What is the meaning of 'the American dream' in 2003?

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Tabitha Gillan        Page         5/4/2007

What is the meaning of ‘the American dream’ in 2003?

The hopes and aspirations of the American nation have changed massively over the past few centuries and as America continues to become the world’s most dominant power, people are being forced to become aware of America and what it hopes to achieve.

It is stated in the American constitution that anybody can rise to the position of President. The idea that anyone, regardless of their background or class, can gain a position of extreme power is central to American culture. Whereas in the 19th century, Abraham Lincoln promoted the idea that ‘labouring for wages a while…. will open the way for all.’ Americans now almost believe it is their right to have wealth and happiness. The novel ‘Of mice and men’ by John Steinbeck, is set during the American depression and clearly shows that the common ideal of that time was to be financially independent by owning a small plot of land and becoming largely self sufficient through hard work and thrift.  This work ethic has now degenerated into people dreaming of making a great deal of money very quickly so they can retire in to a life of leisure. Proof of this can be seen in the popularity of trading on the stock market, something that has become a lot more widespread among the common individual in the past 20 years, as the stock market is a form of gambling in the hope of becoming wealthy with little effort. The ‘get rich quick’ dream has been fuelled by the rise of the Internet and the many millionaires that it created, seemingly overnight. Hollywood can also be blamed, as many Americans want to emulate the expensive and yet leisurely lifestyles of the icons they hear and read about in the media.

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The American media can be held largely responsible for the way the American dream is portrayed to the American citizens themselves and also the rest of the world. The media took advantage of the general publics political ignorance by subtly confusing those responsible for the terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001, with Suddam Hussain and his weapons of mass destruction, thus making any war on Iraq seem completely justified as it could be seen as self defence. Even now, after the war has officially ended, the American media continues to glorify and praise the actions of the American Government when ...

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