The American Dream

The American Dream is fully possible for everyone depending on realistic expectations for one's own ability and strengths, surrounding environment, and situational economics at the time. The dream is relative for each person and what each person is searching for. If a person is disillusioned into believing that  the "American Dream" is easy and effortless to seek, then there is a high probability that they will fail in their efforts to find their dream. Many don't realize that they must work hard to achieve this dream, and instead abandon their traditional ways for this easy-seeming solutions while later realizing in retrospect that to gain these new opportunities they must put in effort to achieve their desired futures. However, because of unrealistic expectations many don't reach their own American Dream as it exceed reality.   

Depending on the person, the American Dream can consist of cultural, economic, or political ideals. I feel that the American Dream resonates with most people economically especially with America thriving on its capitalistic nature. To achieve status and also comfort, people must gain economic standing and stability. Statistics show that people of lower economic status have a tendency to not go as far in education and thus later on in life, usually not have high-paying careers. In order to achieve most dreams, whether it is fame, career, or even to provide for one's family, economic standing is a necessary step to getting there.
Education based off Economic Class Statistics

The Zoots

Research within this subject exposed to me the horrific events that are desensitized or even obscured within history books. World War II was a time of nationalism and the injustices that occurred to various civilians contrasted with the heroism of America, so these events were covered up to preserve feelings of being the better guys. During this period of anger and suspicion, much of patriotism and protection towards an area was confused with nationalism and racism against a differing group of people. Within the actions that occurred during the Zoot Suit Riots, the line between nationalism and patriotism was blurred. As well, The Zoot Suit Riots brought attention to the national public the corrupt political, governmental, and law-abiding systems within Los Angeles as well as racial inequality and discrimination during the twentieth century towards minority groups.

  

The Zoot Suit Riots revealed to me the actions people take when given either power or even obscure situations that they don't comprehend how to approach or handle. When given power, people do have the ability to choose not only their own but also their society’s voice. In the situation of a minority group with an unfamiliar culture in the midst of a dominant group, it is in this dominant group's power to assist in just reactions towards this group during moments of suspicion or even hesitation. The Zoot Suit Riots showed me how the the dominant group, middle class Caucasians, through jealousy and suspicion of the Mexican-American teenage minority, brought violence and hatred, limiting and hurting innocent people because of a patriotism that turned xenophobic.

Throughout history, cultures are discriminated against and political figures allow for this behavior, and as the aftermath shows from these riots, it’s up to these figures to speak out and reveal unacceptable behavior. Zoot Suits for me exemplified behaviors within cultures and groups of people and how certain actions are due not from universal human traits but rather from cultural values and differences. These riots showed me how history repeats itself, and in this case how people have a natural pattern of practicing violence and exclusion towards a specific group and justify their actions with patriotism (although it can be more xenophobic than patriotic). It also shows how political figures can cover up these actions to make it seem as if they are justified and consequently show the subjectivity of history as they make events more benign than they actually are.