Is The American Dream Dead? - Paper Example

Introduction

In his defense of American greatness against the popular notion on immigrant's impacts, Limbaugh Rush declared that American importance is due to its great constitution and declaration of independence by all Americans. He insisted that America's success has something to do with more than just diversity (Holleman, 234) Over the many years, united states have stayed ahead of everybody regarding development. This is credited by her unrivalled economic, social and political advancements. The American standards were higher than those of Europe or any other developed nation at that time. These achievements were deeply entrenched in the belief in the American dream. The concept of the American dream stated that life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone with the opportunity for each according to one's ability and achievements. The concept was built on the belief that irrespective of one's social and economic class, gender, race, corporate hegemony and media control, one has equal and unlimited access to good quality education, healthcare and other potential upward mobility. With the many challenges, however, the American greatness theory was soon challenged by individuals like James Truslow Adams. He openly opposed the American greatness belief, publicly referring to it as a myth. By this, he meant that the American greatness dream is far from reality and thus unachievable. James supported his argument on open disparities that existed in the American nation over the years despite the existence of the widespread belief (Tim et al.., 199)

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Why the American Dream Is a Myth

The existence of class in America depicts the inequalities and inadequacies in the American dream. The dream advocated for economic, social and political equality, unlike the situation that exists. Americans are significantly differentiated in terms of wealth. From the times of Vanderbilt and Rockefeller, America was known to be one of the unequal societies. Interestingly enough, America fights this economic disparity to date. From a source, 'Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work.' The existence of wealthy and impoverished neighborhoods confirms the worst of this. The vast difference in lifestyle narrates the difference. Jean Anyon reports that pupils born in less fortunate societies like Latin America are brought up different; attend different schools, entitled to lowest health care benefits in the nation. Going by the example of schools, students attend schools depending on the social classes of their parents. This is predicted by their employment status, kind of training and skill, power and position among other things. This gives us a number of categories of schools namely working-class schools, common schools, affluent professional schools and elite executive schools. The lives of pupils are literally dictated by where they were born, therefore. This is precisely the opposite of what the American dream advocated for. There existed very few dollar millionaires who literally run the American economy. The rest languished in ardent poverty. Thanks to the industrial revolution which profoundly contributed to the job creation, transforming the nation in the process.

American dream must be dead since it does not give answers to the many questions about racism that exists in America (Pallock, 129). In the book named 'Still Separate, Still Unequal,' Jonathan Kozol, introduces us to residential racism set up (page 578). The American dream was founded on a completely free nation. They believed in a country that is inclusive to all, respects all, embraces and protected all. With the many cases of racial discrimination and segregation, this was not going to be easy. In the article still not together, yet unequal, the story of Martin Luther King High School of New York is an excellent manifestation of intense racism. The school which was intentionally built to promote racial integration in a relatively multiracial area failed. The school built in a white-dominated neighborhood was to make the white children go to school walking, being that they resided closer to the school on the hill. Children of black, Indian and Asian decency were allowed to make it to school either riding or by train. The white neighborhood parents noted this and became very reluctant to admit their kids to the school. This delayed the integration process. Many therefore so no life in the famous American dreams it could not respect the basis of human nature. To date, America still faces the challenge of white supremacists and black extremists. Not so long ago, a case of a white supremacist was witnessed when a young man drove into a group of black demonstrators. He killed and injured many in the process. Such event confirms the worst of the American dream. These are people who firmly believe in the superiority of their races, leaving nothing undone to protect this.

The advancements in gender developments, however, qualify the American dream. As far as gender equality is concerned, it's right to say that the American dream lives. America represents a liberal society, more conscious of gender differences. It provides equal opportunities for people of all gender. This is unlike many years before when women were treated as subordinate to men. Until recently, many Muslim countries like Iraq prohibits women from doing duties and jobs perceived as men's preserves like driving. In the US, there are no limits for women. They have equal rights; perform all tasks as protected by the US constitution. As far as gender is concerned, the American dream lives.

Corporate hegemony in the United States remains a threat to the nationhood and thus American dream (Smith, 114). Many of the largest US companies are owned by a few individuals who are dominative further exemplifying the failure of the American dream. The group of a few wealthy families and individuals are seen to intend to control virtually everything in the country. This ranges from commerce to politics. This results in mistrust and suspicion among the citizens. Even though regulations have been made on shareholders terms of private companies as well, the impact of the few individuals has never been tamed. Even though it has little effect on the nationhood, the suspicion that it creates does just enough damage to kill the American dream. Not so many people feel part of the national growth and development.

Growing racial inclusivity mostly increases the hope of a life of the American dream As much as racism is still a factor, a lot of racial inclusivity has been witnessed, gradually transforming the nation. The recent developments in more than a decade show the first African American president for instance. Elsewhere, black Americans and other minority races have continued to take more senior positions as government jobs, elective positions and even corporate leadership. Such was the true definition of the American dream of nationhood.

The world has felt the impact of the media about the effects of growing technology (Bowles, 28). The US is not left out either. In the American dream context, the press has earned praises and rebuke in equal measures. To some extent, the media has fronted in the war of achieving equality through economic liberation and inclusivity. This is basically the American dream. The Americans through the media have championed so hard to be heard and get involved. This is what they call media control. With its power of information conveyance and dissemination, it will be wrong to underrate it. It has exposed the inequalities in the American economy, raising debates on number thorny issues. Some of these efforts have resulted in justice being done following unlawful wealth creation. Information about how the country is operated gives adequate information on whether the American dream is achieved or not.

On the negative side, the media has been accused of making very negative comments about poverty for example. The public is keen on what the press says about value, a way of life and even ideas. In the book Working Class, the author refers to the past plays and jokes. Here, the media gives a bad picture to those who toil in the production of goods while at the same time heaping praises to those who use the goods (Choire, 142). This changes the societal view on creation. Sometimes, they follow and expose the lavish life lead by the rich. The poor naturally feels out of place and existence. The less fortunate are slammed for their many problems. Media goes ahead to seek public help for them. Many poor people are portrayed as not being able to meet their luck yet. These do not work well with the American dream. The same media glorifies wealth and riches and rebukes poverty from their influential adverts. These cause further disparities and hence a failed American dream.

The inability of the media to make decisive moves in achieving American greatness. This is seen when the press fails to expose the dangerous working conditions of American workers, low remuneration and negligible benefits (Bowles, 10). The press is accused of making a false image of the American worker. This is contrary to their expected role. Making an American dream come exact needs the effort of everyone and all stakeholders making positive impacts.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the American dream is a spirit that helped to transform the American nation. It is within its confines that visionary and committed men joined hands and worked hard for the country. This spirit is however built in compact nationhood irrespective of race, gender, class or any factor that may tear the country apart. Without these then American dream is reduced into a mere myth.

Works Cited

Bourdieu and J. Passeron, Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture (Beverly Hills, Calif.: Sage, 1977); M.W. Apple, Ideology and Curriculum (Boston: Routledge Kegan Paul, 1979). [Author's note]

Evolution, ed. Harry Bin and Tim Delaney, 199-215 (Auburn, N.Y.: Legend, 2002)

Holleman, Hannah. "De-naturalizing ecological disaster: colonialism, racism and the global Dust Bowl of the 1930s." The Journal of Peasant Studies 44.1 (2017): 234-260.

Pollock, Benjamin D., et al. "Cardiovascular risk and the American dream: life course observations from the BHS (Bogalusa Heart Study)." Journal of the American Heart Association 7.3 (2018): e007693.

S. Bowles and H. Gintes, Schooling in Capitalist America: Educational Reform and the Contradictions of Economic Life (New York: Basic Books, 1976). [Author's note] 2. B. Bernstein, Class, Codes and Control, Vol. 3. Towards a Theory of Educational Transmission, 2d ed. (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1977); P.

Smith and Franklin, "The Concentration of Personal Wealth." [Author's note]

Tim Delaney and Allene Wilcox, "Sports and the Role of the Media," in Values,). Society and

Choire Sicha, "They'll Always Have Paris," New York Times, June 13, 2004. AR31 [emphasis added]