An American
United States of America is one of the most powerful country in the world and a
western countries that have very wide territory, from New York to Los Angeles, and
Detroit to Houston. An American it means the people who live in America and they are
citizens of America. United States of America is also famous in terms of freedom and
liberalism, which is denoted by Liberty Statue in Liberty Island, New York, NY. As We
know United States of America also have good systems, including education system.
Americans have a freedom for life, it means an American can free for choose the
religions, give an opinion or expression, and decide something. Americans are more
individualism than Indonesian people, which are more collectivism. Based on the
textbook, “American Ways, an introduction to American culture. By Maryanne Kearny
Datesman, et al”. America is nation of Immigrants. Most of them are come from
Northern Europe, but actually Americans come from around the world. “In 1815, the
population of the United States was 8,4 million, but more than 100 years, the country
took in about 35 million immigrants. Many of these new immigrants were not from
Northern Europe. In 1882, 40.000 Chinese arrived, and between 1900 and 1907 there
were more than 30.000 Japanese immigrants. But the largest number of immigrants in
The United States of America is still from Europe.”
Most of them become Americans, because they look for religious freedom and
better future as well. The settlers were come from around the world, most of them
assimilated according to the majority culture that found here. Even though some of them
still socialize with their groups. But at least all of them still assimilated. Based on the text
book, in 1908, there were 1 million immigrants arrived in the United States, Israel
Zangwill says, “America is God’s crucible, the great Melting-Pot where all the races of
Europe are melting and fe-forming. . . . Germans and Frenchmen, Irishmen and
Englishmen, Jews and Russians-into the Crucible with you all God is making the
American!” Based on my opinion the melting pot is all ethnics were come to America.
They were assimilate and life peacefully. They are respect and appreciate each others
without regarding race, ethnics, religions, etc. The meaning of God crucible which
means the place from the God, so God bless Americans to be live here.
The Americans has rules, more like manors, for the way of their life. They try to
avoid touching each other. If it happened accidentally, they will say, “Sorry” or the others
apologize words. The other rule example is in the elevator, they keep the distance
between the others and provide a space for the other people as they can, like stand on the
opposite side, or etc.
The American believe six cultural values, which are individual freedom and selfreliance, equality of opportunity and competition, material wealth and hard work,
American values and the State of the American Dream. Individual Freedom and SelfReliance is most of American and most of people want as well. American want to have
rights of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference from the
government, a ruling noble or anything, every American can choose the religion or
beliefs that they want. Then, Equality of Opportunity and Competition, Material Wealth
and Hard Work, American Values and the State of the American Dream, it’s mean
everyone has a chance to succeed in America. Because there is no formal class system in
America. Based on the books, “This American concept of fair play is an important aspect
of the belief in equality of opportunity.”. I think this concept can deliver every American
that have ability, capability, and motivation achieve living American Dream which is the
goal target that almost every American hope. However competition is the consequence of
this. Based on the fact, the competition in America is very high. In America almost every
people are graduated and most of American are has high education, and then America
have the best education in the world. So, a lot of high education people have correlation
with high competition. But, nowadays a major problem happened because of high
competition. The problem is inequality of wealth distribution. However, the Americans
still have a chance and equality of opportunity and competition, because justice still
enforced in America.
The Americans still believe in God. Based on the textbook, “Fourth Edition,
American Ways, An Introduction to American Culture, by Maryanne Kearny Datesman,
et al”. There are ninety percent of Americans still say believe in God, or spirit. The
majority of Americans are Christian (48%), however almost all the major religions of the
world are practiced in America. It’s good because they still be grateful to the God and the
religions can create the equilibrium in life, because as a person that have a belief, we are
not suppose to think about material, but also the life after world life that we will face it
forever. The religions can influence the real life in the positive context. One example is if
a person experience the trouble, they can pray to the God and avoid this person do the
anything that unwanted.
Every American must be proud to be an American. Because based on my opinion,
if someone can see an opportunity, America is the land of choices. Of course everyone
must improve their capabilities and work hard, but in America everyone life free and
safe. The country is stable, nice, and pluralism as well. American can be lived peacefully.
There are many things the people can do in The United States of America, while the
others not necessarily life as the Americans experienced. They has good education, life
safely, good infrastructure, and harmonious.
Bibliography
Crandall, Joann, and Edward N. Kearny. "Introduction:
Understanding The Culture of The United States." American Ways
: An Introduction To American Culture. By Maryanne Kearny
Datesman. Fourth ed. N.p.: Pearson, 2014. 1-21. Print.
Crandall, Joann, and Edward N. Kearny. "Traditional American
Values and Beliefs." American Ways : An Introduction To
American Culture. By Maryanne Kearny Datesman. Fourth ed.
N.p.: Pearson, 2014. 31-37. Print.
Crandall, Joann, and Edward N. Kearny. "The American Religious
Heritage." American Ways : An Introduction To American Culture.
By Maryanne Kearny Datesman. Fourth ed. N.p.: Pearson, 2014.
55-62. Print.