Wednesday, June 12, 2013

What Is the American Dream?



The American Dream is one of our country's greatest promises and arguably one of its greatest myths. But what is it exactly? When people speak of "the American Dream," what exactly are they referring to? Where did the idea of the American Dream come from? How did it evolve? And what does it mean today? I don't expect you to have immediate answers, but I do expect you to find legitimate answers as opposed to inventing something or relying only on your own personal opinions.

The American Dream does have two sides, however: its more objective foundation in a long tradition of American mythology and its subjective meaning to each of us as we apply that mythos to our individual lives. So what does the American Dream mean to you? What is your American Dream?







32 comments:

  1. The American Dream has been present since the discovery of America. Although early pilgrims did not use the term, it’s idea is what they were seeking. America was seen as a fresh start and a place of opportunity, where a dream could become a reality. People believed that their freedom paired with hard work could earn them better lives.

    The phrase the “American dream” originated with historian James Truslow Adams during the great depression. Although the times were rough Adams believed that the American dream was America’s theme. The term quickly came to represent economic security, and a life with abundances.

    The modern American dream began with President Franklin Roosevelt. His first act was the 1934 National Housing Act. At the time the majority of people or families did not own a house mostly for financial reasons. The main goal of this act was to change just that and give Americans the opportunity to own one. This is the origin of the modern American dream of owning a home.

    The next phase in the American dream was the G.I. Bill of Rights. Roosevelt believed that “we have come to the realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence.” The new bill offered many benefits to reach this. Among the benefits were free tuition at any school, home loans with nothing down, and mortgage payments that made homes drastically more affordable (a continuation of the National Housing Act’s goal).

    As we know from history this caused an economic boom. Things were starting to look up for Americans. However, this didn’t last long. Over the past 50 years or country has faced it ups and downs, most recently the great recession. Our government is working tirelessly to bring us back into prosperity. Personally I believe that George Shultz who served as secretary of state under Ronald Reagan defined the modern American dream perfectly. He stated “This is a dream that says change for the better is possible.”

    George Shultz’s quote is exactly what the American dream means to me. I interpret it as meaning we are capable of making changes to ourselves and our environment for better. Another interpretation could be a line many parents tell their children: “you can do anything you set your mind to.” In America we have the opportunity to just that. If we want something it is there for us to go and get. We simply must work harder and want it more than anyone else and it can be ours.

    My American dream is probably different from many people. I do not want or need a big house with nice furniture and a three car garage with expensive cars. If I have happiness I have all I need. Maybe twenty years from now I’ll consider those luxuries “happiness”. But for now, in my youth, I want to see and experience the world and make a difference in people’s lives along the way. In doing this I will find happiness and make changes to my environment for the better.

    "American RadioWorks - A Better Life." American RadioWorks - A Better Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 June 2013.

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    1. If what we have to do to obtain the American Dream is "work harder and want it more than anyone else," doesn't that mean that not everyone can have it, and if that is true, what does that mean for most Americans?

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  2. When i think of the American dream today i think of it's roots. The idea of this "American Dream" got it's start in the early days of America's settlement. It was a promise made to it's citizens and anyone who would come to make their home in this country that they had the right to be happy, and to live their lives free; both in the sense that they would no longer be direct subject to the rule of a tyrannical leader, and that they could practice blind faith at their own leisure.

    To define what the American Dream is is to define what god looks like. Like a normal dream in everyone's own sub-consciousness, you see very different details. The
    American dream is as much a personal thing as is the depths of your own mind. The dream is different in my mind as it is different in the minds of my peers, my elders, and the young adolescents of today.

    The American dream was masterfully analyzed by Tim Kasser and Richard M. Ryan, who argued that the modern American Dream is largely based on extrinsic values. Primarily how one is seen publicly. A man or woman today cares more about how society sees them than they do how they see themselves. There is a certain irony to that. What are we if our self worth is measured by the eyes of another.

    My own American dream does not really involve happiness. When i think about it i think about atonement. And when i think about atonement in a man i think of early America. A man going out to work in a factory or field, and his woman counterpart at home, tending to children and household needs. That is my dream, to work hard enough to support a family alone, with my woman counterpart comfortably at home tending to my offspring. Nothing could lead to more happiness in the end than to see my own lot grow up good and proper because i alone supported it. This idea stems from my Grandfather Daniel Mapes, who worked a farm everyday at the side of his father to support a wife and 5 kids, his wife a stay-at-home mother. They made it through and by god i will too.

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    1. Ryan, Richard M. "Further examining the American dream: Differential correlates of intrinsic and extrinsic goals." Personality & Soc. Psychol. Bull. 22 (1996): 280-280.

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  3. The official definition of the American Dream is the traditional social ideals of the United States, such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity.

    When people speak about the American Dream, basically they are saying a better life. The idea has always been around; the immigrants knew what it meant to earn it, long before the phrase became popular. James Truslow Adams wrote this in 1931 “The American dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” He wrote “The Epic of America” in the middle of the Great Depression. This is when the idea of “The American Dream” evolved. Certain things influenced it like the National Housing Act and the Bill of Rights. Once people saw a glimpse of what life could be like for an American, they began making that their goal.

    Throughout the years the meaning has changed in many ways and it is questioned all the time. Now, everyone has a different view on what it actually means. Some people think the American Dream is all about how much money you have, but from President Obamas research he has noticed that the middle class is more worried about losing what they have than gaining more. I have heard people say that their American Dream isn’t about having a lot of money. They say they just want to be “happy” but what does it take to make them that way?

    I don’t think there is a true meaning to the “American Dream” anymore. It seems like we are all trying to reach the same goal, just in different ways. My American Dream is to be successful, travel and raise a family.

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  4. The American Dream according to the urban dictionary is “The widespread aspiration of Americans to live better lives than their parents did.” Anymore the American dream can be defined differently by who you speak to. Whether they’re rich, poor, another ethnicity, or even the age difference makes a difference in how people feel. Some people stick with the capability of success and prosperity for everyone who puts effort in, whereas some believe it’s a matter of making a lot of money by not doing very much.
    Those two viewpoints tap dance with the evolution of the American dream. It seems that the “American Dream” started out as a saying that anyone could successful in America. This viewpoint was popular back when immigrants where first allowed to move into this country. It was kind of a ploy to play America as the land of success and opportunity; anyone that’s a citizen here can be successful and raise their family here. Then as the immigration boom started to slow down and greed started to arise, an alternate “American Dream” view point came along. The dream that one person could make loads of money by not doing very much. This becomes the dream of many as they see more and more people live this way.
    My American dream is much like what Alex Shelley said earlier. All I really want is to be happy. Of course to be happy I’ll want to make enough money to live without much financial stress, but I don’t really want the big house the fancy cars. Also a big part of that dream is to raise a solid family with good morals. Much like the urban dictionary definition mentioned earlier, I want to be even more successful than my parents are now. With the possibilities this country offers I do believe that this dream is well and alive today and I can attain it.

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  5. I believe that the american dream is different for everyone to an extent. I believe the core of everyone's american dream is relatively the same. The american dream is to be free, have a nice house, be financially stable, and to work in such a place that is fulfilling. When people speak of the american dream they are referring to their greatest goal in life. I think the idea of the american dream has been passed on from generation to generation. I do not think it came from one place in general. Over time different ideas came together to form the american dream. The american dream evolved because as technology makes advances, people have different wants. As people's lives become better, they start wanting even better things. I think the basic american dream today is to own a large home, be married, have children, and to have a job that is fulfilling. My american dream is to have a degree, have a job that makes me happy, get married, have children, be able to buy a nice house and have a nice car. I liked Alexis Wells statement in her blog that she does not think there is a true meaning to the American Dream anymore. I can sort of agree with that statement but I have to wonder if the american dream does not have meaning anymore or it has just changed so much from the original ideas that when someone hears of it they do not recognize it as the american dream. The article " Keeping the Dream Alive" states that James Truslow Adams, a popular historian, was writing a book on the american dream at the time of the great depression. He describes the american dream as the dream of a better, richer, and happier life for all our citizens of every rank which is the greatest contribution we have as yet made to the thought and welfare of the world. I think everyone has a their own american dream one way or another. I think it is important to have an american dream. That is what keeps me going. I would not spend a lot of time and money on taking college classes if I did not have a bigger dream of becoming a guidance counselor so that I could own a house and car, and raise a family. Just as my dream keeps me motivated, I think it is important for other people to have an american also to keep them motivated in life.

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  6. According to James Truslow Adams in 1931, the American Dream was described as “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.”
    The American Dream is the fundamental idea that hard work will present an opportunity to better yourself and future generations to come. The ethos in modern today implies a unique opportunity for Americans to achieve prosperity through hard work and dedication. According to The Dream, this includes the opportunity for one's children to grow up and receive a good education and career without barriers to overcome. It is the opportunity to make individual choices without the prior restrictions that limited people according to class, religion, race, or ethnicity.
    The American Dream began during the Great Depression when James Truslow Adams coined the term in his novel, Epic of America, noted by a few posts above. The American Dream began to evolve once the Great Depression had ended, and the United States economy began to recover. The Dream changed drastically after monumental government landmarks were put into effect, such as the National Housing Act and the Bill of Rights, mentioned by Alexis Wells. These historical landmarks were just influential, which led to an ever increasing transitional period of change all around the world. A snowball effect began to run throughout the globe, basically saying that to become successful, use the American Dream as a standard.
    The American Dream is very influential to me personally. This ideal is overlooked and taken for granted in today’s society. We are a “privileged” society, and try to take shortcuts, when there are others trying to live up to these ideals. The American Dream pushes me to be successful and allows for me to do whatever I could possibly think of. My American Dream is to be a successful forensic chemist helping people by “catching the bad guys.” Helping others and making a difference is what I call my own American Dream.

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  7. I think the idea of the American Dream plays an integral role in the definition of America. Like many other students have said in their comments, it plays a large part in the idea of America as a country, to both Americans themselves and to foreigners, both historically and in present day.
    Like Alex Shelley said in her comment, pilgrims sought the American Dream, even if their terminology was different. The Pilgrims were looking for freedom and the option of creating a better life. And in this sense, I think that the American Dream has been pretty steadfast and unchanging up to present day. This is the reason why today, just as it was centuries ago for the Pilgrims, immigrants are still relocating to America in the hopes of living out the American Dream and pursuing a better life.
    Actually nailing down the definition of the American Dream is a tricky thing and I think this is due in large part to an idea that Alexis Wells discussed in her comment about how the American dream is so personal and subjective that it’s impossible to pin down or define. It would be easy to give the American Dream a simple definition, like “happiness,” but even that isn’t really simply because the concept of happiness is so intangible.
    The closest one can come to defining the American Dream goes back to something I said previously, that immigrants come and have come to the United States in the pursuit of a better life. The key word, I believe, is pursuit. The American Dream isn’t about money, or happiness, or freedom or any number of other things; these are all outcomes of the American Dream, results of it. The American dream is the pursuit; it’s not about a better life, it’s about having the option of creating a better life.
    I think a requisite part of the American Dream is the struggle that comes along with it. This is why, for me, I would argue that a man who was born into a family of wealth is not living the American Dream. To be living the American dream, you have to achieve something, end up better than where you started. This is what Pilgrims sought in coming to America and what immigrants seek today: not the option to live a good life, but the option to live a better life.

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    1. Certainly wealth is a part of the American Dream. It is also a part of searching for a better life as you stated. The wealth of each person may vary but ultimately I agree with your closing. The American Dream has become a part of our country and has morphed into a general statement about living happily. Your post makes me wonder how others around the world may think of this, or if it is even familiar to them. The intangible happiness we are all striving for put into a commonly known cultural term. The American Dream.

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    2. Your point about the role of "pursuit" is poignant. This country affords everyone the opportunity to *pursue* the American Dream; it does not offer any guarantees about obtaining it.

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  8. “The American Dream is, the traditional social ideals of the United States, such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity,” as defined by Google. This definition is extremely subjective and does not hold the same meaning from person to person. “The American dream is, an American social ideal that stresses egalitarianism and especially material prosperity; the prosperity or life that is the realization of this ideal,” as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary. Webster is slightly less subjective, referring to a realization of the dream, almost as a modern day interpretation of it, instead of an allusion to an archaic, ideological stance on society. “The American dream is, the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American,” as defined by Dictionary.com. Once again, a definition packed full of subjective buzz words in reference to a time long gone.
    Any attempt to classify something as intangible as a social stigma in a casual arena is not only subjective to the point of structural damage to the idea in question, but can only strive to be meaningless at best. By posing such deep and complicated questions in this environment and restricting the content which is viable, by disabling the opinion of the responder, the purpose of this exercise is lost. Implying a writer’s opinion does not merit a legitimate answer is offensive and unacceptable. Analyzing the American dream cannot be done without a writer’s opinion.
    When people use the term “American Dream,” they are referring to the opportunity to come to the US and make a better life for themselves and their family. When people use the term “American Dream,” they are referring to the ability to rise through the social structure in place in the US through hard work and the strong willed, uncompromising force of determination. When people us the term “American Dream,” they are referring to the equality of all people in the US, regardless of family nationality, religious belief, sexual orientation, sexual identification, genetic abnormality, genetic differences, social standing and cultural background, among other categorical identifiers. When people us the term “American Dream,” they are referring to the pursuit of happiness through whatever means they deem necessary, without exceeding the norms placed on them within society’s standards. When people use the term “American Dream,” they do so to reinforce their motivation to move forward with their meaningless lives. When people us the term “American Dream,” it is ironic and meant to portray a distrust in a system that they feel has not rewarded them for a lifetime of hard work. When people use the term “American Dream,” it is with the utmost admiration for the country they are so lucky to live in, because the rest of the world is a horrible and dangerous place. When people use the term “American Dream,” they are brainwashing themselves into thinking America is the shining star, leading the rest of humanity toward the dawn, when in reality, the world has surpassed the US. When people use the term “American Dream,” it is in tandem with a heart full of hope, when facing each new day of hardship.
    Considering the rhetoric in the question above, who are these people the prompt is referring to? Does the prompt seek the opinion of American citizens, immigrants, residents, or does it refer to the global population’s interpretation of the “American Dream?” I can only surmise the former in the experiences I have had with the people I have met across the country. There are approximately 313.9 million Americans living in the US not including illegal immigrants (Google.com) and each of them has their own version of the “American Dream.” There are many attempts at pinpointing a definition, but 313.9 million variables are slowing the process. This opinionated response didn’t even scratch the surface.

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    1. According to Merriam-Webster and further expounded upon by writer Eva Michels (in the article What is the American Dream), the first documented time the term “American Dream” appeared, was in 1931 and was coined by the writer, James Truslow Adams, in his book, "The Epic of America" during the great depression. The American Dream is, "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position." (P.214-215 “The Epic of America”) However, the foundation for the initial principles of the American dream, date back to the inception of our country, in terms of not wanting to be ruled by any one person or entity. (Matthias Bokelmann, Evolution of the American Dream) A government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (Lincoln)
      Similar to what Alex Shelley had stated earlier, the American dream began during the great depression in an attempt to rally the moral of the country during a time of economic disparity. James Adams’ goal was to build a foundation for consumption and abundance to reinforce the economy and secure a higher standard of living in the US. This ideological standpoint was a driving force in the recovery from the great depression and opened the doors to a golden age in US history.
      Today, the “American Dream,” has been saturated and dissolved to fit the needs of the person wishing for it. The fortifying pillar of equality, is often set aside to make room for success and monetary gain. The financial stratification in the US, resembles a chasm of separation with the top 1% of the country owning 40% of the country’s wealth (Examiner.com). There are religious groups fighting to keep marriage rights to heterosexual couples only, which is a blatant move for inequality, or the groups of people who want to make life miserable for immigrants, even though they worked hard to get here to achieve that “American Dream.”
      In the objective sense of the phrase, “American dream,” the meaning hasn’t progressed far from its initial perspective. It still means opportunity, but that opportunity has long passed. It was so deeply ingrained in our society, we haven’t woken up from it. In no way, does this mean it is still viable in today’s society. As far as the subjective sense of the phrase, it doesn’t mean the same to people today. There are still people who strive to accomplish things under the guise of the American dream, but get rich quick schemes and exploiting other’s to gain the advantage is far from the initial ideology put in place in the 1930s. (Fabian Everding, “The American Nightmare”)

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    2. The American dream represents the strength of a nation during hard times. The perseverance of the American people when failing was not an option in the survival of the country. The dream is a memory of what this country stood for when it was the leader of the free world. To me, this is no longer true. The American dream is just a faded idea.
      I’m tired of all the hate America has to offer me with prejudice, inequality and heavy religious influence on government and scientific progress. I’m tired of the political parties running the country with little to no regard towards the stability of everyone in mind, instead of the corporations and the 1percenters. I’m done with the religious zealots who lead their marches of regression under the false banner of peace and love. My dream is to leave this country and make my way teaching people around the world. As soon as I finish college, the US will be at my back with Europe and Asia in front of me.

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    3. My aspirations are lacking as I have aged. I succumbed to the temptation of American ease. Your desire to travel, teach, and learn make me feel a little jealous. Maybe your disposition will ignite some sort of spark in me. I don't assume to understand your position or beliefs I merely wanted to comment on your post. Perhaps the ugliness of the nation can be fixed by the strength of the nation. I think I poorly paraphrased a Bill Clinton quote there. Is the American Dream still alive?

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  9. What is the American Dream? The American Dream is what each American wants to achieve, it is the last step of happiness. The American dream has several interpretations that all follow the same goal: happiness.
    The idea of the American dream came from our ancestors, who lived average lives in hopes that they would be able to live a more luxurious life. The idea has evolved from being thoughts of just being able to move up in the world, to becoming a rich man or woman in the free world. Today, the American dream is saw as becoming rich and influential in media, for example pop singers and politicians, but this is not entirely true. The American dream has several meanings today.
    The most common idea of the American dream, is to become rich and live a luxurious life. This idea of becoming rich and famous is a form of happiness to most people. Rich people can live luxurious lives and buy the latest model of a car. Famous people have influence on media and people look up to them as role models. So the idea of being rich and famous has no down sides, although not true, you are living the dream.
    Other forms of living the American dream can be foreigners who want to come to America in hopes that can they can live an easier life. For example, Mexican migrants who wish to move to America, because of the better pay and better jobs. Although this is not the American dream to all, this is still an American dream to some. The American dream does not have to involve being rich, can just be being middle class and happy.
    My idea of the American dream is being better than middle class and achieving happiness. I see my dream as living a simple life, where I am at ease with the people around me and happy with my possessions. I do not see a reason to be rich and famous, as long as I am able to work at a job that I enjoy and live comfortably, I will have obtained the American dream.

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  10. The American Dream is idea of this country was built on. It is what caused pilgrimage from Italy, Germany, and Russia and place all of over the world to America. The America dream is the ideal of the United States; referring to equality, democracy and material prosperity. When people seek the American Dream they seek a better life. That could be a life of wealth, health, power, and a numerous of other adjectives; whatever that strive may be the key word to tie it all together is opportunity. The American dream originated with frontier life. The Royal Governor of Virginia stated, “for ever imagine the Lands further off are still better than those upon which they are already settled" and then added on, "if they attained Paradise, they would move on if they heard of a better place farther west." He was meaning that other countries farther off weren’t doing as well as they could in a different country and if they heard of a better place farther west (America) then they would move to it. The ethos today implies opportunities of education and careers without barriers. But with the influence of society the American dream has dwindled down to mere money seeking greed. In an interview I read, questioning collage students, most people in the interviews described the American dream as being materialistic, self-absorbed, and full of greed. Wealth and status play a large role in the American dream of today’s society. The mindset of this era is “do as little as possible” and “get-rich-quick” mindset and that with money, people can achieve anything. If a person is seen as having it all together, they are thought to have the dream. No longer is the dream something a poor person can achieve, nor does society let a poor person believe they can achieve it. It is called an “idea” for a reason. It is up to the person pursuing the dream to make it happen. As stated in the declaration of independence stated that “all men are created equal and they are endowed by certain unalienable rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Pursuit, meaning that you have to bring it upon yourself, and that you have the life and liberty to implement the American dream. As Alex Shelley said in his blog, the American dream meant to him creating changes in ourselves and our environment. I agree with Alex. If you want something out of life, it isn’t going to be handed to you and it shouldn't be either. The American dream to me is doing everything I am capable of. Making a life and a family and then providing the best I can for them. The American dream to me is also able to see the world and travel; the freedom to come and go as I please or the chance to (passport). It’s the free will that draws me to our American dream and free will that allows me to have the American dream. To me, I am living the American dream.

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  11. What is the American Dream? Merriam-Webster’s the English-leaners dictionary states that “the American dream” is a happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S. especially by working hard and becoming successful.
    The “American Dream” starts several hundred years ago during the Revolutionary War. A pretty awesome piece of paper called the Declaration of Independence planted the seed for this dream. This seed would grow over the generations and flourish to what many immigrants and natural born Americans strive for today. This document (seed) stated that "all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights including Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
    When the Declaration of Independence was written it was during a time when a certain group of people’s very way of life was endangered. This group first came across the Atlantic Ocean on a tiny little boat called the Mayflower. These individuals where escaping the mighty rule of the King of England to practice their religion how they wanted.
    After the Revolutionary War and the Americas gained their independence from England so they could live their lives how they wanted to without a guy sitting on a throne telling them what to do. After the war, the government enacted the Bill of Rights which took “the American Dream” to a whole new level. The Bill of Rights was on a level of equality that had never been seen before. Here was a document that stated, as long as you were an American citizen, you and everyone else could have equal rights within the government, politics, and with the law. This was unheard of in other countries and was a foreign concept to the citizens. This document built on top of the seeds that were planted with the Declaration of Independence. Here was a document that guaranteed, no matter who you were that everyone was seen as equals.
    This idea of seeing everyone an equal and obtain equal opportunity for every race was brought to a head in the 1950s and the 1960s. This movement was head by a young minister by the name of Martin Luther King Jr. King led several events that brought to light to a nation, that equal rights and an equal way of life is deserved by everyone. Some of these events were the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, the 1963 March on Washington, and his famous “I have a Dream” speech. Even though King was assassinated, his movement continued and insured equal rights and social standards for all minorities, immigrants, and those of a lower social standard. This movement insured that the individuals who came to America for a new start, earn a living, and accomplish their dreams was able to without someone holding them back.
    My personal “American Dream” does not include a picturesque home, in a spring meadow, with a tree swing in the front yard. Well on second thought I would enjoy the spring meadow. My dream is to have a job where I don’t have to worry about money for my family. I would like a house that is what my family needs and can cater to their needs. I already have a child, but I would like to have more children for my kid to play with and to grow up with. I have simple dream, but this is my “American Dream”. Everyone’s “American Dream” is different, but with the contributions made by several people over the years has made it so everyone can accomplish their dream.

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  12. The American Dream is the belief that in the United States, people are free to pursue opportunity, and that through hard work, they can make a better life for themselves and their children. This statement could refer to many things; it all depends on the individual. Some would say the American Dream is sending your kids to college and getting them set up to start their life, when others could say having a big house with fancy cars is the Dream.
    The idea of the American Dream has been around since the 1600’s. These years started the three fundamental characteristics of the American Dream, which are liberty, equality, and economic opportunity. Once again, the importance and the success rate all depend on the individual.
    English colonist in America brought the idea that America was special with them or somehow different. Historians refer to this as “American exceptionalism”. Those who settled in Virginia primarily took advantage of economic opportunity. Their desire for economic opportunity led them to value the principle of equality. The idea of “American exceptionalism” mingled with European Enlightenment where philosophers believed that man was equal. This leads back to the fundamental characteristic of equality. This is how America became an example of moral uprightness with equality, and land of having the ability to thrive economically without being a noble blood.
    One way on how the American Dream evolved is that in the 19th century America had the two best embodiments of the American Dream, Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln. Both men rose from being poor farm boys to becoming presidents. Their dreams only became true because of America’s ideals on liberty and equality of opportunity. People seeing this happen around the world makes them want to come to America and try and be as successful in their own way as these two men were. They wanted to live the Dream too.
    The American Dream is still very much so present today; however it has taken a wide right turn on the values of success. People think of the American Dream as having a luxurious life style and being a star. That dream is fine but it seems to cross a line of wanting to be famous. That the only way you are going to get what you want is to be famous. So people do ridiculous things to try and accomplish their American Dream of being a celebrity. This is why there are so many “reality” TV shows that show ruthless people trying to capture their 15 minutes. I asked some people I work with what their American Dreams were and almost everyone said something along the lines of wealth and having material comfort.

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    1. I watched a video on YouTube called “What Dose the “American Dream” Mean Today?” by a news group called The Point and something they talked about was very ironic to me. They were discussing how America is this great country to live and how we have so many freedoms people come here to live the American Dream of success and freedom. However, they said, America hasn’t hit rock bottom yet. Once we do, individual fulfillment is supposed to cease and people are to work as a team to improve everyone at once. This struck me as very interesting because the American Dream has a since of individualism in it.
      The American Dream means to me that there is always a possibility for greatness. You have to put in the hard work and appreciate what you do have. Part of the American Dream is just living in this great country we call home. There are millions of people who don’t have the freedoms we have and that is part of the American Dream; liberty. This ties in with Romillo’s blog in how he says Mexicans coming to America for better pay is their American Dream but just because that is theirs doesn’t mean that is everyone’s. He also said that the American Dream doesn’t have to involve being rich, it be just middle class happy. I totally agree with him on this.
      My American Dream is to be able to protect my future children and provide for them. To work hard to get where I want to be, which is a doctor, anesthesiologist to be exact. In my dream I see myself respecting everyone around me because I know that they too had to work hard.
      Sources referred to:
      "Board Question #31269 | The 100 Hour Board." Live Posting. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2013.
      Ellis, Kate, and Ellen Guettler. "American RadioWorks - A Better Life." American RadioWorks - A Better Life. Web. 17 June 2013.

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  13. Google defines the American dream as “The traditional social ideals of the United States, such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity.” This definition is incredibly vague which allows any person to bend the definition to their idea of the American Dream. However, it does seem like there is a common theme regarding the desire to be successful; successful being another obscure word.

    When people refer to the American dream they are referring not to a specific definition, but to what the idea means to that individual. This idea comes from our gender, racial, ethnic, sexual, and class identities. It comes from stories we've been told, people and life experiences that have influenced the way we see the world. Because of these variables one person’s American dream can be quite different from another’s. Romillo Holloway describes his dream of wanting to be better than middle class while Alex Shelly states he wants to experience the world.

    Wikipedia states that “the idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Google’s definition is reasonably in line with the idea of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Over time the American dream has become more centered on material ownership and social status. Today’s generic American dream is to be financially well off with the ability to provide for your dependents and buy new things.

    The phrase “American Dream” tends to leave a bad taste in my mouth. One of the definitions of the word dream, according to Google, is “an unrealistic or self-deluding fantasy”. By simply using the word “dream” Americans allow themselves to be fooled into believing if they work hard enough they can get somewhere. Our society is set up in a way that the lower and middle class will never get the chance to move up in the world, regardless how many hours they put into work or how much they “dream”. I see today’s American Dream as something negative, something unattainable. My dream is very similar to Ryan Schlussler’s; I dream of leaving this country to experience all that the rest of the world has to offer.

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    1. Yes! The very definition of the phrase necessitates that we see "the American Dream" as a fantasy. By it's own name, it is a lie. The exact nature of that lie (fantasy) is certainly debatable. I do agree with you though: for many people, most Americans even, the American Dream by its traditional definition is unattainable.

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  14. Traditionally, the American dream has followed along the lines of using hard work to gain social mobility and changing one’s life to something greater. This idea stems from the poor immigrants moving from other countries who believed that the path to freedom and prosperity began with the migration to the United States. Because of a smaller distinction between social classes and because America was the interesting new kid on the block, the US appeared to people around the world as a place where any person, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, could change their lives and gain happiness (through money or success or a large amount of material wealth).

    The phrase “American dream” was coined in 1931, by historian James Truslow Adams in his book, Epic of America. His description of the American dream was one where every person gained or lost resources depending on their abilities, not the life they had been originally given. But actually, the core idea of the American dream predates the United States entirely. According to the Washington Post article Five Myths About the American Dream, written by Michael F. Ford, the idea of moving to the Americas began in the 16th century when European settlers crossed the Atlantic to find a better life for themselves. So the dream is hardly American. On top of that, the very meaning of the American dream seems to change from person to person. For some, it’s the promise of more money. For some, it’s the idea of stability at work or just with life in general. When I was growing up, I always understood the American dream to be a little house in the suburbs, a wife or husband, 2.5 kids, and a boring but reliable job. So how, then, can one even properly define such a thing?

    Today, the phrase is used often by politicians in speeches. It’s used as an attempt to inspire hope in the American people or to convince them that something needs to be changed. But maybe the words are becoming emptier and emptier as time goes on. Perhaps there was a time when the American dream really did mean becoming something greater than what you were born as. But the truth is that the gap between the wealthy and middle classes is larger than it’s ever been. Such a small portion of the population actually controls the wealth of the country, and yet they manage to control everything else. This doesn’t even take in to account the massive difference in upper class and lower class citizens. There are millions of Americans who work hard and yet gain next to nothing.

    I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t believe in the American dream. I think it’s a way for people to comfort themselves that what they’re doing with their life is actually making a difference and that if they work hard enough, they’re absolutely guaranteed a reward. One of my favorite books is The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of the major themes of this book is the falsity of the American dream. Although Gatsby works hard at life and does everything he can to go from nothing into someone amazing, he only manages to become rich by resorting to illegal means. And even then, when he’s surrounded by money and fame and people who seemingly adore him, he never truly gets what he wants. His idea of the perfect life, this stereotypical American dream, turns out to be unachievable, and in the end, he ends up alone at a sad, empty funeral that none of his so called friends cared to attend.

    Many of my classmates listed very idealistic versions of their own personal American dreams. Most of them talked about being able to provide for a family or pursuing their personal career goals. I’m not saying these dreams aren’t possible because of course a person can live their life and be content with it. But I don’t think any of these things are quite the American dream because society today has made achieving that dream almost impossible. I don’t have an answer for what my American dream is because I don’t really have one. I have dreams and hopes for my future, of course, but labeling them as a particularly American dream just seems silly to me.

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    1. You make an important distinction: An American's dream is not necessarily "the American Dream."

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  15. The American Dream is the fulfillment, to an extent, of Maslow's highest level in the hierarchy of needs, applied to a nation. When I think about the American Dream my thoughts are not centered around my survival I am whimsically pondering the notion that's been planted in my brain since before I could think, that if you put your mind to it you can do anything, and the placating phrase that seems to be on the tip of everyone's lips: everything will be okay.
    Self actualization in the American Dream: A quote from David Foster Wallace's This is Water focuses on the freedom that education gives us.
    “The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day. That is real freedom. That is being educated, and understanding how to think. The alternative is unconsciousness, the default setting, the rat race, the constant gnawing sense of having had, and lost, some infinite thing.”
    The pursuit of happiness: When I think of the American Dream I immediately think of owning a house with a white picket fence living in suburbia with smiling faces in a nice cozy neighborhood of relatively equal demographic qualities. Yes, my immediate thought is selfish and limited as I suspect with some examination others may carry as well. With a little thought provocation such as this exercise is, the origin of this American Dream has quite an impressive beginning and over time has become a commonality and mindset of the U.S.A. It has become "a lens through which people today can under¬stand each other’s visions and values better"
    - Gay Dannelly, Hesburgh Libraries’ associate director for resources and collec¬tion services
    http://www.library.nd.edu/advancement/documents/AccessFall08.pdf

    The American Dream is the Idea that a people can control their own destiny and live freely, away from the constraints of imperial rule or military control. That the right to live free is put forth above all other objectives. This collective idealism was courageously put into form by a peoples' dissention and rebellion from the king of England in the Eighteenth century and written as law in one of the most important documents in history. The Declaration of Independence. Specifically to our focus the first section of the Declaration of Independence addresses what the American Dream is:
    When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
    We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
    http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

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    1. Neil, I don't know if you are quoting the video that has been circulating online or the book, but here is a link for the short video in case anyone is interested in watching it. I highly recommend it. It is an excellent reminder to see beyond our own selves to empathize with one another's humanity.

      http://dotsub.com/view/6b8cc93f-3b53-486b-a1ce-025ffe6c9c52

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    2. Thank you for the link, I had seen this before, but the first time I encountered it was on a NPR radio program. The part I especially found relation to was the mention of how our education at this level allows for a freedom that may be otherwise unavailable. Members of family are at times quite racist in their comments and though I do not try to refute their opinions I often will mention that the level of education can determine a persons tendencies.

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    3. Another point I failed to mention until I skimmed through the book itself that I bought for my daughter to read one day is the writers mention of worship. In the general sense. If you worship God you will never feel worthy, if you worship money you will never have enough, if you worship beauty you will never be beautiful enough. I wanted in some way to show that there are many faucets of life that need to be explored rather than just the one that is presented to us on television.

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  16. I believe that the American Dream is the right for any man or woman to be able to come to America and do as they please with their lives. One is not forced to do anything in this country and every citizen of this country is given the opportunity to succeed, but you dont have to take that opportunity because it is your choice, which to some is the American Dream in itself. I believe that the American Dream is best explained in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby". Jay Gatsby does whatever he can to gain money, power, and to fit in with the rest of society because he believes that fitting in with the others in society will bring him happiness. He fits in well with everybody but he still is not happy until he meets a woman that is not from the same social class as him. So for him the American Dream was not money and power, his American Dream ended up being love that he found from a non wealthy girl. This book portrays the fact that the American Dream isn't all about money and power, this book shows that the American Dream is all about what makes you happy and the fact that you have the power to do whatever it takes to find your happiness no matter how big or how small. My American dream for instance is to be a chef. My parents are both teachers and in some other places I wouldn't be able to follow my dream because my family isn't exactly upper class society, but I still get the chance to follow my dream, not for the money and not for power but because it is something that I enjoy to do. So in short, the American Dream is anything that any person in this country wants it to be so long as it finds them happiness.

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  17. Merriam Webster defines The American Dream as “the traditional social ideals of the US, such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity.” I think Kid Rock simplified this with a verse in his song, Only God Knows Why: “You get what you put in, and people get what they deserve.” To me, that is the American Dream: being able to work your way up the social ladder, in a society where everyone gets out of something only what they put into it. A society of equality is the objective mythology of the term the American Dream. The myth that if one applies themselves, and overcomes every obstacle put in their way, and with continuous hard work and a determined attitude, they will be rewarded. The rewards differ from person to person. This is where the subjective meaning of the term comes into play. For some, the American Dream might be marrying their high school sweet heart, starting a family in their small hometown, and living in the house on the corner with the white picket fence. To another, the American Dream could be living in a mansion by the sea, with multiple cars, and money to do with whatever you please.

    John Truslow Adams, a historian during the beginning of the Great Depression, wrote ‘the American dream of a better, richer, and happier life for all our citizens of every rank which is the greatest contribution we have as yet made to the thought and welfare of the world. That dream or hope has been present from the start." His thoughts on the American Dream reinforce the idea that it has always been around. We want to live in a society that is consistently moving forward, making advances, and providing opportunities for hard work and advancement for everyone.

    The idea of the American Dream has always been present. It is human nature to desire to succeed, and be the best, so everyone should have equal opportunities to do this. However, we cannot all be the best and still be completely equal. Our ancestors came to America with the hope of freedom and equality, and to build a better life for future generations. The American Dream is alive within us all, but to me, it is not about the money or success. I believe the American Dream is having the opportunity to do what you want with your life, whether that is sitting on a couch watching Netflix for endless hours, starting a family, or building a business from the bottom up. Hunter Thompson believes “Nobody is stealing our freedoms. Were dealing them off.” An important aspect of the American Dream is that it is up to the person to decide their future, to stand by what you believe in order to achieve whatever goal you may have.

    Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2117662_2117682_2117680,00.html #ixzz2WTjWssYO
    http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2117662_2117682,00.html

    http://playboy.co.za/postcards-from-the-proud-highway/

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  18. The American dream started as a tangible opportunity for immigrants; free or cheap land in the newly discovered continent that lacked all or most industries. It was available for whoever was resolute enough to work hard for it. It popularize during the great depression when the entire country was at its worst economically, and was used to give hope to the masses. However, it has turned from a tangible dream to an optimistic outlook on living in a developed country. The land of opportunity still exists but based off of some of the related blogs I’ve read, it has unwittingly digressed significantly to only existential standards of wealth and social standing: A house, two cars, 2 ½ children, weekend bar-b-cues, and a bald eagle on every Americans shoulder. For many of the other bloggers it has become a voice against any type of discrimination on civil rights or infringement on civil liberties. They acquiesce this by quoting Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech; or acknowledging that American citizens who are actively pursuing their American dream cannot attain it when they are discriminated against for religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender.
    For me however, the American dream represents hope, happiness and stability. Hope not only to achieve the subjective idea of success in our American culture. Hope that anything I set my mind to accomplish I can because I live in this great country of ballpark franks and endless television channels. Hope that my children and grandchildren will have a better and more fulfilling life than I had because the opportunities are boundless and we all can reach any goal we aspire to. My happiness including enjoying my civil liberties as a US citizen; Being able to marry who I want, practice whatever religion I choose; and if I don’t agree with something I can vote and protest without being MURDERED. My American stability dream is being able to get a job or start my own company at my own choosing. Having the option of owning my own home or as much land as I desire. The American dream is real but is idiosyncratic to the individual.

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  19. The American Dream to me is fighting till you can’t fight anymore to reach the highest peaks in your lifetime; if you don’t bleed, sweat, or cry you didn’t try hard enough. While some people get everything handed to them, others have to start from the bottom and work hard to get to the top. My father is the perfect example of that. He moved to this country almost 30 years ago to not only better his life but the life of my siblings and I. In the beginning he was working three jobs and taking care of my older brothers and sisters while he was going to college. He always tells me I do not want my children to suffer so I had to do what was nesscary. My father is African and my mother is French so I had a different upbringing then most children. Even myself I am not an American born citizen and my father would always tell me how hard it is to make it in America. As a young child I could not comprehend what it was to work hard and make it in life. Now that I’m older I understand what my father meant. He sacrificed family time to work long hours just to make sure we were well taken of. My father and mother have been separated for awhile now; I didn’t grow up in the traditional mother/father home. My dad was very strict and demanded nothing but excellence from us. My personal “American Dream” is to become a doctor to help others. I want to help the world become a better place and set a foundation that future generations can build upon. Some people want to get rich quick but they need to understand that America doesn’t work that way unless you hit the lottery. Working hard to achieve the pinnacle is something that no one can take away from you.

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