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guest_
· 3 years ago
· FIRST
The statement is taken cynically- but it is worth noting there is another way to see that. “The American Dream” is usually held in popular context as a material thing- “nuclear family, husband, wife, 2.5 kids. A house in the suburbs and 2 cars....” Now that largely came true for many and... well... when everyone lives in excess what happens? Some go without, things become scarce, blah blah. But the “American Dream” as an ideology is defined as an idea of opportunity for all people, “upwards mobility.” A nation that from its start had no kings or queens or royalty- a place where immigrants fresh from foreign lands could make a home and a life, and work as hard as they chose and create whatever life they wanted no matter what their start was.
guest_
· 3 years ago
That American dream didn’t come true. Parts have, for some people. But we are a long way off from everyone having opportunity in equal measure to make life of their choosing- less so in many ways thanks to civil rights movements of the last century- but still far off. That dream was perverted into a tag line used by people hiding selfish motivations and wanting to hoard opportunity and it’s spoils so they could have more- the house and cars and all that.
guest_
· 3 years ago
So wether we say the American dream came true really depends upon wether you mean the commercial idea of post war Americana, or wether you mean the ideals of liberty and opportunity for all. It really boils down to wether you subscribe to “give us your..... and huddled masses yearning to be free.” That should really be the one factor that decides an American. Not where you were born (even US soil) or your religion or culture or politics- but wether you believe in the real American dream and embody it in your life. A land for all people, any person, who wishes to be free and to allow others to be free, without discrimination or impediment to the opportunities they seek and the means to do so.
