The American Dream. We have all heard this phrase. But what does it actually mean? The American Dream was first used as a symbol for freedom, mutual respect, and equality of opportunity. It was an ethos that acted as a major force in the waves of mass migration, enticing immigrants with a promise of a new life. It represented a strong moral obligation to uphold social and democratic equality.
“A dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest statute of which they are innately capable, and recognized by others for what they are,'' said James Truslow Adams in 1931.
However, the American Dream is now associated with owning a beautiful home and a successful business. It has become a materialistic concept and no longer a moral one. The danger of the term is that it is associated with living a comfortable life and owning an expensive home, but it does not take into account the growing inequalities that exist within our society. In fact, a human rights expert stated, “The United States now has the lowest rate of social mobility of any of the rich countries.” For this reason, I think the American Dream is an illusion that hides the flawed systems and inequalities that exist within society. It creates an illusion of equality by promising success to all, but the reality is that the gap between the rich and poor is ever growing.
Supporters of the American Dream believe that any person can be successful by working hard and using their talent in this “land of opportunity.” The dream asserts that everyone has equal opportunity and can therefore reach success. However, this outlook ignores the fact equal opportunities to all unfortunately don’t exist. Another danger of the American Dream is that it promotes materialism and it associates happiness with economic prosperity. I think the belief that wealth can indicate a happy life is very problematic because it takes away from other life domains such as family, friends, and health. While it does enhance motivation and drive, it can cause individuals to constantly worry about the future rather than focus on the present.
Overall, I think the American Dream is dangerous to society because it promotes individualism and capitalism. The dream creates a false notion of success to all, and equates happiness with wealth. It’s simply unrealistic and unattainable in a society where issues like rising income inequality, healthcare, homelessness, and racial inequality exist.
I love discussing the topic of the American Dream. I feel as if the definition of it has changed so much its honestly depressing. I firmly believe America has to reevaluate their values as a whole. Our society has become so materialistic and capitalized that the American Dream is better off considered the American Nightmare. The amount of wealth you have to have to achieve this so-called "dream" is honestly insane. The American Dream should remain about freedom and equality.
This post was a pleasure to read. I'm not sure the issue here is the American Dream itself, though. It's definitely problematic for people to see wealth, property-ownership, etc. as the as a primary source of happiness. However, it is good that America's economy makes it hypothetically possible for anyone to become more wealthy and live a more comfortable life. I think the American Dream is a good goal for a country to keep possible, but it should absolutely not be seen as a source of happiness or value itself.