On Friday in the 8th-grade career classes at my school, we listened to the song "Allentown" by Billy Joel. (Fabulous song, by the way. Listen to it, or at least look up the lyrics.) We got into a discussion about whether or not the American Dream actually exists. Some people thought yes, some no, some said sometimes.
I think that it does, but that it's a lot harder than most people think. I also don't think it's all that simple. Like, a person kind of has to know how to make the American Dream happen--the rules of the "game" so to speak. People who have it easy tend to think it is easier than it really is for others. It's hard to see life through the eyes of another person. I think we tend to judge people who are poor or homeless as being lazy or as having something wrong with them. It makes it possible for us to hide from the fact that we are all just a few steps away from homelessness and poverty, too.
About Me
- Cathryn E. Lokey
- Cathryn Lokey has a Master's Degree in Counseling and Human Systems, a Specialist Degree in Education, and is pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Learning and Cognition. Her areas of expertise include mindful awareness practices, curriculum design and development, and instructional design.
4 comments:
Personally I believe it does exist. I think that although it may be tough to become rich and powerful it is possible. If you work hard and make the right choices then there is virtually no way to fail. Now this is not to say that some drastic wrench can not be thrown into your life because there is always an obstacle that has the ability to unnerve you from your dreams or goal but the weak will fail and the strong will flourish, it's as simple as that.
Interesting point. But what about those individuals who are working two jobs just to put food on the table? They may want to go to school to be able to get a better paying job, but when do they do it? How do they pay for it? They are certainly working hard, often doing their jobs very well. But they are virtually trapped in the position they are in. Sometimes individuals can create opportunity but often it is simply the luck of the draw.
Yes I guess you also need a support system because your right, like single mothers can't not take care of their children to go to school so
I wanna put out a quote I heard about dreams. " Once you have your dream, what will you do with your life? The pleasure of a dream is that it's a fantasy. If it happens, it was never a dream. " I think that the American dream is just that. It's a dream. For most Americans, it's getting harder and harder to put food on the table. I think that it's just something to strive for, a small piece of hope to keep us going.
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