Throughout the chapter Hanson and White talk about how the American Dream has changed over the years and who has impacted that change. Many of our presidents have used the American Dream as a proposition in their campaign to get citizens to vote for them. These slogans have had huge impacts on the United State's citizens and who they choose to vote for or who they choose not to vote for.
Presidents have been using the American dream to not just gain support but also win elections and celebrate their accomplishment. Ronald Reagan was the first president to use this slogan for gain of support in hope to win the election. President Obama used the American Dream in his inaugural address, "Obama gave testimony to the Dream's endurance, citing his own life's journey to become the fist African American president..." (pg. 2) Obama is not using the American Dream to gain support here, he is using it to tell his citizens what kind of man he is and how many people can overcome obstacles. The American Dream can also be
The most recent president to use the American Dream as a slogan is our current president Donald Trump. A huge reason why many people voted for him was because he claimed that he could, "Make American great again." Hanson and White talk about how much influence our leaders have an influence on our view of the American Dream, "Not surprisingly, Americans have looked to their leaders since the nation's founding to reaffirm the promise of the American Dream..." (pg. 2) In my opinion I do not look at our nations leaders to reaffirm the American Dream. The American Dream is all dependent on who you are and what you want in life so, no one else can improve your American Dream except yourself.
Although many presidents say they are going to make the American Dream come true, they don't always follow through. For example, Donald Trump promised he would make American great again and he has not done that. He claimed he was going to build a wall to keep out the immigrants but he has not even got close to beginning to build the wall and this is only one example. Trump used the American Dream to gain attention and followers but he isn't improving the American Dream only making it worse.
Presidents, teachers, parents and any authoritative figure can influence the American Dream for one person but I feel that no one should be influencing your American Dream because it is about you and no one else.
I agree with you that you have to make your American Dream happen on your own. The whole point of the dream is that you earn it through your own hard work and persistence, not relying on someone else. I do think though that it is important for presidents to protect people's ability to achieve the American Dream. While I don't expect Trump to come over and help me achieve my goals, there are many things that he can do to make it easier or harder for me to work my way up in this country, so presidential candidates should make it clear that they support peoples pursuit of the dream.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sam on the other comment that the president should help make it easier for people to achieve their dreams, however, I do not feel that that is an easy thing to do. We have already talked about how everyone has their own dream and the dream is different for everyone, so there isn't one thing a president can do to make it easier for people. I think the dream is a very personal thing and it's something every person must work for. I would hate to see the dream used by people in power just to attract those who struggle every day to make it happen with fake promises. I really enjoyed reading your opinion too!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your commentary on the personal responsibility part of the American dream. It is true that certain political decisions can affect the way you approach your dream, but it is ultimately your path. Although it may be interesting to consider how a political campaign or even a political party after an election can morph a different perspective of the American dream, so that it is more easily digestible to the public, so that in one way or another whatever decisions they make, however much money they spend or don't spend, we are left with the leftovers of their decisions and all the blame in the world. For example if congress was to pass legislation which would reduce federal funding of public schools, and therefore make it harder to pay for schooling, would you blame those who dropped out of college because they didn't work hard enough or would you elect different officials to represent the struggling college student so that the legislation wouldn't be passed in the first place? sadly, I think that as a nation we'd blame the students.
ReplyDeleteI loved how you commented that people will try and use your American dream to their own advantage. It is so true that people will try and say things to feed towards your dreams, just so that you will help them in the long run. This is a sad strategy to get peoples hopes up of achieving their dreams, however sad it may be though, it is effective. I think we have to be on the lookout. If somebody offers you your dreams, think about why they would give you your dream.
ReplyDeleteI really have enjoyed this chain of discussion in response to your post, Sam.
ReplyDeleteOne thing is clear, however, there is persuasive value in appealing to the American Dream because people have a deep seated belief in this dream. Even when they think the dream is dying, they think it should be in place.
Nice discussion.