A Dream

The Dream

“Thought”

“Of persons arrived at high positions, ceremonies, wealth,

scholarships, and the like;

To me, all that those persons have arrived at, sinks away

from them, except as it results to their

Bodies and Souls,

So that often to me they appear gaunt and naked;

And often, to me, each one mocks the others, and mocks

himself or herself,

And of each one, the core of life, namely happiness, is full of the

rotten excrement of maggots,

And often, to me, those men and women pass unwittingly the true

realities of life, and go toward false realities,

And often, to me, they are alive after what custom has serve them,

but nothing more,

And often, to me, they are sad, hasty, unwaked sonnambules,

walking the dusk.”

“Leaves of Grass”

Walt Whitman, 1900

As early as the beginning of the twentieth century Walt Whitman, famous American poet, realized that people compromised their happiness and liberty by buying into the American Dream of status and wealth. It is apparent that possessing material goods is not a full proof solution for happiness and fulfillment in life and the “American Dream” is just that, a dream or an illusion that is not clearly defined or achieved in any reality. The people of our country have for so long been drowned and suffocated in a society that instructs through its advertising what is valued and therefore are in a hypnotic state where they are not even aware that their freedoms are compromised.

The concept of the American Dream has been ingrained in our minds for generations through books, media, advertising and educators. The idea is that if people work hard in our equal opportunity environment, they will achieve success and virtually be guaranteed a happy life. People like Bill Gates and Donald Trump set examples of the self-made man notion or the rags to riches mentality where hard work will make your dreams come true. The American Dream is compared to a contest because it is competitive, individualistic, equally available to those who want to seek it and winning or losing is based on merit. That merit or success is based on material possessions, college status and the beautiful life with the perfect family. Advertising is hugely responsible for designing what people believe is the American Dream. Jean Kilbourne states, “advertising sells more than products, it sells values, images, concepts and above all, normalcy…” Through continuous repetition and exposure, ads overwhelm our minds so that we have the thinking done for us. The American Dream manipulates us through all sorts of media and there is little room for critical reflection. In order to feel successful, we are told we need the nicer car, the newest technology, and the fanciest house. Ads tell us we are not enough the way we are and can raise self doubt. The idea of “Cops in your Head” and the “Soma” or pleasure drug issued to people in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World relates to the lack of awareness people have on how the American Dream is running their lives. Since we are taught from day one about our freedoms and the fact that hard work will bring happiness, we have never been outside the system. When in reality, our freedoms have been compromised through the efforts of trying to accomplish the American Dream. How could a country built on the idea of freedom have so much racism, sexism and classism? The economic high society still has the means to produce future “Golden Children” for future generations, which encourages classism. Just last week in the Los Angeles Times (11/20/02) an article regarding admittance to a private pre school stated,” A major topic of conversation these days on the mean streets of the Upper East Side is Citigroup Inc. Chairman Sanford I. Weill’s extravagant effort to buy entrance