American character

精选英语短文阅读：美国人的性格Most Americans have great vigor and enthusiasm.Theyprefer to discipline themselves rather than be disciplined by others.They pride themselves on their independence, their right to make up their own minds.They are prepared to take the initiative, even when there is a risk in doing so. They have courage and do not give in easily.They will take anysort of job anywhere rather than be unemployed.They do not care to be looked after by the government.The average American changes his or her job nine or ten times during his or her working life.Americans have a warmth and friendliness which is less superficial than many foreigners think.They are considered sentimental. When on ceremonial occasions they see a flag,or attend parades celebrating America’ glorious past, tears may come to their eyes.Reunions with family and friends tend to be emotional, too.They like to dress correctly, even if “correctly” means flamboyantly.They love to boast, though often with tongue in cheek.They can laugh at themselves and their country, and they can be very self-critical,while remaining always intensely patriotic. They have a wide knowledge of everyday things,and a keen interest in their particular city and state. Foreigners sometimes complain, however, that they have little interest inor knowledge of the outside world.The Americans have a passion for grandeur. Their skyscrapers, bridges and dams often have a splendor whichmatches in beauty and scale the country’s natural wonders.Is the sole aim of most Americans to make moneyandpossess luxuries which could be called excessive?The majority of Americans would certainly deny this,though most feel proud to amass wealth and possessions through hard work.In the USA, about 90% of the population is well enough off to expect a brighter future. The USA still has one of the highest standards of living in the world, although,at the present time, 10% are below what the Government considers to be the “poverty line.”While these underprivileged people receive help from the Government,they have no high hopes for their future.It is from this “underclass,”and those who take advantage of it, that most of the violence springs,which is one of the least pleasant aspects of Americansociety.Americans are beginning to realize that this terrible problem of poverty is their problem and not just the Government’s.It has been saidthat the individual American is generous, but that the American nation is hard.The USA is reputed to be a classless society.There is certainly not much social snobbery or job snobbery.The manual worker is usually quite at ease in any company.This is partly explained by the fact that people of all income groups go together to the same schools.Americans are far more race-conscious than they are class-conscious.绝大部分的美国人精力充沛，热情高涨。

Value #8: Democracy
American society is characterized by the emphasis on liberty, equality, fraternity and democracy, highlighted by the chartered democratic principles. Several unique characteristics of American political system are listed below. 1. Popular sovereignty is the right of the majority to govern themselves 2. Individualism is the value and focus placed on individuals in our democracy and culture. Individualism holds that the primary function of government is to enable the individual to achieve his or her highest level of development.

"If everybody was satisfied with himself, there would be no heroes." -- Mark Twain
Value#7:Pragmatism

Pragmatism is the philosophy of considering practical consequences or real effects to be vital components of meaning and truth. Pragmatism is generally considered to have originated in the late nineteenth century with Charles Sanders Peirce, who first stated the pragmatic maxim. It came to fruition in the early twentieth-century philosophies of William James and John Dewey and, in a more unorthodox manner, in the works of George Santayana. Other important aspects of pragmatism include anti-Cartesianism, radical empiricism, instrumentalism, anti-realism, verificationism, conceptual relativity, a denial of the fact-value distinction, a high regard for science, and fallibilism.

The Characteristic of American总：美国人崇尚自由Advocating freedom个人主义Individualism独立Independent自我奋斗Self-struggleAdvocating freedomThe pursuit of freedom is the outstanding performance of the American character.The Statue of Liberty standing on the Atlantic coast beckons distinctive American freedom character."Declaration of Independence" argued: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. "追求自由是美国人性格的突出表现。

矗立在大西洋岸边的自由女神像就鲜明的昭示着美国人的自由性格。

《独立宣言》中就提出：“我们认为下面这些真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，造物者赋予他们若干不可剥夺的权利，其中包括生命权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。

”IndividualismIndividualism is the core value of Western civilization, and it dominates the minds of Americans. In the culture of American values, individualism is a prerequisite for social existence, individual freedom is the goal, but the government is just a means to achieve this goal and tools. "This is what we call all the idealistic goal of the United States, which is a way of life as the essence of the philosophy of individualism.个人主义是西方文明的核心价值,在美国人的思想中占据了主导地位。

For example, the New Englander is described as stern and self-reliant, the Southerner as gracious and leisurely, and the Westerner as casual and friendly. most regional distinctions, however, have been gradually erased by modern transportation, Communication, and mass production. American people have certain things in common. In this chapter we mainly talk something about the Common character and the normal pattern of customs in the United States.
American Character and Customs
The pioneering spirit of the immigrant is still an important part of the American character. Most immigrants came to America voluntarily, eagerly, in search of greater prosperity and freedom. So the desire to become rich and undisciplined is especially noticeable throughout the nation. They are acquisitive and prepared to take the initiative, even when there is a risk in doing so. Americans like to believe that a difficult problem can be solved immediately and impossible one may take a little longer. They take pride in meeting challenges and overcoming difficult obstacles. This can-do spirit has traditionally given Americans a sense of optimism about themselves and their country. Many Americans would say that if the United States can land a man on the moon, no problem on earth is impossible.