Thanksgiving: The American Dream

In a time of relentless materialism, America has become one of the largest growing economies in the world. With the growth of the rigorous economy, class divisions between the poor and the wealthy creates a further gap. Most Americans want to become rich so that poverty is not an issue. However, the poor classes pay attention to the little blessings each day that most upper classes do not. In solution to these problems, Pablo Picasso represents the American Dream for all classes by saying, “I’d like to live as a poor man with lots of money.” With increased materialism in America, rich Americans have forgotten the values of the important necessities in life. However, the tradition of Thanksgiving and spreading kindness in life help to develop

a virtuous person.
Materialism leads to a pressure in purchasing unnecessary items to fit into a society. Average Americans spend $94 each day in either stores, restaurants, or online. Most Americans feel the necessity to buy what everyone else is buying even though “None of the brute creation requires more than Food and Shelter” (Thoreau). This is no way in trying to condemn the upperclassmen in their consumerism. In fact, some think that materialism has to be part of America to maintain a stable, growing economy. However, average to upperclassmen Americans do struggle in finding a blessing in the small details in life. In order to overcome this obstacle, “voluntary poverty” in one’s life is suggestive to live “a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust” (Thoreau). Having an inward poverty, one can withhold humbleness while following the trend of America’s materialism. Once a year, Americans have the opportunity of “voluntary poverty” with Thanksgiving.
Every day should be Thanksgiving, not just once a year.

Thanksgiving celebration started with the landing of the Pilgrims in America in the year in 1621 after their first harvest. The Pilgrims also gave thanks to God for helping them through the struggles in the adaptation to the new environment and meeting the Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims with strategies for survival. Thanksgiving is one of the brightest times in America with a big feast, reunion of families, and most importantly, thanking others for their acts of altruism. In the painting of Norman Rockwell’s Freedom from Want, the family members are gathered around with big smiles. The title summons up the purpose of Thanksgiving, which is freeing oneself from desires by taking time to look around one’s surroundings. There are millions of reasons to give thanks each day, small or big. Giving back to others in need is one of the ways to increase “voluntary

poverty.”
One act of kindness to a stranger produces a chain link to millions of Americans. Poverty is a big issue in modern America. In the streets of busy cities, one can often see a homeless person sitting down on the ground. A special man named Eric achieved Picasso’s American Dream one day. Eric is a homeless man who is described as respectful and kind despite his living condition of poverty. A youtube prankster named Rahat Hossain decides to give Eric a lottery ticket. But before giving this lottery ticket, Hossain arranges his plan with the store clerk to give Eric the cash. When Eric finds out that he has won a thousand dollars, he immediately breaks out into tears. However, this poor man reaches out the cash to Hossain and says, “I would like to share it.” Even when Eric does not have much for himself to live on his own, Eric’s inspirational words of kindness spreads out online. Rahat and Eric both have the heart of a virtuous person that only few people can reach with the growing materialism.
America’s rigorous economy produces issues within materialism.

In Pablo Picasso’s quote “I’d like to live as a poor man with lots of money,” the difficult struggles in the classes of poor and the rich is seen with the rigors of survival in the growing economy of America. Although most upper and middle class Americans have a hard time in giving thanks to what the Earth provides for the society everyday, some have learned to contain “voluntary poverty” within themselves. Secondly, Thanksgiving frees Americans, at least temporarily, from their desires. Lastly, the influence from one or two people can lead to America’s movement into a person with a humble heart on the inside with enough money to survive in

society.