“The Pursuit of Happiness and the American Dream - It's All About Improving the Quality of Life”
By Steve Boston
What did Thomas Jefferson have in mind when he penned the phrase, "the pursuit of happiness?" Depending on your beliefs and point of view the meaning hinges on the interpretation of the word happiness. Happiness means something different to each of us, but in general most people would probably agree that happiness has a lot to do with improving the quality of life at all levels.
While there may be an over emphasis on capitalism in American society and the ever present drive for the almighty dollar, at its root this peculiar American characteristic is based on the desire to improve the quality of life. Yes, it may have become distorted over the years by the misguided notion that money will bring happiness, but we shouldn't downplay the importance of the drive to have enough money to live a comfortable life. The American dream of owning a home and having a business or a job that can offer financial stability and independence is part of our heritage. We as a people are the ones who in a very real sense have raised the bar high in establishing the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
At the very inner core of the American consciousness, beyond the material things, is the conviction and the unshakable belief in the freedom of ideas. It is the freedom of ideas, above all, that that is worth fighting and dying for, because without this liberty all other freedoms would be hollow. American ingenuity and inventiveness is based on the notion that no system and no set of beliefs is beyond questioning.
If Einstein had not challenged the conventional beliefs and scientific precepts of his time he would not have made the remarkable contributions that he did. The drive to improve the quality of life is an inborn quality in each of us, but it is the unique American trait of casting aside false assumptions and limiting ideas that sets the standard for all to follow. We must not judge ourselves, therefore, by lesser standards and rest on our laurels, but measure ourselves against our own ideals. If we do this as a people and as a nation then the future is indeed bright.
Answer the following questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES. Be specific and detailed in your answers.
1. What is the author’s message in Steve Boston’s article?
______
2. Do you agree with what the author is saying? Why or why not?
______
3. Can the terms “the pursuit of happiness” and “the American Dream” be considered the same thing? Explain why or why not.
______
Some say that the American Dream has become the pursuit of material prosperity - that people work more hours to get bigger cars, fancier homes, the fruits of prosperity for their families - but have less time to enjoy their prosperity. Others say that the American Dream is beyond the grasp of the working poor who must work two jobs to insure their family’s survival. Yet others look toward a new American Dream with less focus on financial gain and more emphasis on living a simple, fulfilling life.
Many of the immigrants came to the United States looking for their bit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, their dream. However, things did not always work out as planned, and many were victims of disappointment and failure. Is the American Dream attainable by all Americans?
The concept of the American dream is prevalent in our society. It can be found in all mediums.
The American Dream in movies . . .
· In Fight Club, Brad Pitt’s character, Tyler Durden, states, “Our Great War's a spiritual war . . . our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires and movie gods and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact.”
· In Coming to America, Eddie Murphy’s character, Maurice, exclaims, "Oh yeah, I started out mopping the floor just like you guys. Then I moved up to washing lettuce. Now, I'm working the fat fryer. Pretty soon I'll make assistant manager and that's when the big bucks start rolling in."
· In Rocky, Sylvester Stalone’s character, Rocky Balboa, admits, "I just wanna prove somethin'—I ain't no bum . . . It don't matter if I lose . . . Don't matter if he opens my head . . . The only thing I wanna do is go the distance—That's all. Nobody's ever gone 15 rounds with Creed. If I go them fifteen rounds, an' that bell rings an' I'm still standin', I'm gonna know then I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood . . ."
The American Dream in music . . .
· The rapper Mr. Lif's critical and frustrated song "I Phantom" says "American Dream, time for another story."
· The song Know Your Enemy by Rage Against the Machine, in an exploration of the negative aspects of American life, ends with: "Compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission, Ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, the elite, All of which are American dreams."
· Switchfoot, on their album, Oh! Gravity, released a track called "American Dream" in which they proclaim: "This ain't my American dream, I want to live and die for bigger things, I'm tired of fighting for just me."
· The American Dream is present in "A.D.D."(American Dream Denial) by System of a Down. In this song, they proclaim "The remainder is an unjustifiable egotistical power struggle at the expense of the American Dream, of the American dream, of the American. . . "
· The song "American Life" by "Madonna" features the line "American life, I live the American dream."
· In the song "National Anthem" by Less Than Jake Chris sings "my American Dream is to have it a little bit better than my parents ever had it."
4. Based on what you’ve read and the lyrics and movies provided for you, how would you define the “American Dream” in your own words? ______
5. Why is the American Dream so desirable? What does it represent?
______
6. Can you think of any additional songs or movies that focus on the American Dream?
______
______