The American Dream
I picture the American Dream as a middle class family with two or three kids living in an average sized home in the suburbs. Both parents have stable office jobs and one drives a mini van. They also have a pet golden retriever and tabby cat. They have family movie and pizza night once a week, and alternate vacations between Disney World and the Bahamas. Essentially, the American Dream is a life of family, stable finances, and fireworks on fourth of July. (they also love to take family photos)
In my opinion wealth is having not only the essentials but a little more. For example, a house with an extra bedroom, a Mercedes rather than a civic, a vacation in Jamaica instead of Wilmington, first class instead of coach, lobster instead of tuna. Wealth is having enough for a little excess here and there, and extreme wealth is having enough for excess in every aspect of your life.
Americans feel that wealth is norm rather than the exception. We are all living in the pursuit of wealth as if it is easily achievable. This perspective, while optimistic, is also very naive. Wealth is reserved for only a small percentage of the U.S. population and an even smaller percentage of the world population. Likewise, we view poverty extremely disproportionately. Poverty is viewed as something that doesn't happen here, and when it does, well, that's obviously a unique case with unique circumstances.
I definitely find myself caught up in the unrealistic mindset that I described above. However, I feel like both poverty and wealth come from a combination of circumstance, opportunity, and luck. While, I think its great to aspire to wealth, I think that you also have to acknowledge that there is a lot more to living a happy and inspired life than having money.
Malin, I really liked what you said about how wealth was having more than just life's essentials and I completely agree! I also think of the same things you did when it came to a middle class family...from the pets to the mini van and the movie night to the family pictures. I liked how you took the "American dream" and linked it to specifically what you imagined to be the American dream for this type of family. Do you believe that you're living the American dream?
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I agree with everything Sarah said. I also really like your definition of wealth because it is not the way I defined it, but I think your definition is interesting and very accurate. I also have that picture of a family living in the suburbs when I hear “American Dream,” but I also think that the American Dream has extended to anyone who is working hard to achieve something. It doesn’t just have to be a happy little family living in a nice house!
ReplyDeleteMalin I agree with everything you said except one aspect. A Mercedes instead of a Civic?????? What kind of twisted world do you live in? Civics are the freaking bomb.com. Also, are the two even comparable? A Mercedes is a car manufacturer, while a Civic is a specific type of Honda. I can see how your materialistic and monetary based mind could lead to this misconception on the values of the two automobiles. Yes, Mercedes do cost more money, but the gas mileage on the Civic is much better, probably, and it therefore conserves more of our natural, non-renewable resources and contributes less to emissions and pollution and ozone depletion and global warming and the coming of the Rapture and zombie apocalypses. DUH. What is more valuable, Malin, an expensive car now or the lives and well-being of future generations? Think of your grandchildren, Malin, I'll bet they' d say the Civic drivers of today are the higher class and overall characterized as Grade A- Awesome.
ReplyDeleteI thought of you when I said civic <3
DeleteMalin, your post was very eye-opening. It made me realize how truly privileged we, as Americans, are compared to the rest of the world. I think most of us have the mindset of needing the biggest and bestest and newest item and this is what causes us to become obsessed with having money in order to pay for all of these materialistic things. We believe that this is living "comfortably", when in reality, we are living privileged.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the 'unrealistic mindset'- I didn't really understand money/income until it ran my life and my ability to do what I wanted versus what I needed! Sigh..adulthood.
ReplyDelete