Is the American Dream Still Quite so American?
What is the American Dream, and who are the people most likely to pursue its often elusive fulfillment? Indeed, the American Dream has come to represent the attainment of myriad of goals that are specific to each individual. While one person might consider a purchased home with a white picket fence her version of the American Dream, another might regard it as the financial ability to operate his own business. Clearly, there is no cut and dried definition of the American Dream as long as any two people hold a different meaning. What it does universally represent, however, it the opportunity for people to seek out their individual and collective desires under a political umbrella of democracy.
In the fifties, the 'age of suburbia ', the American Dream was epitomized by the ability to own a home, live in safety and in a community of like minded souls. The great exodus from the cities to the suburbs defined the American idea of 'the good life '.
T h e A m e r i c a n D r e a m was and always will be s o m e t h i n g t h a t m a k e s A m e r i c a g r e a t . I t a l l o w s t h o s e w i t h a s p i r a t i o n s t o m a k e t h e m c o m e t r u e . I n A m e r i c a a l l o n e n e e d s i s a d r e a m a n d t h e m o t i v a t i o n t o c a r r y o u t t h a t d r e a m . A m b i t i o n i s t h e d r i v i n g f o r c e b e h i n d t h e A m e r i c a n D r e a m . I t a l l o w s a n y o n e t h a t h a s a n a s p i r a t i o n , a d e s i r e , a y e a r n i n g , t o c a r r y o u t t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l d r e a m . I t k n o w s n o b o u n d s o f r a c e , c r e e d , g e n d e r o r r e l i g i o n . I t s t a n d s f o r s o m e t h i n g g r e a t , s o m e t h i n g t h a t e v e r y o n e c a n s t r i v e t o w a r d s . A d r e a m c a n b e a d e s i r e f o
In the fifties, the 'age of suburbia ', the American Dream was epitomized by the ability to own a home, live in safety and in a community of like minded souls. The great exodus from the cities to the suburbs defined the American idea of 'the good life '.
T h e A m e r i c a n D r e a m was and always will be s o m e t h i n g t h a t m a k e s A m e r i c a g r e a t . I t a l l o w s t h o s e w i t h a s p i r a t i o n s t o m a k e t h e m c o m e t r u e . I n A m e r i c a a l l o n e n e e d s i s a d r e a m a n d t h e m o t i v a t i o n t o c a r r y o u t t h a t d r e a m . A m b i t i o n i s t h e d r i v i n g f o r c e b e h i n d t h e A m e r i c a n D r e a m . I t a l l o w s a n y o n e t h a t h a s a n a s p i r a t i o n , a d e s i r e , a y e a r n i n g , t o c a r r y o u t t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l d r e a m . I t k n o w s n o b o u n d s o f r a c e , c r e e d , g e n d e r o r r e l i g i o n . I t s t a n d s f o r s o m e t h i n g g r e a t , s o m e t h i n g t h a t e v e r y o n e c a n s t r i v e t o w a r d s . A d r e a m c a n b e a d e s i r e f o
Cited: Barron 's Educational Series, Inc. 1993. "Jefferson, Thomas" Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. 1978. 239. Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. New York: The Viking Press, 1994