Amerikanske værdier: Individualisme og den amerikanske drøm

Individualism is defined as different types of freedom as an individual, freedom to think, and personal independence, I think that individualism is more of a forced value than a self-chosen one, I think that American politics and the whole country’s infrastructure lead its population to individualism. I’m not saying that I think individualism is a negative thing, I think it’s important as an individual not to be dependent on too many things but to make your own decisions. In my opinion, individualism is important to the American identity because I think a big part of America is dependent on its population to act on their own needs and be self-sufficient. Like the first pioneers also needed to be self-sufficient, it was deeply rooted in them and passed their way of thinking on to the next generations and so on, so individualism became a part of the American identity and the American way of living. I think that individualism was not only a big and very important part of the American identity but still is very relevant for our time. Individualism is not just about being self-sufficient but also about the freedom to choose for yourself what you need, and what you want. Thomas Jefferson believed that a free individual's identity should be held sacred and that his or her dignity and integrity shouldn’t be violated. Again, this way of thinking goes long way back in American history, and I believe that is why individualism is so important to the American identity.