After over 200 years, the American dreams remains one of the most sought out lifestyles in the world. America epitomizes the land where dreams come true. Opponents claim that the American dream seems to not exist for immigrants and women; however, notions like that are simply untrue. On July 19, 1984, Geraldine Ferraro announced, "Tonight, the daughter of an immigrant from Italy has been chosen to run for vice president." (Ferraro, 6) Ferraro became the first woman and the first Italian to be nominated for vice president. Her dream was to make it on the ballot, and she had her dream fulfilled despite being a woman and an immigrant. Ferraro was not the only female immigrant that had her dreams satisfied. Ferraro's mum's "highest goal for her children was a future for her children." (Ferraro, 4) She tried her hardest to give her kids a future since she was a working American. (Ferraro, 5) Consequently, Ferraro's mum received her dream because she came …show more content…
Once again, opponents fail to see how flawed their argument is. The American dream doesn't just come to you because you are in America. People with this ideology should "ask not what their country can do for them," rather "ask what they can do for their country." (Kennedy, 4) Working hard for America will result in aspirations and goals being filled. Geraldine Ferraro puts the process of attaining the American dream the best, "If you work hard and play by the rules, you can earn your share of America's blessings." (Ferraro, 7) She echoes Kennedy's advice 25 years after he said it. The American dream does not have high standards. All one must do is support your country, and follow the rules. If one can do both of those, then America will help them with their dreams. Ferraro once again describes the American dream spot on by saying, "Our faith that we can shape a better future, is what the American dream is all
The American Dream has always been based on the idea that each person, no matter who he or she is, can become successful in life by his or her own hard work. The dream, to desolate immigrants escaping an oppressive Europe, also embodied the idea of a self-sufficient man, an entrepreneur garnering success through his own hard work and ambition, not
“There are those who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is the American Dream” (Archibald Macleish). The American Dream is not always seen the same way for everyone. But, for most it's, “an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative”(“American Dream”). Although the ideal way to achieve success is by one's sweat and toil, some believe that by just coming to America all their hopes and dreams for their lives will come true. Someone who has these thoughts usually later finds out that success doesn't just fall into their hands, and this is how they fall short. After looking at several different resources it has
"The American Dream is "a dream of a land in which life should be better, richer, fuller and with opportunity for each. It is a dream of social order in which each man and woman should be able to achieve the fullest stature of which they are capable of, and be recognized for what they are, regardless of the circumstances of birth or position."
The American dream is large in the minds of the American public, and indeed, of people around the world. It has taken on somewhat of a life of its own, and its clear, powerful call has brought people from around the world to the shores of the United States for more than a century, each of them hoping to capture a little bit of the American dream for themselves. While some have (there are famous immigrants in history who have come to America with nothing and created ridiculously successful financial empires that even continue today), most have found that the proverbial American dream is far more myth than reality (Bambara
The ‘‘American Dream’’ is to come to America and make a better future for their kids.
We must restore what we once called the American Dream, not only for our own sake, but for those that will be citizens of America in the nearer
It’s time to get rid of the idea of the “American Dream” we once cherished. The "American Dream" has strayed so far from the true, original meaning and has instead become a convoluted, argumentative point for politicians to use in their speeches. No one can openly oppose it because it captures our faith in advancement as a nation. Opposing it would be unpatriotic no matter how unrealistic it truly is. That is the exact reason this phrase has survived all odds, it provides hope for those without. It is what drives us all, whether we know it or not, even though its nothing but an unreachable dream.
In her 1961 essay “What Has Happened to the American Dream?”, Eleanor Roosevelt stated that “no single individual and no single group has an exclusive claim to the American dream...but we have all a vision of what it is, not merely as a hope and an aspiration, but as a way of life, which we can come ever closer to attaining its ideal form if we keep our belief in its essential value”. The belief of pursuing the American dream is one that has been instilled since the formation of the country itself, and with those beliefs come those who pursue it. Unfortunately, achieving this dream is not without difficulty, and those who realize the true obstacles in front of them turn to other ways to sustain themselves in this nation. Not everyone has an equal opportunity to pursue the American dream because of social exclusion, the government prioritizing the wrong issues, and economic gaps, which has thus led to organized crime, however some say that all citizens do have the equal opportunity.
Working towards the american dream is something people need to learn to do. In the excerpt Obamaś 2004 keynote address they say ¨I met people and they don't expect the government to solve all your problems. They know they
Though it may be hard, achieving the American Dream is attainable. Anna Quindlen states, “A mongrel nation built of ever changing disparate parts, it is held together by a notion, the notion that all men are created equal…” (Staff 2010) All men are created equal, therefore every person has the chance to achieve the American Dream. Quindlen also states, “This is a national founded on a conundrum… characterized as ‘community added
Building a life for yourself and your family where you are financially stable and happy. It’s not about owning the nicest car, a mansion, or having courtside tickets to your favorite sporting event; it’s about being able to provide for your family. You don’t have to have a great amount of money or property to be successful, you just have to be able to provide. It doesn't matter where you come from, who you are, or what you are like, as long as you can work hard, you can achieve The American Dream. To achieve The American Dream, you need to be able to look adversity in the eyes and laugh at it.
When the phrase “American Dream” is uttered, it is typically associated with having money or striving to have money. The dream of much of the public is to have money and to be able to purchase anything they desire whenever they want. For some, this dream is not about money, but it is about having the opportunity to better his or herself and his or her loved ones. In either case, there are certain circumstances and obstacles that make this dream increasingly difficult to attain. Some would even be willing to argue, the American dream is unattainable. “American Dream” is defined as the concept of every citizen of the United States having an equal opportunity to achieve success and happiness through hard work, sacrifices, and risk-taking (Fontinelle);
The forty-first president of the United States, George W. H. Bush, once said, “The American Dream means giving it your all, trying your hardest, accomplishing something…” As the years fly by, so does the American Dream. With busy lives, many Americans tend to forget the purpose of the American Dream. Failing to make ends meet, not being able to afford the new iPhone and the lack of success that is not America’s fault. People create their successes and failures based on what they desire. Through a person creating their own definition, not quitting once things go wrong, and creating opportunities the American Dream still floods the streets of America today.
Many years ago today, the United States of America was the prime example of prosperity and opportunity. It established America with the idea that its citizens would be guaranteed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, it is true that people have liberties and are free to pursue happiness. However, in recent years, in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Unemployment, growing economy inequality, and medical care have skyrocketed. Despite the odds, the American Dream is still a goal that many people strive for and hope to reach. In fact, an essay written by Brandon King, The American Dream: Dead, Alive or on Hold? He says, “the American dream is a dream in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with the opportunity for each according to his/her ability and achievement…” (King 610-611). Therefore, the problem with the American Dream lies not within the dream itself, but within the means people pursue to attain this dream.
Google defines the American dream as, “the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.” My family has hosted many international students from around the world in our house while they are learning english. One of the most interesting things to observe about them is their perspective of the American dream. Some of the students came to work hard and make a name for themselves, but others came not to study, but to ‘experience the American dream’ by drinking, shopping, and traveling. Carly Fiorina, however, is a positive example of a woman who truly embodied the American dream. On September 22nd, 2015, she told talk show host Jimmy Fallon, “I started as a secretary, typing and filing for a nine-person real-estate firm. It’s only in this country that you can go from being a secretary to being the chief executive of the largest technology company in the world, and run for President of the United States. It’s only possible here.” Whipple was one of the first examples of the American dream, which has been carried on throughout the