General American Culture

Cross Cultural Understanding

8 November 2023
Tiara Indah Sari, M.Pd
 Freedom
Americans‘ understanding of freedom is shaped
by the Founding Fathers‘ belief that all people
are equal and that the role of the government is
to protect each person’s basic “inalienable”
rights.
 Individualism
Americans‘ notion of freedom focuses on the
individual. individualism has strong philosophical
roots in America.
Thomas Jefferson believed that a free individual‘s
identity should be held sacred and that his or her
dignity and integrity should not be violated.
Individualism, understood not only as self-
reliance but also as economic self-sufficiency, has
been a central theme in American history.
 Punctuality
Punctuality is the characteristic of being able to
complete a required task or fulfill an obligation
before or at a previously designated time.
"Punctual" is often used synonymously with
"on time." It is a common misconception that
punctual can also, when talking about grammar,
mean "to be accurate."
 Equality
The Declaration of Independence states that "all
men are created equal". In many ways people
believe this; we can see equality in such
common practices as "waiting in line"
 Informality
• Informality is right understood as idealism in
practice, or democracy in action, the right of
the individual balanced by his responsibilities,
in the basic unit is the family.
• For example, people treat one another very
informally, even in the presence of great
differences in age or social status. This is not a
"lack of respect," this is the custom in the
United States.
 Idealizing What is Practical
Many historians believe that most of the beliefs and
values which are characteristically American emerged
within the context of the frontier experience. Survival
in the wilderness was best achieved to robust
individualists. Survival experiences also explain the
American tendency to idealize whatever is practical.
In America what works is what counts. Inventiveness
was necessary for survival. This “can-do” spirit is
something Americans are proud of today. They like to
think they are natural-born do-it-yourselfers.
 Mobility
Americans have shared from the beginning
the assumption that the practical solution to a
problem is to move elsewhere and make a fresh
start. Mobility in America is not a sign of
aimlessness but optimism. Moving about from place
to place is such a common and accepted practice
that most Americans take it for granted that they
may live in four or fife cities during their lifetime.
Americans hate to feel that buying a house might
immobilize them forever.
 EXERCISE 1

Read this following conversation. Chintya Phelly, an African exchange student, is visiting a radio station
in Minneapolis. Analyze and discuss the American values implied in the conversation.

Erica : Welcome to America Chintya. How‘s it going?

I‘m Erica Kay.
Chintya : How do you do, madam Erica. Thank you for showing me your station. Im studying radio
broadcasting at the University of Minnesota. I look forward to meet your staff.
Erica : Just call me Erica…
(A man enters a room)
Erica : Hi Fred! How‘s it going! Glad you‘re back from vacation. We missed you here
Fred : Hi Erica. How are you doing girl?
(He slaps Erica’s open palm with his palm)
Erica : Bad boy! You‘ve been late for 15 minutes in your first day!
Fred : Terribly sorry for that. I had a very bad jet lag.
Erica : oh Fred…meet Chintya…she‘s from Senegal.
Fred : What‘s happening girl?
Chintya : I‘m visiting your station, Sir.
 EXERCISE 2
Discuss a Western movie you’ve watched
before and find the American values, belief,
and norms on it!