Reflections about American Values

As a big country, America has their own culture which shows who they really are. Therefore, in America, people can or should control their nature because they cannot determine their fate in the future. Many people in America has their own goal in their life, so it is not surprised that most of people in America people assume that time is money because they have to make their own goals come true in their future life. Then, for American, Time is valuable because time controls their goals, so many American do not want to waste their time and they always want to make a precious thing in their own life. For that reason, it is not surprised that people are seen as separate individuals (not group members) with individual needs because they need time to be alone and to be themselves.

In contrary, as an Indonesia and Javanese people, I have a different belief. In my own culture, I have a belief that I have to do all of my works slowly but sure because in Javanese, there is a statement “alon-alon waton kelakon.” From generation to generation, I always do all of my works not in a hurry. In fact, it is so different with American belief that time is money, but in my opinion, every culture has a different beliefs and all of the belief of its culture is good. As a good people, we have to respect each other belief. In the future time, if we always respect each other, misunderstanding will not be happened again.

Besides, For America people, change is seen as positive and good because it means progress, improvement and growth. It is also proved when Einstein made a statement that nothing is forever except change. For that reason, many people in America have a belief that the future will be better and happier because they look to the future and not to the past. In my opinion, it is good to not look the past but the future because as a human, we have to continue our life and we have to make our life better than before.

In America, people have equal opportunities because people are important as individuals, for who they are, not from which family they come. It is true because many people in America assume that they are all human being and all of them are same. Then, most of American has a belief that competition brings out the best in people because they are all same. For that reason, it is not surprised that for America people, honesty is the best policy. There is also a statement in America that one can only trust people who "look you in the eye" and "tell it like it is". It is also proved in their daily activities. In my opinion, it is good because America does not belong to oral community, so if they become honest to each other, it is not surprised. Then, as an Indonesia people, I belong to oral community, so it is awkward for me to say directly to people who are talking to me because I am afraid that I will make them feel upset if tell the truth to them. As a conclusion, it depends on their culture, whether they are America or Indonesia, they are all good because every culture has their own uniqueness. In short, as a good people, we have to respect each other, so the world will be better with much happiness.

Agata Nina Puspita

References:

Herujiyanto, Antonius. American Values (the Handout).