NPR: American dream

"The archetypal American dream was deeper than being richer and better looking than your parents," he says. "It was about identity — forging it, discovering it yourself, not inheriting it." But as it became easier, and even expected, to be self-made, the moral and spiritual pull of family, village, calling and religion receded into the mist, Meyer says. And along about the 1960s, "self-determination essentially became a consumer choice. Pick a religion and find an exercise regime, diet, clothing brand and favorites list to match." For many Americans, he says, the challenge of near total life freedom ...has been that shedding old ties and traditions turns out to be easier than finding meaningful new ones; forming a modern 'lifestyle' often ends being narcissistic and consumerist." This choice overload, Meyer says, "has proven to be spiritually hollow. We've found nothing to replace community, hard morality, religion and vocational pride to guide us through life. We're existentially in the dark." And that, he adds, is the place where the American nightmare takes hold.

Swimming and learning Senior Kevin Hudiono leaps off the side of the pool, hits the water - and goes down like a rock. This first, hourlong fall lesson will be enough for him. Soon he stops showing up. On the surface the kids are different. Together in a basement pool they're alike: teenagers who can't swim - the admission an embarrassment - but are eager to learn. The new swimming course was teacher Coder's idea. As a former lifeguard, he learned that African Americans drown at twice the rate of whites. The rates for other minorities are high, too. Many grow up with no access to pools, and never learn to swim. Coder thought he could teach a life-saving skill and simultaneously promote understanding. He took the plan to Hackney, who immediately approved it. City Councilman James Kenney found money for fees. The Fels Center, run by the nonprofit Caring People Alliance, opened its pool. All that work turned out to be the easy part. Although 10 students signed up, on the first day, only three appeared. A few more straggled in the next week. By the third session, a core group of three or four was making progress. Maria Ordinola, a senior who immigrated from Peru a year ago, notices that Uyen Pham, a senior from Vietnam, struggles to float. Ordinola tries to help. She puts her hands under Pham's back - and Pham freaks, jerking upright and moving away. She does not want anyone holding her in the water. Pham again leans back, and this time, it's she who reaches for support. Pham grabs Ordinola's hand and holds tight. At the end, only a few kids have stuck it out. None will be Olympic swimmers. But none will drown if they fall off a boat. And all have learned more than aquatics. "We help each other," Ordinola said. Senior Jasman Hill, who is African American, says she doesn't want the class to end, she's made such rich friendships. She moves through the water, stroke by stroke, and when she gets tired, she doesn't sink. She floats.