Our nation has obtained unimaginable success, but there is a long line of individuals who have cozened their journey to benefit themselves. As a result, we are faced with a “show me the money” or a self-centered generation in the U.S. Sadly, our culture displays this reality through the media, our education system, and our culture’s family structure. Although the “American dream” has fostered great heights of success, its contemporary ambitions are at the core of narcissism.
In this age, the media broadcast ideals such as “Get Rich or Die Trying” instilling a self-centered approach to making and spending money. It is almost rare to see youth engage an interest for the love of it. It is almost rare to see youth purchase an item that will truly benefit them in a productive manner. As C. Lasch, author of “The Culture of Narcissism,” asserts, “Advertising serves not so much to advertise products as to promote consumption as a way of life” (qtd. In “Narcissism & Empty Self”). The media consistently displays an array of examples of how one should pursue the “American dream." In turn, our culture responds by competing against everything we believe and love for a dream solely based on money. It is as if what is portrayed in the media is defining line of success.
The government has evidently embellished our narcissistic tendency by embedding meaningless desires to pursue wealth (p.190). Our education system has seemingly overemphasized a view that if you’re not wealthy, you are not successful. Often times I hear teachers and counselors discouraging students from pursing careers in philosophy, social work, or surprisingly teaching because it does not produce a deserved high salary. Unfortunately, our system has forsaken the most important factor in obtaining an education: the love of wisdom. As a result, a majority of this generation views the privilege of learning as another way of making money to benefit the “I.”
It is no phenomenon that “The American Dream” has seeped into families across the country. There are marriages that are exclusively based on the wealth of a spouse. Even further, there are parents who function off the basis of child support or a large check during income tax season. Frank McCallister remarks, “The characteristics of selfishness, greed, and egotism are not only valued, but seen innate to human nature” (p.186). What happened to the idea that “The American Dream” was for the benefit of the family as a whole? What happened to the laborers who denied themselves in order to provide stability for their family and future generations? “Our values, originally kept under high surveillance, eroded with commercial pressures and technological changes (qtd. In Narcissism & Empty Self).”
Many speculate that “The American Dream” is not narcissistic, but rather we are more accomplished and open to opportunities that other nations do not supply. I believe that argument is inconsistent because our opportunities were the floodgates that fathers would use for a better provision of their families. Our youth have used this idea and twisted it to benefit a moneymaking formula. They have used their families’ success as an excuse for their love of money. Our culture clearly announces quotes like “If my parents did it, then I can do it.” Our current culture fails to understand that such measures of “The American Dream” were taken because of the family/community. The truth is that the media, along with our government have both contributed to ruthless ways of making money. These two combined influence an individual, then the family, then society, and finally the nation.
In all, “The American Dream” was originally a story of glory, success, and honor. It was approached as a means that fought for the improvement of a community. Now, “The American Dream” is one that only involves one individual: "me." Its moneymaking schemes, along with the portrayal of the media and government that form narcissism within our culture. How will you approach “The American Dream?”
Works Cited
McCallister. Frank G. “Narcissism and the Empty Self: To Have or To Be”
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Great job on this essay Jeremy. you have worded it very well
Great points made Jeremy. The world, especially the United States, has become so centered around moneymaking that true aspirations for careers are beginning to wash away. Families and society are becoming dysfunctional and we are breaking down as a nation.
Good job,
Christian
I think this is so true . People really have gotten lost in theri thinking about what the American Dream is and discouraging them from believing money is everything will ultimately prove to be a major let down in the lives of many college graduates a few years down the road.
“The characteristics of selfishness, greed, and egotism are not only valued, but seen innate to human nature”
Check out Twain's The Lowest Animals for characteristics of humans that don't really affirm the Darwinian ladder...
Every organism's heartbeat holds a universe of beauty at http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/green-underbelly
good job hope all works out :-)
I too remember feeling pressure from teachers in high school to pursue a money making career. There was never any talk of what I wanted to do, or even what my natural gifts and talents were. If we only knew that there was so much more to happiness than making money. When we choose to do not only what we love but also what we're good at regardless of the size of the paycheck we receive, we are truly free to enjoy life. The empty promises of wealth and the American Dream can't compare. Good thoughts Jeremy.
POINT MADE... GOOD JOB AND GOOD LUCK!! =)
I totally agree with every point of this blog!!
It's sad but it's true! Unfortunately, only few people have noticed this!
One of the main reasons America has been able to be a successful nation is because our founding fathers were not as self-ambitious as many of the other travelers were! They did not step on this ground with a motive of finding "gold" or "conquering a land" (though they do things later on).. they came here to find freedom and a chance at living life differently. Now, this nation has drastically changed and the morals of the past are becoming less socially accepted.
Just turn on your television!! Explicit topics and images are slowly becoming more accepted? Why? Because we all want to be free, we want to be able to do what we want to do. Yes, I do believe that we should be allowed some freedoms but we must remember that we're human. We're naturally selfish and we must placed rules and limitations to keep ourselves together. However, if the rules are bent too much things will only go downhill!
Look at the current economical status of this country right now. We are so desperate for money that we're willing to pick and choose the third world countries that we want to help based on their resources. If they have something that could make is rich, we'll help them. Also, what about the increasing rate of debt -- individually and nationally? Compulsive shopping and buying things that we can't afford with the money we have in our hands is more common because of credit cards and loans. Now, these things have definitely given benefits to people - like me for instance... I don't have thousands of dollars for college, my car and house -- I wouldn't have these things if it weren't for loans/credit cards! But because we're human we tend to go beyond our limitations and therefore... end up in debt. This government, for instance, is spending billions of dollars in things that don't even postively affect the growth of this society (war on terrorism? What about the under educated children you've got growing up in your cities? The millions of people without health insurance?). I was watching a documentary on rich men who were spending thousands and even millions of dollars on legal prostitution. There we go again - self-centered!
That's probably why suicide, depression, drug usage and drinking are growing so quickly in our statistics! People are so focused on finding amusement for themselves that it drives them crazy.
I seriously should stop now before I write too much... I'm all fired up! Thank you for this intriguing topic Jeremy!
Good Job.
I think you make an excellent point in your paper. It made me think, and not only is our narcissism shown in our materialism and drive for success, but it is also shown in how we treat others. Most people of any status or pursuing status have stepped on someone else to get there. Unfortunalty, even we aren't persuing status we still end up hurting people by our selfish/narcissitic attitude........hollllerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Thanks for putting it so well, J!!! Great Job...