# Non-American Dopers, What's "The (Your Nation Here) Dream"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 10, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210 "2003-12-10T21:54:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/1 "2003-12-10T21:54:29Z")
**matt\_mcl** , in a thread on Canadian patriotism over at the Pit, mentioned a rather tasteless ad touting green cards for American residency “because there’s no such thing as The Canadian Dream”. This got me to wondering if there IS one, and if other countries have them too–sort of national visions of the best kind of life to lead. I’d be interested in hearing about them, especially from smaller and non-European countries. I’m deliberately not defining the American Dream here because first of all, there’s about 280 million definitions of it, and also because I don’t want to ‘contaminate’ the sample here. I’d rather not have you contrast your nation’s ideal to the (perceived) American ones, just explain what you think your country looks for as the pinnacle of a happy or successful life/society. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/2 "2003-12-10T21:58:47Z")
“The Australian Dream”, when that phrase is used, usually refers to owning a house on a suburban, quarter-acre block. Which is unusual, because my dreams usually feature far more bisexual women than could comfortably be accommodated in a three-bedroom house. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/3 "2003-12-11T07:31:16Z")
The Norwegian Dream is that someday, Norway will beat Sweden in _every single_ discipline in the Winter Olympics 😃 We’re, uh, having a little trouble with the ice hockey part. Oh, you were looking for a serious answer? I don’t know. Norwegians tend to like single-family homes with a station wagon in the driveway, but I don’t know that I’d call that “the Norwegian dream”. I think for most people their dream is much like the life they’re living now, only with more free time and a bit more money in the bank. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/4 "2003-12-11T08:09:57Z")
The New Zealand Dream used to be just as **BigNik** said it was for the Aussie one: only we called it the [Half Gallon, Quarter Acre Pavlova Paradise](http://www.lgnz.co.nz/news/pr1027994739.html) (in a book written by a Brit. Ooh! Cultural cringe!) Now – I’d say the Dream for Godzoners is “Make It Big In Sydney Before The Dentures Come!” Or, insert name of any other big city overseas in place of Sydney. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/5 "2003-12-11T08:59:04Z")
The Israeli Dream? (well, **MY** Israeli dream, anyway) Just 40 years of **PEACE AND QUIET**!! OK, I feel better now… Dani ---
**Author:** ![lurksfromwork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@lurksfromwork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurksfromwork)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/6 "2003-12-11T10:41:32Z")
Aussie dream… -4 bed, 2 bath house or a couple of them -boat -sweet car -wife that makes my mates envious because she can drink as much as the blokes, likes fishing and camping, her dad owns a pub and her mum is a millionaire. Before she met me she had a brief but extremely successful modelling career as a curvy bikini model. -two kids…one that wins the PGA tour and the other that wins wimbledon or the brownlow. -nice job that pays truckloads and allows you to watch the cricket, or whatever you want, at work…if you feel like turning up. -never ending supply of beer or scotch ---
**Author:** ![Gest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Gest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gest)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/7 "2003-12-11T10:55:49Z")
a brownlow? ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/8 "2003-12-11T10:56:32Z")
In the UK the dream is fast becoming to own a house (any house) regardless of number of bedrooms or garden size. Particularly in the south / london. ---
**Author:** ![lurksfromwork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@lurksfromwork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurksfromwork)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/9 "2003-12-11T11:05:00Z")
The Brownlow medal is an national Australian rules footy award that goes to the player that doesn’t smack the ref in the head to often…nah, unfortunately not. It’s the ‘fairest and best’ voted by the refs at the end of the season, big thing to some people over here, most probably to the person that wins it to (and their bank manager) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/10 "2003-12-11T11:12:03Z")
One for the road. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/11 "2003-12-11T11:22:36Z")
The English dream is to one day, please God, win the World Cup (football, not rugby) again. Preferably against the Germans :). ---
**Author:** ![woolly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@woolly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woolly)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/12 "2003-12-11T11:31:22Z")
The Australian dream (Sydney variation) is to be captain of the Australian cricket team, be mentioned in the social pages as a “colourful racing identity” and own a house with uninterrupted harbour views. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/13 "2003-12-11T14:11:17Z")
Wow. This is great. Real estate and sports! Keep 'em coming! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/14 "2003-12-11T14:14:27Z")
The Irish dream. Well, as an ex-pat observing I’d say it boils down to: “have craic.” The genuine Irish dream may be something to do with beating England at everything, and possibly invading, but I shut my ears to that. ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/15 "2003-12-11T14:40:43Z")
The Icelandic dream: 1. Get your own boat. 2. Get your own igloo. 3. Have 25 children to man your boat and take care of your igloo. Seriously, though, the Icelandic dream used to be just to be happy. Never mind fame or fortune, happiness over all. However, the dream is becoming more and more “americanized” and now people seem to be more cash-oriented (oriented? sounds …oriental?) and generally capitalistic. I blame Hollywood, but then again I blame Hollywood for everything… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/16 "2003-12-11T15:04:13Z")
What, no Canadians yet? Okay, I’ll attempt to define the National Dream for a bunch of independent, polite people - oh, wait, we already realized our National Dream at the last Olympics - **double gold in Men’s _AND_ Women’s Hockey.** (hold on a second, I’m getting a little choked up here…) Other than that, I guess it’s a bunch of “buy a house, work at a job you don’t hate with a burning passion, have kids, don’t kill anyone, blah blah blah” kind of stuff. ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/17 "2003-12-11T15:07:07Z")
The Angolan Dream. Well only been here three months so may be supreme arrogance to assume I know, but I think I have a fair guess… 1. Continued Peace. The treaty which finally ended the Civil War which has raged for at least 28 years is now over 19 months old, since the death in battle of the UNITA leader Joshua Savbimbi (not sure if spelled correct). The ruling MPLA five-yearly Congress has just ended here and everyone is talking politics in the bars and resturants. 1. Reconstruction to Progress The whole place has gone to hell in a handcart. In Luanda we have the best of everything and it is terrible, a city built for 1.5 million with a population of over 5 million. No reliable water, power, fuel shortage (with 10 billion bbls of oil being developed!), sewerage problems, roads in a mess etc. No housing, no jobs etc. 1. Mine Clearance Help Come to Angola. A country with more than one landmine per head of population. :eeik: The number of amputees in the city to beg is the one thing that I cannot get used to. 1. Repair rural transport and distribution systems The country could be the bread basket of Southern Africa, it has arable land greater than the area of France, no water shortage and balanced population versus resource ratio. They can grow the stuff but cannot get it to market before it rots. Hence everything eaten in Luanda is imported. Crazy. If this is solved then food prices will drop so that even the following point will not be so much of an issue: 1. Jobs The cost of living here is one of the highest in the world. How people make it I really do not know. Many don’t it is clear. Jobs are needed but until the cost of living falls the sort of jobs that wil be available will not pay enough to put even food on the table. 1. A cure for SIDS (AIDS) Infection rate - unknown but estimated as high as 33%. Implications for the future of what should be one of the richest countries in Africa - devastating obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Hot\_Buttered\_Toast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@Hot\_Buttered\_Toast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hot_Buttered_Toast)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/18 "2003-12-11T16:15:34Z")
The Singaporean Dream? As far as I know, it involves durians (the evil fruit), being first in line for freebies and having the newest handphone. I might be wrong about this, but those are the three things that come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/19 "2003-12-11T16:28:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*The genuine Irish dream may be something to do with beating England at everything, and possibly invading, but I shut my ears to that. \*\* I’d say just getting the other six counties back would be enough for some. ---
**Author:** ![Armilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@Armilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Armilla)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210/20 "2003-12-11T16:59:11Z")
Well, historically speaking, the English dream has been to crush the French, see them driven before us and hear the lamentation of their women. These days I think it’s got more to do with limitless access to celebrity gossip. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-american-dopers-whats-the-your-nation-here-dream/218210.md?page=2)