The American Dream

In the present world of worries, an once common phrase is rarely heard now. Truly, the "American Dream" is rarely uttered nowadays. With the economy still recovering and the United States backing a country nearly at war with its northern neighbor, the American Dream has supposedly become out of reach now. But what truly is the American Dream, was it ever a possible reality, and will it ever be one?

First, to understand the "disappearance of the American Dream", one must first figure out what exactly the American Dream is. Once said, many adults usually are reminded of the dream of owning a house. This idea may have came from an old American custom that separates the lower and middle classes by the ownership of property. However much a symbol for achieving the American Dream, this is not what the American Dream first and should mean. This phrase was first expressed by James Truslow Adams in 1931, when he stated that life should be "better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement, regardless of social class". As James Truslow Adams coined the term "American Dream", the original idea was one of the fundamental pillars that America was built on. The Declaration of Independence stated very clearly that "all men are created equal", and as later generations would find out, Lady Liberty would open its arms to all the other countries' poor and troubled, and embrace them and offer them all the opportunity she offers to everybody else. Truly, everybody who comes to this country is entitled to their unalienable rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". That is what the American Dream really is.

During the Great Depression of the early part of the twentieth century, the American Dream was regarded as all but lost as well. But through strong leadership and faith of the people, the Americans pulled out of the Depression stronger than ever, leading to a time of peace and glory that would ultimately put them on top of the globe as the world's most powerful nation. The American Dream isn't just a tangible object that can be possessed. It is a spirit and belief, of patriotism and hope, that carries Americans through their life. It is that hope that maybe, just maybe, we can. It's the same hope that made all those British-American colonists join what looked like a hopeless cause three hundred years ago, and the same hope that makes citizens give up the comforts of their home for the hardships of life as a soldier overseas. It's the same hope that George Washington held in his heart that he can do it, and the same hope that Barack Obama holds in his heart, that truly, "Yes, we can." The American Dream is very much alive today as it was three hundred years ago. The utterance of the word is not as common, but still, inside the heart of every citizen and politician, from the richest to the poorest, the sun that has kept America going for three hundred years is a rising sun, not a setting sun.

Although it's hard to imagine, the American Dream is just as real now as it was five, ten or even fifteen years ago. The American Dream lives in the heart of those few who are brave enough to stare into the eyes of defeat and say, "We still can." The belief that one little step at a time, one vote and a time, we can change the world, is kept alive, fueling the fire inside each and every American's heart. Many doubt the President right now after seeing him in office for two years. His smoothness has worn off after being exposed to the harsh reality of political office. But the American Dream carries on; despite all obstacles or setbacks we might encounter, we still can. Even with the constant bickering of Republicans and Democrats, the unhappy citizens over many laws and policies, and a still uncertain economy, we will succeed.

Being the child of immigrants, I see the American Dream as clearly as anybody. It is the dream that inspired both my parents to move. It was the promise of a better life, not by their status or family wealth, but by nothing but their own skill and determination. It was in hopes that they could provide a better life for me that they moved, and I'm very grateful they did, because now, the dream is passed on to the next generation. A new generation will see the harshness of reality, but still look it right in the eye and not back down.

That is the true American Dream.