The american dream

[Harnu 0]

Today in english class we recieved our first essay topic of the year.  Three to five pages about "The American Dream".  Those we're our only instructions.

 So, I want to ask you all, Americans and non-American.  To you, what is the American dream?  What do you think it is?  What are your views on it?  Basically, what do you think?

 Often to Americans, it's a big house, good family and cars, lots of money, a dog in the front yard kept in by a white picket fence.

 Do you think it's that squeaky clean?  Or perhaps you think it's a bit more controversial?  Such as, "Hell, take what you can while you can.  I work, I earned it!"

 So please, what is "The American Dream", to you?

[EiZei 0]

How did it go?

"The american dream is the other countries nightmare"

[ralphwiggum 6]

Today in english class we recieved our first essay topic of the year.  Three to five pages about "The American Dream".  Those we're our only instructions.

use Helvetica or Courier font, whichever gives you wider space, double spacing, one sided. Add cover sheet for professional look.

Quote[/b] ] So, I want to ask you all, Americans and non-American. To you, what is the American dream? What do you think it is? What are your views on it? Basically, what do you think?

Often to Americans, it's a big house, good family and cars, lots of money, a dog in the front yard kept in by a white picket fence.

pretty much same for every nation IMO.

i'll reply later..gotta do some choores.

[Tovarish 0]

So please, what is "The American Dream", to you?

No, seriously, I would imagine this cliche'd phrase "The American Dream" would refer to:

"Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness"

[denoir 0]

How did it go?

"The american dream is the other countries nightmare"

Hehe haah gwahaha   ROFL Ok, that was a very good one  

Ok, but seriously. I think that "the American dream" by general definition means starting from nothing and through hard work become rich and marry a Hollywood star.

[bn880 5]

I don't have any American dream anymore I guess, or it means nothing to me. After the 11th of September I realized what's not worth an American dream.

I think it means to strike it rich through some opportunity you would only have in America. It is definately about money.

[Harnu 0]

I expected a more controversial statement coming from you denior.  

[denoir 0]

I expected a more controversial statement coming from you denior.  

That's because I'm saying what the official definition of "American Dream" is, not what I think of it.

[Tovarish 0]

I expected a more controversial statement coming from you denior.  

That's because I'm saying what the official definition of "American Dream" is, not what I think of it.  

Yeah, I should clarify that myself

[Harnu 0]

Quote[/b] ]That's because I'm saying what the official definition of "American Dream" is, not what I think of it.  

The purpose of this thread is so I can hear all your ideas and opinions on it.  So please do share.  If it's too much to post here (a.k.a. it might get you pr'd a bit) PM it to me, please.  

[ran 0]

for me , american dream is just a vague synonym for opportunism and selfishness , that's all , no more , no less

-edit-

to clarify : in my opinion the original notion of american dream has been abused , the american dream , once upon a time , wasn't only about a way of life with material possessions , it was much more than that , a new horison , a new life , a new culture , but now .... the american dream is just an excuse to some severe deviances

[bn880 5]

Oh then I should have said, buy 2 SUV's a HUMMER and a Corvette and have a big wooden house with 4 PC's and 70 INCH TV, pay under a dollar for 4L of fuel, buy lots of guns, tell fellow ppl to jump if they are suicidal and all that nice stuff. Almost forgot, be part of the most freeiest and bestest society in the world if you agree with it that is.

AMEEEEERICAAA

[Tovarish 0]

The purpose of this thread is so I can hear all your ideas and opinions on it.  So please do share.  If it's too much to post here (a.k.a. it's might get you pr'd a bit) PM it to me, please.  

Allrighty then, I think the idea we are fed that we can all live "The American dream" (which these days really is about having the most cash, the prettiest girl(s?) the hottest car, ect) is as realistic as the communist ideal of a "Worker's Paradise", and to be honest, in essense a lot less noble, since it requires you to think of yourself before others, but then again, it is better suited to human nature. The good thing about "The American Dream" is it encourages Ambition, which we need for progress to take place, but it can erode compassion, selflessness, ect. Basically, The American dream can be a good goal, just don't let it encompass your life completely, and always keep in mind that it can become the American Nightmare.

[denoir 0]

Quote[/b] ]That's because I'm saying what the official definition of "American Dream" is, not what I think of it.  

The purpose of this thread is so I can hear all your ideas and opinions on it.  So please do share.  If it's too much to post here (a.k.a. it might get you pr'd a bit) PM it to me, please.  

Ok then:

Positive part:

[*] The possibility for an individual to through skill and dedication make a good living.

[*]The free competition that encourages work and talent.

[*]A contribution to the society through the use of the best of its parts.

Negative part:

[*]Opportunistic selfish greed.

[*]Complete disregard for both the people and resources (such as the enviroment) that you have to abuse to be successful.

[*]You waste your life on trying to accomplish some materialistic goal while you don't have time to actually enjoy life (What's good about a Ferrari if you have to work 16 hours a day).

[*]And finally: It's a complete fraud as people do not start with equal dispositions in life. Some can become president with minimal effort while others work their asses off for nothing.

[BraTTy 0]

And not only that, you don't really own anything. Where did the government get the land or the person that sold it to you "own" the land? If you die with no relatives the government will get the land back.

Also if they wanted a new telephone pole or sidewalk they can come thru and put one there.

My american dream is to own a house and garage again, been there once ,x wife sold it and profited off it at my loss.

If I was a woman my american dream would prolly be that, marry some guy and take his stuff,lol

[Milkman 1]

By any chance, would the miniscule amount of americans on this board say what they think of the american dream, not the usual haters of it.

[brgnorway 0]

I think Denoir's post answered the question perfectly.

However, the american dream has also been adopted by norwegians in general.

[Tovarish 0]

By any chance, would the miniscule amount of americans on this board say what they think of the american dream, not the usual haters of it.  

hey, he asked, and I answered, no doubt you just wanted to hear about the US being the land of milk and honey. Tough. Did you see me lambasting it? in your eyes maybe, but i didn't. All I said was to take it into moderation and not make "living the high life" your mantra for life.

[bn880 5]

[*]You waste your life on trying to accomplish some materialistic goal while you don't have time to actually enjoy life (What's good about a Ferrari if you have to work 16 hours a day).

Funny that you say that, that's been something I've been talking about lately with ppl around here, but especially my parents. As I'm thinking of my own future, and a lot of ppl I know are "starting" their lives, it seems that it might be ok to work your butt off for the first year or two, but if you keep working non stop then waht are you working for. If you can't enjoy your money then why not take less and enjoy that instead. After all money is suppost to represent your work saved on paper. So why do so many of us work so much more than we need to.

Then there is the problem of jobs these days where you have to work too many hours just to get by... so you are basically back to the old ages of constant struggle to survive, no better than living in the jungle I guess.

(now I'm going to enjoy what I have ;p , no not playing with myself)

[Harnu 0]

By any chance, would the miniscule amount of americans on this board say what they think of the american dream, not the usual haters of it.  

I had started the thread for the purpose of hearing the other side. We all know that most Americans definition of the American dream is all happy and cheery and squeaky clean. But if you want to hear my dream...

Spending a few years in the most honorable branch of the US military. (Marines in lamens terms ) Then starting a small business and working until retirement. Where I'd like to retire on large open land, near some woods with a stream or river going through it.

Chances are that wont happen. And I will have to make choices that may hurt other people if I want to accomplish that dream. But thinking on the same principal, that other person is just competing against me to achive his or her goal. And it comes down to the principal of "It's either you or him". For the most part I can say that a lot of people I know would choose themselves.

[brgnorway 0]

By any chance, would the miniscule amount of americans on this board say what they think of the american dream, not the usual haters of it.  

I had started the thread for the purpose of hearing the other side.  We all know that most Americans definition of the American dream is all happy and cheery and squeaky clean.  But if you want to hear my dream...

Spending a few years in the most honorable branch of the US military.  (Marines in lamens terms   )  Then starting a small business and working until retirement.  Where I'd like to retire on large open land, near some woods with a stream or river going through it.

Chances are that wont happen.  And I will have to make choices that may hurt other people if I want to accomplish that dream.  But thinking on the same principal, that other person is just competing against me to achive his or her goal.  And it comes down to the principal of "It's either you or him".  For the most part I can say that a lot of people I know would choose themselves.

I believe your question was a good one - and a very important one too!

Fact is that "the american dream" is not solely an american phenomenom. It is embedded in all our lives to a varying degree.

I firmly believe "the american dream" has been adopted nearly all over the western hemisphere - only to be slightly adjusted to the local environment.

[SpecOp9 0]

How did it go?

"The american dream is the other countries nightmare"

hehe..

Nightmares end.

But dreams can last forever

[ralphwiggum 6]

*rant starts

AFAIK, american dream is a notion that you leave the 'old' nation to better yourself and/or your family. this applies as 'getting what you need' for those who were born on this land.

In a sense, America is a young land. People come here from all parts of the world to make better living, or get a chance to. Even for native citizens, there are challenges and chances.

Pilgrims came here to avoid persecution, and others followed, with varying reasons. Irish came to restart their lives during potatoe famine, Italians for similar reason. They all came to better themselves.

In US, there were and is abundance of natural resources and other social resources that one can utilize and make something of themselves, and comparing to their old nation, status quo was rather insignificant.

However, over the years, the dream became more materialistic. as many already pointed it out, the idea now represents getting reach, buy a beautiful seaside mansion or a large house on a prairie, with expensive cars and find that significant others who look like a bimbo.

Materialistic nature of humans should not be condemned and it is something we all have. we need to feed ourselves and survive as much as we can. however trying to sacrifice non-materialistic part of human life to achieve the material. getting 100,000 bucks per year is nice, but if you have to work 12-14 hours a day, then you are a machine pursuing money, not a human.

Furthermore, there are so many pits in the dream. in the past, racism(slavery, different treatment for different nationales) was present, and now materialism. In addittion, social scenery is different too. There are people who do not take care of responsibilities they have, and rather be negligent. Many now place satisfaction for current period over working hard now to prepare for future. Most work ethics are now somewhat easily disregarded in favor of money or comfort.

America is and should be about dynamic social movement. status quo should be minimized and not solidified. The society has to reward those who work hard. I see more immigrants who come here following the spririt of the dream more often than the native citizens. There are greater numbers of 2nd generations getting degrees beyond what an average American would strive for. It may be materialistic reason, but i see some native citizens trying to build castle around and conform to status quo.

Here's a funny line from the movie 'The Guru'

"Do you know why it's called 'American Dream'? Cause it only happens when you are asleep."

This should not be the case. Instead this nation has to reward those who put out their best effort and award accordingly.

P.S. Man, I must be drunk.....

P.P.S : fromt he simpson's

Quote[/b] ]Apu: Manjula, to be honest I'm not looking forward to this marriage.

Majula: Me too.

Apu: Do you think this can work out?

Majula: Who knows? If it doesn't work out, we can always get divorced.

Apu: Yes! God Bless America!

[Assault (CAN) 1]

What Ralph said, and what Denoir said (except the quasi-commie part    ) If you happen to be the offspring of lazy, poor, and/or stupid parents, there's not alot you can do. It's not fair, but neither is life. You have to play the cards you were dealt and we can't all have the same hand.

My version of that dream?

[*] A job I enjoy, I would love to be a pilot.

[*] A wife and a kid or two, possibly a pet.

[*] A quaint little house in the middle of nowhere.

Not asking for much, am I?

[Renagade 0]

The american dream in a  few  worse - to have it all and i`d mopve there right now if i could( plus some start up cash  )

ps, i don`t like shift  cops with guns though