‘I’m living the American dream” is as common of a phrase in the United States today as the game of baseball, hot dogs and good ol’ American apple pie. People have grown up with these things just as they have the hair on their head. You see, part of being an American is being a part of this bigger pie rooted in our history called the constitution. Our forefathers created this document stating that we are all born with this basic right to freedom and equality and it is our duty as citizens to uphold these rights and it the duty of our government to protect them. But are we helping to continue to make the pie or are we just eating it? Through the course of history, values and expectations of society have changed. The responsibilities of citizens …show more content…
If we all hold ourselves accountable for our actions and strive to achieve above and beyond, but for the purpose of the common good of society, we will not only be setting a good example for one another, but helping out those who are struggling. There should never be a reason for not trying to excel according to Beecher in Source No 2. According to source No. 3 from the Josephson Institute of ethics, one should “do what they are supposed to do”. If one has a good understanding of the outcome of their actions and the impact they have and they accept it then they are upholding their civic duty. This is similar to Abe Lincoln’s thoughts in his message to congress on Dec 1, 1862 when he said, “In times like the present, men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible through time and eternity” (Source No. 1) . Here it can be agreed that our actions impact our future, thus, it is important to make sure that what we are doing is upholding our good standards of our constitution. Source No. 4 also proves that we are makers of the pie. In this it breaks down the meaning of responsibility and compares it to our the true meaning of our constitution being our basic given rights as humans...such as the freedom to move, and feel and
...liefs. Furthermore, to say that there should be one “excellent persons’” moral standards that all shall desire to work towards is, in my opinion, unfeasible and unjust. Especially now in the twenty first century, there is a slight possibility to form an argument that most citizens live my a semi common moral standard; however, with the numerous amounts of different cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs there is no way that there can be a specific standard set for all individuals to meet. Rather citizens may strive to achieve what they believe to be their highest form of virtue concerning not only themselves but their place within the state as well.
Duty may be performed without strain or reflection of desire, which means your duty, or responsibility, should be performed without hesitation. “Dutifulness could be an account of a morality with no hint of religion” (Murdoch 364). Religion’s demand for morality and being good trumps a person’s decision to
“Living the American Dream” If you look up the meaning of the American Dream, you will keep finding definitions similar to this one: “the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.” The real meaning of the American Dream, however, varies from whom you ask. Many people argue that the American Dream is alive and well, whereas others might argue that the dream is pretty much dead. If you ask me what I think, I personally believe that the American Dream was once a farfetched goal of the people of America, where people dreamed of going from rags to riches. Though the dream might still be alive, it is no longer what it used to be.
"...One Nation, under God, indivisible, with justice for all." Most Americans have heard and said this pledge to allegiance hundreds of times. The question is, do we really believe in the power of its meaning? It's a shame that America, land of the free, is also the land of capitalism, scandal and discrimination. Though we have the freedom to bear arms, freedom of speech, and freedom of religious and political affiliation, some Americans claim that they do not have the freedom to be themselves. Images from the media of aesthetic beauty and financial success bombard the majority of Americans on an everyday basis. It is only natural for one to attempt to 'improve' himself or herself by living up to the standards imposed by society. Unfortunately, America's brand of 'self-improvement' often comes with a price. I agree with the definition in Webster's College Dictionary of the American Dream: 'an American ideal of social equality and especially material success. Though the American Dream is very much alive for many, it is not necessarily well for most.
The American Dream is a concept elegantly simple and yet peculiarly hard to define. At the root of it is the sense that America was created entirely separate from the Old World; the settlers had escaped from the feudal, fractious and somewhat ossified nations of Europe and been presented with a chance to start anew - "a fresh green breast of the new world." From this blank slate, those first idealistic settlers had created a society where "all men are created equal" and everyone had the chance to do the best for themselves as they could. Let us examine the passage from the Declaration of Independence from which that quote is taken:
The American Dream has always been a driving force in the lives of Americans. It has become a foundation of ideals and hopes for any American or immigrant. Specifically, one of the ideals that always exist is the dream of America free of class distinction. Every American hopes for a society where every person has the opportunity to be whomever he or she desire. Another ideal in the American dream is the drive to improve the quality of life. As one’s idea of the American Dream gets closer and closer, often times political and social ideals of America cause their American Dream to take a turn for the worst.
Human Beings have been divided into different categories .There are certain kind of jobs to do in this world. Whatever the job we do, we have to do it sincerely and it is our responsbility to fulfill all the requirements our job requires from us.Once committed to our job, we have to be sincere, honest, devoted and responsible.
In the book “They Say I Say”, Brandon King writes an essay bringing multiple perspectives on what Americans golden way of living is. The “American dream” is what most American citizens all strive for. Early settlers came in to try to achieve “the dream”. Those who already lived in America choose to stay because of its grand possibilities. The United States of America is the only place in the world where you have the rights to freedom of speech. What is the American dream? It used to be said that you could come to America and go from rags to riches; you could come with nothing and achieve everything you ever wanted. Take a second and think. We all ponder upon, is the so called “American dream” dead or alive? This has been a steamy topic
While all Americans have the right to an equal opportunity to live their American Dream, not everyone is given their equal opportunity. The American Dream has become the American Daydream. Everyone wants a good education, financial stability, and the freedom to choose their own lifestyle. Realistically, it has become a vision that lies far in the distance, just out of reach, where it remains for most. But it all depends on the person you ask. The American Dream is individualized, meaning everyone has a different view on what they think the American dream is. Some have a more optimistic view, saying things like “The American Dream is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive, and passion, it’s possible to achieve the American Dream” (Tommy
First, what is the American dream? According to David Wallechinsky, “the traditional American Dream is based on the belief that hardworking citizens can improve their lives, pay their monthly bill without worry, give their children a start to an even better life, and still save enough to live comfortably after they retire” (1). “The American Dream” states, “It has always represented the possibility for individuals to succeed and live a life of wealth and comfort, made possible by both the political and economic attitudes in the USA and the individual’s own hard work” (1). Daniella Nicole adds that “in years past, chasing the American Dream meant the sky was the limit. . .” (1). “At the core of the concept is the individual’s responsibility to aim for and achieve the American dream by working hard and taking advantage of the freedom offered to them by the country” (“The American Dream” 1). “A recent nationwide survey from LearnVest found that 43 percent of Americans today feel the dream is attainable for everyone - and about the same percentage feels that it’s within their grasp, personally,” notes Camille Noe Pagan. “For American Dreamers today,” states Nicole, ...
The American Dream is known to be a hope for a better, richer, happier life for all citizens of every class. For almost all Americans, this entails earning a college degree, gaining a good job, buying a house, and starting a family. Although this seems wonderful, a large amount of the American population believes that the Dream has changed immensely because of increased prices in today’s society, the price of tuition being highly unaffordable, as well as the unemployment rate skyrocketing and weaker job growth. While some American citizens believe it has changed, others believe that the American Dream has not changed, but point out it is harder to obtain.
The article “As American As Apple Pie” is about, poverty and welfare and how they are looked down upon and treated with suspicion or outright antagonism, and how many associate those in poverty with negative stereotypes often seen as deviant such as homeless, lazy, and criminals. Mark R. Rank points out how poverty across the world is a lot more normal than we think it might be. Some people are at greater risk than others, depending on age, race, gender, family structure, community of residence, education, work skills, and physical disabilities. This article provides the readers with data and analysis of American poverty and welfare over the course of the past 25 years. Rank also talks about how we have framed the poverty issue, and how we should frame it.
The American Dream is so important to our country and especially for our generation to take seriously. The American Dream is the opportunity to reach the goals one sets for themselves. It is about having your dream job and life you have always fantasized about. The dream is also about having freedom and equality. The American Dream was much easier to attain a few decades ago compared to today. However, it is still possible. The economy was better fifty years ago than it is today. People are in greater debt now and the United States is in higher debt than it was fifty years ago. The American Dream is still possible despite the lack of improvement within social mobility in American society over the past years. The American dream is achievable by being able to live a middle-class lifestyle and that lifestyle is obtainable through hard work and perseverance, even in light of obstacles such as racism. “The American Dream is still achievable, however, the good news is that people at the bottom are just as likely to move up the income ladder today as they were 50 years ago” (O’Brien 1). The ability to attain the American Dream is hindered by race, the middle class, and giving up facing adversity.
What is the “American Dream”? I’ve always been taught through my years of life that the United States was the “land of opportunity”, where one has the privilege to rise and fall in the country’s mobility standards. Much of the Hispanic population that makes the trek across the border, come for opportunities in the job market. They are illegal however, and most business that hire these immigrants are paid under the table. Most of their money is sent back to their families behind the Border so that the families of a lower, poorer income can enjoy a better life. Most immigrants continue to do this until they are either found by law enforcement agents, or the family applies for U.S citizenship to live the life of the “American Dream”, with prosperity and no more fear of deportation.
The American Dream is the idea that everyone is able to prosper and achieve success through a system of equality and hard work. The American Dream is very attainable; at least that is what America would like the general public to believe. America has built this image of a promise land filled with unlimited resources and endless opportunities, which portrays an equal society where almost everyone is guaranteed to succeed. In reality this American Dream promoted by America is a lie for many Americans. For average Americans it is possible to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps”, work hard, and achieve the American Dream but only to a small extent because of the inequality in America which is attributed to America’s systems of socioeconomic