The phrase, the American dream, was born more than 75 years ago in a book titled the Epic of America. In it, James Truslow laid down what would become an iconic phrase that would brand the American Dream and would stand through wars and cold wars, presidents fallen and presidents resurrected, deficits and surpluses. Thus was the nature of the dream.
"The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognised by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."
America is the land where the social status you are born into is irrelevant to the social status you can make for yourself. The son of a farmer can rise to be the 33rd President of the United States. An Austrian immigrant who could hardly speak English can become a Hollywood icon and later the Governor of California. Such are the success stories of America.
Today's America is a little different.
Eastern-trained doctors are driving taxis in Manhattan to make a living. African engineers are flipping burgers in food-chains. Indian professionals are working grave-yard shifts at gas-stations and convenient stores.
Tangled in wars
America itself is tangled in wars. First there was Afghanistan to destabilise Al Qaida, then invading Iraq in 2003 under the auspice of destroying weapons of mass destruction. Then came reports of secret prisons in Europe, Guantanamo detainees, reports of torture and massive intelligence flaws.
A culture of fear from anthrax, bird flu, terrorists, Bin Ladens driving Americans' decisions, investments and who they will choose for a leader. President George W. Bush's administration has created more enemies than made friends. It has created two camps: "The axis of evil" and the good-guys. You cannot be a spectator in today's post-September 11 world. You are either with America or against it.
All of this and never mind a housing market crisis, shaky stock market, rising crime, billions of dollars being spent in defence and military costs.
America's shame has overshadowed its successes. News of its failures hangs in today's headlines as dirty-laundry. Operations that were once kept secret and closed-door meetings have been exposed by Americans themselves - thanks to their powerful and somewhat free media. Critics of "the American way", such as film-maker Michael Moore are abundant. Some would call it a house divided against itself; others would call it democracy at its bloom. It's like a husband and wife who have taken their yelling-match on their manicured front yard where the neighbours can see them. But at the end of the day, many of their neighbours would prefer to be in the white house of the yelling couple.
Millions of people across the world line up outside of the American embassies hoping to apply for immigration. Families spend thousands of dollars in hopes of immigrating. Refugees risk their lives trying to get into the country illegally.
Why? Has the essence of the American Dream remained intact despite all of this? Or is the grass always greener on the other side?
America is no longer the only land of opportunity. Dozens of countries from Canada to the UAE fulfil the essence of the American Dream - without being American. Here is where a bedouin can become a CEO of a multinational company with millions of dollars in assets.
It used to be that the American Dream meant bigger cars, bigger homes, bigger budgets and essentially it was the dream of affluence. But for much of those who seek to experience the American way, this dream is about life, liberty and the freedom to pursue happiness. The dream is essentially a human dream that lurks in the hearts of millions.
That dream is not something that can be shaken by terrorists or oppressive administrations because it does not belong to them to begin with.
