Harvey Milk American Dream

Freedom and the American Dream are both something that Americans stand and strive for in the United States. For many it is a major part of our lives, for some more than others. When the American Dream is asked to be explained or defined a common response is that it is an accomplishment of wealth and prosperity through hard work and success, especially those living in the United States. When searched, the American Dream is described as “the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American” (American Dream, Dictionary.com). This description plays a major role as these are the goals that were set to come from the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Many fought for the right to be free especially when it came to racial inequality in our country but many did not receive these benefits or opportunities of equality as there were negative and positive effects that came directly from the Civil Rights Movement.

The American Dream is often one of the most well-known benefits of living in America. It is the push factor that has driven millions of foreigners to flock to the so-called land of opportunity. Originally, the American Dream was established by a clause in the Declaration of Independence. It reads, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence par. 2). The original American Dream, as laid out by the founding fathers, was freedom from religious persecution and the right to live a happy life. That simple idea has undergone a significant metamorphosis and now the American Dream is much more complex. It has turned into a deep avaricious dream. This transformation has been noted in contemporary literature, especially in the novels Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. These pieces of literature can be read as a larger commentary on the mutation of the American Dream and how it is now more of a negative desire for greed and material. Both Fitzgerald and Alexie surmise that the American Dream has been twisted and corrupted into an uncontrolled desire that has become unattainable for many and that the pursuit of the dream has become dangerous.

While many people view the achievement of the American Dream as the highest form of success, it is really a false reality built on an ongoing history of white supremacy and superiority. “The Dream” is one that is held by the willfully ignorant, those believing themselves to be white, and people who do not wish to reflect on the issues of race and discrimination transpiring in modern day society. As a result, “The Dream” is consequentially detrimental to the African American race.

Stretching across ten countries and spanning over four thousand miles, the Nile River became the heart of Egyptian civilization. The lower (northern) Nile overflowed its banks several months out of the year before the creation of the Aswan High Dam in 1970. When the floodwaters receded, they left a new layer of rich silt behind, making the surrounding valley and delta a fertile and desirable habitat. As early as 8000 BCE, the people who inhabited the valley of the world’s longest river became relatively sedentary and in 5000 BCE they adopted the agricultural village life commonly associated with Neolithic culture. Throughout the Predynastic period, the North African climate was immensely dry. In order to combat this problem, many villages formed alliances that worked to control the river’s flow. Over time, these small federations of villages conquered and absorbed other weaker ones. As communities grew into chiefdoms, they began to advance rapidly toward refined civilization shortly after 3600 BCE.

Amid the copious countries on Earth there are not many as developed as America. The pledge to protect justice and freedom has made us a more open-minded and adaptable community. In our country all children can receive an education, everyone has a chance to afford health care, and no one can be denied rights because they are different. The freedom to be yourself and hold your own opinion are not only tolerated, but encouraged. Unlike many less fortunate people we can follow our own religion and strive for our own dreams. Of Course, other places are very successful and formidable, but only a selected few actually promote individuals rights in general. These many attributes contribute to why the American Dream is alive and more well than ever.

In the poem “Who Burns for the Perfection of Paper” by Martin Espada, He explains how at a young age, he started working in a paper factory. Then over the years, he furthered his education and worked very hard. And at the end of the poem, he is in law school using the paper pads that he used to make. This is a prime example of the American Dream because it shows how someone who started at the very bottom, worked his way up to the top to achieve everything that he wanted. Another example of this can be found in the historical Document, “The Declaration of Independence” which states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Pg. 59). This statement shows that the founders of America felt and believed that every single person is given the same opportunity to live a full and happy life. This is what our government and our country lives by, so although many will say that they are not treated equal, many would also argue that the foundation of our country is in fact made by opportunity, freedom, and

The American Dream has always been a driving force in the lives of Americans. It has become a foundation of ideals and hopes for any American or immigrant. Specifically, one of the ideals that always exist is the dream of America free of class distinction. Every American hopes for a society where every person has the opportunity to be whomever he or she desire. Another ideal in the American dream is the drive to improve the quality of life. As one’s idea of the American Dream gets closer and closer, often times political and social ideals of America cause their American Dream to take a turn for the worst.

Do you know what the American dream really means? Dr.Martin Luther King Jr understood what that dream meant. King was a man who was all about equality, he believed that all men and woman no matter what race, religion or beliefs they had should all be equal. The American dream reminds us that every man is heir to the legacy of worthiness, that the dream had challenges as they faced it. Dr.King had a dream that one day America would become a better place he believed that America is essentially a dream, it was a dream that was yet unfulfilled. Yet it took us so long to discover the substance of this American dream though it was shown in the Declaration of Independence. This document had specific words that showed people what the American dream really meant, these words were “We holds these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by God, Creator, with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Dr.Martin Luther King Jr used Aristotle’s rhetorical devices ethos, logos and pathos to explain the American dream.

Harvey Milk said, “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.”(Aretha 83). Harvey Milk was the first gay politician that moved people’s hearts. He changed the way people thought about gay people back in the 1970’s. Defending homosexuals from criticism, he civilized them with the people. Since the background of homosexuality was harsh which affected Harvey Milk’s early life, he took the action to process of becoming civilized as an officer, and he left many legacies.

Many years ago today, the United States of America was the prime example of prosperity and opportunity. It established America with the idea that its citizens would be guaranteed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, it is true that people have liberties and are free to pursue happiness. However, in recent years, in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Unemployment, growing economy inequality, and medical care have skyrocketed. Despite the odds, the American Dream is still a goal that many people strive for and hope to reach. In fact, an essay written by Brandon King, The American Dream: Dead, Alive or on Hold? He says, “the American dream is a dream in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with the opportunity for each according to his/her ability and achievement…” (King 610-611). Therefore, the problem with the American Dream lies not within the dream itself, but within the means people pursue to attain this dream.

While the meaning of the American Dream has evolved multiple times between 1865 and 1980, almost every person agreed on as to what the American Dream meant in their respective time periods. The definition of the American Dream in some form has always consisted of freedom, and the ability to advance economically. Also, in more recent times things such as owning a suburban home, moving into the middle-class, being able to spend on consumer goods, and having a perfect family became a part of the American Dream. However, throughout American history there has always been groups who have not had equal access to the American Dream. External factors such as legislation, racism, sexism, and the political environment, resulted in former slaves, blacks, poor Americans, women, and immigrants not having fair access to aspects of the American Dream such as complete freedom, equal opportunity, the ability to advance economically, and the ability to enjoy the luxuries of an affluent society. Between 1865 and 1900 former slaves did not have equal access to aspects of freedom such as, “Self-ownership, family stability, religious liberty, political participation, and economic autonomy.” Later on, between 1900 and 1939 lower-class Americans, women, and immigrants did not have equal opportunity to advance economically. Later on, the American economy shifted after the second World War, and Americans were moving into the middle-class, however blacks, and immigrants did not have equal access to the

The American Dream as it is defined cannot simply hold true without preservation of it’s ideals. An ideal is maintained by the people. Enjoying the benefits the American Dream promises requires each person to uphold its ideals among his fellows. If this were the case, the original definition might have been preserved. The problem is that other factors kicked in which prioritized wealth and status among people which interfered with the ability of others to pursue the dream. From there, the American Dream gradually changed from hard work to status.

The American dream, an idea that is inextricably linked with liberal democratic principles, is based on the notion that on American soil, every person has equal access to opportunity and fair treatment under the law. America has been, and continues to be a primary destination for millions of immigrants from around the globe because it promises hope, freedom, and most important, a fair chance; migration to America has been predicated on the belief that with hard work and determination, success will eventually come. However, today, whenever the American dream is uttered, a negative connotation too often appears to be attached to it. There’s a certain attitude of pessimism as those who speak of it attempt to argue that the dream is dead,

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This statement of declaration holds the founding ideas of the American Dream that “all men are created equal with certain rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. American culture has implanted the idea that we live in a land of opportunity where the American Dream is possible for all citizens. Millions of people from across the globe travel to the United States with the hopes of gaining a piece of the pie (The American Dream). This declaration sounds convincing and easily obtainable, but it is? In his article, “Master of Desire,” Jack Solomon states “The American dream has two faces: the one communally egalitarian and the other competitively elitist…Even as America’s great myth of equality celebrates the virtues of mom and apple pie, it also lures us to achieve social distinction, to rise above the crowd and bask alone in the glory”. Simply put, the American dream promotes the concept of “one for all and all for one” yet entices its citizens with the idea that to succeed it’s every man for themselves. Jack Solomon was right in his claim that the American dream incites competition, yet competition is necessary to achieve success.

Throughout history America has been the arriving place of immigrants searching for a better life. America is perceived as the land were endless opportunities are available. The greatest explanation of the American dream is Martin Luther King, Jr. speech; I Have a Dream. Dr. King speech is more like a testimony of truth, rather than a speech. At the time of his speech African Americans were not free, while the Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal. Dr. King’s movement established the way for the idea that there is an American dream. The idea that somebody can be anything they would like to be. This idea is still relevant now in America. Americans pursue their dream everyday by having the opportunity to attend