American Values -
American Values
Covenantal Freedom as the Basis for American Culture
America is the dream born out of the Protestant Reformation that individuals can find God on their own terms, and without intervention by the church. He believes that America’s core is born out of the need to free oneself from both the tyranny of the state and the church. He maintains that it was the community of belief around these ideas that the American culture and state were born.
America’s Configuration of Values and Themes
• American identity was bound around the idea that you went to war to represent and do battle against those that did not support freedom and liberty.
The basis for American values as religious commitment
• Americans are one civilization held together
by many cultures.Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists and other ethnic group
Traditional American Values and Beliefs
Traditional American Values and BeliefsWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.The Declaration of Independence (1776) The Context of Traditional American Values:Racial, Ethnic, Religious, and Cultural DiversityIn the twenty-first century, the United States probably has a greater diversity of racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious groups than any other nation on earth. From the beginning of the history of the United States there has been diversity – Native Americans throughout the North American continent, Spanish settlers in the Southwest and in Florida, French missionaries and fur traders along the Mississippi River, black slaves brought from African countries, Dutch settlers in New York, Germans in Pennsylvania, and of course the British colonists, whose culture eventually provided the language and the foundation for the political and economic systems that developed in the United States.Most early Americans recognized this diversity, or pluralism, as a fact of life. The large variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious groups meant that accepting diversity was the only practical choice, even if some people were not enthusiastic about it, or were even threatened by it. However, in time, many Americans came to see strength in their country’s diversity. Today, there is more recognition of the value of cultural pluralism than at any other time in the history of the United States.When we examine the system of basic values that emerged in the late 1700s and began to define the American character, we must remember this context of cultural pluralism. How could a mention of such enormous diversity produce a recognizable national identity?John Zogby, an American pollster who surveys public opinion, says that what holds the United States together is that “we all share a common set of values that make us American …. We are defined by the rights we have …. Our rights are our history, why the first European settlers came here and why millions more have come here since.”Historically, the United States has been viewed as “the land of opportunity”, attracting immigrants from all over the world. The opportunities they believed they would find in America and the experiences they actually ad when they arrived nurtured this set of values. We will examine six basic values that have become traditional American values. Three represent traditional reasons why immigrants have been drawn to America: the chance for individual freedom, equality of opportunity, and material wealth. In order to achieve these benefits, however, there were prices to be paid: self-reliance, competition, and lard work. In time, these prices themselves became a part of the traditional value system.Individual Freedom and Self-relianceThe earliest settlers came to the North American continent to establish colonies which were free from the controls that existed in European societies. They wanted to escape the controls placed on many aspects of their lives by kings and governments, priests and churches, noblemen and aristocrats. To a great extent, they succeeded. In 1776, the British colonial settlers declared their independence from England and established a new nation, the United States of America. In so doing, they defied the king of England and declared that the power to govern would lie in the hands of the people. They were now free from the power of the kings. In 1789, when they wrote the Constitution for their newnation, they separated church and state so that there would never be a government-supported church. This greatly limited the power of the church. Also, in writing the Constitution they expressly forbade titles of nobility to ensure that an aristocratic society would not develop. There would be no ruling class of noblemen in the new nation.The historic decisions made by those first settlers have had a profound effect on the shaping of the American character. By limiting the power of the government and the churches and eliminating a formal aristocracy, the early settlers created a climate of freedom where the emphasis was on the individual. The United States came to be associated in their minds with the concept of individual freedom. This is probably the most basic of all the American values. Scholars and outside observers often call this value individualism, but many Americans use the word freedom. It is one of the most respected and popular words in the United States today.By freedom, Americans mean the desire and the right 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. The desire to be free of controls was a basic value of the new nation in 1776, and it has continued to attract immigrants to this country.There is, however, a price to be paid for this individual freedom: self-reliance. Individuals must learn to rely on themselves or risk losing freedom. Traditionally, this means achieving both financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible, usually by age eighteen or twenty-one. It means threat Americans believe they should take care of themselves, solve their own problems, and “stand on their own two feet”. Tocqueville observed the Americans’ belief in self-reliance in the 1830s: They owe nothing to any man, they expect nothing from any man; they acquire the habit of always considering themselves as standing alone, and they are apt to imagine that their whole destiny is in their own hands.This strong belief in self-reliance continues today as a traditional basic American value. It is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of the American character to understand, but it is profoundly important. Most Americans believe that they must be self-reliant in order to keep their freedom. If they rely too much on the support of their families or the government or any organization, they may lose some of their freedom to do what they want.Often adult children return home to live with their parents because of economic conditions or a failed marriage. Parents are usually happy to help out, but most members of the family expect this to be a short-term arrangement. When people are dependent, they risk losing freedom and they may also lose the respect of their peers. Even if they are not truly self-reliant, most Americans believe they must at least appear to be so. In order to be in the mainstream of American life – to have power and/or respect – individuals must be seen as self-reliant.Although Americans provide a lot of financial support to people in need through charities or government programs, they expect that help to be short-lived. Eventually, people should take care of themselves. Although receiving financial support from charity, family, or the government is allowed, it is generally not admired. Some people believe that such individuals are setting a bad example, which may weaken the American character as a whole. The sight of beggars on city streets and the plight of the homeless may inspire sympathy but also concern, for the same reason.Equality of Opportunity and CompetitionThe second important reason why immigrants have traditionally been drawn to the United States is the belief that everyone has a chance to succeed here. Generations ofimmigrants, from the earliest settlers to the present day, have come to the United States with this expectation. They have felt that because individuals are free from excessive political, religious, and social controls, they have a better chance for personal success. Of particular importance is the lack of a hereditary aristocracy.Because titles of nobility were forbidden in the Constitution, no formal class system developed in the United States. In the early years of American history, many immigrants chose to leave older European societies because they believed that they had a better chance to succeed in America. In “the old country”, the country from which they came, their place in life was determined largely by the social class into which they were born. They knew that in America they would not have to live among noble families who possessed great power and wealth inherited and accumulated over hundreds of years.The hopes and dreams of many of these early immigrants were fulfilled in their new country. The lower social class into which many were born did not prevent them from trying to rise to a higher social position. Many found that they did indeed have a better chance to succeed in the United States than in the old country. Because millions of these immigrants succeeded, Americans came to believe in equality of opportunity. When Tocqueville visited the United States in the 1830s, he was impressed by the great uniformity of conditions of life in the new nation. He wrote,The more I advanced in the study of American society, the more I perceived that …equality of condition is the fundamental fact from which all others seem to be derived.It is important to understand what most Americans mean when they say they believe in equality of opportunity. They do not mean that everyone is – or should be – equal. However, they do mean that each individual should have an equal chance for success. Americans see much of life as a race for success. For them, equality means that everyone should have an equal chance to enter the race and win. In other words, equality of opportunity may be thought of as an ethnical rule. It helps ensure that the race for success is a fair one and that a person does not win just because he or she was born into a wealthy family, or lose because of race or religion. This American concept of “fair play” is an important aspect of the belief in equality of opportunity.President Abraham Lincoln expressed this belief in the 1860s when he said, We … wish to allow the humblest man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else. When one starts poor, as most do in the race of life, free society is such that he knows he can better his condition; he knows that there is no fixed condition of labor for his whole life.However, the price to be paid for this equality of opportunity is competition. If much of life is seen as a race, then a person must run the race in order to succeed; a person must compete with others, even though we know not everyone will be successful. If every person has an equal chance to succeed in the United States, then many would say that it is every person’s duty to try. Many Americans enjoy matching their energy and intelligence against those of others in a contest for success. People who like to compete are often honored by being called winners. On the other hand, those who do not like to compete and those who are not successful when they try are sometimes dishonored by being called losers.The pressures of competition in the life of an American begin in childhood and continue until retirement from work. Learning to compete successfully is part of growing up in the United States, and competition is encouraged by strong programs of competitive sports provided by the public schools and community groups. Competitive sports are now popular with both men and women.The pressure to compete causes Americans to be energetic, but it also places a constant emotional strain on them. When they retire (traditionally at age sixty-five), they are at last free from the pressures of competition. But then a new problem arises. Some may feel useless and unwanted in a society that gives so much prestige to those who compete well. This may be one reason why older people in the United States sometimes do not have as much honor and respect as they have in other, less competitive societies. In fact, generally speaking, any group of people who do not compete successfully – for whatever reason – do not fit into the mainstream of American life as well as those who do compete and succeed.Material Wealth and Hard WorkThe third reason why immigrants have traditionally come to the United States is to have a better life – that is, to raise their standard of living. For the vast majority of the immigrants who came here, this was probably the most compelling reason for leaving their homeland. Because of its incredibly abundant natural resources, the United States appeared to be a land of plenty where millions could come to seek their fortunes. Of course, most immigrants did not “get rich overnight”, and many of them suffered terribly, but the majority of them were eventually able to achieve the economic success they wanted, they could be fairly certain that their children would have the opportunity for a better life. The phrase “going from rags to riches” became a slogan for the “American Dream”. Because of the vast riches of the North American continent, the dream came true for many of the immigrants. They achieved material success and many became very attached to material things. Material wealth became a value to the American people.Placing a high value on material possessions is called materialism, but this is a word that most Americans find offensive. To say that a person is materialistic is an insult. To an American, this means that this person values material possessions above all else. Americans do not like to be called materialistic because they feel 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. Nevertheless, acquiring and maintaining a large number of material possessions is still of great importance to most Americans. Why is this so?One reason is that material wealth has traditionally been a widely accepted measure of social status in the United States. Because Americans rejected the European system of hereditary and titles of nobility, they had to find a substitute for judging social status. The quality and quantity of an individual’s material possessions became an accepted measure of success and social status. Moreover, as we shall see in later chapters, the Puritan work ethic associated material success with godliness.Americans have paid a price, however, for their material wealth: hard work. The North Americans continent was rich in natural resources when the first settlers arrived, but all these resources were undeveloped. Only by hard work could these natural resources be converted into material possessions, allowing a more comfortable standard of living. Hard work has been both necessary and rewarding for most Americans throughout their history. Because of this, they came to see material possessions were seen not only as tangible evidence of people’s work, but also of their abilities. In the late 1700s, James Madison, the father of the American Constitution, stated that the difference in material possessions reflected a difference in personal abilities.As the United States has shifted from an industry-based economy to one that is service- or information-based, there has been a decline in high-paying jobs for factoryworkers. It is now much more difficult for the average worker to go from rags to riches in the United States, and many wonder what has happened to the traditional American Dream. As the United States competes in a global economy, many workers are losing their old jobs and finding that they and their family members must now work longer hours for less money and fewer benefits. When the economy weakens, everyone suffers, and there are greater numbers of the working poor – those who work hard but have low-paying jobs that do not provide a decent standard of living and may not provide health insurance.Most Americans, however, still believe in the value of hard work. Most believe that people should hold jobs and not live off welfare payments from the government. There have been many efforts to reform the welfare system so that people would not become dependent on welfare and stop looking for jobs to support themselves. Limitations have been put on the number of years a family can remain on welfare, but the system still has many problems. One of the most critical problems is the cost of health care in the United States and the fact that many employers no longer offer health insurance to their employees. It is often the children who suffer most, particularly in families of the working poor. Another issue is government benefits to immigrants and immigrant children; many of these families are living in poverty.The American DreamJohn Kenneth White, in The Values Divide: American Politics and Culture in Transition, observes that in spite of all the changes in the nation’s population, economy, and culture, the behaviors and values of Americans have remained remarkably constant: Americans still love their country and believe that they can accomplish almost anything.A recent poll found 91 percent who agreed with the statement, “Being an American isa big part of who I am.” Only 11 percent said they would like to emigrate elsewhere …Frenchman Clotaire Rapaille captured this unique aspect of American patriotism: “America is not a place. It is a dream.”In understanding the relationship between what Americans believe and how they live, it is important to distinguish between idealism and reality. American values such as equality of opportunity and self-reliance are ideals that may not necessarily describe the reality of American life. Equality of opportunity, for example, is an ideal that is not always put into practice. In reality, some people have a better chance for success than others. Those who are born into rich families have more opportunities than those who are born into poorer families. Inheriting money does give a person a decided advantage. Race and gender may still be factors affecting success, although there are laws designed to promote equality of opportunity for all individuals. And, of course, new immigrants continue to face challenges unique to their situation.The fact that American ideals are only partly carried out in real life does not diminish their importance. Most Americans still believe in them and are strongly affected by them in their everyday lives. It is easier to understand what Americans are thinking and feeling if we can understand what these basic traditional American values are and how they have influenced almost every facet of life in the United States.The six basic values presented in this chapter – individual freedom, self-reliance, equality of opportunity, competition, material wealth, and hard work – do not tell the whole story of the American character. Rather, they should be though of as themes which will be developed in our discussions on religion, family life, education, business and politics. These themes will appear throughout the book as we continue to explore more facets of the American character and how they affect life in the United States.After-reading ActivitiesReread Paragraph 5 of the introduction section. What does this paragraph tell you about the structure of the reading? Work with a partner to complete the outline. (Part of it is done for you.)A. Introduction: The Context of Traditional American Values: Racial, Ethnic, Religious, andCultural Diversity1.The United States has great diversity, but it also has a national identity.2.What holds the United States together is a common set of ___________________B. Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance1.The early settlers came to the North American continent for individual freedom –the most basic of all the American values.2.The price for individual freedom is_______________________________________C. _____________________________________________________________________1.Immigrants have always come for equality of opportunity – the belief that everyoneshould have an equal chance to ________________________________________.2.__________________________________________________________________D. _____________________________________________________________________1.Immigrants have traditionally come for material wealth – the chance for a higherstandard of ________________________________________________________.2.__________________________________________________________________E. Conclusion: ____________________________________________________________1.Many Americans believe that, with hard work, their dreams of success can_______________________________________________.2.Even though many of the traditional values are ideals that may not describe thereality of American life, they still influence ________________________________. Understand DetailsChoose the best answer to complete the sentences about the chapter.1.Early settlers came to the North American continent and established colonies mainlybecause they wanted to be free from ______.A.the power of kings, priests, and noblemenB.the influence of their familiesC.the problems of poverty and hunger2.There are no titles of nobility in the United States today because ______.A.no one likes aristocratsB.the church does not allow itC.they are forbidden by the Constitution3.The price that Americans pay for their individual freedom is ______.A.self-relianceB. competitionC. hard work4.The American belief is self-reliance means that ______.A.receiving money from charity, family, or the government is never allowedB.if a person is very dependent on others, he or she will be respected by othersC.people must take care of themselves and be independent, or risk losing theirpersonal freedom5.The American belief in equality of opportunity means that ______.A.all Americans are richB.Americans believe that everyone should be equalC.Everyone should have an equal chance to succeed6.In the United States, learning to compete successfully is ______.A.part of growing upB.not seen as healthy by most peopleC.not necessary, because Americans believe in equality7.Traditionally, immigrants have been able to raise their standard of living by coming tothe United States because ______.A.Americans value money more than anything elseB.there are such abundant natural resourcesC.the rich have shared their wealth with the poor8.Americans see their material possessions as ______.A.having nothing to do with social statusB.the natural reward for their hard workC.showing no evidence of a person’s abilities9. A belief in the value of hard work ______.A.developed because it was necessary to work hard to convert natural resources intomaterial goodsB.developed because the immigrants who came here had a natural love of hard workC.has never been a part of the American value system because people have somuch10.In reality, such American ideals as equality of opportunity and self-reliance ______.A.do not exist because there is no equality in the United StatesB.are always put into practice in the United States and truly describe American lifeC.are only partly carried out in real life, but are still important because people believein themTalk about ItWork in small groups and choose one or more questions to discuss.1.Americans believe strongly in self-reliance and the freedom and independence of theindividual. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being very independent?Which is more important to you, pleasing your family or having the freedom to do what you want?2.If Americans had to pick one aspect of their country that they are most proud of, over90 percent would choose freedom. What aspect of your country are people most proudof? How does the quality affect life there?3.Is it healthy for a person to want to compete? Which is more important in a society –competition or cooperation? Which do you value more? Why?Ask YourselfDo you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Please write down the number that indicates how you feel.+ 2 = Strongly agree+ 1 = Agree0 = No opinion- 1 = Disagree- 2 = Strongly disagree1.The welfare of the individual is more important than the welfare of the group.2.Our destiny is in our own hands.3.People should take care of themselves, solve their own problems, and stand on theirown two feet.4.If I could have a better life in another country, I would go and live there.5.Earning a lot of money is more important than having an interesting job.6.The government should take care of the poor and homeless.7.Life is basically a competitive race for success.8.Money and material possessions are the best indicators of high social status.9.People who work hard deserve to have a higher standard of living than others.10.If I work hard, I am sure I can be a success and get what I want in life.。
American values
Value #8: Democracy
American society is characterized by the emphasis on liberty, equality, fraternity and democracy, highlighted by the chartered democratic principles. Several unique characteristics of American political system are listed below. 1. Popular sovereignty is the right of the majority to govern themselves 2. Individualism is the value and focus placed on individuals in our democracy and culture. Individualism holds that the primary function of government is to enable the individual to achieve his or her highest level of development.
"If everybody was satisfied with himself, there would be no heroes." -- Mark Twain
Value#7:Pragmatism
Pragmatism is the philosophy of considering practical consequences or real effects to be vital components of meaning and truth. Pragmatism is generally considered to have originated in the late nineteenth century with Charles Sanders Peirce, who first stated the pragmatic maxim. It came to fruition in the early twentieth-century philosophies of William James and John Dewey and, in a more unorthodox manner, in the works of George Santayana. Other important aspects of pragmatism include anti-Cartesianism, radical empiricism, instrumentalism, anti-realism, verificationism, conceptual relativity, a denial of the fact-value distinction, a high regard for science, and fallibilism.
American Family Values美国家庭价值观
• The Republican Party has adopted that they represent “traditional” family values since the 1980s.
• Democrats are more broad in their
definition of the family and focus more
• Yet they still uphold the core American Values, e.g. self-expression, independence, hard-work, competitive, self-reliance….
2021/10/10
12
• Self-Respect increased
• Sense of Security decreased
• Society more selfconfidant and individualistic
2021/10/10
10
Common Denominator
• Both Agree:
• Loving and supporting family unit the one
• A 2002 government survey found that 95% of adult Americans had had premarital sex.
• The median age of first premarital sex has dropped in that time (1950s) from 20.4 to 17.6.
• June Carbone, author of Red Families vs. Blue Families, opines that the driving factor is that people in liberal states tend to wait longer before getting married.
American_Values
The labor-saving gadgets, the love of comfort turn out to be ways of saving his time and energy for something else.
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Thank you !
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Materialism
It is true that Americans as a whole work hard. But they also play hard. They spend more time and money in traveling, camping, hunting, watching sports, drinking, smoking, going to movies, watching television and reading newspapers and magazines than any other people in the world.
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Giving
Material success in the United States is not looked upon as selfish. Its results are seen to have communal value.
As a man's status rises, the demands upon him also increase. He is expected to give liberally to the hundreds of voluntary associations which nourish and minister to the community.
American Values
Understanding Main Idea
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• B. ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
• •
• C.
1.Immigrants have always come for equality of opportunity—
the belief that everyone should have an equal chance to ＿＿＿ 2. ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
Cultures in Contrast • Case 1. Girl-ness
• As a visiting professor in an American university, Mr Zhang was invited to give a lecture to a group of American students. He talked about university students in China . During the question-and-answer period after the lecture , one female student asked a question that surprised him. “When you talked about female students, you referred to them as girls. Why?” • “Because they are girls. That’s what they are called,’’ Mr. Zhang tried to answer ,but he did not really understand the intent of the question. “I don’t quite understand your question, I am afraid.”
American Family Values美国家庭价值观 PPT
Republicans
They use it to attract the socialy conservative, tying it in with the
nuclear family and (most of the time) Christian values. These values include:
American Family Values美国家庭价值观
What Does It Mean?
When asked about their family values, most people find it difficult to define. In today’s age, the very definition of family varies. The “values” are the beliefs and morales that are important to that family.
大家应该也有点累了，稍作休息
大家有疑问的，可以询问和交流
Contemporary Beliefs
Support for the universal living wage model to improve livelihood Belief in acceptance of non-traditional families that may include same-sex and polygamous long-term relationships, as well as single-parent families Belief in a woman's right to abortion Belief in Planned Parenthood programs that offer contraception Belief in government-funded financial aid to families Support for sex education in public schools Belief in practicing and teaching tolerance, patience and understanding for alternative lifestyles Belief in universal healthcare and family-friendly employment laws (maternity leave, personal leave, emergency family leave) Support for freedom of religion
American values
content
• • • • About the author What are values? How values are formed? Contrast American values and Chinese values. • American parents & their children • Bad social morality.
About the author
•Nicoles Fox
•Biography •■An author and bookseller •■Fox's articles, essays and reviews have appeared in THE ECONOMIST, THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, LEAR'S, NEWSWEEK, THE BOSTON GLOBE
•kill time, bide time, waste time or even lose time
•Time Consciousness
•tangible •on time •controlled by their watches
•value innovation •value the future
• When a friend comes from afar, is that not delightful? • All men are brothers. • Do not do to others as you would not be done by. (golden rule) • Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors. • The gentleman would help one to achieve
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American ValuesAbstract:How does American culture differ from others? The way to address this question is to consider the values that Americans live by. 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. As people grow up, they learn certain values, which will influence and mode their way of life. "Values" are ideas about what is right and wrong, desirable and undesirable, normal and abnormal, prosper and improper.Basic American values include individualism, freedom, equality of opportunity, p racticality and efficiency, friendly and direct, morality and work ethic, social etiquette. Introduction:When it comes to culture, the behavior of people is the smallest part of culture. The greatest part of culture, internal culture, is inside people‟s heads. It contains the values unconsciously learned while growing up in a particular culture. Therefore, when we want to know more about American culture, we can first explore American values. The article has a overall discussion about American values, which the values include and what they are. According to the that discussion, we can understand Americans and American culture better. With the rising of problems from the daily life, we can get to know the challenge to the values, not only to Americans, but also to Chinese.Individualism:The supreme value of American is individualism. It means that nobody can tell you how you should think and feel. American view themselves as highly individualistic in their thoughts and actions. They resist being thought of as representatives of any homogeneous group. When they do join groups, they believe they are special. Just a little different from other members of the same group. In the U.S. you will find people freely expressing a variety of opinions anywhere and anytime. Yet, in spite of this independence, almost all Americans end up voting forone of their two major political parties. Individualism leads to privacy, which Americans see as desirable. The word privacy does not exist in many non-Western languages. If It does, it is likely to have a negative connotation, suggesting loneliness or forced isolation. It is not uncommon for Americans to say, and almost to believe: "If I don't have half an hour a day to myself, I go stark-raving mad!"Freedom:The word "freedom" is one of the most respected popular words in the United States. 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. The desire to be free of controls was a basic value of the new nation, and it has continued to attract immigrants to this country. We can see this in the way Americans treat their children. Even very young children are given opportunities to make their own choices and express their opinions: The child's preference will normally be accommodated. Though this process, Americans come to see themselves as separate human beings who have their own opinions and who are responsible for their own decisions. Equality of opportunity:Americans are also distinctive in the degree to which they believe in the ideal, as stated in their Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal.” Although they sometimes violate the ideal in their daily lives, particularly in matters of interracial relationships, Americans have a deep faith that in some fundamental way all people (at least all American people) are of equal value, and no one is born superior to anyone else. “One man, one vote,”they say, conveying the idea any person‟s opinion is as valid and worthy of attention as any other person‟s opinion. The equality contains gender equality as well. Women should have the same opportunity of work with men. Meanwhile, equal work deserves equal pay. In other words, women and men should be equally treated.Practicality and efficiency:Americans have a reputation for being realistic, practical, and efficient. The practical consideration is likely to be given highest priority in making any importantdecision. Americans pride themselves in not being very philosophically or theoretically oriented. If Americans would even admit to having a philosophy, it would probably be that of pragmatism. Will it make money? What can I gain from this activity? Will it be enjoyable? Will it advance the cause of knowledge? This pragmatic orientation has caused Americans to contribute more inventions to the world than any other country in human history. The love of "practicality" has also caused Americans to view some professions more favorably than others. Management and economics are much more popular in the United States than philosophy or anthropology, and law and medicine more valued than the arts. Americans belittle "emotional" and "subjective" evaluations in favor of "rational" and "objective" assessments. Americans try to avoid being "too sentimental" in making their decisions. They judge every situation "on its own merits". On the other hand, efficiency does not equal to effectiveness. Efficiency is doing things right while effectiveness is doing the right things.Friendly and direct:Americans generally appear outgoing. Three …Loves‟ build into Americans values, love of God, love of family, and love of country. They are friendly regardless of ethnic background. Many other countries have developed subtle, sometimes highly ritualistic, ways of informing others of unpleasant information. Americans prefer the direct approach. They are likely to be completely honest in delivering their negative evaluations, and to consider anything other than the most direct and open approach to be "dishonest" and "insincere". Anyone in the U.S. who uses an intermediary to deliver the message will also be considered "manipulative" and "untrustworthy". If you come from a country where saving face is important, be assured that Americans are not trying to make you lose face with their direct.Morality and work ethic:Americans have a strong belief in “right” and ”wrong”. They also have the belief to help the less fortunate. Material success in the United States is not looked upon as selfish. Its results are seen to have communal value. As a man‟s status rises, he is expected to give liberally to the hundreds of voluntary associations which nourish andminister to the community. Work ethic is a belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character. "Don't just stand there," says a typical bit of American advice "do something!" This expression, though normally used in a crisis situation, in a sense describes most Americans' waking life, where action - any action - is seen as superior to inaction. Americans routinely schedule an extremely active day. Any relaxation must be limited in time and aimed at "recreating" so that they can work harder once their "recreation" is over. Such a "no-nonsense" attitude toward life has created a class of people known as "workaholics" - people addicted to, and often wholly identified with, their job or profession. The United States may be one of the few countries in the world where people speak about the dignity of human labor - meaning hard physical labor. Even corporation presidents will engage in physical labor from time to time and, in doing so, gain rather than lose respect from others.Social etiquette:Americans are even more informal and casual than their close relatives - the Western Europeans. For example, American bosses often urge their employees to call them by their first names and feel uncomfortable with the title "Mr." or "Ms.". Dress is another area where American informality is most noticeable, perhaps even shocking. For example, one can go to a symphony performance in any large American city and find people dressed in blue jeans. Informality is also apparent in Americans' greetings. The more formal "How are you?" has largely been replaced with an informal "Hi". This is as likely to be used with one's superior as with one's best friend. Materialism:It‟s true that American as a whole work hard. But they also play hard. They spend more time and money in traveling,camping, hunting, watching sports than any other people in the world. They think it is a reward for their hard work and evidence of their abilities. They give a higher priority to obtaining, maintaining, and protecting material objects than they do in developing and enjoying relationships with people. Since Americans value newness and innovation, they sell or throw away their possessions frequently and replace them with newer ones. A car may be kept for onlytwo or three years, a house for five or six before buying a new one.Challenges:There are several challenges may exist with American values. Firstly, freedom versus safety. How can people from so many diverse backgrounds live in peace and safety together? Secondly, individualism versus community. Are people really made to live like an “island”? Do people live best as autonomous, isolated beings? Thirdly, in American pursuit of happiness, to acquire bigger better things, many of its people have becoming wasteful. In addition, America is the largest polluter in the world. Should everything be subjugated to personal choice?To China:In China, Confucian thought has dominated the Chinese way of life for almost 2000years. So, the widely accepted traditional values derive largely from the pervasive influence of Confucian philosophy and they are at the very core of Chinese identity. Chinese values emphasize loyalty to the community and the country, modesty and righteousness in social activities. In Chinese tradition, the interest of the community is always more important than that of the individual. Chinese culture and society can be defined as “collectivist”, in which the group interests take precedence over the individual members. Chinese emphasize the values of family and maintain close family links. There is a strong bond, inter-dependent relationships between parents, children and other family members. The basic rules of obedience, moderation and self-restraint amongst family members should be observed. Chinese pay special attention to an overall situation and social interests. It is based on the inner order and cohesiveness that the concept of great notional unity and collectivism come into being. The values which assert collective interest foster Chinese spiritual tradition of patriotism and collectivism.In general, our country is steady and good, but there are still some problems existing in our society. There is a tendency that more and more problems are arising from our daily life, undermining and damaging Chinese values.Conclusion:In addition to such basic American values as individualism, freedomfreedom, equality of opportunity, practicality and efficiency, friendly and direct, morality and work ethic, social etiquette, we can see the social characteristics of American values, such as getting things done in a set time or faster, schedule driven, always try to find ways to improve, equal chance to succeed and ect. We also can 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. Nowadays, it is impossible for us to seclude our country from the outside world, so while facing American values, in fact, I think the attitude towards them should not be “resist”or “accept”blindly, we should combine them with our country‟s real situation, and choose the best to build our future.References:1.The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 17762.1994-1995 Handbook for Foreign Students and Scholars, International Education and Services, University of Iowa.3.Culture's Consequences:International Differences in Work Related Values[M]. Hofstede, Geert , 1980.4.Fahey, William A.F.F. Scott Fitzgerald and the American Dream, New York; Thomas Y. Crowell, 1973.。