Most recent edit on 2005-10-30 12:49:06 by EschaTon
Additions:
Although many are not aware, society plays a large role in every person’s American Dream. We would not desire money and power unless we learned that they are what we must strive for in order to succeed. The media tells people to be rich and famous as much as it tells them to be skinny and perfect [very nice sentence]. Catherine Zeta-Jones appears in various Verizon commercials to sell phones. Her celebrity status is used for marketing purposes because she is admired by the public. People may buy the phone simply because she was promoting it; they long to share the same [her] status as her. Americans love to be rich and famous; however, for most people, this goal is impossible to accomplish. Society tells us to abide by certain norms and values, but at the same time, it persuades impossible fantasies that can only be achieved in ways that oppose these same norms and values [again, excellent point].
[Excellent paper! I think I disagree with your thesis, but it was very well supported and considered. I especially like the conclusion where you mention that while we all may have fantasies, most people have enough self-control to not acheive them violently. This reads clearly, on the whole, as well. Good work.]
Deletions:
Although many are not aware, society plays a large role in every person’s American Dream. We would not desire money and power unless we learned that they are what we must strive for in order to succeed. The media tells people to be rich and famous as much as it tells them to be skinny and perfect. Catherine Zeta-Jones appears in various Verizon commercials to sell phones. Her celebrity status is used for marketing purposes because she is admired by the public. People may buy the phone simply because she was promoting it; they long to share the same status as her. Americans love to be rich and famous; however, for most people, this goal is impossible to accomplish. Society tells us to abide by certain norms and values, but at the same time, it persuades impossible fantasies that can only be achieved in ways that oppose these same norms and values.
Edited on 2005-10-30 12:45:09 by EschaTon
No differences.
Edited on 2005-10-30 12:44:58 by EschaTon
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Works Cited[WORKS CITED]
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Works Cited
Edited on 2005-10-24 10:54:10 by TrinFuff
Additions:
Laws in America were written to uphold justice and fairness. They are arguably the foundations of the United States. Laws keep this country in tact. Why, then, are crimes committed? 1,383,676 violent crimes were reported in 2004 alone. Of these, 16,538 were murders and 94,635 were rapes (Department of Justice). The laws of this country forbid such deviant behavior, so why does it take place? If our government has the best of intentions in mind for all Americans, why do these atrocities still occur? Crime, in general, is committed because of the failure to achieve the American Dream.
The American Dream lacks a specific definition. It stands for achieving success and prosperity through hard-working, law-abiding means. Every person has a different concept of the American Dream because we each set different goals to achieve. The American Dream is every person’s most influential fantasy; it may mean being famous, finding love, getting rich, or living an overall successful life. If it becomes highly unreasonable, crimes are committed to achieve this fantasy goal through unethical means.
For example, one night a man sees a beautiful young woman walking down the street alone. If he fantasizes himself with her, and realizes he cannot convince her to feel the same way, he will resort to raping the woman in order to achieve his goal. This is the case with any such crime. If people realize they do not have enough money to live the life they wish, and know that it is impossible to obtain the money legally, they may steal it. Although this holds true in many cases, it does not account for those criminals who had everything and still chose to participate in deviant acts. In this case, their American Dream may involve feeling exhilarated by taking risks to achieve their goals.
Although many are not aware, society plays a large role in every person’s American Dream. We would not desire money and power unless we learned that they are what we must strive for in order to succeed. The media tells people to be rich and famous as much as it tells them to be skinny and perfect. Catherine Zeta-Jones appears in various Verizon commercials to sell phones. Her celebrity status is used for marketing purposes because she is admired by the public. People may buy the phone simply because she was promoting it; they long to share the same status as her. Americans love to be rich and famous; however, for most people, this goal is impossible to accomplish. Society tells us to abide by certain norms and values, but at the same time, it persuades impossible fantasies that can only be achieved in ways that oppose these same norms and values.
Whether we are aware of it or not, each of us has an American Dream. Of course, not every person is guilty of murder, robbery, or rape. Dreaming of highly unlikely futures does not always lead to deviant behavior. The one thing that keeps the entire population from committing crimes is self control. As long as we have the ability to resist temptation, we will stray from the criminal path and live what we were taught to know as the ethical life. People with a great amount of self control will work hard for their aspirations even when they know there is an easier, more deviant, way to reach them. When one has little self control, nothing will stop them from achieving their American Dream through criminal means.
Works Cited
Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States 2004. 2004. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_04/index.html∞
Deletions:
Laws in America were written to uphold justice and fairness. They are arguably the foundations of the United States. Laws keep this country in tact. Why, then, are crimes committed? In 2004, 1,383,676 violent crimes were reported. Of these, 16,538 were murders and 94,635 were rapes. The laws of this country forbid such deviant behavior, so why do they take place? If our government has the best of intentions in mind for all Americans, why do these atrocities still occur? Crime, in general, is committed because of the failure to achieve the American Dream.
The American Dream lacks a specific definition. It stands for achieving success and prosperity through hard-working, law-abiding means. Every person has a different concept of the American Dream because we set different goals to achieve. The American Dream is every person’s most influential fantasy; it may mean becoming famous, finding love, getting rich, or living an overall successful life. The American Dream is, simply, a dream each one of us focuses on someday achieving. If it becomes highly unreasonable, crimes are committed to achieve this fantasy goal through unethical means.
For example, a man sees a beautiful young woman walking down the street, alone, at night. If he fantasizes himself with her, and realizes he cannot convince her to feel the same way, he will resort to raping the woman in order to achieve his goal. This is the case with any such crime. If people realize they do not have enough money to live the life they wish, and know that it is impossible to obtain the money legally, they may steal it. Although this holds true in many cases, it does not account for those criminals who had everything and still chose to participate in deviant acts. In this case, their American Dream may involve feeling exhilarated and taking risks to achieve their goals.
Although many are not aware, society plays a large role in every person’s American Dream. We would not desire money and power unless we learned that it is what we must strive for. The media tells people to be rich and famous as much as it tells them to be skinny and perfect. Catherine Zeta-Jones appears in various Verizon commercials to sell phones. Her celebrity status is used for marketing purposes because she is admired by the puplic. People may buy the phone simply because she was promoting it; they long to share the same status as her. Americans love to be rich and famous; however, for most people, this goal is impossible to achieve. Society tells us to abide by certain norms and values, but at the same time, it persuades impossible fantasies that can only be achieved in ways that oppose these same norms and values.
Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2005-10-18 23:59:05 by TrinFuff []
Page view:
Laws in America were written to uphold justice and fairness. They are arguably the foundations of the United States. Laws keep this country in tact. Why, then, are crimes committed? In 2004, 1,383,676 violent crimes were reported. Of these, 16,538 were murders and 94,635 were rapes. The laws of this country forbid such deviant behavior, so why do they take place? If our government has the best of intentions in mind for all Americans, why do these atrocities still occur? Crime, in general, is committed because of the failure to achieve the American Dream.
The American Dream lacks a specific definition. It stands for achieving success and prosperity through hard-working, law-abiding means. Every person has a different concept of the American Dream because we set different goals to achieve. The American Dream is every person’s most influential fantasy; it may mean becoming famous, finding love, getting rich, or living an overall successful life. The American Dream is, simply, a dream each one of us focuses on someday achieving. If it becomes highly unreasonable, crimes are committed to achieve this fantasy goal through unethical means.
For example, a man sees a beautiful young woman walking down the street, alone, at night. If he fantasizes himself with her, and realizes he cannot convince her to feel the same way, he will resort to raping the woman in order to achieve his goal. This is the case with any such crime. If people realize they do not have enough money to live the life they wish, and know that it is impossible to obtain the money legally, they may steal it. Although this holds true in many cases, it does not account for those criminals who had everything and still chose to participate in deviant acts. In this case, their American Dream may involve feeling exhilarated and taking risks to achieve their goals.
Although many are not aware, society plays a large role in every person’s American Dream. We would not desire money and power unless we learned that it is what we must strive for. The media tells people to be rich and famous as much as it tells them to be skinny and perfect. Catherine Zeta-Jones appears in various Verizon commercials to sell phones. Her celebrity status is used for marketing purposes because she is admired by the puplic. People may buy the phone simply because she was promoting it; they long to share the same status as her. Americans love to be rich and famous; however, for most people, this goal is impossible to achieve. Society tells us to abide by certain norms and values, but at the same time, it persuades impossible fantasies that can only be achieved in ways that oppose these same norms and values.