The American Dream: Three Variations on a Theme

current events, democracy, diversity, History, immigrants, Joe Biden, Kindness 6 Minutes

ONE

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We had the pleasure of attending our grandson’s high school graduation this week. He lives in a blue community in a blue state. He and his friends are a terrific bunch of kids, smart and funny, accomplished and kind.

His closest friends are mostly first-generation Americans, the first in their families to go to college. And based on the graduation speakers, they are not unique in that community.

The class president immigrated with his family from Vietnam. He recalled how strange it was to begin life in this new place, where he began school in second grade. He remembered what a difficult time he’d had in middle school. But all along the way, he said, people helped him—setting aside whatever they needed or wanted to do for the moment—putting his needs ahead of their own.

A strong, articulate speaker, unfazed in addressing the more than a thousand attendees, he said the child he was then could never have anticipated becoming the person he is now.

The speaker chosen by his peers to represent the school’s vocational-technical program made what seemed to me the most profound point in his speech. He recounted that he began high school focused on computer coding, but then discovered the field of robotics.

He loved both fields and didn’t want to choose, so he continued coding while joining the school’s robotics club (as did our grandson, who’s a good friend of his on their award-winning team).

His message was to not be put off by something new or the need to make a single decision: vision appears at the intersection, and that’s where life becomes most interesting and challenging.

The keynote speakers—salutatorian and then valedictorian—were identical twin girls from Nigeria—both Harvard-bound. Lively, funny, original, they set forth their distinct identities from one another in their brief speeches, which covered vastly different topics–elementary particles versus the challenges of being an identical twin–but converged on the theme of human connectedness.

As I gazed over the graduates’ names listed in the commencement program, the variety—yes, diversity—seemed so very American.

All the speakers—the mayor, the superintendent of schools, the principal, the teacher chosen by the students to speak—touched on the same concepts. Achievement, absolutely. Dreaming big and striving to enact those dreams, of course. Also kindness, compassion, and yes—equity.

These young people are well aware of the challenges they face beyond their chosen paths: our growing climate catastrophe; the constant dangers of gun violence, for example. But it was the focus on those shared human values that emerged most strongly.

At this moment in our national life, I will tell you that standing in that large group of joyous, proud well-wishers to salute the upright American flag and listen to a sweet young soprano sing the “Star Spangled Banner” gave me chills in the heat of the day and brought tears to my eyes.

It is difficult for me to fathom that these bright, kind young people, encouraged by their parents and guardians to believe in and pursue the American dream, represent a threat so huge to a portion of Americans that their very existence has been demonized as the end of the American way of life.

That is demonstrably, infuriatingly, sadly wrong. In fact, they offer us a refresher course on our country’s greatest strength.

TWO

The 80th commemoration of the American soldiers’ changing the course of World War II as they stormed the beaches of Normandy evoked huge waves of emotion. Images of veterans in their 90s and older, returning to Normandy to accept the French people’s heroes’ welcome, moved people from multiple countries and generations.

President Biden won high praise for his speech, which you can read here or watch in this video.

Here are a few excerpts:

“Democracy is never guaranteed. Every generation must preserve it, defend it, and fight for it. That’s the test of the ages.”

“As we gather here today, it’s not just to honor those who showed such remarkable bravery on that day, June 6th, 1944. It’s to listen to the echoes of their voices, to hear them, because they are summoning us, and they’re summoning us now.

“They’re asking us: What will we do?

“They’re not asking us to scale these cliffs, but they’re asking us to stay true to what America stands for.

“They’re not asking us to give or risk our lives, but they are asking us to care for others and our country more than ourselves.

“They’re not asking us to do their job. They’re asking us to do our job: to protect freedom in our time, to defend democracy, to stand up to aggression abroad and at home, to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

“My fellow Americans, I refuse to believe — I simply refuse to believe that America’s greatness is a thing of the past.

“I still believe there is nothing beyond our capacity in America when we act together.

“We’re the fortunate heirs of a legacy of these heroes, those who scaled the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc. But we must also be the keepers of their mission — the keepers of their mission, the bearers of the flame of freedom that they kept burning bright. That — that is the truest testimonial to their lives — our actions every day to ensure that our democracy endures and the soul our nation endures.”

Of course, the contrast for us could not be more stark. The president’s felonious opponent thinks anyone in uniform who was injured or killed is a “sucker” and “loser.” He has so little knowledge of the past that he had to be told by General Milley that Hitler, whom he praised, had been targeted for assassination by his peers.

European leaders have told President Biden that “You can’t let Trump win.”

The president was trying to remind all Americans—Republicans, Independents, and Democrats—that we are facing a growing authoritarian danger. We’re not being asked to give our lives in a war in Europe. We are being asked to affirm our commitment to the ideals we’ve long professed—and to reject the “twin dangers of Putin’s invasion and Trump’s isolationism.”

So the concept of the continuation of American ideals—still not fulfilled but now under direct attack from without and within—is the most dramatic distinction among many between President Biden and the mob boss pretending to be the messiah, as well as between their parties.

THREE

Please let me know if you’ve heard this story, and if you have—where you heard or read it.

The story was told in The Economist in a May 24, 2024 article (behind a paywall) titled, “Joe Biden, master oil trader.” Please watch the video above for what I felt was a fascinating eight-minute interview in which Chris Hayes of MSNBC talks with Dan Dicker, an expert in energy markets, who wrote about this amazing story in 2022 and here describes the brilliance of Biden’s achievement.

I believe this single story is the most compelling reason that President Biden should be reelected—and yet it has received little coverage.

We learn of a president, besieged at the start of Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2022 by the OPEC nations’ manipulations of the price of oil, which was creating havoc on Americans filling their gas tanks.

The president made uncanny (ok, unprecedented!) use of the US’s massive Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to level the price of oil.

Using the standard trader dictum to “buy low and sell high,” he broke the OPEC stranglehold on the world price of oil, brought steadiness to the market, continuing to allow oil companies to be profitable (but not wildly profitable) and—most importantly—created a path for the growth of green energy sources that wouldn’t be possible if oil prices dropped too low.

Viewed in this light, the criticisms of Biden for straddling the use of fossil fuels during this transitional period seem kinda unfair.

As we know the dangers inherent in persisting with our current energy consumption, I view this daring role by “Dark Brandon” as a superb, unheralded boost to the continuation of the American dream.

Actually, it’s a boost to the continuation of life on earth. No small feat by the president who’s accustomed to being underestimated.

Annie

Published by annieasksyou

I've been a nonfiction writer for many years, exploring diverse topics that pique my curiosity, as noted in my first blog posting (Greetings!). I'm seeking dialogue with others committed to joining me in this exploration, sharing my conviction that different views can be exchanged in a respectful, civil discourse where we can learn from one another and be agreeable, even when we disagree. These postings depend for their enrichment on your participation: your ideas, insights, knowledge, opinions, and personal stories.

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46 thoughts on “The American Dream: Three Variations on a Theme”

  3. Congratulations to the graduates. Hope they can help us improve our civilization.

    I had thoughts about the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance this morning that seems at least like a tangent to your post. How can Trumpublicans make that pledge when it specifically states, with liberty and justice for all?

    On my own tangent, I despair that ‘under God’ was added in 1954, but that’s just me. I am also hugely ambivalent about making a pledge to a flag. I recognize it as a symbol but still, the purist in me is annoyed.

    Cheers

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    1. Thank you, Michael; they do provide grounds for hope, I believe.

      As someone who believes firmly in separation of church and state, I agree that the pledge of allegiance should not include “under God.” I certainly understand your ambivalence. In fact, I surprised myself by the surge of patriotism I felt; that environment just seemed so in tune with what our ideals are and the America I hope for. The flag has become such a symptom of insurrection and Christian nationalism that I felt more protective of it–upright, and waving gently in the breeze.

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  4. I had not previously seen that report about oil. But it does make sense.

    At one stage, it looked as if OPEC was going to force up oil prices to support Russia (against Ukraine). And that’s about when Biden started using the strategic reserve. I had not particularly followed what was happening, but I did notice that oil prices seemed to stabilize.

    And, yes, I share your vision of America. I see diversity as good and as something to be valued.

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    1. Thanks, Neil. I’m so glad to hear your comment–both parts. In the video, we see Biden swallowing his distaste for the murderous Saudi crown prince and visiting in 2022 to try to persuade him to ease up on oil. But bin Salman blows him off. That’s when he begins this ingenious plan. I love the enthusiasm between Chris Hayes and Dicker in the video. It’s an astonishing accomplishment that has added millions of dollars to America’s treasury while enhancing the growth of green energy. And, I can’t help noting, it shows what a sharp, selfless businessman-for-the-greater-good Biden is, unlike his phony self-anointed genius criminal opponent.

      I hope lots of people will share this video and story.

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  5. One wakes from a dream tasked with making reality bend to the dream. Directly behind from the president’s podium 250 Army Rangers came ashore. All have now ceased bending reality to the dream. 75 years in the making the reality is that Joe is living the dream.

    One of the things that make hemp and hopium so dangerous are their high LD 50’s. Nobody dies but it is easy to way overdose. Orange is out by the end of July.😉

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      1. He is melting like the Wicked Witch of the West before our eyes. I predict he’ll be a smoking puddle by end of July if it stays hot. At that point his mob will just be flying monkeys with no clue what to do. What will they do, follow the ass that they were following stare at the edge of the puddle go deeper? Or listen to some voice in the back yelling I see a way out? You want some hopium? It will be someone sane. Doesn’t matter, the democrat leadership will grant a pass because they have neither the fortitude to drown them in their trap nor the moral standing to do so.

        Because I’m still in a bad mood and I know that Trump and ms Jill follow closely. One can dream of the new republican leader having been fully vetted just like they did Geo Santos.🤣🤣🤣🥰

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      2. I do see the kind of deterioration in Trump that you describe, Richard, and hope he self-destructs entirely. That could happen if he actually shows up for the debate on June 27, but I’m convinced he’s terrified to do that and will claim Biden’s refusal to take a drug test is the reason. Apart from that, I’m not sure I follow your scenario about the “democrat leadership.”

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      3. It is sad but satisfying to know the depth of perfidy of Repugs. It has always been depressing to learn the profundity of Demos. It wasn’t Repugs that lied us into Vietnam. I don’t turn my back on Repugs and I don’t let Demos behind me. There are no vegan snakes.

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      4. I hear you, and I’m not gonna try to change your mind. From my perspective, the Democratic Party is different today than it was in the Vietnam War era—and during the Iraq war era (not to mention the antebellum era).

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      5. I giving 100% even though it’s not my team. I may not like chocolate ice cream but what fool calls it the lesser of two evils compared to crap.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Thanks so much for sharing your story about your grandson’s high school graduation. The way Trump has stirred nonacceptance of immigration is one of the most distressing effects he has had on our populace and I love your descriptions of a community that has not given into this.

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    1. Thank you, Judy. It was great to be a part of it.

      Question for you: On your HCR post, a commenter showed she has no knowledge of our VP’s experience and achievements. I didn’t feel right responding there, but I’ve written posts about how underestimated both Biden and Harris are. Any way to reach her? I feel every vote counts…

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      2. Annie, by the way, if you are talking about Marion’s comment, he is a man. If you don’t feel comfortable commenting on his comment, I’ll ask him if it is all right for me to give you his email.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. I was thinking about Joe Biden & how much he’s accomplished as president & how nobody seems to know about any of these accomplishments. & of course ~ our terrible corporate media is largely to blame for this. But another reason is that Biden comes from a generation that didn’t self-promote, didn’t dress or act in any kind of flamboyant manner. Now you see people ~ in & out of politics, everywhere you go, in fact ~ dressed & acting out in the most flamboyant “look at me! look at what I can do!” manner. Like they’re on some kind of personal reality TV show & we’re all extras in the background. This phenomena is writ large for the newer, younger politicians who can’t seem to shut their mouths long enough to do any real work.

    But our good Uncle Joe ~ he goes to work everyday & he gets stuff done ~ maybe not everything that all of us want done but that’s the way it is. & he does it efficiently & quietly & then he does goes to Mass on Sunday like a good Catholic. I have no argument with any of that.

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    1. I’m with you, Polly. Your description sounds presidential to me. Interestingly, Biden seems to have toned himself down as president; he doesn’t make as many gaffes because he stops himself. I have wondered if he’s repressing a part of him that the broader public might find appealing. “Dark Brandon” is funny and bold on occasion.

      And shame on the mainstream media, aka the terrible corporate media, for not picking up that oil story.

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  9. That first story is so American, and is a shining example what some in this country have been fighting for centuries.

    I have always felt that the ‘melting pot’ metaphor is all wrong…in a melting pot the contents merge together in a indistinguishable alloy of indeterminant strength; to my mind the best of this country is far more like the old Stone Soup story. We become greater because we all bring our individual ingredients into the mix, together, but distinguishable, and feed everyone.

    The movie Stripes is a great comedic tour de force, but Bill Murray’s speech to motivate his fellow recruits is, to me, the best description of America at it’s best:

    It honestly brings tears to my eyes every time…

    Cut it out! Cut it out! Cut it out! The hell’s the matter with you? Stupid! We’re all very different people. We’re not Watusi. We’re not Spartans. We’re Americans, with a capital ‘A’, huh? You know what that means? Do ya? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We’re the underdog. We’re mutts! Here’s proof: his nose is cold! But there’s no animal that’s more faithful, that’s more loyal, more loveable than the mutt. Who saw “Old Yeller?” Who cried when Old Yeller got shot at the end?

    Because we ARE mutts, glorious multicolored mutts of every size, shape, color and fur.

    What the supremacists don’t comprehend is that diversity is a great strength, not a weakness; that their determination to make us ‘pure’ is a great weakness not the strength they think it is.

    We should always recognize, and take courage from recognizing that their anger is just an expression of their gut-wrenching, panic-in-the-dark-of-the-night, gibbering fear.

    Cornered animals ARE dangerous, but they’re also cornered. There are more of us than there are of them despite who loud they are, and love to show off their sea of red maps to claim that the majority of the country voted for them.

    Land doesn’t vote. People do.

    We must remember Ghandi’s famous words that Ghandi never actually said:

    First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win

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    1. I totally agree, brucedesertrat. I have written about this fear of the other—and failure to recognize one’s own “muttiness” (though I haven’t used the word)—as the driving force among extremists.

      It’s funny that you conclude with the faux-Gandhi quote, which was wrongly used in 2016 by Donald Trump. A criminal who gets history wrong about both Hitler AND Gandhi should be sentenced to spend the rest of his life locked in a library—reading seminal books about civilization, democracy, and justice, dusting them off, and repairing their spines as needed.

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      1. A criminal who gets history wrong about both Hitler AND Gandhi should be sentenced to spend the rest of his life locked in a library—

        If that’s the punishment, I have some criming and misquoting history to do! 😎

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  10. Wow! So well said and thanks so much for sharing your own words as well as the words of other wise men–fictional or not. Do you mind if I reblog this as well, since many do not read comments.

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    1. Judy, though you’re addressing this comment to brucedesertrat, he doesn’t always return after commenting. But I think he would be fine—perhaps even pleased—if you reblog his comment.

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      1. Just realized I just put a link to your blog on my blog so the full message isn’t there until they come to your blog, where his comment is already located..So hopefully people will read it there.

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  11. Wonderful, inspiring and hopeful post, Annie.. like a three act play. I’m in awe of those who have bravely sacrificed for this country, those who are the young enthusiastic future of our country and those in office who take their oaths seriously to serve not just some but ALL. Keep America STEADY!

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  14. My son graduated from CU Boulder this spring. We went to Colorado to celebrate with him but he had no desire to attend his commencement. However, while he was giving us a tour of campus, we randomly wandered into an auditorium where the keynote speaker had just taken the stage to deliver the commencement address for the School of Environmental Resources. He was born in Ethiopia and fled the country after his father was executed by rebels. The speaker proceeded to deliver a summary of the unexpected turns he’d taken in life, leading up to his current position. We’d had no intention of listening to a speech that day but his story was so gripping, we all took a seat and didn’t leave until he’d finished. I can’t imagine a better commencement speech for us all to ponder. Like you, it’s stories like this that make me proud to be American.

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    1. Well, that was a serendipitous drop-in, Carol. So good to hear—except for the speaker’s family tragedy. I suspect some of my grandson’s classmates endured dreadful travails as well. May they be protected from hatred here.

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