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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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 Fri May 13, 2005 12:41 am The American Dream |
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A Brief Essay on the American Dream
The American Dream, the actual definition for this term is
| Quote: | �an American ideal of a happy and successful life to which all may
aspire:'In the deepening gloom of the Depression, the American
Dream represented a reaffirmation of traditional American
hopes.'� |
At its heart, of course the American Dream has to do with freedom - individual liberty. In the seventeenth century, as men and women first began to arrive on this continent, mankind�s ageless quest for freedom took a giant step forward. Because, while man had always struggled for greater liberty, at last, the ancient yearning itself became partners with a new incredible opportunity.
The American Dream is what makes America better than other nations. While it has to do with patriotism, more importantly, it is based on optimism. We are an optimistic people, we dream big dreams, dare to do the impossible. This is why people from all around the world migrate to America. The American dream is based on the optimism that in America, one is free, and can do whatever they set out to do. It is the dream of an individual; yet, it plays a key role in what unites us together as a nation.
The Romans fell, in part, due to simple laziness. I feel that we as American�s have become lazy. Yes we all work hard, to maintain or two story houses, or our 2.5 child families, and to be able to pay for gas for our SUVs. However, we have life so well perhaps, that we find nothing to strive for. We go for mediocrity, and temporary happiness, and do not pursue to dream farther, and better.
If we as Americans have no American Dream, then we are no more special than any other nation. America lives off of the dreams of its people. Thus, when we stop dreaming, we starve America of the food that it lives off of.
Have we lost the American Dream? Do we still have an American Dream, and if so, what is it? What is your American Dream: for you personally, and for America?
Last edited by Puck on Tue May 17, 2005 9:10 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Fri May 13, 2005 12:44 am |
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That is quite a good brief essay, Mr. Mod 
Let me see...
I would say, YES, we still have the American dream, although society IS changing and becoming more complacent. However, that dream still is there, and others around the world see it. It is to have a home, to raise a family, to start a business, to better yourself and get ahead of people in a society--to live a good life. And that's something America definitely brings. Just look at the millions of illegal immigrants coming into this country ILLEGALLY, all because of what America has to offer. The American dream.
For me, my personal dream is to own a business, and many people have that dream.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Fri May 13, 2005 12:58 am |
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America is becoming stagnant. Take a look around you. Our youth are a bunch of lazy *beep* who expect everything to be handed to them. (Clearly generalizing here). The last one hundred years we went from horse and buggies to walking on the moon. And that was in the 60's. What have we done since?
I still believe in capitalism over communism, but what are we doing to grow? Our children's heroes are people who pretend to be other people, and get paid millions for it. No one has a sense of national pride. The majority of school children don't know the words to the national anthem. They can't name the first president. It's disgusting. Once you forget who you are, you cease to exist. America is forgetting who she is.
To go all Newt Gingrich on you, I think every American should have to see the "American Adventure" at Epcot. That is sooooo incredible.
I have a lot more to say on this issue, but it's nearly 0200, and my thoughts are all jumbled, 
Last edited by Theresa on Fri May 13, 2005 10:59 pm; edited 1 time in total
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And some of us sail through our troubles
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Fri May 13, 2005 1:05 am |
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| Theresa wrote: | America is becoming stagnant. Take a look around you. Our youth are a bunch of lazy *beep* who expect everything to be handed to them. (Clearly generalizing here). The last one hundred years we went from horse and buggys to walking on the moon. And that was in the 60's. What have we done since?
I still beleive in capitalism over communism, but what are we doing to grow? Our childrens heroes are people who pretend to be other people, and get paid millions for it. No one has a sense of national pride. The majority of school children don't know the words to the national anthem. They can't name the first president. It's disgusting. Once you forget who you are, you cease to exist. America is forgetting who she is.
To go all Newt Gingrich on you, I think every American should have to see the "American Adventure" at Epcot. That is sooooo incredible.
I have a lot more to say on this issue, but it's nearly 0200, and my thoughts are all jumbled, |
lol to the latter, but you know, I agree. Do I believe that the American Dream still exists? Yes, and it's world-wide. And yet I am also worried about our future. Look at our society, how kids act now, their idols (rap "artists," etc) and more and more are we becoming complacent. I agree that every American should see the "American Adventure" at Epcot. It IS a great thing, and surely something we should all see.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Fri May 13, 2005 1:09 am |
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These are the "Spirits of America."
Individualism
Innovation
Tomorrow
Independence
Compassion
Discovery
Freedom
Heritage
Pioneering
Knowledge
Self-Reliance
Adventure
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Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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madlilnerd
Duchess of Dancemat
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 5885
Location: Slough, England
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| Fri May 13, 2005 12:37 pm |
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| Quote: | | The American Dream is what makes America better than other nations. |
Hmm, I think other nations might disagree with you a tincy wincy bit there... everyone believes that their nation is the best.
The American dream, eh... well, I don't think an entire nation should share one dream. IMO it sorta takes away the idea of individual growth and delevopment and the delevopment of an invidual's goals and aspiration... but then I'm not really used to patriots because in England when we try to be very patriotic, it can be classed as racism. At one point, the government wanted to stop people hanging Union Jack and England flags on their house, which is just plain stupid, because how can hanging your country's flag up be classed as racism?
As for American children, on Supersize Me the man held up a picture and asked children to tell him who it was. 4 out of 5 of the children didn't have a clue who it was of. The 5th child guessed that it was George W Bush. The man turned round the photo so that the camera could see it. It was a picture of Jesus.
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Fri May 13, 2005 1:07 pm |
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^Dude, that's like the worst example EVER. 
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Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Fri May 13, 2005 3:09 pm |
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| madlilnerd wrote: | | The American dream, eh... well, I don't think an entire nation should share one dream. IMO it sorta takes away the idea of individual growth and delevopment and the delevopment of an invidual's goals and aspiration... |
I disagree: a national dream is what keeps a country together, it is a common goal for which all citizens can strive. I'm all for individualism, but the entire concept of a nation is based on the desire to live together in a cohesive society. A dream is as much a sense of national identity than anything else. 
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Kyle Reese
Cadet Gunnery Sergeant
Joined: 21 Apr 2003
Posts: 5672
Location: The United States of America
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| Fri May 13, 2005 10:45 pm |
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Eh, stupid teenagers need serious discipline. Every day I go to school wishing that we had Marines for teachers. The teachers at my school and at a ton of others let almost everything go unless it turns bloody. I always see teens talking back to the teachers and becoming rebellious, and all they get for it is a detention, a trip down to the office, or a few days suspension. Doesn't teach them *beep*, except that they can screw around all they want and get this crap that you can barely call a punishment. The parents don't seem to care either, but luckily for me, mine do. My math teacher keeps telling us about these kinds of things, it's really fun to listen to, since I agree with just about everything she says. I'm pretty damn sure that if America's teenagers had more discipline, things like Columbine could've been avoided. Heh, just talking about this makes me want to go play the Punisher game and watch the movie, he's so awesome.
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AndrewBullock
The Misguided One
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
Posts: 2112
Location: Kentucky. (North America)
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| Fri May 13, 2005 11:15 pm |
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Good job on this essay..
Just something I want to point out. You said we'll be no more special then any other country. No country is special. No matter what they do there not special. They may carry a big name, but it doesn't make us better then any of the other people or country in this world.
Anway.. thats just my ramblings (I'm probably wrong in the first place, but thats okay. lol)
God bless,
~Andrew
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"Our integrity sells for so little, but it is all we really have. It is the very last inch of us. But within that inch we are free"
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Fri May 13, 2005 11:18 pm |
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| AndrewBullock wrote: | Good job on this essay..
Just something I want to point out. You said we'll be no more special then any other country. No country is special. No matter what they do there not special. They may carry a big name, but it doesn't make us better then any of the other people or country in this world.
Anway.. thats just my ramblings (I'm probably wrong in the first place, but thats okay. lol)
God bless,
~Andrew |
Where's your patriotism? I think that this is the BEST NATION ON EARTH. Are we superior? In a sense, but not in the sense that I believe that we are racist. Out nation is better than all others, that's what I believe!
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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AndrewBullock
The Misguided One
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
Posts: 2112
Location: Kentucky. (North America)
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| Fri May 13, 2005 11:21 pm |
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No one is better. Of course, I love my country to death. But that doesn't make me or anyone else that lives in it better then someone who lives in Australia, or UK or whatever.
Oh what does it matter..
~Andrew
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"Our integrity sells for so little, but it is all we really have. It is the very last inch of us. But within that inch we are free"
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Fri May 13, 2005 11:21 pm |
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| AndrewBullock wrote: | No one is better. Of course, I love my country to death. But that doesn't make me or anyone else that lives in it better then someone who lives in Australia, or UK or whatever.
Oh what does it matter..
~Andrew |
Maybe not as people, but as a country...we are the best country on Earth, IMO.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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AndrewBullock
The Misguided One
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
Posts: 2112
Location: Kentucky. (North America)
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| Fri May 13, 2005 11:23 pm |
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Well.. I do love my country.. I would rather be here and stay here for ever, but I guess it's all opinions. Well, IN MY OPINION, no one's better then the other. No matter what we do, we are equal.
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"Our integrity sells for so little, but it is all we really have. It is the very last inch of us. But within that inch we are free"
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Fri May 13, 2005 11:25 pm |
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Back on topic.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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madlilnerd
Duchess of Dancemat
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 5885
Location: Slough, England
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| Sat May 14, 2005 7:56 am |
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| Kyle Reese wrote: | | Eh, stupid teenagers need serious discipline. Every day I go to school wishing that we had Marines for teachers. The teachers at my school and at a ton of others let almost everything go unless it turns bloody. I always see teens talking back to the teachers and becoming rebellious, and all they get for it is a detention, a trip down to the office, or a few days suspension. Doesn't teach them *beep*, except that they can screw around all they want and get this crap that you can barely call a punishment. The parents don't seem to care either, but luckily for me, mine do. My math teacher keeps telling us about these kinds of things, it's really fun to listen to, since I agree with just about everything she says. I'm pretty damn sure that if America's teenagers had more discipline, things like Columbine could've been avoided. Heh, just talking about this makes me want to go play the Punisher game and watch the movie, he's so awesome. |
I'm 15 and totally agree with that. Here in England, we have a TV program called "Brat Camp" where they take teenagers that are completely out of hand and make them live at this camp in america for a few weeks. They all think it's hell, but I would love to be treated like that. They had to sit in stone circles and not talk to anyone for three days and had to do military style training and wood collecting and manual labour, stuff like that. It looked like paradise to me.
Here, suspension is basically a day off. The system doesn't work at all. I had a detention the other day and all I had to do was sit and work quietly for an hour, which is what I do normally in school!
I believe that many countries would be improved if there was more discipline in school.
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nadia
cookie
Joined: 08 Apr 2005
Posts: 8560
Location: Australia
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| Sat May 14, 2005 8:07 am |
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Thatsounds funny Madlilnerd
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Kyle Reese
Cadet Gunnery Sergeant
Joined: 21 Apr 2003
Posts: 5672
Location: The United States of America
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| Sat May 14, 2005 10:52 am |
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| madlilnerd wrote: | | Kyle Reese wrote: | | Eh, stupid teenagers need serious discipline. Every day I go to school wishing that we had Marines for teachers. The teachers at my school and at a ton of others let almost everything go unless it turns bloody. I always see teens talking back to the teachers and becoming rebellious, and all they get for it is a detention, a trip down to the office, or a few days suspension. Doesn't teach them *beep*, except that they can screw around all they want and get this crap that you can barely call a punishment. The parents don't seem to care either, but luckily for me, mine do. My math teacher keeps telling us about these kinds of things, it's really fun to listen to, since I agree with just about everything she says. I'm pretty damn sure that if America's teenagers had more discipline, things like Columbine could've been avoided. Heh, just talking about this makes me want to go play the Punisher game and watch the movie, he's so awesome. |
I'm 15 and totally agree with that. Here in England, we have a TV program called "Brat Camp" where they take teenagers that are completely out of hand and make them live at this camp in america for a few weeks. They all think it's hell, but I would love to be treated like that. They had to sit in stone circles and not talk to anyone for three days and had to do military style training and wood collecting and manual labour, stuff like that. It looked like paradise to me.
Here, suspension is basically a day off. The system doesn't work at all. I had a detention the other day and all I had to do was sit and work quietly for an hour, which is what I do normally in school!
I believe that many countries would be improved if there was more discipline in school. |
Yeah that sounds cool. Wish I could watch it. About school shootings though, I really hate how people think making it harder for teens to get guns will solve the problem  Oh sure let's let them still get beat up and pushed around for no reason, who cares? As long as nobody dies.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sat May 14, 2005 11:22 am |
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| madlilnerd wrote: | | Kyle Reese wrote: | | Eh, stupid teenagers need serious discipline. Every day I go to school wishing that we had Marines for teachers. The teachers at my school and at a ton of others let almost everything go unless it turns bloody. I always see teens talking back to the teachers and becoming rebellious, and all they get for it is a detention, a trip down to the office, or a few days suspension. Doesn't teach them *beep*, except that they can screw around all they want and get this crap that you can barely call a punishment. The parents don't seem to care either, but luckily for me, mine do. My math teacher keeps telling us about these kinds of things, it's really fun to listen to, since I agree with just about everything she says. I'm pretty damn sure that if America's teenagers had more discipline, things like Columbine could've been avoided. Heh, just talking about this makes me want to go play the Punisher game and watch the movie, he's so awesome. |
I'm 15 and totally agree with that. Here in England, we have a TV program called "Brat Camp" where they take teenagers that are completely out of hand and make them live at this camp in america for a few weeks. They all think it's hell, but I would love to be treated like that. They had to sit in stone circles and not talk to anyone for three days and had to do military style training and wood collecting and manual labour, stuff like that. It looked like paradise to me.
Here, suspension is basically a day off. The system doesn't work at all. I had a detention the other day and all I had to do was sit and work quietly for an hour, which is what I do normally in school!
I believe that many countries would be improved if there was more discipline in school. |
With detention, the same situation is here. An hour of quiet work, it is. However, go to a military camp, I do not want to go, but think that those who are completely out of hand should go to some sort of camp, I do. Laxed, policies are of late. Little control, do schools have anymore.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Leo Wyatt
Sweetest Angel
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 19045
Location: Investigating A Crime Scene. What did Quark do this time?
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| Sat May 14, 2005 11:26 am |
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I support military camp with the kids that are so bad out of hand. Need some kind of structure.
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madlilnerd
Duchess of Dancemat
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 5885
Location: Slough, England
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| Sat May 14, 2005 12:22 pm |
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| Kyle Reese wrote: | | madlilnerd wrote: | | Kyle Reese wrote: | | Eh, stupid teenagers need serious discipline. Every day I go to school wishing that we had Marines for teachers. The teachers at my school and at a ton of others let almost everything go unless it turns bloody. I always see teens talking back to the teachers and becoming rebellious, and all they get for it is a detention, a trip down to the office, or a few days suspension. Doesn't teach them *beep*, except that they can screw around all they want and get this crap that you can barely call a punishment. The parents don't seem to care either, but luckily for me, mine do. My math teacher keeps telling us about these kinds of things, it's really fun to listen to, since I agree with just about everything she says. I'm pretty damn sure that if America's teenagers had more discipline, things like Columbine could've been avoided. Heh, just talking about this makes me want to go play the Punisher game and watch the movie, he's so awesome. |
I'm 15 and totally agree with that. Here in England, we have a TV program called "Brat Camp" where they take teenagers that are completely out of hand and make them live at this camp in america for a few weeks. They all think it's hell, but I would love to be treated like that. They had to sit in stone circles and not talk to anyone for three days and had to do military style training and wood collecting and manual labour, stuff like that. It looked like paradise to me.
Here, suspension is basically a day off. The system doesn't work at all. I had a detention the other day and all I had to do was sit and work quietly for an hour, which is what I do normally in school!
I believe that many countries would be improved if there was more discipline in school. |
Yeah that sounds cool. Wish I could watch it. About school shootings though, I really hate how people think making it harder for teens to get guns will solve the problem Oh sure let's let them still get beat up and pushed around for no reason, who cares? As long as nobody dies. |
Although I enjoy playing with firearms (I'm pretty good with a rifle) I don't think I could live in a country where you can go into a shop and come out with a gun. I wouldn't feel safe. Is it the American dream to shoot each other?
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sat May 14, 2005 2:44 pm |
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| madlilnerd wrote: | | Kyle Reese wrote: | | madlilnerd wrote: | | Kyle Reese wrote: | | Eh, stupid teenagers need serious discipline. Every day I go to school wishing that we had Marines for teachers. The teachers at my school and at a ton of others let almost everything go unless it turns bloody. I always see teens talking back to the teachers and becoming rebellious, and all they get for it is a detention, a trip down to the office, or a few days suspension. Doesn't teach them *beep*, except that they can screw around all they want and get this crap that you can barely call a punishment. The parents don't seem to care either, but luckily for me, mine do. My math teacher keeps telling us about these kinds of things, it's really fun to listen to, since I agree with just about everything she says. I'm pretty damn sure that if America's teenagers had more discipline, things like Columbine could've been avoided. Heh, just talking about this makes me want to go play the Punisher game and watch the movie, he's so awesome. |
I'm 15 and totally agree with that. Here in England, we have a TV program called "Brat Camp" where they take teenagers that are completely out of hand and make them live at this camp in america for a few weeks. They all think it's hell, but I would love to be treated like that. They had to sit in stone circles and not talk to anyone for three days and had to do military style training and wood collecting and manual labour, stuff like that. It looked like paradise to me.
Here, suspension is basically a day off. The system doesn't work at all. I had a detention the other day and all I had to do was sit and work quietly for an hour, which is what I do normally in school!
I believe that many countries would be improved if there was more discipline in school. |
Yeah that sounds cool. Wish I could watch it. About school shootings though, I really hate how people think making it harder for teens to get guns will solve the problem Oh sure let's let them still get beat up and pushed around for no reason, who cares? As long as nobody dies. |
Although I enjoy playing with firearms (I'm pretty good with a rifle) I don't think I could live in a country where you can go into a shop and come out with a gun. I wouldn't feel safe. Is it the American dream to shoot each other? |
No. However, it IS part of the American Dream to have the freedoms that we have, and the Second Amendment gives us that freedom
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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madlilnerd
Duchess of Dancemat
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 5885
Location: Slough, England
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| Sat May 14, 2005 4:05 pm |
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That reminds me of a paradox I once heard:
"For us all to be free, some must be under restriction"
I suppose it was talking about criminals and mental patients.
Some people at my school wrote a play called "Trigger Happy" and it was all about Death making a tribute to the USA because they have the highest gun related deaths in the world. It was a good play.
Oh, and one more (well, two more) question(s), does the American dream cover South America as well? Or is it strictly for the USA and Canada?
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Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Sat May 14, 2005 4:11 pm |
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| madlilnerd wrote: | | Oh, and one more (well, two more) question(s), does the American dream cover South America as well? Or is it strictly for the USA and Canada? |
Strictly for the United States of America. Today, the term "American" without any other modifier usually refers the United States.
Canada has its own, different dreams. To illustrate the difference, in America it is: "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." In Canada, it is "peace, order, and good government."
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madlilnerd
Duchess of Dancemat
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 5885
Location: Slough, England
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| Sat May 14, 2005 4:13 pm |
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I like the sound of Canada's better. Except perhaps for the order bit, that sounds a bit 1984-ish (you know, the George Orwell book)
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