Examining the blog (http://geert-hofstede.com/united-states.html) it states,
" Everybody is unique, yet social control ensures that most people will not deviate too much from the norm. Moreover, within every country regional cultural differences exist, also in the States. Americans, however, don’t need to go to a cultural briefing before moving to another state successfully."
This passage relates back to Bellah's idea that we all share a common belief in individualism. Despite all Americans wanting to feel like we are all very different, we actually share a cultural norm and anyone who seems to step out of that norm is usually ridiculed or looked down on. In the passage it states "Americans, however, don’t need to go to a cultural briefing before moving to another state successfully." This is because, despite the different rules or culture of each state, the rules and culture are centered around a common goal or idea all Americans share. Therefore, it is easier to move around and adapt to the surroundings of different states because in each state everyone is doing their own thing in the same way.
This blog also breaks down the common culture concepts americans share and individalism ranks the highest. Individualism is decribed as
"people´s self-image is defined in terms of “I” or “We”. In Individualist societies people are only supposed to look after themselves and their direct family. In Collectivist societies people belong to “in groups” that take care of them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty."
American look after themselves and their direct family. this we see through the descriptions of the characters presented in Bellah's Habits of the Heart, Chapter 1. and later on in Chapter 2, the utilitarian individualism, "that in a society where each vigorously pursued his own interest, the social good would automatically emerge", the idea here is if I take care of doing my part well and raising a family to pursue individual goals, all will turn out well for society. We know this isn't true but that does not take away from the fact that it is the culture we share, this idea that all American can succeed if we all follow the individualist path. This is what the blog is saying and what Bellah is trying to get us to understand.
Likewise, is another blog for immigrants coming to America, who wish to learn the culture and how to adapt to our individualism.
http://www.nayajeevan.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25:examining-americas-cultural-values-individualism&catid=3:articles&Itemid=8
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