An Analysis Of Bob Herbert's Hiding From Reality

The second part of the previous century became the real top point of the American economy`s development process, as well as the typical Americans` life by itself, which was proved by many facts, beginning with the huge immigration waves, which on its turn, could be easily explained by the perfect American image all over the world in many different countries, which were nearly destroyed after the Second World War and where America was represented as the land of future and huge opportunities, something close to the paradise on the Earth. While those idealistic ideas were spreading all around the globe, most of the typical Americans had everything they needed for a good and, in many cases, even luxury life. Needless to say, that this was a time

when the term “American Dream” became especially popular, as it reflected the real majority`s values, which were mainly based on the material well-being (Ayers 33). Nevertheless, here it is important to claim that this term appeared in the far 1931, during the Great American Depression and symbolized the hope for the better future of the United States of America, and whose actual creator wrote that: “…the American dream is that dream of the land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth…” (King 2), which sounded really optimistic and inspiring, being, however, really possible for the United States of America of that time, when the racial questions seemed to be nearly solved, when the material border between rich and poor became so invisible, that nearly everyone, who was clever and talented enough could reach the heavens. Although, according to the numerous surveys, most of the Americans still believe in that dream, the question of its further existence becomes more and more unclear, which is connected to the Great Recession and the numerous others problems of the American economic sphere. Hence, the main aim of the paper is to figure out if the American dream is still alive, or it is dead forever, by analyzing the works of two famous analytics, whose names are Bob Herbert and Brendon King.
Despite nearly opposite opinions toward the American Dream`s issue, Bob Herbert, as well as the Brendon King expressed rather interesting and valuable ideas, concerning the modern American social and financial situations.

To compare, the main thesis of the Herbert`s “Hiding from reality” stated in his denial of that phenomena, as a part of the modern American reality, which, as he explained, is connected to the fact of total American educational and economic spheres` degradation. What is more, he judged the US government with the unreasonable behavior towards the typical American middle class` representatives, who suffer from the high unemployment rate, which creates the huge hole in financial, economic and finally social spheres, killing any hope to turn the American Dream into reality, as: “…for example, in the year following the official end of the Great Recession in June 2009, foreign-born workers in the U.S. gained 656,000 jobs while native-born workers lost 1.2 million…” (Herbert 3). By way of contrast, Brandon King judged the Herbert`s position, as he was sure that the American Dream is not only still alive, but this is a task of every single American to reach it and to turn it into the main credo of person`s life, as, according to the Brandon King`s opinion, it will give the country an opportunity to support the state of its perfect economical system, as well as to make the life of each individual much better, moreover, he claimed that: “…the American Dream will continue to exist as part of the American psyche, not artificially stimulated by government regulations to change income distribution. If the Great Recession has taught us anything, is that planning for the future by saving more and enacting policies that sustain economic growth are what will keep American Dream alive” (King

9).
Indeed, here it is not difficult to see that nowadays, the American Dream became the part of the American national identity, the idea and even the way of life, which unites all people, who live in such a nationally diverse country. The American Dream will be alive till the last military man somewhere in the middle East will shoot for that dream, till the typical student from the small European, African or Asian country will try to go there for studying, just to see that way of life, just to have a little chance to make this beautiful utopia his or her own one, till the genius scientists, talented singers, dancers, actors, artists from India or China, or any other country will leave everything and go to America, and, finally, till the typical middle-class` habitant will take a credit for his car, or his house, or anything else with the aim to reach his own American Dream, supporting the famous American financial cycle, which was created due to that dream, and was nearly destroyed by it. Eventually, American Dream “glues” all the American States together, creating, however, one of the most powerful countries in the entire world, singing: “…then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto - “In God is our trust,” and the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave”.