How does American Idealism (or the American Dream) affect America in general?
It is the reason we are all still here-- we have the feeling (be it right or not) that we are capable of anything we bloody well decide we can do. We are able to expect that with hard work and common sense, we can succeed in life. We are not constrained by any other factors, unlike much of the rest of the world. If we want the 2.4 children and a house with a white picket fence, we just have to work harder for it. However, the problem is that the "hard work" portion of the American Dream is fading-- now, especially in the younger generations, people believe that they should be able to fill their lives with the pursuit of happiness and should not have to work long hours to be able to enjoy themselves. They expect life to be a walk in the park, with no hardships or struggles. This, of course, leads people to spend beyond their means in order to make what they want of their life, but then everybody else has to pay for it (their children, taxpayers, etc.). It also is what causes people to give up on things so easily-- if they don't think their job is perfect, they quit it quickly without trying to make it better, or get a divorce when natural problems arise in a marriage. It is a blessing and a curse-- we CAN do whatever we feel like, but the problem is that people have believed for quite some time that they shouldn't have to do anything at all and the blessings should just be heaped on them.
It seems like foreigners are taking over America?
Now I am not racist in anyway because I'm mixed with spanish and other cultures, but everywhere I go there are so many places that are taken over by spanish people, like the stores HAVE to have spanish translation, and everywhere people have to learn spanish in order to communicate with the immigrants that come over here. If I go to spain or mexico etc...I am not going to expect to see English all over the place. I'm going into their country so I need to speak their language, why isn't it the same here in America? It's like we left any and everyone over here without questions.
Why do Americans call their teams "World Champion"?
Calling our teams "World Champions" instead of "National Champions" does sound kind of arrogant, but there could be some validity to it when you consider how the rest of the world perceives American sports. Think about all the foreign athletes who have aspired to bring their skills to the United States after becoming established and revered in their homeland. It is becoming a regular thing for Japanese ball-player/celebrities to sign with American teams while at the top of their game. Prominent Latin American names likewise are continuing to saturate baseball lineups (including all-star lineups). Each year, more and more foreign players are selected in the first round of the NBA draft, several of which become stars in our league as well as their former ones. Of course, there are many American athletes that choose to play ball overseas, but that is only because they aren't good enough to make it here in the states--at least not at the highest levels. I can only think of one American superstar that chose to play professionally in a foreign league, and that's Bob Horner of the Atlanta Braves. And calling him a superstar is a real stretch! Here's what this tells me: Even though countries like Japan, Cuba, and Argentina can kick our butts in international competition, there still seems to be a worldwide mindset that the "best of the best" play in America. How else could you describe the influx of elite athletes we are getting year after year, with absolutely no "out-flux"? The only out-flux we can speak of is at the lower levels, not the elite. Perhaps it is pride alone that drives Americans to label their champions as "best in the world." Are we right in doing so? Probably not. But maybe it does have some merit, seeing that in some sense the rest of the world is giving us that label too. P.S. Baseball was already popular in other countries when the title "world champions" was coined. It's only fair to point that out. Plus, I don't think you can lump Nash and Duncan with the "big names who came here" since these two clearly became big within our system, not outside of it.
What did the immigrants expect when coming to America back when people first started immigrating?
Haley, there are many good stories of immigrants who came to our shores all asking/seeking the fresh start from their respective countries. The reasons are as many as there once were people who came through the turnstiles at Ellis Island. The first thing they saw as they came toward the landting docks of course was the Statue of Liberty. One of the most important things that mattered to most (if not all) of the immigrants was the ability to merely land and be able to "stay". One item rarely spoken of within the context (today) in regards to the immigrants is the inherent fear they had in regards to "not passing the initial exam" and thereby having then to face the loading docks for a ship back to their home country. This happened to many ~ and, if you place yourself to the time frame, imagine being an immigrant from Ireland, Holland, Russia, Germany, Poland, France, Belgium, etc...YOU have the hope of starting a new life but on your boat ride over the only talk is that of the "inspection". Now, lets say your a married Mother with 2 or 3 small children and you have a husband with good skills you know could work in the USA. Your fear initially is just getting passed the gate guards. Think of this in terms of important local considerations for the people who actually had to make the trip. Your whole life is then dependent upon getting passed the inspeciton. Immigration declined during World War I and during the years after. By the 1920s, U.S. consulates overseas took over immigration inspections to control the quota process more effectively and ensure that individuals would not make the long journey to America only to be turned away. From the 1920s until it closed in 1954, Ellis Island served as the DEPORTATION center, Public Health Service Hospital and Coast Guard station. See the link and best of luck in your report young lady, Gerry
Why do mexicans think we as white America owe them something?
We owe them NOTHING!!!!!!!