...“To be American (unlike being English or French or whatever) is precisely to imagine a destiny rather than inherit one; since we have always been, insofar as we are Americans at all, inhabitants of myth rather than history.” In the context of this quote attributed to Leslie Fiedler, being American means subscribing to a socially constructed national identity--to the collective American Dream. This observation expresses a core truth about Americans, and about an American greatness that is in fact exceptional, but it is also problematic in several ways. First, the public has never felt compelled to fix the meaning of the American Dream, a term that presumably everyone knows. Second, while Fielder’s assertion is true of Americans, it is not uniquely so: All people, in some sense or another, inhabit myths. Finally, while Americans have certainly imagined destinies for themselves, they also live in history. Everyone does. The American Dream is neither a self-evident falsehood nor a scientifically demonstrable principle. Beyond the abstract belief that anything is possible if you want it bad enough, there is no single American Dream. The theoretical basis for the American idea incorporates an explicit allegiance to the concept “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” But as the history of slavery and the struggle for women’s rights make clear, the rights...
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...“The American Dream” as defined by James Truslow Adams in 1931 is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. Truslow states "life should be worse and poorer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The American Dream is viewed by many Americans as not only an American pursuit, but also many Americans, most especially those citizens that identify themselves as Christians see this pursuit as a Christian right of passage. In the catechesis of Christian language the American dream has become synonymous with the being a Christian. In the minds of many Americans the American Dream is a Christian reward to faithfulness. The proliferation of the American dream through the vehicle of the “Prosperity Gospel” is a cause for the continuance of poverty in America. In this writing I plan to discuss the origins of the American, the canonizing of the American dream in scripture, and the growth of the Prosperity Gospel as an answer to the rising poverty rate in this country. ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN...
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...The American Dream Essay The American dream is something common to all people, but it is something that everyone views in different ways. The American dream is different for everyone, but they share some of the same aspects of it. The dream is dependent mainly on the setting of where one lives and one‘s social status. For example, The Declaration of Independence was by Thomas Jefferson, who was an upper class white male. He wanted freedom, but freedom for people like himself that were white landowning males. Martin Luther King, in his I Have a Dream speech, also called for freedom, but mostly for African Americans like himself. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote in his book The Great Gatsby, that he would have liked to eliminate the idle rich, which he was a part of. Every American dream is somewhat different, but they all relate to the times that one lives in. In The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson asked for equality for white landowning males. His American dream was to be free from Britain and to be treated equally. This dream only included people like himself, that were white men who owned land. The people that signed the document were all part of that class. They were the people leading the revolution, so Jefferson thought they should be the ones reaping the benefits. In the text, it talks about “the merciless Indian Savages.” Obviously they were not included as being equal. Jefferson also wrote “We…the Representatives of the united States of America…” He was referring...
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...The American dream After a brutal war in 1776, 13 American colonies created the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln have developed ideological aspects, which constitute the phrase of the American dream: “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, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. The following text will analyses and explain the American dream. The interpretation of the American dream. Text 2 Arnold Schwarzenegger is an immigrant from Austria. When he came to America, from his difficult life in Austria, he then soon began a carrier as an actor. One may state that he had fulfilled American dream, but he did not stop there. He became the governor of California. “I have succeeded beyond my wildest imagination”, Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote. His text is very positive and optimistic. He pursued his happiness and realized his American dream. He always remembers his challenging past and is forever grateful for his present and the future. Arnold Schwarzenegger explains how appreciative he is to be able to join a nation, which helped him succeed his American dream: “To truly succeed as an American citizen, you have to do more”. Everyone has to participate in establishing a nation where you as a citizen are obligated and given the opportunity to pursuit the happiness, freedom, liberty and equality. Anya Kamenetz is...
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...United by Differences “I am an American.” No phrase has held so many meanings and explanations that it requires the context of the world to understand. America has come to be identified as a conglomeration of different ethnicities and cultures from across the world. Almost all Americans emigrated from another nation to form an encompassing society in this nation. America is comprised of a literal and metaphorical “melting pot” of immigrant cultures, customs, religions, and philosophies. Although our flag is not tied together by one culture or ethnicity, certain characteristics are truly woven into a person on this soil. An American is not defined by their religion, customs or place or origin, but by their drive for freedom, equality and the pursuit of the American Dream. Every American has been shaped by the plethora of different cultures that permeate through this unique society. While many other nations divide or separate through differences, Americans can be tied together by these very same disparities. A citizen can be English, Chinese, Polish, Italian, Greek; they can be Catholic, Buddhist, Jewish, or Islamic. No religion, no custom, no ethnicity can truly define every citizen of America because it “is every person’s country” (Crevecoeur 309). Yet, because of this great diversity, many Americans have an appreciation or understanding for the co-existence of lifestyles and beliefs. Since the founding of this country in Jamestown and the Pilgrims of Plymouth, immigrants...
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...Analysis American culture value through the film The Pursuit of Happiness The reason why the Hollywood films are popular, besides its wonderful plots, the characters in the films could always reflect the special American cultural values to audiences. The American spirit such as individualism, heroism, religious and pursuit of freedom are all reflect in the Hollywood films. However, the American dream is a unique American culture and has inspired many Americans to rely on personal struggle to make their dreams come true. Films from different culture have their different cultural values, in turn, the different cultures have reflect and strengthen their own culture values in their films, so that audiences could get to know the mainstream American culture values from Hollywood films. Hollywood as the largest American film media has created many motivation films to express the importance values of American dreams to the world. The film The Pursuit of Happiness (2006) by Gabriele Muccino is a very classical Hollywood biographical film which is based on Chris Gardner’s life story. The film talks about how a homeless man success from the hardship and finally became a famous investment expert through his struggle step by step. The narrative of the main character Chris’s story refers to the key aspect of American Dream which is the equity opportunity of everyone in the society. It has showed the thought that happiness will come to everyone as long as we do not give up and make unremitting...
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...I find that the American Dream is essentially part of everyone's lives. Regardless of the fact if people are aware of it, they are continually a part of it. It is essentially a drive towards success to push towards a level of happiness. This doesn't have to require becoming wealthy, although if that is your dream you have the means to push for that goal. You are allowed to push for what you want to do what your dreams take you. You can become a doctor or a lawyer or a scientist or whatever your career desire is. If you want to start your own business you have that opportunity. The American Dream is about providing opportunity. It is your responsibility to provide that drive to accomplish those dreams. This dream can be ever changing and evolving, what you feel to be true today may not necessary be true tomorrow. I feel that this flexibility in our economy is a large part of what provides us with success and hope for the future. I find that the American Dream is even more so important in today's world. Politically the American dream is defined to be Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Life and Liberty is a given and is provided to us by the Constitution and protected by our government. Pursuit of Happiness is up to each and every one of us individually. You can both sit around and do nothing, or you can fulfill your dreams and achieve this level of happiness. I find that this is the huge difference between our economy and the failings of Communism. ...
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...Brief discussion on American Dream Abstract The content of this paper will discuss what is American Dream and give reader a new view on American Dream.Some hold that all people can succeed through hard work, and that all people have the potential to live happy, successful lives .It is the common meaning of this word.The birth of this term is in 1931 which was used by James Adams in his book The Epic of America. He said that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for everyone according to ability or achievement.Just one word ,in my opinion ,this term can be induced by those words:assiduous ,equality and independence which is also the basic elements of American culture.As such spirit came into being, American’s early immigration have an signifiant influence on American Dream.I think that when the Puritan landed on the American contient ,the first thing they must face thai is fight with terrific nature.Because they arrived on American in winter,there are just no sufficient food to them. At thus condition ,they had no choose that is do anything by themself which is the origin way of American Dream. Key words American Dream freedom culture opportunity individualism 摘要 这篇论文主要讨论的是美国梦，而且会给读者一个新的视角了解美国梦。许多人都是这样理解美国梦的，只要你努力工作就能成功。每个人都有可能获得美好的生活，只要你努力。美国梦这个词是由亚当斯在其1931年的著作“美国史诗”中提出的。 他说在这个梦想之地，每个人都有机会变得生活富足，只要人们努力。依我看，美国梦能总结为以下几点：勤奋，平等，独立。这也是美国文化的基本要素。同时，美国的早期移民对这一精神的产生有很大的影响。我认为当清教徒踏上美洲大陆的时候，他们面对的是恶劣的自然环境。所以，这应该是美国梦的雏形。 ...
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...Some people refer to the phrase “all men are created equal” as an immortal declaration. The phrase, thought to be everlasting, refers to our rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as provided by the Declaration of Independence. Although these five potent words represent our basic rights as mankind, the entire purpose of the Declaration is equality. The rights of equality and equal opportunity represent the foundation of our country; however, the history of America has contained no such liberties. Based on this statement, have we fallen victim to hypocrisy? In modern America, equal opportunities represent perfection; both are impossible thus demonstrating that the American dream never has and never will be attainable. An NPR...
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...Why the “American Dream” is not as Charming as it is Publicized Having a dream is, indeed, the starting point of any mission that you may want to partake in. The great names that have shaped the American history had big dreams for themselves and the nation at large. Marcia (1993) avers that “…without dreams and vision, companies and countries fail, and without our personal dreams, hopes and aspirations, life can become meaningless.” Indeed, a dream gives us the ability to steer our ships in the vast sea of life characterized by stormy rides. The dream inspires us to soldier on, regardless of the impediments that may strike us on the way to our destination. Moreover, as we all know confidence, courage and hard work are requisite ingredients that will give rise to our dreams. For that reason, when we set to evaluate people’s success, we need to learn about what keeps them motivated in their pursuit for their dreams. United States of America has over years seen influx of immigrants from different walks of life; all coming with just a suitcase and a sweet dream in tow. The promises of fortune, freedom, equality of opportunity continues to tempt many people to relocate to America despite the bulk of literature on stories of isolation and hardship faced by the immigrants on the American soil. Once they reach their much anticipated destination, the immigrants find themselves in horrible, hapless and unimaginable situations. Americans, who unlike the immigrants have a chance to...
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...“I Have a Dream” The 1960’s was a time of darkness for the black race, racial inequality, racism, and segregation was common throughout America.It was dark for the victims of racism until Martin Luther King Jr. showed up to fight for racial equality. During his fight for racial equality he made several significant speeches including his most famous one “I Have a Dream”. That speech was his final one but yet the most important speech of all. Even though Martin Luther’s speech was 54 years ago, his meaning still stands today as a “new age” for America. In his speech he uses rhetorical devices, ethos, pathos, and logos to help add meaning to his speech, and he also gives a patriotic tone to highlight the importance of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”...
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...To discuss “Good Will Hunting” and the American Dream, we can find three main characters on the movie: Will, Sean, and Lambeau. A janitor at MIT, Will Hunting has a gift for mathematics and chemistry beyond his blue-collar roots, but he struggles to find his identity, living in the world. A math professor, Gerald Lambeau, discovers Will's talent and helps him out of trouble with the law. Sean Maguire, Lambeau’s former roommate at MIT, later comes in as a therapist to Will. He is the only one who can really stand up to Will's intelligence and manages to break the layer of Will’s distrust which he has developed over years of solitude. In addition, they Sean and Will develop a bond beyond friendship. Sean makes Will pursue love in his life by traveling out to California to be with Skylar. Will finally learn how living in the world with liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Sean and Lambeau with different world view decide to help Will. Lambeau engrossed on his Fields Medal which he won, and he absorbed his lucrative teaching position at the top technical college in the world. On the other hand, Sean highlights the happiness. He is teaching psychology, and he is sharing his experiences with college students. This contrasting views illustrate the American Dream from their own past experiences. Specifically, in the scene where Lambeau stands across from Sean at Sean's Office. Lambeau cares his professional reputation, he argues that “[Will] has a gift and with that gift comes ...
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...More Taxes for the Rich The United States of America is the land of freedom, equality, and opportunity for each and every American, with the ability to live the “American Dream.” The American Dream suggests that anyone in the United States is able to follow their hopes and aspirations, succeed through hard work, and has the potential to lead a happy and successful life. Through hard work and dedication, reaching success and wealth is never too far, everyone receives as much as they put in. America is one of the world’s leading nations, with a high quality of government, development, military, and more. Many factors of our nation that put us at the top of the chain come from support of Americans themselves, the individuals living in the United States, through taxes. It is required that anyone who receives an income must pay taxes. Taxes are certain fees or charges that the government requires people to pay in order to live and work in their state or country. The government needs money to operate, and taxes are a way for them to get this money. This money is used to fund various types of programs such as education, military, social security, and more. Each and every American generating an income is subject to pay for these taxes. Although, not every American makes the same amount of money. It isn’t fair for those individuals who don’t receive as much income to pay for the same fixed tax amount as the wealthier citizens in the state. The rich should pay more taxes because they...
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...America is most known for the value of equality across the world. These values have totally changed, instead of striving for equality, people are desperate to get as wealthy as they possibly can be. In America where we are believed to all have equal opportunities, this idea of achieving ones desires has spread rapidly. People long for this need they have to be rich and determined to make it become possible as if it were their salvation. This idea that “anyone will achieve success through hard work” proves itself invalid (Fitzgerald). The American dream creates a false sense of expectations of a perfect life and reality. In The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald the American Dream plays a big role. So it is not shocking that this...
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...A Rhetorical Analysis of MLK Jr.’s “I have a dream” Speech Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, one hundred years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which outstandingly furthered the civil rights movement. At that time, racial segregation, police brutality, and other forms of racial inequality were terribly prominent in America. The speech successfully focused the country’s attention at the need for racial equality “Now” (King, I Have a Dream). King gave the speech in order to motivate his followers to peacefully continue to demonstrate, protest, and boycott until they were fully granted the equality and privileges that any other citizen was allowed to have. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech is his most notable, and one of the most influential of Twentieth-Century-America because of his excellent rhetorical use of repetition and anaphora, contrasting metaphors, and appropriate quotations and allusions throughout the speech. Martin Luther King Jr. used a profuse amount of repetition and anaphora throughout his speech. A subtle form of repetition, the repetition of singular words, was mainly used to emphasize key themes in the speech and keep them in the minds of the audience. Such repeated key themes were “freedom”, “justice” and “injustice”, “America” and “American”, and plural nouns such as “we” and “our”. Since the preceding words were repeated so frequently...
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