What Is The American Dream?

What is the American Dream?

While driving in the car one day there came on the radio someone talking about achieving the “American Dream”. My daughter then asked the question, “Mom, what is the American Dream?” Her brother promptly answered, “It’s about making lots of money.” Ugh, I thought to myself. Is this really what the American Dream has become in the eyes of American’s? Is this what other countries see as the ‘American Dream’? 

America was founded on the ideas of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our forefathers dreamt of a country where one could be free to live life however one saw fit. Government was established for only one reason and that was to protect those rights, “…that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,..(Declaration of Independence).’ The American Dream is the pursuit of happiness. The ability to say what you want, do what you like and be free from any tyranny. 

These aren’t just rights; these are our ideas, beliefs and dreams. In Bloomberg Business week there was an article about Osama Bin Laden and they mentioned a poll taken among Arabs on how they felt about American’s. Well you can guess that how they felt about us was not high but how they felt about the country was. It was rated the highest place to find equal rights, rights to education, and opportunity. They understand the American Dream! The right to be free! 

So, I promptly told my son that he was wrong about the American Dream being about making lots of money. They weren’t very happy about the history lesson but hopefully they remembered what I said. The American Dream is your dream. We live in a country where you can pursue your dreams and make them a reality. A ‘c’ student can become President, a high school drop-out can become a multi-millionare, an inner-city youth can become a superstar. If you want to be a Chef, you can be a Chef. If you want to live on the beach, you can live on the beach. For some people the American Dream may be to make lots of money, but it’s not THE dream. Whatever your dream is, that is the American Dream.