Based on the article read in class, what is your definition of the American Dream? Is it different from your parents’ and grandparents’ version? Do you think you and your generation will attain your relatives’ version of the American Dream? Or will you ever realize your own version of the American Dream? Finally, does your generation collectively believe in an American Dream, or has it been substituted by something else? Respond thoughtfully to the prompt and 2 other prompts.
137 Comments
Daniel Gamble
3/19/2015 03:03:29 am
My definition of the American dream is that people want to be wealthy, happy, be healthy, and have a healthy family. I feel that there are the same ideas behind different generations and the American dream, but thereply is not the same ways of achieving their dre9am. My generation could achieve their dreams, but if they do not want to work towards it and work hard for it, then they will not be able to achieve it. The American dream for me would be becoming a doctor and being able to have a healthy family. I understand that my dream will require me to do a lot of hard work. I do not think that my entire generation believes in the American dream, but there are a select few that do and are willing to do the work to achieve it. For those that do not believe in the dream, have probably replaced it by something that they feel is more important at the time, but might not later on.
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Jade Harrison
3/19/2015 03:09:41 am
I agree with what you are saying, you need your own self determination, to accomplish your American Dream.
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Dominique Martin
3/19/2015 08:13:00 am
I agree completely with both your response and Jades comment.
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Celina Trucano
3/20/2015 12:13:08 am
I completely agree with your definition of the American Dream.
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Trenton Higgins
3/20/2015 01:13:39 am
I agree with your definition of the American dream.
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chad onion
3/20/2015 02:15:27 am
i agree with your definition of the american dream
Jade Harrison
3/19/2015 03:06:16 am
The definition of the American Dream is the idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Personally understanding the American Dream is more like a personal goal you grow up having. You grow up trying to reach your goals. If you have an "American Dream" you do what it takes to reach the standards of that goal. Im sure previous generations had dreams for the generation I am living in, but reality is, you need self determination for that. You are not going to reach that American Dream just because your relatives want you to. You have to take your own actions. You will realize your American Dream when you discover what you want to do with your life. This Generation has a different perspective of an American Dream, it is what society has done. You have to be non conformist, and go against what everyone else wants you to do. You make your own dream, and you reach your own goals.
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justin sochko
3/20/2015 12:53:21 am
I agree with you not only because you must go out and do what you have to do to be successful. Nothing will be handed to you, you have to go and take it. You also said you must go against what people tell you to do and do what you want. No one became successful following someone elses dreams, you need to think for yourself.
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Jonathan Harris
3/19/2015 03:06:34 am
I believe the American Dream is reserved only for the wealthy. If you want an overpriced college education - MONEY - if you want to buy a house, MORE MONEY - if you want to raise your own children with limited stress - EVEN MORE MONEY. With the prices of goods rising and wages even SHRINKING there is very limited if NO chance of ordinary citizens to get ahead. Overall, there is still an American Dream for this generation but it is more of a nightmare.Getting needs taking care of instead of following a fantasy is the reality for most Americans.
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Patricia
3/19/2015 04:04:30 am
I totally believe that now everything that you do costs money and you have to really think about that because you need to pay for things and people u care for.
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Tony Colucci
3/19/2015 04:05:23 am
Only for the wealthy? Sorry, but I think your views here are way off about this. If achieving the American dream is nothing but financial, then let's just forget about Steve Jobs, who originally started with some random blueprints in his garage.
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raymond hale
3/19/2015 05:11:42 am
not every American dream needs money. many people who are homeless still have something to look up to in life besides money.
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Amanda Bruce
3/19/2015 06:56:50 am
I do not believe that the American dream is reserved only for the wealthy. Other people might want success or happiness for their American dream.
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Alyssa Ziemianski
3/19/2015 08:37:17 am
I don't believe that the American Dream is all about money. It definitely makes life easier if you have more money, but happiness is not purely based around it. If you work hard to get what you want and makes goals to achieve, anyone can successfully have the American Dream.
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Raquel Jackson
3/20/2015 03:07:26 am
I fully agree with this because too many people rely on money when in reality money should not define who we are as people.
marisaa michels
3/19/2015 10:27:23 am
i have to disagree with this. There are people who are ok with not having alot of money and are just happy as the the richest people. Not everything revolves around money, famiky and friends are what's important, money makes people greedy and a gold digger and not appreciate anything. All people can be content with the life thwy live even though they dont have millions of dollara to spend. The american dream is for everyone who can work for something they want and appreciate it with all thier heart
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Daniel Gamble
3/19/2015 08:53:22 pm
I disagree with this, solely by the fact that most people who now have money, started with nothing. However, they are now wealthy and influencial because of their hard work that got then where they are now. They got their by following their dream with close to nothing.
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chad onion
3/20/2015 02:17:07 am
im sorry but i disagree with this, i dont think money is the american dream, because some people dont care about how much money they have.
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Jazmine Weiss
3/19/2015 03:06:37 am
I believe the American dream to me means that we should pursue, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness with no one stopping you. You should have the freedom to do anything we put our mind to. I believe my grandparents perspective will be virtually the same. I feel like our generation would like to think that the American dream is still alive and possible but in reality, it's really hard to achieve now for a foreigner. Once someone has made success of themselves and is making money and supporting their family, then they may realise their dream had come true. Which the dream is many of the foreigners idea of the "American dream" which Americans may not understand or appreciate their full success. As a whole, I think our generation doesn't really care about the dream as our ancestors did.
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Tony Colucci
3/19/2015 04:02:34 am
Very well put. Your view definitely put the "American" aspect of the dream into context. While it's hard for foreigners to achieve such a goal, I think it's also the case for natural U.S. Citizens.
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Jason Kudwa
3/19/2015 04:06:50 am
I agree with you that the American dream always needs the idea to be happy with yourself no matter what. Having money is a nice thing to have, but pursuing happiness is the key to the American dream.
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Amanda Bruce
3/19/2015 07:00:21 am
I totally agree with you. The American dream should be based off of the pursuit of happiness because people do not need money to be happy.
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Jonathan Harris
3/19/2015 09:53:06 am
I agree, i don't think our generation cares about the American dream. If it's any comparison to how much our generation cares about school, then the American dream is in danger.
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Tony Colucci
3/19/2015 04:00:27 am
My way of looking at the American dream is like building blocks; you create your own destination, and the only limit is your imagination. My parents would say the same thing, since they're the ones who taught me. I don't really think a lot of my peers will attain their parents' lessons to achieve the American dream, though. I feel like if I take enough time out of my day to do larger amounts of work, I can achieve this; considering the current need for a successful education. I really don't think a lot of people collectively try to achieve this dream in my generation, as they're all busy walking around on their phones and talking about the opposite gender, to name some basic examples.
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Jason Kudwa
3/19/2015 04:09:27 am
Every dream differs from person to person, and I like the idea of it being building blocks. One step leads to another, and eventually, once you achieve your goals, you have the main picture that you set out in the beginning.
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Kara Gerniski
3/19/2015 05:23:47 am
I really like your idea of an American Dream. I like how you said they are like building blocks. I agree that if you take time to do things to be successful you will be.
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Kylie Cutlip
3/19/2015 06:52:10 am
I really like your idea of the American Dream as the building blocks of any goal. the more time you take to build something up, the greater and more successful you will be.
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Alyssa Ziemianski
3/19/2015 08:31:10 am
I completely agree with your definition of the American Dream. I feel that you do create your own destinations in life and not many people really try to reach their goals or even make goals. This generation needs to focus on the important things in life instead of pointless things like the examples that you listed.
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Daniel Gamble
3/19/2015 08:58:21 pm
I agree with your view of the American dream l, because it is very true and way you put it just makes a lot of sense. I feel like comparing it to building blocks is very true because even if it falls down l, then you can build it from the ground back up.
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Patricia Camarata
3/19/2015 04:02:40 am
My definition of the American dream would simply just to be to go to college and, get married, have kids and have a successful job to pay for my family. It may differ from my parents or grandparents, but u shouldn't have the same dream as everyone else, you should have your own dreams. And I personally believe that our generation will no doubt be successful just like the couple generations before us, because of the new technology and not only that but that as we mature we will understand more.
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Nicole Killinger
3/19/2015 07:35:27 am
I agree with what you said about not having the same dreams as your parents. Everyone's dreams should be different.
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Jessica bozick
3/19/2015 07:38:36 am
I agree with this one hundred percent. I really like the part about everyone having different dreams becaiseni beilive that that is very true.
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Esmeralda Celaj
3/19/2015 09:33:31 am
Yes I agree with you, people shouldn't have the same dream as everyone else.
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Jonathan Harris
3/19/2015 10:00:26 am
I agree, your dreams should be unique to you and it's only natural that we will mature as we grow older. Also, there is is no doubt that our generation will be as successful or even more successful than previous generations.
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Jonathan Harris
3/19/2015 10:00:59 am
I agree, your dreams should be unique to you and it's only natural that we will mature as we grow older. Also, there is is no doubt that our generation will be as successful or even more successful than previous generations.
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marissa michels
3/19/2015 10:23:39 am
i agree with your definition of the American dream, all dreams should be how you want thwm not how other people want them.
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Celina Trucano
3/20/2015 12:19:44 am
I agree with what you said about not having the same dreams as everyone else, and how our generation has the potential to be as great as gegenerations before us.
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Jason Kudwa
3/19/2015 04:03:49 am
The American dream is an idea, in my opinion, that shows what a successful life is to a person. It is a different idea from person to person and I believe that being successful, as well as being able to support a family while being happy is the best American dream. I believe our generation has an altered view of the dream, or a view that it cannot be accomplished anymore. Generations before us have had the chance of becoming successful without a college degree, and without the idea of being successful as a wealth stanza. The bar for being successful for this generation has greatly been risen, but the dream has never been gone, nor will it ever be.
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kyle wychuyse
3/19/2015 05:17:09 am
I think your concept is good and your explanation on what you have said about, ideas being the dream.
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Brandon Gann
3/19/2015 07:54:13 am
I completely agree with what you think is the best American Dream. Though I do have mixed feelings about whether or not the American Dream will always be around, it will always be remembered and sought after, but will eventually fade away, no completely, but will do to the difficulty to achieve it.
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Justin Lenard
3/19/2015 11:38:20 am
I agree, the American Dream will always be here but as time goes on and generations move on, the American Dream definition will change drastically.
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Trenton Higgins
3/20/2015 01:16:26 am
I completely agree with your definition of the American dream.
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Will Page
3/19/2015 04:07:56 am
I think the American Dream is reaching your own terms of success. Generally speaking, the term applies to monetary success, which leads to other forms. I think that our parents' definition was a lot different in the goals that they would set. I do not think that we can achieve our ancestors' versions of this; however, I thoroughly believe that we can achieve our own. I think that the term American Dream has been replaced with work ethic.
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Brandon Gann
3/19/2015 07:50:07 am
I couldn't find anywhere in your post to disagree, I think that you were completely right to say that we cant achieve our ancestors meaning of the American dream.
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Zac Perry
3/19/2015 12:54:20 pm
I totally agree with you. The dream is all about you and your own definition.
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Zeta Barrie
3/19/2015 04:08:42 am
In my opinion, i believe that the american dream is based on happiness. The ultimate importance of life is to be happy because without that you have nohthing. Yes,you can be successful. But if you're alone in an empty house with no one in your life with no love, no passion, no romantism, its pointless. You have money, but thats all you have. you have no one to share your life with, no one to confine in and no one to celebrate with. You cannot truely be successful without happiness.
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Raymond hale
3/19/2015 05:09:35 am
I agree, many people need happiness to have a dream.
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kyle wychuyse
3/19/2015 05:18:47 am
I think your idea on the American dream is good and it complies to what I think most people would say what the American dream is.
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Kara Gerniski
3/19/2015 05:21:18 am
I agree, you need happiness to be successful. If your not happy then what's the point?
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Kylie Cutlip
3/19/2015 06:47:48 am
I agree, success and happiness go hand in hand.
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Nicole Killinger
3/19/2015 07:33:58 am
I agree with you 100% happiness is the key. Yeah you might be successful, but if your not happy there is not point.
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Daevon Morgan
3/19/2015 07:48:01 am
Not everyone needs someone to be happy with, I don't think so at least. I believe that some like to venture out for success in an independent manner. It's nice to have people sometimes, but I don't think that love/romance is a huge necessity for this American Dream.
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Jaela Jones
3/19/2015 08:38:13 am
I agree with Daevon because people can be happy in different ways. Some people don't need others to be happy. Their happiness could be money or material items if that's what they want at heart.
Lauren Barczak
3/19/2015 10:12:39 am
I agree that happiness is the ultimate American Dream and it is more important then having a lot of money.
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hunter t
3/19/2015 11:27:42 am
I agree with Zeta because yea you can be wealthy, and very successful but it doesn't mean anything if you aren't happy with your life.
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Brooklynn Schmanski
3/19/2015 12:12:01 pm
Zeta what you wrote was really good. Happiness is the key to a fullfilled life. And so is companionship.
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Zeta barrie
3/19/2015 12:38:12 pm
Part 2 Bc I forget the second half-
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Keira Speights
3/19/2015 11:01:41 pm
I strongly disagree with this you can be happy without a person in your life.
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Raymond Hale
3/19/2015 05:06:32 am
The American dream is based on life goals and how people can go forward to reach their goal. maybe some grandparents have the same American dream as others in the family but in todays generation, we think different. some humans in our generation say the American dream is technology. this is saying mainly that most people will find their dream themselves or they might not believe in it.
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Nick Powers
3/26/2015 07:53:30 am
I think your definition is the same as mine and i agree with yours 100%, good job.
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Kara Gerniski
3/19/2015 05:19:08 am
My definition of the American Dream is growing up to be successful and happy with my life. My definition of the American Dream wasn't really that different from my parents they also said they want to be successful. I personally don't think are whole generation will attain our relatives version because our generation just keeps getting lazy and lazier. However, I do believe some of us will be successful and accomplish what they want to. I believe in the American Dream however, some may not.
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Esmeralda Celaj
3/19/2015 09:31:26 am
I agree with you 100 percent, our generation is getting lazy and lazier.
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Zeta barrie
3/19/2015 12:39:18 pm
I believe that people are getting lazier and lazier also, and I agree that there will always be people who work harder than others.
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kyle wychuyse
3/19/2015 05:25:10 am
The American dream can be looked at many different ways depending on how you feel about it. my opinion on the American dream is simply being happy and doing what you want to do. I think most people would agree with this because if your happy in life then what else can you ask for. I believe if a person can accomplish this then they should feel overall successful with their life. the American dream is all about you and what you as a person wants to achieve. without a person actually trying in their life they will only get what they work for. so everyone can get the American if they want it.
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Kylie Cutlip
3/19/2015 05:44:48 am
The American dream is the belief that anyone in this country, regardless whether the were born here or not, can start with nothing and raise to the top. Equal opportunity if you will. However, the definition can vary from person to person. Some of the members of my family have many different views. my Dad for example, sees the American dream as getting a tone of money so you and your family can be happy and together. As for myself, my dream is to become a successful graphic novelist and support my little siblings so they have enough money to go to college without paying off a huge loan. However, today I think that many Americans believe that the American Dream is dead. It takes three times the effort to accomplish the same goals today than it did 30 years ago. This however doesn't discourage everyone though, for there are still those that never give up and succeed.
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Jessica bozick
3/19/2015 07:37:01 am
I really like you poont of biew on this. I agree with it one hundred percent and couldnt have said it any better my self. I love the fact that you want to help your siblings i think thats the nicest thing ever.
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Brodey Altamirano
3/19/2015 12:11:10 pm
I agree with you that many Americans think that the dream is dead. However, I don't know if I would say that it takes more effort now than it did thirty years ago. Don't you think it might have something to do with the amount of motivation that people have now compared to thirty years ago?
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Zeta Barrie
3/19/2015 12:40:58 pm
I believe the reason it takes so much longer to be successful is because of all the new advancements we've obtained in later years, so I don't agree with you that the American Dream is dead based on the fact that it takes longer to be more successful. We have to work twice as hard to get where we want to be in life now that's all.
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Noah Cannon
3/20/2015 01:55:56 am
I agree, because the American dream can have different meanings depending n who is asked and what they feel is important to them.
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Amanda Bruce
3/19/2015 06:52:49 am
My definition of the American dream is wanting a successful, happy, and healthy life. I think my parent version would be the same. I think in my generation, most of us will realize our own version of the American dream because our generation is very different from past generations. I believe we do believe in an American dream because a lot of us have goals in life and that is to be happy, successful, and to be able to take care of ourselves when we are older.
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Jessica bozick
3/19/2015 07:26:13 am
My view on the american dream is that i am happy with what im doing in life and that im successfull. I feel that this is just an important thing that everyone needs. My parents veiws on the american dream is that you have enough money to live a good life and to be happy. I feel like our views are basically stating the same things. I feel at some point we will most likely have the same views becuase we will finally understand things the way they do. I believe that our generation all kinda has a diffrent view on everything. We all want to do diffent things it not just one plain thing we want to do in life and live. I believe that everyone is trying to reach there own american dream. I think that our generation all has diffrent american dreams that we want to achive. Its not just simple things like get a good job and fet married its more extreme things such as being rich and famous. Maybe one day our dreams will be more simple when we start to relive its not that easy to do these things.
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Daevon Morgan
3/19/2015 07:43:19 am
I agree one hundred percent when you said that the American Dream varies person by person. It's most definitely something that we have our own views on.
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Nicole Killinger
3/19/2015 07:31:24 am
I feel that the definition of the American dream is to simply be happy. Also to become something on life. For example to start a job live in a house and have a family. An American Dream should be something you work hard for. I think that my mom and dad have the same dream. To simply be happy in life and to be successful. If we work hard enough and don't get lazy I think that we can all have the American Dream. But this generation can be very lazy and sometimes people go the easy way out. But I think we all have an American Dream. And if everyone works hard, I think that it will come true. I think even in this generation we all have an American Dream. But they are not all the same thing.
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Lauren Barczak
3/19/2015 10:14:42 am
I agree with you, achieving your dream is something your work hard towards to and if you don't, don't expect it to be handed to you.
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Shayna Suit
3/19/2015 01:35:01 pm
I agree with you that our generation is lazy sometimes. We thrive off of instant gratification, which can get in the way of our dreams.
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Daevon Morgan
3/19/2015 07:41:15 am
The "American Dream" varies from person to person. All of us have our own individual perception of what the American Dream is, personally. But I think we can all agree that this contains the idea that all people will have an equal opportunity to achieve goals out there in this country, thus gaining interminable happiness. My idea of the American Dream is pretty much that in its simplest form. I think now, in this generation, the hope of that is lost. No one really thinks about it anymore, we just do what we have to do in means of being successful. We aren't , or at least I'm not, really looking at what the American Dream is supposed to be since it may very so be deseased.
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Taylor g
3/19/2015 10:36:42 am
I agree with you . It's different for every person
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Jalen McGimpsey
3/19/2015 12:16:43 pm
I do think what he has stated is very much true. That each person will have there own american dream but most of our generation might well have the same american dream.i Do think that it should have something to do with equal oppurtunity because every one does not have the same oppurtunity's because it will be harder for you as a person to achieve your dream.Altogether i do agree with what you have stated
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Brandon Gann
3/19/2015 07:47:30 am
The American Dream, an idea that has caused millions of people from other parts of the world to flock to our country. I think that the perception of this dream can change, depending on who you ask, as can anything. Say 50 or so years ago, the American Dream was to, if you already lived here, open a business, work, make money, and then hopefully live quite lavishly or at least be well off. If you were from another country, the American Dream was to escape the life you were currently living and start new, find a job, and live freely. This idea is what many live on hoping that they may live that dream, though I cant necessarily say that I see the dream that way. I see the American Dream as going to school, then college, graduating, finding a job, working and enjoying it too, then later retiring and being for the most part, well off. I think that many people my age want to believe that there is still an American Dream, but with the little opportunity and vast number of people trying to live that dream, it can seem impossible to achieve, causing many to simply not to worry or believe in it.
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Justin Lenard
3/19/2015 11:34:57 am
I agree with you, we all beleive that there is an American Dream but as time goes by, opportunities are getting smaller which may cause most to stop beleiving.
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Alyssa Ziemianski
3/19/2015 08:07:57 am
Based on the article we read in class I feel that the American Dream is based on happiness, freedom, and what your view of success is. This dream is both the same and different from our parent’s and grandparent’s generations because we have a much more advanced society with more knowledge and technology. Since society has progressed in the direction that it has people don’t know what it is like to have to work the way they used too. The older generations, such as those of the World War II era, were very hardworking and patriotic because they needed to be and having those characteristics was all that they knew. Therefore, I don’t think that the new generations will attain our relative’s version of the American Dream because we have the resources that allow us to be lazy. The new generation’s version of the American Dream is much more laid back and easier to achieve than in the past. The American Dream, in today’s generation, is simply living life to the fullest and working to get what you want, but still using all of the new resources to help you in the process.
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Brodey Altamirano
3/19/2015 12:13:31 pm
I absolutely agree with you on your point about how our generation is so much lazier than those before us. As a direct result of our laziness it causes to believe that our Dream is unattainable just because we don't want to put in the hard work.
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David Goralczyk
3/20/2015 12:43:27 am
I do agree with you saying our generation is lazy but I think they also don't have the will to work.
Dominique Martin
3/19/2015 08:11:55 am
I believe that the "American Dream" is of course perceived differently by everybody whether the difference be great or not. My definition, however, is being happy and wealthy and being able to live a stress-free life. The American Dream to my parents is defined the same as mine. I think our generation would agree while having their own opinions of such as well. I feel as though this is not just the American Dream but others around the worlds' dream.
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Esmeralda Celaj
3/19/2015 09:29:49 am
I believe that the American dream is to be successful in life and happy. Most people In this generation think that the American Dream is to be wealthy. People in this generation need to work hard for their American Dream if they don't work hard then they won't achieve their American dream. My American Dream is to be a dentist, I need to do a lot of hard work to achieve the American dream, I need to go to a good college and get a great job so I can live a wonderful and happy life. My parents American Dream was the same as mine, to be successful. I think my generation believes in the American Dream and some may not. Some will be successful and accomplish the things they want. I believe in my American Dream, but some people may not.
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David Goralczyk
3/20/2015 12:41:57 am
I definitely agree with your idea of the American dream.
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Jaela Jones
3/19/2015 09:30:45 am
I think the "American Dream" is seen differently through everyones eyes. We live in a generation where we can accomplish more things than our grandparents and parents. I think all they ever wanted was to accomplish things in life like be success, have money, and chase their dreams. Mainly I think happiness is the key to the "American Dream". They wanted to be happy but happiness could be brought to someone in different way like success. That's what they wanted and to say they worked for it makes you even happier. In conclusion, I think they just wanted to be happy with success to prove it.
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Taylor g
3/19/2015 10:32:35 am
I agree with you 100% happiness if the key thing in the American dream with mostly everyone
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Lauren Barczak
3/19/2015 10:05:23 am
My definition of the American Dream is to attend college, have a successful career, get married, buy a house, and have a family. I don’t believe the dream was the same when my grandparents were young. At that time, they finished high school and some attended college, get married, and have kids all on a single income. Today everyone works, men and women. Households usually have two incomes. Also, saving up for retirement is thought of sooner in today’s society verses my grandparents time. I think everyone has their own perception of the American Dream. Some want to have a family and some may invest all their time in their work and fee like the have succeed the American Dream. I don’t believe that the American Dream has gone away. Many of us have been asked if we want marriage in the future or to have kids or to go to college and many of us have said yes to all three. The dream for everyone is different and that is what makes America diverse; everyone going into different paths but hopefully succeeding in the end.
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Hunter T
3/19/2015 11:25:40 am
I agree with Lauren because a lot of people see the American Dream as having a life as close to perfect as possible, and being very successful.
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marissa michels
3/19/2015 10:21:58 am
My definition of the American Dream is to be content with the life you live and are happy with what you have and doing what you love mist in this world. The American Dream should not be about money because some people are still happy with little money just as much as families with a lot of money. I think today's generation has a completely different view on the american dream, our society todays is 100% different from when our parents or grandparents where teenagers. i think that our generation will achieve there idea of a American dream not what there relatives wanted when they were younger, but they have to work just as hard to achieve it, if you don't put in the work you wont gain anything in life. Life would is all about working hard to be successful. yes i 100 percent think that my generation believes in a American Dream. It should be something that you work hard for, a Dream shouldn't be just handed to you cause then it's not appreciated as much as when you work for what you want.
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Taylor graczyk
3/19/2015 10:30:00 am
My definition is being happy with a job you love, being able to love comfortably, and to be able to support your family. The older generation had most likely different views on the American dream. The dream is to still be able to buy a house and a car but there are different things they wanted to love up to back then. I think that this generation can attain their dreams if they try hard enough and challenge themselves .
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Jalen McGimpsey
3/19/2015 12:13:28 pm
I agree with taylor i think that the american dream is basically made up of those 2 or 3 things you have listed.I do think that what she said about how if like we apply our selves we can make the dream come true.
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Brandon Manardo
3/19/2015 10:34:43 am
In my opinion the American Dream is giving everyone and anyone the equal oportunity to reach their own goal and life dreams. Now this dream can change from person to person. This American Dream could be achieved through happiness and completing your personal goals, and for others this dream can be becoming flighy rich. In this current generation some people will Say that it is becoming difficult to achieve this dream because of how it is becoming more difficult to get college acceptence and finding a job.But this can be overcomed if that person is willing to do the extra work to achieve their American Dream.
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Justin Lenard
3/19/2015 11:32:29 am
I beleive the American Dream is becoming successful and accomplishing your own personal goals throughout your life while being able to support yourself and family. The American Dream is similar to what it used to be. From times back then to now, the goal is to live your life as successful as possible and follow your dreams and goals that will get you through life. The people in our generation will have a different explanation for the American Dream but all of us in this generation still follow the values of living a successful life and accomplish the goals and dreams set for the future. I do beleive that the generation we have does beleive in the American Dream and we might all have a different definition of the American dream but we still beleive in it.
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Zac Perry
3/19/2015 12:57:17 pm
The American dream is about you. I agree with your response. I do not agree with the similarities of our generations dream and our parents generation though. I think they are different in certain ways.
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hunter t
3/19/2015 11:35:26 am
My definition of the American Dream is being successful and also being happy. Everybody wants to have a good job, nice house, wealthy, and perfect family; but that will all mean nothing if you are completely miserable. The more current version of it definitely is different than out grandparents because they had this picture perfect life with a stay at home mom, large family, and big house complete with a white picket fence. Our generation still wants nice things but we also care a lot about being happy, but a large part of society is lazy which makes it hard for us to accomplish anything.
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Brooklynn Schmanski
3/19/2015 12:10:00 pm
What you said about our generation being lazy is COMPLETELY true... No one cares enough to try to do something with themselves so they just depend on their parents to feed them money.
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Jaylon Wells
3/19/2015 12:47:29 pm
I dont completly agree with Hunter or Brooklyn because the way I see it our generation isn't lazy or a disappointment, but it is full of potential but we just need to be taught howbto use that potential. We are very complacent.
Gjergj
3/20/2015 02:28:31 am
I also believe the American Dream is about being happy and being succesful as in a good job that you enjoy.
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Brodey Altamirano
3/19/2015 12:06:50 pm
As someone who strongly believes in hard-work and dedication to get what you want in life, I believe that the American Dream is a fundamental idea for American society. The American Dream to me is just being happy; whether your definition of happy has to do with financial happiness, personal happiness or even religious happiness, it all in the end is just being happy. I don't believe that the dream I believe in is any different from that of my grandparents, I believe that they wanted the same as me; be happy and be able to provide a healthy living environment for my family to ensure their happiness as well. In the end I believe that the American Dream will be the same for all generations; just to find and do what makes us happy. I don't think that we are in a position to change the way we perceive the American Dream, if you ask anyone in this country if they would do something if it made them happy, almost all would probably say yes. Everyone in the world pursues happiness and whether or not that happiness comes from material things or from deep inside you, we are all striving toward the same goal. I believe that the American Dream is here to stay, it may not seem like it but if we are all striving for a life well lived and to be happy, then in my book we are all trying to live the American Dream.
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Brooklynn Schmanski
3/19/2015 12:08:35 pm
I believe the so called "American Dream" has various meanings. I feel that the most common meaning is to have a successful career, a stress free life, and a happy family. People want to live life without the stress of "what bills need to be paid next". Our view on this and our grandparents view have many similarities and few differences. Ever since our grandparents time, or even before then, people have wanted to be successful and be happy. That is still wanted today. But to be these things today take MUCH more time, effort, and money. Back when our grandparents were raising our parents, there were economic struggles, but they all were still happy with the little things in life. It seems to me that it takes much more for our generation to be "happy" and live the "American Dream". Collectively, I believe that half our generation believes in this dream and the other half are lazy and are to dependent on their parents to be able to go out and live the "American Dream".
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Jalen McGimpsey
3/19/2015 12:10:42 pm
My version of the american ream is not only being able to provide financialy for yourself but for your family as well. I think that my parents and grandparents version of the american dream is very much similar to mine being able to provide and be there for your family.I don't think that as a generation we will attain the same version as our elders. Just based on technology by itself because it will become easier and easier to make that dream happen not only for our generation but for other generations as well.I do think that at some point in your life wether it is now or it is later on in life you will come to know your american dream. I really don't believe that my generation as a whole doesn't really think about it as much as we maybe should. Just because we always have heard that the american dream is mostly used with minorities not real american born people. Like we are already born an american so with that fact it would make it easier in general for us to do most of the things that non native born could not.
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Jaylon Wells
3/19/2015 12:44:02 pm
I like Jalen's response because he rreally goes into depth about other perspectives and what different minds may think.
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Nick Powers
3/26/2015 07:52:39 am
I agree with your definition of a American Dream. And that you would have to provide a good financial life for your children, good job.
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Jaylon Wells
3/19/2015 12:41:20 pm
In my personal opinion I dont believe that I fully understand my vereion of the American dream and what it is to live in America just yet. But I can be sure that it wont to much differen than my mother's American Dream. To my mom the American dream is simple; grow up right, be successful in life, and enjoy living life. Those three main things are what I invision the american dream to be as well. My mother believes that the american dream is easy to invision but hard to achieve. She believes that this dream must be achieved by using the very things that built this country from the ground up; patience, ingenuity, determination, motivation, courage, and pure strength. These are all things that I believe are needed to achieve this dream. In my generation, it seems that we have lost the concept of the American Dream. This is, in-part, because of technology because it amakes things easier for us and tlin today's society most teens dont actually have to do physical labor or work for anything...generally speaking. We dont know what it means to work for things that we recieve. Everyone is so caught up in this glamorous life they have lost sight of what the american dream really is. And it is for this specific reason that my mother has been instilling in me and my brothers the good personality qualities that she believes are the key to achieving the american dream. She looks at our generation and she doesn't see a disappointment but she sees potential and that is what I admire about her.
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Shayna Suit
3/19/2015 01:44:08 pm
I agree that our generation has kind of lost sight of what we are capable of. I think that what you said about personality is very true, and an important thing to have.
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Zac Perry
3/19/2015 12:51:38 pm
I think the American dream is making something of yourself and to believe what you want to believe and not be ridiculed about it. I think people of the generation before me is all about living in harmony and respecting each other. I believe that our generation will not achieve this because there will always be racism and differences and more and more will just come along. As for my American dream, people will be able to achieve half of it. People can make something of themselves, but people will always think of someone else as wrong because they are a different color, or different beliefs. I think my generation has thought the American dream as dead. We believe we are always right and we are entitled to everything. My generation thinks the American dream is unattainable and will never be a thing again.
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Keira Speights
3/19/2015 10:58:06 pm
I agree with 100% this is exactly what I was trying to explain.
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Nora
3/19/2015 11:41:48 pm
100% true. everyone has their own different beliefs on the american dream and own opinions. goooooooooodjob
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Gjergj Markaj
3/20/2015 02:26:14 am
I agree, I think you brought out some great points about the American Dream and how people view it.
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Shayna Suit
3/19/2015 01:29:02 pm
My definition of the American Dream is to do what makes you happy and personally successful. I think that it is the same or similar to our parents and grandparents definitions. Many peoples' idea of success and happiness is to make a lot of money; however, it is much more difficult to obtain these dreams as it was before. As more people want to have a lot of money, more competitiveness to achieve this accumulates. As time goes on, it takes more and more work to get to where many want to be. Most people dream of being "successful", however many do not have the motivation and self-determination to do so. If you are creative and have enough motivation and self-determination, you can create your own success.
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Nora
3/19/2015 11:39:03 pm
I agree. most of the dream that is in with in people is being successful or having the right amount of motivation to achieve this.
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Keira Speights
3/19/2015 10:56:53 pm
I think that the American dream is a dream people want to live up to. I think that the American dream is something you live up to, you can start with nothing in America and you can become successful later on in life. Everyone wants to live up to that and some people won't live up to the dream. Its also about being that american typical family. The expression is meant to live up to but to be honest I don't think anyone will only live up to the American dream.
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Cody W.
3/19/2015 11:15:22 pm
The American Dream is looked at in many diffrent ways. I believe that the American Dream are goals that you personally want to achieve or something that makes you happy.The American dream may be starting a family, purchasing a home, starting a successful business, or for some it might be living in the United States and having freedom. Someone who manages to achieve his or her version of the American dream is often said to be “living the dream.” I do not think the American Dream is dead, many people believe it is dead while I think it still is alive. In order to achieve your dream you have to work hard and be dedicated to what you want to achieve. Theres always failure when achieveing your dreams, and usally, when failure hits them, they end up giving up and thinking their dream is over. Its not true, because any dream that you have, can be accomplished if your work hard and are dedicated. As well, most people are lazy and think that there going to become a millionarie or whatever they want over night. It all takes time.
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Noah Cannon
3/20/2015 02:00:58 am
I agree with Cody on how people in our generation have become more lazy and expect all there wished and dreams to come true over night when in reality it takes time, but if you believe in it and keep trying you can succeed. But it will not be handed t you.
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Nora
3/19/2015 11:38:03 pm
My definition of the American dream is that its a dream everyone wants to accomplish and be able to fulfill in the future. It could for many things, maybe your dream job, or the life of being successful and having good amount of money to either support your family or yourself. Also to have enough of freedom. It is different from my grandparents version because before it wasnt all that strict about school and the jobs werent more advanced back then how it is now. I do not think our generation will attain my relatives american dream as to what their dream was from before, and now their perspective has changed and most of their dream is wanting us and them to have a good job so they can be supportive of themselves or the family around themselves. I think everyone individually has their own different kind of view of an american dream, some have their own opinions on it or some dont even believe in an american dream. I think most people just want to achieve something that makes them successful in what they do.
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Carter petty
3/20/2015 12:31:27 am
What I belive the American Dream is, is simply just a dream. A fantasy we all have, a dream to be someone better, to do something better or to have something better and as an individual I believe everyone has their own dream, their own wishes and desires. Will ones American Dream come true ? Well a dream is a dream and what you do with it is up to you.
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Cody W
3/20/2015 01:56:00 am
I agree, dreams can come true
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David
3/20/2015 12:38:23 am
I think the American dream is to be financially stable and in the middle class and be able to miss work on days that you have to. I definitely think my grandparets had a different version of the American dream and I dont think our generation will ever realize the true American dream.
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Cody W
3/20/2015 01:57:45 am
I agree, not everyone will realize the true American dream
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Justin Sochko
3/20/2015 12:49:02 am
My definition of the American dream would be that you have worked hard for what you have, you didn't take an easy way out, you worked hard and did what you had to do. You have a nice family and nice house and you live a very well life, you are wealthy enough to afford nice things but you don't need extravagances. I think this correlates almost perfect with the "American Dream" my grandparents had. That was the idea of almost all people in the 40's 50's and 60's, you went to school and when you got out you got a job, like most and my grandfather, at an automotive plant or something of that sort, and you worked hard and got married and built your family around it. I that by working hard and believing in yourself you can obtain the American Dream. Our generation has been tainted by the media and modern culture to think the American dream is all about money and being famous and such. I do believe our generation will realize the American Dream is still very much alive and will soon again be the goals of the young American person.
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Trenton Higgins
3/20/2015 01:12:41 am
My definition of the American dream is a goal that you have and can live that dream with success and also have wealth with it. I also think that when u have your American dream you will have a family and live comfortably. I think that my version of the American dream is different than my parents and grandparents. My parents definition is probably to be able to support your family, make money, and get an education. I think that differs from my grandparents version of the American dream. I think my grandparents version is to have opportunity be cause in other countries you don't have as much opportunity as you do here. I also think my grandparents version includes supporting your family and making money. I think that our generation will reach the American dream and will have one in the future once we realized the opportunities out in the world.
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Celina Trucano
3/20/2015 01:41:54 am
My idea of the American Dream is to go to college, get married, have kids, be successful in whatever field I decide to go into, and just be happy. My grandparents and parents probably had more of a chance to achieve their dreams because there wasnt as much technology taking over jobs as there is today. Our generation can achieve the American Dream, but we would have to be motivated and work towards what we want.
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liz offer
3/20/2015 03:28:03 am
I agree! I think that technology is taking over everything and the American dream will be very diffrent in the future
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Noah Cannon
3/20/2015 01:54:27 am
I believe that I have the same feeling as my relatives for the American Dream. I believe that the dream can vary depending on who is asked but in my opinion the dream is to be able to have success that you couldn't obtain in your old country ad be able to have you own thoughts with out you government stepping in and not allowing this.. And I believe that our generation can achieve the dream of expressing your thoughts and being successful in whatever you choice to do in life. And although I think that the idea of an American dream has declined I still believe there are those in this generation that still invasion this dream!
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Gjergj Markaj
3/20/2015 02:25:00 am
I believe the American Dream is about believing in yourself and saying to yourself, that you can do it. Whatever you strive to do and become, as long as its positive, that it is possible. I think there still is some racism as long as it keeps being brought up in society. There will always be the ones to call it racism whenever someone is offended and happens to be a minority. I believe that our parents dream and the ones that kids of our generation are very different and the dream that will be achived will be different from those in the past. I do believe the dream still exists its just that its different and people havent yet realized that.
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Raquel Jackson
3/20/2015 03:09:57 am
I agree with you completely because if we do not have that determination then we cannot succeed. Once you begin to believe in yourself, it becomes easier for you to succeed.
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liz offer
3/20/2015 03:26:54 am
I totatlly agree with you on this. beliving in your self and saying I can do it can have a huge effect on your life.
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chad Onion
3/20/2015 02:27:36 am
My definition of the American Dream is to be happy. Most people want to be successful, have a family, and even do what you've always wanted to do. It is different than my parents because all my mom does is work and thats all she did when she was little and that goes the same for my grandparents. My parents dont want me sitting around cause they want me to be productive rather than eat cheetos and play xbox all day. I dont think all people will attain our relatives dream because other have different mindsets and goals for themselves. I also think that some do believe in the american dream, but i also think it has been substituted by something else. Everyone wants to be that person in that picture having that exotic car, or very expensive house, or even being with that certain girl. In reality the american dream is all decided by you.
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Raquel Jackson
3/20/2015 03:08:01 am
The America Dream has many different views, good and bad. In my opinion of the American dream to be happy and successful. i want to be happy but i also want to be in a good place in life. I don't want to be living on the side of the road, i want to have a good living, and be happy not miserable. This generation could be successful if they have that determination needed to get there. Some people want things to just come to them, they take the easy way out of everything. But not everyone expects that in life, these people work hard, and try to be independent. My mom's American dream is so be mainly successful because she lived with just enough money to have what she needed, so this pushed her to be better in order to allow me the life i live now.
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Jasmyne Taylor
3/21/2015 01:09:40 am
This is very true. Our generation expects everything to come to them without putting in the work
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liz offer
3/20/2015 03:25:07 am
I feel that the American dream is different from everyone's perspective. everyone has a goal they want to achieve and things they want to accomplish to be successful. In my opinion my american dream is to live a happy and have a successful life. I want to be happy because it's never good to be sad and hate your life. you want to feel that your lucky to be who are you and being happy makes life a lot more fun. I want to be succesful because it shows that I actully did soemthing good while I was living and made my life a good life that I was happy to live. I think that my relatives have the same american dream as me. I think they all want to be happy and succesful. I do think in the future the American dream will be very different and not at all as it today.
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Jasmyne Taylor
3/21/2015 01:08:00 am
I agree with the fact that everyone just wants to be happy. It's just the definition of happy in our generation is different from our parents generation.
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Jasmyne Taylor
3/21/2015 01:05:51 am
After reading this article I come to the conclusion that the American Dream was more of a goal in the past then it is now. I think the American Dream back then was have 2 children, a nice house, working husband, and a house wife. Nowadays I believe that dream has changed a lot. For instance my generation is more intrested in being famous, having a lot of money, fast cars, and standing out in anyway. It seems as if everyone is trying to be a nonconformist. I wouldn't say I don't believe in a American Dream, but I just think my future dream is probably different then my peers.
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Nick Powers
3/26/2015 07:50:51 am
I believe that the American Dream is something that people have to reach in a certain period of time in there life. Having a good life after school, a good family, a good job and having fun with your life would be my definition of the american dream, i feel as if everyone else has their own way in a "American Dream". Some people might think its based on money, others think its about education, or having a successful life. I feel as if everyone in their life will sometime experience their own "American Dream". But the American Dream might not be something given to you, but you would have to work hard to achieve it.
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Kanai Dozier
3/26/2015 09:49:23 am
I think that the American Dream is being or coming to America to pursue whatever you would like within the law; the idea of freedom. I think my parents and grandparents' idea of the American are different than mine in the way that they are probably more specific and have to do with overcoming the boundaries they faced in their time. I think that it is very much possible for my generation to achieve the American Dream as long as we try hard enough and pursue it with a common goal. My generation is very much more advanced than my parents and grandparents' generation so the ideas of the American Dream have changed, but I think that we have mostly attained what they believe the American Dream was. We are now able to do more things than they were, go more places, and experience a better life than they were able to, since the boundaries are different now; the ideas have definitely changed. I think that my generation has an idea of what we think the American Dream is, but we don't exactly aim to reach it. My generation definitely doesn't believe collectively in the same idea of the American Dream because a lot has changed and there are factors that we think very differently of than one another which contributes to our not having the same idea on what the American Dream truly is. Some people are very simple minded and uneducated, so they do not care what the American Dream is and most aliens strive more for the American Dream than us Americans actually do. We let the foreign people take over our country and accomplish things that we obviously could, but are too lazy and uneducated to know the things right in front of us. I don't think that my generation has exactly substituted the American Dream purposely, but we don't think of it as heavily or valuable as older generations because there is more freedom in the world now than just 60 years ago.
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