What Is the American Dream?

What is the American Dream?

Since the start of the twentieth century America has attracted people all over the world to relocate and start a new life. For many coming to America was a chance for a better life and new things. They all had something in common, they all had a dream, that dream was the “American Dream”. In the present day the desire to achieve the dream hasn’t changed. However, the idea of the American Dream, brings up a lot of questions. What is the American Dream? Who defines it? Can it be achieved? Lastly, should everyone have a chance to achieve it?

What is the American Dream? When this question was asked on the first day of class, there were many different answers as to what makes up the American Dream. Some people said having a good job, having a nice home, and making good money. While others said living in a country where one has political freedom, we have equal rights, and there is safety for children. Educational opportunities, such as going to college as came up in the discussion. However, the components of the dream, can be different for each person, especially for those who are migrating to this country. One example was found, in an article that appeared in the newspaper USA Today, titled “Immigrants Want Land of Opportunity”. In this article different people give their versions and opinions of the American Dream. Jesse Valdez tells the story of how her mother came into this country from Mexico, in hopes of finding a better life. However the better life was not for her it was for her children. She gave up ever

ything she knew back at home in order to secure that her daughters could live the American Dream. Many immigrants do not come to this country in order for themselves to reach the American Dream, many of the sacrifice their lives for the children to grow up in a place filled with better opportunities.

‘America is a land of immigrants’ stated Patrick J. Walsh, who was quoted in the San Gabrial Valley Tribune, in the article “Dreams Fulfilled for new Citizens”. This article describes another form of the American Dream, becoming a citizen of this country. Many people who come into this country with temporary visas, have to go through a few steps before the can say “I am an American”. Once they can say that they feel are living the dream. To them being a called an American can open up the doors of opportunities for future generations in their families. In the article one woman was quoted saying ‘It’s a great honor to be part of a nation. There’s not another one like this in the world’. This women is not the only one who feels that way. In the USA Today article, “Immigrants Want Land of Opportunity, one man speaks out about his struggles to finally say that he is an American. Markus Decker came to this country for an internship, which turned into a permanent position. He is

here on a work visa, and has been awaiting approval on his green card for over two years. Decker has a wife and two children, and they are working hard and love what they do. Decker says that “I speak the language like a native, and I hold a master’s degree from a local university. I love the American culture and the way of life”. Decker is living the standard dream, he has a good job, with a solid educational background, and his children will get to grow up in this country. He feels that the only thing missing to say he is living the dream, is to be a recognized as a citizen of the US.

Since there are many versions of the American Dream, it is almost safe to say that anyone who sets out to achieve their piece of the dream defines it. The American Dream cannot be define by one group of people. This country is said to be the “melting pot” of the world and is filled with generations of the families from different part of the world. Each family has a unique story of how they set out to reach the American Dream and what the dream is composed of. Asking who defines the American Dream is a difficult question, because not one person has the same dream and goals.

Achieving the dream is a hard task in itself. Many people come this country with the notion that there are opportunities for everyone. Many people leave their families and work in jobs making minimum wage. Despite the struggle many immigrants are still firm believers of the American Dream. In the Thomas Gale article “Immigrants and the American Dream” they focus on a Gallup poll the was conducted for USA Today and CNN. The immigrants polled were from Europe, Latin America, and Asia. They were asked several questions, through the answers they have stated reasons why they chose the US. The biggest was better job and business opportunity, their family was already-living here, some say they are here primarily for school. The poll showed that many people realized that the American Dream is out of reach for them when they come