America has been a land of dreams. A land where the aspirations of people from countries cluttered with rich, cumbersome, aristocratic, ideological pasts can reach for what once seemed unattainable. Here they have tried to make dreams come true. Yet now... we are threatened by a new and particularly American menace. It is not the menace of class war, of ideology, of poverty, of disease, of illiteracy, or demagoguery, or of tyranny, though these now plague most of the world. It is the menace of unreality.

Summary

This quote highlights the idea that America has historically been a place where people have pursued their dreams, escaping the barriers imposed by their home countries. However, the quote suggests that America is now facing a distinct threat - the menace of unreality. This implies that instead of being plagued by issues such as poverty or disease, the country is being threatened by a detachment from reality. It could be interpreted as a cautionary statement, warning against the prevalence of delusion or disconnection from truth in American society, which may hinder progress and the ability to address other global challenges.

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