William Tyler
The American Dream
Summary
‘The American Dream’ is a phrase that trips easily off the tongue; but what is its origin, what is its classical meaning, and how does Lyndon B. Johnson’s vision of The Great Society fit in? William Tyler explores these questions and asks, does the phrase still have any relevance in 2024?
William Tyler
William Tyler has spent his entire professional life in adult education, beginning at Kingsgate College in 1969. He has lectured widely for many public bodies, including the University of Cambridge and the WEA, in addition to speaking to many clubs and societies. In 2009, William was awarded the MBE for services to adult education, and he has previously been a scholar in residence at the London Jewish Cultural Centre.
These are questions right across the western world. And all of us who’ve got a vote this year in Britain and in the States. We’ll have to think long and hard about how we cast our votes. Perhaps, I dare not say anymore about the American choices, but here we think we’re going to have multiple choices, but we need governments that actually focus on things.
It’s not true, for example of Kennedy. It’s true of those who were Protestant, because that’s the Protestantism they came from. Kennedy is Catholic, but Kennedy’s odd. Well, I think he’s odd as I tried to explain that he’s odd in as much as he presents himself as a sort of new Englander Puritan in the strong traditions. But he isn’t with, his concern comes from Catholicism. But yes, but now you have to ask how much real religion do politicians in any Western democracy have? You also say, “When did the dream cease?” I don’t think the dream has ceased. The people, American academics writing about it, write of it in the present.