The term was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931. He states: "The American Dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."
In Nigeria this dream is interpreted to mean the time one gets to become a US citizen. People from all works of life see going to America as a life time achievement and misinterpret what the proponents of the phrase meant and what the Americans intended to achieve.
As Nigerians instead of proposing a phrase that will boost nationalism and patriotism, we help the Americans to propagate their own dream instead of ours. Yes, we don’t have the Nigeria dream or are not propagating it even if we do. Patriotism which is the key element in propagating a dream is not even taught in schools. Most of us don’t even know the meaning of patriotism.
What is the aim of this write-up you may ask? It is to educate us on the need to have a Nigerian dream whose theme is about nationality, identity and the nature of patriotism in which all citizens have a quality life and there is respect for human life.
When are we going to stop living the American dream and start living the Nigerian dream for a change. Are we not proud of our country? Why are people ashamed of being called Nigerians?
The time we should be proud is here right now.
We should be patriotic and start living the Nigerian dream for a change. Nija is good plenty money to spend. Where in the world can you buy a house without being investigated or buy a car and make full payments? It all happens right here.
In Nigeria this dream is interpreted to mean the time one gets to become a US citizen. People from all works of life see going to America as a life time achievement and misinterpret what the proponents of the phrase meant and what the Americans intended to achieve.
As Nigerians instead of proposing a phrase that will boost nationalism and patriotism, we help the Americans to propagate their own dream instead of ours. Yes, we don’t have the Nigeria dream or are not propagating it even if we do. Patriotism which is the key element in propagating a dream is not even taught in schools. Most of us don’t even know the meaning of patriotism.
What is the aim of this write-up you may ask? It is to educate us on the need to have a Nigerian dream whose theme is about nationality, identity and the nature of patriotism in which all citizens have a quality life and there is respect for human life.
When are we going to stop living the American dream and start living the Nigerian dream for a change. Are we not proud of our country? Why are people ashamed of being called Nigerians?
The time we should be proud is here right now.
We should be patriotic and start living the Nigerian dream for a change. Nija is good plenty money to spend. Where in the world can you buy a house without being investigated or buy a car and make full payments? It all happens right here.
