The American Dream

[kigeni]

Dear Internet,

What exactly were you raised to believe was the American dream?

I have my own ideas, and I will share them shortly, but I am curious what you have experienced. Feel free to respond even if you aren't American. ;)

Truly,
Kigs

Comments

[magpie_dragon]

I was raised to believe that if you work hard you can be/do anything. Always with the side note, to consider some sort of income so I would have somewhere to live and something to eat. Do what makes you happy, but don't forget about basic needs.

I have no idea how this relates to the American dream at all. Last I heard it was something about living in suburbia. If I had to guess for now it is more closely tied with being trendy and probably involves lattes and being "busy".

[sanura]

I pretty much just learned about it in school, where we were taught that it was basically hoisting yourself by your bootstraps and ensuring that your kids had a better life than you.

[pac]

no one ever told me what the american dream was.

[chaoseven]

I would say that it was best left to your own idealized pursuits in life. At that point in time, I thought about freelance journalism, out on the road...

[synchra]

I don't think my parents ever used "American dream" as some sort of life goal for me but I learned in middle school what the classic "American dream" was in our.. American history...??? hahahah.