Cheerleader Sex and The American Dream | Assertion Analysis #1

“Teen Whisperer”, John Green, known for his soppy, angst-filled teen novels, expresses his thoughts on the American Dream in “Let it Snow” with the same sarcastic humor that can be seen in “Paper Towns” or “An Abundance of Katherines”. “The American Dream” is the glorification of the opportunity and success that the United States can offer, sparking foreign interest, and bringing immigrants to the states. Green’s statement translates to The American Dream being a joke, something as ridiculous and fantastic as having sex with a cheerleader in a waffle house restroom.

John Green wrote in the voice of a Korean-American, whose parents took refuge in the US, went through numerous hardships, and fought for their rights, all for their son to reach this All-American right of passage, by having sex with an All-American Cheerleader in an All-American Waffle House, the ultimate confirmation that their son is a true American boy.  Stating that his parents ran off to the states with “nothing but the clothes on their backs”, all to have their son achieve something that they could never have back in Korea: cheerleader sex. With the use of statements such as: “My parents have sacrificed so much for this dream!” and “... we must journey on, despite all trials and tribulations!”, John Green was able to represent the very real things that immigrants go through when aiming for “The American Dream”. Showing just how ridiculous it is to do work so hard towards something so trivial and unattainable.

Starting off the statement, Green uses irony when stating the singular “Lady and Gentleman”, rather than what is normally used. This opens the very serious topic, with a very light-hearted joke. This is the first indication that this isn’t any normal anecdote, in any sense. The concept of waffle house cheerleader sex in itself leads directly to the use of hyperbole. This idea is exaggerated to the point of being too ridiculous to be false, but also represents just how extraordinary and unrealistic The American Dream truly is. Throughout the quote, Green alluded the widely-known “I Have a Dream” speech by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. This gives the feeling of a serious, realistic dream, but adds the sarcastic and humorous motif that is present in most, if not all, of Green’s writing.

It’s clear that to John Green, “The American Dream” is a joke. With use of irony, hyperbole, and and allusion, Green was able to convince his audience of how much of a joke The American Dream really is. Using Cheerleader-Waffle-House Sex as his example that the US really should stop trying to convince themselves of this “All-American” unified dream, and causing foreigners and immigrants to chase after something as exaggerated as hooking up with an All-American cheerleader in an All-American waffle house.