My grandfather’s were both World War II veterans, one of them fought at the battle of Iwo Jima and was lucky to be one that survived. My uncles all joined the service and everyone in my family is in public service. My Uncle Bobby a fire fighter, my Uncle Joey a letter carrier, my Auntie Linda a nurse, my sister a 7th and 8th grade history teacher, my Mom a kindergarten teacher, and my Father a middle school principle. My Parents have specifically chosen to work in Lynn, an urban environment with limited resources, but they chose it because they believed that is where their skills were needed the most. I have been raised in a family where I have always been taught that we are blessed to have the resources we have and it is our responsibility to give back to others and sometimes that involves sacrifice of your own needs and wants. My family has been able to live the American dream, and has been motivated to work in public service because they were only able to do what they do because of the opportunities government and the generations before them provided. My grandfather and grandmother purchased the home where they raised their family with GI bill benefits. My father was able to put himself through college because he could work two jobs a semester and pay off his tuition, something that is unattainable now. And my mother, my aunt, my sister and I are all able to make choices for ourselves because of the thousands of the women before us that fought for equal rights for women that ultimately lead to women’s right to vote and many pieces of legislation that government passed to ensure equal access for women.
The American dream is something that my family was able to attain because of the support of government and because of the sacrifices the generations before us made to create a more just and equal society. A society where anyone, no matter their race, creed, or gender could pursue opportunities that would allow them to fulfill their dreams and create a better world for their families- A belief that if you work hard and the opportunities exist than you can achieve the American dream. My concern for the future of the American dream is if the opportunities will be there for people to better themselves and their families. I have seen in my generation a selfishness that did not exist in my grandparents or my parent’s generation and I have seen government become so divided that the opportunities for people to better themselves and fulfill the American dream are becoming fewer and fewer.
When we elect elected officials we expect them to be creative to find solutions to our biggest challenges and we expect them to represent our values and work hard to protect those values. I understand that this can be complicated because we all come from different backgrounds and all have had different experiences, but there are human commonalities that bind us all, and have for hundreds of years in this country. Maybe it’s because I am 25 and young and hopeful about the future or maybe it’s because the history of this country has always shown me that we can come together and overcome some of our greatest challenges, but I do believe that we will come together and get through these difficult times. both parties, and all Americans need to put aside their differences and focus less on who is “winning” and focus more on the values that have always guided us. Government isn’t going to solve every problem and it shouldn’t, but Government is necessary and has a role to play in our lives. Let us have a civil conversation about what that may look like, let us be ok with compromise and not see it as failure, weakness or losing, but rather as what is best for the common good and let us always remember the sacrifices millions of American’s have made to make this country what it is today. I believe that if we do this us than the American dream can become possible for all those that wish to attain it.
