The Changing Tides of the American Dream, Essay Example

The constitution of the ideal feature of what success means specifically served as the foundation of the American dream. A life that serves the best of the people’s interests and creates a distinct presentation of what is a good and satisfying, as a whole, is the basic meaning of such an idea.There are three elements that make up the realization of the American dream: home ownership, upward mobility and a global vision of a successful life.During the 19^th century, such dream introduced a new concept of acquiring wealth and living a life that is free from financial strife. Ever since the discovery of gold in California, the news on the new state becoming the new face of the American dream, comes out accordingly, especially in relation to the way people specifically wanted to embrace wealth. Presidents and societies may redefine its real meaning; nevertheless, one thing is sure and acceptably agreeable: the American Dream is dependent on the hope of living a better, and satisfying desires that everyone wants to attain.

Furthering the points of history, the 20^th century brought one of the most intriguing changes in the way the American dream developed from one generation towards another. The rise of the number of immigrants specifically notes such change on the way the American Dream gradually became a source of hope not only for the American society, but for individuals around the globe as well. Believing in the hope of gaining a better life in a foreign country, however, isnot an easy decision, and yet it has become a common trend for many individuals from particular regions, such as Latin America and Asia who chose to embrace the American culture in place of their own original traditions.

Many people still believe that the same ideals remain, in the American Dream, even though,times have already changed. Notably, every individual wants to succeed in life; and in today’s world, it could be realized that success is often defined through material wealth which comes from a satisfying job. As it is pointed out when reading, “we so profoundly personalize success,we miss the opportunity to lift others to the top rung, this line proves how people look upon themselves, how they are able to satisfy their desires and how they are able to specifically respond to their needs as individuals ”(Gladwell 32). “Due to different economic issues that occur around the globe, it is often hard to find a good and satisfying job in just any place in the world “(Ownby 54). This constitutes the individual meaning of the American Dream which somehow creates a distinct division in the society. Being a country with an established economy, America appears to hold to the hopefor the fulfillment of their dreams within their country.

The truth is that the issue on immigration and its relation to the American Dreamcontinues to feed how the country progresses at present. Relatively, immigrating from one country to another foreign one requires a great deal of courage in surviving the new culture and the new traditions that the new nation presents; nevertheless, if it meant the fulfillment of one’s ideals, all the sacrifices and adjustments would all be worth it. The reading further adds: “we cling to the idea that success is a simple function of individual meritwhich ideally presents the condition of motivation that humans often use to push themselves towards the top of the heap ” (Gladwell33). The single thought towards aiming for something and hoping to fulfill such a thought, creates a distinct path towards people seeing the possible development of their own lives as they embrace the culture of a developed nation. It should not be forgotten though that it is not only the immigrants who desire to get the best out of America. American locals were the ones who permeated the development of such a dream, and they too desire to be able to realize such fulfillment of living a good life in their own land. This is where the current political and social division in America begins.

The republicans stay within their ideals of keeping America for the Americans, however the democrats think otherwise. This is the basic reason why “President Barack Obama was one of the most loved and also the most criticized leader of the United States” (Hanson 98). His complete campaign towards establishing the American dream upon the ideas of the land being a refuge for those aiming to become full-fledged Americans has won him the hearts of the majority. At present, he is closely being watched by his followers and his critics as to how much he would be able to fulfill the consistent realization towards the American dream, as seen and felt by the people who have placed him in that said position. To support this, it could be noted that American presidents have had the chance to redefine the meaning of the American Dream in their own terms. As for the administration of President Obama, it is clear that he wants to make sure that individuals, American by blood or by legality, be served by their rights. However, due to different conflicts and indicative debates regarding the rightful condition of such claim, chaos among lawmakers and policy enforcers often occur, thus making the American dream much less clear. Johnson (2006), a political analyst,  notes that” through the years, the different administrations that provide America with the supposed backbone it needs for success creates a particular picture that draws their understanding of the American dream which is most often than not related to immigration”(Gladwell199). To support this thought, the rate of immigration in the United States continues to increase every year. “A huge population of those immigrants even entered the country through falsified documents or through backdoor entry; which implies the illegality of their stay in the country” (Samuel54). The dream still remains strong in their hearts; the hope of finding a good life and a good job in America feed their thoughts of simply transferring to the country as workers, laborers and low-end employees who are willing to take just anything to earn the money they need to survive in America.

One specific challenge that immigrants need to contend with is their acquisition of the English language. For natives of other nations who have used their mother tongue from birth, their complete embracement of the American culture becomes rough and almost impossible at first. Although it is often said that ‘practice makes perfect’, many immigrants require years of staying in the country before they could use the language at an adequate level. Some who cannot catch up with the cultural changes, as well as with the language, often become victims of work, school, and social discrimination. As seen in the interview section presented below, several of the immigrant interviewees have had their own chance of being belittled at school. Liza, a freshman university student, relays how she is often not regarded as able to withstand the school challenges that are offered in American universities (Liza, interviewee). While to some, such treatment is just normal, to others it could be considered personally and emotionally detrimental.

Retaining its economic competitive stance even in the middle of global financial downfall, America continues to set an invitation to people hoping to experience the kind of life that the country and its government has to offer (Hanson, et al. 89). It could be realized though that a huge amount of the country’s revenue come from individual immigrants who work hard enough to feed the development of the industries established in the country. In his writing, Hanson (et al, 2007) points out that“there are currently 68% of workers in the nation belonging to the immigrant population in several states in the country (Gladwell101). Notably, the provision of privileges is a two way street. “This means that while immigrants are provided the refuge they need from all the things they are running away from in their own country, these immigrants provide America with the work force the country needs to take further steps in the face of international and global progress” (Hanson, et al. 103).The primary problem is we have so many undocumented immigrants that are straining the American economic system. They are getting the benefits but they are not a tax paying citizen. It’s one thing to attempt to chance the American Dream ,but it’s another when they have the American dream at the expense of American tax payers.Mexicans make up over half of undocumented immigrants—57 percent of the total, or about 5.3 million. The immigrant statistics indicate” 2.2 million (23 percent) are from other Latin American countries. About 10 percent are from Asia, 5 percent from Europe and Canada, and 5 percent from the rest of the world”(Passel, Caps & Fix 1).

To support the definitions of the American dream, an interview to six friends has been considered for this discussion. Among the six individuals noted for the interview 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 for particularly specific reasons of gaining a better chance to life.

The first two interviewees were Bob and Ana; they are a couple married for 50 years now. Both on their retirement age, they relay how the American Dream used to bind the American nation in becoming a powerful country both in terms of economy and military tactics. They mentioned how the war years changed everything and how the age of commercial revolution specifically lead towards the marking of America as the primary destination of those who dream of a better life. 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 mentions how the pressure of social networking and commerce pull together resources to make sure that the young generation realize success on the grounds of being known and earning money.

The immigrants, however, have a slightly different view of the matter. Liza, from China; Carl, from the Philippines; and Mitch, from Italy: are dorm-mates and are all studying in one university. Each of them has his own story to tell, nevertheless, they define the American dream within a rather common distinction: that it was the escape they needed to have a better chance at a better life. They would endure regardless of the obstacles or hard times because they were taught by the family that their success is the entire family success and struggles.Nevertheless, “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 they were experiencing. It seemed that their chance of realizing their dreams of success and better living lay strongly on the opportunities to education and work options that the United States provides. Samuel (2012) critically assess the matter through scrutinizing how the school system works; he points out that there is a strong need for the entire education system to be less biased and more balanced in serving what the people need regardless of their race. Only through this will the true foundation of development be achieved even amidst the bulging number of immigrants coming in the country (Samuel, 2012, 133). Within the context of this discussion, it could be understood that America serves as a great epitome of hope among many people around the world. Although, it is currently standing at a rather dangerous spot, especially in relation to economics and its development, America remains to possess an inviting characteristic that makes it the easiest and the most desirable locations for hopeful dreamers to visit. Although true, the American dream has changed faces and meanings from one generation to another, it could be considered that its concept remains the same in relation to how it is perceived by the world today.

Everybody has the right to dream and every dream should be given the chance to be realized well by the dreamer. Regardless of race and local backgrounds, people from around the globe continue to believe within the context of the American Dream, which is grounded upon the desire of making it possible for human individuals realize a good life and to experience satisfaction. Such pronouncement of success, however, relies on the capacity of the people living in America [local residents or immigrants] to see what the nation could actually provide them with, and how such provisions could help them reach their primary goals.

Summary

The interviews completed with the Americans Bob, Ana and Annie understand that the American dream was working their way to have a nice home for their later years. Annie believe it was the ability to become a famous star and purse her dreams. The consensus was the opportunity existed because of the United States heritage and sacrifices of their own families for these rights. It was learned that Americans have a historical, spiritual and personal feelings about the opportunities that their family members died to protect. The three students from Italy, China and Philippines respectively, believe the American Dream was worth any struggle or even dying for because it was paradise compared to the place they previously lived. I learned the foreign students felt it was a privilege that could not be squandered and want not taken very lightly by the family. They treausure the opportunity to be chasing the American Dream for the entire family generations.

Works Cited

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 InheritingInequality 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