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America Today

Clara V. Ortega
Carmen Garcia & Russell Stoll
October 17th, 2014

Prompt: Due to the changes in society, is the American Dream something one wishes to
pursue in the 21st century? If so, how does the idea of the American Dream affect
someone's perspectives on class. Having someone achieve the American Dream or failing
at achieving it makes them better than others or less?

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As time goes on, numerous people change their perspectives on how one should live life.
The United States itself has become a country with a high percentage of diversity and new
cultural practices have spread rapidly throughout the years. The American Dream was a very
popular lifestyle that was ideal for many around the 19th century. Today each individual has
adapted to their own lifestyle and beliefs on how to be content with the life they live. Situations
occur daily in the lives of many people where one questions their choices and wonder how they
can please society. On the other hand, there are people who carry on and rebel in the eyes of
others by doing what the mass majority of citizens decide not to, due to the fact that many fear
what others may think of them. In America, people are constantly being judged and harassed by
people all around; whether its based on their education, job, or social status. The different
perspectives are depicting a country where racism and class discrimination is a controversy
weakening the country as a whole.
During the 1950s America promoted The American Dream as a goal everyone should
try to achieve during their lifetime. The American Dream was an accomplishment that was
highly desired not only by American citizens, but by foreigners as well. The American Dream
consisted of a perfect family, a beautiful home, and also a great job. Today, families in America
have distant perspectives from what America was years ago. From time to time, new lifestyles
have been adapted. The perfect family isnt an expectation one is set out to reach, America has
changed completely when it comes to families. Couples today are made up of a man and woman,
man and man, and woman with woman; everyone has the opportunity to have a family. Years
ago, the unity of gay or lesbian couples was against the beliefs of many American citizens; today
on the other hand, it is slowly being accepted across the country. Aside from a perfect family, the
expectations of a perfect home has also changed. Numerous people struggle across the country

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due to not having a stable job or low income coming into a household. Whether one is being
helped to support themselves or family with their partner or individually everyone continues to
suffer economically today. America was seen to the rest of the world as land of the free and a
country full of opportunities, ... It was all opportunity, which largely has disappeared amid a
poor job market, heavy debts, and wages that have stalled for 25 years (Is the American Dream
Withering or Just Changing?). Due to the loss of the many factors that made America a leading
country, society today is crucial to what America has become,Today, research finds that the
economic obstacles to a students performance on standardized tests are seven times as large as
the racial obstacles (A New Affirmative Action Based on Class). America has had a downfall
the past years, many blame the new generations and fear of what the future may hold, ... Adults
also believe that todays children will display less patriotism, a poorer work ethic, and less civic
responsibility when they come to age ("Where Do You Fall in the American Economic
System?" ). The blame towards the new generations should be irrelevant to the vanishment of the
American Dream. America slowly has become a country that consists of many ethnicities
causing change not only in lifestyles but in beliefs. The American Dream had its time and
although it still lives in the hearts and lives of many, as people continue to live perspectives will
be changing drastically. Events occur everyday in which people are given an eye opener and
crave change whether its for the good or bad. As the years continue to go by quickly, the
majority of citizens in America struggle due to the income one receives and differences of class.
Over the past years America has managed to change due to economic situations that
create vast tension between individuals across the country. The tension that has begun to rise is
whether or not one is worth more than the other, whether one is worth socializing with or even
given the opportunity to prove their abilities. Some people are content with Americas

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government, while others may disagree due to eachothers personal life experiences,
"Government in Canada and Western Europe take more aggressive steps to raise the take-home
pay of low-and-middle- income households by redistributing income" (U.S. middle class no
longer world's richest). A nation that helps one dig another in a whole and become a hopeless
being is horrific and America is slowly turning into that. America should change its ways and its
people should unite to make the home for many a better environment. An environment in which
one wont feel obligated to please others, get judged by the way they decide to live their lives or
by the way theyre currently living their lives due to financial problems. Everyday experiencing
and seeing an act of judgemental and cruel comments said out loud about others tares one apart.
It is incredible how people such as young adults or in other words teenagers barely going onto
adulthood can have such a filthy mind and look down upon others who struggle to live everyday.
To being exposed out in front of the whole world when being homeless, or to be crowded up in a
pickup truck going to work with other co workers to make someones yard look nice but to leave
that persons home feeling grateful for the money that was just earned. Every single day that goes
by, someone somewhere is being cruel to another being, another being that may be in need of a
small push of a small lift to be able to pick themselves up in order to get back on track. Or even,
for working a specific job to help oneself or ones family survive, by providing food to the table.
Cruelty is happening all around, cruelty towards others harms one more than the laughs that are
being shared to others about a specific person or situation. People are trying to live, to survive,
they are trying to look over the young ones that will soon take over. Looking down upon others
who dont have much in life is common all around and should be stopped immediately. What
good is a country who commits selfish acts daily and hurts the well being of others in the
country.

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The mass majority of employees who have lower working positions get mistreated
whether its by their co-workers or people in general. The working class consists of individuals
who either have a high school diploma or some college education, but due to their
accomplishments in school they are mostly likely working low skilled occupations and or
manual labor. Individuals who are considered low middle class or in certain situations middle
class are those white collar jobs, people students interact with everyday, those individuals being
teachers. Other individuals such as nurses and paralegals are also considered those of the middle
class. People considered of the upper class are those who tend to accumulate wealth by investing
while others individuals from the lower social classes gain wealth through annual salaries.Others
such as students may not be able to afford getting a better education by attending a college or
university due to their background, risking their opportunity to have a great job that will provide
high income. The middle class in America has disappeared from the social status ladder after
being one of the strongest worldwide, "After-tax middle-class income in Canada substantially
behind in 2000-now appear to be higher that in the United States( The American Middle Class
Is No Longer the Worlds Richest). The wealth one can achieve in their lifetime has made
numerous individuals dream of a better life, but what good does dreaming do when many arent
given or guaranteed an opportunity to better themselves. Instead, people are being criticised
taking the social status one stands on today to another level, The Great Recession really
exacerbated the vast and growing inequalities between rich and poor in America (Race Vs.
Class: Affirmative Action Huffington Post). Class in the United States is not only affected by
how much income a person brings to a household but also by race and how social class makes
one look in society, All else aside, the lack of cross-class interaction will make it that much
harder for people in lower social classes to develop the relationships and other forms of social

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capital necessary for economic opportunity and educational advancement (Crossing Class
Lines N.y Times). People tend to separate themselves from others, some may feel very
intimidated because they might not own great things as other people. Some may feel less, they
may feel worthless because theyve worked hard their whole life and have not achieved any of
the goals theyve set out for themselves. There are many obstacles that interfere in ones life but
that shouldnt stop them from pushing harder. People become weak minded, they let others push
them down and discourage them from what each might be capable of doing.
As social class continues to become a factor in America which individuals are looked
upon differently society continues with its judgmental habits. The United States is full of stingy
people who may see others as a threat to what they are or can become,"People higher in
Socioeconomic Status(SES) are more likely to be categorized, and categorize themselves, in
higher status racial groups(eg. Whites) compared to lower status racial groups (eg. Black)"
(Social Class in America: Racial Fluidity and Socioeconomic Status). The disgusting custom
that is seen in America today is discriminating people by their skin color, accent, and race. One
shouldnt be living in a world where discrimination is taking place. Of course people are going to
come from foreign places, theyre going to speak a certain way, and even look a certain way but
that shouldnt make them less in America because being caucasian is whats considered being
perfect and appropriate. The beauty of being unique, of coming from different places, learning
from each other and ones background. Why does one specific race have to be considered perfect,
the ideal race. Beauty is surrounded all over the place, beauty is what makes an individual their
own person beauty comes from the root of where one comes from, where their existence all
started. People should be set free, free from worries and from regrets. Everyone should live life
how they are meant to live it. While many have the opportunity to live and do new things

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everyday, new things that will not only help one change as a person but in any way may help
change the world one should take advantage. The majority of people who crave living, are lying
down in bed sick to death wishing for another day to live for a cure of whatever disease or
sickness they might be experiencing or fighting. Whats the meaning of life if one isnt living it
right, if one is too busy giving their attention to certain things that instead of helping them
succeed crush their dreams. All over the world, there are others who are less fortunate than
people here in the United States, what would be of the country as a whole if those people were to
live here if their struggles were to be seen here instead of being sad over it for a couple of
minutes because it was seen on television or on social media. One should think of others and not
just themselves. Imagine one being left alone, without any of the riches owned or the view others
may have of one. That specific person would go insane, who would they get the attention they
crave from, who would they bash on to feel superior and as if he or she is king or queen of the
world for a second. Life shouldnt be taken for granted.
Racism should have an end to it, what will the future hold for everyone if people are
constantly making others feel worthless. It may not catch peoples attention as much as it did
before but this is what is happening in our country today. People today are too caught up in
social media, in keeping up with pointless things that arent making a change. America is slowly
collapsing, its becoming a living hell. Everyone should have the equal opportunity to succeed,
"The working class are those minimally educated people who engage in "manual labor" with
little or no prestige" ("Social Class in America: Racial Fluidity and Socioeconomic Status|RSF
Review"). No matter the education theyve received if one is wise then one should be allowed to
rise. Being held back by others should be prohibited, on the other hand everyone should give
each other mental and physical strength to accomplish anything. Today, "The American middle

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class, long the most affluent in the world, has lost that distinction" ("The American Middle Class
is No Longer the Richest") and the world is somewhat appalled because it wasnt like America to
suddenly lose its Middle Class. If the social ladder never existed what would be of society
today, what would people live by if they werent able to prove their stance in comparison to
others. Little by little America is changing, but one thing that is hoped for is for America to better
itself into the strong leading country it was before, With political will, America has the ability
to promote high and inclusive economic growth, create sustainable jobs, enhance productive
opportunities for its citizens, improve public services, and arrest the type of inequality that
silently eats away at social integrity and cohesion (We Can Close the Gap Between the
American Dream and Reality Huffington Post). If everyone took a moment to realize how
society is today, how others less fortunate are living and how those very fortunate are living life
wouldnt be so complicated. People everywhere would get along with one another, everyone
should be taken in consideration. The future may hold a lot of ups and downs for one, but why
not try changing some the wrongs in our lives today. All bad should end, everyone should change
their mindset. Everyone should mature and become better people to one another. Not perfect
people, but better people. As time passes, ones values and past actions should be reflected one
should always want to become a better person. A person who they will look back and think to
themselves how glad they are for the change theyve made.
Change happens all around the world, every single day of ones lives. America is divided
by class and race, although many strongly disagree. The nation as a whole lacks by
discriminating groups and individuals based on how one lives. As days pass life for many worsen
while others live up their riches. America is filled with shallow people who believe theyre
superior from others. Everyone is equal from the very moment theyre born, everyone should be

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treated with kind. What good is a world especially a country where one is being harassed and
discriminated for the reason they might not fit into certain peoples expectations. People have
become cruel, society is cruel. The American Dream no longer exists, but if it did America would
not be what it is today. The new cultural practices, ones liberty and freedom in this country
would be in a sense non existent due to the expectations one was set out to achieve in order to
live the American Dream. The future should be better than what America is today, the future
should excite many students and adults. America is going to get better, one change at a time.
Soon, everyone will realize the wrongs in their lives and pursue happiness not just for themselves
but for everyone for others surrounding them. Happiness everywhere, being content with ones
life is how life should be lived. Expectations should be required for certain things, those certain
things that will allow others to succeed. Requirements when it comes to school or a job, for one
to better themselves. The nation as a whole will soon be friendly, no matter how much effort and
work it will take success will soon come. The world has to become a better place not only for the
people living today, tomorrow, but for the people that will be living in the next 20 to 50 years.
The generations to come should be raised in a great environment, by great people.

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Works Cited
Ct, Stphane, and Michael W. Kraus. "Crossing Class Lines." The New York Times. The
New York Times, 04 Oct. 2014. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.
El-Erian, Mohamed A. "We Can Close the Gap Between the American Dream and Reality." The
Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 17 Aug. 2013. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.
"Is the American Dream Withering or Just Changing? | TIME.com." Business Money Is the
American Dream Withering or Just Changing Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.
Kahlenberg, Richard D. "A New Affirmative Action Based on Class: Column."USA Today.
Gannett, 25 June 2013. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.
Leonhardt, David, and Kevin Quealy. "The American Middle Class Is No Longer the Worlds
Richest." The New York Times. The New York Times, 22 Apr. 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.
"Social Class in America: Racial Fluidity and Socioeconomic Status | RSF Review." Social Class
in America: Racial Fluidity and Socioeconomic Status | RSF Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept.
2014.