Coming up on Saturday, October 24th, join Better Said Than Done for an examination and celebration of an idea unique in the world – The American Dream. Tickets are on sale now!
We’ve gathered together a talented group of storytellers from all over these United States. Each will bring their own perspective, insight, and wit as together they paint a portrait of our nation using words. Our artists for the evening are Heather Forest, Linda Grosser, Rhonda Hansome, Jennifer Luu, Kurt Mullen, Vijai Nathan, and Ria Spencer. Hosting this time around is yours truly, Jack Scheer, with fearless leader Jessica Robinson making sure the technical side of things runs smoothly.
Since I’m wearing both my host and blogger hats for this particular storytelling show, I decided to ask the tellers two questions – one to share here, and one to use in their introductions in the show. Here is my first query to them:
What about the concept of the American Dream (however you conceive of it) do you find most inspiring, amusing, or vexing?
The tellers responded, each with their own thought-provoking answer.
Heather Forest: The American “melting pot” of multicultural immigrants who have joined in our democratic experiment should really be considered a salad with each small piece retaining its flavor and uniqueness and contributing to the colorful mix of the bowl. It vexes me that The American “melting pot” perspective encourages everyone to “blend” when economic inequality and systemic racism actually keeps people stratified and apart – with some benefiting from the American Dream of freedom and prosperity more than others.
Jennifer Luu: The overall mainstream definition of the American Dream is not something I believe actually exists. But my parents are Vietnamese refugees who fled Vietnam in 1975 with four children as well as many other relatives and–with an extraordinary amount of help, luck and perseverance that I can barely fathom–have made an incredible life for themselves and my family in the United States. I am inspired by that every day.
Kurt Mullen: This famous quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald has always vexed me: “There are no second acts in American lives.” I mean, we definitely get second acts, don’t we? We’re living longer than they lived when Fitzgerald said this. So maybe this notion of his has just gone stale. I hope so. Because after that first act of mine? I’m gonna need one more.
Linda Grosser: For me, the American Dream that is both inspiring and troubling, is the story of immigrants coming here, not just for a better life but for survival and escape, which my Dad did, from a homeland that did not welcome them or worse. And that many still subscribe to the version of – power, money, status – is something that we all can aspire to change with the path that we choose.
Rhoda Hansome: The American Dream is an aspirational fable. What is most vexing to me about this myth is the large number of Americans who don’t know that dream is a reality only for those in the top 5% of the population; who benefit from inherited wealth, insider knowledge and in some cases outright criminal activity.
Ria Spencer: To me the crux of the American Dream is that there’s always a chance. That even though the world is far from perfect–and America is no exception–there’s still that little thing inside you that hopes for a little bit more. To be something you’ve never been and do something you’ve never done. So keep your dream, take your shot and maybe you just might get it.
Vijai Nathan: The most ironic thing is that immigrant parents often come here so their kids can enjoy freedom and get opportunities that they may have lacked in their home country, but then they don’t want their kids to be “too free” or “too American” (i.e. when you tell your parents you aren’t going to be a doctor, but a standup comedian!).
My second question plays off the first:
What element would you add to the American Dream?
Want to find out how they answered? Then you’ll just have to come to the show! We start at 8:00 P.M. EDT, and keep in mind that ticket sales close a few minutes before showtime. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, with a standard price of $15 and a minimum of $5 (plus a $1 handling fee). All proceeds are shared among the tellers and Better Said Than Done.
Get your own slice of these American dreams and buy those tickets now!
