I am confused: what exactly are American ideals?

[SpellAndShield]

are talking about.

 

:confused:

 

Care to explain?

[DarkSpiral]

are talking about.

 

:confused:

 

Care to explain?

 

Well. I'm going to assume you aren't from the United States, and that this is an honest question, not a sarcastic commentary on American society.

 

I think you'd need to add some context. Your question covers a very broad, and admittedly vague, category. While there are three or so thing is think every citizen of the US can agree on as an "American value" in general, the devil is always in the details. What was said that prompted you to post this?

[SpellAndShield]

are talking about.

 

:confused:

 

Care to explain?

 

Well. I'm going to assume you aren't from the United States, and that this is an honest question, not a sarcastic commentary on American society.

 

I think you'd need to add some context. Your question covers a very broad, and admittedly vague, category. While there are three or so thing is think every citizen of the US can agree on as an "American value" in general, the devil is always in the details. What was said that prompted you to post this?

 

I am half-American and there no sarcasm here. I really don't know what is meant by 'American' ideals. Precisely because no one can agree on the definition, unless there is some universal, semantic understanding that is implicit in American ideals and thus they are undeserving of explanation.

 

A recent exchange with someone prompted this.

[Chaosblade02]

It all depends on who you ask, and that person's particular political views and how they see America. I don't think one point of view can be classified as American ideals.

[SpellAndShield]

It all depends on who you ask, and that person's particular political views and how they see America. I don't think one point of view can be classified as American ideals.

 

And yet one often speaks of American ideals as if they were one cohesive unit...?

[Coous]

As a American I can say as a child you're instilled with the of pursuit of happiness and seems to be as you grow up is the big ideal they push into your head.

This seems to in sense what every American holds as an ideal to go out and make something of yourself and your family. Really this is the only thing we can all agree upon.

Everything else depends on the vast variables of growing up in a part of the United States,but don't be narrow and limit to regions as family has a great influence on one's own views.

[Vagrant0]

Most commonly, it's something along the lines of some of the following:

 

Freedom of speech - Even when what you say is entirely unwanted and utterly idiotic.

Freedom of religion - So long as it's non-Catholic Christianity.

Freedom from wrongful judgment - So long as you're non-Hispanic Caucasian and don't look European.

Pursuit of happiness - Even when that happiness is unattainable in relation to your socio-economic status and seemingly infringes upon the happiness of others.

Government sponsored education - So long as learning anything useful isn't a priority.

Man, woman, 2.3 children - Who could have a problem with this one?

 

But it really depends on who it was who was involved in the discussion. But most often it's that "Man, Woman, Child" part, or the one which suggests that people always need to buy the latest piece of consumer crap.

 

And for the record, I am an American. if you're offended, you darn well should be and should be personally comitted toward not being THAT kind of American.

Edited June 14, 2010 by Vagrant0

[grannywils]

I don't have much time right now, but I think the answer is what is embodied in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. However, American "ideals" can unhappily tend more toward what Vagrant0 has just stated above. We as a people have freedom beyond that provided by any other nation. This is good. However, we as a people need to remember that we are all "intrinsically and ideally" human and can if we choose and if we are willing to work toward the highest in our souls (or whatever one calls it) make for an "ideal" and therefore, hopefully better society for all concerned. Based on past experience this has not always worked, but I remain ever the optimist. (I'm just listening to Willy Nelson singing It's Just a Little Old Fashioned Karma Comin' Down) in my headphones, and I can't help thinking it's fate that that particular song came on just now. Now, Trace Adkins is telling me This Ain't No Thinkin Thing (he's talking about something a little more basic, but it's all the same when you come right down to it.. Anyway, I'm done...

[SpellAndShield]

Most commonly, it's something along the lines of some of the following:

 

Freedom of speech - Even when what you say is entirely unwanted and utterly idiotic.

Freedom of religion - So long as it's non-Catholic Christianity.

Freedom from wrongful judgment - So long as you're non-Hispanic Caucasian and don't look European.

Pursuit of happiness - Even when that happiness is unattainable in relation to your socio-economic status and seemingly infringes upon the happiness of others.

Government sponsored education - So long as learning anything useful isn't a priority.

Man, woman, 2.3 children - Who could have a problem with this one?

 

But it really depends on who it was who was involved in the discussion. But most often it's that "Man, Woman, Child" part, or the one which suggests that people always need to buy the latest piece of consumer crap.

 

And for the record, I am an American. if you're offended, you darn well should be and should be personally comitted toward not being THAT kind of American.

 

So are you saying Americans are full of themselves?

[Mercbird]

Honestly, which nation isn't full of themselves one way or another, and for all the bad that can be said about the american stereotype, one Iof the good thing I've always thought was the existance of the opportunity to make something out of nothing from scratch.

Suppose that exists everywhere with a higher or lower degree of difficulty