The American Dream

Upon reading Cullen's The American Dream last night, I realized how true Foner's description of freedom is. It is something "constantly created and recreated," it "embodies not a single idea, but a complex of values," it is the "oldest of cliches and the most modern of aspirations." It "binds the culture together and exposes the contradictions between what America claims to be and what it actually is." Cullen's description stays pretty true to these notions, pointing out that every American is proud to say they are free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness, yet every American's definition of these things is different. Every bank teller, every professional athlete, every doctor are all working toward the American Dream. Yet the things they do every day to achieve that dream are completely different. It seems fitting to me that this is so - America is considered the cultural melting pot, and it makes sense that in one country with a billion different people, there's one word with a billion different connotations.

The Free People are also Free Thinkers

One of the greatest freedoms that is present in the 21^st century is the freedom to an education. This science textbook represents the freedom we have to an education, the freedom to learn about modern and unconventional concepts, the freedom to further advance technology and cure diseases. Our government pays for the public school systems throughout all 50 states, and financial aid opportunities are there for secondary schooling. People from all over the world come to the United States for better education. The law requires that children attend school from the ages of 5-8 to 14-18 (depending on the state). This right to education makes our country unique and our people extremely fortunate. This freedom verifies that we have the right to think for ourselves, while other countries that lack this excellent education system may not. It proves that the free people of the 21^st century are also free thinkers; that our government does not limit our learning, but instead enhances and encourages our education.