The American dream is an idea that attracts many. The promises of opportunity, success, social equality, and fortune are very desirable. Though few have come to a consensus for the definition of the “American dream”, many are reaching for this concept. In Martin Luther King Jr.s “I Have a Dream” speech he searches desperately for this ambiguous idea. In Witold Rybcaynski essay, “Tomorrowland,” he explains that Disney believes the dream can be constructed. Martin Luther King Jr.s attempt for the American dream is more realistic than Disneys plan to synthesize the ideal habitat; however both reveal that part of the American dream is to achieve happiness. This happiness consists of equality among people, a sense of community between neighbors, and freedom for all.
In Martin Luther King Jr.s moving speech, he addresses a crowd about the inequalities of their society. He seeks justice, using the Constitution as the basis for his demands. Because the Constitution states that all men are created equal, blacks should not be neglected. They too are human and therefore should be given the same treatment as whites. Martin Luther King Jr.s dream is that the “state of Mississippi, a desert state sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice” (196).
In order to accomplish this goal, he feels society must overcome ignorance.
On the contrary, Rybcaynski describes Disney in the process of building an ideal community in “Tomorrowland.” The environment being created contains equality and harmony, however the inhabitants must build upon it. For this ideal community, Celebration, to work successfully people must compromise and cooperate. In both situations, Martin Luther King Jr. and Rybcaynskis dream of living in a perfect society will become a reality only if the people can unite. Equality among the population is a key step in achieving the American dream. People will not be content if a hierarchy in which some have advantages over others exists.
The Essay on Native Americans Or The Indigenous People Of America Comprise A
Native Americans or the indigenous people of America comprise a great number of distinct ethnic groups, tribes, and states. However, despite their cultural diversity and the fact that cultural features peculiar to ethnic groups significantly vary from one tribe to another, here are several main features that are shared by indigenous people in their American Indian Culture (excluding Mexico), prior ...
Martin Luther King Jr. confirms this idea when he quotes, “We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negros basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote” (195).
He is enraged that a black person is treated unfairly because of the color of his/her skin. African Americans are humans, yet they lack many rights because of this difference.
On the other hand, Celebration bestows equality to its inhabitants. From the beginning of development, many people express interest in buying the homes. Therefore, “it was decided that the only fair way to sell lots was to draw names out of a hat. (Entrants were not screened, and Disney employees were not given preference)” (200).
Because the creators of Celebration want to be just, they pick residents at random. Status, race, and occupation had no effect on the selection process. Celebration offers the equality that Martin Luther King Jr. fought for.
The American dream thrives on a sense of community between its residents. People will only be truly satisfied when they are able to live in absolute harmony with one another. Martin Luther King Jr. hopes that “the state of Alabama, whose governors lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers” (196).
The Essay on Making A Positive Difference In The Lives Of People And Communities
When we think of hospital staff, we often think of physicians, nurses, or other caregivers. These caregivers are only a part of the staff required to manage an efficient hospital. Behind the scenes there is hidden, incredibly important role in health services delivery – healthcare executive administration. Healthcare executives are responsible for providing the most basic of social services, ...
He wants his children to be able to interact freely with children of other ethnicity. He hopes that soon the barrier caused by skin color will diminish so people can live harmoniously in one community. Martin Luther King Jr.
wants this harmony to develop by peoples actions, whereas Disney feels he must initiate it. Fraser, the creator of Sea Pines Plantation, believes that a sense of community is formed when small groups of families share a common responsibility. Therefore, “at Celebration, where he has been a consultant for the past seven years, innovative covenants have been written to permit the creation of precisely such small sub-neighborhoods” (205).
Disney feels a community will develop if all the residents interact positively. At the moment no barriers exist, people just need to cooperate. Therefore, he makes the first efforts, but the future lies in the hands of the residents.
In any case, a community will develop only when the residents make an effort. Freedom, in any way, shape, or form is an essential component of the American dream. It is required in order for people to live life to the fullest. This is the one element that Martin Luther King Jr. strives for. He cries to his audience, “When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of Gods childrenwill be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, Free at last! Free at last! thank God almighty, we are free at last!” (197) Martin Luther King Jr.
believes that once blacks are granted their freedom, the world will be a better place. When everyone is treated with equality then the standards of living will improve, people will get along, and all will benefit. On the contrary, though the residents of Celebration are living under the freedom of the Constitution in the United States, their community has placed restrictions on them. “Home buyers agree to be governed by their own homeowners association and by a set of restrictive deed covenants.You can park your cars in front of your house, for example, but no more than two cars. You can sublet your house – or your garage apartment – but you cant lease individual rooms” (203-204).
The Essay on American Dream 13
... - freedom, prosperity and success all contribute to peoples vision of being a happy American. By viewing the American dream, of St. Jean De Crevecoeur, Dr. Martin ... a difference in the way that black people were looked at. She wanted to teach communities how to migrate together.Her success was ...
The purpose of these and other regulations is to create a balance between individual freedom and communal responsibility. However, these impose limitations on people and therefore restrict their freedom.
Nevertheless, the strong sense of community and promises of security overpower this drawback, so people continue to be attracted by Celebration. Freedom, though significant for Martin Luther King Jr., is not quite as critical to the inhabitants of Celebration. The American dream symbolizes the idea that all people want to coexist in harmony. Martin Luther King Jr. struggles to make this dream a reality for his people. This is evident in his “I Have a Dream” speech where he appeals to an overwhelming crowd for justice. Rybcaynski also describes in “Tomorrowland” a little town developed to imitate the American dream.
Both search for three important ideals: equality among, a sense of community between, and freedom for all people. Many believe that being in American, one is granted the promises of the American dream. However people must work together and rise up against hatred to achieve this goal. Though everyone is entitled to the American dream, the will to succeed separates the have and the have-nots. The dream is attainable, however one must act accordingly to reach it.
