American-Character.ppt

Unit2,TheAmericanCharacter,UnitGoalsTounderstandbasicvaluesandbeliefsofAmericanspeopleTolearnsomeculturalconceptsconcerningAmericancharacterTolearnusefulwordsandexpressionsthatdescribeAmericancharacterandimprovelanguageskills,PickoutthreequalitiesyouassociatemostwithAmericans,BeforeYouRead,Energetichonestindustrioussophisticatedintelligentfriendlygreedyinventiverudeadventurousextroverted(外向性的,喜社交的)introverted(內(nèi)向的,含蓄的)fast-pacedout-goingmodestreserved(內(nèi)向的；寡言少語的)self-reliantaggressivematerialisticromanticoptimistic,Section1TheAmericanCharacter,WhatdoAmericansbelievein?WhatistheAmericancharacter?Thesequestionsarehardtoanswer,becausetherearesomanyAmericansandtheybelieveinsomanydifferentthings.However,thehistoryoftheUnitedStatesdoesprovidesomeunderstandingofcertainbasiccharacteristicsthatmanyAmericansshare.,OneofthemainreasonswhytheearlysettlerscametoAmericawastoescapethecontrolstheyhadexperiencedinEurope.There,smallgroupsofwealthypeoplepreventedthemfrommovingintoahighersocialpositionorbecomingwealthy,andgovernment-supportedchurchescontrolledtheirreligiouspracticesandbeliefs.Becausetheseearlysettlerswantedtobefreefromsuchcontrols,theybroughttoAmericatheviewthattheindividualwassupremelyimportant.Thesettlerswereagainsttheeffortsofthechurch,thesociety,andparticularlythegovernment,tocontroltheiractions.Thesecontrolscametobeviewedas“un-American”.,InfluenceofPuritanism,Thepuritanshopedtobuild“acityuponhill”（山顛之城）anidealcommunity.Sincethattime,Americanshaveviewedtheircountryasagreatexperiment,aworthymodelforothernations.ThissenseofmissionhasbeenverystronginthemindsofmanyAmericans.ThePuritansalsohaveleftrichculturalheritagetofutureAmericans.TheAmericanvaluessuchasindividualism,hardwork,andrespectofeducationoweeverymuchtothePuritanbeliefs.,BackgroundInformation,ThePuritantheology,TosayPuritanismlayfoundationofAmericanculture,thenwehavetostudyThePuritantheology:Theybelievethebasicsinfulness(有罪)ofhumankind;butGodAlsohaddeterminedthatsomepeople,theelect,wouldbesaveddespitetheirsins.ThePuritanswhoregardthemselvestheelectadheretotheadvocacy(支持,擁護)ofsobriety(節(jié)制),diligence,thrift,andlackofostentation(炫耀,賣弄).,ThepioneeringSpirit,ThePuritanregardedcontemplationasmerelaziness,thepovertyeitheraspunishmentforsinorevidencethatonedidnothaveGodsgrace.Theysinghighlyof“entrepreneurship（大企業(yè)家/主辦人等）-apioneeringspirit”.,開拓創(chuàng)新精神-美國的清教文化傳統(tǒng)推崇開拓創(chuàng)新的勇氣和積極進取的精神。美國人因此形成了一種不愿受條條框框束縛、不斷求變的性格。這種追求新奇和勇于冒險開拓的精神使得美國對新鮮事物的創(chuàng)新和流傳之快是世界上其他國家所無法比擬的。,“深受新教的影響，美國文化以個體為本位，個人主義在美國發(fā)展到登峰造極的地步，是美國價值觀念的核心。它的主要內(nèi)容是通過自力更生達到自我實現(xiàn)，與它聯(lián)系最緊密的是自由平等競爭。機會均等和個人主義是實現(xiàn)自我價值的基本保障，而競爭是實現(xiàn)個人價值的根本途徑。美國人有較強的個人奮斗意識和競爭意識，他們普遍接受這樣的生活信條。”英美文化比較,1.Individualism,ProtestanismBelief:“thebattleofself-realizationisthefundamentalrightforeachbelieverofGod.Thereshouldbenobindingforfreedom,nofasteningforquality,nosuppressionofindividualism”.,Everymanforhimself,andGodforusall.(人人為自己，上帝為大家。)Everymanisthearchitectofhisownfortune.(自己的命運自己設(shè)計。)美國人在創(chuàng)造自己文化的同時，也創(chuàng)造了許多表現(xiàn)個人主義的詞匯。最有代表性的如：Self-absorption(自我專注)；self-limitation(自我制約)；self-cultivate(自我修養(yǎng))；self-conquest(自我戰(zhàn)勝)；self-admiration(自我贊賞)；self-control(自我控制)；self-dependence(自立)；self-reliance(自我依靠)；self-responsibility(自我負責)；self-advancement(自我發(fā)展)；self-salesmanship(自我宣傳)；self-fulfilling(自我實現(xiàn))；self-discipline(自律)；self-centered(自我中心的)；self-protection(自我保護)等。,ThisstrongAmericanbeliefinindividualismhasbothpositiveandnegativesides.Onthepositiveside,ithasstrengthenedAmericansinventivenessandtheirbeliefinhardwork.Onthenegativeside,thebeliefinindividualismhassometimespreventedAmericansfromusingtheirgovernmenttosolvetheircommonproblems.Americansprefernottohavegovernmentsolutionstosocialproblems.,AttitudetoPrivacy,ResidentialPrivacyinfluenceinterpersonalrelationships,whicharemotascomplexasthatinAsiancountries.Loveofprivacycontributestothebeliefinindividualismandfreemovement.個人主義價值觀特別重視對個人空間和私生活的保護和尊重。Privacy一詞在美國人的生活中占有異常重要的位置。Pokeonesnoseintootherpeoplesbusiness（探聽別人的私事）Meddle（管閑事）inotherpeoplesaffairsKeepyourbignoseoutofmybusiness.Mindyourownbusiness.(MYOB),Therearesometopicswhichareusuallyavoided,Theseincludequestionsaboutapersonsage,financialaffairs,costofclothesorpersonalbelongings,religion,andloveorsexlife.IfanAmericanisaskedtheseoranyother,questionswhichseemtobetoopersonal,heneednotanswerthem.HemaysimplysmileorsaypleasantlythathedoesntknoworInmycountrythatwouldbeafunnyquestion,orturnthequestiongentlyasidebysomecomment,orleadtheconversationoffinsomeotherdirection.,ThebeliefinindividualismisabasicpartofAmericancharacter.Thisbeliefhasatleasttwoseparateparts-idealismandmaterialism.Althoughthesetwobeliefsarequitedifferent,mostAmericanstrytolivewiththembothatthesametime.AndidealismandmaterialismarebothverymuchapartoftheAmericancharacter.,idealism,AmericanidealismcomeslargelyfromthenationsProtestant（新教）religiousheritage.EarlyAmericansdidnothavetobelongtoanyparticularchurchtohavethisbelief.ItinfluencedallAmericanssostronglythatidealismcametomeanthateachindividualshouldpossessahighmoralcharacter,andshouldlivebyhisorherownbeliefs.ThisiswhatAmericanidealismmeanstoday.,materialism,Americansalsohaveastrongbeliefinmaterialism,thatis,thateachindividualshouldgainasmuchwealthaspossible.TheAmericanbeliefinmaterialismispartlyaresultofthenationsgreatmaterialabundance.Theearlysettlersfoundacontinentwithgreatforests,rivers,andfertilefarmlandinabundance.ItisnotsurprisingthatmanyviewedAmericaasthelandofopportunity.AstheUnitedStatesgrewanddeveloped,thesupplyofnaturalresourcesseemedendless,andsodidtheopportunitiesforpersonaleconomicadvancement.Eachgenerationhadachancetobecomewealthierthantheirparentshadbeen.Generationaftergenerationofnewimmigrantshadthesameopportunity.Americanseventuallydevelopedthebeliefthatitwasalmostadutytogetrich.,Amilliondollarsaintwhatitusedtobe.MorethanfouroutoftenAmericanmillionairessaytheydonotfeelrich.Indeedmanywouldneedtohaveatleast$7.5millioninordertofeeltheyweretrulyrich,accordingtoaFidelityInvestmentssurvey.Some42percentofthemorethan1,000millionairessurveyedbyFidelitysaidtheydidnotfeelwealthy.Respondentshadatleast$1millionininvestableassets,excludinganyrealestateorretirementaccounts.,美國富翁：身家至少750萬美元才算富USmillionairessay$7mlnnotenoughtoberich,百萬美金不像過去那么值錢了。超過四成的美國百萬富翁說他們并不覺得自己有錢。富達投資集團的一項調(diào)查顯示，許多人認為至少要擁有750萬美元才會覺得自己真的富有。富達集團調(diào)查的1000多名百萬富翁中，有42%的人說他們并不覺得自己富有。這些被調(diào)查者都至少擁有100萬美元的可投資資產(chǎn)，不包括不動產(chǎn)和退休金賬戶。,Everypersoninthesurveyiswealthy,saidSanjivMirchandani,presidentofNationalFinancial,aunitofFidelity.Buttheyarestillworriedaboutoutlivingtheirassets.Theaverageageofrespondentswas56yearsoldwithameanof$3.5millionofinvestableassets.Thethresholdforrichrosewithage.,富達集團的國民金融部部長山吉夫米爾查達尼說：“每個參與調(diào)查的人都是富人，但是他們依然擔心財產(chǎn)不夠用?！北徽{(diào)查者的平均年齡是56歲，平均可投資資產(chǎn)為350萬美元。年齡越大，“富人”的門檻也就越高。,Theycomparethemselvestotheirpeergroup.andtheyarealsothinkingaboutthelongperiodtheywillhaveinretirementandwantmoreassetstofundtheirlifestyle,saidMichaelDurbin,presidentofFidelityInstitutionalWealthServices.Still,millionairesareslightlymoreoptimisticnowthantheywerein2009,when46percentdidnotfeelwealthy.富達財富服務(wù)機構(gòu)主席邁克爾德賓說，“他們會和自己的同齡群體相比較他們也會考慮到自己退休后的漫長時光”，他們“需要更多的財產(chǎn)”來支撐他們的生活方式。不過，相比2009年，百萬富翁們現(xiàn)在還是樂觀一些。2009年46%的百萬富翁不認為自己有錢。,RespondentswerealsomoreoptimisticabouttheUSeconomy.WhiletheythoughtthecurrentUSeconomyremainedveryweak,theythinkitwillimprovesoon.Fidelitynotedthewealthiest5percentofAmericansholdmorethan55percentofthenationswealth.被調(diào)查者對美國經(jīng)濟前景也更樂觀。盡管他們認為當前美國經(jīng)濟依然疲軟，但他們相信很快會有所好轉(zhuǎn)。富達集團指出，全美5%最富有的人擁有全國55%以上的財富。,ManyimmigrantshavecometotheUnitedStatestohaveabetterlife,toraisetheirstandardofliving.AcquiringandmaintainingalargenumberofmaterialpossessionsisoneofveryimportanttomostAmericans.MaterialwealthisthemostwidelyacceptedmeasuresofsocialstatusintheUnitedStates.Americanspayapricefortheirwealth:hardwork.,Thebig/ambitiousdreams,Acityuponhill(山巔之城）-anidealcommunity,viewthecountryasagreatexperiment,aworthymodelforothernations.TheGardenofEdenDemocracy（民主）,liberty（自由）,equality（平等）,PursuitofHappiness（追求幸福）,AmericanDream,Theindividualsdreams,ThebeliefofAmericansthattheircountryoffersopportunitiesforagoodandsuccessfullife.Forminoritiesandimmigrants,thedreamalsoincludesfreedomandequalrights.,Americangoldendream,In1848,JamesW.MarshallfoundgoldinCaliforniaandpeoplebeganhavinggoldendreams.That19thcenturyAmericanDreammotivatedtheGoldRushandgaveCaliforniaitsnicknameoftheGoldenState.CaliforniaisfullofforeignimmigrantswhocametotheUStosharetheAmericandream,apopularbeliefthathardworkwillbringforthAmericasbounty(富饒）intheformofmaterialwell-being（物質(zhì)財富）.,WhatarethemodernpeoplesAmericanDreams?,TodowhattheywantToownahomeorriseoutofpoverty.ToserveGod,country,orcommunity.Towanttolearntoreadorruntheirownbusiness.ToexercisefundamentalAmericanrights:toopenlypracticetheirreligionandtospeakwhatisintheirmindsandhearts.,Theso-calledAmericanDream,isabeliefthataslongastheUnitedStatesafterahardstrugglewillbeabletoachievetheidealofabetterlife,thatis,peoplehavetoworkthroughtheirownhardwork,courage,creativityanddeterminationtomovetowardsProsperity,ratherthanrelyonspecificsocialclassesandotherassistance.Aself-mademan,所謂的美國夢（AmericanDream），是一種相信只要在美國經(jīng)過努力不懈的奮斗便能獲致更好生活的理想，亦即人們必須透過自己的工作勤奮、勇氣、創(chuàng)意、和決心邁向繁榮，而非依賴于特定的社會階級和他人的援助。,U.S.offerseveryonethechanceofsuccess;successdependsontheirtalentsandefforts,ratherthanfamilybackgroundandcontext;everyonehasequalrights;everyonehasfreedomofconscience.,freedom,Equal,+,+,Opportunities,=,AmericanDream,RepresentativesofAmericanDream,Allactivistsaredreamers,WallStreet,TheengineoftheAmericanDream,April4,1968,hewasassassinated.Forfreedom,fortheirAmericanDream.Hesaid,Ihaveadream.Dreamistotheheartsofallregardlessoffaith,evenifthepriceoflife.,Freeatlast!freeatlast!,Asknotwhatyourcountrycandoforyou;askwhatyoucandoforyourcountry.,JohnF.Kennedy,BarackHusseinObamaII,Apersoncanbreakalittledifficult,itisverycommon,youcanbreakabigdifficulty,calledcapacity.However,tochallengethemselves,andthechallengesofsuccess,toseveralpeople?,BillGates,Mantra,Thatsgood,Wakingupeverymorning,thinkingabouttheworkundertakenandthetechnologydevelopedwhichwillhaveatremendousimpactandchangesonhumanlife,Iwillbeextremelyexcitedandagitated.,Lifeisnotfair,getusedtoit,Thedreamofyouthisthefutureprojectionofthereal,Donotrelax,notbelazy,noperseverance,youcannotsucceed.,ArnoldSchwarzenegger,KobeBeanBryant,IdontwanttobethenextMichaelJordan,IonlywanttobeKobeBryant.,PeoplewonderwhyIalwayslikethekidsaroundtheside,itisbecauseIfindinthemsomethingIneverhad.,KingofPop,MichaelJackson,Hollywood,theAmericanDreamstagedrepeatedhere,wherethedirectoroftheAmericandreamontothescreeninmind,thesameasthecatalyst(催化劑)forapowertoeveryone.,ThesuccessfulexamplesofAmericanDreamBenjaminFranklinthefounderofAmerica,theforefatherAbrahamLincolnthe16thPresidentRockefeller-thepetroltycoonCarnegiethesteeltycoonTheyareallself-mademen.(白手起家）,TheGovernorofCalifornia,ArnoldSchwarzenegger（施瓦新格）,themodelofthenewAmericanDream.Afteryearsofhardwork,hegrewfromapooryoungmanfromAustriaintoamoviesuperstarandthengovernor.BillClintonthe42ndUSpresidentBarrackObamathefirstUSblackpresident,AmericanDreamsinLiterature,ForrestGump阿甘正傳SisterCarrier嘉里妹妹嘉莉是個俊俏的農(nóng)村姑娘，她羨慕大都市的物質(zhì)生活來到了芝加哥謀生。嚴酷的現(xiàn)實破碎了她的美夢，迎接她的是失業(yè)和疾病。在走投無路時，她做了推銷員杜洛埃的情婦，后來由于更大的欲望又做了酒店經(jīng)理赫斯渥的情婦。與赫斯渥私奔后，在紐約由于偶然的機會她成了走紅一時的演員，擠上了上流社會，實現(xiàn)了她的幻想。,TheDeathofASalesman:年逾花甲的推銷員威利洛曼，拎著兩只沉重的、裝樣品的箱子回到家。他極度疲倦，仿佛已經(jīng)走到了生命的盡頭。只有老伴兒林達了解他、體貼他，盡一切努力來維護他的尊嚴，希望能給他一些生活下去的勇氣和信心。然而，這一切似乎都無濟于事壯年時代的威利，一付精明強干的神氣，兩個兒子比夫和哈皮，是他的驕傲。盡管比夫的學習成績不及格，也沒有引起父親的重視，因為，他確認比夫?qū)硗耆梢援斠幻w育明星，然而，事與愿違，比夫多次離家出走，寧愿去當農(nóng)業(yè)工人，也不愿留在充滿競爭與欺詐的大城市里。在沉重的壓力下，威利的精神恍惚不定。為了拯救威利，林達呼吁孩子們要憐愛父親，甚至把威利要自殺的企圖告訴了他們。這時，小兒子哈皮想出一個辦法!讓比夫向朋友借錢，由洛曼兄弟自家獨立經(jīng)營，以期干出一番事業(yè)來。這個令人振奮的沒想，使全家人抱著新的希望進入了夢鄉(xiāng)為了預祝未來理想的實現(xiàn)，父子們約定在餐館中聚會。而就在他們見面時，雙方帶來的都是不幸的消息：比夫沒有借到錢，威利也被公司開除了。這使得父子間又發(fā)生了激烈的爭吵，然而，他們誰也沒搞清楚，生活不下去的社會原因。最終，威利還是自殺了為了死后的保險賠償給家人帶來福利。,GreatGatsby了不起的蓋次比尼克從中西部故鄉(xiāng)來到紐約，在他住所旁邊正是主人公蓋茨比的豪華宅第，這里每晚都在舉行盛大的宴會。尼克和蓋茨比相識，尼克對他充滿探究的興趣。探究的結(jié)果是：尼克了解到蓋茨比內(nèi)心深處有一段不了之情.年輕時的蓋茨比并不富有，他是一個少尉軍官。他愛上了一位叫黛茜的姑娘，黛茜對他也情有所鐘。后來第一次世界大戰(zhàn)爆發(fā)，蓋茨比被調(diào)往歐洲。似是偶然卻也是必然，黛茜因此和他分手，轉(zhuǎn)而與出身于富豪家庭的紈绔子弟湯姆結(jié)了婚。黛茜婚后的生活并不幸福，因為湯姆另有情婦。物欲的滿足并不能填補黛西精神上的空虛。蓋茨比痛苦萬分，他堅信是金錢讓黛茜背叛了心靈的貞潔，于是立志要成為富翁。幾年以后，蓋茨比終于成功了。他在黛茜府邸的對面建造起了一幢大廈。蓋茨比揮金如土，徹夜笙簫，一心想引起黛茜的注意，以挽回失去的愛情。尼克為蓋茨比的癡情所感動，便去拜訪久不聯(lián)系的遠房表妹黛茜，并向她轉(zhuǎn)達蓋茨比的心意。黛茜在與蓋茨比相會中時時有意挑逗。蓋茨比昏昏然聽她隨意擺布，并且天真地以為那段不了情有了如愿的結(jié)局。,然而真正的悲劇卻在此時悄悄啟幕。黛茜早已不是舊日的她。黛茜不過將他倆目前的暖昧關(guān)系，當做一種刺激。尼克終于有所察覺，但為時已晚。一次黛茜在心緒煩亂的狀態(tài)下開車，偏偏軋死了丈夫的情婦。蓋茨比為保護黛茜，承擔了開車責任，但黛茜已打定主意拋棄蓋茨比。在湯姆的挑撥下，致使其情婦的丈夫開槍打死了蓋茨比。蓋茨比最終徹底成為了犧牲品。蓋茨比至死都沒有發(fā)現(xiàn)黛茜臉上嘲弄的微笑。蓋茨比的悲劇在于他把一切都獻給了自己編織的美麗夢想，而黛茜作為他理想的化身，卻只徒有美麗的軀殼。盡管黛西早已移情別戀,盡管他清楚地聽出“她的聲音充滿了金錢”,卻仍不改初衷,固執(zhí)地追求重溫舊夢然。人們在為蓋茨比舉行葬禮，黛茜和她丈夫此時卻早已在歐洲旅行的路上。不了情終于有了了結(jié)。尼克目睹了人類現(xiàn)實的虛情寡義，深感厭惡，于是懷著一種悲劇的心情，遠離喧囂、冷漠、空洞、虛假的大都市，黯然回到故鄉(xiāng)。,Dreamisthefoundationofallhappiness,andrealizethedreamprocessisaextremelydifficultprocess,willundergo(經(jīng)受)varioustests,courage,passion,dedicationandwisdom.,Butnow,ChinasriseiscreatingaChineseDream,WhatisyourChineseDream?,Perhaps,wedreamedofallkindsofgoodlife,butweallshareacommondream,lettheChinesestandintheworldoftheforest,lettheChinesedreamcometrue.,AfterYouRead,WriteTifthestatementistrueandFifitisfalse.,Asanationofenormousdiversity,theUnitedStatesofAmericadoesnothaveanationalidentity._2.EarlysettlerscametoAmericaforindividualfreedom._3.Americanidealismtakesmaterialwealthundesirable._4.ProtestantbeliefoftheAmericanpeopledemandstheirgreatrespecttothechurches._5.TheAmericanbeliefmaterialismpartlyresultsfromthegreatmaterialabundanceoftheU.S._,F,T,F,F,T,WritedownthemainpointsoutlinedintheText,Americanpeoplehaveastrongbeliefin_,whichhasboth_and_aspects;inaddition,_canbesub-dividedintotwoseparateparts:_and_._iscloselyrelatedtoprotestantbelief,while_encourageseachindividualtogainasmuchwealthaspossible.,A,B,C,A,D,E,D,E,A-individualism,B-positive,C-negative,D-idealism,E-materialism,Section2TypicalAmericanBehaviorsandValues,WhatareAmericanslike?WhatdoAmericanslike?InspiteofthegreatdiversityintheethnicmakeupofAmerica,AmericansdosharesometypicalAmericanvalues,attitudesandbeliefs.WatchingAmericansinaction,foreignerssometimesseebehaviorthatseemsrude,misguided,orjustplainsilly.Amongthemarethefollowingtraits,whicharecharacteristically,butcertainlynotexclusively,American.,Hurry,Hurry,Hurry,AlmosteveryAmericanwearsawatch,andinnearlyeveryroominanAmericanhome,theresaclock.Beontime.Dontwastetime.Timeismoney.Timewaitsfornoone.AllthesefamiliarsayingsreflecttheAmericanobsessionwithpromptnessandefficiency.Studentsdispleasetheirteachersandemployeesdispleasetheirbosseswhentheyarrivelate.ThisdesiretogetthemostoutofeveryminuteoftenmakesAmericansimpatientwhentheyhavetowait.ThepressuretomakeeverymomentcountsometimesmakesitdifficultforAmericanstorelax.,BecauseAmericansbelievetimeisalimitedresource,theytrytoconserveandmanageit.PeopleintheU.S.oftenattendseminars(研討班,研討小組)orreadbooksontimemanagement.Itseemstheyallwanttoorganizetheirtimebetter.Professionalscarryaroundpocketplanners-someinelectronicform-tokeeptrackofappointmentsanddeadlines.Peopledoalltheycantosqueezemorelifeoutoftheirtime.TheearlyAmericanheroBenjaminFranklinexpressedthisviewbest:“Doyoulovelife?Thendonotwastetime,forthatisthestufflifeismadeof.”,AttitudetoTime,在以自我利益、自我自由、自我支配和自我約束為中心的個人主義價值觀中，時間概念是很強的。美國人以守時著稱。做事有計劃、遵守期限是他們的習慣。Deadline一詞最能體現(xiàn)美國人的時間觀念。它的構(gòu)詞意思是dead+line，即“死亡線”。他們的時間觀念還在以下的諺語中得到體現(xiàn)。如：Timeismoney.Makehaywhilethesunshines.（機不可失）Taketimebytheforelock.（抓住時機）Timeandtidewaitfornoman.Betterearlythanlate.（宜早不宜遲）Neverputofftilltomorrowwhatyoucandotoday.Tomorrownevercomes.Onetodayisworthtwotomorrows.,ToAmericans,punctualityisawayofshowingrespectforotherpeoplestime.Beingmorethan10minuteslatetoanappointmentusuallycallsforanapology,andmaybeanexplanation.Whenpeopleplananevent,theyoftensetthetimedaysorweeksinadvance.Oncethetimeisfixed,ittakesalmostanemergencytochangeit.Ifpeoplewanttocometoyourhouseforafriendlyvisit,theywillusuallycallfirsttomakesureitisconvenient.Onlyveryclosefriendswilljust“dropby”unannounced.Also,peoplehesitatetocallotherslateatnightforfeartheymightbeinbed.Thetimemayvary,butmostfolksthinktwiceaboutcallingafter10:00p.m.,TheImportanceofMoney,Americansareoftenaccusedofbeingmaterialistic,ofvaluingwealthandpossessionaboveallelse.Moneyisvaluedbothasasymbolofsuccessandalsoforamoreobviousreason-itspurchasingpower.Manyitemswhichdidnotevenexist50yearsagoarenowconsiderednecessitiesintheAmericanhome.Inaddition,purchasesaremadeinorderto“keepupwiththeJoneses,”toshowfriendsthatonecanaffordabiggerhouseorafanciercar.Also,advertisingencouragespeopletokeepbuyingthingsfarbeyondwhattheyneed.,Americanslovetomakealotofmoneyandspenditonthemselves-tobuythingsthatsavetime,givethempleasure,orserveasstatussymbols.However,Americansarealsoverygenerousandverywillingtodonatemoneytogoodcauses.TheAmericancharacterincludesastrongsenseofobligationtohelpthoseinneed.,SayWhatYouMean,andMeanWhatYouSay,Americansbelievethat“Honestyisthebestpolicy.”theyaredirectandassertive.Theyaskforwhattheywant.Inmanycultures,respectforthoseinpositionsofauthoritykeepspeoplefromexpressingtheirtruefeelingsorintentions.IntheU.S.A.,however,childrenoftenarguewiththeirparentsandcitizensexpressoppositiontoactionsofthegovernment.Ifthesoupiscoldorthemeatistough,thedinercancomplaintothewaiter.Ifateacherisw