The American Dream is a set of national values that can be traced back to 1620 when the Plymouth Colony was established. The spirit of unification and the common welfare of new settlers became the basis of the perfect American life of that time. These and other values were reflected in different historical events that shaped the national identity of Americans. For example, independence is a notion of great significance, and the way to achieve it was especially challenging for the country. However, material values, such as welfare and land ownership, were also considered the primary condition of well-being at a certain period. Due to the versatile history of the country and its development, the American Dream is a complicated notion that covers different aspects of life.
At the beginning of the course, I mostly associated the American Dream with patriotism and liberty. The Declaration of Independence emphasized the significance of freedom and national unification, and it is hard to deny that they are essential for American citizens. However, these are not the only conditions for the overall happiness of the American nation. Now, when I think about the American Dream, I also associate it with an opportunity and resources for all citizens to become who they want to be. People need to be sure that they can fairly obtain what they deserve and that their rights and freedom are secured. Moreover, now I think that the American Dream is more than just a sense of belonging to one country. Being open to the whole world and living in peace with other nations are also necessary constituents of happiness.
The values of the perfect American life are often touched upon in media, literature, and music. One of the best examples is “Imagine,” a song by John Lennon, where he expresses thoughts and expectations of a better future. It is hard to deny that the scene when Yoko Ono uncurtains the windows to let the light in is a bright symbol of hope. In the refrain, Lennon calls himself “a dreamer,” emphasizing how difficult it is to realize the American ideal. However, he mentions that he is “not the only one,” and that people wait for the world to become “as one,” which means global unification. In my opinion, indeed, with enough efforts, humanity is able to create a world of peace and freedom.
Moreover, the memorable images of the song express my own opinion about the American Dream. For example, the words “imagine there’s no countries” and “all people sharing the world” demonstrate the idea of global peace and equality. Lennon imagines the world with no place for greed and violence and where there is “nothing to kill or die for.” Together with the values mentioned above, it is an important condition for happiness.
It is difficult to give a proper definition to the American Dream, as its meaning includes a wide range of ideals. Personal happiness and opportunities, together with the sense of both national and global unification, are only some of the generalized values describing ideal American life. Shaped by the complicated history and multiple changes in American national identity, the American Dream is a national goal. Like John Lennon, who expressed his thoughts through music, many people hope that with sufficient effort, common happiness will be achieved in the future.