Does
the American dream consists only
of
getting a house? Not at all
D
|
uring the fifties, as
the Eisenhower years were unfolding, getting a home was the hallmark of a
family being built as well as the society. More than a sign of success and
individual accomplishments, for a family-man to end up in his own house has
been regarded as a proof of hard work and so he was looked upon with respect.
The nuclear American family, with children gathering for dinner and holding the
ritual summer's end garage sale, seemed to be the bright side of an America
showing the world that there was for sure something good in its enduring
dream.
A long time later, to
this business-oriented society, particularly in the early seventies, other
values started to count in the US society; among them more and
increasingly was education, a taste for public service and for what America is
supposed to embody to the overseas world. Without doubt, entrepreneurship and
an obvious sense of risk in business or somewhere else continued to matter.
But, as immigrants from anywhere were rushing to America, the need to redefine
the American dream made the US in the 20th century a special country and
this 20th century became the epitome of the American one.
The dream became then the size of a legend
when immigrants started to get a piece of the big apple. NY, NY the Frank
Sinatra song had even contributed that way. Happening especially to people
starting from scratch, success held some magic. Crossing the Rio Grande,
Mexican immigrants bought cars after less than two years of cutting lawns
at Jamaica Estates, NY. Blessed by selling coats and woolen caps in Downtown
Manhattan, a Philippine resident brought his family over here. Truly, America
was more than the country of opportunities; it was as well the country that
rewards patience and continuing perseverance.
Today, this magic dream has now longtime been
reduced in money, house and family, and tends more and more to switch to other
symbols as the middle class jobs have seemingly disintegrated. Money is no
longer the only barometer of success in the American society. The fact that
youths and adults spend a good deal of time in libraries and schools make
education the new fuel of the social body. Americans want more than a house.
It’s another way to affirm that the American dream is enlarging,
We can
understand why with its desire to learn and improve, America strives also for
innovation and creativity. That is also the best part of the American dream
Queens, Jamaica , November 15, 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment