UNITED States of America
History always repeats itself. Whether we want it to or not, a reoccurrence of events-both good and bad-appears seemingly inevitable. If such an idea were more significantly embedded into our minds by parents, teachers, etc. would your lifestyle change? We are raised along the notion that "everything happens for a reason", but why? If we as individuals have the power to speak or remain quiet, act or remain dormant, why do we so easily allow fate to guide our lives? As a society we must begin to eradicate our inactivity and replace it with our power, in order to limit the possibility of repeated history plaguing our nation yet again.
Hanson and White elucidate the problematic ideas of past American Dreamers through the comparison of 1985 and 2008 polls regarding perceptions of the American Dream. Hanson and White include numerous facts from the polls of both years, in order to express the drastic changes to the American Dream that have developed as a result of time and the growth of our nation. For example, the 1985 poll offers rather close-minded and materialistic ideals, as seen in the fact that "79% of Americans believed the American Dream meant owning a home"(Hanson & White 9). However, such consumerist beliefs have began to diminish throughout the years, as seen in the statistics of the 2008 poll. From the 2008 poll, Hanson and White noted that 93% of people confirmed that "having a good family was a major part of the American Dream".
Through utilizing logical appeals to spread their message, Hanson & White further demonstrate why the American Dream continues to flourish and exist as a significant piece of the puzzle that is American culture. Hanson & White's use of logic confirm Americans' preconceptions of the constantly varying dream, as the statistical evidence stems from a reliable source, CBS News. Likewise, sharing evidence from both the materialistic and realistic sides of America limits the possibility of bias.
Although the 2008 poll suggests that Americans were headed to a better mindset, I fail to see that positivity today. Sure Americans wanted and still do want success, joy, and love; however, Americans in the 21st century are just as (if not more) materialistic now as they were in the 1980s!! In a time of economic recession when money is short and times are tough, what else is around but family? Of course these polled individuals would report family as a significant piece to the American Dream, since their materialistic desires seemed certainly unattainable in a time like 2008. With that being said, doesn't it appear as though we are headed back toward our materialistic dreams of the 80s as we slowly crawl out of the recession?
In today's society, we are becoming increasingly divided, very easily. As topics like immigration, gay rights, and police brutality arise, we are often quick to shut down the opinions of others and force our own ideas into their minds. It appears as though our American Dreams stray away from the topics of family and happiness, and gravitate toward inequality. We would much rather remain at the top of our social "totem pole", than accept the abilities of others and welcome them into our society with open arms. Despite the division widespread in today's society, I personally believe that we garner the ability to bring about unity and maintain it. It starts with a mindset and can continue to grow for as long as we allow it to. When thinking of our own American Dream, we must remind ourselves of our home, the United States of America, and remember that those around us are entitled to the same dreams that we are. If we fail to make the necessary changes now (as in transforming our materialistic dreams into idealistic desires), then we should not be surprised when society's ways of the 80s make a return at a larger, more severe extent.
I completely agree that in today's world we're just about as materialistic as the people were in the 1980's. I also think part of that return toward materialism comes from the fact that Americans now have everything more readily available in such an advancing society. We're also becoming more increasingly divided in the modern world, and I agree with you on that people are more focused on inequality when dreaming rather than family and friends, which could lead to an unfortunate return to the ways of the 80's.
ReplyDeleteThat was great analysis! I thought the differences in the polls were quite interesting as well; in fact, I also talked about that. But I didn't think about why it would be different. It totally makes sense why people would value family much more during an economic crisis; like you said, family is all you have in the end. It's sad how people start seeing the value of family when they have nothing left. I'm a very family-oriented person, and I don't go to them just in times of need; I spend a lot of time with them in general, whether the times be good or bad. Family is everything, and we shouldn't ever forget that. And I definitely think we're going back to this materialistic world- it's a natural progression. Let's just hope that family, one of the most important things in the world, isn't forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI too agree that during the society we are currently living in, an American Dream focus on social improvement is absolutely necessary. We are dredging up the past and mucking up the future with hate. A step towards unity, towards a more fair and just America with people who don't just plug their ears when they hear something they don't agree with, but instead try listening and learning from a new perspective, is idealized in my mind. Furthermore, you bring up a good point with American Dreams revolving around financial gain with little change as to when they did in the past. This is something I often acknowledge and dismiss on a day to day basis; in our materialistic society, wealth seems like the answer to everything. For example, the recent Powerball lottery that ended up handing $700 million (excluding tax cuts) to one woman in Massachusetts all but exemplifies an obsession in which $ = happiness. However, money is temporary and dwindles with time, while a social impact on the world may very well survive for generations to come.
ReplyDelete-Jenna Shapiro
That is an extremely interesting perspective on the relationship between the American Dream and history. I agree with you that history does repeat itself, and many Americans' dreams are often materialistic in nature, but I ask you this: by suggesting that we are bound to once again face the materialistic dreams of the 80's, are you also suggesting that the concept of the American Dream itself will never evolve to something greater than what it was in the 80's? Or what it is now? I would say that many individual dreams are centered around the turmoil and division in America's society, but we can only hope that these social inequities and issues be somewhat resolved as slavery had been, for example, but at that point, what would the American dream be prominently characterized as then? Building on your ties of the American Dream to money, at that point in the future, would Americans then fall back onto the materialistic aspirations of the 80's and today?
ReplyDeleteWow what a well written analysis. I agree with you when you say that Americans are still materialistic today and perhaps even more than the in the '80s, however I believe that we still have hold true to those abstract concepts such as unity and optimism.You brought up how it seems more than ever America is divided and because of that I believe we are making an effort even more to improve societal conditions. These changes take time, as it did during the Civil Rights Era, but they got achieved. Same as today. So while we are living in a materialistic world, we still hold on to those abstract concepts in our times of turmoil. Also when you say our American Dreams stray away from the topic of family and happiness and gravitate towards inequality, I agree. Many people i believe mistaken the idea of taking care of yourself and family instead of worrying about inequality as selfishness.
ReplyDeleteYou (and all the people who commented) raise some important issues, one of which is that there appear to be two types of dreams, the materialistic dream and the equality/social issue dream.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing I liked is how you contrasted the 2008 findings with what might be the findings today, in 2017. Yes, there can be change, and it's good to remember that this wasn't written today.
Your final statement is very foreboding. We'll definitely get back there.