Parlindungan Pardede
DIVERSITY IN:
• ETHNICS
• RELIGIONS
• CULTURES
• RACES
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THE ONLY PRACTICAL
CHOICE &
ADVANTAGES
TRADITIONAL VALUES & BELIEVES
Brainstorming
• What is ‘freedom’?
• Is one’s freedom limited by something? (If yes, by what, family, society, government? If no, what’s the consequence?)
FREEDOM
THREE TRADITIONAL VALUES AND BELIEFS
“… all men are
created equal,
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)
INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM
• SELF -RELIANCE
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 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.
Individual Freedom
Self-reliance
What outsiders see as INDIVIDUALISM is what Americans call FREEDOM
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
of the family
Main responsibility of a family members is not to advance the family’s (as a group) economy, social-role, and honor, but to realize the members’ happiness.
Aristocracy keeps on dimming from American 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.”
(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
In the United States…very few children are raised to believe that their principal destiny is to serve their family, their country, or their God [as is the practice in some other countries]. Generally children [in USA] are given the feeling that they can set their own aims and occupation in life, according to their inclinations. We are raising them to be rugged individualists…. (Spock, B., and Steven P. 1998: 7)
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 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 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 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
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.
Equality of 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 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
Material Wealth
Hard work
Are American values: idealism or reality?
The American values are not always put into practice.
Despite the equality of opportunity, for
• Some people have a better chance for success than
others;
• Race & gender may still be factors affecting success;
• Inheriting money is an advantage.
However, most Americans still believe are strongly
affected by these values. In addition, more and more
laws are issued to promote equality of opportunity.
Bibliography
Althen, Gary, Amanda R. D. and Susan J. S. (2nd ed.). 2003. American ways: A guide for foreigners in the United States. Maine: Intercultural Press.
Kearny, Edward N., Mary Ann Kearny, and Jo Ann Crandal (3rd ed). 2005. The American ways: An introduction to American culture. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc.
Spock, B. and Steven P. 1998. Dr. Spock’s Baby and Child Care. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Topic to Discuss in Blog
If Americans had to pick a value of their country that they are most proud of, over 90 percent would choose freedom. What value are the majority of Indonesians most proud of? How does it affect life in Indonesia?