Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Eclipse of the American Dream?

“We are such stuff
 as dreams are made on,” Shakespeare said in “The Tempest.”  Have Americans revised their individual versions of the American dream, after America's 9.0 earthquake in the financial and mortgage markets, after a devastating recession?

Alexis de Tocqueville toured America in the early 1830s, when America extended only from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River.  Americans had a whole continent ahead of them to conquer and exploit.  The optimism – frankly, the greed – was palpable. 

We no longer want to strip our continent of every natural resource, at least the best parts of us feel that way.  How have Americans revised their dreams for their lives as a result?

I also want to be open to any other theme that might arise and eclipse that plan.

1 comment:

  1. Norma, I want to travel with you! I'll be your personal assistant. I love what you are doing. Maybe next trip :) ! Very exciting ... I'll be following! xo

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