American Ideal Images

The first image clearly embodies the American ideals of diversity, opportunity and liberty. Arnold Schwarzenegger was born into poverty and famine in Austria, and dreamed of moving to the U.S since age 10. By age 21, he was living in L.A and had been crowned Mr. Universe. Today, age 68, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a household name, known for his acting, bodybuilding, and for becoming the 38th Governor of California. Schwarzenegger has been called "the most famous immigrant in America", and I believe that his life epitomizes the American Dream, as well as American ideals of liberty and opportunity.

The second image, however, seems to question whether traditional American ideals are still upheld in certain areas of modern America, particularly the likes of liberty, equality, and basic human rights. The recent unrest in Ferguson, over the shooting of black teenager, Michael Brown, by white police officer, Darren Wilson, had a massive online following, and one twitter user juxtaposed these pictures in order to show the lack of progression which America has made in response to racial tension and police brutality, in the last 50 years.