Oprah Winfrey, riddled with poverty and physical abuse, faced hardship after hardship. Yet, she accomplished more than many could dream, becoming an icon in the showbiz by revolutionising talk shows.
Similarly, Arnold Schwarzenegger came from very humble beginnings in a small Austrian town. Today, he is recognised as one of the most successful bodybuilders and actors.
Winfrey and Schwarzenegger personified “The American Dream,” the notion that anyone, regardless of social background or systemic obstacle, could achieve success and upward social mobility. All it needs is resilience and initiative in the US because America is “The Land of Opportunity.”
However, there is reason to believe that “The American Dream” could be shattering, even more so under the tumultuous administration of current US President, Donald Trump, whose ideology and policies have undermined America’s image of progress for all.
The Los Angeles Chaos
The recent string of immigration protests in LA and the Trump Administration’s authoritarian response to the resistance show that the American Dream is under severe stress.
As part of his recent crackdown on immigrants, federal US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers stormed LA’s garment district for workers, who were suspected of being illegal immigrants. This caused a huge public outcry, sparking massive protests in the city, which quickly took an ugly turn.
Protestors chanted and threw eggs, only to be met with severe opposition by law enforcement agencies. The anti-ICE protests were mostly peaceful, but some grew violent in different parts of the city.
Demonstrations continued in working-class suburbs, leading to law enforcement officers making arrests and using tear gas to disperse protestors. Trump’s decision to double down on law enforcement and deploy 2000 National Guard members to LA deepened the divide between the disgruntled public and the state.
Declining Democracy?
The Trump administration’s stance on crushing the opposition in the streets of LA can be seen as a symptom of the decline of democracy and freedom in the US, as hinted by renowned human rights lawyer Philippe Sands.
According to Sands, such strict measures were typical of authoritarian regimes.
Normalisation of force in settling domestic disputes puts civil rights under pressure. Citizens have the right to voice their opinion, often in peaceful demonstrations, which was the initial stage of protests in LA over the weekend.
For the average Muslim living in America, the dream of rising from the social hierarchy and class system is almost impossible. Systemic pressures, which include institutionalised racism, will inevitably impede their progress.
Islamophobia and the perpetuation of racial stereotypes are further obstacles in their course.
If the brutal crackdown on immigrants continues, America will cease to become the “melting pot” and the leader of democracy. If foreigners are not free to practice their religion and improve their life chances, America is no longer a haven.
The Trump administration’s policies have cast a shadow of fear and uncertainty over America’s diverse population, which is a threat to all except a few radical extremist nationalists.
The American Dream is under threat as cultural and economic divides deepen against the backdrop of growing hostility between the state and the public.
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