! Chapter 4 Summary Essay Living the American Dream unbeatable uslåelige/ uslåelege determination besluttsomhet/handlekraft despite på tross av / trass i
gs ek s
em pl
ar
“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand” (Truman, 1947, in Aanensen & Holck, 2020). Fifty states make up the United States of America. It is known as a nation of nations and is probably the most diverse country on earth. Immigrants from all over the world have brought their individual cultures to the USA and settled across its expansive lands. Despite the diversity found in the USA, however, there is a distinct American identity which has fostered some of the greatest entrepreneurs and inventors in history, such as Henry Ford and Walt Disney. What does it mean to dream like an American, and what can we learn from them? This essay will discuss the American identity in relation to the American dream, contemporary challenges and workplace issues.
Vu
rd er
in
People from all over the world have been moving to the USA for centuries in search of the American Dream. The American Dream is a prominent part of the American identity and is the belief that you can be whatever you want to be as long as you work hard and reach for the stars. Walt Disney once said: “All of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them” (in Aanensen & Holck, 2020). However, not all Americans experience success; many live in poverty, and the logic of the American Dream could indicate that a lack of success is a personal responsibility. For instance, poverty and homelessness can be seen as a result of not working hard enough. Nonetheless, despite these issues, the USA is still known as the land of opportunity and dreams.
Discussion point
At the very core of the American identity is the idea that all people are born with the same rights and opportunities. This serves as the foundation for the American Dream and is even stated in the Declaration of Independence. According to the Declaration, “all men are created equal” and all men have rights such as “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration
188
The United States of America
diversity mangfold/ mangfald distinct tydelig/tydeleg prominent fremtredende/framståande core kjerne