WhatistheAmericanDream?

　　ThetermwasfirstusedbyJamesTruslowAdamsinhisbookTheEpicofAmericawhichwaswrittenin1931.Hestates:"TheAmericanDreamis"thatdreamofalandinwhichlifeshouldbebetterandricherandfullerforeveryone,withopportunityforeachaccordingtoabilityorachievement.ItisadifficultdreamfortheEuropeanupperclassestointerpretadequately,andtoomanyofusourselveshavegrownwearyandmistrustfulofit.Itisnotadreamofmotorcarsandhighwagesmerely,butadreamofsocialorderinwhicheachmanandeachwomanshallbeabletoattaintothefulleststatureofwhichtheyareinnatelycapable,andberecognizedbyothersforwhattheyare,regardlessofthefortuitouscircumstancesofbirthorposition."(p.214-215)

　　IntheUnitedStates’DeclarationofIndependence,ourfoundingfathers:"…heldcertaintruthstobeself-evident,thatallMenarecreatedequal,thattheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwithcertainunalienableRights,thatamongthesearelife,LibertyandthePursuitofHappiness."MightthissentimentbeconsideredthefoundationoftheAmericanDream?

　　WerehomesteaderswholeftthebigcitiesoftheeasttofindhappinessandtheirpieceoflandintheunknownwildernesspursuingtheseinalienableRights?WeretheimmigrantswhocametotheUnitedStateslookingfortheirbitoflife,libertyandthepursuitofhappiness,theirDream?AndwhatdidthedesireoftheveteranofWorldWarII-tosettledown,tohaveahome,acarandafamily-tellusaboutthisevolvingDream?IstheAmericanDreamattainablebyallAmericans?WouldMartinLutherKingfeelhisDreamwasattained?DidMalcolmXrealizehisDream?

　　Somesay,thattheAmericanDreamhasbecomethepursuitofmaterialprosperity-thatpeopleworkmorehourstogetbiggercars,fancierhomes,thefruitsofprosperityfortheirfamilies-buthavelesstimetoenjoytheirprosperity.OtherssaythattheAmericanDreamisbeyondthegraspoftheworkingpoorwhomustworktwojobstoinsuretheirfamily’ssurvival.YetotherslooktowardanewAmericanDreamwithlessfocusonfinancialgainandmoreemphasisonlivingasimple,fulfillinglife.

　　ThomasWolfesaid,"…toeveryman,regardlessofhisbirth,hisshining,goldenopportunity….therighttolive,towork,tobehimself,andtobecomewhateverthinghismanhoodandhisvisioncancombinetomakehim."