The quotation comes from Emma Lazarus' poem, "The New Colossus," that is engraved on the Statue of Liberty. The sonnet that sounds as an appeal for immigrants' rights has been the first greeting seen by innumerable expectant settlers entering the New York Harbour attracted by a vision, symbolically called the American Dream. If a question was asked about the meaning of this symbol so popular with the travellers to the new nation, the answer would be apparently obvious. The widely sought American Dream equals liberty, prosperity, equal opportunity, honesty, jurisprudence and security for each and every one. The opportunity is thought to be specific just to the United States and even exclusive.. A question arises who really accomplishes the success and whether its probability is as high as it is believed.. There are two sides to everything and the new land with its opportunities can prove dangerous to those who are unable to handle the opportunities carefully. A spectacular success is as likely in those conditions as a substantial collapse and the dream can turn into an illusion. All this does not change the attractiveness of freedom to do something meaningful. This initial opportunity of prosperity for every newcomer looks very realistic on arrival to America. The opportunity looks common and prosperity easy to achieve. But a newcomer must frequently begin with changing the personality. If the closest environment in old country imposed its qualities and values upon an individual, the first thing to do is to cross the societal layer. Somebody who came from a poor environment with low educational standards is likely to follow the pattern in a new society, according to the deeply fixed hierarchy of values. The other drawback is an inherited model of a society in which one usually stays at the same layer all one's life. This applies to people from backward and secluded environments.
The optimistic aspect is the attitude of the majority whose intention is changing their life completely and basically. Somebody who comes from Eastern Europe or south-west Asia will expect availability of free public education and scholarships at colleges, so that social promotion is only a question of individual hard work. Social mobility is included in their image of America that has driven them to arrive and start a better life on a higher level than it used to be.
The democracy in America is based upon the Constitution and the legal system with the "assumption of innocence" principle. This principle works if reliable evidence and honest testimony are provided. In case of manipulation with testimony or evidence gangsters can avoid responsibility and it is a major concern of an average citizen who expects everyday safety, especially in big cities. One who tricks justice can threaten public security if a crime against life is denied despite the circumstantial evidence. Dangerous criminals can terrorise the society, as they have enough money to hire attorneys who will clear them from blame despite circumstances and turn the legal procedures into monkey business. Still, the suspect's rights must be enforced in order to respect each citizen's rights. If innocence is assumed in the legal system, there are no grounds to prosecute anybody for anything that is not defined as an offence or a crime by the state or federal law. The definition of lawfulness is rather simple, as everything that is not forbidden, is legal. Financial law is very strict in thee USA, and it is frequently pointed out that Al Capone was never sentenced for his numerous crimes, but simply for avoiding the tax payment. Everyone has a right to demand justice and in case of doubt as to the legality of the procedure and if there was any partiality, the sentence can be denied by means of appeal and the case can be brought to the next grade legal institution, ending up with the highest constitutionally guaranteed authorities. These efforts can prove futile when it concerns the supreme authorities, as in the case where Arnold Schwarzenegger proved a merciless terminator again and rejected the appeal of a murderer sentenced to death.
Nevertheless, the defendant was all the same given a right toexhaust all the constitutional possibilities.Constitution and the legal system provide the same rights to every citizen irrespectively of their background, sex, country of origin, ethnic group, material status, or position in society. Despite of a very progressive Constitution, American had to fight against slavery and racism and still faces problems connected with discrimination and intolerance. Whole generations sacrificed their lives to have the constitutional rights enforced and there are still outstanding personalities who are ready to do it. Martin Luther King paid the highest price for his fight against racial segregation. He expressed his views in the speech known as "I Have a Dream" and identified himself with the idea of American Dream interpreted deeply and widely as real freedom for everyone.
It is still unlikely for someone who is of African, Asiatic Latin American or Jewish background or, generally speaking is not a WASP (white Aglo-Saxon Protestant) man to become the US President or Vice-President. . Struggle for women's suffrage has had long tradition in the United States and such names as Madeleine Albright or Condolezza Rice speak for themselves. Still, equality in politics has to be transferred to everyday life in order to create a common awareness of its presence. Zbigniew Brzeziński did not stop Polish jokes and it is improbable that any outstanding individual will dramatically change the society's attitude towards one of the minorities, but numerous exceptions change the rule or the set image. On the other hand, national or ethnic prejudice should have nothing to do with law and justice and common efforts must be directed at achieving that aim and enforcing it. The American Dream comes true only to those who can clearly define their expectations from the society and from themselves with respect to the rules. If social and political mechanisms promote hard, competent and necessary work, respecting the law and jurisprudence, one who follows the rules can achieve the maximum benefit offered. In a system of equal opportunities priviliges lose their importance, as the system promotes a self-made personality with the attitude of a conqueror and reasonable enough to be consequent and stubborn. If everything is accompanied with the proper recognition of opportunities and no efforts are wasted, the dream stops being only a vision and becomes reality.
