KeepingtheDreamAliveReflection
Daryn Tellez
Mrs. Laptalo
Am. Lit 11
August 24, 2013 “Keeping the Dream Alive” Reflection In Meacham’s article “Keeping the Dream Alive,” the focal point is on the American
Dream and his concern of it gradually fading away. He starts of by comparing the drastic differences in lifestyles today to the 19th and 20th century. During the postwar era, Americans were better, richer, and lived happier lives, the way James Adams believed the American Dream consisted of. Currently, it is difficult for many Americans to achieve the lifestyle back then.
Today’s poor economy has caused many people to have lost their jobs, money, and homes.
Certain goods have become very pricey, as well as health care and colleges. He also includes the statistic that roughly 90% of Americans see themselves in the middle class. These issues are causing the American Dream to be lost in the eyes of many Americans. Meacham’s idea of preserving the American Dream is to know the origin, how it lasted over decades, and the importance of it. According to Meacham, the American Dream started with the idea of a man’s natural right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Many Americans found ways to keep the dream alive during the 1800s through novels, like Mark Twain’s The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn. Meacham described this as an “essential element of the American Dream.”
He also includes Martin Luther King Jr.’s importance to the American Dream. Meacham also explains how the American Dream will be used in the 2013 election. He states that Obama and
Romney will discuss the American Dream, and how valued it is to them to restore and keep it alive. Meacham concludes with the fact that the American people, not politicians, will be able to
reestablish and restore of the American Dream. I agree with Meacham’s concern of the American Dream slowly slipping away. The
American people are starting to forget the importance of it. I think the American Dream is more
than
Mrs. Laptalo
Am. Lit 11
August 24, 2013 “Keeping the Dream Alive” Reflection In Meacham’s article “Keeping the Dream Alive,” the focal point is on the American
Dream and his concern of it gradually fading away. He starts of by comparing the drastic differences in lifestyles today to the 19th and 20th century. During the postwar era, Americans were better, richer, and lived happier lives, the way James Adams believed the American Dream consisted of. Currently, it is difficult for many Americans to achieve the lifestyle back then.
Today’s poor economy has caused many people to have lost their jobs, money, and homes.
Certain goods have become very pricey, as well as health care and colleges. He also includes the statistic that roughly 90% of Americans see themselves in the middle class. These issues are causing the American Dream to be lost in the eyes of many Americans. Meacham’s idea of preserving the American Dream is to know the origin, how it lasted over decades, and the importance of it. According to Meacham, the American Dream started with the idea of a man’s natural right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Many Americans found ways to keep the dream alive during the 1800s through novels, like Mark Twain’s The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn. Meacham described this as an “essential element of the American Dream.”
He also includes Martin Luther King Jr.’s importance to the American Dream. Meacham also explains how the American Dream will be used in the 2013 election. He states that Obama and
Romney will discuss the American Dream, and how valued it is to them to restore and keep it alive. Meacham concludes with the fact that the American people, not politicians, will be able to
reestablish and restore of the American Dream. I agree with Meacham’s concern of the American Dream slowly slipping away. The
American people are starting to forget the importance of it. I think the American Dream is more
than