American values and a common history
Opinion by Wil Smeets
America is a country formed by European immigrants. That is why we have been able to work so close together during the past centuries. Immigrants from all parts of Europe came together to start a new adventure, the American adventure. And this adventure has been a great success right from the start of it.
And Europe could depend on America on many occasions.
Who came to help us in World War I?
Who came to help us in World War II?
Who brought unprecedented economic growth through the Marshall Plan?
Who provided protection during the Cold War?
The Americans did !
People in around the world admire and share core American values
Let’s take a closer look at the values:
Individualism
o belief that each person is unique, special and a “basic unit of nature”
o emphasis on individual initiative
o stress need for independence
o premium on individual expression
o value privacy
Equality
o open society that ideally treats everyone equally
o little hierarchy
o informal
o directness in relations with others
Materialism
o a “right” to be well off and physically comfortable
o judge people by their possessions
Science and technology
o values scientific approaches
o primary source of good
o major factor in change
Progress and change
o belief in changing self and country
o “Manifest Destiny”
o optimism — nothing is impossible
Work and leisure
o strong work ethic
o work is the basis of recognition, power.
o idleness seen as a threat to society
o leisure is a reward for hard work
Competition
o aggressive and competitive nature encouraged
o Be First (#1) mentality
Mobility
o a people on the move
o vertical (social / economic) as well as physical mobility
Volunteerism
o belief in helping others (related to equality concept)
o philanthropy admired
o a personal choice not a communal expectation
o involves associations / denominations rather than kin-groups
Action and achievement oriented
o emphasis on getting things done
o priority on planning and setting goals
o tendency to be brief and business like,
o practical
o measure results
o focus on function and pragmatism
America is still the shining city on a hill !
Just like Ronald Reagan said is, it still is
Friends of America unite in organizations like the Amdoc Europe Foundation
European politicians and media can be very critical about America and its president. But don’t let them fool you. America has a lot of friends in Europe. And they are fed up with all the criticism of America. Some people in Europe think America is just another country, comparable to totalitarian governed countries like Russia and China, with whom they want to have close trade deals as soon as possible. But we all know that America is not just another country. The nation is founded on democratic and humanitarian principles in 1776 and is since then a beacon of freedom and hope for all humanity.
Why are European countries so eager to be friends with China, Russia and Iran? Why are they forgetting what our strongest ally means to our freedom and prosperity in Europe?
American taxpayers have paid to long and too much for the European defense. European countries should as soon as possible pay their fair share as agreed upon in NATO.
Europe and the United States should soon negotiate a new trade deal, eliminating tariffs, but keep a level playing field and fairness in mind.
The European Union and especially France must stop harassing American companies with extra taxes just out of some strange form of anti-Americanism.
Stop fantasizing about a European Union Army, with France and Germany as leading countries. We have NATO for that purpose. The North Atlantic alliance served us very well during many decades.
Accept that America is the leader of the Western World.