America was founded on immigrants from other countries looking to improved their lives. What drove these people to come to this new foreign world, a world they knew nothing about? The American Dream. Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines the American Dream as “the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American.”
Freedom, equality, and opportunity. What does this mean? It means that all people, not matter what race, ethnic background, religion, or country they come from, have equal rights as Americans, to try for a better life. The first immigrants to this country thought that by coming here they could work to achieve their goal of becoming more successful. They believe America was a land full of promises, hard work, and success. To them the American Dream was the hope of an improved future.
The American dream changed to advocate a positive hope of American children to improve their economic and social condition from that of their parents (Hughton Miflin Company). However, nowadays, the American Dream is being forgotten. Children are not trying to better their lives through hard work and discipline. The first immigrants never believed that a better life would simply be handed to them. They knew what it would take to achieve the goal of success, and they did what was necessary.
In today’s world there is too much evidence of this hope being lost. The youth of today’s America is becoming less devoted to a better future. More young Americans have the absurd notion that their lives are already set for them. I am afraid they have taken the radical belief that since the normal life of a young American is grade school, secondary school, high school, college, and jobs that this life will just fall into place for them. News flash, without the hard work and devotion necessary to succeeding, there won’t be success.
My hope for the future is that the youth of America will wake up and recognize that this country is full of opportunities for them to achieve any amount of greatness they desire, as long as they are willing to work for it. Success and greatness is not handed down to everyone, and it is not easily attained. Hard work is essential to success.
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Works Cited
Hughton Mifflin Company. "The American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition." 2005. Dictionary.com. 21 February 2008 .\
Random House, Inc. Dictionary.com. 21 Feb. 2008 .
I agree with you for the most part. Too many times, I have found that todays generation is too proud to work from the ground up. They immediately want the high paying job with all the perks, yet do not realize that they must earn that luxury. Until then, I hope that they are not to proud to find themselves working at a grocery store or fast food chain just to earn a little extra cash until they get themselves established.
You are absolutely right! I understand why some just give up. Their family may have had a hard time, or they themselves may just be tired of working and working and feeling as if they have had nothing accomplished. There needs to be more support among our generation, and I believe that good things will come a lot easier and faster if everyone worked together rather than trying to solve life's mysteries on their own. It sounds a little corny to say we should all work together, but its true. It is unfortunate that the American Dream is starting to get lost.