Fishing for Words Essay

Imagine waking up to an unfamiliar world. A world that only may seem familiar due to years spent breathing, but not living. In this unfamiliar world, one can only imagine the panic and frustrations illiterates face each day as they coexist. An expert on this issue, Jonathan Kozol, wrote a book that deals with his theories of illiterates in America. He mentions how democracy is sacrificed from lack of acknowledgement of this issue. While focusing on chapter four in his novel, Kozol highlights real life hardships for illiterates and defends that their freedoms are nonexistent. In Jonathan Kozol’s essay, “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society”, he presents the major costs and dangers from illiterates that impact our society as a whole and that our nation fails to address.

The American dream is an amazing opportunity for people. It was in the past and it is now. It gives immigrants the chance to make a life for themselves and their families. It allows them to escape poverty and the hardships that they face in their country. Coming to America gives people a chance to get a job, own their own business, or get their own home. Past generations have thrived greatly from this opportunity. Current and future generations are struggling.

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

Early in our history immigrants could move from a hard lifestyle, such as government corruption or famine to America . Where life was perceived to be perfect and had so much more opportunity. However, as the people changed in positive and negative ways the American Dream was altered as well. The overall idea of the American Dream has changed from ideas and freedoms to more tangible things. For example people used to move to America to have rights and to have a voice. Now some believe that if you wear expensive shoes and spend more money on your car than your house you have fulfilled the dream.

The American Dream was discussed in 1975 in a poem named “Ellis Island”. It talks about the dreams of most people expect, but in the end it results with many disappointments. For example, in the poem, it claims, “Waited the long days of quarantine, a Circle Line ship slips easily on its way to the island.” It represents to reality by giving the dreams of many Americans and immigrants were given and expected to have when they arrive in America. It also claims “Lands invaded when the earth became owned. Lands of those who followed the changing Moon, knowledge of the seasons in their veins.” This points out the disappointments in the American Dream because of how it changed the expectations that everyone is hoping for. So in my opinion, the American Dream is to become one whole justified country that shows defending, qualification and challenging our fellow American citizens for the liberty of all people to find pursuit of happiness.

The definition of the “American Dream” by James Truslow Adams, “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” this means that no matter your social class, dilemmas, or circumstances at birth one will overcome and make their dream come true. This is a misconception brought upon by us in order to bring more workers to justify a social class clearly. Many immigrants come to the US thinking there will be a better life for them. It is the place where dreams come through. They know it will not be easy and are willing to put the hard work and

From the time our Founding Fathers introduced the idea of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, many individuals are now craving to achieve their idea of the American Dream. The American Dream has changed dramatically over the few centuries. During the Founding Fathers’ time, many believed the American Dream meant freedom, equality, and mutual respect. Time has changed this ideology of the American Dream, which is now seen as owning a million dollar mansion with multiple luxury cars. This isn’t the case for many immigrants who come to the Americas to have a better life for themselves and their family. To many of them, the American Dream is as simple as living in a house and being able to provide their children with an education and

     The American Dream cannot be defined clearly. Each person has his or her own dream. Some see it as owning a house or becoming a millionaire, while others define it as being able to read or to get a job. Society tends to associate this phrase with the amount of money a person earns or how many possessions they can acquire. The American Dream to others, especially immigrants, is a chance to succeed in a new life. The important fact is that Americans are given the freedom to decide what The American Dream is to them and the opportunity to achieve it.

The American Dream, a dream on which our country has been built on and continues to develop and bring new and new waves of immigrants. It is a part of each American; this dream has been the light at the end of the tunnel for which our parents and ancestors were coming for. To find a life that was rewarded and built only on their will of hard working and efforts.

The American Dream should stop being just a dream. It shouldn’t be limited to only those born in this country. Immigrants shouldn’t have a rougher time coming to America. They shouldn’t have additional battles but they should be handed opportunities like the rest of America is offered. What if you were an immigrant? Wouldn’t you want someone to be fighting for your rights and

Throughout history America has been the arriving place of immigrants searching for a better life. America is perceived as the land were endless opportunities are available. The greatest explanation of the American dream is Martin Luther King, Jr. speech; I Have a Dream. Dr. King speech is more like a testimony of truth, rather than a speech. At the time of his speech African Americans were not free, while the Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal. Dr. King’s movement established the way for the idea that there is an American dream. The idea that somebody can be anything they would like to be. This idea is still relevant now in America. Americans pursue their dream everyday by having the opportunity to attend

The American Dream has become a motive for success for both Americans and immigrants. The dream is what draws foreigners to

In this day and age it seems unfathomable that there are so many people that cannot pick up a cereal box and read its contents, or read the operating manual of a toaster oven. Why is it that so many Americans cannot fill out a simple employment application or write a check? Where is the reasonable judgment in electing a President or passing a proposition? Why is it that in a country like America, with free education, are there still many people unable to read, write, or think critically? There may be a slew of reasons for this epidemic of uneducated Americans across this nation based on both facts and opinion. In my opinion, a few contributing factors may be poverty, financial deficit within communities, and government and political contribution.

The American Dream can mean a number of different things to number of different people. Over the years this ideal has evolved and its definition will continue to change for many more years to come. What has not changed is the desire to achieve this dream. For decades now, people from all over the world have immigrated to the United States with hopes of obtaining this dream. However it seems that, to many immigrants the American dream has a very different and more modest definition. To many foreigners it means having the basic necessities in life and giving their children opportunities and life they ever had. Immigration can be a good and a bad thing. On one hand the overall standard of living is better but on the other hand it is almost

Still, people are willing to risk their lives’ to enter the United States. Some may succeed, while some will be unsuccessful and get deported back to their own country. They sacrifice everything in order to provide a sense of hope for their family. This is what the American Dream represents; being able to prosper, raise a family, and live the means of a good life. Illegal immigrants long for a day where their offspring will develop into a successful individual, rather than growing up in an environment of poverty and despair. Imagine your child working in the fields of Mexico only earning 50 to 60 pesos a day ($5-$6). He/she is planting crops under the blazing sun getting blisters on their feet. The heat consumes the dream and hopes they aspire. People experience many difficulties while seeing more than they desire. Although immigrants approach the U.S. longing for wealth, in reality wages are less than the average salary of Americans. Even so, immigrants gain strength to continue through the encouragement of their family.