The Dead Dream
Is
the dream dead? As a class, we read the introduction of The American Dream in the 21st Century by Hanson and White
which discusses the endurance of the American Dream and its ability to withstand
anything. Now, we are reading a book that discusses the death of the American Dream
and how it is no longer alive. This opposition of ideas exposes the differentiation
of ideals in our society today. The question I have now: who is right?
In a way, all the authors are.
Noam Chomsky in his Requiem for the American Dream argues that the class mobility that the
American Dream once was made up of has collapsed. The idea that “You’re born
poor, you work hard, you get rich” is now unattainable (Chomsky, xi). We live
in a world where it is no longer possible for everyone to get a decent job, buy
a home, get a car, or have their children go to school. To this extent, I agree.
America is not the place it was in 1776. It has proven to be more difficult to come
to this country as an immigrant, to rise from poverty, or to pave a way for generations
below you. It is not impossible; however, it is not as common as it was in
previous decades due to the economy.
Nevertheless, it has been done before.
This is something that keeps the American Dream alive.
The knowledge that our ancestors have risen from the Great Depression, overcome
hardships, and struggled for us to be here today is what fuels the American
Dream. We all dream of the future. We all think of something we want to accomplish,
whether it be a homework assignment tomorrow or graduating in 4 years. This hope
for the future drives the American Dream. The knowledge that those who came before
us have successfully paved way for us to be here today strives us to work hard
for generations to come.
Chomsky reveals valid arguments in the first principle
of his book. Power solely in the hands of the wealthy, inequality, and the
fight against democracy certainly have twisted the American Dream, however they
have not destroyed it. These bumps in American history have allowed the dream
to persist. Yes, James Madison believed that the power should rest in the hands
of the wealthy. Yes, they tried it out. No, it did not work. Yes, inequality
persisted in 1776 and remains today. Yet, actions have been taken since then to
diminish inequality, and continue to happen every day. Yes, democracy was not a
popular government choice at first. Look at us now. Although Americans and
their ideals have changed throughout time, the American Dream persists because
it provides a sense of hope.
Chomsky is right; the American Dream in its original
form is dead. However, the American Dream itself is not dead. Hanson and White
argue that the dream remains “intertwined with deeply held American values,
especially freedom and equality of opportunity” (8). This sense of hope that
one day the nation will be rid of all inequalities, restrictions, and wars drives
the dream. It is what drove our ancestors to crawl out of poverty and into
success. It is what drives us to go to college. The dream is not dead, rather it
has changed with the world, transforming into something different for each
generation, yet still sticking to the ideals that Hanson and White discussed. If
the dream were dead, we would not be here today, attending SDSU and receiving a
college education to further our knowledge and careers in the future. If the
dream were dead, we would not have the hope to one day graduate and find a “grown-up”
job. We all hope to one day become someone, and as long as this hope remains,
the American Dream is not dead.
Brittany
Flaherty
I think this a very optimistic way of viewing this subject. Inequality is still all too real today, and in the text, it shows that this is what Madison wanted. By ensuring the rich and privileged have the most power, he created a permanent boundary between the upper class and average citizen in our country. While America has made steps to reduce inequality, the economic divide is likely something that will never be resolved.
ReplyDeleteAbraham Cruz
Yes I agree with you ad Abraham! You have such an optimistic mind-set of it. I when you said "the American Dream in it's original form is dead." That is super important! The you continued with some light on the subject. Your ending was also great with your personal experience.
ReplyDeleteI like how you took both Hanson and White's argument and Chomsky's and created your own view of the American Dream. I agree with you that in the past, it was much easier for immigrants in America to rise to riches, however I know it is not impossible for someone to rise from rags-to riches today, but it is extremely difficult and not so much of a reality. There is a redefined American Dream today, one that has shifted from buying a house, owning a car, and starting a family, to going to college, getting and education, then finding a job and paying off those student loans. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the book.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you on how the American Dream is not dead. No matter what happens in America, the dream is still going to carry on because dreams are hope. I believe everyone has hope in something to accomplish or to strive for because without hope nothing would be here. How you compared and contrasted both Hanson and White to Chromsky was a great way to see how each author views the American Dream!
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you stated "the American Dream in its original form is dead. However, the American Dream itself is not dead" . I also liked that you viewed this subject in a very optimistic way. It really shows that you have your own American Dream that you want to accomplish by reading your last paragraph.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with a lot of what you view about Chomsky and the American Dream. Rather than the American Dream dying out, I think that it has really just evolved into what it is now. Even though it is true that there is a lot of inequality between the wealthy and the average American, the dream still lives on for many people. Just in different ways.
ReplyDeleteThis was a nice balance to Chomsky, Brittany. I like the way you synthesized the claims of White and Hanson with the claims of Chomsky. The American Dream endures because we believe it, at least to some extent and because it is true sometimes; it is part of the mythology of America, and as long as we believe it, it will endure. As for whether or not it is universally true, that's a whole other thing, but if the Dream is ever evolving, as White and Hanson claims, maybe the newly revised Dream is truer than the Dream Chomsky references and that will be enough for us.
ReplyDelete