Dominant American Values
The are so many Dominant American Values in U.S. such as equality and progress. They
are so important, because these values give the American better life and support the country of
America. Without the values, American can not develop into such great country in the world.
First, progress means the Americans achieve new things and never look backward for the
old things. According to “Darwinian’s idea of survival of the fittest and with the free enterprise
system” which means the stronger ones take control of the weak ones. The weak ones will not
exist anymore, and the stronger ones live even in today’s world. The Americans seek for the best
of the best through change. They achieve new things such as new technology, electric devices,
inventions and cars. In Datesman’s book “The American ways”, page 35 under the title “Material
Wealth and Hard Work”. I found a quote on paragraph 21 “They achieved material success and
many became very attached to material things” which I think it is important for U.S. to develop. I
agree with that, because most of American is seeking for the best, and never look back for old
fashioned. For example, a American bought a Iphone 5 from apple store. After few years when
Iphone 6 comes out. The factories started making Iphone 6 instead of Iphone 5. There was no
more Iphone 5 in the apple stories that you can buy. This idea also connects to Darwinian’s idea
which the stronger one lives, but the weak one will not exist which Iphone 6 wins the Iphone 5.
Second, equality is also important in U.S. that everyone has equal opportunity to try.
There are two parts in equality such as social rights and equal opportunity. The social rights are
including civil rights, freedom of speech, and property rights. For the equality of opportunity is
that everyone has a chance to achieve their goal. Everyone is equal, and the only price that they
have to pay is competition which means there is a race. Even though all the people have an equal
opportunity to try. That doesn’t mean all the people that tried will be successful. As I said, the
stronger one wins the weak one. I found a quote in Datesman’s book “The American ways”,
page 34 under the title “Equality of Opportunity and Competition”. On 18 paragraph, she says
“If much of life is seen as a race, then a person must run the race in order to succeed; a person
has the responsibility to compete with others even though we know not everyone will be
successful.” That means there will be a race for you to compete with other people, but even
though you know you will not be successful. You still have an opportunity to try to be
successful. There is no one born with perfect skills and never lose. You construct your own
identity to be successful. If you don’t want to be a loser, you need to work harder to achieve your
goals. For example, When I moved to U.S., I feared the circumstance, but I have a chance to
study English and be a guy who are living in Boston. I can just give up and not to try, but I
didn’t. I want to try even though I am not hundred percent to be successful. I didn’t waste my
chance to study English in Unite State. Many Chinese spend money to come to U.S. and study
English. Not everyone has such great chance to come to U.S. I will never give up, and I don’t
want to be a loser.
According to Datesman’s book “The American ways”, I had learned so many things such
as the Dominant American Values. It taught us that we are equal, and we all have an equal
opportunity to try. If you don’t want to be a loser, you have to work hard to improve yourself
which means to be a stronger one. If you give up, you will never achieve your goals. There is no
miracles on the people who give up.