Different Definitions Of The American Dream example essay topic

~ The American Dream ~ What is the American Dream? We all have dreams of different kinds. To some people, the American Dream is having all that is available in this life to meet tour needs, wants, and desires. To others, it means having a great job, a wonderful family, and a secure future. And maybe to others the American Dream simply means having the opportunity to prove yourself. No matter what your definition of the American Dream is, we all try hard to achieve this one common goal.

In Crevecouer's, "What is an American" speech he defines America as a democracy where every man has a say in the government; "We have no princes, for whom we toil, starve, and bleed". It is clear, through his speech, that Crevecouer feels as if the American Dream has not changed. He stills views America as the land of equality and freedom. He sees America as the land where the rich, the poor, homosexuals, bisexuals, blacks, whites, and Hispanics all live in harmony.

But today, it is obvious to see that the "glimmer" of the utopian American society is not what it seems. Although liberty and justice for all is guaranteed by our constitution, I don't believe it exists equally for all segments of our population. What does it mean to live in a country with "Liberty and Justice for all?" Does it mean that everyone who is and American has the right to be what they want? Well by reading Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech", I have come to realize the way that people view things in today's society. I agree with Dr. King that a person's dream should not be busted into pieces because of who they are, more specifically, the color of their skin. It is a very clear picture in my mind that people like gay's, blacks, Jews, and women aren't given the same opportunities as the normal white Anglo-Saxon protestant in today's America.

After reading Langston Hughes' poem, "Let America Be America Again", I have come to the realization that the American Dream is seriously flawed. The American Dream states that all men should be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. It is obvious that America has defaulted on this promissory note. The presentation of the ideal of the American Dream is a mixture of contrast and confusion.

There are two sides to the Dream; one is the idealized version, which indicates that the Dream is about belief in immeasurable possibility, that there are no limits to what can be achieved. This allows people to be free from whatever limits life imposes on them. Another side is the materialistic element; which states that the American Dream is solely based on getting rich, the "rags to riches" ideal. Although many people have different definitions of the American Dream, all of the definitions revolve around the theme of liberty and justice for all.

There are times when justice works perfectly for "all" and other times that it lets the same people down. What can be liberating to one's soul can be devastating to their careers and relationships until people evolve to the point where they can truly accept "differences" without being judgmental. Until this occurs, we will never have "liberty and justice for all.".