The American Ideal

"We will walk on our own feet,
We will work with our own hands,
We will speak with our own minds."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
I think this quote reflects the American Ideal very well. Even from before the United States was a country, the thirteen colonies that founded the country had wanted independence from British rule. They fought a war for their freedom and independence. In the Declaration of Independence, it stated that people have the right to "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness." Also, in the First Amendment to the constitution, it says that people have the "right of speech". Included in these famous documents that form the foundation of the Unites States is parts of the American Ideal. Even today, this statement applies. Americans still value individual rights as something very important in their society. 
In the Taiwanese society, this quote might now apply. Yes, individuality and independence is valued, but its is not as important as some other things that ties us back to our history. I feel like the Chinese and the Taiwanese view family histories and the name and honor of families and the individual persons in the family. They take pride in their family names and care much less about each separate person. The reason to this might be because there is a large human population in China. They see groups of people as more important that single persons.