Two Different American Dreams

I've always thought the American Dream is something that you have to work hard for and earn. To achieve the American Dream you can't just sit back and hope that your life becomes amazing, Walter R. Fisher shows how this is true. Fisher wrote an essay in 1972 called Reaffirmation and Subversion of the American Dream about the American Dream and how they're is not just one ideal American Dream but there are two. The first one is a materialistic view which is more of a work the hardest you can and you will be able to achieve what you want. While the other dream is a moral one where you want to help your fellow man and the idea of community. Fisher claims that these two views are contradictory but also vital for the American Dream to succeed. Throughout the essay Fisher makes claims about how the American Dream is a "myth."

Fisher makes the claim that the American Dream is a "myth" but not the type of myth that we usually think of, he claims myths have truth to them. "Without dreams or myths, a man or nation is without a past, present, or future." (pg. 118) Fisher uses myths to show how the American Dream has changed over the years and how it has effected man kind.

"The moralistic myth is well expressed in basic tenets of the Declaration of Independence: that 'all men are created equal,' men 'are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights." (pg. 118) Fisher claims that in order to achieve the moralistic American Dream people have to be compassionate and charitable. While most people want to be giving and kind not as many people believe in the moralistic dream then they do the materialistic dream.

Many more Americans relate to the materialistic ideal then the moralistic one because it is based on hard work and self-determination. "The materialistic myth is grounded on the puritan work ethic and relates to the values of effort, persistence, 'playing the game,' initiative, self-reliance, achievement, and success." (pg. 118) The materialistic dream is more based on how people want to be seen and what they want. While I hate to say it, many people want to pursue the materialistic dream because people love to show off their hard work and with the materialistic dream you can do this.

I personally believe in the moralistic dream because it has the values of equality, compassion and regard for others. For example, the hurricanes that just happened in Florida and in the south were devastating to many, many people. While these people were suffering other around the country were coming together to help them donate time, money and resources so the people effected by the storm could have help restoring their lives. This being said, many people still believe in the materialistic dream over the moralistic dream because they are selfish, want what's best for them and don't care about others. Although this is awful it is the world we live in today.