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"In 1931, when writer James Truslow Adams coined the term “the American Dream,” it had more to do with idealism than material prosperity. The American Dream, he wrote in The American Epic (a book glowingly reviewed in the Atlantic’s December 1931 issue), was “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”"
Richer and fuller ... according to ability or achievement, basically we are back to the root axiom that America was supposed to be the "Land of Opportunity." So what does that mean exactly to the modern day American? The true promise of America stemmed from generation born into poverty, and given a path to a better life, not even necessarily for themselves, but for their children. The true dream of America is that our sons and daughters will have a better life then we did. With that noble pursuit in their minds, our forefathers and mothers were willing to bear almost any burden. Long hours, backbreaking labor, many times even suffering through unsafe work environments. I still remember my dad telling stories of my German grandmother coming over to this country and working long hours in a sewing factory with 100 other women in conditions not much better then those of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire that killed 145 in 1911. I never asked her about it specifically, but I am willing to wager the main reason she labored so selflessly was the vision of the lives her two sons would live.
So have "Americans" gotten more myopic in their view of life? Forgotten the long goal? Perhaps. There is certainly a big part of the culture that screams "Me, me, me, now, now, now" in a flurry of spoiled youngsters that would make Verruca Salt blush. But is it that simple? How about the ever increasing specter of "its getting harder to make a living?" Absolutely, there is an argument to be made that with increased tax burden, suppressed wages through excessive immigration, and companies leaving expensive States to do business. Ultimately I think the biggest issue is the level of expectation. You can't expect to flip burgers and have a home and ten kids. You can't expect to get a college degree in "Underwater Basket Weaving" and come out of school making $150k a year. You can't eat out every meal, buy $6 latte's, and always have the latest iPhone and then wonder why you have no money to get ahead. Expectations. If you are constantly looking over your neighbors fence, wondering what they got that you don't have, you will be miserable the rest of your life ... because no matter how much stuff you have, someone always has more.
So whats the answer? Better parenting? Sure, that would help. Lose the "Participation Trophies" and teach the next generation early how to appreciate the wins and learn from the losses? I am all in for that. How about turning off the TV and closing the magazines once in awhile that tell us if we don't have the coolest car, the Michael Kors bag, or the Rolex watch that we aren't successful in life? Big thumbs up to that.
In the end I am not advocating to renounce all worldly goods and retreat to a Monastery somewhere. I like stuff, stuff can be good. But there is truly some wisdom to Tyler Durden's quip in the movie Fight Club when he said "The things you own end up owning you." But, fictional characters aside, I think the Buddha said it best.
Ultimately, especially in the United States, if you have food in your fridge, roof over your head, running water, the lights turn on when you flip a switch ... life is not too shabby. If the essentials are taken care of, we are all free to explore the important things in life .... the rest is just stuff.
