With all that is happening in America at the moment, I couldn't help but turn off my television and stop following the media for awhile. I went to go glance at one of my favorite poems about America by Walt Whitman.

"I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,

Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,

The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,

The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,

The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,

The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,

The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,

The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,

Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,

The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,

Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs."

-Walt Whitman

Perhaps growing up you heard this poem titled, I Hear America Singing, by Walt Whitman. This poem depicts american society and how it thrived off of the idea of each person's individual American Dream. America used to be a prosperous land of freedom and economic gain. Perhaps the American Dream is having a home, a white picket fence, a family, and life all in the quiet suburbs. Or maybe it is obtaining success through hard work and determination. The American Dream varies across the nation no matter the social standing of lower class, middle class, or upper class.

Yet, the question that remains is: what is the American Dream? Such opportunity evolves from a starting point of education, occupation, income, or cultural affiliation. This ideology of the American Dream varies due to the social stratification of the United States, in the class system. However, the inequality gap in America is a shift seen in either attaining the dream or attaining the unattainable in society-- with no inbetween. Despite coming from various backgrounds, having distinctive stories, all American’s share the common hope of obtaining one solid dream. The American Dream signifies, "That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” (-Adams, 1931).The concept of the American Dream depicts american society as social class being achievement based, in which we work hard for what is deserved.

I, however, believe in the country that America used to be. Before the hate, pain, and media took over our nation. American’s once believed in a prosperous nation. We fail to dream, hence the nightmare is created. There may be barriers amidst in opportunity for each individual. In a world where are now destroying relations with other countries and people, we must start to begin building bridges and mending these relations yet once again. Timing is everything and as Christopher Gardner once stated, “You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period.”