Middle Israel: The Fourth of July and the fading American dream - opinion

As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, the author contends that the American dream faces threats unseen since the Civil War. Recalling a moment in 1990 by the Berlin Wall, where America's victory over the Soviet Union seemed assured through its political conviction, economic promise, cultural leadership, and moral standing, the piece contrasts that optimism with the present day.

The American dream, initially a pursuit of better livelihoods for immigrants, evolved to center on freedom, particularly after the struggle for independence. The Declaration of Independence's assertion against tyrannical rule became a cornerstone. This was later augmented by America's role as a global wellspring of creativity, technological innovation, and academic excellence, alongside its powerful press.

These pillars supported what the author terms the American republic's "golden dome": its moral leadership. While acknowledging America's imperfections, such as inconsistent support for dissidents abroad and the profound contradiction of slavery during the Civil War, the author argues that the underlying aim of championing freedom remained clear. The Civil War, though a bloody internal conflict, ultimately reinforced the American dream's ideals of freedom, equality, justice, and self-reliance, proving its resilience against internal and external challenges.