Dictionary.com defines the American dream as “a life of personal happiness and material comfort as traditionally sought by individuals in the U.S.” It is a goal that every single person strives for. It is represented by the idea of happiness, comfort and indisputable success. It’s a big house, a fancy sports car, and a happy family living in a prim and proper suburban neighborhood. There isn’t a single person who doesn’t one day hope to have the opportunity to become another person on the path to obtaining the American dream. Or is there?
It is shocking for many people to hear that there are, in fact, people in the world who don’t aspire to become another person on a quest to fulfill the yearning of living the American dream. There are a variety of people, in fact, who don’t view Americans and American society very positively at all. Allison Weeks- Ewoldt states in her article concerning the American Dream, “Ironically, in addition to causing this plethora of maladies, it seems that the more we strive, acquire, and consume, the emptier and less fulfilled many of us feel inside. This spiritual and emotional 'lacking' is resulting in the consumption of anti-depressants and other mood-altering drugs by large numbers of us-including children. When those don't work, the result is often suicide. Our dream is killing us.” The American dream is not what we once thought and hoped it would be.
A recent advertising commercial scheme that Burger King initiated in Saudi Arabia demonstrates the changed view of Americans in foreign countries. It shows Americans as being extremely ignorant, especially in matters concerning the Middle East and their culture.
Part of the rationale behind the advertisement was to dissociate the negative feelings towards Americans and the American culture that would go along with Burger King being an American company. It is as if Burger King was trying to say, “We understand that you have a negative outlook on American culture, we recognize that and empathize with your feelings. Just because we are an American company doesn’t mean we are as ignorant as many of the citizens living here. We are on your side, so you should buy from us.”
So, while the view of America may be altered, for some people from what it once was, does this mean that the American dream is dead? I’d like to believe that this is not true. America is still the land of opportunity, for those willing to work hard enough to reach their potential. But, the idea of the American Dream is not as glorious as we might think it is viewed in the eyes of others.
Assumptions About the American Dream
Dictionary.com defines the American dream as “a life of personal happiness and material comfort as traditionally sought by individuals in the U.S.” It is a goal that every single person strives for. It is represented by the idea of happiness, comfort and indisputable success. It’s a big house, a fancy sports car, and a happy family living in a prim and proper suburban neighborhood. There isn’t a single person who doesn’t one day hope to have the opportunity to become another person on the path to obtaining the American dream. Or is there?
It is shocking for many people to hear that there are, in fact, people in the world who don’t aspire to become another person on a quest to fulfill the yearning of living the American dream. There are a variety of people, in fact, who don’t view Americans and American society very positively at all. Allison Weeks- Ewoldt states in her article concerning the American Dream, “Ironically, in addition to causing this plethora of maladies, it seems that the more we strive, acquire, and consume, the emptier and less fulfilled many of us feel inside. This spiritual and emotional 'lacking' is resulting in the consumption of anti-depressants and other mood-altering drugs by large numbers of us-including children. When those don't work, the result is often suicide. Our dream is killing us.” The American dream is not what we once thought and hoped it would be.
A recent advertising commercial scheme that Burger King initiated in Saudi Arabia demonstrates the changed view of Americans in foreign countries. It shows Americans as being extremely ignorant, especially in matters concerning the Middle East and their culture.
Part of the rationale behind the advertisement was to dissociate the negative feelings towards Americans and the American culture that would go along with Burger King being an American company. It is as if Burger King was trying to say, “We understand that you have a negative outlook on American culture, we recognize that and empathize with your feelings. Just because we are an American company doesn’t mean we are as ignorant as many of the citizens living here. We are on your side, so you should buy from us.”
So, while the view of America may be altered, for some people from what it once was, does this mean that the American dream is dead? I’d like to believe that this is not true. America is still the land of opportunity, for those willing to work hard enough to reach their potential. But, the idea of the American Dream is not as glorious as we might think it is viewed in the eyes of others.