The American Dream?

Through out the semester, I have come to believe that the "American Dream" incorporates the promise of economic prosperity and overall success. I also believe the American Dream is one that involves acceptance. Many times, people who wish to achieve this impossible dream are from other countries or very different cultures within America. From reading her work, The School Days Of An Indian Girl, I got the impression that she was definitely not living the idealized American dream. The sentences "Sometimes they took their forefingers out of their mouths and pointed at my moccasined feet. Their mothers, instead of reproving such rude curiosity, looked closely at me, and attracted their children's further notice to my blanket. This embarrassed me, and kept me on the verge of tears" (429). The idea of acceptance of all people was clearly not exemplified in the circumstance of this work, especially in this instance. On that same train trip, Zitkala-Sa references her shame, by not being able to look around the cabin comfortably. This also also refers to her want to be back home with her mother, brother and aunt. Even though this work is very interesting, I believe it does not portray the ideals of what is commonly known as the "American Dream".