A common image of the typical American is one of a person striving for money, status, and material possessions. This is not only an idea conveyed by non-Americans, but often by Americans themselves who consider this goal to be “The American Dream”. I believe such an extremely marginalized image is, in reality, considerably unfair and unrealistic. It sets short and strict guidelines on what should be considered success and prosperity. To me, the American dream is, at heart, an ideal of true happiness in life, and that happiness is dependant on a fluctuation of balance in all our societal functions. Martin C. Jischke, in his work “The American Dream”, discusses excerpts from James Truslow Adams’ Epic of America, wherein Jischke states “Wherever
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It has become synonymous with monetary wealth, expensive possessions, and a healthy and prosperous family life. Mr. Jischke continues to cite Mr. Adams in saying, “It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of a social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of birth or position.” (Jischke 75. When introduced, Mr. Adams’ view was perhaps intended to be more spiritual than it seems to have been ultimately perceived - which is that of a more materialistic …show more content…
Economic faltering, civil unrest and protests, threat of terror activity, and other elements seem to make that dream further from reach. In their work “Long Live the American Dream”, Shikha Dalmia states “Americans, hit first by outsourcing and then a recession, are becoming deeply pessimistic about their country’s ability to maintain its economic leadership in a globalized world.” (Dalmia 83). As a nation we are conditioned to equate financial and material abundance as success, so it is no wonder we feel the American dream slipping away during a financial crisis in the country. Dalmia also points out the importance of the country’s overall view of itself it times of crisis: “a sort of cloud habitually covered their features… they were consistently tormented by the vague fear of not having chosen the shortest route that can lead to… their well-being” (Dalmia
It has become synonymous with monetary wealth, expensive possessions, and a healthy and prosperous family life. Mr. Jischke continues to cite Mr. Adams in saying, “It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of a social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of birth or position.” (Jischke 75. When introduced, Mr. Adams’ view was perhaps intended to be more spiritual than it seems to have been ultimately perceived - which is that of a more materialistic …show more content…
Economic faltering, civil unrest and protests, threat of terror activity, and other elements seem to make that dream further from reach. In their work “Long Live the American Dream”, Shikha Dalmia states “Americans, hit first by outsourcing and then a recession, are becoming deeply pessimistic about their country’s ability to maintain its economic leadership in a globalized world.” (Dalmia 83). As a nation we are conditioned to equate financial and material abundance as success, so it is no wonder we feel the American dream slipping away during a financial crisis in the country. Dalmia also points out the importance of the country’s overall view of itself it times of crisis: “a sort of cloud habitually covered their features… they were consistently tormented by the vague fear of not having chosen the shortest route that can lead to… their well-being” (Dalmia