Murr, Dominic Ms. Newton 2/20/24. The Hypocrisy of “The American Dream” Perspectives about the American Dream vary based on one’s experiences. Our perspective is how different our nation is compared to how we read about the way Thomas Jefferson intended the Declaration of Independence to look and sound, as well as how hypocritical Jefferson was when writing the Declaration’s outlines, and imagining this country’s future. The American Dream is double-sided, and does not do as those who wrote it declare. Leaving the past and current United States to live in unorganized shades of gray, where, even now, people are still discriminated against, and treated unfairly. The American Dream is hypocritical, and I believe this to be true. Because in the beginning, out of the original 13 colonies, 12 of them were slave states. But how exactly would that be a reflection of the liberty in the American Dream’s prized …show more content…
In the article, American Dream, it states, “Frederick Douglass gave his famous speech with fiery passion to a majorly white crowd. He expressed, “his agreement with the American Dream’s ideals,” but also his anger that the aforementioned freedom and equality did not apply to those forced under slavery.” To put it in more simple terms, slavery was still happening all those years ago, even when it was a modern society. Hypocrisy is in the Declaration of Independence’s most famous sentence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” A prime example of this was out of the original 13 colonies, 12 of them were slave states, and women were not given as many rights as men. Originally, in the Declaration of Independence, it claims that, “All men are created equal with the right to ‘Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.’” Women and minority groups called the Declaration of Independence out, stating that the U.S. did not deliver on
In Creating America, Joyce Moser and Ann Watters say, “Perhaps the closest we can come is to say that the American dream represents both what Americans believe themselves entitled to and what they believed themselves capable of. In other words, it is the promise inherited in the idea of America itself.” Here Moser and Watters say there is no clear definition of an “American Dream”, but their interpretation could be the closest there is to one. We feel ourselves entitled to things like life of prosperity. We also measure what we have with how much we are capable of achieving. Moser’s and Watters article relates to the secondary texts in the form of Expectation vs Reality. The following texts will have their own personal way they fit into the
The American Dream exists in the hearts of all Americans and is a concept that drives many people from all over the world to the borders of a welcoming America. It holds the promises of infinite possibilities in a limited world. Escaping from societies where societies where racism and poverty are often prevalent, immigrants come to America to grasp a part of the infamous American Dream. Nonetheless this dream also exists in the hearts of many Americans already present in America. Perhaps it burns the brightest in the hearts of African Americans, whose past is tainted with execution based on their race. Yet, the American Dream is not applied or only conditionally available for those that seek it the most- minority or immigrant populations. The
The lie of the American dream is that it promises to fix humanity's problems with material gain – it promises happiness from things that are not capable of giving it. And so, followers are all left unfulfilled by the great American dream, left with a reality that is much different than what was so easily guaranteed. The reality that everyone experiences, whether it is the suburban soccer mom or the tired immigrant, is that the dream is mostly unachievable. The reality we think exists is only a myth – a true mythological reality.
Today, American society seems to have become trapped behind a mirror, encouraged to pursue one’s own perfection and dreams above all others. Even during the conception of the country people uprooted their lives and left their families and everything they knew in hope for a better life for themselves. They left to explore a new land by themselves where no one knew them seeking to escape who they used to be. The early Americans pursued their self-advancement and the ability to climb the social ladder, and this possibility of a new life became known as the “American Dream:” the lonely selfish pursuit of a better life. This seed of hope was the plague that begot a largely solitary existence. The “American Dream”
“The American Dream, that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement.” --James Truslow Adams. The phrase “The American Dream” has been expanded upon or refined in various forms, but is essentially based on Truslow Adams’ idea. This concept has been subject to criticism because some people believe that the structure of society prevents such an idealistic goal for everyone. The economy, for instance, can cause poverty-stricken men and women to attain a major disadvantage. Other attributes goes towards inequalities that jeopardizes fairness, as well as apathy through lack of success to obtain the American Dream.
“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
It’s election season! The leaves are falling, the smell of pumpkin spiced lattes are in the air, and politicians are droning on about the American Dream and what it means to be an American. Indeed, the American Dream is a curious thing. It appears to be a viable course for all American citizens, inspiring many to learn and work diligently. Unfortunately for some, achieving the iconic American Dream is impossible. Motivational as it may sometimes be, this concept contains troubling notions regarding American Exceptionalism and who is deserving of the American dream. Coincidentally, the “classic” American Dream happens to align similarly with my aspirations. Although this “classic” dream has changed over time, during the late 18th century, Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” shows that it still contained similar dangerous ideas.
... shining, his golden opportunity…the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him…”(qtd.in The American Dream). A person who “manages” to achieve his or her version of the American Dream is often said to be “living the dream”. However this concept has been subjected to great criticism because some people that the social structure of the U.S. prevents such an idealistic goal for everyone. May critics often allude to various examples of inequality rooted in class, race, ethnicity, and religion, which suggests that the American Dream is not attainable to everyone. The principles of the American Dream are too idealistic. Everyone has dreams and goals, but the American Dream is one that is infinite and endless. It is very difficult to live the dream when so much of it is obscured by the government.
The American dream is the general belief that American Citizens all have an equal opportunity to succeed socially and economically, regardless of any predating circumstances. This idea has been accepted as possible by the majority of citizens in this country. This “dream” cannot be true, as there are multiple discriminations in this country, which make it impossible for everyone to have the same chance to succeed. Biases against racial minorities, women, and citizens from lower social classes are examples of just a few reasons that everyone does not have the same chance to succeed in our current economic and social system in America, resulting in unequal chances to achieve “the American Dream.”
What is The American Dream? “The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth and position.” (Adams) This quote is from James Truslow Adams, a historian, who coined the term “The American Dream”, in his book “The epic of America”, published in 1933.
“The essence of the American dream is the understanding that we are here on this earth and in this land for a higher purpose…Anything that stands in the way of the dream, we must fight. Anything that enhances the dream, we must support.” Steve Forbes could not have said it better. The American Dream is continuing to prosper and flourish since our founding fathers sat together in a room and created a document in which every man may follow. For years the idea of the American Dream has been sturdy, however, as America aged so did the idea of the American Dream. America and her citizens started to rouse from their long slumber and realize that the dream does not swab away the realism of their waking life. Because of this, Foreigners have been reluctant in believing in the United States; but one must understand that it is not the American Dream but so many other factors such as Wealth, Influence, jealousy, and imperialism. However, one must not forget the debate on the United States attendance in Iraq and its activities as an “imperial bully” and its domination culturally in the United States.
The American Dream has changed drastically over time. Typically, an American family from the fifty’s might have wanted to own a television because it was the “newest” technology. Now, families want a big plasma TV for every room in their household or maybe even more expensive things. But as some hisotrians go back, they try to conclude that the ideas behind the American dream came from the time when the Declaration of Independence was introduced. “From even further in time, Americans just wanted their own independence and freewill before the Declaration of Independence was signed.”
People will journey far and wide, traverse the entire continent, suffer all manner of pain and suffering, if they believe that, in the end, they will be rewarded. That is why it comes as no surprise when people from other countries struggle to get to America, believing the ancient tale of "the American Dream", convinced that they will finally make it big in this land of riches. But they find out it is not like that.
The American Dream is referred to by many people as the reason to come to America. It is, or so they say, the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. Unfortunately they are incorrect, there truly is no American Dream, it is all an illusion given to us by our founding fathers as a reason for the inequality in which people are treated. I have lived in this country for 16 years now and have all the patriotic bullshit about how we give everyone equal opportunity and how everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. I just laugh when I read this. Throughout our country’s 300-year history, it is all about raising one person over the other. It started with the movement of the Native Americans. They were here before anyone else, and they were moved because they did not live with all the violence our ancestors did. The founding fathers continued to push them further and further away because it was beneficial to them at the time. They said if you stay here we will not bother you anymore, then when they decided that area was nice and they needed it for the white man. Then we began to take the black man out of Africa and use them on our plantations so the white man could get more money. The President ended slavery, but there were ways around it and everyone knew it. No one ever said any persecution of the black man is wrong for years and why not, because it was more convenient for us to ignore it. Now the people from Latin American countries have come in homes of freedom, and better lives. We tell them they have to speak English, since they are in America, but I do not recall being taught the language of the Native Americans. Since they were here first should you not have to learn that language?
With America actually being seen as the land of assurance, the American dream is usually associated with the freedom and opportunity of gaining prosperity, recognition, power, triumph, and contentment. On the surface, this dream appears virtually delighted, offering individuals the exceptional hope of accomplishing success despite of one’s race, religion, or family history. The American Dream is accurately what it seems to be the chance of perfect lying nearby the corner. However, the actual nature of this dream prohibit the pleasure of the victory one has earned, as the desire is always demanding one to work a slight harder and gain a slightly more.