“I have a dream” writing assignment

Nowadays a situation in cultural and political relations greatly changed and it is even hardly to imagine that some time ago African American people were slaves and fought for their freedom. I’d like to analyze contemporary situation in relate to Martin Luther King’s speech “I have a dream”. It is interesting to remember how Martin Luther King does describes his dream in 1963 and what situation is in country now. Also I want to pay our attention on American dream for today and think for the nation future.

Let’s begin our discussion from Martin Luther King’s speech quotation: “But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.” As you see from these words the situation was critical. Nowadays we have straight opposite situation, I mean African American people are free and even the President of America is Barack Obama. Such situation shows us that the King’s dream became true and it was well-deserved struggle for freedom.  I think that nowadays contemporary situation can be described by the King’s words “When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

In the eyes of the whole world America is wonderland. And although here worked wonder it “is lucky on principle that, who drives”, for those, who indeed believes in the American dream, all doors are opened. Most habitants of the USA see a fit, that they and their families will be able to realize the American dream. It was confirmed by information of questioning, conducted by Zogby International Company. The concept of American dream is often used for description of certain national ideology, uniting Americans. However much clear determination of the American dream exists – every habitant of the USA inlays in it the own pictures of the wonderful future.

Usually this thesis is considered one of bases of protestant labor ethics. The concept of the American dream appeared through one and a half ages after formation of the USA. Quintessence of American dream is a picture that everybody, possessing capabilities, energy and industriousness, is capable honest a way to succeed in life, becoming a good and well-off liver.

At the end of January, 2009 56% Americans believed in marketability of the American dream. The analysis of results of questioning revealed that “believers” and “nonbelievers” in earnest differentiated in looks to life. Those Americans, which are sure in that Dream can become reality, as a rule, believe in own efforts. The main grounds of habitants of the USA for realization of Dream are such:

ü    I am clever and with application work, therefore I will succeed necessarily (opinion 59%);

ü    America is a country of possibilities (52%);

ü    I am an “optimist” and “I am not afraid to lose business or work” (for 25%);

ü    My religion helps me to achieve success (15%).

Those, who sure of that Dream – no more, than beautiful phrase, inclined to accuse power. “Pessimists” explain the inability to do Dream reality as follows:

ü    Authorities of country do not care of such people, as I (44%);

ü    We are not under an obligation to aspire to achievement of ideals (29%);

ü    A cost-of-living is too high (27%);

ü    I am a “pessimist” (10%).

In addition, “nonbelievers” named such reasons, as a recent loss of work or translation on low-paid position. On the whole, of reality of the American dream the supporters of Republican Party, believers and people something about 30 years old are more frequent sure.

Thus taking into account all above mentioned we can conclude that American dream a little bit change through the years and we can’t define it unambiguously, because every family has own dream. I want to emphasize that in a whole people dream about prosperous future and equal rights between nationalities. I think that all people are created equal and provided with Creator by certain inseparable rights among which is a right on life, on freedom and on aspiration fortunately. These words are contained in Declaration of Independence accepted in 1776. America was not then neither ideal nor just society. Nevertheless, faith that America is society of equal possibilities remains the main engine of social and economic progress of this country and Martin Luther King was quite right when he said that only united actions can be successful.