“Our workforce and our entire economy are strongest when we embrace diversity to its fullest, and that means opening doors of opportunity to everyone and recognizing that the American Dream excludes no one” (Thomas Perez). The American Dream, or promise of equal opportunity, is accessible to all Americans because Americans have the chance to receive a good education and rise to the middle class and achieve what elsewhere may not have been possible. The American Dream revolves around making better living conditions for individuals and their children. People who manage to achieve their respective are deemed to have the American Dream. Part of the dream involves controlling one’s own fate, becoming successful, and having good living conditions. …show more content…
stops such an illogical objective for everyone. For example, many average Americans are struggling-squeezed by rising costs, declining wages, and credit-card debt and diminished benefits, with little left over to save for retirement. In the article, “Is The American Dream Still Possible?” Dave Wallechinsky states, “Half of the employed respondents say that they’ve experienced either increased health-care costs or a cut in health benefits over the last three years, and 39% have had cuts in their overtime, raises or bonuses. Almost two-thirds say they live from paycheck to paycheck, and 47% say that no matter how hard they work, they cannot get ahead. More than a third worry about job loss” (Wallechinsky 56). Though I do not discount their prosperity, I do believe the society in the U.S. stops any objective for anyone trying to obtain the American Dream and therefore leading to civilians who don’t suppose the American Dream is achievable. In the speech, “Keynote Address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention” Barack Obama states, “People don’t expect government to solve all their problems. But they sense, deep in their bones, that with just a slight change in priorities, we can make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we can do better” (Obama 79-80). To ensure a better future for the children of America, and pursue our own individual dreams, the citizens of America must work hard and persevere through the struggles to make this country
The American Dream can mean different things depending on who is asked. Some will answer it is the freedom of religion, class or race, others will claim it is about the ability to choose where they want to work, what they want to wear, or what’s for breakfast the next day.
Through everybody’s eyes is their own version of the American Dream. Whether it’s the stereotypical dream with a good job, a family, and a house with a white picket fence, or it could be just getting by at the end of the month financially. The American Dream doesn’t have a specific image but rather a particular mindset. Lots of people have a goal in their life that they have to work hard to be successful towards that goal, but in most cases that goal may be unrealistic.
“And when I speak, I don't speak as a Democrat. Or a Republican. Nor an American. I speak as a victim of America's so-called democracy. When we open our eyes today and look around America, we see America through the eyes of someone who has been the victim of Americanism. We don't see any American dream. We've experienced only the American nightmare.” –Malcolm X. The American Dream is the idea that every person should have an equal opportunity to obtain success through hard work, prosperity, and determination. Recently though, this American Dream isn’t functioning as expected. While some believe that America still provides access to the American Dream today by allowing the opportunity for people in America and those who immigrate to achieve
The great American dream is about seizing an opportunity when it passes by, in the form of education, or blood, sweat, and tears, otherwise known as hard work. America is an opportunistic society, not egalitarian. One has to forge one’s own way in the path of social mobility versus waiting for an equal and fair
With that, came the American dream. The dream that each person should achieve prosperity through strenuous work and dedication. There has been several works of literature that denounced the American dream as a false prophecy, as only coming true for a undoubted narrow majority of the nation. That is true that the American dream does not come by often. Although when it does, people cherish this nation and call it “ The land of the free and the home of the brave”. American history showed that in this nation, nothing is impossible, resembling what Einstein said “ Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is
The American dream is the idea held by many in the United States of America that through hard work, courage and determination one can achieve prosperity.
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.
The American dream can be one of the most possible things to have EVER been possible. Us as people must realize what we can work with. We can eventually become one of the world’s greatest countries to live in. If anything, we are already acceding a point in potential to became THE greatest county to ever live in. We have some amazing people that can do some amazing stuff for our country. Other countries might be thinking the same exact thing for their country, but I strongly think that anyone can do anything in the USA. So much opportunities to take in this country, but us humans are being put down for our hopes and dreams by other people. Sometimes it isn’t fair for certain people, they just don’t realize the type of impact that we can all
The American Dream has long been considered the ideal that represents everything the United States stands for: hard work, determination, and reward. However, it can mean many different things to many different people. It is simultaneously the beacon that lures immigrants to this country and a forgotten myth to some native-born citizens (many who take it for granted each and every day). The story of Barack Obama’s family represents one of the most archetypical scenarios of the American Dream. His father moved to the United States in hope of a better life for himself and his children, a goal which he undoubtedly achieved (his son would go on to be the first United States president with African heritage) (Obama). This serves as evidence that the American Dream was attainable through hard work and resilience in the past. However, could Barack Obama Sr.’s inspiring story be a possibility in the modern world? Although it is true that the American Dream is significantly harder for many to accomplish due to rising competition in our modern society, its core philosophy is still very much in existence.
Achieving the American Dream has been the ideal for people living in the United States for decades. People believed that the way to get there was through hard work, also known as the “Protestant work ethic”. The American Dream can vary depending on the person. Some people think that owning a house with a white picket-fence is the American Dream while others think that it is becoming a celebrity with a lot of money.
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
Is the American Dream still alive? In my opinion it is not. The American Dream is not something that can be applied to the people in this day and time. It’s just a piece of history that people are holding on to. Brandon King’s definition of the American dream being that it is the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future, but it is not believable to say the American dream is alive in today’s society thanks to the changes in the economy.
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.
“The American Dream” is advertised as being the act of a person having an idea, goal, or as the saying suggests, a dream, and then them spending time, energy, and money to make it come true. However, if you haven’t realized it yet, there’s a reason they call it a dream because it hardly becomes a reality. More and more people are realizing this so called “dream” is nothing but a hoax, and that the promises America assures and guarantees such as equal opportunity and equal success are nothing but pure manipulation. Furthermore, the American dream no longer stands by the virtue of discrimination and prejudice, overwhelming debt, and failed establishments.
The term “American Dream” is defined as an idea which believes that all people have the possibility of prosperity and success. The idea first came from James Adams, a noted American writer and historian. He claimed, “Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement.” Therefore, the core concepts of the American Dream were closely linked to hard work and opportunity.