"This is the story of american. everybody's doing what they think they're supposed to do."
-Jack Kerouac
What is the American Experience?
Students and adults alike constantly confuse the American Experience and the American Dream, when in reality, they couldn't be any more different. We've all heard of the coveted American Dream, a glamorous and sugar-coated version of what living in America should be like. But is that really the American Experience, or something entirely different?
A·mer·i·can dream (noun) The traditional social ideas of the U.S., such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity.
One of the biggest struggles in America today is the intense love of possessions, which goes hand in hand with superiority; the more things you have, the better you are. Americans want to feel that they are better than others, when in reality, the upper class often stoops lower than those living in the slums. Power is key in this strong nation, and the more pieces of paper stamped with the president's money you own, the more powerful you are. Happiness isn't part of the picture anymore, because money makes you happy right? This is the bitter reality of the beloved American Experience.
The dirtier side of America is an oxymoron. Men and women who live on the street are often kinder than those living in crystal palaces, because they know what it's like to have nothing. Lars Eighner grew up in Houston, Texas, had a government job, lost it in the 80's, and began to dumpster dive as a homeless member of society. According to Eighner, "those who live off the refuse of others" possess more than any pampered society member could. It is understood among the homeless that only what is necessary is taken; the rest is left for those who need it. The highest in society always desire more, whether it's the newest IPhone or the latest model of a Corvette. Living on the street, however, seemed to be beneficial to calming the monster known as human nature. Americans have been taught to be hoarders, and appreciate what they have rather than who they love. However, at the same time that we want for everything, enough will never be enough. However, to Eighner, living in the streets opened his eyes to the greed of his fellow citizens. When dumpster diving, Eighner commonly found perfectly useful items were discarded simply because the owner wanted something better.
Students and adults alike constantly confuse the American Experience and the American Dream, when in reality, they couldn't be any more different. We've all heard of the coveted American Dream, a glamorous and sugar-coated version of what living in America should be like. But is that really the American Experience, or something entirely different?
A·mer·i·can dream (noun) The traditional social ideas of the U.S., such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity.
One of the biggest struggles in America today is the intense love of possessions, which goes hand in hand with superiority; the more things you have, the better you are. Americans want to feel that they are better than others, when in reality, the upper class often stoops lower than those living in the slums. Power is key in this strong nation, and the more pieces of paper stamped with the president's money you own, the more powerful you are. Happiness isn't part of the picture anymore, because money makes you happy right? This is the bitter reality of the beloved American Experience.
The dirtier side of America is an oxymoron. Men and women who live on the street are often kinder than those living in crystal palaces, because they know what it's like to have nothing. Lars Eighner grew up in Houston, Texas, had a government job, lost it in the 80's, and began to dumpster dive as a homeless member of society. According to Eighner, "those who live off the refuse of others" possess more than any pampered society member could. It is understood among the homeless that only what is necessary is taken; the rest is left for those who need it. The highest in society always desire more, whether it's the newest IPhone or the latest model of a Corvette. Living on the street, however, seemed to be beneficial to calming the monster known as human nature. Americans have been taught to be hoarders, and appreciate what they have rather than who they love. However, at the same time that we want for everything, enough will never be enough. However, to Eighner, living in the streets opened his eyes to the greed of his fellow citizens. When dumpster diving, Eighner commonly found perfectly useful items were discarded simply because the owner wanted something better.
thesis
The American Experience is chasing the American Dream, which is unreachable. Even those who have "acquired" the American Dream can never truly be happy; they are forever plagued with the greed for more.