The American Dream
The hope for a better life.
Human rights.
Democracy.
Attaining success from sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work.
Freedom of speech.
Independence.
The land of opportunity.
Economic prosperity.
Safety.
In 2000, Karel left his home country of Czech Republic and traveled to the United states with nothing but a backpack. He told no one that he was leaving his country in an effort to pursue the American dream. It takes great courage to leave your country, family and friends and go to a new country where the language is foreign and you have to start a new life with nothing.
For the dream to function properly, the basic rights of individuals must be respected. This was far from the truth in Karel's story as an immigrant trying to make a living in the United States of America. When Karel arrived to America, he quickly realized that his dream was harder than once imagined. But like most immigrants, he persevered with a strong work ethic. He kept fighting for his dreams to come true. And finally they did. I often ask Karel if he wants to leave America in pursuit of a better place to live. His response as always been "The United States is the land of opportunity. You can come with nothing and become something." From Karel's upbringing in a communist country to living a life he never dreamed of, to becoming a US Citizen eighteen years later - he has taught me so much about history and what it means to be an American living in the United States.
Despite our turbulent US history, American's are still struggling to see each other as fellow citizens of the same nation. So many people - including native-born Americans - are struggling to obtain safety, freedom, equality and opportunity. As stated in the Declaration of Independence, everyone has certain "unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
The pursuit of happiness means every person in the nation has the right to build his/her own life, to seek to live his/her own dream. Although everyone's dreams and desires may differ, the freedom to pursue them is the same. This is the core of the American dream.
It's a privilege to be an American. Opportunities are here that don't exist in other places in the world.
The American dream should not have to do with race, religion, gender or ethnic background. Regardless of your gender identity, class, race, religion, ethnicity, social class or socioeconomic status, everyone has an opportunity - as a human being - to do work to become successful. Sadly, this is not the truth.
Our nation is struggling. It's divided. Politics, police brutality, a global pandemic and an international human rights movement - alongside other ongoing issues like global warming, sexual assualt, animal rights, LGBTQ discrimination, wage inequality, homelessness, human trafficking, disability discrimination, deforestation, weight bias, air pollution - has turned the American dream into a nightmare.
Throughout all of my life, I've learned that every human being has a story. I love listening and learning from people that I cannot relate to. I connect with people who are different. An opportunity to meet someone who is not like me makes me feel more human. Diversity not only makes our world incredibly special but it helps us build trust, respect and empathy for others. I have a deep appreciation for diversity in my life.
Every human being goes through difficult moments and lives through experiences. We must appreciate these differences in upbringings and perspectives. More so, we must be willing to learn from others. By doing so, we can add a deeper layer of understanding ourselves and others. These different perspectives and background are necessary in our lives as without them, biases, standards and stereotyping will prevent us from becoming a more unified society.
Stories need to be told. And we must listen. Open your ears and eyes with an open mind, without judgement, free of prejudice and with your heart. While it may be impossible to fully understand what someone else is going through (or has gone through), it's important to take the time to try and understand.
Do the work to get to know other people. Be a good ally, be empathic, accepting and welcoming. Listen and learn.
Consider the privileges you’ve been given as many people are living a life story with deep pains, wounds and scars.