Defining the American Dream

Defining the American Dream

In today's society, determining the characterization of the ideals that the American Dream is constructed on can be challenging. Not everyone knows exactly what these ideals are. Barack Obama, "Election Night Remarks," talks about the ideals that America is based upon and coming together as a nation to overcome the obstacles set before the nation. Even though America has come a long way in what has been expressed as acceptable of minorities, the perception of the American Dream is still clouded and unfair at times. Stud Terkel, "Stephen Cruz," talks about the inequality and discrimination the American Dream has on minorities. An individual dreams and envisions their definitions of success and what it means to them. Gary Colombo, "Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths," talks about the power of the cultural myth of success and how it defines who an individual becomes. With the ideals the American Dream based upon and the effects on minorities, America needs to allow individuals to determine their own definition of the American Dream.

Many years ago the ideals of the American Dream were distinguished and set into place by America's fore fathers. Although these ideals may not have always been clear or understandable, they have stood the test of time and have become the very foundation that this country is based upon. When President Obama made his first public address as president-elect, he commented on the ideals of the American Dream and how it was created. Obama stated, "the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope. For that is the true genius of America" (Obama 681). It is claimed that if a person worked hard, took every opportunity that was earned and/or handed to them, and hoped that they could make it that one day they too would be living the American Dream. People are supposed to take opportunities that will advance them toward their goals of living this American Dream. If a person is presented with a promotion or a better paying job they are more likely to take it so they have that chance of living the dream. In an interview with Studs Terkel, Stephen Cruz speaks about several opportunities that he was able to receive while working toward achieving the American Dream. Cruz comments, "After about two years, they told me I was one of the best supervisors they ever had and they were going to promote me" (Terkel 367). The idea of working hard to achieve the dream has been instilled in individuals at an early age. Parents tell their children that if they are hard workers they can be anything that they want to be and can accomplish great things in life so they often vision this dream as they grow up and try to achieve it later in life.

Immigrants and minorities have a difficult time understanding the true definition of the American Dream and the ideals it was founded upon. Their definition is based on freedom, equality, and opportunity. Most of the countries that immigrants come from do not have the same opportunities that are offered here in America. Therefore, they come to this country to pursue a new life and this dream that America has to offer. Little do they know, however, that this dream for them often comes with a price. A price of discrimination and inequality rather than the democracy and liberty that America was established upon. Often employers hire immigrants and minority workers because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 making it illegal to discriminate against them. However, even with this law in place, employers still discover ways of discriminating against these types of workers. In the business field, for example, minorities are often employed and given advancement opportunities, not because of their abilities, but because of their minority status. They are receiving these opportunities based upon them being a minority while the employer receives compensation and benefits for hiring them. Although Stephen Cruz received several opportunities during his time working in the business field, he realizes that he wasn't earning these promotions based upon his knowledge, but it was based upon his minority status. Cruz remarks, "If we could show these turkeys there's money to be made in hiring minorities, these businessmen - good managers, good decision makers - would respond," (Terkel 368). President Barack Obama is also among the minorities with his ethnicity being African American. During his speech as president-elect, Obama admits his feelings of being a minority and running for office. Obama comments, "I was never the likeliest candidate for this office" (Obama 679). Many people believe that he became president, not because of his qualifications, but strictly because of his ethnicity. It is hard to determine if President Obama actually got the job based on his minority or because of his qualifications. The government and corporate America gives themselves too much power in the aspect of allowing themselves to determine the fairness and the amounts of success that minorities are should and/or allowed to have. Several years