1
00:00:01,199 --> 00:00:15,160
Hello guys, this is Mr. Charles here again today with another lesson, okay?

2
00:00:15,439 --> 00:00:21,800
And today we'll be talking about, as you can see, of American culture and values,

3
00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:26,359
specifically independence and equality. Yay!

4
00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:36,659
So, as you might be able to figure out, independence and equality are very important values in American culture, right?

5
00:00:36,659 --> 00:00:39,719
They are the core of what it means to be American.

6
00:00:40,700 --> 00:00:49,420
And you guys might wonder what it is that I mean first and foremost by independence, okay?

7
00:00:49,880 --> 00:01:02,700
And when I speak of independence, okay, I am talking about how Americans strongly believe in the concept of individualism, alright?

8
00:01:02,700 --> 00:01:17,599
so we strongly believe in individualism all right now what does this means okay to believe in

9
00:01:17,599 --> 00:01:22,920
individualism right means that we believe in the power of doing things for yourself

10
00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:30,620
okay in the power of hard work all right we consider ourselves to be separate individuals

11
00:01:30,620 --> 00:01:41,400
okay, who are in control of their own lives, so we are, we're separate individuals in control

12
00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:54,019
of our own lives, all right, and on top of that, okay, you might wonder what does this

13
00:01:54,019 --> 00:02:00,540
means, right, about how we manifest as a group or in our culture or individuals, right,

14
00:02:00,620 --> 00:02:18,360
Okay, and you might be able to see that this belief in individualism, all right, kind of makes our relationships, like, for example, with family and friends, maybe slightly different from people around other places in the world, all right?

15
00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,800
We're not as dependent on other people, okay?

16
00:02:22,020 --> 00:02:25,580
We don't have such a close knit within our family.

17
00:02:25,759 --> 00:02:30,979
We don't tend to be as close as maybe people in other countries like here in Spain, okay?

18
00:02:32,979 --> 00:02:40,780
So we consider ourselves individuals, all right, rather than members of a close knit

19
00:02:40,780 --> 00:02:46,979
or intent dependent family, religious group, tribe, nation, or other group.

20
00:02:46,979 --> 00:02:55,599
however this is all you know uh how can i explain this is all general idea doesn't mean that

21
00:02:55,599 --> 00:03:00,939
everybody is this way okay because the united states is a melting pot of cultures and people

22
00:03:00,939 --> 00:03:07,960
so you have a little bit of everything now guys a good example of how in american culture this

23
00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:15,360
independence takes place right this great sense of independence is um this expectation that you

24
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:27,780
You know, kids at the age of 18, once they're done with high school and they're going to college, they move out of their parents' house, you know, go outside of the nest and start living their own lives and make a life for themselves.

25
00:03:28,199 --> 00:03:34,099
Often the colleges are out of state, you know, and this makes it somewhat inevitable.

26
00:03:34,099 --> 00:03:46,639
But there is these expectations both from parents, right, as well as for young teenagers that they should, you know, start living their own lives once they finish high school at the age of 18.

27
00:03:47,539 --> 00:03:52,780
Now, guys, here I have the Declaration of Independence, or at least a picture of it, okay?

28
00:03:52,780 --> 00:04:03,800
And in this great document written by our founding fathers, okay, they state that all people are created equal.

29
00:04:04,099 --> 00:04:08,340
Okay, and this is a very strong and embedded belief in American culture.

30
00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:14,300
Therefore, we believe that all people are of equal standing,

31
00:04:15,199 --> 00:04:21,279
and therefore we might feel uncomfortable with excessive displays of respect,

32
00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,100
such as bowing in Asian cultures, etc.

33
00:04:24,699 --> 00:04:29,379
Another way in which this sense of equality is displayed in our interaction

34
00:04:29,379 --> 00:04:33,920
might be with how informal and direct we tend to be with one another,

35
00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:38,720
while communicating. Now my dear students because all of this talk of independence

36
00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,560
now I have to mention what many may consider the most important American

37
00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:49,800
holiday. Yeehaw! That is 4th of July or Independence Day. As you can see all over

38
00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,500
here I have highlighted the date in the Declaration in which you can see 4th of

39
00:04:54,500 --> 00:05:03,540
July of 1776. Ironically the document was actually signed on July 2nd of 1776 by

40
00:05:03,540 --> 00:05:08,040
John Adams and on July the 4th then Congress approved the final text of the

41
00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:14,819
Declaration. However it wasn't finally signed until August 2nd of 1776. Now I'll

42
00:05:14,819 --> 00:05:18,720
leave you guys over here with a meme that depicts American stereotype as well

43
00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:23,740
as a good and nice video of the tradition of fireworks on 4th of July in

44
00:05:23,740 --> 00:05:26,779
my hometown of Miami. I hope you enjoy it and have a good day guys.

45
00:05:26,779 --> 00:05:28,339
Yeehaw! Goodbye!