Hope and Despair in the American Dream

Despair

The above image is a polluted river, added due to pollution caused my major factories and coorporations. While this does have a detrimental effect on the environment, it also makes one think of the views held in doing so. A coorporation, led by one or several business owners do so thinking only of the benefit it holds (not polluting the river but the money made from the factory), and viewing a fine for polluting this river as a business expense, because assuming there will still be a profit after the fine, the business will continue to do this. It is an aspect of the individualistic aspects of American society that is propelled by the American dream, making sure to take care of yourself and achieve your goals (regardless of how big or small), not considering to think about society at large, or how everyone could benefit if all thoughts, actions, and plans made by individuals, business, and the government were made for society as a whole, and also our planet (to be preserved for the future).

Hope

The hope that I see, comes in those who do act for society. Coming together to build a sense of ocmmunity and helping to establish equality in all ways, social or economic, to help eliminate descrimation for race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. As well as to bring a larger economic equality, and lower amounts of poverty and the separation of classes. A couple of examples would be the more recent increase in the LGBT rights movement, or the Occupy movement a few years ago.