tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8997257546646522088.post7052540697181255025..comments2022-12-04T21:09:01.290-08:00Comments on Waking Up in SF: The American Dream is Not DeadJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018531740316919152noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8997257546646522088.post-39928276943340158262009-11-06T07:31:16.097-08:002009-11-06T07:31:16.097-08:00This is a very complicated and tense issue. What I...This is a very complicated and tense issue. What I have "against" this notion of the American dream is the strong belief many americans have that theirs is the only country where one can make his or her dreams come true. Basically believing that in all the rest of the world this is impossible or at least very difficult. <br /><br />This view always offends me, being Icelandic where there is nothing that you can´t do that you can do in America! <br /><br />The other issue I have with this is that people tend to ignore the psychology behind it, people who do this are in particular part of the dominant culture (white) and have really taken the individualism they grew up with to heart. It is all about the individual but not the culture - environment.<br /><br />There are a lot of important varibles to look at but this one is the most important... the very powerful influence of "internalized racism". This has been researched quite a lot lately and when you google it you see definations of it (some not quite correct). <br /><br />In my work as a psychologist in California I saw this with many of my clients. It is a sneaky, devious thing.... they were not aware of this themselves but it influenced the way they thought about themselves and their possibilites. But obviously along with coming from environments where so many factors make them feel and often belief that they actually dont stand a chance.<br /><br />ThordisThordishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05810006764327208633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8997257546646522088.post-26385708331982958282009-11-06T01:23:51.849-08:002009-11-06T01:23:51.849-08:0090% of startups failing includes restaurants :)
I...90% of startups failing includes restaurants :)<br /><br />I agree with most of your points, but there are people in the world who just don't want to work that hard. Our parents and grandparents worked harder than our generation does today, and our generation complains a lot more.<br /><br />I read somewhere recently that about 3% of society are leaders, striving to improve themselves and the world around them. While the actual percentage is debatable, the fact that these 3% can come from anywhere and achieve just about anything they want is not. I would much rather work with one of those 3% irregardless of whether or not they came from Oakland or East St. Louis or Detroit or Manhattan or Los Gatos.<br /><br />The american dream is there if you take it, it is highly unlikely that it will be handed to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com