Ascension
The American Dream is different for every single American, but in the end, we are all seeking the same thing: an upward social mobility. However, many today argue that the American Dream is endangered, slowly being picked off by economic disaster. And although it may be fair to say that the American Dream has become less available, the matter of fact is that the American Dream is still live and well. The only difference between the American Dream today and the American Dream half a century ago is the availibilty of the American Dream, meaning Americans who seek prosperity and an elevated social status must work harder for it. I see this as a classic instance of Darwinist "survival of the fittest." In other words, Americans must now <i>ascend</i>. If the American Dream could be described in one word, it would be ascension. Synonyms or related words to ascension are: upraising, upheaval, upsurge, and eminence. Just as one treks towards the American Dream, one must grow up, overcome struggles, rise to significance, and remain prominent.
Although some may argue that this perspective of the American Dream is unfair and cynical, the truth is that most people would rather point fingers at others than see that it is their incompetence and failure to utilize what they have to blame. The United States Declaration of Independence proclaims that "all men are created equal," an entirely true statement. Each man and woman in America is born with the innate right to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." So, in a sense, we are all born into this world with the same opportunity, the same chance; we all start at zero. This is why growing up to become a strong individual is so important. Warren Buffett, American businessman and investor whose net worth is over $50 billion today, began building his fortune from the age of ten when he would buy Coca-Cola bottles for 5 cents each and resell each for 6 cents to his friends (www.biography.com). From the friends one surrounds him or herself with at adolescence to the books he or she reads will all influence what kind of person he or she will become.
Life, however, is not always fair and will try to strip opportunity whenever it can. This is when people will be tested and the strong and weak will be set apart. The weak will succumb to the pressures of life while the strong will rise, light fires, and start revolutions. And while many might associate acts of upheaval as violent, an upheaval is merely defined as a "radical change" (www.merriam-webster.com). For instance, Martin Luther King Jr., leader of the African-American civil rights movement in the 1960s, sought equality for all Blacks through the most peaceful, pacifist methods (www.towardfreedom.com). While most African-Americans like Malcolm X wanted immediate equality through whatever violent means necessary, MLKJ didn't let up and give the opposition a reason to segregate Blacks. MLKJ was patient, but held his ground strong; truly a revolutionary.
After being tested time after time, running through a seemingly endless forest, one will eventually be in control of his or her life, in a position to conquer his or her dreams, also known as the upsurge. Tupac Shakur, the late American rapper, overcame racist opposition, survived being shot five times, went to hell and back. And after all of it, Tupac was ready to work. In the short span of five years before his early death, Tupac starred in seven movies and released six albums (www.csun.edu). Tupac is not only known as the greatest rapper of all time, but also known as one of the hardest working artists of all time.
Tupac Shakur, however, did not die with a net income of millions or billions like Warren Buffett. Tupac, at death, had less then $100,000 in his savings account. This was because Tupac traded all his profits to get out of his five year prison sentence. For Tupac, getting his work out was more important than making money. Although Tupac died relatively poor, he remains one of the most influential music artists of all time. Tupac has sold over 75 million albums today. This is the voice of Tupac reverberating beyond his death. This is legacy, this is eminence, this is what we should all strive for.
The American Dream can be defined as an act of ascension. It is yours to define, but in the end it is growing strong, overcoming adversity, putting in time and effort, and leaving a legacy. It is an upraising, upheaval, upsurge, and leaving eminence.
Although some may argue that this perspective of the American Dream is unfair and cynical, the truth is that most people would rather point fingers at others than see that it is their incompetence and failure to utilize what they have to blame. The United States Declaration of Independence proclaims that "all men are created equal," an entirely true statement. Each man and woman in America is born with the innate right to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." So, in a sense, we are all born into this world with the same opportunity, the same chance; we all start at zero. This is why growing up to become a strong individual is so important. Warren Buffett, American businessman and investor whose net worth is over $50 billion today, began building his fortune from the age of ten when he would buy Coca-Cola bottles for 5 cents each and resell each for 6 cents to his friends (www.biography.com). From the friends one surrounds him or herself with at adolescence to the books he or she reads will all influence what kind of person he or she will become.
Life, however, is not always fair and will try to strip opportunity whenever it can. This is when people will be tested and the strong and weak will be set apart. The weak will succumb to the pressures of life while the strong will rise, light fires, and start revolutions. And while many might associate acts of upheaval as violent, an upheaval is merely defined as a "radical change" (www.merriam-webster.com). For instance, Martin Luther King Jr., leader of the African-American civil rights movement in the 1960s, sought equality for all Blacks through the most peaceful, pacifist methods (www.towardfreedom.com). While most African-Americans like Malcolm X wanted immediate equality through whatever violent means necessary, MLKJ didn't let up and give the opposition a reason to segregate Blacks. MLKJ was patient, but held his ground strong; truly a revolutionary.
After being tested time after time, running through a seemingly endless forest, one will eventually be in control of his or her life, in a position to conquer his or her dreams, also known as the upsurge. Tupac Shakur, the late American rapper, overcame racist opposition, survived being shot five times, went to hell and back. And after all of it, Tupac was ready to work. In the short span of five years before his early death, Tupac starred in seven movies and released six albums (www.csun.edu). Tupac is not only known as the greatest rapper of all time, but also known as one of the hardest working artists of all time.
Tupac Shakur, however, did not die with a net income of millions or billions like Warren Buffett. Tupac, at death, had less then $100,000 in his savings account. This was because Tupac traded all his profits to get out of his five year prison sentence. For Tupac, getting his work out was more important than making money. Although Tupac died relatively poor, he remains one of the most influential music artists of all time. Tupac has sold over 75 million albums today. This is the voice of Tupac reverberating beyond his death. This is legacy, this is eminence, this is what we should all strive for.
The American Dream can be defined as an act of ascension. It is yours to define, but in the end it is growing strong, overcoming adversity, putting in time and effort, and leaving a legacy. It is an upraising, upheaval, upsurge, and leaving eminence.
Works Cited
"Upheaval." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. Apr. 2013. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upheaval>.
"Warren Buffett Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. Apr. 2013. <http://www.biography.com/people/warren-buffett-9230729>.
Nall, Jeff. "Toward Freedom." Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, the Revolutionary. N.p., 15 Jan. 2006. Web. Apr. 2013. <http://www.towardfreedom.com/americas/726-remembering-dr-martin-luther-king-the-revolutionary>.
"2PAC TIMELINE." 2PAC TIMELINE. California State University, Northridge, n.d. Web. Apr. 2013. <http://www.csun.edu/~kcj39325/tupacbio.html>.
"Warren Buffett Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. Apr. 2013. <http://www.biography.com/people/warren-buffett-9230729>.
Nall, Jeff. "Toward Freedom." Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, the Revolutionary. N.p., 15 Jan. 2006. Web. Apr. 2013. <http://www.towardfreedom.com/americas/726-remembering-dr-martin-luther-king-the-revolutionary>.
"2PAC TIMELINE." 2PAC TIMELINE. California State University, Northridge, n.d. Web. Apr. 2013. <http://www.csun.edu/~kcj39325/tupacbio.html>.