Jim Cullen: The American Dream

Whether or not the country seems a growing place of competition, the dream may be changing shape once again. The American Dream may be coined the source of Dreamers, but unless if one confronts the natural occurrences in the world, that ambition may be impractical. Jim Cullen, the author of the American Dream, defines its origins in order to discern the difference between the modern and historical origins. He introduces James Truslow Adams’ definition from The Epic of America, “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man” (7). When the founding fathers built America, the pioneers embarked a new desolated realm where their version of the dream had begun. The dream of less authority and practice of

At square zero, Thomas Paine asserts, “A thousand motives will excite them thereto, the strength of one man is so unequal to his wants…” (Paine). In short, a recluse would struggle to build his empire of desires, hence, the Dream. Thomas even points out, “Hunger in the mean time would urge him from his work, and every different want call him a different way” One man’s effort would, at most, work for survival. Likewise, I aspired to be independent and self-sufficient. I desire a house to be built from base to every detail preferably by myself because others may not build the house in the desired way. I do not even have the basic skills nor the “strength” for such task. I would be foraging with the desire for society just as Thomas Paine asserts. Society would drive the collective interest to accomplish the

This disorder is the result of selfishness and loss of mutual interest in the other person. In other words, society is a dire need that must be functional (Paine). In turn, he states, “will unavoidably happen…, they will begin to relax in their duty and attachment to each other; and this remissness, will point out the necessity” (Paine). That necessity is a binding agreement, which each person will sacrifice freedom for security (Paine). Moreover, the disorder can even disrupt the government without reason. Thomas Paine acknowledges the unreasonable corruption, “The two first, by being hereditary, are independent of the people; wherefore in a constitutional sense they contribute nothing towards the freedom of the state” (Paine). In a general sense, one’s action for a Dream defers another. There is no rational sense in giving up the American Dream for