Changing Tides of the American Dream, Essay Example

In this essay five questions will be explored. They are what is the American dream; where did it come from; how has it changed since then and does it still have the same force it did earlier. It must be realized that many believe the meaning of success relies in a perception of the American dream.  What is the American dream? Assumptions’ have been that, perhaps, it is the utopia of a life that is different to ones in developing or underdeveloped nations. Where did it come from?  Primarily, it is a conceptualization of people who think that America in its grandeur is the land flowing with milk and honey. How has it changed? It has changed because many dreamers are disappointed in the way the ecominc situation has impacted events in the country. Does it have the same impact/meaning as earlier? No definitely not.

It is true that the American dream: encompasses home ownership, upward mobility related to education and a global vision of a successful life.  Findings from this resear reveal some starling results. In the twenty –first century, especially with 9/11 episodes these dreams have been plundered in the crisis of comprehensive immigration reform and animosity towards undocumented immigrants. Malcolm Gladwell (2004) in the Outliners did theorized that we should not ask who successful people are, but rather where they came   from since culture plays a great role in success development (Gladwell, 2004).

Immigrants holding on to the American dream emerge from different parts of the globe. As they arrive in America, the land of promise, the difficulties they encounter to get here are not compensatory for their trouble interviews revealed. M.K an immigrant from Nicaragua revealed that one serious challenge immigrants from Spanish speaking countries face is articulation of English language.  Twenty-first century adaptations have allowed Spanish speaking immigrants especially those, from Cuba access to social mobility and preferences not given to other immigrants whether they speak Spanish or not. M.K contends that Nicaraguans are treated with less appreciation and therefore in terms of achieving the American dream it is a structural inequality.

Many immigrants enter the country from Mexico, illegally as well as the Caribbean.  Some with visitors visas, which expire and they decide to stay hoping to become legalized through amnesty.  Generally, the public seem to be antagonistic towards illegal immigration and blames the economic crises on their presence in the country. However, illegal immigration is beneficial to America.  According to Hanson and others, while immigrants are provided the refuge they need from all the perceived   misfortunes in their home country, they provide America with the work force needed for its development. Therefore, immigration whether it is illegal or legal contributes to the prosperity of America while, immigrant lose their dream in the process (Hanson, et al. 103).

Speculations have been that undocumented immigrants that are straining the American economic system, which is unfounded and erroneous. Many of them work illegally, taxes as well as social security is taken from their wages and they cannot derive anything from  the system. While America flourishes on their substance they are blamed for the ill fortunes in the country and  kept in servitude not being able to travel back to their countries receive tax returns neither social security if they remain here undocumented until age 65. Just think of that! Could the dream still be alive for these people?  No! Like Raged Dick these immigrants are willing to ‘to turn over a new leaf, and try to grow up “‘spectable” (Alger & Hoeller, 2008).

In support of my thesis that in the twenty –first century, especially, with 9/11 episodes these dreams have been plundered in the crisis of comprehensive immigration reform and animosity towards undocumented immigrants interview with six friends has been considered for this discussion. Among the six individuals were three Americans and three immigrants from Asia and Europe. The choice of interviewees depended on the desire to keep the results balanced in relation to the view of the American dream in the eyes of the Americans themselves and those who come to the country f fulfill their dreams within the American perspective.

The first two interviewees were Bob and Ana, a couple married for 50 years. They are as they relate, how the American Dream used to build the nation into what it is today. They mentioned how the war years changed everything and how the age of commercial revolution  lead to the American dream becoming a reality for many.  For them, the American dream was being able to get their own house, teach their children the right values as they watch them grow and simply being fulfilled with the life they were given. Annie, on the other hand, an 18-year old girl from Michigan, sees the American dream to be related to fame and fortune. She mentioned how the pressure of social networking and commerce pulled together resources in making sure that the young people realize financial success.

The immigrants, however, have a very different point of view. Liza, from China; Carl, from the Philippines; and Mitch, from Italy: are all dorm-mates studying in one university. Each has a unique story.  Nevertheless, they define the American dream within a common paradigm. For them it is an escape   into have a better life chances, but ultimately surfaced as an endurance test. They recalled the difficulties and animosities they faced as international students. Due to their culture and goal of educational attainment they are persevering amidst the vicissitudes of life in twenty-first century America.  However, “these immigrants never give up just like that; instead, they push further believing that they are better off as beggars in the streets of a rich nation than a worker within the hands of their fellow countrymen in their own nation where they earn meager amount of money that could not even feed their families” (Hopper, et al. 76).

They mentioned how seemingly important it was for their families to get out from their own countries because of the economic pressures. Samuel (2012) critically assessed the issue by scrutinizing the school system. He contends that the education system should be more balanced regarding appreciation for the immigrant community.  Further, it was advanced that this is the foundation of American’s development through immigrant education and skills acquisition in the society (Samuel, 2012, 133).

In the context of this discussion that the American dream for many immigrants is now a phenomenon of the past since 9/11 has thwarted the acceptance of immigrant in the country especially, Muslims, difficulties are great within an immigrations system which favors Cubans, above Haitians, Mexican and people form the Caribbean. When speaking with an undocumented immigrant from the Caribbean who was a lecturer in her country, she could not find a job because of being denied a work permit. She blamed it on the immigration system.

Her dream of being in America with as first degree, being sponsored to work and pursue a master’s degree was all gone to the wind after no opportunities existed for attending college neither working. More importantly, after being in the country for 13 years there is no hope of becoming legal and travel back to her home land if comprehensive immigration is not passed. Besides she related how her daughter who yearned to be in America because of the desire to become an obstetrician only received some relief  to attend an affordable college from the recent Obama provision of deferred action.

Summary

The interviews completed with the Americans Bob, Ana and Annie  and others reveal that  while the American dream was working for those who, perhaps, were born here, it is still an obscurity for immigrants here legally and illegally ( termed undocumented.). Immigrants from Cuba who have the wet-foot dry foot privileges are ahead of the game and, perhaps, do achieve their dream once they touch American soil. While learning the language poses a problem to some people from Spanish speaking countries, Cubans are allowed free English language teaching and their degrees are accepted without having to be accredited. Therefore, in the twenty –first century, especially, with 9/11 episodes these dreams have been plundered in the crisis of comprehensive immigration reform and animosity towards undocumented immigrants.

Therefore, in summarizing once again answers to these research questions what is the American dream; where did it come from; how has it changed since then and does it still have the same force it did earlier; clearly there have been immense variations regarding what the dream means to different segments of the society. Americans who were born here do have a dream and are living it once they attain academic financial success and have access to affordable quality health care. In the context of data retrieved from interviews as well as perusing documents the immigration status of individuals greatly influences whether American dreams become a reality.

According to Malcolm Gladwell ‘s theory on the story of success indeed from where the immigrant came determines achievement of this dream/success in twenty-first century-first century America. Immigration laws impact these dreams along with profiling of from where immigrants came, especially after 9/11. At one time, soon after 9/11 the animosity was so great that all immigrants except Cubans were perceived as terrorists and treated accordingly

Works Cited

Alger, Horatio, Jr.; Hoeller, Hildegard (Ed.). Ragged Dick, or Street Life in New York with Boot Blacks. W.W. Norton & Company. 2008. Print

Abati, Mitch. Personal interview. 8 Feb. 2014

Blaylock,Ana. Personal interview.3 Feb.2014

Gladwell, M. (2011). Outliers: The Matthew Effect. Little Brown and Company.

Hanson, Sandra L. and John Kenneth White, ed. The American Dream in the 21^st CenturyTemple University Press; 2011.

Hing, Liz. Personal interview.3 Feb.2014

Johnson, Heather Beth. The American Dream and the Power of Wealth: Choosing Schools and Inheriting Inequality in the Land of Opportunity, CRC Press, 2006.

Mason, Ana. Personal interview.2 Feb.2014

Mason, Bob. Personal interview.2 Feb.2014

Ownby, Ted. American Dreams in Mississippi: Consumers, Poverty, and Culture 1830–1998, University of North Carolina Press, 1999.

Passel,J,Capps,R., & Fix,M.(2013). Undocumented immigrants: Facts and figures. Retrieved from http://www.urban.org/publications/1000587.html

Samuel, Lawrence R.The American Dream: A Cultural History. Syracuse University Press; 2012.

Serrano,Carl. Personal interview. 4 Feb. 2014