Is the American Dream More an Illusion than Reality - Essay Example

and Is the American Dream more an illusion than reality? The American Dream means a betterand richer and fuller life for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. The United States is a land where lot of people from different classes, groups and religions co-exist. It is a country where dreams come true and legends are born, throughout history people have sacrificed for this land, they have always strived for a better America so that the cultural heritage is maintained and prolonged. However, the question that many have been asking themselves is whether it is an illusion or is it a reality that we still experience today. The world has evolved a lot over the years and the only thing constant these days is a change, the circumstances aren’t the same as they used to be in the earlier days and the previous centuries. Nowadays we live in a more civilized society and the modern life is so fast paced that it leaves anyone in its wake that is unable to keep up with it. There are a lot of divisions in society not everyone is on the same page and these differences have led to many problems including favoritism and unethical practices in the work place, some sections of society consider blacks to be inferior while some women feel that they live in a male dominated environment. In this country you have the right to be free, choose for yourself and make life decisions. The concept of freewill is there for everyone so that the society can prosper and people can live in harmony with each other. Moore states that everyone can achieve their goals and ambitions they can be successful and contribute to the community. Recognition for hard work is there and people earn their places on merit regardless of their race, color or ethnicity. According to Smith (1), the aim is to allow people to live life to the fullest, they have liberty and the opportunity to reach their potential and show everyone what they are capable of. A hardworking man should be able to earn an honest living and feed his family, respect is due for everyone regardless of their social standing, and no one is superior to anyone. Equality is promoted within the people so that you can pursue your dreams and be happy every day of your life knowing that you are treated fairly and given your rights. No one should be deprived of these things. So there are lots of views but then again you cannot expect perfection because it is just not possible. Let us start by discussing why we still consider the American Dream a reality. The American dream has several aspects, whereby it can be fiction or fact, but it all depends on the American people’s effort (Bleckmann 1-2). But let’s face it, the American Dream is a fallacy, with a growing population and never ending wants of the people it just isn’t possible. You can’t have whatever you want, not everyone leads a desirable life and that is why some turn to criminal activities and unethical behavior on a micro and macro level. Freedom can’t be infinite as there is a limit to everything and certain societal factors will always hinder your progress, someone will have to pay the price for your achievements, it is how the world works someone has to do the low level jobs not everyone can be rich. There is a different market for all segments in the society; the rich are likely to buy Aston Martins while the middle class may settle for a Ford, there are more choices for the higher class they get more benefits while the lower class is already at a disadvantage they do not enjoy similar benefits and have to settle for less. Not everyone can afford top class products there is a massive gap between the classes that still exists it is making the American Dream look like an illusion and taking us further away from reality (Craig). It is the dream of every American to be rich, have a successful life and be free but many earn their living through illegal practices, they may be involved in corruption or mass genocide. Money is being made at the expense of others, in today’s world there is no regard for human life people will do almost anything to reach the top. America is a land of pioneers; they are the first to do many things. You are always planning for the future trying to better your last creation and making sure that you are ahead of the rest. The Reality is that with time the resources are being depleted, consumption is increasing and the needs are never ending. It is the survival of the fittest with only those being successful that have it in them to succeed. You can change your destiny if you believe in yourself there have been many people who have stood in what they believed in and eventually they have reached glory. It may seem difficult at first but nothing is easy in this world and the key thing is to never give up because those who change the world are idealists and think beyond belief. It certainly is not easy for anyone to achieve the dream but it is not impossible. America is a country where the life of every citizen is valued there is justice for both the rich and the poor, there is an opportunity to haul yourself from the low class to the high class if you are willing to work hard enough. The country provides you a safe and secure environment to live. Education is the backbone of the country’s progress and public education is available to all with financial assistance also provided to deserving pupils. This is a key element as education helps you get jobs, earn a living and define your life. A good education can take you to the top and reach the standards that you admire. Perseverance is how we protect this dream and keep it alive, you need to be persistent and have that never say die attitude if you are to reach your potential and live the dream. The American culture is about fighting your way through barriers set in your path and believing in yourself that you can reach your potential, so that when you retire you can look back on your life with pride and say that I have lived the dream (Bleckmann 1-2). The American dream has always seemed within reach even in times of struggle, people have chosen careers that they love and have spent their lives doing what they want, you are not restricted by any means and the sky is the limit for every American, it’s a free land where freewill prevails. People go through different phases in their lives. In times of unemployment just the notice of you are hired may fulfill your dream whereas for a successful businessman capturing international markets and growing his business may be the dream. Now let’s talk about why the dream is considered an illusion. It is often blamed for creating unrealistic expectations of people which puts unnecessary pressure on them (The American Dream). The difference between the rich and the poor is increasing all the time and inequalities still exist in society, the difference in assets is what determines the future as a result most poor children are doomed as poor adults in the future, they can’t grow out of their shell and live with pride but instead they struggle throughout their life and are always fighting to pay the bills. Some people are born rich or in a class where they get to experience all the luxuries in life while others are not so lucky, people belonging to lower class may work even harder than middle class or high class individuals but they do not earn enough money to support their families while CEO’s of major organizations work half the amount of time and make ten times as much money. Nevertheless, law is implemented in this country and justice is served. No offender goes unpunished and everyone is given a fair trial no matter what the offense, it is an honorable system that protects the dignity and honor of the people. Minorities still continue to face a struggle but it is not as bad as in the earlier days of slavery. These people can even run for major posts although they are very rarely successful. The idea of the American dream is actually older than the United States itself, dating back to the 1600’s when people came across this unexplored continent and laid the foundations for the future. For those who believe in the American dream it is attainable through hard work and determination (Bleckmann 1-2). Critics have always had a different point of view they look to the negatives and point out the adversities faced by the people when challenging for the American dream, we do not live in a classless society as once Karl Marx had predicted but instead we live in the exact opposite. However you can always improve and reach the next level. If you did not have something in your life or childhood you can still strive to provide a better future for your children, this is what motivates many immigrants and fuels their desire to live the American Dream. Another argument that you can have is that everyone has their own version of the dream. It varies from person to person, for some it maybe self-satisfaction for others it may be overall progress in the country. But the idea remains the same that you can change for the better and be unique in some manner. You will have to sacrifice and be reliant on your abilities in order to succeed, but is the American dream changing are people lowering their expectations and shifting their priorities, with the rise in costs and the economic situation getting tighter every year is it still possible to buy a house for your family or at least maintain that sort of standard of living? Well that all depends on the individual; it is your willingness and attitude towards life that will probably answer this question. The problem that we face is the uneven distribution of resources. The rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer, it is an issue that we have faced for generations and it looks as if it will continue for decades to come. The power and authority is held by the elite class they make all the key decisions that influence our lives, we have little or no say in what happens in the country, the ruling elite decides our fate as they have control over all matters. They are in a privileged position that gives them an edge over the rest and make them superior; the common man is often over shadowed by these powerful individuals and groups. The belief that you can jump from a lower class to a higher one seems unrealistic, the truth is that most average Americans remain in the same economic class that they are born in. On the political front many leaders use this as leverage to get votes; they claim they can bring prosperity in the country and create equality but these are just words used during speeches, it never actually happens but the belief that it is possible encourages people and motivates them. The American Dream focuses mainly on individualism it is what you can achieve as a person, your income classifies your position in society and also the way you may be treated by others. Respect is due for everyone but some have more of it than the others. This is one major difference that divides the nation today, lifestyles of people differ from one another and it is not often by choice that someone chooses to live in an apartment or a mansion but it is their social standing that defines their status. Sacrifice and self-reliance are key to the realization of the (American Dream Is the American Dream Still Possible?). To sum it up we can say that the American Dream is still alive for those people who believe in it or are actually living it (The American Dream). As I mentioned earlier it is how you define the dream that symbolizes your life. For some people it is as simple as owning a house, feeding their kids and then eventually retiring peacefully while for others the ambitions are much higher. America is a great country it is in a better state than most countries of the world it is classed as a first world country and a major powerhouse. The people living in this country feel proud to be its citizens; many immigrants take shelter in the United States because they are being treated unfairly in their own countries and so eventually look to a land where they will be given equal status and their rights will not be taken away by powerful individuals. Craig states that opportunities are endless for those who are willing to take them while what you can say about those that still think of the American Dream as an illusion except that they are right in their own way because in this modern era we do not stand on equal footing. The idea that you can be whatever you aspire to be still holds true (The American Dream). There are numerous examples out there for us to follow and there is enough evidence to say that the American Dream is not an illusion it is up to each and every individual whether they believe it or not, are they willing to take the risks that will give them liberty and a chance to live life to the fullest. We may never know if the American Dream is a reality or an illusion for everyone but as an individual you can decide for yourself. Are you living the dream or is it just another illusion? Works Cited Bleckmann, Dominik. “American Dream: Myth or Reality.” 2009. Fundus.org. Dec 05, 2011.Web http://www.fundus.org/pdf.asp?ID=10657 Craig, Glen. “The American Dream Is An Illusion.” September 19, 2008. Freefrombroke.com. Dec 05, 2011.Web http://freefrombroke.com/the-american-dream-is-an-illusion/ Moore, Michael. “Capitalism a love story.” Documentary: IMDb, 2009. Print Smith. “What Is the American Dream?” 2011.WiseGEEK.Wisegeek.com. Dec 05, 2011.Web http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-american-dream.htm “Is the American Dream Still Possible?” October 31, 2011. Parade. Dec 05, 2011.Web http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2006/edition_04-23-2006/Middle_Class_feature “The American Dream.” 2011. Mwillett.org. Dec 05, 2011.Web http://mwillett.org/Politics/dream1.htm Read More