How do you define the "American Dream"?

I wonder today how Americans define the "American Dream"? Until recently, I thought I had a definition for the term, And until recently, I thought I had accomplished the "American Dream".

I've reached retirement, with a "nest-egg," paid mortgage, own my car, live comfortably. I travel and enjoy life. This was my definition of the "American Dream".

Today's young people have been indoctrinated that "they will have nothing and be happy." In my own city in Idaho, the advent of "rentable transportation" is allowing young people not to have the dream of owning a car. Owning a car requires the responsibility of insurance and licensing. I craved owning a car when I was their age.

The concept of "15-minute cities" appears to be the new mantra from the left-leaning administrations in cities. The idea that you can/want to live within walking distance of where you work is a totally new concept to me. I yearned to own a home away from downtown or where I worked. I yearned to live outside of the hubbub of the city, on a piece of property where I could have green grass and neighbors who cared for their properties.  Today, I find myself surrounded by renters who care less about what their place of living look like.

So, what is the "American Dream"? I used to think people wanted to come to America to achieve this dream. To assimilate to it. After four years of the Biden Administration, I no longer think this is why many people are coming here. I believe many of the illegal aliens who arrived during the past administration want to tear America apart. I would have never believe people on American soil would disobey an officer (police, DHS, DEA, FBI o DOJ). Where has this lawlessness come from?

WE THE PEOPLE need to take back our country. I firmly believe that President Trump is attempting to create an economy where my definition of the "American Dream" can again become a reality.

May I ask how do you define the American Dream?
 

I am pleased with Vicky’s approach and her reasoning. This is my definition – the American Dream is the national belief that in the United States anyone, regardless of their social or economic background, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. The concept is rooted in the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, supported by the US Constitution, specifically on the inalienable rights to "life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness". Furthermore, it is traditionally associated with personal freedom, free enterprise, homeownership, stable family formation, higher education, and the ability to retire comfortably in a country we love and respect as our homeland. This dream is not shared by most immigrants who have entered the country illegally and want to radically change its customs and culture, often waving the flags of their home countries, carrying the US flag disrespectfully upside down or burning it in the streets. while tampering with law and order to suit their own convenience.

All inhabitants of America, especially its citizens, aspire to achieve what they call "the American Dream." They believe that the established law and order provide them with this opportunity. On the other hand, it is very important to define what "the American dream" means for immigrants, especially how it is interpreted by those who enter the country respecting its laws and those who violate them.

For countless legal immigrants coming to the US through established immigration procedures, the "American Dream" embodies a powerful combination of economic opportunity, personal safety, and the aspiration to secure a brighter future for their children as real Americans. Furthermore, many legal immigrants envision it as an opportunity for homeownership and career advancement. Therefore, the "American dream" refers to the belief that achievement and success are determined by an individual's efforts and hard work, and not restricted by class structures such as socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity. Embracing these differences enhances their understanding and enrichment of the American narrative.  According to the MCAAD-Gallup 2024 study, nearly 70% of foreign-born adults define the "American Dream" as an opportunity.

Among the estimated 10 to 15 million undocumented immigrants from recent waves of immigration, there is often little sense of love for the country they intend to settle in, nor a desire to integrate into its culture and customs. Instead, their primary motivation is to seek a better standard of living than what they experienced in their countries of origin, but integrating here into cultural environments where others of the same nationalities have been concentrated, enabling them to preserve and impose their customs, along their particular observance and interpretation of the laws, rather than fully adhering to the laws and order established in the host country.

I want to comment on how decent Americans express their concerns about America's cultural decline. I would say the decline of Western culture, but any informed reader knows that England, France, and Germany (indeed, most European countries) have largely lost their sovereignty and are now accommodating Islamist immigrants over their own citizens.

Much of the deceit and misinformation that honest podcasters and alternative news sources continue to expose. It seems clear that a political force has embeded itself in power through illegal immigration and corruption across government agencies for years. And yes, I agree that anger turning into hatred has produced what some call a mass psychosis – TDS. Nothing else seems to explain it.

I read a piece in "The Epoch Tines" titled "Who Should We Let into Our Country" by Nick Thompson (Feb.4-10) offering thoughtful and compassionate ideas. His willingness to engage in reasoned discussion reflects the compassion still found in many Americans. Sadly, I believe such solutions may now be at least a decade too late. President Donald Trump is attempting to correct problems that should have been addressed long ago by sincere public servants, who now appear to have been absent or outnumbered.

There are those who oppose solutions out of political interest, such as NATO allies hesitant to act due to internal pressures in their respective countries. Then I thought of the courage of Brave Heart and of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who chose to stand firm even when institutions failed.

Do we, as American citizens, still exercise the responsibility of our vote? Or will we one day have to tell our grandchildren that we were complacent?