Everyone has some idea of what the American Dream means to them. However, each interpretation is different in theme and achievement. The means to reaching the goal and even the goal itself are ideas unique to the individual dreamer. So much so, it seems almost inconceivable to attempt defining the term. The best you can do is search for your own American Dream, and then begin to pursue and encounter all it entails.
Traditionally, it was believed that if you worked hard and believed in yourself, the dedication and commitment would help you achieve anything. Reach for the stars, and you'll land on the moon. Anyone else see flaws in this theory? Sure, hard work is crucial in most cases, but it's like when you were 5 and your mother said you could be anything you wanted, if you set your mind to it and tried hard enough. Instead of filling children's heads with feel good optimistic crap, America should be encouraging them to set goals and provide means to help achieve them.
When I was a kid I remember wanting to be a doctor, and a fireman, and a cowboy, then a spy. Sure some of those are a little unrealistic, I was a kid. But we seem to see an influx of teens pushing to be rockstars, models, athletes, and movie stars. Setting goals to be the next celebrity to be infamous for some outrageous faux paus. But that's just what the American Dream has devolved into. Everyone dreams of being the next wealthy bum, and stumble in the foot steps of greats like Paris Hilton or Lindsey Lohan. Years later you'll find these dreamers stuck in their coal mining towns or working on an assembly line; frying food or changing oil. Will the agenda of reality television and American Idol be the downfall of what was once an aspiring nation?
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