What is the American Dream?

[Walter Powers]

In your opinion, what does it mean to live the "American Dream"?

I think that it is to, through your own work and success, give a better life to your children then you had, regardless of where you started in life. That's certainly what I want to do.

[Cygnus]

Its technically the dream of going to the US and rising to a better position, I can't say it goes farther than that in any way.

[Southside]

Being successful and not struggling.
Having a good paying job, education, a few kids and a house. Too bad the American Dream is long gone..

[thatcountrykid]

Being successful and not struggling.
Having a good paying job, education, a few kids and a house. Too bad the American Dream is long gone..

The dream is still around as long as you beleive in it. The dream is what you want it to be.

[Human]

I seen hunderds of men come by on the road an' on the ranches, with their bindles on their back an' that same damn thing in their heads. Hunderds of them. They come, an' they quit an' go on; an' every damn one of 'em's got a little piece of land in his head. An' never a God damn one of 'em ever gets it. Just like heaven. Everybody wants a little piece of lan'. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It's just in their head. They're all the time talkin' about it, but it's jus' in their head.

[Josef_]

I feel the "American Dream" is doing whatever you want to do, with few complications with doing so. This would mean fulfilling a career of choice. Having the things you want, etc.

[Sir Suomi]

The "American Dream" for me is to have the ability to live a good and happy life, which is achieved through hard work and determination, while at the same time helping others achieve that same goal.

[Miserabilia]

This was interesting to read as a non-american....

[Polansek]

Wheel historically looking its stealing. Stealing land from the natives and stealing colonies from the British, not to mention the modern resource and information theft round the world.

[britishboy]

The American dream was European settlers who came to America to escape prosecution or improve their lives.

Today I believe it is poor becoming wealthy.

[Hazard7707]

The American Dream is the idea that by working hard, you can live a happy and successful life in America and therefore 'live the dream'.

[AgentHomo]

Freedom to the rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

[Danny_boi 16]

In your opinion, what does it mean to live the "American Dream"?

I think that it is to, through your own work and success, give a better life to your children then you had, regardless of where you started in life. That's certainly what I want to do.

The American dream has changed over the years of our country. However, several of the ideals of the philosophy are still around. And I believe that they are: Having children, earning enough income to live beyond the necessity, to own land, to participate in government, and leave a future for other generations. America has wonderful ideal and is a wonderful country in its own respects.

[Harry Smith]

An idea that you can move to the US and do better with your life. You can get a nice leafy house in the suburbs, a dog, two kids and the a shotgun. However if your black, gay, Hispanic, disabled, communist, feminist leaning or Islamic this simply isn't going to happen.

It's a complete myth and it died out with the 1950's luckily when the US actually started to embrace culture in the 1960's

[Walter Powers]

An idea that you can move to the US and do better with your life. You can get a nice leafy house in the suburbs, a dog, two kids and the a shotgun. However if your black, gay, Hispanic, disabled, communist, feminist leaning or Islamic this simply isn't going to happen.

Talk about racism. Yes, this is racism. You don't get a pass. Why do you think that blacks are so inferior as to not be able to be successful in the easiest place in the world to be successful? I know plenty of black people who have made it in America, and have raised good kids.

As for gays, I'm pretty sure that they are wealthier then the average American. Communists want to live off other people money: of course they aren't going to be successful! As for feminists, one would think they'd also do pretty well, considering, being for equal rights and all, one would think they would be working like a man would. Islamists also do quite well here, I have a friend who's Muslim. His parents drive a new Cadillac.

It's a complete myth and it died out with the 1950's luckily when the US actually started to embrace culture in the 1960's

What the hell is that supposed to mean? If it weren't for America and the opportunities she gave my family, the American dream, I would be living in a third world country!

And what do you mean we didn't have a culture before 1960? Ever heard of McDonalds? What about jeans?

Wheel historically looking its stealing. Stealing land from the natives and stealing colonies from the British, not to mention the modern resource and information theft round the world.

EXCUSE ME?

We stole the colonies from the British?

So do you also think that the Nigerians stole Nigeria from Britain, the Indians stole India from Britain, the Mexicans stole Mexico from Spain, the Brazillians stole Brazil from the Portuguese?

You have just lost all your credibility.

[Harry Smith]

Talk about racism. Yes, this is racism. You don't get a pass. Why do you think that blacks are so inferior as to not be able to be successful in the easiest place in the world to be successful? I know plenty of black people who have made it in America, and have raised good kids.

As for gays, I'm pretty sure that they are wealthier then the average American. Communists want to live off other people money: of course they aren't going to be successful! As for feminists, one would think they'd also do pretty well, considering, being for equal rights and all, one would think they would be working like a man would. Islamists also do quite well here, I have a friend who's Muslim. His parents drive a new Cadillac.



What the hell is that supposed to mean? If it weren't for America and the opportunities she gave my family, the American dream, I would be living in a third world country!

And what do you mean we didn't have a culture before 1960? Ever heard of McDonalds? What about jeans?

Yep I put my hands up I'm a die hard racist- I'll just go and get my hood out of the closet. I can't believe you've caught me. It's not racist to say that Black people are economically and socially disadvantaged otherwise MLK himself must be a die-hard member of the KKK.

My comments were a joke attacking the ideas of the 1950's where I perceive the american dream as coming from or arguably the 1932's when mass migration from countries such as Italy occurred.

Look at the standards of living for Black people up until the 1970's and you can see that it took an extremely long time to get legal equality and I would even go as far to say that they still don't have legal equality in certain states, just look at the stop and frisk laws in New York which bored on institutionalized racism or the treatment of Blacks by the LAPD. Second wave racism is just as important

If you understand communism in it's root form you would know it advocates removal of currency. Just because one Muslim you know has a car doesn't mean that there is any sort of dream for them- they get harassed by your border guards at JFK and put in a cell just for having an Arab name.The american dream only exists for the 1%- the rest is all an allusion. Oh yeah I forgot that a franchise that started in 1955 was a culture. I should of said a decent culture. In the 60's american society actually started to change for the better as people got rid of sexual restraints and actually embraced life. Just look at the Great Gatsby or revolutionary road- both great films which show how fucking gullible people can be about life

Any geopolitical scientist would have a field day with your comments- America isn't a women yet you refer to it as a 'she'. It's truly amazing how attached people get to a invisible boundary drawn upon a map.

[Sph2015]

Just look at the Great Gatsby or revolutionary road- both great films which show how fucking gullible people can be about life.

I'm sorry. You've lost me completely. Did you really just refer to "The Great Gatsby" as a film? One of the greatest American NOVELS of all time, written many decades before the 60s, by a man most speculate to have been gay, that was just recently made into a mediocre movie for the second time?

American culture is so rich. Just look at the literature! Have you heard of the Fireside Poets? What about the early days of Hollywood? The American pioneer is one of the greatest historical figures of all time!

Have you been to the states? Because if you have, then you had a shit tour guide, and I apologize.

If you haven't, don't judge a book by it's shitty, third edition, movie poster cover. We're pretty badass.



Now, for the topic. Whenever I hear "The American Dream" I think of the suburban house with the white picket fence, two kids (one boy and one girl of course) and a golden retriever in the backyard.

However, personally I think the true American dream is being better off then the generation before you. Slowly working up the ladder. At one point, the white picket fence was the next step for most of America. Sadly, many still haven't made it, but many others are gearing up to go further.

The self made man. That's what it's all about.

[Harry Smith]

I'm sorry. You've lost me completely. Did you really just refer to "The Great Gatsby" as a film? One of the greatest American NOVELS of all time, written many decades before the 60s, by a man most speculate to have been gay, that was just recently made into a mediocre movie for the second time?

American culture is so rich. Just look at the literature! Have you heard of the Fireside Poets? What about the early days of Hollywood? The American pioneer is one of the greatest historical figures of all time!

Have you been to the states? Because if you have, then you had a shit tour guide, and I apologize.

If you haven't, don't judge a book by it's shitty, third edition, movie poster cover. We're pretty badass.




Now, for the topic. Whenever I hear "The American Dream" I think of the suburban house with the white picket fence, two kids (one boy and one girl of course) and a golden retriever in the backyard.

However, personally I think the true American dream is being better off then the generation before you. Slowly working up the ladder. At one point, the white picket fence was the next step for most of America. Sadly, many still haven't made it, but many others are gearing up to go further.

The self made man. That's what it's all about.

I have also read the book for the English but I felt it was pretty lacking. I thought it would be easiest to express the film version on here because well it's easier to access

The great Gatsby pretty much mocks nearly every aspect of the consumerism and the boom and bust nature of economists. The whole idea of the book is to show how fucking stupid the american dream is. There's just so many pitfalls in it I can't even begin

[Sph2015]

The whole idea of the book is to show how fucking stupid the american dream is. There's just so many pitfalls in it I can't even begin

It does depict the decline of the American dream. However, for the new and old upper class of major American cities as they abandoned many of their longstanding values after WWI. The roaring 20s were very different for most of America. Small towns still reigned supreme, and it was a very different era there. The book is more about no matter how much money you have, you can't buy everything. Gatsby wasn't chasing the American dream, he was chasing Daisy.

[project_icarus]

In your opinion, what does it mean to live the "American Dream"?

Be Canadian.

As for gays, I'm pretty sure that they are wealthier then the average American.

Because somebody's sexual orientation is determinative of their wealth. Yep, totally.

Communists want to live off other people money: of course they aren't going to be successful!

heh

As for feminists, one would think they'd also do pretty well, considering, being for equal rights and all, one would think they would be working like a man would

No, kind sir, a woman who works does so as a woman would.

Islamists also do quite well here, I have a friend who's Muslim. His parents drive a new Cadillac

As with homosexuality, apparently religion too automatically means that you're a part of a wealthy class?

[Polansek]

EXCUSE ME?

We stole the colonies from the British?

So do you also think that the Nigerians stole Nigeria from Britain, the Indians stole India from Britain, /.../?

You have just lost all your credibility.

There is a slight difference between the natives reclaiming their land and some rejects claiming a land that wasn't theirs to start with. Learn your history man.

[Walter Powers]

Be Canadian.



Because somebody's sexual orientation is determinative of their wealth. Yep, totally.



heh



No, kind sir, a woman who works does so as a woman would.



As with homosexuality, apparently religion too automatically means that you're a part of a wealthy class?

You should be asking these things to Harry Smith. He was saying that these groups of people can't make it in America, so I was proving him wrong. He thinks that you can't make it if your black, homosexual, hispanic, or Muslim, and i was showing him how that's incorrect.

There is a slight difference between the natives reclaiming their land and some rejects claiming a land that wasn't theirs to start with. Learn your history man.

For you to you to say that we stole the colonies from the British is completly crazy. Learn your history!

-please do not double post. -Emerald Dream

[Southside]

You should be asking these things to Harry Smith. He was saying that these groups of people can't make it in America, so I was proving him wrong. He thinks that you can't make it if your black, homosexual, hispanic, or Muslim, and i was showing him how that's incorrect.



For you to you to say that we stole the colonies from the British is completly crazy. Learn your history!

-please do not double post. -Emerald Dream


Why don't inner city blacks and Hispanics have the same quality education as Suburban kids? Isnt a good quality education apart of the American dream?

[Harry Smith]

You should be asking these things to Harry Smith. He was saying that these groups of people can't make it in America, so I was proving him wrong. He thinks that you can't make it if your black, homosexual, hispanic, or Muslim, and i was showing him how that's incorrect.
[/COLOR]

I didn't say that Black person couldn't sucede because of the other of their skins- I said because on the majority like Jared says there is a clear lack of funding in inner city schools and you still have wide spread racism within the police towards Blacks

[Walter Powers]

Why don't inner city blacks and Hispanics have the same quality education as Suburban kids? Isnt a good quality education apart of the American dream?

Of course it is, and they aren't getting a good education for a variety of reasons. And that needs to be fixed. But I certainly don't think that it is because of their race that they are suffering however. Anybody who is being raised by a single mom in a one bedroom apartment is going to have a tougher time, regardless of skin color.


I didn't say that Black person couldn't sucede because of the other of their skins- I said because on the majority like Jared says there is a clear lack of funding in inner city schools and you still have wide spread racism within the police towards Blacks

First, this is what you said:

An idea that you can move to the US and do better with your life. You can get a nice leafy house in the suburbs, a dog, two kids and the a shotgun. However if your black, gay, Hispanic, disabled, communist, feminist leaning or Islamic this simply isn't going to happen.

You say here that if you're black you can't have a nice house in the suburbs, a dog, two kids, and a gun. You can't live the American dream. That is false.

Second, as I said above, quality of education is more dependent on income then race.