The American Dream - Essay Example

The American Dream The American Dream entails a set of ideals held by Americans concerning their social forward mobility,whereby freedom avails equal opportunities for every individual to prosper. This is regardless of an individual’s race, ethnic, caste and other social rankings that may draw distinctions among the Americans. Hence, this implies America with its diverse resources normally avails adequate mechanisms meant for its people to progress. This is according to one’s innate abilities besides hard work; fueled by quest for happiness; for the people and their families.

In addition, the idea encompasses holistic truths held by the Americans regarding equality among them where men and women, “are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Armitage 25). This implies no limit or barrier that can deter the Americans from reaching their endeavors, which they have purposed to achieve. Hence, “…that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with an opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement” (Adams 415).

However, numerous controversies have emerged regarding The American Dream from diverse intellectuals in both America and other global states. Mainly, these encompass the real, practical meaning of The American Dream besides what the incumbent and other former patriotic leaders have tried passing on to the citizens. Some intellectuals and especially from the other global states have linked The American Dream with greed for materialistic gain, whereby they have cited US’ pretentious diplomacy.

Since, US’ interest in other global states’ affairs is not to help them to resolve conflicts or ensure peace, but dexterously benefit from them especially in the oil rich regions (Middle East) (Gawenda). Consequently, this has prompted numerous spiritual intellectuals stating the actual hidden meaning of the dream as “greed, capitalism and failure of spirituality” evidenced in the America presently (Lillie 36). This is evident in the current US’ augmenting moral decay characterized by legalizing of both marijuana and gay marriages.

Some intellectual critics have also cited the prevailing racism and inequality among the Americans have soiled the real meaning of the esteemed American Dream. This is because many people especially those emanating from the lower class claim that, only the whites comprise the high percent of affluent Americans. This is regardless of the top president emanating from those stated marginalized races. Therefore, according to them The American Dream is only for the high profiled minorities and more so the whites, though there are some exceptions like the incumbent president Obama.

Presently, The American Dream has not lost its real meaning regardless of numerous interpretations raised by intellectual critics from diverse fields. Since, its core ideals encompass people’s welfare regardless of one’s class or origin. Hence, the dream does not entail possession of material affluence, but “social order” where each regardless of the gender will be able to reach his or her targets. This is because one is “innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position” (Adams 415).

Mainly, this is evident among numerous immigrants that have landed on the American shores in pursuit of happiness and fulfillment of their goals. However, some of the critics’ arguments may have slight justifications, for illustration racism issue that has yielded to unequal racial representation in the high governmental offices. However, unequal race representation is currently fading away very fast, which is evident from the current concluded elections. This is due to the augmenting non-Americans especially the Hispanics who have occupied governorships offices from the recent past to the present contrary to the earlier times (Bardes, Steffen Shelley 158).

Both political participation and holding of diverse offices by the non-Americans proves continual realization of The American Dream, which numerous critics are unable to comprehend. This is because their comparisons are devoid of past minority’s historical representation where non-Americans endured marginalization besides being economically underprivileged, which is contrary to the present. Recent studies featuring the first half of the current regime’s statistics show an approximate representation of, “…..five thousand Hispanic elected officials….

" (Bardes, Steffen Shelley 158). This depicts how the American political arena has evolved unlike in the past, which is also evident in the lives of numerous people who have managed to prosper in diverse fields (Stiuliuc 363). For illustration, the incumbent president besides other numerous icons especially in the music who have managed to realize The American Dream through hard. Therefore, the realization of this dream both in national and personal level is evident regardless of numerous critics’ arguments, which state, it is nonexistent due to racism or other challenging factors.

Since, success both at national and personal level entails right mind’s framework coupled with effective working strategies. Work Cited Lillie, Sandridge-hill. American Dream: Greed, Capitalism, and the Failure of Spirituality in America. Iuniverse Inc, 2012. Print. Gawenda, Michael. The flaw in the American dream. 2007. Web. 16Th November 2012. Stiuliuc, Diana. "The American Dream As The Cultural Expression Of North American Identity." Philologica Jassyensia 7.2 (2011): 363-370. Web. 16 Nov. 2012. Adams, Gallagher, James Truslow.

The Epic of America. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis, 1938. Print. Bardes, Barbara, A., Steffen, W. Schmidt & Shelley, Mack C. American Government and Politics Today: The Essentials, 2011-2012. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.