The American dream has long been defined as the "dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement" (Amin). If this dream were true, it would acknowledge people for who and what they are, in spite of chance birth status or social position. Unfortunately, in today's society, the American dream represents fortune and success much more than work and morals. Even so, the success that comes along with the American dream is not a practical want in today's society. We all have the equal ability to work hard, yet we don't have the equal ability to become successful from our work alone. The American dream has now become an unachievable aspiration, especially to those whose race, ethnicity and gender prohibit them from attaining the equality we all deserve.
             America was shaped by ideals and high standards that inspired people to work hard and to be good people. Everything in life was not about money or recognition. Our society was one that defined success as happiness. The main goal was to become self-sufficient and to provide a healthy home for ones family. Somewhere along the way, this happiness became defined as money. We stopped focusing on family values and began to concentrate on personal wealth and social status. With this transition, the American dream became unattainable for the entire society and became a dream practical to the
             Upper-class alone, a dream that let the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The dream still promises success to all those who work hard, yet one should recognize that this dream is just that, a dream. One can argue that this dream is part of the American culture, or that "...it can pull people in the direction they want to go" (Dalton), both of which are true, yet they are not acknowledging the simple fact that the American dream provides people with a false
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