COMMON QUESTIONS
Uniquely American Questions
This section discusses American culture &
customs.
AMERICAN VALUES
Individual Freedom | Choice
in Education | The Family | Privacy
| American Values - Online Resources
If you asked most Americans what the cultural values in the U.S. are,
you might get some blank stares, or a statement of some basic beliefs.
The question may seem simple, but the answer is quite complex. In a society
as highly diverse as the United States, there is likely to be a multitude
of answers.
American culture has been enriched by the values and belief systems of
virtually every part of the world. Consequently, it is impossible to be
comprehensive. Nevertheless, a few selected values are at the core of
the American value system.
Individual Freedom
The one value that nearly every American would agree upon is individual
freedom. Whether you call it individual freedom, individualism, or
independence, it is the cornerstone of American values. It permeates every
aspect of our society.
The concept of an individual's having control over his/her own destiny
influenced the type of government that was established here, and individual
rights are guaranteed in the United
States Constitution (the supreme law of the land).
These rights are so protected in our judicial system that, even though
Americans may complain that criminals sometimes "get away with murder,"
most people believe it is better to free a few guilty persons than to
imprison one person who is innocent.
While our economic system may be dominated by large corporations, the
majority of American businesses are small, and many are owned by an individual
or a family. It is part of the "American dream" to "be your own boss,"
and being an entrepreneur is one of the most appealing ways to improve
one's economic future.
Choice in Education
Education is often
regarded as the key to opportunity, including financial security. Americans
take a pragmatic approach to learning, so what one learns outside the
classroom through internships, extracurricular activities and the like
is often considered as important as what is learned in the classroom.
Consequently, lifelong learning is valued which results in many adult
and continuing education programs.
Americans have many choices. In school they decide their major
field of study, perhaps with or without their parents' influence, and
students even get to select some of their courses. These "elective" courses
often confuse foreign students who may expect a more rigid curriculum.
The belief that Americans should "be all that you can be" emanates from
our Protestant heritage. Since the majority of the early settlers were
Protestant, they believed that they had a responsibility to improve
themselves, to be the best they could be, to develop their talents,
and to help their neighbors. These convictions have not only influenced
our educational system, but are often reflected in U.S. foreign policy.
What some might consider meddling in other people's affairs, others believe
is fulfilling a moral obligation.
The Family
Another aspect of American society that may bewilder non-Americans
is the family. The nuclear family structure (parents and children)
is so alien to most cultures in the world that it is often misunderstood.
The main purpose of the American family is to bring about the happiness
of each individual family member. The traditional family values include
love and respect for parents, as well as for all members of the family.
However, the emphasis on the individual and his/her right to happiness
can be confusing. It allows children to disagree, even argue with their
parents. While in most other cultures such action would be a sign of disrespect
and a lack of love, that is not the case in the United States. It is simply
a part of developing one's independence.
Many foreign students and visitors are welcomed by host families, who
invite them into their homes for dinner or to join in family activities.
Frequently visitors are told to "make themselves at home" and, at times,
may appear to be "left alone."
It certainly is nice to be treated as an honored guest in someone's home,
but one of the highest compliments that an American can give foreign guests
is to treat them like members of the family, which means to give them
the "freedom of the house" to do what they want, to "raid the refrigerator"
on their own, or to have some quiet time alone.
Privacy
Privacy is also important to Americans. The notion of individual
privacy may make it difficult to make friends. Because Americans respect
one's privacy, they may not go much beyond a friendly "hello." Ironically,
it is usually the foreigner who must be more assertive if a friendship
is to develop.
The rugged individualism valued by most Americans stems from our frontier
heritage. For much of our country's history, there was a frontier. That
experience greatly influenced American attitudes. Early settlers had to
be self-sufficient which forced them to be inventive. Their success gave
them an optimism about the future, a belief that problems could
be solved. This positive spirit enables Americans to take risks in areas
where others might only dream, resulting in tremendous advances in technology,
health and science.
The American frontier also created our heroes: the self-reliant, strong-willed,
confident individual who preferred action to words and always tried to
treat others fairly. Many of these characteristics are represented by
the myth of the American cowboy, and the more modern versions personified
in movies by John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Sylvester Stallone. We can
even look to "future" centuries and admire similar qualities in the heroes
of the Star Trek and Star Wars movie series.
In addition to such basic American values as individual freedom, self-reliance,
equality of opportunity, hard work, material wealth, and competition,
we see a trend toward conservation with an emphasis on recycling and preserving
the environment. Also there is a greater sensitivity to cooperation on
a more global scale.
No matter what changes the next century brings or whether you agree with
American values, the opportunity to visit the United States and to observe
Americans first-hand is an experience well worth the effort.
Be careful not to be ethnocentric, but to evaluate a culture by its own
standards. Be aware that you'll help shape American attitudes, just as
they will influence you.
Editorial written by Thomas E. Grouling, Ph.D., Assistant Director,
International Center, Drake University
Other Online Resources about
American Values
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