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Thread: How do Western cultures generally view hierarchy?

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[quote=LEONARDO,246722]Quote:

"A very big part of the American mindset is that anyone (and I do mean anyone) can become as successful as they want, if they are willing to work hard, stay flexible and are willing to learn. It is common for mothers to tell their children, "one day, you might become the President!"

PETERJOHN,

I interpret what you said as "American Dream"--anyone who works hard can climb to the high society. In your understanding, the precondition is that "they are willing to work hard, stay flexible and are willing to learn."   In fact, I guess that many Americans do have the strong will to work hard and seek a better life. However,  sometimes, it does matter whether you are from "rich families" (or upper class) or "poor families"(or lower class). If you were born in a poor family, from the moment when you were born, you have been deprived of some rights and opportunities you should enjoy as to the children from the rich families: the rights to receive good education and to be dignified. That is to say, from the moment of the birth, you might have been left behind, your possibility to become successful has been diminished in comparison to the rich kids.

I know that  " American Dream" has always been rooted in average Americans' minds, and in different era, American Dream  has different definitions.  Since the early settlement era, your forefathers, the Puritans, came to the new land in the hope of building " A  City upon the Hill". a community of material and spiritual perfection. In that era, some Americans did become successful and rich through their hard work.  However, there were more people  whose "American Dreams" disilusioned than those who succeeded.

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