unit2AmericanCharacter

Unit2TheAmericanCharacterUnitGoalsTounderstandbasicvaluesandbeliefsofAmericanspeopleTolearnsomeculturalconceptsconcernignAmericancharacterTolearnusefulwordsandexpressionsthatdescribeAmericancharacterandimprovelanguageskillsPickoutthreequalitiesyouassociatemostwithAmericansBeforeYouReadEnergetichonestindustrioussophisticatedintelligentfriendlygreedyinventiverudeadventurousextroverted(外向性的,喜社交的)introverted(内向的,含蓄的)fast-pacedout-goingmodestreserved(内向的；寡言少语的)self-reliantaggressivematerialisticromanticoptimisticSection1TheAmericanCharacterWhatdoAmericansbelievein?WhatistheAmericancharacter?Thesequestionsarehardtoanswer,becausetherearesomanyAmericansandtheybelieveinsomanydifferentthings.However,thehistoryoftheUnitedStatesdoesprovidesomeunderstandingofcertainbasiccharacteristicsthatmanyAmericansshare.OneofthemainreasonswhytheearlysettlerscametoAmericawastoescapethecontrolstheyhadexperiencedinEurope.There,smallgroupsofwealthypeoplepreventedthemfrommovingintoahighersocialositionorbecomingwealthy,andgovernment-supportedchurchescontrolledtheirreligiouspracticesandbeliefs.Becausetheseearlysettlerswantedtobefreefromsuchcontrols,theybroughttoAmericatheviewthattheindividualwassurpemelyimportant.Thesettlerswereagainsttheeffortsofthechurch,thesociety,andparticularlythegovernment,tocontroltheiractions.Thesecontrolscametobeviewedas“un-American”.InfluenceofPuritanismThepuritanshopedtobuild“acityuponhill”—anidealcommunity.Sincethattime,Americanshaveviewedtheircountryasagreatexperiment,aworthymodelforothernations.ThissenseofmissionhasbeenverystronginthemindsofmanyAmericans.ThePuritansalsohaveleftrichculturalheritagetofutureAmericans.TheAmericanvaluessuchasindividualism,hardwork,andrespectofeducationoweeverymuchtothePuritanbeliefs.BackgroundInformationThePuritantheologyTosayPuritanismlayfoundationofAmericanculture,thenwehavetostudyThePuritantheology:Theybelievethebasicsinfulness(有罪)ofhumankind;butitalsothatGodhaddeterminedthatsomepeople,theelect,wouldbesaveddespitetheirsins.ThePuritanswhoregardthemselvestheelectadheretotheadvocacy(支持,拥护)ofsobriety[ə’braɪɪti:,səʊ-]节制),diligence,thrift,andlackofostentation(炫耀,卖弄).ThepioneeringSpiritThePuritanregardedcontemplationasmerelaziness,thepovertyeitheraspunishmentforsinorevidencethatonedidnothaveGod’sgrace.Theysinghighlyof“entrepreneurship---apioneeringspirit”.开拓创新精神---美国的清教文化传统推崇开拓创新的勇气和积极进取的精神。美国人因此形成了一种不愿受条条框框束缚、不断求变的性格。这种追求新奇和勇于冒险开拓的精神使得美国对新鲜事物的创新和流传之快是世界上其他国家所无法比拟的。“深受新教的影响，美国文化以个体为本位，个人主义在美国发展到登峰造极的地步，是美国价值观念的核心。它的主要内容是通过自力更生达到自我实现。与它联系最紧密的是自由平等竞争。机会均等和个人主义是实现自我价值的基本保障，而竞争是实现个人价值的根本途径。美国人有较强的个人奋斗意识和竞争意识，他们普遍接受这样的生活信条。”《英美文化比较》1.IndividualismProtestanismBelief:“thebattleofself-realizationisthefundamentalrightforeachbelieverofGod.Thereshouldbenobindingforfreedom,nofasteningforquality,nosuppressionofindividualism”.Everymanforhimself,andGodforusall.(人人为自己，上帝为大家。)Everymanisthearchitectofhisownfortune.(自己的命运自己设计。)美国人在创造自己文化的同时，也创造了许多表现个人主义的词汇。最有代表性的如：Self-absorption(自我专注)；self-limitation(自我制约)；self-cultivate(自我修养)；self-conquest(自我战胜)；self-admiration(自我赞赏)；self-control(自我控制)；self-dependence(自立)；self-reliance(自我依靠)；self-responsibility(自我负责)；self-advancement(自我发展)；self-salesmanship(自我宣传)；self-fulfilling(自我实现)；self-discipline(自律)；self-centered(自我中心的)；self-protection(自我保护)等。ThisstrongAmericanbeliefinindividualismhasbothpositiveandnegativesides.Onthepositiveside,ithasstrengthenedAmerican’sinventivenessandtheirbeliefinhardwork.Onthenegativeside,thebeliefinindividualismhassometimespreventedAmericansfromusingtheirgovernmenttosolvetheircommonproblems.Americansprefernottohavegovernmentsolutionstosocialproblems.AttitudetoPrivacyResidentialPrivacyinfluenceinterpersonalrelationships,whicharemotascomplexasthatinAsiancountries.Loveofprivacycontributestothebeliefinindividualismandfreemovement.个人主义价值观特别重视对个人空间和私生活的保护和尊重。Privacy一词在美国人的生活中占有异常重要的位置。Pokeone’snoseintootherpeople’sbusiness（探听别人的私事）Meddleinotherpeople’saffairsKeepyourbignoseoutofmybusiness.Mindyourownbusiness.(MYOB)Therearesometopicswhichareusuallyavoided,Theseincludequestionsaboutaperson'sage,financialaffairs,costofclothesorpersonalbelongings,religion,andloveorsexlife.IfanAmericanisaskedtheseoranyother,questionswhichseemtobetoopersonal,heneednotanswerthem.Hemaysimplysmileorsaypleasantlythathedoesn'tknoworInmycountrythatwouldbeafunnyquestion,orturnthequestiongentlyasidebysomecomment,orleadtheconversationoffinsomeotherdirection.ThebeliefinindividualismisabasicpartofAmericancharacter.Thisbeliefhasatleasttwoseparateparts-----idealismandmaterialism.Althoughthesetwobeliefsarequitedifferent,mostAmericanstrytolivewiththembothatthesametiem.AndidealismandmaterialismarebothverymuchapartoftheAmericancharacter.idealismAmericanidealismcomeslargelyfromthenation’sProtestantreligiousheritage.EarlyAmericansdidnothavetobelongtoanyparticularchurchtohavethisbelief.ItinfluencedallAmericanssostronglythatidealismcametomeanthateachindividualshouldpossessahighmoralcharacter,andshouldlivebyhisorherownbeliefs.ThisiswhatAmericanidealismmeanstoday.mate