What is The American Dream?

[SpiritMan]

What most historians agree on is that the concept of “The American Dream” was derived from the Declaration Of Independence. "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" are not exactly concepts that can be narrowly defined. Over the years the concept of the American Dream has gone through many revisions. But from my perspective, in my own life, the most dangerous destructive transformation was when it went from meaning the ability of all Americans to have access to a reasonably comfortable life, to the concept of no limit to material wealth! Once the American Dream became a dream that everyone could become a millionaire, I believe the dream turned into a nightmare!     

[andmac]

Eastern Illinois University actually has a class on this. I took it, and it is very enlighting from the Federalist Papers to modern credit problems.

[SpiritMan]

Fortunately, for me, the moment I set foot on German soil in a search for my roots more than 20 years ago, I was continually challenged to think about the concept of the American Dream in a much bigger context. When people live with the guilt of the Nazis, they become big proponents of questioning everything.