In the words of Dinesh D’Souza during a speech he delivered to the students and faculty of Liberty University’s Convocation: “… America is a country where you can be in the driver’s seat of your own life in which your destiny is not given to you; it is constructed by you. ” I agree with Mr. D’Souza wholeheartedly. For centuries, America has developed a reputation for being a place of refuge. America has become a sort of Haven, or a dream come true, for many. In no other part of the world can you receive the same level of freedom in all aspects of life than you can in America.
This infamous “New World” offers the opportunity for a fresh start, religious freedom, and the opportunity to obtain wealth. Throughout the centuries, hardship and a lack of freedom have never been a foreign concept to millions of people around the world. A fresh start was, however, an extraordinarily foreign concept. In the year of 1492 the Americas were discovered; that year the hope for a fresh start was birthed in the hearts of millions of families and individuals- no matter their origins.
We see in Christopher Columbus’s Letter to Luis De Santangel Regarding the First Voyage that Columbus is marveling at the nature and the natural beauty he sees even on his very first quest to America. He states in his letter that they will need more funding, and the pursuit of this new world, and the opportunities it holds, are all of great value to the future of mankind. “The island and all the others are very fertile to a limitless degree, and this island is extremely so” (25). Columbus continues to express his infatuation with this new land. And there is honey, and there are birds of many kinds and fruits in great diverse city… Espanola is a marvel” (26). Little did he know that his explorations would lead to a global change for centuries to come. Religious freedom has been a topic of interest to many and all for centuries. If you were from England, you submitted to the crown. Christianity or Catholicism in England at the time meant something very different to everyone and the issue caused much division. Division caused many to leave the country in hopes of finding the freedom to worship as the individual pleased.
We see in Anne Bradstreet’s Here Follows Some Verses that our main character is living the American dream in her own way. Her dream is to have a beautiful home and family. However, she is grateful to God for her family’s safety. Later she reevaluates her situation and the things she prioritizes. She comes to recognize that material things such as her house do not truly matter in the grand scheme of things. She states, “And when I could no longer look, I blest his name that gave and took” (122).
She no longer put as much stock in the material things the world had to offer, “Thou hast an house on high erect, framed by the Almighty Architect” (123). Instead she recognizes these things to be additional blessings and gifts from God, but her family and faith are all that bear significant weight. To exemplify the American Dream, “... your destiny is not given to you; it is constructed by you” (D’Souza), I believe it is up to the individual to decide how much economic wealth is enough to suit the life they desire to live.
A common thought process can be summarized by this: if I just work hard enough, if I just work enough jobs, or if I just stay at the same job long enough, then I can make enough money to be happy or to reach a certain socioeconomic status. I believe this thought process to be timeless. However, as our country grows and evolves, the question has been raised: is hard work enough anymore? Is climbing the “social ladder” feasible without a college education or being born into a family with a substantial amount of money and social influence? Can the “working man” succeed anymore?
The modern American dream was inspired by a growing middleclass that was the triumph of democracy after World War II. It’s the promise was and is opportunity: that hard work and earn a good life: A good job with decent pay and security, a home and a safe neighborhood, affordable healthcare, a secure retirement, a good education for the kids. The promise always exceeded the performance…. every element of the dream is imperiled. Wages for the 70% of Americans without a college education have declined dramatically over the past 40 years… “THE AMERICAN DREAM: Can A Movement Save It? “, Borosage, Heuvel)
As we see in John Smith’s A Description of New England, John Smith speaks of a land where nature and opportunity come at no cost in comparison to England. “Here nature and liberty affords us that freely, which in England we want, costeth us dearly” (71). At the time, if a man wanted to support his family and seek out a new life, There was much opportunity and work available to him. All he needed was a strong back, decent mind, and a willing heart. This contrasts my opinion of the American dream in its modern form.
No longer does it seem possible for a man only to work hard in order to achieve a higher socioeconomic status. With the growing numbers of people getting college degrees, I believe the bar has been raised. In most ways, encouraging individuals to obtain a college degree shows much promise to see long term intellectual growth within our country. However, this does pose an issue for those who are currently of a low socioeconomic status. College tuition may not financially be an option for them at the moment, if ever at all.
With that being said, I’d like to go back to my original point; every man must define his or her own personal dream. May that be their version of a fresh start, religious freedom, and socioeconomic status and wealth. Although America is still in its youth, I believe it has made huge strides. No other country in the world has a dream. America was founded on a dream and has held fast to that dream. America as a “New World” was infamous for the opportunities it offered. The opportunity for a fresh start meant everything to millions of people from around the globe.
Families immigrated in hopes of a new life-a life they could not have from where they came. Fathers hoped for steady jobs and mothers hoped for beautiful homes and an education for their children. Religious freedom played a huge role in the establishment of America. The founders believed everyone should have the opportunity to worship in the way that they pleased, and those who did not wish to worship were not obligated to. The possibility to obtain wealth was finally an opportunity available to the common man.
While the concepts behind the American dream have held steadfastly through the ages, our country and its citizens’ intellectual levels are advancing. Instead of trying to slow down these academic advances, I think we should encourage more people to pursue a higher education. “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plane, and the crooked places will be made straight; ‘and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed in all flesh shall see it together. ” (Martin Luther King Jr. , “I Have a Dream”)
