America, land of the free and home of the brave. It was founded by people who had a dream, a dream that everyone could worship freely, speak freely, and ultimately live freely. They dreamt of a world free from overzealous rulers. Eventually their dream became true, and America became a land known for freedom. Many people migrated to America to escape the oppressiveness that their own country enforced upon them. Others came to America hoping to elevate their status and monetary funds. America was the land that allowed dreams to come true. Some people believe that Uncle Sam needs to dress in black because the American Dream has died, whereas others believe that the American Dream still lives on, or that it has just changed to fit the times. …show more content…
Brandon King proves that he belongs to those categorized in the latter section.
King’s stunning use of statistics and facts, along with his ability to provoke a sense of pride, determination, and justice convince the readers that although the American Dream has evolved, it still exists.
King’s strong use of logistics and facts effectively
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demonstrate how the American Dream has changed. Instead of a rags-to-riches story the American Dream has transformed into a more realistic version that ensures a secure economic future. “Americans are scrutinizing their spending habits more intensely, as shown in a survey completed in 2009 showing that approximately two-thirds of Americans have permanently changed their spending habits as a result of the Great Recession and that one-fourth hope to save more money for the future (Frietchen, 2009)” (Pg. 611-612, Para. 2). The poor economic state of America is pushing people to think about their economic stability. A multitude of people worries about the seemingly ever-growing gap betwixt the rich and the middle/lower income families and its effects on the economy. “One economist, Robert Reich, even says that “As long as income and wealth keep concentrating at the top, and the great divide between America’s have-mores and have-lesses continues to widen, the Great Recession won’t end, at least not in the real economy” (Reich, 2009) (Pg. 612, Para. 2). King disagrees with Mr. Reich, stating “They claim that a sizable income gap does not necessarily prevent individuals in the lower and middle classes from achieving the American Dream. I agree: government funding for Wall Street and struggling businesses makes the economy healthier.” (Pg. 613, Para. 2). He believes that providing the government giving money to businesses and other higher income workers will help the economy, and subsequently help people achieve the American Dream, by allowing those businesses to hire more workers. “Just last year, President Obama present a proposal, later passed by Congress, establishing a $33 billion tax credit to provide incentives for businesses to hire more workers and increase existing wages (Gomstyn, 2010). Increased support for Wall Street could in this way make the overall economy healthier so that everyone has increased opportunities.” (pgs. 613-614, Para. 2). Mr. King uses these statistics and facts to ensure the readers that the government and other members of society are working hard to ameliorate the dismal economic state. He also assures the audience that while the American Dream is still believed in, it has changed to a more realistic wish. Along with using logic to ensnare the audience’s mind, Brandon King expertly brandishes his words to evoke a sense of national pride in the heart of Americans, and determination to keep the American Dream alive. Brandon King uses pathos to encourage the readers to believe in the American Dream. He proves to the reader how important the American Dream has been, and still is through his use of history. “In fact, the original term “American Dream” was coined during the Great Depression by James Truslow Adams, who wrote that 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 and achievement, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth” (1931).”(Pgs.610-611, Para. 1). . He reminds the reader of the previous struggles that challenged the American Dream, and how it gave the people something to hope for. “Despite the harness of the Great Depression, a 2009 New York Times survey found that 72 percent of Americans still believed it was possible to start poor, work hard, and become rich in America (Seelye, 2009).”(Pg. 611, Para.2). The fact that people could believe in the American Dream during one of the worst economic, and overall period in American history gives hope for the modern day people. ).”King claims “The idea of the American Dream has in fact suffered in recent years, although it is my belief that this is not new. As a nation, we have dealt with economic down-turns in the past and the American Dream has faced trails and tests before. Even since the height of the Great Recession, however, we have adapted the values contained within the American Dream to meet new challenges.”(Pg. 615, Para. 2). The challenges that the American Dream has faced before makes the difficulties that it faces now seem insignificant. The history behind the American Dream and its expedition inspires pride into the heart of the readers. They feel pride for the people who continued to hold onto hope and their beliefs while facing dark times. Mr. King also uses the history to instill a certain level of determination through the thought of ‘if they could keep believing in the American Dream than we can too.’ Determination to not let the American Dream die. The American Dream is something to hope for, something to dream about, and something to work for. It is not tangible, it is a hope, a feeling, a belief that lives in the hearts and minds of the people. Mr.
King makes it abundantly clear in his paper that the American Dream should only be achieved through honorable work. He has convinced the mind and the heart to believe and fight for the American Dream. He also impresses upon the readers the importance of earning their version of the American Dream through the morally correct way. Brandon King advocates that the American Dream should only be gained if the person has worked hard, or if they achieve their dream through honorable ways. “In fact, the original term “American Dream” was coined during the Great Depression by James Truslow Adams, who wrote that 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 and achievement, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth” (1931)” (Pgs. 610-611, Para. 1). He does not want the American Dream to be tarnished, or defaced by those who would misrepresent everything that the American Dream stands for. “I would redefine the American Dream today as the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future.”(Pg.611, Para. 1). The original term that was coined proves that the American dream is supposed to be available to everyone. It also affirms the belief that instead of being handed everything, or to lackadaisically gain everything is not in the spirit of the American dream. Mr. Adams seems to want people to earn what they have, to work until their
dream is a reality. Those who lie and cheat to gain what they have will never achieve the American dream, they will never know the elation and sense of worth that rushes through your veins when you finally gain the thing that you have worked so hard for. Some may disagree that people now-a-days will never prefer to work hard than to just have it handed to you. “Just last year, a newspaper editor in Atlanta stated that, “the Great Recession didn’t kill the American Dream. But the promise of a good life in exchange for hard, honest work has been bruised and frayed for millions of middle class Americans.”(Chapman, 2010)” (Pg. 615, Para. 2). . Mr. King disagrees with that, he knows that people who are honorable and moral with good ethics still exist, and that they are the people who obtain their version of the American dream. The American Dream is upheld by the virtuous men and women of society. It is fought for, and respected. It is passed from generation to generation and although it may change and times may be hard, it will continue to live on as long as there is one who still believes and has hope. Brandon King inspires his readers to take up the mantle and carry the torch of the American dreams within their hearts, to believe and have faith. He convinces not only the mind and the heart, but he also encourages others to have a steel strong set of morals. Although the American dream may have changed over time, he truly convinces the readers that it still lives on.
People who work hard enough become successful and build a good life for themselves and their family. Millions of Americans and others who admire America have believed this for generations. However, is this still true? Brandon King debates his interpretation of the American Dream in his published work, “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” During his essay, the speaker highlights how important the American Dream is to the economy and providing a distance from inequality. The speaker emphasizes his belief that the American Dream is still alive within America and that people must work hard to achieve it. When discussing the American Dream, King will agree that the idea is alive and thriving in the minds of Americans; yet, I argue that the idea is on hold within American society due to lack of upward social independence and economic mobility.
We were raised considering the jobs we could do in the future and the universities we may attend; we heard that hard work and dedication was the only essential to fly in this world. Everyone was aware of the standard of living that was expected and few hesitated to buy into the legendary dream. The American Dream itself is what we all grew up desiring. Suburban homes, multiple cars, hefty paychecks and fantasy vacations are its elements. The American Dream is exclusive and unsatisfying at its core.
In Brandon King’s 2011 book excerpt “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?”, he redefines the American Dream as “the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future” (611). I would disagree with King’s beliefs, I think his definition is wrong as well as him saying that the dream is alive. When I hear the words ‘American Dream’ I think of the definition that dictionary.com gives stating, “the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.” In this sense I think the American Dream is dead, predominantly because there is no equality when it comes to United States citizens. There is no equality when it comes to the
The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold? written by Brandon King discusses what the American Dream is, how it has evolved, and how to live it to the fullest. He writes that the American Dream in the past meant to live a wealthy, materialistic life, however the American Dream today is to live in stability. The American Dream also has the potential to be viewed from multiple perspectives as everyone is different and have their own opinion as to how live the American Dream. King also addresses that inequality is the main problem according to many; the government is only making the rich minority wealthier, ignoring funds for the lowers classes. The American Dream will never die as long as planning ahead and proposing policies to sustain economic growth are tirelessly acted upon.
King then goes into detail giving statistics and explaining more in depth about the money situations in today’s world. Back in the olden days, King explained that the American dream meant having fancy vehicles, name-brand houses, and simply owning expensive items. He “would redefine the American Dream today as the potential to work for an honest, secure way of life and save for the future”. King believes now people are okay with a middle-class lifestyle and just want to have stable employment. Today’s so called “American Dream” is a modest, more realistic version of the old dream. In King’s eyes, the American dream is very much alive, it’s just and changing its meaning due to past and current economic situations. King uses several different sources to gain forms of credibility and prove he is correct. I’m sure this is due to the fact that King was a student and hasn’t developed full credibility of his own just yet. King quotes study after study and statistic after statistic from 2005 to 2010 and uses big words to make him sound intelligent, which makes his argument very convincing. He states how he views the topic, how those who support his vision view it, and how those who disagree view it and then, why he disagrees with them on their ideas and logic
“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.
America. It was a dream come true in a New World that was envisioned by artists, politicians, and monarchs alike. The ones who believed that anything could be achieved by God, the mind, and manpower. Even through opposition from governments, kingdoms, nobles, and naysayers, these brave individuals strived to establish a better life for themselves and their families, aimed to retain a secure future in the process, and wanted to worship God in their own way.
... 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.
Everybody has their own definition of living the “American Dream” and although they have their own definition, they all end up saying the same things. A big house, a family, enough money to feed their family and do other things around town, a job, success, peace, love, and happiness are all things that qualifies one for living the American dream. Some people however, do not believe in the American dream because it is hard to achieve even if you are taking all the right steps to achieve it. In these two articles “What is the American Dream in 2016”, and “The American Dream is Alive – These People Prove It”, you will be able to identify both attitudes towards the American dream.
In the United States there is an idea many pursue called the American dream, which differs from person to person. The American dream according to americanradioworks.publicradio.org is “a revolutionary notion: each person has the right to pursue happiness, and the freedom to strive for a better life through hard work and fair ambition”. Yet it has been said there is no real definition of American dream, instead it merely proves that it has an unconscious influence in American mentality (Ştiuliuc 1). The American dream is different for each person because everyone yearns for things that will they hope will in return make them happy. Whatever that may be, each person goes through different struggles to obtain what they want. According to Frederic Carpenter, the American dream “has never been defined exactly, and probably never can be. It is both too various and too vague” (3). The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse depicts the different interpretations on what the American dream actually is through the opinions and actions of Hector Esperanza, Efren Mendoza and Mrs. Calhoun.
In 1931 when the American Dream arose, Americans believed that the harder one worked, the more one would prosper (Meacham, 2012). In other words, they strongly believed that the American Dream was gaining a better, richer, happier life. Today, the American Dream is still hoping to earn a college degree, get a good job, buy a house, and start a family, but according to MetLife’s fifth annual survey, 41% of the respondents said it was about personal fulfillment, while most American’s say it is out of reach for many (White, ...
“American Dream” is a national ethos of the United States citizens, it is the idea that American is the land of opportunity, it is a set of traditional social ideas, including freedom of opportunity for prosperity and success. Through studying this interview, I learned the term “American Dream” was commonly used after the Civil War, which represented the era of struggles, discrimination and a war that put an end to slavery. More than that, the term “American Dream” displayed a story of hope, opportunity, freedom, inspiration for the whole of society. However, in the video “On Winner-Take-All Politics” It showed that the American Dream is too difficult to achieve because the rich kept getting richer, and the poor worked harder without being
The Catcher in the Rye is a historical fiction novel by J.D Salinger. The book starts with Holden Caulfield, the main character, explaining a little about himself and goes on to tell his story of what happened after he left Pencey. Everyone strives to set themselves to a place in life where they feel safe, comfortable, and secure, that is the American dream. The journey to achieve this dream is known as the American experience. In the novel, Holden tries to act and look older. He reflects on his shortcomings and the setbacks in life, and leaves to collect himself, all reflecting elements of the American experience.
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.
When the term ‘American Dream’ was first mentioned in 1931 by James Truslow Adams, he described it as “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.” (Clark). When Adams mentioned the term, it had much more of an idealistic meaning, rather than the materialistic meaning it has in modern society. At the time of it’s mention, the dream meant that prosperity was available to everyone. In the beginning, the American Dream simply promised a country in which people had the chance to work their way up through their own labor and hard work (Kiger). Throughout history, the basis of the dream has always been the same for each individual person. It