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The United States, A Land of False Hope, Lies and The Destruction of Self

Keith Lockwood, Ph.D.
3 min readMar 19, 2024

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In the grand narrative of American culture, the pursuit of success is often depicted as a heroic quest, fueled by ambition, determination, and relentless drive. From an early age, we are indoctrinated into a system that glorifies achievement, extolling the virtues of hard work and perseverance as the keys to unlocking the American Dream. Yet, beneath this veneer of prosperity lies a darker truth — a truth obscured by the myths and illusions perpetuated by a society steeped in consumerism, materialism, and the relentless pursuit of capital.

From our formative years within the education system, we are taught to measure our worth by external metrics of success — grades, accolades, and achievements — rather than by the depth of our character or the authenticity of our relationships. We learn to equate self-worth with academic and professional accomplishments, internalizing the belief that our value as individuals is contingent upon our ability to excel within the confines of a competitive, meritocratic system.

In this hyper-competitive environment, the pressure to succeed becomes all-consuming, driving many to resort to deceit and self-aggrandizement in pursuit of their goals. We learn to embellish our achievements, inflate our resumes, and fabricate narratives of success, all in service of maintaining the illusion of competence and superiority. We become adept at wearing masks, concealing our vulnerabilities and insecurities behind a façade of confidence and…

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Keith Lockwood, Ph.D.
Keith Lockwood, Ph.D.

Written by Keith Lockwood, Ph.D.

ASL teacher, Teacher of the Deaf, Keith is also a New Jersey based genealogist specializing in British, Irish and Italian genealogy and citizenship reclamation.

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