The article Class in America's Myths and Realities by Mantsios explains how America and society is. For example, most people that don't live in the U.S., probably think living here is much easier and less stressful because of the way our country portrays itself. In reality,the secret is that no matter how hard you work, you may never become as successful as how you want to be. Some people can work hard all their life, and still be categorized as low to middle class. The article explains that we try to avoid categorizing whose higher class than the other, whose making more than the other, and that everyone can be successful if they just work hard. Our society tries to "tell" others that it's easy to become wealthy if you just put in your best ability. However, what society doesn't tell you is that working just to be where you want to be in life is challenging.
How do you think citizens of other countries view ours? When they hear America do they think that we are all privileged and rich? I have never really thought about what other people think of us and our lifestyles. I suppose that since the United States is a world power that others view us as superior. If only they knew about all of the negative situations that occur on a daily basis would they realize that we aren't so different after all.
ReplyDeleteI really thought your post was well written and very interesting. I absolutely agree, I feel as though globally America is portrayed as "The Land of Opportunity" but that is not always the case. There is a less obvious class system in America that can make it difficult for one to obtain the true "American dream".
ReplyDeletein my opinion i feel that all people should realize how hard it is to truly achieve the "american dream" and be successful. if it were that easy then there would be no poverty or upper class. every society has these class settings unfortunately but america is one of the few countries where you can start from the bottom and make it to the top. yes the american dream is no easy task but if your willing to work hard and over come adversity you will find success
ReplyDeleteHonestly your right on the ball, these days, it seems like you need to have that "billion dollar idea" or be lucky to move up from where you are now. They say that our generation will be the first one to not surpass our parents, but I challenge that. I aim to do better, be better and make myself happy.
ReplyDeleteAmerica has always portrayed themselves as the country with opportunity. The truth is that it is, but there are many other countries where you can work hard and become successful. Such as Canada, major countries in Europe, and surprisingly even some countries in Asia. While there are people that worked hard and became rich like Bill Gates who's about to be the world's first trillionare or Oprah Winfrey. But there are also other rich people outside the US.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I don't think many people understand the many drawbacks we have when trying to achieve this "American Dream". Many of us are working two jobs while trying to maintain our gpa's as students and meet our basic needs as human beings. I don't think people factor in the fact that times have changed when they throw around the term success or even personal opinions of what success means for everyone. The grass isn't always green on this side.
ReplyDeleteYou couldn't have said it any better. My last semester I wrote a paper on the American Dream. And the prompt was is the American Dream a myth or is it real. My argument was the American Dream is a myth and has always been a myth. They say in the constitution all man are equal. Where? Where do you see we are all equal? The answer is no where. No matter how hard we work and the motivation we have to succeed we will never be as rich as the white man.
ReplyDeleteI think many individuals don't understand that being wealthy doesn't define the American Dream. The American dream is the ability to live a sustainable life with few barriers. For an example, one of my closest friends immigrated here to the United States from Mexico. He lived in a poor neighborhood where resources were always scarce. When his family moved to the United States, they opened up their own small grocery store right in town. Currently, his family owns a house with a few cars and living an overall good life. I believe the term "American dream" was meant to be taken personally because everyone has their own belief of success.
ReplyDeleteThis is true for the most part, but I think it is possible to become more wealthy by working hard. It just isn't as common as society makes it seem, that's where you're correct because America does make it seem like EVERYONE can become rich, but in reality it is rare to gain wealth and usually those who are rich only get richer, while most of the people that do not have as much either have too many loans to pay off by the time they're done with school.
ReplyDeleteI believe your opinion is very much true. As Americans we all search for the American Dream that everyone wants to achieve. The successful and happy life, and it's just a dream we hope will fulfill our lives. And your statement about other countries believing that America is very grand and successful is very true. But that's a game that Americans spin off.
ReplyDeleteI agree, from what I understand many people from different countries think it would be easier to be here; when in reality it may be just as hard but in different circumstances. People want the "American Dream" but that's not a 'real' thing anymore. I feel like now in America people have to make ends meet instead of having everything they hoped for growing up. I recently watched a documentary where this man goes to different countries with the highest 'happy' rates are to see what is different from us. Their governments are so much better than ours and its really sad to see that what is supposed to be the best country in the world is lacking in so many areas.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, in my opinion people who don't live in the US view us as more privileged and successful, while in reality only a percentage of people in the US are actually that way. For example, when my grandparents immigrated to the US from Italy they thought conditions would be a lot better than where they came from and that it would be very easy for them to make money and succeed. In reality, they struggled immensely and were so poor that they had to send their 2 daughters back to Italy to be raised in an orphanage there so they could work all day in order to make enough money to support themselves. While it is very possible to make money and become successful, it definitely takes a lot of work to get there.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely. When I was in Thailand, people automatically assumed that I was rich and that I came from this magical land where everything is better and everything is high class. When in reality, we have more people living in poverty here than in most other first world countries. The perception is pretty crazy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Society makes it seem that its easy to succeed but in reality its very hard and challenging. I see it all the time. People calling us privileged just because we live in a country where we have freedom, but that doesn't mean we all are privileged. Some of us have to work very hard to succeed and sometimes our best efforts aren't even enough.
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