• 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.
• Ideals vs. reality • Despite the distinction between the ideals and the reality, most Americans still believe in the American Dream.
• Liberals/Democrats • Government guarantee of economic rights broadens and improves the traditional idea of freedom.
• More controversies over non-economic areas
• Two sides of the values divide • Conservatives/Republicans • The provision of economic benefits has the effect of eroding the value of self-reliance as it makes the American people dependent on the government for their standard of living.
2.1 Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance
• Individual freedom (also “individualism” or “freedom”/ “liberty”): among the most respected and popular words in the U.S.
2.2 equality of opportunity and competition
• Equality of opportunity
Each individual should have an equal chance for success. Life as a race for success; fair play “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.” (Lincoln)
2. Traditional Values: three pairs
• 2.1 individual Freedom and Self-Reliance • 2.2 equality of opportunity and competition • 2.3 material wealth and hard work
3.1 Expansion of freedom and the challenge to self-reliance
• Traditional ideas of freedom—largely in political and legal terms • Idea of economic rights: government should provide economic benefits for U.S. citizens • Controversial, leading to the so-called values divide
• The price—competition ideas of winners vs. losers
Pressures of competition Competitive sports in schools and community groups
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Constant emotional strain older people having less honor and respect
• 3. challenges to American values • 4. the American dream
1. The Context of Traditional American Values
• Diversity or pluralism in racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious terms; • How could a nation of such enormous diversity produce a recognizable national identity? • “We all share a common set of values that make us American.” (John Zogby)
Declaration of Independence, 1776—freedom from the power of the kings Constitution, 1789—separation of church and state Also constitution—forbidding titles of nobility
4. The American Dream
• In spite of all the changes in the nation’s population, economy, and culture, the behaviors and values of Americans have remained remarkably constant.
3.3 Globalization and material wealth
• Globalization and the outsourcing of high-paying manufacturing and even service jobs • Rising cost in health care, health insurance, housing, and tuition
2.3 material wealth and hard work
• Material wealth
To have a better life—the most compelling reason for many immigrants to leave their homeland “going from rags to riches”—a slogan for the “American Dream” Reasons why material wealth is important to most Americans: A substitute for judging social status in the new country Puritan work ethics—material success as godly
3 Challenges to American values
• 3.1 Expansion of freedom and self-reliance
• 3.2 Equality of Results vs. equality of opportunity
• 3.3 Globalization and material wealth
• Price—hard work
hard work as a precondition for becoming rich Government welfare programs regarded as necessary, but not admired welfare vs. workfare U.S.—the only developed country with no universal healthcare coverage
Traditional American Values and Beliefs
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
• Rights of prisoners • Rights of terrorists • Rights of illegal immigrants
3.2 Equality of Results vs. equality of opportunity
• “Affirmative action” programs, promoting equality of results • Aimed at making up for past discrimination against minorities ad increasing racial and ethnic diversity in college • Opponents: this preferential treatment constitutes “reverse discrimination” against the dominant or majority group and undermines the values of both equality of opportunity and competition.