INDUSTRIOUSNESS TRAIT OF AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM
American exceptionalism is special as well as different but not as unique as people regard it. Globally, United States stands to be the most energetic and powerful state where they are viewed as the major negotiators and there is no issue that involves global peace or strength can be resolved without the US intervention (Nalbandov et al 2016). This basically does not happen just like that but is as a result of the exceptional nature of this nation which has now been built over time. Different nations usually have different desires on the various types of exceptionalism which they require in order to stand out among other nations and as well to feel special (Murray 2013). Everyone in this world would want to feel special thus resulting to a variety of exceptionalism that involves the civic values, family philosophy religion or the clan based exceptionalism (Wiker 2010). The term can have quite a variety of exceptionalism that involves different systems. America differed in their geographical location and nature, their political system, their outstanding philosophy and also in their special traits. Exceptional traits is therefore used to refer to the civic culture of the Americans which resulted to them being different and yet special from other nations. Traits can also be categorized into impartiality, religiosity, industriousness, humanitarian and volunteerism (Nalbandov et al 2016). Most people have travelled across countries into the United States with an aim of witnessing their uniqueness (Ignatieff, 2005). In this case this paper will discuss on the trait on industriousness in the American exceptionalism system.
Industriousness refers to the hard work nature of personnel so as to achieve a high production. In the American exceptionalism concept, industriousness refers to the American efforts and hard work which were just more different from other nations thus making them more successful. Challenges and problems can be solved while risks and failure are stepping stones to a greater achievement. Americans views themselves as the ones in control of their lives hence ends up working extremely hard and smart so as to be able to survive (Murray 2013). While the government enhances this by ensuring that all their citizens has the availability of opportunities that would enhance any citizen who has the resourcefulness to achieve his/ her goals. The earlier Americans believed in the guidance that they received from the great providence as they moved out of Europe into the New England. They had a lot of exceptional expectation on how they wanted their New England to look like, made them to be more industrious so as to be able to acquire the kind of an exceptional nation that they wanted (Bulkeley 2008). Rise in the Americans wages is as a result of their industriousness, advanced working habits and productivity thus resulting to the direct correlation. For instance increase in wages resulted to the increase in the laborers efforts or industriousness (Murray 2013). Most importantly the Americans have enabled them to uphold a higher level of creativity and dignity thus resulting to the Americans being more industrious, risk takers and more dreamers. This has thus made America to stand out in terms of the economy, productivity, invention, industriousness and innovation terms thus attracting more job opportunities, entrepreneurial activities and business start-ups in America.
The culture of the Americans in the earlier times resulted to the emergence of the industrious trait into the American system as it has enhanced the fulfillment of the culture of the Americans.
They have a diverse nature of their citizens who are governed by principles and democratic system (Markovits & Hellerman, 2001). Basically, the Americans culture is of the Western nature which is unique and has the conventional and open-minded elements, risk takers as well as free expressers (Glickstein et al 193). The cultural connection of an individual generally depends on the socio-economic class, political, occupation, ethnicity and religion. The Americans have therefore worked extremely hard since the colonial era so as to maintain their cultural values. They highly value the idea that working hard is not in vain but rather it pays off very well. This is significant to either an individual and to all the citizens in the United States. The colonial era culture really discouraged laziness hence they viewed as sin that was punished by low wages, hunger due lack of finances to buy food, low public esteem due to personal failure (Bulkeley 2008).
However any individual who was industrious did not regret at all as the hard work paid off so well. This was evident as the American farms never encouraged idlers, neither there were no roads, rails nor ships at those times and this made the going tougher but yet the people remained industrious and became tougher. Those times they took pride in their achievements using their own hands and after the Second World War they continued with the same spirit of working hard. This therefore led to development which resulted into the building of highways, accumulation of net worth, bearing of children, building of better houses and satisfaction of a person. A lot of corporations and industries erupted in the United States producing various goods and services generating an economy that operated 24 hours per day (Lipset, 1996). This same kind of hard work is still exceptional even in the present times as it has even advanced to a better view of hard work. For instance in the present times the Americans believe in initiating rewards before putting on all ones efforts into the business.
They also believe that the concept of working hard is not only limited to only those who are having the white collar jobs or the most knowledgeable but it also applicable to the children who are in school and workers in union (Bulkeley 2008). The American system has thus subjected to a token of appreciation for the children who has worked hard. Parents- children relationship has also enhanced the building of a stronger industrious foundation ion the American system as the parents has been working extremely hard to ensure that their children get what they need and to be able to survive through the hard times (Gingrich, et al 2011). This therefore enabled the entire nation of America to have the urge to work hard as nothing comes on a silver platter. Ultimately this led to America to stand out among other nations as a result of their industrious nature that made their economic state to be also outstanding.
Industrious trait has been of great significance to the Americans in making the nation an exception in terms of difference and special traits. Industriousness has resulted into independence of the entire state as well as the individual citizen. Most of the Americans have a strong conviction that they are self-defined and made therefore they have to work personally work hard in order to be able to achieve the best. Industriousness has also resulted to inventiveness as the people are active hence they are able to be creative. Americans have been able to invent over the years as it started long ago in the American history (De Vries 2011). Throughout the process of working hard the Americans have been able to come up with new technologies, new markets, new methods, new materials that has ended up making the United State a unique nation and far much developed than other countries.
The personal ambition of the Americans has enabled them to be able to attain personal ambition in America. The constitution of America has allowed so many opportunities whereas the capitalist system has rewarded the individual objective of the Americans (Gingrich, et al 2011). This has the driving power that inwardly motivates the citizens into achieving their personal dreams. This has driven them into taking more risks, working extra smart and hard while it restricts them to only moral standard of achieving their personal goals without exploiting other people (Gingrich, et al 2011). The personal ambition in America is just but wonderful and special especially when integrated with industriousness and ethical character.
Risk taking has been the order of the day since time immemorial in America as they have been courageous enough to invest all their energy, assets and even finances with an aim of attaining their objectives. They have promised themselves into sacrificing everything for the sake of seeing a job well done (De Vries 2011). Most of the Americans have taken quite huge risks in order to see the idea that they are having being successful as well as the invention and any well-known business. The Americans has also remained committed into their entrepreneur ideas as they are dedicated into achieving their goals which involves setting up business enterprises which attracts better roads, hospitals and other facilities. The earlier Americans referred to themselves as the captains of industry who showed great dedication to their work as well as the inventors who are dedicated into inventing far better advanced goods.
Currently, the Americans are still exceptional but not as the earlier times since almost every other nation have already adopted some of the industrious nature of the United States while others have come up with even better industriousness measures (De Vries 2011). However we cannot depict the fact that the Americans are way far ahead globally in terms of industrial development than any other nation but not in amusing way as the one that was there before.
In some years to come there is a high possibility that other nations may overpower the Americans who have become less vigorous than before. Good living standards have been witnessed in the United States due to the industrious nature that existed in the earlier days which has been transforming through the different generations. We can all attest that surely United States is a nation incomparable to others but if continuous reluctance will occur then the situation might change with time.
Reference
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