. How would you describe the “American Dream?”
2. What is your definition of wealth?
3. What are Americans’ attitudes toward wealth and poverty?
4. What is your attitude toward wealth and poverty?
(I am typing on a European keyboard so excuse me if I spell any words wrong.)
"The American Dream" is something that I think everyone still looks forward to. My father came to America in search of this American Dream when he was 18, and I truly believe that he found it. I describe the American Dream as being free and equal, but that's just me. I think that everyone in the world wants wealth, so that isn't just limited to America. I think wealth, however, has a billion meanings in itself. It can mean you are surrounded by love and by loved ones, or it can mean that you have a lot of money.
I think that question #3 is an interesting question that can be answered to show a lot about our country. If one is wealthy, they are supposedly living the best life. The wealthy tend to despise the poor, it's plain and simple. The poor also tend to hate the rich based off of jealousy, which is understandable. Everyone in America, in my opinion, just wants to be wealthy. For some, they don't even necessarily want to be wealthy, they just don't want to be poor.
I think that people come to America thinking that they are going to instantly have that amazing American Dream lifestyle, when in reality, it doesn't happen for most people, or it ends up being something extremely different than what they thought it was going to be like. (Sorry to kill the happy vibe Mrs. G, I'm just giving the best possible answer.) I believe that the American dream comes at different times for everyone, and that it is based off of how bad some people want it vs. how many opportunities someone has. My dad didn't have a bad life, he just wanted to live the American dream, and I think that he has succeeded in doing so. As for the rest of the people in the world, some aren't so lucky.
The moral of the story is, be thankful for what you have, but don't be limited by it.
I really liked how you incorporated a personal connection to this post, speaking of how your dad actually came to the Unitd States to pursue the "American Dream". Why this stuck out to me is probably because my dad actually did the same exact thing. Though it might not have been his decision to come here (as he was roughly 8 when he moved from Greece), his parents probably had the same motives as your dad. America seemed like the ideal place to forward the development of families and occupational paths at that time, which is the centralized idea around what the "American Dream" is. I think both of us being able to relate personally to this concept truly gives us a better understanding of the perspectives involved.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Bella! (: I was excited to read this because I knew you'd add a little familial perspective to it. I like how you brought up the fact that wealth has many different definitions. Soon after that comment, you mentioned that you think everyone in America just wants to be wealthy. In what way do Americans wish to be wealthy? Or is it different for everyone? Do you think certain types of wealth (monetary, relationships, experience, etc.) are of greater value than others? I hope you're enjoying your time in France! We miss you!!
ReplyDeleteBella, first off, i love your moral of the story at the end! My dad came to America from Bulgaria to continue his education. I've never really asked him what he had thought about the American Dream at the time. I like what you said about people not necessarily wanting to be rich, but definitely wanting to not be poor, I think this is very true! I also agree with your point that the dream doesn't work out as planned for many people. PS I HOPE FRANCE IS/WAS AWESOME I MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY!!!
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