10/2/07 RA: #9 pg. 284

The simple rags to riches story line that we all know to well, has been used for quite some time to attract audiences by Horatio Alger. We all fall for the idea that hard work can pay off in the end, and it does in some cases, but nonetheless this is a myth. The lesson that we get from this is, according to Dalton, a false one.
There are three messages that Alger portrays. The first one is that each of us is judged solely on his or her own merits. The second one is that we each have a fair opportunity to develop those merits. Finally, the third one is that these merits will out. If these were true, then we wouldn’t have poverty, and everyone would live a perfect lifestyle. Some people do not judge by merits, and we do each have a fair opportunity to develop these merits, but it is harder for some people. The first message is basically saying that life has nothing to do with the aspects of ourselves that we cannot change. The second message Dalton says that neither Alger nor the myth that he writes says that we each start out equal. The third point is unfair, for the simple fact that people do have the chance to make decisions, they want to, but they just don’t know how.
Dalton thinks that this myth should be “interred,” and I agree. The only problem is how do we do this, and is it even possible? I think it is possible, but it is a very hard to reach dream of many people who want to reach it but can’t or don’t know how. Well, Dalton brings up some critical points about black and white folks and the myth. He states that black folks understand this myth as a reality and also know that it is false. This all helps them to cope with “the adverse events of life,” just like in the city of Flint. White people use it as an excuse to put the wretched idea of racism out of their minds, but they want to help get rid of it. In order to get rid of this myth that drives false hope, we must use the lie to the idea to bring up black people, then we as white people need to realize that we too are part of the problem and take action and responsibility. In order to accomplish the abolishment of this myth, we must take into account that hard work and individual merit are very critical in this goal, but it is not the only thing that drives it forward.
I think that in order for a cultural myth to be abolished, action and common sense must be present on all sides of the segregations. No matter what race, no matter what religion, no matter what class type, skin color, gender, or pedigree, we are all responsible for segregation, and we created this myth as a crutch, so it is up to all of us to deal with the reality of this world, quit living in a fantasy land, and get rid of this myth together. It is ironic though, that the people who hate segregation hate this myth, and were the creators of both, and they can’t and don’t want to get rid of it. We created the robbery of peace among people with differences, which is very sad. These are my thoughts on this myth.
Alger also says that we live in a land with unlimited potential, this may have been true when people came to America in search of a better dream, but what was once a dream is now only a tainted memory. All of these statements are nice to think about, but not true, for we live in a land that diminishes our dreams within a split second.