American Dream
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure Domestic Tranquility, provide for the Common Defense, promote the General Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." - Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
The American Dream was once equated with certain principles like freedom, liberty, safety, justice, equality, and happiness. Today, it is often equated with 'things' – like wealth, material comforts, home ownership, higher wages, or career success. The question is - What do we want the American Dream to really be? Can we [Americans] reach a general consensus on the direction we want our country to take and what our highest priorities ought to be as we head further into the 21 century? Will we be fearful of the future, or will our American Dream be a positive, hope filled vision of the future for America?
The American Dream
James Truslow Adams (1878-1949) was an American writer and historian. He coined the term "AmericanDream" in his 1931 book The Epic of America. His American Dream is "That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position." - See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Truslow_Adams
The following are links to selected web sites, essays, or articles on "The American Dream":
* Also take the time to read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
It has become apparent that hyper-partisanship and the power of special interests are paralyzing the American political system and our ability to address the major challenges facing us in this 21st century.
If you would like to suggest new material or links to be added to this web site, please email groenpj@cs.com
Attached is an article on the American Dream by the webmaster of this site.