Summary:
Individualism:
Americans were raised to believe in their own destiny. They have realized that they can make their own decision since they were children. Their parents let them think about their future and treat them as if they are mature enough, no matter what they have to make decision about buying some candies with their money. Their parents prepare them to face with the real world. Besides, Americans’ perception is to separate individuals, they also think about others must be the same. Therefore, when they encounter with the person from aboard who isn’t raised in the same condition like them. They think that the person is dependent, weak, or can’t make decision by himself.
Not only Americans prefer a freedom, but also people who live in America for long will feel “liberated” from constraints. They don’t like to be under control in any situation. On the contrary, people from other cultures assume the Americans are obedient to “individual freedom”, so that make them lack of consideration for others. Meanwhile, Americans admire people who succeed in their life or stand out from the crowd. Mostly, Americans are less respect their parents than people in family-oriented societies are.
Personal respond:
My opinion, I totally agree and accept the concept of being freedom. Everyone should be decisive and independent. Since I’ve been here for a while, I’ve realize that Americans have their certain goal in their life. They have future plan, they know what they want to be in the future, and they hardly try to achieve their goal.
On the contrary, being obedient to “individual freedom” too much, Americans seem to be selfish. They desert the important in their life such as their parents including their kids. We always see couple elderly Americans travel by alone, unlike Asian families which travel together as a big family. Americans live in other country that is family-oriented. They are considered like they are very selfish because of their individualism.
Therefore, combination of individualism and collectivism in optimal ratio is better. We have to be self-confident, not to be self-center. We have to care others, but not to desert others. We are not alone in the world, sometime we have to put on other shoes, we will know what the others are thinking about.
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3 comments:
Freedom, liberated. That's very important stuffs. Sometimes, I confused both freedom and liberated, but I prefer "liberated." It sounds like, u can do everything what u want to do~ LOL
to be alone is what i don't likel; on the other hand, to be touched by others is what i don't like too.
as you said, the balance between them is important. becasue we are in this society where we have to accompany other beings.
YOSHIKE, who was my ex-housemate, grateuated from CSULA this June. He had lived in dorm about 4 more years. Because he was so eldly student lived in dorm, I think he should have more friends. But the fact is totally opposite, he always travel alone. At the first time, I think he maybe has some mentally problem because he likes alone. However, I was wrong. He enjoy it just because he didnot want to disturb people. Also, he would to help people when they need help at the right time like he sometimes pick some housemates who have no car to buy food. Until now, I still very appreated him can help us at that time. This man, independent and pecient, has good temper and nice manner, very typical individual style mam.
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