The American dream—a myth?

All it took—according to Robin G. Nelson (Sci. Am., March 2022)—to prove that individualism is a myth was the Covid bug. 

Nelson's view is no doubt interesting, but is it sound?

We might not think so after testing it out.

The theory seems, it's true, to gain some support by the way people have, largely, put up a common front to combat the Covid virus.

The theory, however, is on shakier ground when it claims the primacy of collectivism, as it does when it tells us that in the view of some anthropologists “exceptionally high degrees of sociality, cooperation and communal care are hallmarks of humankind,” traits that distinguishes us from other animals. Sounds good, this; but maybe not so good when we realize that this thumbs up approach to “sociality” has been used to promote forms of social behaviour (communism for one) not exactly looked up to by most Americans. Of this, the regimentation of life in today’s China should be seen as a concrete example.

The theory is made even shakier by Nelson's view that the American dream (that in America one can prosper if he or she works hard enough) is a dehumanizing myth. This, I think, would be news to those masses of people who try to find their way in to the US at the southern border, all of whom come in search of precisely that—the American dream. These people come in search of a better life; this article claims they are delusional.

Shouldn't Sci.Am. (an evident supporter of this view) plead with the US Government to do everything possible to keep them out—on the ground that it is dehumanizing to let them in?

Ermes Culos

Ashcroft BC Can