The American Dream Exhibit
Walt Whitman - I Hear America Singing.
I HEAR America singing, the varied carols I hear; Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong; The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work; The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck; The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands; The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown; The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing—Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else; The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.
.
I HEAR America singing, the varied carols I hear; Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong; The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work; The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck; The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands; The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown; The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing—Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else; The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.
.
By: Jack, Tanner, Brianne, and Madeline
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
For more than 200 years people have flocked to the United States to realize their dream- the American Dream. For the earliest Americans, the dream was freedom of religion, speech, and almost anything else you can think of. But as time has passed, the American Dream has changed tremendously. From the desire for a perfect family in the 1950's to the call for peace and equality in the '60's, to our current obsession with material wealth, the American dream is different with each new decade. Whether the cause is war, money, or something else, Americans have always had dreams as unique as they are. In this exhibit you will see what Americans have wished for for the past 60 years.
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
For more than 200 years people have flocked to the United States to realize their dream- the American Dream. For the earliest Americans, the dream was freedom of religion, speech, and almost anything else you can think of. But as time has passed, the American Dream has changed tremendously. From the desire for a perfect family in the 1950's to the call for peace and equality in the '60's, to our current obsession with material wealth, the American dream is different with each new decade. Whether the cause is war, money, or something else, Americans have always had dreams as unique as they are. In this exhibit you will see what Americans have wished for for the past 60 years.
