The American dream

Why not just call it the dream? People all over the world have the desire to move up in life -- not just in the United States. In all truth, there are a fair number of people who don't have this opportunity.

Are you claiming that Americans are the only ones that have dreams, madame? We are the only ones that want better for future generations and the only ones that want better for our children? Well that makes a heck of a lot of sense. I mean really, do the British not have dreams, do the Germans not have dreams, do the Bosinian not have dreams. Having a dream is not cultrally defined. Having the American dream is not cutrally defined. Everyone can have the dream of having a home, being free and being rewarded for their efforts. It's not specific to Amercia and Amercians. In fact, saying so is completely disrespectful to people of other cultures.

Does that mean, Eschew *gasp* that people would actually still be beheaded just for holding different beliefs from the rest of the population?

Americans are arrogant, no question. We believe it is our responsibility to pass this dream (so eloquently described by several posters here, Castlebee, Randyman, kattz) on to the next generation, intact. We believe (arrogantly) that it is that dream, more than any other influence, that has allowed the US to evolve into the world's only remaining economic, military and social superpower. We expect to experience envy and ridicule (even an occasional deadly attack) from those who don't share in its glow. But imagine the state of mankind had the great experiment of 1776 failed , or had one generation of our leaders allowed the light to be extinguished. What a different world it could be, but for the fragile chance of the survival of the United States. UPDATE: I don't know about that, texas, but the world would be a very different place if there were no United States of America. It's hard for me to imagine it would be a better place.

I think the creator of this vapid little list needs to be honest about her true intentions and give it a more appropriate name such as, The Reasons I Dislike the US or Why America Fails to Measure Up or something similar to that. Reading through the topics, it seems fairly obvious that the list was intended to be derogatory and serve as a way to bring up various things that the list maker considers our national faults. Well, since you asked; the American Dream - a term coined by someone - who knows when means different things to different people. You see, for all our faults and like every place else on the planet we definitely have them this is still a pretty decent place to live. For those willing to work hard and put in the effort there is a chance (not to be confused with a guarantee) for a decent life. All it really boils down to is simply the hope and desire for a fair wage, a safe home, and a chance for your family to grow up and achieve the same. Our citizens have emigrate... Read more

the american dream is just what it says . we have the freedom to dream for a better future for our children and so do many around the world in search of that.everything today was somebodys dream yesterday and to me what it means is that if we can dream it its possible and in america we have the freedom to make it possible

Really? Explain that to the millions of immigrants, legal and illegal, who are doing everything they can to get to our country and stay on a yearly basis. They are the best source for the American Dream.

Friend, do you even have a clue as to what the American Dream is all about? I don't think you do. It's a symbolic statement meant to imply that in this country you can reach a level unheard of in any other country. Why, I'll bet if some guy from Austria wanted to, he could come to America, recieve the best training in the world, win several bodybuilding contest and become the greatest bodybuilder the world has ever seen, become one of the biggest movie actors in the business and amass millions of dollars, marry the niece of a late and beloved President and maybe become Governer of one of it's largest states, and dare to dream of becoming President himself. Really, it could happen. or some poor man from Mexico can come here (Legally of course), work hard and save money, start a restaurant, buy a home, raise a family and be free. The American Dream means many things to many people. But mostly, it will take you as far and as high as you own efforts and desires. Without ever once having to... Read more

Dreams are dreams, the world over. You'd rather people didn't dream and didn't aspire? That would make for a better world? I rather think not. Are there holes in the American Dream? Of course there are. Do more fall short of their dreams, than achieve them? More than likely. That doesn't make the dreaming and the aspiration any less valuable.

I'll take it over Osama's dream anyday.

What does this even mean? This is completely subjective. I think that the person making this list has intended this to be something negative. You Americans out there will see it as positive. This is just a meaningless list (about if Americans can actually see the Americaniness of their culture- it's so easy to see not living there), in fact what am I doing here at all - I have a beer getting warm somewhere...

First of all, what is meant by Americanism? Obviously Americans are going to act like, well, Americans; just as the French are going to act French and the British will act like the British. If one is to rate the American Dream I would have to say that it would rank no higher than that of a citizen who lives in a free and democratic nation.

What about it? It's probably very close to the Belgian dream that many Belgians have. Or the Kenyan dream that most Kenyans have. People want to succeed and do well. So the point being made here is what?