Dear Dr. Snyder,
Reading that you are having difficulty in teaching some
international students the concept of "American dream," I thought I might
give you a little suggestion as an international student myself.
I remember I understood the principles Americans have believed
and the American dream in studying about immigrants, especially Japanese
immigrants. I think I could identify what they had sought in America a
century ago and since, as their stories sounded more familiar to me. And
to understand their motives was to understand American dreams of other
ethnic groups. In immigration "push" factors are different among
countries of origin, but "pull" factors are shared by all immigrants
since the 17th century.
The book I suggest is Fuch's -American Kaleidoscope.
Good luck!
Atsuko Hirata
University of Hawaii
atsukoh@HAWAII.EDU