American Society: Ideal versus Real Essays

In the poem “Who Burns for the Perfection of Paper” by Martin Espada, He explains how at a young age, he started working in a paper factory. Then over the years, he furthered his education and worked very hard. And at the end of the poem, he is in law school using the paper pads that he used to make. This is a prime example of the American Dream because it shows how someone who started at the very bottom, worked his way up to the top to achieve everything that he wanted. Another example of this can be found in the historical Document, “The Declaration of Independence” which states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Pg. 59). This statement shows that the founders of America felt and believed that every single person is given the same opportunity to live a full and happy life. This is what our government and our country lives by, so although many will say that they are not treated equal, many would also argue that the foundation of our country is in fact made by opportunity, freedom, and

The word family has changed so much in the past century. A family back in the 1950’s was probably considered a husband, wife, and one or more children. Times have changed and families have become much different. The Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others book defines family as a, “Unit made up of any number of persons who live in relationship with one another over time in a common living space who are usually, but not always, united by marriage and kinship” (Beebe, Beebe & Redmond, 243). Families can be broken up into five different types. The first is the traditional family, which includes a mother, father, and their biological children. Next, is the blended family which includes

Families around the world consist of many variations. The traditional family includes a mother and father of the same racial background and their children. While this is the most acceptable type of family dynamic, today there are families that consist of countless different types of deviations. Many children grow up with one parent, gay parents, or with their grandparents. There are also families that consist of two parents that are of different races. Interracial families consist of relatives who are from diverse origins. Interracial families include families where the parents are of two different races or when the adopted children are of a different race than their parents.

When the phrase “American Dream” is uttered, it is typically associated with having money or striving to have money. The dream of much of the public is to have money and to be able to purchase anything they desire whenever they want. For some, this dream is not about money, but it is about having the opportunity to better his or herself and his or her loved ones. In either case, there are certain circumstances and obstacles that make this dream increasingly difficult to attain. Some would even be willing to argue, the American dream is unattainable. “American Dream” is defined as the concept of every citizen of the United States having an equal opportunity to achieve success and happiness through hard work, sacrifices, and risk-taking (Fontinelle);

Amid the copious countries on Earth there are not many as developed as America. The pledge to protect justice and freedom has made us a more open-minded and adaptable community. In our country all children can receive an education, everyone has a chance to afford health care, and no one can be denied rights because they are different. The freedom to be yourself and hold your own opinion are not only tolerated, but encouraged. Unlike many less fortunate people we can follow our own religion and strive for our own dreams. Of Course, other places are very successful and formidable, but only a selected few actually promote individuals rights in general. These many attributes contribute to why the American Dream is alive and more well than ever.

A post from July 4th stated; “Family can be very diverse and there is no general term to describe such. Each person takes their own hold onto this meaning and individually family can mean many different things from one person unto the next”. This notion is one which stems from the belief that families can be of mixed races and religions, be single parent families or foster parents taking in children for periods of time; society may hold notions of what is the typical or nuclear family yet, society does not need to adhere to this ideal and each has the right to form a relationship with any other

The "American Dream" is the ability to obtain goals that make an individuals life fuller and richer regardless of their social status at birth. A society must have a government that supports the fundamental principle of the right to "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." In the United States, it is the governments responsibility to embrace the core democratic values that are in the Declaration of Independence and in the United States Constitution. These documents protect the American belief that Americans have the right to life without fear of being injured or killed by others. The right to liberty, to be able to think, act and behave without government interference.

The American Dream can mean different things depending on who is asked. Some will answer it is the freedom of religion, class or race, others will claim it is about the ability to choose where they want to work, what they want to wear, or what’s for breakfast the next day.

Depending on their cultural background, many families will often have different understandings or ideas of what a family is and how it should be structured.

The American Dream is a countrywide beliefs of America, the collection of principles which are privileges, liberty, and equivalence also liberty consist of the chance for wealth. Person name, James Truslow Adams states, "Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" nonetheless of environments of birth. The word, declaration of independence is originated and rooted from American Dream, which claims that all the men from this earth are created and gain their right through physically and spiritually. Also all human has right or chance to pursuit their happiness by working

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This statement of declaration holds the founding ideas of the American Dream that “all men are created equal with certain rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. American culture has implanted the idea that we live in a land of opportunity where the American Dream is possible for all citizens. Millions of people from across the globe travel to the United States with the hopes of gaining a piece of the pie (The American Dream). This declaration sounds convincing and easily obtainable, but it is? In his article, “Master of Desire,” Jack Solomon states “The American dream has two faces: the one communally egalitarian and the other competitively elitist…Even as America’s great myth of equality celebrates the virtues of mom and apple pie, it also lures us to achieve social distinction, to rise above the crowd and bask alone in the glory”. Simply put, the American dream promotes the concept of “one for all and all for one” yet entices its citizens with the idea that to succeed it’s every man for themselves. Jack Solomon was right in his claim that the American dream incites competition, yet competition is necessary to achieve success.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness (Independence Hall Association, 2011).” This exert from The Declaration of Independence provides a look on America and how life is meant to be lived; with all individuals having an equal right to exist. This existence includes life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This beacons to one vital idea, one main vision, which creates a fundamental dream. This dream is the American Dream, and is the ideology that life should be richer, fuller, and more sustainable for the common man. The idea influences viewpoints that anything can be

The American dream is based off a promise of freedom and all men being treated equal. Freedom of religion and speech are mentioned in the Constitution of the United States, equality is in The Declaration of Independence. Freedom and equal rights are for all citizen of The United States of America.

It is my belief that recognizing any family structure or definition is important, as the traditional version may be skewed in so many ways, without knowing or recognizing the “family” that people we run across may come from. We can also learn from other family definitions to build upon our own themes, rules, and beliefs. Adding stigma and prejudice toward families different from our own not only alienate the members, but can add unnecessary stress upon that family system. Stress in any family system can be seen as either an adaptation potential or a negative force. Many effects on the

"All Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among there are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". It is in this sentence from the Declaration of Independence, that the idea of the American dream has its roots. The phrase, “the American dream” can mean many different things, but among the most basic interpretation is that America is a land of opportunity and freedom for all who come to it. The idea of the American dream has influenced people to come to America in search of economic opportunities, political choice, and religious freedom.