MichaelKavalle Age:47

Whatdoesitmean. Whatdoesitmeantome.TheAmericandreamtomecanbedefinedinonewordopportunity beingaguygoingovertheworldyouknowmynavybackgpeopletakeitforgrantedandwithmy experiencewitheverythingit'sstillopportunityfrombackthentillnow.Anyonehasthe opportunitytosucceedintheirchosen"dream"successandconcisecanleadtomanythings suchasreligioneducationfinancemoney.. Howdoesoneachieveit?Theamdbecauseit'sspecifictotheindividualitwouldbeimpossible togoforthemassesandcomparingthattotheusthere's25milandgettingthatalltocomplyto onedreamwouldbeimpossibleseeingthateveryoneismixedintheirownvaluesandtraditions. Noprocess.Becauseit'ssogeneralofaiconorsuccessinAmericait'sbasedontheIndivwhat areyouwillingtodoit'sbasedonheart. TraditiontraditionsgoesbackdowntoStatueofLibertyonthebasisofthestatue.Givemeyour tiredgivemeyourweakandherecomesanewopportunityorsomethin.WithoutFrancewe mightnothavehadthatmarketedsowidely.AlsothefactweforgethowgreatthattheAmerican dreamwasthereliketheStatueofLibertyalmostasifitwasneverbuilt.Valuesinmyopinion whatequatestoheart.Understandingwhereyouareintohowbadyouwantit.Youlookatyour heiratagewhereyougrowupwhatdidtheysayandwhoarethepeopleinyourlifewhoaffect youandmakeiteithergloriousortragic.Ourfamismessedupwithit.Americaitselfismessed up.It'salmostabelieftosaythatyouhavetherighttotheAmericandream.Theendresultof thatissuccess.Howonemaydefinethatofcourse. Whatisyourpersonaldream?Haveyouachievedit.Youstillgoin?WhenyourborninAmerica youhavemiddleclassupbringingfoodshelterthebasics.It'snotjustaroofoveryourheadand gettingthehouseformeitbrokedowntoanumberofdiffthings1.21wasinmilitaryandwere differentthanwhattheywerewhenIwas30andnowinmy40stheyaredifferentaredifferent againandlifethrowscurveballsandchangeslifequickerthanthoughtinthemilitaryitwasradio mantobudstodealteamssix.ForatimeIdidn'thaveoneItookthingsdeartoothers.ButIhad todowhatIhadtodo.NosuchthingasIcrossedthefinishlineandI'mdoneyourealizeit's differentasyougoon.Yougothroughtrialsandfibulationsfinancial,marital,religiousand others.Haveyouachieveditnowatyourtime?NoIstillstruggleanddesiretoworkharderfor moreIwillnotstoptillIamsatisfiedforthebestforyouandgenerationstocome.Theironyof theamdit'ssupposedtoesomethingthat'sacceptedasagoalorconceptnomatterwhatyour alwayslookingforthenextbestthing.Youwantmoreandtodobetter.CEOlookstogooutfor morepositionsasaCEO.Theydon'tstopandit'sironicforAmericansandtheamd. Doyouthinkthedreamisattainableforeveryone?Ifsowhy?Ifnotwhynot?Fromareasonable perspectiveeveryone'sdreamisdifferentthereforeeveryonecanattainitwhentheywantto attainitwhentheytrytheirbest.Ifitwasthesameforeveryoneitmightnotbeattainablefor everyone. Beexposedtoallyoucanitgivesyousomanyopportunitiesandexperiencetotheveryessence oflifeitself.It'sunbelieveabletohowmanyopportunitiesthatwearesimplyblindto.

NobodyeveraskedhowIwantedtolivewhenIgrewup.Mydaddidn'ttalktomeaboutcollege neitherdidmymom.MybrotherwasafuckupandIdidn'twanttobelikethat. Importantevents.Earthquakein1991inSanFranciscoI'minIBMbuildingIthoughtitwould collapseonitselfIshouldbeonbaybridgegoinghomewenttogfwasgonnagetengagedand wasatWellsFargoitwasaweirdscenariotowatchthecityburn.Itriedhelpingpeople.Isaved alittlegirlthatwasclammedinacarholdinghermotherasshediedfromtheaccidentbecause noonecouldhelp. FirstgulfwarIwasinthatforsealteams6that'sallIcansayhearing911andbeinginthesears towerwhenitallhappened. StephineBingham Age28

Meantoyou.ItmeansthinkoflikeallthisohAmericaislandofopportunityit'ssogreatandit'sa loadofcrap.Therearemoreobstaclesthantherearetoachieveit.Ithasdied.Howwouldone achieveitthen.Getadegreewithmoneyyournotgoingtobemaking.Yourjustgoingtobe middleclasswithoutdegreepeoplewhowanteducationfromforeignplacenowaren'tgoingto getitaseasyasitwasbefore.Soyeafuckthat. Doyouthinkthedreamisattainableforeveryone?Noyourjustdreamingthatyouarethinking thateveryonecangetit. Didyoueverhavealifelongdreamthenwhenyouwereachild/teen.YeaIwanttobeadoctor. DidIachieveitnodoIstillwantit?Nowhy?Deepsighbecause...thinkingmyprofessionalgoals havechanged.Andbecauseifthefinancialandeducationalobstacles.Iwantedtoberegistered pediatricnurseinstead Iseveryone'sAmericandreamthesame?IdkIonlyknowmyownandthere'snowaytotell. Definitelynot. DoyouthinkyouwillhaveafulfillmentwhereyougettothepointwhereyesIcanofficiallysay I'vemadeit?Yes.Doyouknoworcanguesswhenthatcouldbe?No.I'mhopingforsoonerthan later.Whatareyougoingtodotomakethathappen.Gotoschoolgetadegreeandgofrom there.Traditiontraditionsarethingsthatculturesandfamilieshavedoneformanyyearsover andovervaluesareidealsandthingsthatwetrytoteachourwhateverwhat'stheword....things thatweconsiderofhighimportancetous.RelateamdIdon'tknow.Relatesbecausehowdoes itrelate.BecausifwesticktoourvaluesandtraditionswewillattainourAmericandream. "Sarcasm". Didyouachievethesethingsonyourown?Nomyfamilytaughtmemygrandfatherand grandmotherwhoIgrewupwithtaughtbyexampleandhowtheytreatedeachotherandus. Teenageamdfalsehood.didn'tcarehadgoalsanddreamsanddidn'ttakeitseriouslywouldn't thinkitwouldbeharderthanitwouldbeuntillater.Thoughtitwasgoingtohappennoproblem thenithitmeanditdidn'thappen.Don'trealizeuntillaterhowmuchyourgradesaffectyourlife andhowthingsplayout.Doyouremembercriticalevents.911inhighschoolinbiologytobe exactheyhadtvonwhenweheardthenewsandsawitontvanditwascrazyyoucouldn't believewhatyouwereseeing.Andthenlaterthatdayandweekmonthandyearyourealizehow

bigthatwashowmanypeoplediedandwhatatragedyitwasandhowmassiveitwas.Whenu seeithappenyouwerejustshockedanditwaslikewoahspecialaffectsbutthiswas unbelievable.Iwasin3rdgradewhentheOklahomaCitybombingsomeonedroveatruckinto themurrbuildingfullofexplosivesalltheglasswindowswereblownoutweheardtheexplosion fromschool.Itwasreallyreallyscary. 180dead680injured. Anyrecentthingstogiveup?Nojustmoreobstaclesthantherearewaystoachieveit.Youwant it?Youbetterreallywantit. GeraldineKavalle Age:72 WhatdoestheAmericandreammean.Haveahousewhenwefirstgotmarriedifpapamaid 10000wecouldhaveamaid.Goonvacationswithkidsnotberichrichworkhardtohavefun andwelivedourdreamalwaysahousefullthat'swhatitwas. Anypersonaldream?ArockettdancerinNewYorkCityalwayswantedtobeadancer.NobutI alwaysdancedwhenwewentoutgotgroupstogetheranddanced.Ialmosthadtechancebut mysonwasborn(unclebob)wasthatthethingtodo?alwaysthethingtodosomanybands drinksandpartiesatnightclubsandkeptusalloutoftrouble.How?Wellyournotsmokingpot andyournotdepressedandsocializingandwhatnot.Peoplewehungaroudwithwere awesomelotsofdancing. Tradition.Traditionsweremorewithmyparentsadauntsandunclesitwashardbecausepapas hoursweredifferenteveryday.TraditionswerevacationsIwentbacktoworkjustsothatwe couldgoonvacation.Mother'sDaywewenttoacemeteryandfathersdaywewentto.Now holidaysherearealovelytraditionit'sallatmyhouse. Doyouthinkyourdreamisavailabletoeveryone?Wellmyfatheralwayssaidyoucoulddo anythingyousetyourmindto.AndIbelievedthatwithallmyheart.Ireallybelievedit.Ifyou wantedityouwentforit.Butbeingyoungerwehadtoworkandthingsgotintotheway.You knowwhatyoucouldn'tlivewitheverybodyorhavesexwitheverybodyitwasdifferentthen.You gotmarriedat18andgotpregnantallourfriendswereinthesameboat.Weallhelpedeach other.Timeshavechangedalittleweweretaughttomakethemostofwhatwehaveandnot envyothers.It'smorefunthatwaylifeisjustbowlofcherrieswhenyourhappyit'sabowlof cherriesmakeitabowlofcherrieswhenyourboredit'syourfaultgodosomething.Ifwelaugh godosomething.Mydadwasfunnyhekeptusentertained.Hewasalwayslikethat.Hewas verystrictbutveryfunny.Whenhesaidsomethingyouweregroundedyouweregrounded.It's humannatureitsucks.Motherwasn'ttheoneforhugsthefatherwas.Itwasdifferenttohaveit thatwaycomparedtomyfriends.Friendslovedcomingover.Robertahadtocomeovertoher auntshouseandcleaneverythingandthencameoveranditwasablast.Itwasalwaysaopen house.MyfatherhaddiabetesandwentblindwhenIwas14IdrovehimaroundallthetimeI pickeduphimupfrompublicoffice.Iwouldgotoschoolwitha48Packardandsnuckmyfriends init.Anddrovearoundandwentplaces.AndifIbrakedbecausesomeonecutusoffhesaid gimmethebrickIouttahitthesonofabitchwiththisandI'dgononoit'sfinehe'sgone. Havedreamschangedovertime?Alwayswantedafamily3kids.WantedthemallbythetimeI

was30andIdid.Iaccomplishedthatdream.I'mstilldancintooevenifit'smygrandsoninthe frontroomI'mstilldancin! Iseveryone'sAmericandreamthesame?NoIdon'tthinkso?Theworldismadeofdifferent peopleitwouldbeawfulifweallwantedthesamethingright?Worldpeace?Idkhowtoachieve itbutit'sfromolderpeoplethattheytaughttheyI'mlessprejudicethanmyfatherandmymother itcomesgraduallyneverthrowthefirststone.Idkifit'lleverbebecauseofpowerandmoneyand prejudice.Wedon'thavewarherewearesafeIfeelbadthereisenoughnaturaldisasters happeninIraqandIranandalloverthereovertheworldandwhatnot.There'snoparadiseon earthlookatthePhilippines.It'sdestroyed.FirsttimeI'veheardofitthatbigandalotofthings thesedays.Ithinkit'scausedbywastingfuelandwhatnottopollutionIthinkitcouldcause naturaldisastersquiteoften. 1920'smymomwouldteachmesongsofoldcountryanddancingtotheCharleston.Isaw Speakeasieswithmymother.Sheranmoneyforthemafiaandsaidherrolewastobeinnocent littlegirlthatlookedgoodthatgaveabagtoanother.Theyhadamodelaandalmosttippedthe damnthingallthetime. TeenagefreshmanyearIwasinthepaper.Icouldn'twaittosmoke.Itwasthecoolestthingin theworldtouswedidn'tknowitwasbadbutitlookedsocool.Iwenttothebarat16withmy friendsandwewentdancingandtheydidn'tcardyousoitdidn'tmatter.Irememberdoingone thingthatwasprettycool.Iwenttoplayboymansionandwasabunny.Ihadafakenameand imgonnatellyouwhatmynamewasforitbutIgotpaidgoodmoneyforthetime. CarlKavalle Age:77 Whatdoesitmeantoyou.Wanttoprospergetmarriedhavekidsschoolmakesomethingof yourselfbegoodtoothershelpotherslotofgoodthingslikethatyaknowitmaynotbetomake moneyandmaybejustbekindandniceandletothersaroundyouwhydoyouthinkI'mso disheartenedwithmydaughtershejustwalksoutonus?It'swreckingnana.Howso?She'sin a....shecan'tunderstandwhy.Webutaapartmentwehelphermoveinwegoseeunclephilly andeveryoneisgonemoldeverywhereandsheneverrespondedwewenttogofindstuffinher storage.Andshedidgointheresoatonepointshecameback.Idon'treallycarewhenorhow longidhaveitforandidloveifshe'sjustcomeuptotalkafterallthistimebutthat'sanotherball game. DoyouhaveaAmericandream Neverfulfillyourdreamyoucantry.IthinkIcould'vedonethingsbetterwiththefirstq.Some thingscanbedifficultasknana"yournotthenicestCarl".Igowithfriendshereandthereand theyremembertocallme.MyfriendsstillcallmeIdidalotforthemguysandgirls. Dreadedwesternelectric.Theyoverlookedmeputtingmetoofficer.Hadeverythingandsaidno Apriloflastyeartook30daysleaveandsawfamily.WentbackinMayandgotoutsept1st. TakewhatlifegivesyouplusesandminusesandstriveformoresureIwantedtoprosperandI

wantedtobeagoodfatherandgrandfatherandwhatnotIfelldownandgotupwhennecessary. TobekindinAmericandream?Don'tyoureflectonpeoplethatweenicetoyouandrespect peopleyougooutofyourwaytohelppeople.Yourfatherhelpssomanypeoplehewentto schoolsandhelpedchildren.Itwastoobadnoonehelpedhim.Buthestoppedbullieswherever hesaw.Imeanlookatgod.Hewaskindandgenerous....occasionallyalot.WhennanaandI walkedintosomanyplacesyou'veheardthisbeforeeveryoneknewournamesfrompubsto resturantsinLasVegasbecausewewerekindandgenerous. Welltradition...Thatstartswithmygreatgrandparentsandbringtogethertimeofoldbut value...that'sfrombeforeitcomesfromlifeitselfandhowyouvalueothersinyourlifeandpeople rememberthecollegestheyworkedwithandIwouldsayI'vebeenhelpedtoo.Traditionyouthink aboutthatandthefiddlerontheroofanditscreamstraditionanditgoestoeverybody.Tradition andvaluesaremixedtheygetpasseddownnomatterwhatbecauseit'showtheyareraised. Doyouthinkyourdreamcanbeaccomplishedbyeveryone.Everyone'sindividualdreamisthere own.Everyonehasdifferentthingstheywantandlookatyouyouhavecollegeandmoneyand kindnesstolookforwardto.Iachievedmygoalsmyownwayjustdifferently.Yourdreamand minedreamsaredifferentbutofcourseyoucanembellishthem.Butminearecomingtoaend. Whenyougetoldertheyjustgolikethatsnap*. MytheoryiswhykindnessisembellishedprimarilyintoyourdreamisbecauseifyourchildhoodI knowthatgreatgrandpawasn'treallytooniceright?Soyouwantedtoreversethatandshow peoplekindness?That'swhatIwasgoingtosaybeforesayyouseeamovieandyousee somethingonthenewsandhewasaniceguyandandreallytheguysyellsatthekidsand complainsallthetime.Howdoyoureflectonotherpeople?IbetifyoustriveforthatImeangood thingswillhappen.Mostpeoplebeinglikedalotright?IrememberwhenIfirstsmokedwith JimmieandBruce.Everyonesmokedinthefamily.Cartonswereeverywhere.Brucegotcaught andtoldoneveryone.Wewere11yearsold.Wewouldsitupontherocksandsmokeand coughitwasfunnymydadworkedatwesternelectricandwhenhecamehomeandwhenhe learnedaboutithepunchedme.Hewasn'tdoingrighthewasagamblerhewasdrunktoandhe wouldalwaysbemadathimselfandgamblewe'daskformoneyandhewouldtellusbullshit andI'dhavetoworkmakingtencentsahourandgettingchickenfeetandhetookhisfrustration onme.Ididn'tknowIcouldtakeapunchsowelleither.Problemstherewerejustsnowballs.It wouldgetworseandworseandhetookitoutonus.Wewereluckytoseehim1timeamonth. Becauseofhisgamblinghewasstarvinghimself.ButinsomewayIprovidedasmuchasI could. Well.1928mymotherwouldhavebeen1617...ShewenttoRobertsmoriscollege.First womaninthefamilytogoinhighereducation1718yearsold.Greatgrandpalivedtough.Real tough.Whenhewason192122thisallhappenedtoo.Hewas13yrsoldanhisfatherremarried andhismotherpassedaway.Marriedfromcheck.Otherwifewas56yearsolderthanmy father.Myfatherssidehehadabrotherandasister.Here'swhathappenedhisfatherkickedhim outbecauseshedidnotlikewalkingdownthestreetwithhimbecausehewastoooldforher.My fatherwasworkingforwesternelectricandburwintheatreasausherbecausehehadnowhere toliveandlivedwhereever.Theykickedhimoutbecauseshedidn'tlikehimprettymuch.

Apparentlytoooldtoraise.Hefendedforhimself.NomilitarybyWW2hehad2kidsandhe workedonmilitaryelectrichardwarefortanksandjeepsandwhatnot.Hewas24andmy motherwas19whentheygotmarried.Idkwheretheymet.Bothgreatgrandmamotherbornin oldcountryoneinPragueandItalyapparentlyoneranmoneyforthemafiainChicago.Andher secondcousinwasRicardo.TheygavehimaobecauseofmafiarelatedthingswithIattheend ofit.Gareenos.TheyliveinSicily.Sicilywasconqueredsomuchthere'ssomanydifferent racesthere.Somany.Hellitwasthefirstmeltingpotmadebywar. PresmejurydutyandhavinglunchinChicagoyourallexcusedfromjurydutypresident KennedyhasbeenshotIalreadywentthrough3casesbythenbutI'llneverforgetitIwaseating adamngoodsubwithablackfriendofmine.Wewerestunnedbyit.Iwas26yearsoldthen. HonorablydischargedfrommilitarytogotoUofinavypier.Thenwasaairtrafficcontrollerin 1960 Adem Age:16 TheAmerican.istobecomerich.Tobecomesuccessfulandprovideforyourfamilyandthat youcanhaveabetterlife. Howdoyouchivesit.Hardworkgoodprogressinlifeyoucan'tachieveit.Why.Youmustnot giveupandtakeriskstoshowthatyoumeanbusinessnow.Whatisyourpurse.Idon'treally knowIdon'tknowwhatIwannabeIhavetothink.I'mgonnasay.Probablybecomeateacher. HistoryOrlaw.Artmajorhistorian.Jk. Doyouthinkitisattainablebyeveryone.itsonlyattainablebythepeoplewhoreallywantit. Changedthroughtime.YesbeforeIwantedtobeamathletethenIwanttobealawyeror teacher.GoingIntohighschoolitchanged.Ifocusedonschool. Amdthesame.Idon'tthinksopeoplehavediffbeliefsandtheymightthinkthingsaredifferent thanotherindividuals. KidIknewIfI'mgoingtoschoolmightaswelltrybecauseyourthereso... Traditionssomepersonallywetryandkeepclosewitheveryoneinthefamilywevaluewhowe areandwhowetrustandwecan'tleavethosepeoplebehindbecausetheyhelpedusgetthere.