On American dream and beyond

Under a blue sky, scattered clouds pass by high above a nice cosy house surrounded by well-manicured trees and lush green lawns. In front of the garage while son can be seen taking lessons from dad on basketball, elsewhere in the lawn mom is busy barbecuing a sumptuous dinner. Nearby cute little daughter struggles to free a retrieved stick from the mouth of the household's tail wagging pet spaniel. At the forefront is a clean and shiny Chrysler made Jeep Cherokee parked alongside the pavement.

"Ain't nothin but sheer bliss". Does the depiction ring any bell? How many times have we come across the likes of this snapshot and thought wishfully: if only.....or...maybe someday......

The aspirant desiring to follow through such a dream would, based on ability, be required to do his or her due diligence as a good citizen and in return Uncle Sam would allow the aspirant to chase the dream. Achievement would be subject to the level of the person's due diligence.

Now that we have somewhat understood what this dream is all about, let us try to get a perspective on what actually lies beneath this most coveted dream and what keeps its pulse ticking?

Based on capitalism with the help of mass media, a vast consumer-oriented society has been created, which is the main driving force behind the US (United States) economy. Consumers are kept perpetually occupied in the relentless pursuit of material wealth.

A constant watch is on to identify markets beyond American shores for unloading surplus produce and seek out areas from where resources and energies can be pulled to feed the insatiable appetite of America's giant economic powerhouse.

Basically, this is what represents American interests among other things and wherever these have been seen as hampered or jeopardised, all means at disposal have been both deployed and employed to protect and secure these vital elements of US economy.

The protection of such elements takes precedence over ethics and morals. The motive behind all this is to preserve and nurture the American dream. This is just the tip of the iceberg; much however lay beneath.

On a host of various pretexts, unfriendly foreign governments are uprooted when they come in the way; opponents of America are systematically eliminated. Covert operations are unleashed to orchestrate coup d'etats in underdog countries; assassinations and mass upsurge are promoted in distant lands and invasions into other sovereign nations are encouraged.

Resulting from these events, loss of countless number of innocent lives is considered as unavoidable collateral damage. These are few more examples of what lies beneath. A formidable military might has been built to thwart and deter those who come in the way.

Thanks to technology and the media. For better or for worse, these mass communication tools have evolved to become an omnipresent phenomenon of the typical American's life. This inseparable and useful union is exploited in every conceivable way to mould public opinion among other objectives. Media constantly helps in the furtherance of the cause of the American dream.

Let us wrap up with the following conclusion:

It is indeed ironic that, while a country that devotes so much resource towards research and development on just about everything, not much is focused on the 'clear and present dangers' that confront the US today. Either the need for probing to get to the heart of the matter is being deliberately ignored, or grossly misunderstood.

A superiority complex coupled with complacency and a sense of invincibility quite understandably consumes the American mind. This egocentric mind needs to open up and usher in a genuine sense of understanding about the critical issues that plague today's world.

As the only remaining superpower and guardian, time has come for Americans to re-word JFK's famous quotation and pose upon themselves: "Ask not what the world can do for Uncle Sam, ask what Uncle Sam can do for the world". Thus will be the beginning of a much-awaited healing process and understanding.

Then, and then only, will the American nodding-heads will emerge as sympathisers of the world that languishes around.