It is difficult to pinpoint the true American dream as it is a highly individualistic, elastic, and fleeting concept. The founding fathers pronounced the rights of men to be “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”, and this statement serves as the cornerstone of the American ideal. The American spirit lends itself from these unalienable rights of mankind and envelopes those in society willing to dream the American dream. These are some of the manifestations of American spirit that stir the heart, soul, and mind; success, money, power, family, religion, democratic voice, artistic expression. These are the American Dream.

            But is this American dream truly alive in our society today? Jay Gatsby had his American dream. He had the money. He had the company of the famous and affluent. He had the house, and the lifestyle, and the cars, and the servants, and everything he ever imagined for himself as a young adult. But still he wanted more and it seemed for a short time that he could rewrite the past and at the pinnacle of his dream, at the climax of his pursuit when it seemed he had won Daisy away, it was all ripped away from him in a fantastic finale of tragic irresponsibility and disrepute. His aspirations had outreached his means and he never was able to experience his American dream. And so it goes for many in American society today. The American dream seems unrealistic at times and the true success stories are few and far between. In a seemingly classless society devoid of aristocratic notions and nobility derived from genealogy, a blockade has been forced between the affluent and the poor. So many times it seems the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and the cycle repeats itself from generation to generation.  The old earmarks of class division found in traditional European have faded and given way to “a good education (as the) most important determinate of class, and in America access to good schools–whether private or public—(that are) increasingly reserved for the well-to-do”(Maidment).  If education is a precedent of wealth then we truly are stuck with a vicious cycle of fiscal distribution, in which wealth is more or less bound to the top tiers of the economic elite. This statement is further supported by a study conducted by Gary Solon, a professor at Michigan State University, in which he “estimate(s) that if your father was twice as rich as mine, you are likely to be 40% richer than I am, meaning that wealth and privilege would last at least three generations” (Harford). So it seems that wealth and the American dream with it are for the most part rigidly preserved to a small percent of a larger whole, and if you dream in seven figure salaries, you may end up like Gatsby, staring into the green light of your aspirations but failing to ever grasp them.

            However, wealth is only a small part of the American spirit. Wealth is material and the American dream is immaterial. How can such an abstract idea be measured on the concrete ruler of total wealth amassed?  There is another American dream that deals in true American spirit. It is one of love. Of passion. Of striving in vision and thriving in sustenance. This is the American dream that smirks at the blind pursuit of wealth and welcomes the genial advances of family and friends, all the while laughing in the face of adversity. This is the American dream that wakes with the dawn, looking to the day in front of them with a calm spirit and a sound mind. This is the American dream of my grandfather and in it he has never failed. With great precision of words and strong stance he delivers to me his single ambition in life, beautiful in its simplicity and remarkable in its implicit wisdom. “My American Dream,” he says to me “is to have a close-knit family and sufficient funds to feed and provide for them.” It is not the dream that is kept alive in traditional tales of rags-to-riches successes, but it is a dream shared more commonly and more truthfully in American society today. In Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie wanted very little from life and all they truly needed to be happy was each other’s company.  In the long run the American dream is most often not defined by the obscene piling up of money, but by the ability of one to be content with what they are capable of and to find greater consolation in other aspects of life.  In the case of finance “go easy on yourself when it comes to how you define success”(Eaves) and live for the greater joys in life.

            These two views share in common the possibility of success and of failure. They share also in the common subjects of the American people. These are a people that do not shudder at the possibility of failure, but welcome adversity with enthusiasm.

            With these opposing views of the American dream, I am an advocate of hope and a believer in the American dream.

            I believe in the American dream, because I believe in the American people. Those with an ambition and a true belief in themselves as the captains of their own destinies will always have a place in the collective success of our nation. As long as their ambition does not supersede their ability and they place their aspirations in the aspects of life that will truly allow them to find joy, then the American dream will always be available for them.

            It is with these guidelines and conditions that the American dream can be fulfilled in a person’s life.  Having realistic and meaningful aspirations for oneself will increase a person’s quality of life.

            The American dream is real and attainable. It is not something that should be cast away in cynical dejection and must be held within the hearts of all Americans.  Our forefathers would look down in disdain if their vision for America was distorted and we should do likewise, as not to forget what we are, and what we could someday become.

As with all nations since the dawn of civilization, there comes a period where re-evaluation and self-scrutiny become necessary to determine whether or not the nation still contains the the core beliefs and values needed to continue its progress and hold on to its power in the face of adversity and hardship. For the U.S. this critical point has arrived. With the country facing pressure from the economy, social relations, and a host of the other current issues, many citizens have already begun the process. Many of the values and beliefs held since the foundation of the country are cited almost like a mantra. At nearly every sporting event, national holiday, public occasions and so on there are remainders of what the U.S. stands for in the form of song, pledge, and every other media. It is as if the repetition is necessary to keep the nation on track and in line. Yet, one must ask whether we have already fallen off track?

From the very conception of the nation, our values have created a precedent. Our core values- equality, freedom, opportunity – form the American mindset for U.S. citizens and foreigners abroad. Citizens often view these rights as a given. Others feel that these values distinguish the U.S. from many other world governments. The U.S. is viewed and cited as a working example of these values. In Jean de Crevecoeur’s “ What is an American?,” American is viewed as a place where “individuals of nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and prosperity will one day cause great changes in the world.” Though the statement was made by a Frenchmen over 200 years ago, it continues to resonate with people today. This mindset also appears in the novel Tortilla Curtain in the character, Candido, who comes to America with his wife in order to manifest his own version of the American dream.

There are probably many versions of the American dream. Many view the American dream in the terms set by the Declaration of Independence, a founding American document. “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” is a phrase taken from the Declaration that is used to describe the American Dream. Many people follow the idea that this interpretation of the dream is in synchronicity with happenings in the U.S.

However, it appears that the dream is not automatic. In Jose Vargas’ article, “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant,” Vargas states that he believed that if he “achieved enough, I would be rewarded with citizenship.” Yet, despite his achievements, he still faces a risk of deportation. In a similar thread, Candido and his wife, America from the novel Tortilla Curtain have a similar discovery where Candido’s wife discovers that even “native” U.S. citizens are not treated with the same material equality as others considered higher on the social scale. A seemingly more accurate description of the dream is that developed from Robin M. Williams Jr. in his book from 1970, American Society: a Sociological Interpretation. In the novel, the core values are listed as “Equal Opportunity, Achievement and Success, Material Comfort … and Freedom.” This does not seem to be present in all levels of American society. Vargas met the requirement for Achievement and Success yet he was not given the rights of citizenship. This can be viewed as an hypocrisy considering that the majority of citizens are descendants of immigrants.

That leads to the issue of whether or not the American dream is subject to prejudice. In Abigail Adams’ “ Letter to John Adams” it is clear that despite the fact that women during the revolution were more than capable of managing independently in their husbands’ absences. Phyllis Wheatly, a Black female slave, used Christian principles to argue in her “Letter to Reverend Samuel Occum” that the actions of Christian slave owners was “Absurdity of their Conduct whose words and Actions are so diametrically opposite.” Despite the moral implications of Christians owning Christians, combined with the fact that many Africans both enslaved and free had been converted to Christianity, slavery still prevailed for nearly a century after the letters publication. In both situations prejudice and hypocrisy work their way into American dream, the closely related American values and in some areas, the American people.

The average United States citizen believes in the American dreams as a promise to all U.S. citizens. Yet, the inequality observed can’t be ignored. It appears that the American dream is used to imply that the individual is widely responsible for the economic or social situation they are in and that as long as the opportunity is given, the individual is often at fault and has the responsibility and ability to fix the situation. As long as there are examples of individuals who possess more material wealth than other, the general idea is that abundance is achievable by all regardless of any adversity faced by individuals. It seems as if the American dream is an excuse for the country and its inhabitants to not confront issues that may be impeding the growth and overall unity of the country and its citizens.

“My son is already giving me lists of what he wants for Christmas,” Shannon, a single mother, told me. “I don’t even know if I’ll still have my job come Christmas. I can’t be thinking about who’s going to be President next year. I got other worries right now.”

I was a single mom, too, so I know first-hand the struggles Shannon and other single moms face every day. But I did not have to contend with the pressure of Christmas in October, and I did not live in fear of losing my job during a bad economy when chances of getting another job would be next to none.

Shannon’s comments are typical of what I hear from many people I have talked to in my community. They are tired and worried, and they feel defeated and frustrated. Any “extra” energy they have after all their daily and weekly responsibilities are satisfied is NOT going to be used to support a campaign for an election that’s more than a year away. I know how that feels! There are times when I wonder if I’ll have the inner resources to help. So far, I’ve been able to dredge it up from my inner reserves. Why do I push myself? Because I know what is at stake for Shannon, for our communities and our country; I know what is at stake for me and for you. I know that our history of providing opportunity and support for all Americans is at stake and I know that I – we – have to fight with everything we have to make sure our citizens have every possible opportunity to achieve the “American Dream.”

Maybe you feel like you have so much going on that you can’t begin to think about who’s going to be elected President in 2012. But, the fact of the matter is that President Obama is the President of the United States TODAY and will continue to be President until at least January 2013. And OUR President needs our help RIGHT NOW to overcome the obstructions created by Republican members of congress. President Obama wants to champion for the single moms, for the working poor and the middle class, but the GOP keeps holding OUR Country hostage by blocking every attempt get legislation passed that would benefit the majority of people living in the United States of America.

We are at an important pivotal place in our Country’s history and whether you are a single mom or not, what is going on right now in our political system affects you today and will continue to affect you for years to come. But you can do something to help protect your personal interests: You can get involved by volunteering for one of your local candidates or for President Obama’s team. And don’t say you don’t have the time. You can do as much or as little as your schedule allows. If you have two hours, you can make phone calls to people in your community. Or you can help sign in people at an campaign event (and have some fun in the bargain!). We as individuals need to understand what is at stack not only for our country but for ourselves. We can no longer afford not to think about it. I’m in. How about you? Our democracy depends on you. Will you get involved?

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Immigrants came to America to get away from their old lives and live the American Dream, but were impeded by discrimination and poverty. Economic conditions in China and Eastern Europe caused many people to emigrate from those places to America, the land of opportunity. People also came from Eastern and Southern Europe to escape military service or religious persecution. The boat ride to Ellis Island was far from luxurious. Irish immigrants were hired to work in tough conditions; harsh weather, temperatures, and under attack from Nativists. Immigrants settled in ethnic regions they recreated their cultures in. Some Americans who were born in America became nativists, or strongly opposed immigration and disliked immigrants. One of the only victories for the nativists was a law passed in 1882 banning poor people, mentally disabled people, and convicts from immigrating to America. The Chinese Exclusion Act was also passed at the same time banning Chinese from immigrating to America and those already in America from becoming citizens.

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African Americans in the second half of the 19th century were former, or the children of former, slaves, and started off in a bad position and environment to achieve the American dream. By the second half of the 19th century, the Civil Rights Act, 14th Amendment and 15th Amendment had all been passed. African Americans could legally become citizens, own land, get fair trials, vote, become educated and literate, build churches in their communities, and not become the victims of hate crimes (esp. KKK). African Americans had quickly organized politically and become a part of the US government. However, when the Reconstruction failed, African Americans in the South had to go back to plantations, as poorly paid workers or sharecroppers. Sharecroppers became stuck in an endless cycle of debt, and so were not able to use and enjoy the new rights they had recently acquired.

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Laborers in the second half of the 19th century pursued the American Dream, but were not always lucky or were unable to because of big business. Miners in the West set off with hopes of striking it rich every time new sources of valuable ore were discovered. Some became rich, and some kept chasing around the boomtowns, leaving each one deserted. Cattle ranchers brought the Texas Longhorn breed of cattle into the Great Plains and set up ranches there, this breed could survive the conditions, and the government provided an area of land for them to graze called the open range. Transporting the cattle East became practical after beef prices soared when the civil war ended and railroads were built, which reached within 200 miles of the Great Plains in the 1860’s. A huge profit could be made with this transfer. The Cowboy’s stories also provided profit for writers of dime novels. With price drops, cold winters, and the invention of barbed wire to fence in and protect cattle, the excitement of cowboys’ jobs decreased. Homesteads and advancements in agricultural technologies allowed Americans to settle, living under harsh conditions, and start farms. If their farms became successful they could bring over their families as well.

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Successful miners, cattle ranchers, and farmers began mini big businesses (companies with paid workers), this was especially true for the miners which later formed huge companies and were no longer part of the working class. The invention of the automatic loom and new shoe-making technologies created new jobs mass producing standard sized clothes. With machines replacing skilled labor, workers began to be hired to perform specific tasks operating the machines, repetitively. These jobs required little skill, so the workers had little to be proud of, and so did not enjoy their professions. Industrial workers usually worked long hours for small salaries, which were relatively large compared to earlier decades, and in unhealthy environments inhaling a variety of toxic chemicals on a daily basis. These workers formed Unions to protect them from the greed fueled actions of their employers. Craft workers had more specialized skills and so were paid slightly higher wages and had slightly more personalized work. They formed trade unions. Unions called industrial unions formed, consisting both of unskilled workers and craft workers. Employers fought back against unions and strikes with lockouts and scabs. Scabs were often immigrants, which is one of the reasons nativists did not like them.

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In the second half of the 19th century some people achieved the American dream, and some people did not. This depends not only on what people achieved, but what they wished to achieve. The American Dream for immigrants was to come to America, and increase their own standard of living. I think that in current times the American dream remains the same for immigrants from worse condition, but is the idea of becoming a rockstar or national sports star among the youth. The American Dream is different and unique depending on who’s dream it is, especially so among young people. Many people lead lives they consider to not have turned out well, with conditions they consider unbearable. These same lifestyles some people consider to be so horrible, are the “American Dream” of potential immigrants, or even more so those who do not have the choice to immigrate here. 

And what is that American Dream but in most cases the dream of material things? Most Americans are uncomfortable about their possessions, naturally looking out for the self and family before country— their idea of patriotism. America is the biggest producer and consumer of cars, clothes, and scientific devices than any other nation, but they live with these objects rather than by them. America is a consumer culture, and when they change what they buy, they also change who they are. It is high time to  think that most of the luxuries in life are dispensable. Living within one’s means, to reduce cost to its lowest terms if possible is important to keep the light in the home burning.

The Americans should stop talking about the American Dream for the time being and start listening to the Dream of the American: all for one, one for all, “to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” Let the hearth in the home continue to glow and not allow the warm heart to stand still like a frozen waterfall when it is deprived of material things. When life  is greeted with joy in spite of the deprivation of material things, this becomes your  real success. Deprivation is a sharp word but in life it is sometimes necessary to lose than to gain. “A seed will only germinate when it dies.” ###

The goal…fairness!

Obama’s election was a clarion call to progressives, independents, undecideds to come together to fight for fairness and balance in all aspects of American life.  And, to fight against American corporate hegemony utilizing their size and wealth to usurp the rights of any individual.  It is a fight against political corruption, a fight against the extreme rights grab for power in the protection of the interests of the super-wealthy. Considering the forces against Obama, inherent in his message of Hope and Change, I believe, was that people would collectively stand behind and beside him with their help when he needed it.  Instead those who voted for him stood back and allowed the opposition forces to embed their minions against him.  Voting Obama into office was, in my judgement, only another in the many steps necessary toward breaking up the marriage between corporate greed and political corruption. I thought we Obama supporters were in agreement about that point.

I maintain that leadership in this post Bush era is every ones personal task.  We must step/lean forward, become involved in fighting for universal fairness in all our systems.  Come together to help push back against corporate greed, political corruption and power grabs by the extreme conservative right. That’s the message of the Occupy movement emboldened by the Hope and Change mantra. 

Time is now to switch gears from exspending energy listening to irrelevant oppositional lunacy.  It is time for those of us who voted Obama in to take up the challenge of running for local, state and national political offices. “It is time…”, as one paid political junkie put it, “to develop some real moral courage”.  Personally taking up the leadership mantle may also include joining an Occupy collective. The tea party movement has made it clear to all Americans that things happen, or not, with total control of those in the US Congress who have sworn to oppose Obama.  How is it that someone sworn by the US Constitution to serve the whole peoples of the United States takes an oath to serve one man not elected by the people.  A large group can move things in the direction they want.  The same thing can be done by a small group when everyone else is sleeping.

Intelligentsia on the left and in the middle only got part of the message of Obama’s election. They seem to believe that one man can lead us out of the current mire. If that were true, he would have done so by now certainly.  But truth is that he needs an army of like minded people behind him.  I contend that by voting him into office behind the Hope and Change slogan, too many thought they were aligned with him and that the job was done.  Electing America’s first black President was easier than they thought.  The encrusted American dream of forward progress seemed fulfilled.  Lurking in the background were the dragons of corruption, racism, power that too many thought they had slain with their champion.  In their minds, they could stand back and watch him fight their battles against the dragons.

Obama’s election triggered independence movements around the world from peoples who knew better. People everywhere want freedom from economic, political and all other types of tyranny. That job is just still unfinished.  A people’s movement can eclipse Martin Luther King’s civil rights endeavors, to what would undoubtedly be to his delight, and open the world to yet great growth and improvement.

With reverence for one more Kennedy like leader they look to Obama to “tell us what you want us to do, where you want us to go, what is your plan to get us there”.  The “others” have continued to revitalize the Reagan era which is why they wait for an incarnation of someone with his spirit to no avail. Obama’s presidency is a clarion call to action for progressives, independent, and undecideds to push back against corporate greed annexed to political corruption.

Come on people, stop yak, yak, yakking and get in with the fight.  It really is every-man’s fight!

Americans want to live the dream; we want to become something more by working our way to our goals. As Americans, we each have a higher standard of moral and ethical behavior; these values are shared with our fellow citizens. So, by working hard and striving to achieve goals and dreams, anyone can be an American.

Let Freedom Ring

Americans believe in free will and liberty. Each person has certain intrinsic rights that can never be taken away or ignored, and our founding fathers named these rights in the Constitution. We have freedoms that other countries do not have. We believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Americans support equal opportunities and democracy, since these things are the very foundation of our country.

Image via Wikipedia

The Divided States of America

The very thing that unites us also divides us. We are all people with intrinsic, unalienable rights; this is the one thing that every single American person has in common. Our cultural experiences, the sense of belonging to something greater; our communities and our nation also unite us as American people. As Americans, we share a common goal and dream. Our desire for success is what unites us. People from diverse cultures are united through the “American Dream.”

A Nation of Diversity

Although we accept the fact that our unique, diverse culture is a huge part of what made America what it is, this diversity also segregates us. Our rights as Americans give us the option to divide ourselves. We are entitled to free will, opinions, and beliefs of our own. As a result of these intrinsic freedoms, we effectively divide ourselves.

So, although our nation is comprised of a wide array of different cultures, the very diversity that our nation was built upon also separates us. Not only do we want to be American, we also want to be individuals. This inner battle, the need to belong to something larger and the need to be our unique selves, is what both unites and divides the American people.

The American Dream

No matter what happens to this country, the very core desire of American people is to live the dream. It is the very substance of our national identity; it makes us who we are. There is an inner drive in each of us; this ambition is largely what makes us Americans. Despite the changes in America as a result of what this country has endured, the core of the American identity has not changed.

Image via Wikipedia

American Identity

If anything, the hardships the country has suffered has made the American people even more aware of what we all share. As I stated before, the very thing that unites us also divides us; anything that happens to the country will not change this. Over time, tolerances, attitudes, and tensions shift, but the core of the American identity remains the same. 

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 It was first the idea of home ownership. As the mortgage crisis began to occur, the dream of owning a home seemed more and more impossible. Than the idea of being middle class has become more and more impossible. Growing up, there was not a wide expansion between upper class and lower class. If you were in between the two you were considered middle class. Being middle class was not a bad thing, as you were still able to make it financially and still be able to have sight of the American dream. As I have gotten older, that idea of the middle class has slowly depleted. People who were rich to begin with have gotten richer and hard working Americans have gotten poorer. The people who are supposed to be the backbone of our society are being used by the Upper class to make them advanced in society. It has become quite an embarrassment and exact example of the greed our country is capable of.

Somewhere along the lines of attempting our own American dream, many Americans have become obsessed with greed. It seems to have taken hold in the 1980’s, when American excess was the norm. Here, our stock markets soared and we were seen as the country of excess. Everything had to be bigger. We needed the best cars, and the best homes. We didn’t just need one home either. Oh no. We needed a vacation home and a home away from our vacation home. Just watch some of the latest reality shows to see how insane our meaning of living has gone. Do we really need four different cars to feel special about ourselves? As this idea of greed took hold of the American psyche, we lost touch of out innate human ability to treat others with respect and help those less fortunate.

The American public today does not want to help others. The news is more concerned when bad news happens, because it’s a ratings boost. What has happened to this country? Are we are so fickle and angry at ourselves that we feel the need to make others do the same. Do we really have no confidence in ourselves that we feel we have to flaunt our own self worth? It appears that as the American super power has soared, we have become victim to our own self worth. We struggle as a nation to discover that line between ultimate greed and our own pursuit of the American dream. The difference that today has is that it has become the norm to step on the poorer communities in order to achieve your own financial gain. In the fifties, this would have never happened.

We are unable to go back to the fifties and have that great American Dream ambiance. What we can do, as a nation, is include everyone in all decisions. That is hard with six million and counting individuals, but politicians need to be more open to not just helping poorer individuals but also helping to advance people from poverty. A country is only as strong as its own people are. If there becomes a larger gap between upper and lower class, than America, as a country has begun to look more like a monarchy than democracy. True, we do not have a monarch, but it begins to look that all favoritism for individuals begins to go towards upper class. This is a very difficult economy to survive in currently, and we all need to work together for the better good of the country. This country was founded for the people and by the people. It’s time the people took back this country.

By

JBcreative

Change is a law of nature. It is a law in everything, every creature and everybody. Tell me one thing that doesn’t. Show me something that doesn’t accept change, fights against it tooth and nail and I’ll show you an extinct civilization and/or creatures. The human race fights change with a passion. We go against the laws of nature and create endless cycles of struggle and discontent in doing so. If you want to analyze what is going on in today’s’ economy, society and politics, look at the struggle from a different perspective. From the American perspective it all revolves around the “American Dream”. This ideal was established in a different era of time and has run its course. The Dream has changed, but we are still trying to attain it, because these were the ideals pounded into us for generations. The American dream has changed, but we haven’t redefined it to fit today’s American consciousness. Of course its not working, but we haven’t redefined what it is, in order for it to collect the power and momentum that comes from a clear concise thought.  In our personal endeavors, if we don’t have any idea of what we want our life to look like or how we want it to feel, we wander without direction or purpose and our energy weakens.

Our goals don’t have to be specific or rigid. If you set out to be one thing and discover along the way you really didn’t want that, you can change your direction with ease, because you had a feeling of your goal and as long as you stay true to that feeling you will attain it, but perhaps in a different way than you originally thought. It’s when we aren’t flexible to adapt to changes, which are inevitable, we create our own problems and discontent, such as we are seeing today.

Is the American Dream the same Dream as it was in the 1940’s or 1950’s? In some ways it is, but now the house with the picket fence has solar panels and sustainable materials and more thought towards being in balance with nature. It has changed to our evolutionary level of consciousness. Our leaders are not changing with it. We are stuck in an irrelevant fight amongst the Republican way or the Democratic way, both whose time has passed. Perhaps, if we define the feeling we are after, the path will unfold and all our thoughts will create that positive energy towards that feeling.

So, what should the Dream look like?

Start with your own dream. That’s where change starts. Don’t worry about changing and fixing everything else, start with fixing yourself. Take responsibility for you. The power behind that collects momentum as a collective entity, and on it goes. The “Rolling Stone” theory; The stone started out from a tiny miniscule grain of sand, but its journey along its path, now stands strong as an essential part of the mountains majesty.

Did that single grain of sand start out saying, “I will be a mountain in the Dakotas by October 3, in the year 1 BC”? If I don’t make that date I shall be a failure and jump from the cliffs of Dover to my demise, back into the ocean?”

I don’t know, maybe he did, but because of the laws of nature, eventually he will become a mountain. It may not be in South Dakota or North Dakota, but a mountain none-the-less, eventually.

October 2011/JBcreative

Throughout history many empires have fallen. Is America heading towards the same fait as so many previous civilizations before us, and if so why?

Let’s stick to the truth of the matter not the facts, as any intelligent being can contest that facts can, and historically have been manipulated. To serve those who use manipulation as a way to control. To control the source is to control all that it effects. The distortion of facts isn’t as nearly damaging as the blind obedience to them. We are the land of the free, and what do so many choose to do with there freedom, hand it over for a false sense of security. Lets not forget this country was realized by free people for free people and there collective vision of a free society.

Ironically today, many Americans preach freedom while attempting to strip others of there rights to the same freedoms. Whether it be freedom of speech to express ones own individual opinions, freedom to create values that not only better their life but others in society as well. The freedom to see a problem and create a solution not because you have to, but because you choose to.

America began to fall apart the minute Americans started to accept that believing in freedom was the same as actually being free. Now here’s the good news the ideas that began America can never be destroyed. America unlike any other in history is based in the ideas of a free society, and a free society is seeded in truth. This is the foundation America was to be built upon. Even though today the house of illusions sits upon the foundation. It can’t damage the truth (foundation).  When the house of illusions is torn down it is the foundation that will always remain. For you may hide the truth, but it can never be destroyed.

It’s time America to wake up we need to see things the way they are! Not, the way they seem. We need to stop looking at how we are all different as a negative, and see it for what it really is. Proof, that we are all unique, and special as a result of it. Even though we are all unique in are own way, we are all seeded in the same foundation. Foundation that drives us all with one common purpose to be free, to live our lives as we choose.

“Freedom is 100% or not at all” –JJ Frankson