Thoughts

I was reflecting upon the readings we have had thus far in AmCon today, trying to articulate my epiphany on the subject of American Freedom, when I realized that I had a problem.  I haven't had one.   While each of the readings we have thus far completed have peaked my interest in one way or another, I cannot say that I have definitively been given any new insight into "what it means to have the American dream," or even freedom as it pertains to America.   What each article has effectively demonstrated is the ambiguity that arises when speaking of something as abstract as a dream, as well as the challenges in defining what it means to be free or even American.   Foner addresses the issues that arise throughout history in the definition of freedom: whether due to the status quo, religion, a tyranical form of government, or even personal limitiations upon ourselves.   Cullen speaks in the abstract about democracy and what it means to be "American."  She informs us that freedom is "dangerous" and that democracy is "messy and chaotic", that "idealism will lead us towards change." However, it is not clearly demonstrated specificly what she believes should be done with all of our energy and beliefs to actually produce the social change she mentions.   Amy Tan is rather more concrete, telling the reader her own personal mission of helping children.  However, her message still leaves questions.  She states that each person need only do what he/she can, which makes me wonder what she believes is necessary for Americans to do.  With Cullen we are right back to the indefinite as he spends his introduction telling his audience repeatedly about man's inability to accurately define or explain the American dream.   He claims it is the "imagination," an "uncertainty that excites us."  He is able to articulate some specific qualities of this abstract idea by assigning a few general topics which often are found alongside talk of the American dream, those being equality, ownership, personal fufillment, and the ability to move up socioeconomically.  However, the introduction ends without yet a hint of Cullen's own ideas but rather an open ended "shoulder shrug" of sorts, implying that he is not particularly sure of anything.  Granted, there are approximately a hundred pages of book upon which his ideas are likely stated in more detail.  I do not mean to imply that the authors we have thus read are ignorant.  Not at all. They are probably too far beyond the concrete to spell out their ideas.  I am probably supposed to imply deep meaning from their open-ended statements. I am just finding it difficult to wrap my head around the concept of freedom by speaking in terms of what we cannot completely explain.  Of course we cannot speak for every individual who ever claimed him or herself to be an American.  I find it redundant for our authors to beat us over the head with this idea. What I would love is an opinion.   An opinion screamed loudly.  I want to read stories of people's lives, their own personal, vulnerable views of life in this place we call America.  I already know it's not easy to explain.  Don't tell me that.  Tell me what you know.   Then maybe, by examining individual stories, I can begin to assemble a more complete picture of this landscape we call America.