...to a poll done by New York Times, only 64 percent of people said they still believed in the American Dream. This is the lowest percent in two decades. The American Dream has changed over time. The American Dream started as people wanting a better life for everyone but now it has diminished to people not even believing in it or others being very optimistic that we can still fulfill the ‘dream.’ The American Dream is different for everyone that you ask. Some might say that their dream is to own a house with 5 children. Others might say it is to have a good education, healthy family, and a steady job. Some even say that it is to own 5 cars with 3 houses across the globe. Everyone’s view on this term is different. Some may think that...
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...entirety of my personality in 500 words or less, possible. I can simply toss Alexandre Dumas’ biographical recount of my past life and say, “That’s me,” and those two words would mean everything. They make me that noble and heroic Gasconian that set out to Paris with nothing more than a yellow, hairless pony and a dream of grandeur. Alas, times have changed. The Musketeers, dueling, and horses, they have all become relics of the past. A new era and new circumstances bring a different life. Now, I am a first generation, 17-year-old American living in Jersey. My yellow, hairless horse is an old, squeaky Toyota Camry: its modern equivalent. My stunning silver-gilded rapier and armour have been replaced by a BIC pen and legal pad. However, all those changes are superficial. Inside, I still dream of the same grandeur. I dream, with every fiber of my body, that one day I will become a Newtonian giant holding a Nobel Prize. That one day I will support the innovation and ingenuity that fuels our evolving world. The only challenge is that there are millions of people that share the same dream as me, so what makes me different? Well, even if the shell of who I am has changed, I am still d’Artagnan at heart. That means being young, foolish, and audacious all at the same time. With pride, I charge first and then think second, knowing that my intuition and passions will forge my path. With conviction, I duel my enemies under the slightest provocation (as long as you consider a pen a weapon)...
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...People often dream about the perfect house with a white fence around it. In that house they usually have it filled with 2 kids, husband or wife, and a dog in the yard watching over the family. With mom watching the kids as they are are running around on the deep green grass and smell the fresh air, no troubles, no stress. She looks over at and sees dad is outside cooking on the grill. As soon as she opens the door to go outside with glasses of cold sweet lemonade, she is hit with a wave of delectable smells something from the meat sizzling on the nearby grill, the delicious scent wafting in the air. That is the American dream. But not everyone has the opportunity or chance to even experience that dream. For me as a child, my dream was to...
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...My perception of the character Gatsby changed, because of love, determination, and the emptiness he had in himself. This novel is combined with a tragic, and passionate love through which Gatsby falls in love with Daisy. Gatsby has to go to war. Suffering, tests the romantic love story of these two. The novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a tragic love story of lost love. Gatsby, the main character based his love for Daisy, a young girl he met before going off to war. In their time apart, Gatsby attempted to build the American dream while Daisy enjoyed the riches by those who adored her. The character Daisy is described by Fitzgerald throughout the novel as flighty and shallow. It is their difference in character and devotion...
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...Risk and Return Essay: Mortgage Crisis of 2008 The American Dream has been a standard set centuries ago with ideas full of prosperity and success that would drive families upward in the social ladder. The American Dream has become the character by which our country is defined; therefore, it has long been a land that is desired by others living in conditions that aren’t geared toward this ideology. It has changed throughout the years as different historical marks have altered the mindset of the United States. The ability to pursue happiness outright, education, owning a business, and leaving a legacy is the pipeline for this dream that is sought not only by people in the United States, but also by those seeking to establish themselves in this land that is overflowing with honey. One of the major factors in the American Dream which hasn’t changed much over the course of time is homeownership. Homeownership is becoming an exclusive members’ club (Jones, 2014). The increase in homeownership after 2001 provided a big boom for our economy; temporarily. In 1999, Congress passed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which was also known as the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999. This law repealed some of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, allowing banks, securities companies, and insurance companies to act as a combination of an investment back, commercial bank, and an insurance company which created financial supermarkets (Jenkins, 2012). The United States economy was in...
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...American Society Throughout the course of history American society has expanded and evolved economically, politically, and socially. No matter how much time has passed and how society as a whole has changed our initial goal and spirit has not. From the time of Thomas Jefferson to the time of Martin Luther King Jr. we still believe in human rights and equality for all. From the time of Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” to the time of D.H. Lawrence’s “Franklin’s Virtues” the people of the United States still believe in doing what they feel is necessary. No matter how much time passes and how society changes the American dream and the backbone of our society and culture remains very much the same, as seen through our belief in freedom and human rights and our views on what is right and wrong. In the case of Thomas Jefferson’s “The autobiography” and Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech “I Have a Dream” both men were working towards the same goal, equality and human rights. Despite that the documents are nearly 200 years apart from one another their goal and hope for the future was the same. Both men wanted to better America and bring it out of a time of prejudice and inequality, whether it be separating from England or ending segregation. Jefferson’s autobiography spoke of the declaration of independence and the colonies goal in creating a free and prosperous nation. Martin Luther King speaks about the end of segregation and the hope that “one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons...
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...up that every class time could be your last class. A professor has the right to drop pretty much for any reason, in high school the teacher is stuck with you and they have to deal with it. But from these difference I realized that I was by no means ready for college and what it had in store for me this semester. We as students are expected to know this stuff before class has even started, but the teachers in the past they said they are making us ready for college that is there goal for us as their students, but they are just holding are hand and walking us through high school and across the stage for graduation....
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...Weiner 1 Jacob Weiner Daniel McClure California Culture October 1, 2014 California Sunshine and Noir California, the Golden State, where the sun is always shining, the waves are always crashing, and dreams are coming true. Right? Well, not exactly. It hasn’t always been sunshine and smiles for the great state of California. The state has gone through a variety of stages both economically, and politically. Throughout these phases, there have been a fair amount of themes that have helped build the foundation of California culture. Of course, there is the notion that anyone can move to California and strike it rich. This dream that is still very alive today has contributed in the past and present with massive booms in immigration into California. This popular conception is warm and welcoming, but it does not tell the entire story of California. When looking into the past and understanding how this state came to be, there is a dark and iniquitous aura that suggests that California isn’t really that enchanting, glamorous place that it is made out to be. The California Dream all started in 1848 when discovery of gold sparked a rapid movement known as the California Gold Rush. Word quickly spread when John Marshall first made his discovery in the American River. As Albert L. Hurtado explains in his paper, “Sex, Gender, Culture, and a Great Event: The California Gold Rush, ‘It is impossible to give more than rough estimates for the number of hopeful people who poured into California...
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...The Book That Changed Our Thinking The Godfather by Mario Puzo has been around for over 40 years. Published in 1969, it introduced society to the world of the Italian immigrants in New York City. Everyone has read this book can relate to it since it was produced. In this review, we will look at how “The Godfather” effected our minds as Americans, what effects it had on American politics, and American ethics. The Godfather was published during a rocky time in America’s history. Black power groups were increasing, people were starting to become more liberal with sex and drugs use, and the Vietnam War loomed in the background of every heart. Society was beginning to lose faith in the American government. “The Godfather” simply connected to everyone that read it. The story of an eye for an eye, sex scenes, and revenge running parallel with the slow destruction of the Corleone family captured our hearts. “The Godfather” with his solid family and supreme power on both sides of the law, loomed in the public imagination as a figure ironically sympathetic and even nostalgic. Seldom has a literary character had such a major impact on popular culture.” ("Critical Context" Masterpieces of American Fiction Ed. Steven G. Kellman. eNotes.com, Inc. 2000 eNotes.com, n.d.) The Godfather helped its reader understand what the American Dream was suppose to be and allowed us to understand how tainted it had become. With so much turmoil going on in America during the late 60s and 70s...
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...THE AMERICAN DREAM THE AMERICAN DREAM Section #1 a. The impact cultures in North America have on the United States is that each region adapted the traditions and/or beliefs of those who settled in that area by maintaining dance, music, and crafts. Many English settlers did not respect the Native American cultures, and were seen as uncivilized and/or savages. Basically there was a clash of cultures, with new ideas pushing away old ways and mayor cultures oppressing others. b. Immigration and migration shape the early United States, for example: The first person to be processed at Ellis Island was Annie Moore who arrived from Ireland on January 1, 1892. As the first immigrant Annie Moore was given a $10 gold piece. She soon was married and gave birth to eleven children. While Annie Moore was the first immigrant, she was definitely not alone. Some famous immigrants who arrived through Ellis Island included Charles Chaplin, Cary Grant, Harry Houdini, Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. It is easy to see from this list how immigrants have changed the face of the United States. All of these famous people contributed to the United States, giving a bright future for innovative contributions to the young nation. c. The most important change in the United States ‘ involvement in foreign affairs from 1789 to 1877 was expansion of its territory. Marked by a treaty with France buying Louisiana territory doubling the United States, and other treaties...
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...Course Instructor: Class: Date: Fences View of Dreams The damaged dreams of one generation can also damage the dreams of the next generation. Troy Maxson is an incarnation of an African American generation that finds itself in a position that it can ultimately realize the American ideal of liberty, life, and pursuit of happiness. Troy became more successful that his dad, who remained an impoverish sharecropper and never owned property or land but instead, spent his wages and life unscrupulous land owner (Jang). Troy bought his own house, even though he felt guilty about the means he used to pay for the house. Through his sexual relationships, Troy embodied the freedom of an individual to follow his own dreams and desires in pursuing...
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...Throughout history, countless Americans have pursued the American Dream in order to create better lives for themselves. The freedom of the American Dream, with no limitations on who can achieve it, has often lured numerous people. However, many have ulterior motives behind the dream that go beyond simply obtaining better lives. The character of Jay Gatsby is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is one of these people. Throughout the novel, Gatsby represents the American Dream through both his wealth and his lavish lifestyle to once again win the love of Daisy Buchanan. Besides the fictional Gatsby, millions of others throughout history have also found the American Dream to be quite attainable. The idea of the Dream is and always has been...
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...Essay “The right passengers” Engelsk årsprøve 2014 ID:1x 15 Jens Kristian Hjernøe Bay - hold 1x En - Lærer Mikkel Nørholm Hersløv In the last decade there has been multiple clashes between cultures. The times has changed, technology has gotten the better of the younger generation, which has changed the very way we live our lives. This means the more traditional, religious people are outnumbered and stand to fight many cultural clashes, which they are losing more than ever. The text “The right passengers”, written by Waqar Ahmed, is a text that works with these issues, in a very interesting way. In these years taxi drivers get thrown in to unpleasant situations unwillingly, where they stand torn between culture and faith. Nadeem Riaz is out in his taxi, as were it just another day, he had just done 3 and half hours driving from JFK airport and keeping away from the police. He was in dire need of some customers. As it happens, he picks a couple, a Pakistani male, named Faisal, and a Caucasian woman, both deeply interested in each other, as they lie on the backseat having fun, driving a two-stop trip, very lucrative for Nadeem. As they lay there, Nadeem has bad feelings, as he feels it’s very in appropriate. As the woman leaves, Faisal and Nadeem discuss their actions and in a way their cultural differences. Nadeem is a man in his mid forty/fifties, he drives a taxi/cab for living. He comes from Pakistan were he lived earned respect and had a fairly good life. Although...
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...students were the leaders of such centers, and they were free to delve into any subject they wished until the desire to become recognized grew. Recognition esteemed them to be great but at such a cost that they studied theology more intently than the liberal arts in order for them to catch the Pope’s eye. Fortunate for education, it progressed far passed theology to explore into the depths of science, reasoning, and technology which came much later in time. Fast forward a few centuries and a higher education became a more and more desirable accomplishment in society. This was especially so during the days of the Enlightenment. Upon the Enlightenment, many new minds were added to the playing field of knowledge and upper-level thinking which changed the game completely. This change came from multiple new participants of higher education that expanded the perception...
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...Barriers Influencing American Dreams Do obstacles in one’s life change one’s aspirations? If something hard or even Winston Patterson 5/17/10 9:49 PM Comment: TITLE SHOULD REFLECT OVERALL THEME OF ESSAYß Winston Patterson 5/17/10 9:35 PM Comment: Attention Getter unexpected occurs, does one turn his or her back on all that has been worked for? In an American society, there is an idea of a dream. Most people have dreams that differ from one another. Dreams are not limited only to society. Countless numbers of times in American literature, there are moments when an obstacle slows or possibly halts progression. Dreams can also be found in American literature; however, like the reality of society, barriers can be a component of having aspirations. Barriers create obstacles, whether emotional or physical, that make achieving a dream difficult or even appear to be impossible. In American literature dreams seem to be unattainable because of barriers. In all the years of literature, dreams, goals, and aspirations come in contact Winston Patterson 5/17/10 9:35 PM Comment: Broad Topic Winston Patterson 5/17/10 9:35 PM Comment: Narrow Topic Winston Patterson 5/17/10 9:36 PM Comment: Thesis Statement Winston Patterson 5/17/10 9:36 PM Comment: Clincher Sentence with a conflict. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby has a dream to be with Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby has a passion for his dream so fierce that he pursues ...
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