Attributes and values of American identities

Collective vs. individual behavior was indeed one of the main factors that shaped American
identities in the 20th century. It is important to follow how ones man desire became the dream of
an entire nation, and I think it all began in a specific time in history.
During the 18th and the 19th centuries, when the West was considered a wilderness ripe for
exploration and economic development, Americans thought it was but abnormal to get rid the
Indians of their goods, such as petrol, gold and other precious minerals. In such conditions, they
could only dream for a better future for themselves where to be free, to have a piece of land they
can work and of course, to no longer depend on their masters. Thus, I strongly believe this is the
way how the American dream was designed.
From my point of view, I have the impression that the "American Dream" from the 18th and the
19th century is no longer the "American Dream" of today.
Once, to live the "American Dream" meant that if you worked hard you could (and would) live a
successful life. This meant you could support yourself (and your family) and you also felt
fulfilled on an individual level. Nowadays, I feel that is no longer the case. There are many
people who work hard and still barely get by.
From my point of view, if in the past the American Dream meant to have a roof above your head,
food to eat and to be free, nowadays I think is more complex than that. New times require new
desires. People in the 21st century now dream to have a big house, to be able to buy a car for their
family, and why not, since America is rather a country where violence and brutality happens
regularly, to feel safe and protected, to feel that you are worth it, regardless your gender or race.
As far as Im concerned, I do believe the American Dream is possible, just that people nowadays
forgot that America was not built in one day, neither in a year. That same frame of thinking
applies to the American Dream. For some it may take decades, for others, it may easily become
true in a year, and yet, we all are responsible for making it come true for every American citizen.
Hard work actually means a lot of things like working smart, working better, working safer and
working much more productive each way, and yet, not everybody can make it the whole way.
To me the American dream is to have all the necessities of life, including opportunity to have the
fruits of your labor, the moment you feel that youre not working in vain.
Moreover, the American Dream is the liberty offered to its citizens; the freedom to attend school,
to start a business, to work, to pray if you want to, and not how many things I own. Material
possessions, albeit nice, are not what life and happiness are all about.

I think that everybody has their own interpretation of the American Dream, but all within a
similar context. At one point or another, every single citizen of the United States of America is
given the opportunity to achieve their American Dream. However, people become very confused
and mistake the fact that our opportunity is not a guarantee. Only you, as an individual, can
achieve your dream. But nowhere does it say that everyone can live it.
A very good example of collective vs. individual behavior can be seen in movies such as
Malcolm X and American History X.
Malcolm X is the genuine example of the man who truly believed that the face of America and
that concerning the relationships between individuals can be improved through religion,
specifically morality. He wanted to unite both white people and people of color in harmony, to
live peacefully among each other, to end up being a society where people respect themselves and
where violence and brutality is no longer the solution for all problems(as proved in many
situations).
On the other hand, American History X is the clear image of the things unfolding in the
American society today as well as in the past. Discrimination, unemployment, poverty, hate
crimes, immigration, are some of the main issues mankind face with daily. People unsatisfied
with the injustice from the government and the local authorities unify in order to make a change
for themselves, for their families and for their future. In the end, they each actually care only for
themselves. It illustrates very well the idea of collective character and how one character can
motivate people into fighting for what he thinks is good, no matter how he chooses to solve the
problems between black and white people.
From such movies we can easily see how ones goal, which is more than a simple dream, splits
families, where hatred between gangs reigns, where moral values are broken, homes are not
anymore shaped by the beautiful values of unity and living in peace and harmony that should
characterize a family. In these movies the characters personality and concepts of life drive
people to separate from their families and act as individuals with their own ideas and perspective.
This of course leads to a gap between families and generations, because each human being cares
more about their own well and benefit.
Regardless of the fact that the Declaration of Independence states the fact that All men are
equal in front of God and of society, of law, discrimination of gender or of race is still an
important issues that not only America faces with.
On the other hand, we learned at school that the American Dream is never obtainable because
humans will never learn to be fully happy with their lives and position; they will always strive
for more and never be fulfilled with everything that they haveThus, the American Dream is
never achieved.

Duciuc Georgiana, an III E-G

gina_duciuc@yahoo.com