CHAPTER 3 

American traditional beliefs and values 

1. American Dream 

The great American dream is to rise from poverty or modest weath to great weath. 

* J. T. Adams in the book "The Epic of America" (1931) expressed "The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement". "The American Dream, that has lured tens of millions of all nations to our shores in the past century has not been a dream of material plenty, though that has doubtlessly counted heavily. It has been a dream of being able to grow to fullest development as a man and woman, unhampered by the barriers which had slowly been erected in the older civilisations, unrepressed by social orders which had developed for the benefit of classes rather than for the simple human being of any and every class."  

* The American Dream teaches Americans to believe that contentment can be reached through the virtues of thrift, hard work, family loyalty and faith in the free enterprise system. 

* However, in reality, the American Dream is not open to all. Segregation and discrimination are effective tools which have barred minorities from equal opportunities in all spheres. 

2. Six traditional American values 

2.1. Individual freedom (the center of all values) 

* History: The earliest settlers wanted to be free from the controls that existed in European societies, to escape the controls placed on their lives by kings and governments, priests and churches, noblemen and aristocrats.  

* By freedom, Americans mean the desire and the ability of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference from the government, a ruling noble class, the church or any other organized authority. 

? attracts immigrants 

2.2. Self-reliance (most difficult to understand) 

* Individuals must learn to rely on themselves or risk losing freedom and the respects of the peers. 

? means achieving financial and emotional independence from the parents as early as possible, usually by 18 or 21. 

* If not truly self-reliant, they must at least appear to be so. 

* Receiving financial support from charity, family or government is never admired.

* Volunteerism: the do-it-yourself spirit; means people helping people through privately initiated, rather than government-sponsored, agencies. Volunteers are highly motivated workers who organize themselves and others to solve a particular community problem or meet an immediate social need, rather waiting for someone else - usually the government - to do it. 

2.3. Equality of opportunity 

* The formation: no class system developed in the United States. Million of immigrants had better chance and succeeded, so Americans came to believe in equality of opportunity.  

* Meaning: Each individual should have an equal chance for success. Life is a race for success. Everyone should have an equal chance to enter the fair race and win. The fair race means a person does not win just because he/she was born into a wealthy family or lose because of race or religion. 

2.4. Equality of competition 

* Meaning: A person must run the race and compete with each other in order to succeed. 

* The pressures of competition begin in childhood until retirement and are encouraged by strong programs of competitive sports provided by the public schools and community groups. 

* The pressure to compete Americans to be energetic but also places a constant emotional strain on them. They may feel useless and unwanted when retired. If competing unsuccessfully, they won't fit into the mainstream of American life. 

2.5. Material wealth 

* The psychology of abundance: 

- Abundant natural resources ? land of plenty ? seek the fortunes 

- Raise the standard of living ? having a better life 

- If not successful ? the children would have the opportunity 

* Wealth has been a widely accepted measure of social status, abilities and success. This is because Americans rejected the European system of hereditary aristocracy and titles of nobility, they had to find a substitute for judging social status.  

* But Americans do not like to be called materialistic because they that this unfairly accuses them of loving only material things and of having no religious values. In fact, most Americans do have other values and ideals. 

* Mobility: an assumption that the practical solution to a problem is to move elsewhere and make a fresh start. Mobility in America is not a sign of aimlessness but optimism. ? Americans now move from place to place with the same sense of optimism, hoping to secure a better job or enjoy a warmer climate. 

2.6. Hard work 

* Hard work has been both necessary and rewarding for most Americans. 

* With industry-based economy, the people believed only by hard work could their rich natural resources be converted into material possessions. 

* With information-based society, many workers no longer believe that hard work necessarily bring great material rewards. 

* However, most Americans still believe in the value of hard work. They believe people should hold jobs and not live off welfare payments from the government.

3. Idealism and reality 

Equality of opportunity and self-reliance may not be always put into practice. Some have better chance for success: 

* Born into rich families 

* Many black people have fewer opportunities than the White. 

* Many women have fewer opportunities than men. 

* Today immigrants have fewer opportunities than those who came before them (when the economy was growing fast, many high-paying factory jobs).

4. Ideals 

4.1 Progress / Keep moving 

The desire to progress by making use of opportunities 

Reflected in family saga 

First generation 

Second generation 

Third generation.... 

4.2. Practicality 

Where did it come from? 

Survival experiences => idealize whatever is practical 

What works is what counts 

e.g. First west-ward explorers did not know farming or construction but trusted in their inventiveness! 

e.g. Great number of do-it-yourself books, self-service 

=> quick, practical

4.3 Volunteerism in Community & Political life 

Vietnam: Volunteer = Government 

US:  

people helping people through private rather than government sponsored agencies 

Unpaid, highly motivated people, organize themselves to solve a community problem/meet a social need rather than waiting for the government 

6/10: volunteer (pride) 

4.4 Psychology of abundance 

Historically: Us has been regarded as a land of limitless wealth 

East: fertile, cheap land for everyone 

=> exhausted, abandoned 

West: farmer, hunters, fur trappers, gold miners, cattle ranchers 

Buffalo almost extinct, forests cut & burnt, polluted rivers 

Changing attitudes & adopt new values though hard to acknowledge 

4.5 Mobility 

Go where resources are Keep moving & make a fresh start 

Mobility:  

NOT aimless, with optimism (better life, warmer climate) 

Take for granted: 4-5 cities / life 

Buy house: 

Not necessarily well-designed 

high reselling value (practicality) 

Does not immobilize them (lessen their chance for moving for a better life) 

Mobility - Homogeneity 

Very diverse geography & Culture 

People keep moving from one place to another => mutual exchange 

=> Cultural differences still exist from region to region but are becoming increasing less distinct 

Mobility => little attachment to a place => national pride > regional pride 

Flag: National flag more common than state's flag. 

4.6 .Patriotism 

Other nations: place, landscape, rivers, forests, etc. (geographical) 

US: freedom inspired the nation's start (historic event)