DIVERSITY IN:

• ETHNICS

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THE ONLY

PRACTICAL

CHOICE

&

ADVANTAGES

• ETHNICS

• RELIGIONS

• CULTURES

• RACES

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TRADITIONAL

VALUES &

BELIEVES

THREE TRADITIONAL VALUES AND BELIEFS

“… all men are created equal,

they are endowed by their Creator

with certain

INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM

• SELF -RELIANCE

EQUAL OPPORTUNITYwith certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty,

and the pursuit of Happiness.“

The Declaration of

Independence (1776)

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

• COMPETITION

MATERIAL WEALTH

• HARDWORK

INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM

• I.F. = the desire & right of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference (government, ruling noble class, the church, etc.

• Price: Self-reliance—rooted in the believe that everybody

Individual

Freedomthe believe that everybody should stand on their own feet. E.g. at 18-21 years old, Americans are financially and emotionally independent from their parents.

• Relying on someone or any organization or charity means losing one’s independence.

Freedom

Self-

reliance

INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM IN AMERICAN FAMILY

A family primary purpose is to advance the happiness of its individual members. Thus,

�� The needs of each individual take priority in the life The needs of each individual take priority in the life

of the familyof the familyof the familyof the family

�� Main responsibility of a family members is Main responsibility of a family members is not not to to

advance the family’s (as a group) economy, socialadvance the family’s (as a group) economy, social--

role, and honor, but to realize the members’ role, and honor, but to realize the members’

happiness.happiness.

�� Aristocracy keeps on dimming from American Aristocracy keeps on dimming from American

society.society.

� A newborn baby is put in a separate room belongs only him in

order to preserve parent’s privacy and to develop the child’s

personal independence and individualism

����COMMON EXPRESSIONS: Children should

(1) “cut the (umbilical) cord”

(2) not to be “tied to their mothers’ apron strings.” (2) not to be “tied to their mothers’ apron strings.”

(3) learn to “look out for number one”

(4) “to stand on their own two feet.”

� American children are soon taught to make decisions and be

responsible for their actions. They are encouraged to work

for money outside the home as a first step to establishing

autonomy. 9-10 year old children may deliver newspapers in

their neighborhoods and save or spend their earnings.

Teenagers (13 to 18 years) baby-sit at neighbors’ homes

o Between 18 and 21 years children are encouraged, but not

force, to “leave their nest” and begin an independent life—

having their own social relationships and financial support

outside the family.

o Children choose their own spouses—usually based on o Children choose their own spouses—usually based on

romantic love. Parents do not arrange marriages for

children, nor do children usually ask permission of their

parents to get married.

o Americans’ willingness to try something new, the urge to be

jack-of-all-trades, self reliance, and independence drive a

child to choose a career that is different from one’s father

THE ELDERLYTHE ELDERLYTHE ELDERLYTHE ELDERLY

• American senior citizens choose to live in nursing

homes or retirement communities because: (1) U.S.

Social security or welfare systems financially

support the elderly; (2) in nursing homes they will

find peer group association within their own age find peer group association within their own age

group; American's glorification of youth and

indifference to the aged

• This separation of the elderly from the young has

left many older people alienated and alone.

EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND COMPETITION

• Equality of Opportunity= everyone has equal chance to enter the race for success.

• Rooted in early immigrants belief that everyone has a chance to succeed in America and many proved their dreams were fulfilled.

• Price: competition. This makes Americans

Equality of

Opportunity • Price: competition. This makes Americans are urged to match their energy, intelligence, and creativity with their neighbors. They honor ‘winners’ but despise ‘losers’.

• Americans get free from the pressure of competition only when they retire at the age of 65. But it makes them feel useless and unwanted for not joining the ‘race’ which give—them prestige—any more.

Opportunity

Competition

MATERIAL WEALTH & HARDWORK

• Material Wealth = the indicator of one’s social status in society (due to the rejection of hereditary aristocracy and titles of nobility

• Material Wealth ≠ materialism. For Americans, material wealth has a religious value—rooted in Puritanism viewing

Material

Wealthvalue—rooted in Puritanism viewing material success as God’s love. So to succeed is the life goal of most Americans.

• Price: hard work. This makes some Americans work compulsively and become workaholics. Some regard them as valuable members of society for their high production and efficiency; some others see them as individuals with mental problems

Wealth

Hard work