Oh how times have changed in the past fifty years. The American dream is not what it use to be. The new American dream is undefined and lacks the clarity it was once based upon. Let me step back and talk about the American dream fifty years ago.
Although I am only 21 years old, I grew up hearing about the “original” American dream. What did the American dream include you might ask? I am sure every reader knows exactly what I am about to outline.
The perfect life started out with a small house, front porch, one car in the driveway, and maybe just maybe that white picket fence. In the kitchen sat one phone. What does one phone offer? One phone offers an easy medium to make plans in person, not talk on the phone for hours. One television set or radio would always bring the family together every evening, after a family meal of course. Neighborhood pickup games meant outdoor fun for the kids; activities not involving a television. This life included the milkman and mailman who knew every family to who they delivered. Quality of service was the underlying factor, not making excess profits. The American dream included Saturday’s full of picnics and Sunday barbecues with the friends next door.
So what am I getting at here? I am talking about the old tradition vs. the new tradition. Let’s take a look at life in 2008.
The American dream house is a $500,000 two story house, finished basement, and two car garage. There might only be one phone in the house, because every family member has a cell phone. Every bedroom has a television, and even the kitchen has a 12 inch flat screen just in case you get bored during dinner. Neighborhood pick up games…..what’s a neighborhood pick up game? Kids are too busy playing Halo online against opponents around the world. Milk is picked up at the grocery or convenience store, while you may meet the mail man a few times a year. Quality service is typically unheard of, unless a little more is paid. The American dream includes Saturday's working overtime with Sunday planning a vacation to Tahiti.
It sounds like I am bashing the American dream and that is not my intention. The truth is the American dream is different for every individual. What you can take away from here is the concept that although technology and innovation are great, they may create gaps in human relationships and personal communication. It’s so important to slow the pace of life down and take a breather. The American dream has changed maybe for the better or the worse; I will let you the reader decide that for yourself.
Kyle Sawdey
The Fox Den
P.S. For my G-Ma