The American Dream

Interesting topic. I have to think about this. I am a grandmother. Over the years I have seen the idea of the American Dream go through a number of changes and even take a few dips and dives, if you will. I grew up thinking that the American Dream meant financial security and material comfort along with all of the freedoms guaranteed under the Bill of Rights. The American Dream supposedly can be achieved through talent, intelligence and extremely hard work. The fulfillment of this basic "Dream" for everyone includes owning a home, buying a new car or two every few years, taking vacations with the family, sending the kids away to college, traveling abroad, retiring with dignity from a respectable job or owning your own business, and being a pillar in the community - that kind of stuff. The fulfillment of this big "Dream" is that anyone of us can have a "rags to riches" fairy tale story and end up rich and famous like Bill Gates, Oprah, Sam Walton or Famous Amos. The American Dream was the carrot waved at everyone for so long - especially to immigrants who sought religious freedom, economic prosperity and opportunity. They were lured to America to work the thousands of jobs generated by the railroads and steel mills and such. The American Dream has eluded many American Blacks due to racial inequality and legal discrimination. There are certain jobs that we all know, by themselves, no matter how hard you work, will never bring anyone to the pinnacle of the great American Dream. We are in an era where we have more opportunities for both success and failure than ever before. We may achieve success through our own hard work or just by being in the right place at the right time. You have no way of knowing which will win. It's the luck of the draw. The collapse of Enron and the Savings and Loan fiasco are classic examples of the American Dream being pulled out from under a lot of people. Their life savings gone. Just like that. Poof! There are programs and incentives that you speak of. However, amazingly, I heard a teacher say that many parents and students are not aware of these programs and incentives, or they do not know how to go about applying for them. There is still a gap in the system where information is not getting into the hands of the people that need it.

The Dream is still alive at least at the present,however, the tide has changed. The future is with Asia especially China! Now people talk about the Asia's Dragon-China. Please check the market. It is now flooded with products coming from China. The PAST belongs to Europe. The PRESENT belongs to United States but the FUTURE belongs to Asia with China and India as leaders.

The American dream indeed, and so open to interpretations! Compelled to live in the US as an adult, I have concluded, from both experiences and observations, that the "American dream" is anything but individual success. The US is a very diverse, yet, very factionist society that does not encourage or welcome individuality. One cannot succeed in the US on mere merits: One has to know someone in a high place or be a crowd-follower to get anywhere in corporate USA! I often say that having and keeping a decent job in the US has nothing whatsoever to do with talents or skills. Just be a buut or shoe kisser and you will go places in the USA! I do not know about this American dream that we so often celebrate or emphasized!

I tend to agree with you that the "American Dream" is a matter of success, whether you find that success as a person who achieves having a family or achieves wealth or whatever that dream is. I think to narrow it down to "one dream", especially because we're such a melting pot, isn't really fair because we don't all have the same dream in life. And as far as I can see, America has been where 'foreigners' come to obtain their dream, whether is be simple freedom or wealth or anything else they cannot get while in their own country.

I believe the American dream is fairness. You live by the rules and no one bothers you. You pay your dues and you're entitled to public services. You break the rules and you get punished. I agree the dream is getting cloudy nowadays with so many grey areas, issues muddied, no more clean delineation of what is right and what is wrong. I still believe in America and believe that it is the greatest country in the world. I just hope the dream stays.

The American Dream is what you make it. If you think being a teacher is the best thing in the world then that is great but if you want to be a doctor and you are a teacher then it is not so great. I think the person makes the dream and not the other way around

My American Dream is to simply own my own home and be able to care for my family. I think of the American Dream as bettering your life and that of your children. I don't want a huge house or millions of dollars. I want enough to get by without worrying if there will be enough to buy groceries after the bills get paid. And I expect we will have to work hard to do this. I see so many young people today that want it all but don't want to work for it. My dad has been a train engineer for over 35 years. He is the third ranking engineer at Amtrak right now (meaning only 2 other people have been there longer then him). About 10 years ago the union renegotiated the contracts of the engineers because the younger ones were complaining it took too long to get to the top of the ladder. My dad spent 25+ years working his way to the top to get his 5 weeks vacation and whatever pay it is he earns. He got almost no training (learned on the job), worked horrible hours when I was a kid, worked 12 hours a day--6 days a week. He put his time and effort into the job. Now guys will get to the same position as my dad after just 10 years. They will have the same pay and benefits but only put in a third of the time and effort of my dad. Sometimes I feel that is the "New American Dream" to all that you can as fast as you can and with as little effort as possible. I get so tired of seeing these lawsuits for stupid things. People want to slip and fall at Wal-mart so they can sue for millions of dollars and never have to work again. What ever happened to hard work? Rags to Riches (where the person actually uses their brains and works hard to get to the riches)?

I like your post a lot. I think the Amerian Dream is still there. It is a wonderful country with so much to offer, in spite of it's many problems. If this was not true, so many people would not be coming to the United States of Amercia.

I believe in the American Dream and I define it much like you do-as success in whatever you set out to do. I wanted to own a house, get education, raise my kids in a good environment with some values, pursue my interests...all of those things have been successful endeavors. It may not have been easy to do or to keep up with, but to me the American Dream is about potential, opportunity, and the chance to succeed too. Good discussion question!

I am Canadian, but it doesn't matter. The American Dream , The Canadian Dream...dreams are all about you....not the Country. Make your dream come true. Define it, set goals for it, work toward it, persist at all cost, and you will get there, sooner or later. I'm not quite there yet, but, I'm getting there. Anyway, I have come a long way in a relatively short time. Keep dreaming...

I live in America and have never bought in to the American dream thing. To me, it is a world dream...to want a different life where living is easier for all. I want to beleive that anyone, anywhere can have their dreams and have a chance to realize them in life. I would say that it depends on whatever someone believes the dream might be. Success, money, good relationships, health...or anything else. Whatever the dream might be, its fulfillment comes not from outside sources, but from within.

I'm a filipina and i used to work as a Front desk clerk in a hotel here in the philippines and in front of the U.S embassy. Everyday i would see long lines of people trying to get visa and going there to have an interview. It got me thinking, there they are standing in that line rain or shine trying to make their American Dream come true! I think the meaning of american dream for us is the future! we wanted so bad to be able to experience the good life. they take chances on leaving their own country to try and persue a more secure life for their future.

I'm not an American, but I believe that we all need to have a dream to give us a vision. Without a dream you have no hope, no vision. I always say to my husband, its good to have a dream, it give us a goal to work towards.

The american dream... hm... That's the dream of a life well lived. Making money very easy, having a place of your own, a good dental plan :), and a lot of free time. That's my "american" dream.

When you talk to people from foreign countries they will tell you that the American Dream is to own your own home or some land. In many countries the idea of some one owning their own home is beyound them. Look at the Cuban refuges who came to America after Castro took power. Many of them are wealthy and own their own home. They came over here with the clothes on their back. They lived the American Dream. Many of the refuges from South East Asia did the same thing. Taking entry level jobs and working hard they acheived the American Dream. The Amreican Dream is alive and well if you are willing to work for it and not wait for the Government to give it to them.

Yes i think so ur right American dream is still alive as they are having lot of sources to get the fuel and they ll b the one who has largest reservoirs at this senario. yes anyone at any time can be successful.

I agree with you the american is still alive, and i belive its more alive than its used to. From where i come from, an american dream is like an ultimate dream. They aspire to migrate to america because of certain reasons, one of them is poverty. They are hoping that by living the american dream they could alleviate the poverty condition of their family.

yes i believe the american dream is still alive and well. Although it almost seems like it gets harder daily to obtain but i do believe that it is still out there waiting for everyone to fulfill there version of it.

sorry friend i dont have any idea abt american dream