THE AMERICAN DREAM

I grew up a white boy in suburban Ohio. My parents both worked, we had a nice house…I played on a little league team. Yes, growing up in Ohio….I was sure we were living the American Dream. Back then I thought the Dream was accessible to everyone in the country we live in…. It wasn’t until year laters I realized the American Dream was much easier for me because of the color of my skin. The roots of the American Dream can be found in our Declaration of Independence right their in black and white it is expressed How everyone is created equal, all endowed with inalienable rights that among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It wasn’t until I was older…the hypocrisy I started seeing… when I learned the man who wrote those inspiring words… himself… owned human beings. Nonetheless his uplifting words famously became his contribution to the independence of our country…and the cornerstone of our constitution. In our constitution his words were interpreted to mean we will work as equals……through conflicts, controversies and strife…. so every person regardless of their background will have the freedom and opportunity to succeed and attain a better, richer, and fuller life. But it has never really worked that way…say…for the Native Americans, people of color, if you are gay or lesbian or trans…. when people in power ignore our constitution…when they have other plans. For now I know when they spoke of inalienable rights they were being disingenuous… that the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are delicate and tenuous. That the constitution…which I thought was a guide to what this country dreamed to be a road map that has provided my life with many an opportunity… has not been as fair and just for people who do not look or worship or act like me. For years their freedoms and opportunities have been dishonored and ignored So much so that is seems…they don’ t have any! so how can we call it the American Dream… when it’s been an American Nightmare for so many.