America seems to be a country built on the idea of the so called "American Dream", where people are able to achieve anything and nothing is impossible. A lot of people seem to take this very seriously and even non American long for the American Dream.
http://international.loc.gov/learn/lessons/97/dream/thedream.html
I like this web site as it links together many different documents such as the Declaration of Independence. I like the paragraph that starts to describe the modern American Dream and how it is becoming more materialistic in the sense that most people dream now days is to own a bigger house, have more money and nicer possessions. I agree with this statement and feel that not only Americans but the people all over the world are starting to lead more materialistic lives.
Wal Mart seems to be a company that many people feel typifies America. It sells huge amounts of goods at rediculously low prices. It shows how much a lot of Americans consume and waste. "Wal-Mart sold $244.5 billion worth of goods last year. It sells in three months what number-two retailer Home Depot sells in a year" This is a staggering statistic.
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html
I chose this web site as it has some sexcellent facts and good points about Walmart.
Walmart isnt all bad though. Not looking at how much it wastes and encourages others to waste, it allows a lot of people to be able to provide for themselves who other wise couldnt afford to buy the basic things needed to live.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Personally I believe that the theory of the ‘American Dream’ is what personifies the country. America would not be the nation that it is today if not for the dreams of early settlers and the founding fathers. I feel that the countries foundations are that of dreams, so the ‘American Dream’ plays a huge role in America’s modern culture.
The article on the first website I found interesting in the way that it questions the concept of the modern ‘American Dream’. By the website demonstrating this point, I trust that the ‘American Dream’ is not just one target for everyone, but a target for each individual person. The article backs this idea up as it many times, in one paragraph, judging the theory, and how others consider it.
The account on Walmart I found very interesting, as I have no knowledge on the subject. The business’s profit sums up its dominance in the food outlet market, which, in theory, is a contrast to America’s dominance as a country over the rest of the world. Walmart is very good example of America’s success as a country, excessive wealth, leader in the economy, typical factors which contribute to the ‘American Dream’.
I think people need something to look forward to, something to dream about. I dont think every person who lives in the US or comes to the US whole heartedly believes anything is possible.
I was intrigued by the defining of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams, "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it." It is not a dream for better cars, bigger houses, or more money as so many misconstrue it today. I also really liked the quote by Thomas Wolfe at the end of this article, "…to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ….the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him."
What a way to start an article! I have never encountered a giant jar of pickles in a Wal-Mart before. Its no wonder "the gallons sold like crazy", if one can buy a whole gallon of pickels for only a little more money, why would one buy the normal size? Buying in bulk is many Americans weakness.
I’ve always found the concept of the American Dream to be a myth and something based on false hope and wishful thinking in order to make the country seem appealing and prosperous to people trying to settle there, particularly in terms of materialism and abundant wealth.
In James’ first website I liked how it had different statements of what the American Dream may mean to different people.
“a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position”.
However, I feel that in order for someone to achieve their place in a social order it would entail a type of class order also to which wealth plays a factor in ranking oneself within society. Therefore, I feel that each statement implicitly implied that the American Dream would involve gaining some sort of capital in order for oneself to be happy. Particularly in the Declaration of Independence that initially stated “the pursuit of Property”.
This cannot be available to everyone I feel and is just a propaganda tool in making the country seem inferior and better compared to the rest of the world.
The second website I found quite interesting too, the gallon sized pickle jar to me demonstrated America’s greed and signified to me an icon of abundance, to which bigger is always better. The price for the jar of pickles is quite shocking and is quite economically devastating in how it knocks out all competition between other smaller markets or other stores as they cannot compete against these low prices. “Wal-Mart no longer has any real rivals. It does more business than Target, Sears, Kmart, J.C. Penney, Safeway, and Kroger combined.”
Wal-Mart is definitely an icon of American capitalism.
Post a Comment