeleteThe American Dream is still alive today and always has been. Anyone can achieve it and “succeed and be free here if they are willing to work.” It is attainable as long as you work hard and don't quit. The American Dream is a ladder, “Only those who put in the effort to climb—and pull themselves back up when they fall—will make it to the top.” In today's society, many people are expecting to be given everything and not putting in the work to earn it. Many of the illegal immigrants and American citizens alike make excuses for why they cannot do well. They want the government to give them everything, but that isn’t what the American Dream is. You have to work to be here and live in such a great country where freedom and opportunity are everywhere, not take advantage of your freedom and rights. Anyone can go to school and get an education, get a job, and be successful. You are responsible for your own life. You choose your own destiny. One of the articles that supports this stated, “The American Dream is about hard work and self-reliance, not handouts and dependence; equal opportunity, not equal results; emulating those who make it, not being envious of their success; pulling yourself up, not dragging others down.” This quote perfectly sums up the American Dream. It isn't easy to do which is why so many people give up and consider the Dream to be dead. It is a real promise. The American Dream will never give up on you as long as you don't give up on it.
ReplyDeleteArticles: “Defending the Dream: Why Income Inequality Doesn’t Threaten Opportunity” by Rea Hederman and David Azerrad
“Who Still Believes in the American Dream?”
In my opinion The American Dream is still alive and running. However, I do not think it is easily attainable. It can be seen as being more attainable for people who work hard. According to the article about Sergio, "Nothing that is truly worthwhile comes without effort or sacrifice, but I am out to prove the American Dream is still out there for the talking"(1). All these innocent people have dreams of becoming lawyers, doctors and just living a better life for their family, however, the majority of them never get to live that dream. Additionally, Azerrad states, "Only those who put in the effort to climb—and pull themselves back up when they fall—will make it to the top". However, that is hard to believe when there are still people every day working as hard as they possibly can and they have gotten no where in improving their life. People even have to go as far as to try to buy their freedom, but then they usually just get locked up. It seems as though the American Dream is a lie because only some of these poor people get to experience the "American Dream". I think this question, "Are some dreams better than other" (4, Thompson) is an important one to consider. It comes down to the fact that some people just get to live their dreams while others who have been suffering for longer do not get to fulfill their dreams. So is the American Dream really attainable if only a small percent of people get to have a better life? The ideal "American Dream" is a myth and there is no guarantee for anyone.
ReplyDeleteI agree Emily that there is no guarantee for anyone. I believe The American Dream is exists even though not everyone gets to experience it. It is about working hard however a persons status in society and amount of money they have is another big factor. This is a sad but true reality for the American Dream and people who wish to live it.
DeleteI agree that the American Dream is a myth and not something that everyone gets to achieve. The idea of the American Dream is still used in today's society to show an image of success and an ideal that Americans have held to for a long time, but because of the current state of America equal opportunities for all people is just not possible.
DeleteThe American Dream is still alive and still attainable. The dream varies from person to person and does not come without hard work and many obstacles. In the article Sergio Garcia: In Defense of the American Dream” Sergio points out that money is not everything when it comes to the American Dream. It is more about the dream someone has and how far they are willing to go to achieve it. Sergio says “people say it doesn’t cost anything to dream and I am glad it doesn’t because otherwise I would have never been able to afford such a big dream.” Garcia dreams of becoming a lawyer and is willing to go to the extremes to make this dream come true for him even though he comes from a background with no money and lack of status. Garcia again in the article points out “money isn’t everything in this world and you don’t miss what you have never had.” This highlights the idea that the dream varies from person to person but no matter what, it is still there. Those who come from less money may start with a small dream and work their way up to the dreams that those with money have. One reason the American Dream may have changed a little or shifted is because people are less willing to work hard or make sacrifices which is essential to achieving the american dream. Garcia says “nothing that is truly worthwhile comes without effort or sacrifice..” meaning the American Dream is always existent as long people continue to work hard and make sacrifices even if they are sometimes hard. One reason some people may think the dream is no longer alive is because of differing opinions on what it should be. This is pointed out in the article Why the American Dream Will Never Die it says “Sometimes, their versions of the dream are at odds with one another” which might appear to some people that there is no longer “The American Dream.” Although there may not be one American Dream where everyone shares the same dream, I believe it still exists in many forms, all which are attainable.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the definition of the American Dream is different for everyone. It can be incredibly confusing to read an article about why the American Dream is dead if you have a different idea entirely of what it is.
DeleteI agree that the American Dream is still attainable. However, it is easier for people who have more opportunities and wealth to become successful.
DeleteThe American Dream was once something that was attainable by many Americans. However for most of Americans today, the American Dream is no longer attainable. In the article, “My climb out of poverty wouldn’t be possible today”, Bernardien Watson explains why she believes the American Dream is no longer possible compared to the 1970s when she did live the dream. She was able to get a higher education and a good job because of government programs such as Pell Grants and affirmative action.Today however, these programs are being cut from the government, restricting the lives of many low income families. In today’s society to have a high paying job you almost always need to have graduated from college. However, due to the rising price of college and less programs to help people pay, many students are not able to go. This is stopping many Americans to be able to chase after their dreams. In addition, in the article “Grand Illusion: Mobility, Inequality, and the American Dream”, Karabel uses statistics to show how the American Dream is dead. Karabel found that the United States placed last in the percent of sons who climbed from the bottom 20% to the top 20% on a study of six countries.To get ahead in the workplace today most people rely on connections. This creates a society where the upper class continue to stay rich because of connections and networking, and the bottom class continues to struggle. Overall, the American Dream is dead because of the little aid given to low income families to help them reach their goals, and because of how business works in America today.
ReplyDeleteJulia, I completely agree with your statement that benefit cuts are killing the american dream. I think that many people are often born into the class that they will live their lives in, and it is very rare that class shifts will occur.
DeleteThere's no doubt that the American Dream has changed throughout the country's lifespan. Originally, it was the idea that someone could come to America to have better opportunities and provide a better life for their children. More recently, it's become the idea that anyone can come to American and make themselves into a millionaire and the realistic impossibility of accomplishing that has led to a general feeling that the American Dream is dead. The article "Defending the Dream: Why Income Inequality Doesn't Threaten Opportunity" makes the point that the real reason people feel that the American Dream is dead is because people have become more likely to complain about an apparent inability to become rich than actually put the work in. It defines a "recipe for success" - a series of choices that a person should make in order to increase their probability of success. Now, there's no doubt that countless other factors play a part in a person's success, many of which are completely out of their control. This would be the concept of privilege discussed in "Checking My Privilege: Character as the Basis of Privilege" and "On Princeton's 'Why I'll Never Apologize for My White Male Privilege.'" The first article condemns the concept of privilege, instead stating that he and his family have made it to where they are today through hard work and perseverance. The second refutes his point, stating that "the word privilege isn't a negative judgment about Fortgang or his character" and completely missing the point of the first article. This paragraph has somehow mutated, but the original American Dream wasn't that you could move to America and become rich overnight. It was about moving to "the land of opportunity" and making a better future for not only you but also your family. The American Dream is dead or unattainable or whatever because what is has become today is so completely improbable that the majority of people alive today will never know someone who they would say has reached it.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that the American dream means something different today than it did many years ago. However, anything worth having is only obtainable with hard work and sacrifice. Its an unfortunate reality that some people are put in a better position for success than others but it does't mean that people at a disadvantage can't achieve the American Dream.
DeleteI think that the American dream is still alive because people are always hoping for a better future, and people are always working for a better future for their kids. The American dream is based on hope, and as long as hope is still alive in our country, the American dream is still alive. I do think that the American dream has become more of an illusion, because I think it's harder to succeed in our country than it was in 1931 when James Truslow Adams coined the term, according to the article "Why the American Dream Will Never Die". When the term was first used I think people were focused on succeeding in their jobs, but now I feel like more people are focused on getting very rich, which makes the American dream more of an illusion and less attainable. I also think part of the American dream is about coming into the country in the search for a better life, and I think it's harder to do that now with immigration reform and a negative focus on immigrants. It makes the American dream harder for immigrants or people of a different background because they can't find better lives if everyone is viewing them in a negative light. In the article "Muslim 'Twoness': Fearful of Some, Feared by Others", the Muslims are fearful that people will attack them for their religion or the way they look, and feel alienated living in America, even if they were born here. I don't think that the American dream is attainable if you aren't welcomed into the society and are alienated by other citizens. Many different people have many different ideas of what the American dream is, but in my opinion the dream is mostly about hope and working for a better future.
ReplyDeleteI truly believe that the American Dream is still possible in todays society. The beauty of this country is a persons ability to bring themselves out of financial difficulties by working their way to the top. However, it could be accomplished more easily years ago compared to today. In todays society, America still allots plenty of opportunities for people to get a job, make money, and be successful. Its not something that is easy to obtain, but it is still possible. In the article, “In Defense of the American Dream,” it tells Sergio Garcia’s experience as an immigrant in the United States and the struggles he faced to obtain his ultimate goal to become a lawyer. He faced many challenges getting his license to practice law; his two biggest obstacles were the Supreme Court and his lack of citizenship. However, after a lot of hard work and networking, he finally got his license. He concludes, “Nothing that is truly worthwhile comes without effort or sacrifice, but I am out to prove that the American dream is still out there for the taking.” His story goes to show that with motivation and sacrifice, any dream is possible in America. This is an amazing country that presents so many opportunities and freedoms to be who you want to be. Many people blame the U.S. government for their poverty or hardships when they should prioritize on working their way up the latter of success and taking the right steps to pull themselves out of poverty. Another informative source I read was, “The American Dream Lives On” which explains the success story of Yasmina Shaush, an immigrant of the United States. She believes that, “To be born in America is a gift, one that should never be wasted.” She had a lot of pressure from her family to create a good life for herself; it was her family and appreciation for the American dream that motivated her to work hard. She advocates that, "The true beauty of America lies not in its fruited plains or purple mountain majesties, but in the determination of its people.” I agree with her perspective that as long as you are a driven and tenacious individual, success in America can be attainable.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Eva. I think you made a good point that there are many people who blame the government for their difficulties in attaining the dream. The American Dream is a ladder and getting form one step to another is not easy. It takes work and dedications which many people don't think of when they think "The American Dream." Success in America is always available- you just need to work for it if you truly want it.
DeleteI personally think that the American dream is no longer alive and has never been truly attainable since the coining of the term. I read two contrasting articles, one stating that the American dream is alive and well, and another stating that it has died. While Sergio Garcia's "In Defense of the American Dream" was compelling, I found that he often contradicted his claim by explaining how difficult it was to achieve his dream and how our country set up road blocks to prevent him from succeeding. However, I found myself completely agreeing with the article titled, "Grand Illusion: Mobility, Inequality, and the American Dream". The article utilized many significant statistics that helped me to gain perspective on to how poorly our country treats its people compared to others. I was surprised to learn of our extremely low social mobility rate along with the extremely high rate of poverty. These statistics clearly show that the American dream is not alive. It used to be believed that the US was a place of hope, and possessed a bright future for everyone, but after comparing our statistics to the ones of many other countries, I am sad to say that our so-called American dream is no more.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that the American Dream is dead. If it was, so many "dreamers" wouldn't be coming here. There are many people who want to come to America and very few who want to leave. Everyone in this country has the ability to get a high school education for free. Even college can be free if you are willing to serve in the military, so there is no excuse to not be able to get an education. Your mind is the only thing that limits you. There are multiple layers of social welfare that are accessible. This nation is the strongest one on Earth because of the American Dream. You have the freedom to become what you want. You just need personal responsibility and stop blaming others for your own lack of progress.
DeleteTo me, the "American Dream" is having equal opportunity to a successful life. While the definition of a successful life differs for each person, the importance is that whatever a person strives to achieve, they can achieve. In the 1900's, immigrants were coming to America because of this dream: the dream that they could find success in a land of opportunity that welcomed immigrants, the "huddled masses". But the reality was they did not find the America they excepted. Workers were exploited and Unions were dangerous for reputation, so little mobility was possible. America has come a long way. Workers have many more rights, and corruption in corporations has been cut down. However, the "American Dream" will remain a dream as long as inequality exists. As it is, equal opportunity is not all encompassing. Tal Fortgang, the author of "Checking My Privilege", seems to deny that privilege exists at all within America. Briana Payton, in my opinion, correctly asserts that "Fortgang’s privilege is, in essence, the inability to not see these things as problematic because it doesn't affect him." Fortgana also believes that the phrase "check your privilege" is equivalent to someone saying "realize that nothing you have accomplished is real." Again, I agree with Payton's counter to this point- that it is not that all his accomplishments are lesser, it's that they were easier for him to achieve comparatively. I believe that the American Dream is neither dead nor alive, but just as it is in the title: a dream. It is an aspiration of a better nation. Once we achieve this American Dream as a country, there will be a new standard set, and another after that, and another. It is of the greatest importance that the country never stops dreaming, because without having a goal improvement cannot be made.
ReplyDeleteGennie, I think what you said is very interesting. Especially the part that the American Dream is neither dead nor alive, but a dream. I like that because it shows that we have a long way to go as a nation. We have come a long way but there is always more we can do to help others.
DeleteThe American Dream is still alive; however it is much more attainable for some groups of people than others. I read the articles titled Checking My Privilege: Character as the Basis of Privilege and the article in response to that article called Dear Privileged-at-Princeton: You. Are. Privileged. And Meritocracy Is a Myth, which prove that although the American Dream still exists, it is much easier for some groups to achieve. In the first article, the author argues that people are “diminishing everything I have personally accomplished, all the hard work I have done in my life” and attributing his successes to his white privilege. But, the second article replies that they are not trying to take away from his accomplishments but rather shed light on the fact that it was much easier for him to make those achievements than it would be if he was in a group with less privilege in society. Minority groups can still accomplish whatever they want to, but they must work much harder than someone who has more privilege. For this reason, I think fewer people believe in the American Dream today than people did many years ago. It is less common for people to build their own success from nothing. Since it is less visible in today’s society, it may seem as if the American Dream is dead, but I believe it still exists.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Katrena. I think that it is much more difficult for some groups of people to achieve their dreams because they have less opportunity. They must work harder than everyone else to reach their goals.
DeleteThe "American Dream" is the idea that there is opportunity to achieve success, and that no matter what position you are in, there is endless possibilities. Every person has the ability to change their future and attain what they desire in life through hard work and determination. Although I acknowledge that there is not completely equal opportunity in America today, I think this ideal is still a major root for what America represents. The perspective of hopefulness is what creates the drive and determination of the American people. As said by Yasmina Shaush in 'The American Dream Lives On,' "The true beauty of America lies not in its fruited plains or purple mountain majesties, but in the determination of its people." The mindset that we can achieve anything, even our greatest dreams, is what America thrives on. It is what creates the concept of the American Dream, and it is why so many people can turn this 'Dream' into a reality. Our perspective is what creates our reality. Yasmina also says, "Every day I am reminded of this possibility. I am an immigrant. To discern me from the crowd of purebred, made-in-Americans is impossible. I speak with no accent and dress no differently. I am American, through and through. The true distinction is found in my perspective." The American perspective is hopeful, determined, and excited. It is why the concept of the American Dream is attainable and lives on today.
ReplyDeleteThe United States has been recognized throughout the world as the “Land of Opportunity.” People flee to the America in order to receive opportunities, and live out “The American Dream.” This dream is still alive today. Achieving the American Dream is not something that comes easily to many people, however it is possible and worthwhile. Yasmina Shaush is an immigrant from Ukraine and feels grateful to live in the United States, where she has the opportunity to create a better life for herself. Shaun believes that she can achieve her dreams because she now lives in a democracy. She states, “Even through today’s pessimistic climate, I find it easy to be optimistic, simply because of where I live. While my mother grew up in the shadows of communism, I was raised in the light of freedom and democracy. Anything is possible in America, anything.” Yasmina Shaush recognizes in a state of democracy people are allowed to dream. They are also allowed to chase after their dreams through hard work and motivation. She does not feel discouraged by the climate within the country, she knows that in the United States she will be provided with many more opportunities to flourish.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with your points Cassie. I agree that the American dream is very much alive, and I think that people born in America simply overlook the things they should be grateful for, because they've grown up with it. Immigrants like Yasmina know the struggle that many people including her mother from other countries suffer through and have been suffering through for decades. Because she is aware of the society that she could be living in, she appreciates the things we take for granted. I really liked your points!
DeleteCassie, I really agree with your points. What you included about Yasmina Shaush is extremely interesting and inspiring. I love that about the United States that people come here in hopes of a better life and often times are able to have a better life.
DeleteThe “American dream” is complex, open for interpretation, and constantly molding to fit the modern world. Belief in this idea of the attainability of wealth, family, freedom, and education stems almost entirely from experience. Chris Arnade, when asking different types of Americans what they thought about the American dream was that almost everyone agreed that they strove for money, family, safety, independence, improvement, and education. The divide that he encountered was between adults born in America and immigrants; while American-born adults said that “the only people talking about the American dream are politicians. The rest of us are busting our asses, dealing with shrinking paychecks and rising costs”, immigrants would reply “I am living the American dream… My son goes to a great school, and if he works hard enough, he can have any job he wants… That is a dream come true”. In my opinion, the “death” of the American dream comes from lack of appreciation for the benefits that we are blessed to be born into; We deny the existence of the American dream while going to our jobs, driving our cars, and eating in our homes safely. As Yasmina Shaush wrote, “To be born in America is a gift, one that should never be wasted… While my mother grew up in the shadows of communism, I was raised in the light of freedom and democracy”. The children born and raised in America do not appreciate that a huge proportion of the world does not live like us – we work to pay our electricity bills, while they slave for crumbs, we work to put gas in our cars, while they walk 10 miles carrying clean water to avoid fatal diseases, we complain about our minimum wage jobs, while they allow themselves to be physically, verbally, and sexually abused by their bosses to make pennies. America is a dream land to them; to us it is merely boring reality.
ReplyDeleteTheAmerican Dream is still alive today, however the promise that someone will be able to achieve their dreams just by moving to America is taking it a bit far. The reason the American Dream exists is because of the abundance of resources and opportunities in America. If someone comes into this country seeking success they will have to work very hard and take advantage of the freedom that the U.S. offers. People have the freedom to choose who they want to be and what they want to do but there is always a difficult journey that they must endure to get to that point of success. Not everyone in America is rich and successful, and there are two reasons for that. The first is that some people lack the effort and motivation that is necessary. The other is that some people are content with less money and a more simple life. Everyone has a different dream or goal for life and America has always been a place where people can become whatever they want to become. The American Dream is usually known as a person pulling themselves up by the bootstraps, getting a job, and living in a house with a white picket fence. From what I've researched, the American Dream is actually the opportunity to become something that makes you happy and makes you feel like you are living the best life that you can. As long as we never lose our freedom, this is something that will stay in our country for a very long time.
ReplyDelete-Julia Rowse
The American Dream is very much still alive and attainable. The main way to achieve the American Dream is by working hard. Anybody has opportunity to be successful in their lives as long as they are willing to put themselves out there and work. Many people believe that the American Dream is not alive because they feel as though they don't have an equal opportunity to succeed. Whether it is because they are born into a poor family, have disabilities, etc., many believe that they have not been born to achieve the American Dream. This is a very poor way to go about life. Everyone has their own struggles and some people use them as excuses to not be able to succeed. However, the American Dream is not solely about economic fulfillment and wealth. I believe that the American Dream is the idea that anyone has the opportunity to achieve their own version of happiness. To some, that may mean money, to some a healthy family. Therefore, I strongly believe that the American Dream is alive and well because of its varying degrees of happiness that can come from the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteThese are two articles that I read and found very interesting.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/johntamny/2015/09/30/ignore-the-left-and-right-the-american-dream-is-alive-and-well/#567fad6d507e
https://www.earlytorise.com/the-american-dream/
The American Dream is not ded. This is because the American Dream in its definition never existed. The view that as long as you work hard you will succeed has never been the case. Our world has inequality in it: luck and intelligence take too much of a role. Some people may work hard their entire life, but sometimes the stars just don't totally align. Its a sad reality of life. Today I read the article about the affect of income inequality on the American dream. It is an interesting read because there isn't really a way to fix this. The main driver for many who work hard and create companies is to gain wealth. In this pursuit of wealth the rich push themselves and their companies further, building their wealth and creating more opportunities for the lower classes. This is a requirement of the American Dream. People point to income inequality as an issue, and it is not ideal because a middle class with less buying power is not healthy. The trends of less income for the middle and lower class is a worrying happenstance that needs to be treated. However, it is important to remember that even as inequality grows, class mobility has not changed. And class mobility is the key to the American dream. The American dream is threatened, but not ded.
ReplyDeleteI would argue that the American Dream never existed as a tangible, attainable goal to begin with. The solidification of the dream as an icon of American prosperity only really developed during the economic boom of the 1920s, when it was mainly envisaged as the promise that anyone could make it big in America, a supposition that would soon turn out to be untrue as the Great Depression hit. Ever since then, the American Dream has continued to be rooted in that earlier belief - that anyone can make it in America - kept alive by the incessant drone of stories of people seemingly achieving the dream, which only serve to drown out the myriad of instances of people trying and failing to make something of their life. The dream is no more true today than it was in the '20s, it has remained only as a remote possibility kept alive by the hopes of the populace that seeks to emulate it, often leading to their own harm or demise. For these reasons, I do not believe that the dream has ever been real. It has only ever existed as a figment of the collective American imagination, always so tantalizingly close at hand, and simultaneously impossible to reach.
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