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independent individual • mobility / flexibility / optimism: social mobility (upward and downward) on the "ladder of success" hard work: heritage is not important if you work hard, key to prosperity education and self-improvement: education is the key to individuals realizing their full economic, social and personal potential • progress: desire to progress personally by making use of opportunities patriotism: patriotic symbols e.g. national holidays like (like Thanksgiving), a lot of flags THE AMERICAN DREAM TODAY • nowadays: very critical and negative view of the American Dream • critics see the American Dream as a clever political and economic marketing strategy many values are not reflected "hard work will pay off / social standard is changeable": huge gap between rich and poor, different social classes, no welfare system "heritage is irrelevant": racism directed against the black population ("Black Lives Matter") *"education is the key to success": costs of higher education leave many no choice but to stay where they are the American Dream is projected mainly on material prosperity → main idea has changed, mindset is consistent WHEN THE AMERICAN DREAM WAS ENDANGERED 9/11 • 11' of September in 2001 inspired by the American Dream, many people migrated to the United States in the hope of leading a better life through hard work • the World Trade Center employed many people who were living the American Dream • on the morning of the respective day, four airplanes were hijacked by terrorists: two flew into the Twin Towers, one into the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed somewhere else WHEN THE AMERICAN DREAM ENDANGERED OTHER NATIONS THE VIETNAM WAR the terrorists were supporters of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda, founded by Osama Bin Laden, who wanted to continue the so called "Holy War" around 3000 people died, the whole country was in shock and it is an unrecoverable event in the history of America • started in 1965 → America started interfering on 8' of March after the second world war, North and South Vietnam were devided into a communist state in the north and a democratic state in the south established by the western world in the north the communist-influenced "Vietcong" was founded which destabilised the south →→ a civil war in the south began and so the United States interpreted this as a danger for their interests • American Dream: spreading their idea of democracy all over the world as god's chosen ones • America's military problem: the Vietcong had much more experience in the jungle soldiers' psychological problems: didn't know anymore who is evil or good and didn't know what they were fighting for protests in America and the world followed America lost the war in 1975 . . the American Dream had failed, society was let down and many soldiers were left disabled → the losers of the war (surviving soldiers) were excluded from the community and suffer from the circumstances of the war to this day THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN AMERICA The U.S. Capitol LEGISLATIVE CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SENATE The White House EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT- 00000 VICE PRESIDENT The Supreme Court JUDICIAL 00000 SUPREME COURT Legislative •Can change laws . Can veto each other's bills •Approves presidential appointments Can discharge the president Can discharge judges Executive •President appoints government •President appoints judges Judicial •Can declare presidential acts unconstitutional •Can declare laws unconstitutional "THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE" . The counterpart of the American Dream •Many people work hard or take loans for their education, but end up in debt and not achieving the American Dream •The dream turns into a nightmare of poverty, frustration and misery Huge inequality in the U.S.: rich and poor; whites and blacks, men and women A lot of racism and discrimination resulting in protests such as the "Black Lives Matter" Movement People are trapped into poverty due to high (student) debt, poor education, high medical costs or unemployment • Immigrants do not have the same opportunities as U.S. citizens, but are still extremely important for the economy •The question whether the American Dream is still alive today is one which cannot be answered with yes or no, as the concept of the American Dream is not static. It depends on several aspects, e.g., a person's individual definition of and belief in the concept and the point of view one takes •BUT: Most of the American citizens still believe in the American Dream because of a few examples and hold on to the hope of achieving it themselves one day Examples: Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, Arnold Schwarzenegger GUN VIOLENCE & GUN CONTROL The 2nd amendment of the Bill of Rights gives Americans the right to own a gun • It was meant as a way to defend themselves against the Native Americans, the British and a government which would govern undemocratically • It was also a sign of power and individual freedom • Nowadays the Weapons and Defence Industry hugely profits from these laws . •The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a lobby organisation which influences elections and legislation in order to stop regulation, registration and bans on rifles • Most of Americans are for stronger gun control laws •The Democratic Party supports stronger gun control laws •The Republican Party opposes stronger gun control laws Pro "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." - amount of damage can become fatal when a gun is involved Unawareness/missing knowledge of the people No mass shootings in the past 30 years have been stopped by armed civilians → chaos: Gabby Giffords shooting (2011) wrong guy nearly shot Many crimes involve guns, gun control would reduce gun crime rate Gun control laws protect children: nearly 8 American children shot and killed every day 2nd Amendment written by slaveholders: target group was Militia (National Guard), not civilians There are many mass shootings (especially in schools) Most murderers owned their guns legally Automated military rifles changed the whole situation Contra Leads to a better organized & much larger black market for illegal firearms Impossible to collect massive amount of guns There's still murder in countries where handguns are banned (UK homicide rate gone up) Gives citizens a feeling of protection/safety Self-defence is a fundamental right protected in all states by the U.S. constitution 2nd Amendment: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary for the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." It has now become a big tradition The gun industry profits from it There is less dependency on the police IMMIGRATION Peak periods of Immigration to the United States: • Mid 19th century → Northern and North-eastern Europe/Germany (after failed revolution)/Ireland (during the famine 1845-1852) • Early 20th century → Southern and Eastern Europe/political refugees *Post 1965 →Non-Europeans: mainly Mexicans; but also other Latin Americans and Asians (e.g. Chinese, Indians) Key facts: • No limits on Immigration until 1808 Main period of immigration was between 1800 and 1917 • Immigration Act of 1917 limited the amount KEY CONCEPTS: MELTING POT VS. SALAD BOWL Chines Irish Italian Texican Russian AMERICAN • The U.S. was traditionally described with the metaphor of the melting pot A place where many different people and their cultures exist together mixing and producing a something new • All the immigrants should assimilate and together create and change the American culture and national identity The Past . • The idea encourages every culture to bring in it's traditions The U.S. is a nation of immigrants Very welcoming to immigrants of all social classes, nationalities and ethnicities • Immigrant visa = green card • Hispanics and Asians → largest immigrant groups • In 2002 the INS was replaced by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible for issuing visas, asylum and citizenships •U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for protecting the United States from cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety .U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs, and immigration. Gives new hope and opportunities to all Chinese Irish Italian Mexican Russian And today Immigrants are a lower class Used for Low-paid jobs Not very welcome . The U.S. economy depends on them The children of immigrants have a higher chance of becoming criminal · In contrast: many people outside the U.S. still believe in the American Dream and try to immigrate • Nowadays the salad bowl is seen as better description of the American culture This metaphor describes the way a multicultural society can integrate different cultures while maintaining their separate identities Here the people get encouraged to keep their traditions and their native language • Like in a salad where all the different parts get mixed together but still differ from each other •America is depicted as diverse, multi- cultural and pluralistic T.C. BOYLE The Tortilla Curtain SENIOR THE TORTILLA CURTAIN ENGLISH LIBRARY novel by U.S. author T.C. Boyle, published in 1995 • about middle-class values, illegal immigration, xenophobia, poverty, and environmental destruction • characters: . • A bit superstitious, as he calls himself a cursed man Resurrección was his first wife • Cándido Rincón (33) O O O Although he slaps, punches, and insults his wife when he is frustrated or angry CHARACTER PORTRAITS CÁNDIDO AND DELANEY his pregnant wife América (17) enter the United States illegally, dreaming of a good life in their own little house somewhere in California. Meanwhile, they are homeless and camping at the bottom of the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles Delaney Mossbacher Cándido: Cándido is a Mexican • Can only speak Spanish, English just a few words illegal immigrant in the U.S. • Originally from Tepoztlán, Morelos (southern Mexico - near Mexico City) • He was raised by his aunt Lupe, as his mother died when he was a child and his father remarried after that •He is now married to her 17-year-old younger sister América Rincón • He is the father of their baby, a daughter called Socorro Kyra Mossbacher → have recently moved into a gated community on top of Topanga, in order to be closer to nature yet be close enough to the city to enjoy those amenities. Kyra is a successful real estate agent while Delaney keeps house, looks after Kyra's son by her first marriage and writes a regular column for an environmentalist magazine. character traits: •Desperately wants to protect América from the dangers of L.A. e.g., he does not want her to look for a job • When he cannot work, he feels useless and awfully bad However, he is always optimistic to get new work, even though he has been cheated on and left with no work several times Promised a lot to his wife, for example a house and a better life Therefore, he is constantly afraid of being caught by the Immigration Police (ICE) and sent back to Mexico again Usually a loving husband, as the breakup with Resurrección hit him hard • He is a bit superstitious and may believe in god • América means everything to him → with his only money he buys food and a new dress •Would have preferred a daughter a little . • Thinks it will be bringing shame upon him, when he cannot protect América or feed her (toxic masculinity that nearly kills him, makes him often drunk and hit América) character development: •He starts to change since he got hit by Delaney, for example when he tries to forbid América to go up the hill and look for work "Il go myself. Nobody can tell me I can't feed my own wife." •When drunk or angry he insults and slaps América, although he loves her more than anything The worse things happen to him, the more he thinks he might be cursed, he even considers leaving América and Socorro for their wellbeing • However, he always tries to be optimistic and make the best of his situation • His anger turns into frustration and desperation as he sees no way of having a better life for his family "[...]so desperate now he didn't care if La Migra picked him up or not, but no one gave him even so much as a glance."