I am becoming increasingly disturbed by the difficulty I have matching my external experience to my internal reality. I find that my instincts about what is right, about how I should be living and what would make me the most satisfied and happy, are to do something that is fundamentally different than the dominant lifestyle of the place where I live. I am a citizen of the United States of America. While my status as such allows me many opportunities and protections, it is not without a great number of disadvantages and dangers. As I become more aware, of both myself and my culture, I become increasingly disturbed by what it means to be a U.S. citizen. I spend a great deal of time quietly considering and discussing the topic with others—what it means to live the American Dream and what it means to be happy—and the contradictions inherent in trying to be both simultaneously.

This is most confusing as I am representative of the average American, being both Caucasian and middle-class, and of a gender that represents 51% of the total population.  However, it is increasingly clear to me that the dominant culture of the U.S. is detrimental to my ability to live a happy, peaceful, fulfilling life.  And this isn’t only true for me, but maybe for you as well.  I feel compelled to identify and conquer this dissonance, and to make my effort a public one.

 

© Salahub 2003