新視野大學英語視聽說教程第四冊 Unit 10 MODEL 1 Americans glorify individualism.

Susan: John, I was looking for you. Where have you been hiding all morning?

John: Well, I caught Professor Brown’s lecture on American individualism.

Susan: Oh, how did you find it?

John: Enlightening. Americans glorify individualism. They believe individual interests rank above everything else.

Susan: Sounds intersting. It’s a sharp contrast to the oriental collectivism Professor Wang talked about last semester.

John: But you should know that the individualism in the United States is not necesssarily an equivalent for selfishness.

Susan: Then what does it mean in the States?

John: They believe all values, rights, and duties originate in individuals, so they emphasize individual initiative and independence.

Susan: There could be something in that. Of course in oriental countries the interests of the group are more important than anything else.

John: I So, it’s all the more necessary for foreigners to understand American culture, or they can’t hope to understand the importance of privacy in the West..

Susan: Maybe that’s the reason nuclear families outnumber extended families in the United States.

John: Right on! You’re catching on fast!

Susan: Now let me ask you a question.

John: Shoot. Go ahead.

Susan: Why do Americans cherish individualism more than oriental people?

John: I don’t know. Anyway, Professor Brown didn’t say.

Susan: One reason might be that American children stop sleeping with their parents at an early age. They learn independence early, so it’s deeply rooted.

John: Wow, that’s an intelligent guess!