Why The American Dream Still Exists

The American Dream has been a controversial topic because two groups have different beliefs on the matter. One side believes that it is dead, but the other side believes it is alive and thriving. The divide is due to various factors that make up the American Dream. There are different ways people look at the subject, which would explain the divide between the opposing sides. In order to determine if the American Dream still exists we must consider the benefits from the Dream, the people who are eligible to obtain it, and the factors that make up the American Dream.

Many people believe that the benefits of the American Dream are values or rights. “The American Dream is dead, because we don’t have any values anymore. “People only care about
possessions, about things, about money, not happiness” (Chris Arnade). Although it may seem that values are the only benefit from the Dream, there are many more benefits to it. “The land that never has been yet and yet must be the land where every man is free” (Langston Hughes). Many people come to the US and work hard towards the American Dream to obtain freedom, which they believe is the backbone of the American Dream. They are likely to have not had the freedoms they seek in their homelands. They want to be treated the same way that an American Citizen is treated and have the same benefits they enjoy. Minorities in this country also want more freedom to be on the same level as White Americans. They do not want to be treated differently than others. They too want to have the same rights as everyone else in this country. “I am living the American Dream. I have a job, a family, and my son goes to a great school” (Chris Arnade). Other benefits are things that enable people to have a good lifestyle and progress in the US. They want things that are essential and reasonable. They are things that seem so simple to obtain but require a lot of work on one’s part.

Another thought is that there are people who cannot achieve the American Dream.
“The findings overall suggest that the concept of the Dream is in trouble: seventy five percent or respondents said the Dream was suffering” (Russell Berman). Many people do believe it is gone because they have no interest in it or maybe they do not have the will to work to achieve it. They also believe they are restricted to reaching it or do not have the necessary components. The majority of people who think they cannot achieve it are whites. They believe they are not as likely to achieve it as other groups. However, there are many who do believe they can achieve the Dream. “It may not be reflected in the headlines, but it seems to be as a symbol of hope not for whites who have dominated the country, but for the African American and Latino populations who have historically been marginalized” (Russell Berman). Minorities still believe that the American Dream is alive and achievable. They see it as a shining beckon of hope, something the can look forward to. They want to have homes, cars, families, and jobs. They want to have things that people see when they think of Americans. They want to have a better lifestyle than what they had or have and seen as people who is doing well for
themselves.

Some people believe that the Dream only consists of non-tangible things that we earn but are part of our persona. “But opportunity is real, and life is free, equality is in the air we breathe” (Langston Hughes). They believe its things that improve life like opportunity, freedom, and equality, which are all-good and true, but there a lot more to it. There is so much more to the American Dream than traits and rights. “A desire to be debt free and to have financially stability” (Marianne Cooper). People want to be well off financially and be stable with their wealth. They do not want to be worried about too having enough money to pay bills or rent. “To make money, raise a family, and to be safe” (Chris Arnade). People are looking to working for tangible objects they can enjoy. They look at it as the American Dream, to have things that will help them progress in this country.

The American Dream still exists, it is not believed to be alive some, but many still do believe it is. It is a beckon to many around the world because it symbolizes Americanism and freedoms. It makes them eager to leave their countries and sacrifice everything just to have a chance to obtain a piece of the American Dream. It has also not only been live to immigrants, many Americans look at the American Dream as their goal for the future. They too want to progress and have better lifestyles. It seems typical that a poor person aspires to become famous. The American Dream is a hope to the poor in the inner cities or those in the country. Some poor people have given everything up to attempt achieving the Dream. Even though they may have lost everything, they still have not given up on reaching their goals and aspirations. The American Dream may exists now, but we must work hard to achieve it to make sure we do not lose it. If we lose the American Dream, we will lose a part of ourselves that we may not be able to regain.