American Dream is a lived life (Success or not-so-success story)

​ by Alexander Pak
How can first-generation Americans respond to bias?
First-generation American immigrants can respond to bias by living and reminding American stories and history. If everyone remembers where they came from, who they were, and their ancestors and knows a bit about the history of America, one can see and feel what and how the first-generation immigrants go through trying to adjust to American life. For the benefit of America, first-generation immigrants were sources of a new life-blood, diversities, and new experiences; they were the parents and grandparents of future Americans. Everyone wishes to follow one's dream, only to find that it is not a dream but a desperate hope that keeps everyone going until one day, they realize it was a lived life.

Throughout human history, people never seemed to stay in one place; they always explored, searched, and traveled for food, fortunes, freedom, and conquest. Countries and continents were discovered and explored, and more often, it was exploited, colonized, and dominated.
America's discovery, which was in the 15th century, was a recent phenomenon when compared with other continents; Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. When Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, the first European, discovered the New World in 1492, somewhere today's Bahamas and the border of Haiti, and the Dominican Republic (then it was called Hispaniola), arrived with the Nina, the Pinta and Santa Maria's crews, they met with friendly Native Indians and or indigenous peoples, who were already living those regions and beyond. Soon after Columbus sucessive sails, other Europeans, such as English and French, landed in the Northern part of America; today, it is called America. (Some South American may disagree.)

English Christians called Pilgrims, or Puritans (for they were searching for a new place to worship and bring God's kingdom on earth.) Once again, they, too, met with friendly Native Indians, welcoming them. Yet, Pilgrims had many hardships and struggles while building their precarious lives in the new world. Many went back to England, but most of the first settlers stayed, laid down roots, and reared their children with the Bible and trades. With hard work and determination, first and second-generation Pilgrims prospered and became more powerful. Furthermore, they wanted to governed and ruled not by the cousins across the Atlantic Ocean but by themselves. With increasing taxation and frustrations of not being heard by the King, the thirteen colonies decided to revolt against the King, No tax without representation. The Revolutionary War began in 1775 with Great Britain. The war did not end till 1783; however, America declared Independence in July 1776 by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

After the declaration of independence and winning the war with Great Britain, the thirteen colonies formed the United States of America. Not soon after, the newly-found country became the most powerful nation in the world in the twenty century, economically (Capitalism), politically (Democratically or Republically), culturally (European), religiously (Christianity), academically (Western philosophy with emphasis on Enlightenment or geist of reason).
 
What caused to transmitted these values were not via only Christian missionary activities, winning World Wars or other wars, such as the Korean War (1950- present) or the Vietnam War (1955-1975), the Afghanistan War (2001-2014), intervention in the Syrian Civil War (2014- current) or the spread of English language, but thanks to mass media, internet, especially the influences of Hollywood. With these modes of propagation and images, America became the most sought-after immigrated country by people around the world.
Everyone, who was influenced by the idea of American success, freedom, or dream, wanted to come to America at any cost and be part of such dreams and ideal life.

Like the first explorers and Pilgrims, every first generation, who came to America, faces the most formidable challenges and dangers; they must overcome the language barriers, cultures, and economic hurdles, and ideologies. Also, their challenges might be different from other immigrants, for many these immigrants come to America for various reasons and purposes; some come for personal freedom, material prosperity, religious freedom, opportunities, and their children's future.
Many first-generation immigrants may have different understandings of labeling success or so-called "made it." Also, many come without any goals or purposes, but once they are in the country, they might find something that compels them to pursue and build the so-called American dream.

America has a word for "Model minority,"which refers to a certain immigrant group. It is a stereotype to depict them as a model that others recognize. Model minority usually refers to Asian- Americans as being affluent, high achievers, and clan-based families (tightly-knitted). But it is also true that many of these stereotypes are inaccurate and not representative of all Asian-American groups. There are many Asians from other Asian countries, and they do not share the same values. Many Asians are also living in poverty and are not high achievers, yet this does not mean they are not Americans. Perhaps many Asian-Americans do not want to be a millionaire or go out and get PhDs. They want to be happy and respected, just like many people in America. Many of them want to work hard and pay taxes and hope that next-generation's lives will be better than theirs.
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Many first-generation consider faith as an essential part of life. For most of them, it helps them spiritually and emotionally. It also reinforces their identity and reminds them as a sojourner in this world to another world. 
America is not a designation but is in the progress of becoming a more perfect nation and the light of the world. Everyone in America wants to be responsible and civil citizens, whether they are first immigrants or second, third, or even fourth-generation immigrant descendants. Every generation has a unique way of calling what it means to accomplish the American dream, and sometimes, it may not always equate with money, power, or fame. Some want to be a part of and be respected as one of the unique experiences of the American dream: a lived life in America. And this is one way to respond to bias.