Hi everyone,As we´ve been talking about the American Dream in Of Mice And Men - whereby George and Lenny imagine their ´little place´ and ´livin´ on the fatta the lan,´´ this week I´d like you to consider a different version of it, according to the American stand up, George Carlin.
He launches into a scathing attack on corporations, whom he believes really control the US with their influence on the economy and politics, and he vitriolically refutes any wide-eyed aspirtions such as George and Lenny´s - that they are in control of their destinies, that they can make it and succeed in life and fulfil their ambitions. Carlin concludes the 4-minute youtube clip by saying ´...that´s the American Dream. Because you have to be asleep to believe it.´
I´d like to know what you think about the two contrasting American dreams. Is George and Lenny´s version now a thing of the past? Do you have anything similar in Argentina?
Click here to see the videoclip but *please be warned that there is some very strong language. If you are an adolescent I strongly recommend that you ask persmission before watching. It isn´t esssential to view it anyway, as I´ve summarised it above.
Have a great weekend!
See you next week,
Steve
In my opinion, the american dream which George and Lenny try to achieve USED to exist, but no anymore.
ReplyDeleteHowever, what George Carlin says is not all right. I don't agree in some of his points of view, for instance, what he says about the United States having owners, they do have the possibility of choosing politicians, if not that wouldn't be a democratic country.
From my perspective, in Argentina doesn't exist anything similar, but there does exist people who want to be proffesionals, with their degrees, because everybody knows if you don't study its hard to get a pleasant and wellpay job.
AGUSTIN
George Carlin's video was very interesting. He doesn't say US is not a democratic country. What he means is that although you can choose politicians, they are all more or less the same. It doesn't matter whether they are left or right, they are all manipulated by those whealthy people who owns all the big important companies in the world. I partly agree with him and I personally believe that we are quite far to change this situation.
ReplyDeleteAs to Argentina, I don't think there's a kind of Argentinian dream nowadays. There's a big inequality in our society and not all of us have the same chances to succed in life. The idea of people controlling their destinies have made lots of people say that "rich are rich because they work hard and poor are poor because they are lazy". And it's much more complicated than that!! Maybe if you give your best, you can end up being what you want to be. But if you grow up in a place where you don't have anything to eat, and you have to work after school,etc. I'm sure you will be much less-motivated.
The video it's quite strong but it made its point of telling people that rich companies, buy country, and what hi says about politicians not caring about their people its a half true, because they worry enough to make people think he is a good choice but then he prefers the money.
ReplyDeleteAs to Argentina's dream, there's not A dream because the situation is so lousy that people think getting a better situation is better than none, and only a few succeed and if you do succeed you don't get to a "Dream" you get to having some money for your tastes. And what about the rest who don't succeed, they give up in the first failure, and that's reason why we are living this situation.
As regards the American dream I must say that it is deeply connected with the U.S Constitution one of the main aims is the right of every citizen to pursue happiness.
ReplyDeleteSetting that, is fair to consider that in every time and in every part of the American soil different citizens must pursuit an ambition which varies according to ages and places. In “Of mice and men” the possession of a piece of land and the control of own life have a lot in common with the idea of immigrants who reached the States having always it in mind.
It is certainly a dream, in the way it is an ideal you can fight for. Sometimes it is up to you and sometimes is beyond your will and possibilities and it is just a dream who helps you to live waiting for the right moment.
Carlin´s idea is not at all original since Norberto Bobio, an Italian well known master of Political Science, has pointed out many years ago that wealthy people own resources which makes easier to get their goals, mainly in politics, as a key to rule over crucial matter in order to keep and increase their power and domination.
It is useful though, in the way it make people aware of the difficulties a politician who claims he/she will change things for people he/she represents may have to fulfil promises made during his/her electoral campaing.
The Argentine dream, varies to according times. The classical Argentinian dream is maseterfully expressed in Florencio Sanchez´book “M´hijo el dotor” – Mi hijo el doctor- (as you can see the Spanish used here is similar to the colloquial English used in of Mice and Men). The dream of the poor family, mainly immigrants, is that their descendant can study and become professionals, mainly lawyers and enjoy of social prestige and respect. They used to work very hard and made enormous sacrifices to reach it.
Nowadays, I imagine that Argentina dream, maybe because of the economical situation, is to get a position that guarantee a safe and tranquil life, no matter the social prestige of your job. Not a big deal certainly. (Marcelo Adv.2 Steve´s course)