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Both America and China lose touch with traditional values
By Greg Cusack |
October 18, 2010, Monday
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DEAR opinion editor,
I was deeply touched by two opinion pieces appearing in your paper on Tuesday, October 12.
The first by Jeffrey Sachs was "right on" in capturing the mood and problems of America during this dismal season of our discontent.
I think the central thrust of his argument is captured here: "Much of America is in a nasty mood, and the language of compassion has more or less been abandoned. Both political parties serve their rich campaign contributors, while proclaiming that they defend the middle class. Neither party even mentions the poor ... America today presents the paradox of a rich country falling apart because of the collapse of its core values."
One of the oddities of our time is that the airwaves and print media are full of "values" talk, but they are either such generalized phrases (such as, "we need to return to the principles of the Founders") as to be meaningless, or moralizing judgments on the behavior of others.
It is "they," for example, who cheat, lie, misrepresent, etc, never "us." Yes there is scapegoating, too, towards "immigrants" and "Islamists," but underlying all of it is a nauseating non-examination of one's own behavior.
All of the great ethical teachers of all traditions have discussed the fundamental importance of knowing, and examining one's own behavior. Without such honest self-knowledge, we are unable to intelligently and compassionately approach others or to meaningfully address the problems facing us.
This moralizing, preaching and arrogantly condescending manner is not new to Americans, unfortunately (as our history with China so clearly demonstrates), but it is honestly depressing how the right wing in America so steadily (and successfully) reinforces it.
Excess by the few
As an American historian, I find these times reminding me of the America of the 1890s. That, too, was a time of excess by the few, suffering by the many, hostility towards immigrants, fears of foreigners, a willingness to engage in international adventures, and the overwhelming control of and by the wealthiest segment of society.
Mr Sachs also comments on how all of this has been reinforced by "consumerism" and an obsession with an individual's "getting ahead" without regard to the context of the larger community.
In that same edition of the paper, you had a moving and thoughtful piece (The Measure of Happiness...) in which you wrote:
"This mentality has profaned the words 'progress' and 'better.' In today's political vocabulary worldwide, 'progress' has been narrowly defined to mean greater material comforts - bigger houses, fancier furniture and sexier men and women.
"Even many of us born in the 1960s and earlier seem to have forgotten the very source of our happiness: love and sacrifice. We were happy because we loved our family and were loved in return, so we were ready to share a tiny room.
"When mutual love and sacrifice disappear, discontent arises."
Yes, and as Mr Sachs also warns, "social discontent" becomes more likely.
In your opinion pieces, sir, you have often mused about the consequences of a culture's forgetting its past, especially the ethical values once central to it.
Mr Sachs thinks that "equality" is a core American value. I am not so certain. I think "shared struggle for greater gain" used to be, as well as "fairness" and "respect for one's neighbor."
But these all have suffered from the mindless pursuit of individual wealth, despite consequences (to others, to the environment, to our children). Americans still consider themselves "God-fearing people." It is true that attendance at churches still remains relatively high (especially compared to other countries in the West). But that is focusing on "form" rather than on "substance."
The United States inherited the values of both Judaism and the Protestant form of Christianity, both of which emphasized the responsibility of individuals AND concern for the poor, the disadvantaged, and the outsider.
One would be hard-pressed to find any evidence today that these values still function in guiding the lives of many, if not most, Americans today.
So what might bring about a welcome (and much over-due) "awakening" to old values? Sometimes societies, like individuals, are not able to come to their senses until they "crash."
Like an addict who pushes himself day after day, denying the reality of addition until he can no longer function and has lost nearly everything, perhaps America will continue in its selfish delusions, including worshipping the false god of capitalism, until widespread evidence of dysfunction demands new awareness. Perhaps.
But it is also possible, as Mr Sachs warns, that the United States, finding its position declining, will angrily lash out, both internally and externally, in renewed acts of blind self-righteousness.
When we Americans and Chinese wish each other well these days, may we really mean "peace and a healthy, balanced society" for both our peoples. The alternative is too frightening to think about.
(The author was a member of the Iowa state House of Representatives. He also served in the Iowan executive branch. He retired in 2004.)
I was deeply touched by two opinion pieces appearing in your paper on Tuesday, October 12.
The first by Jeffrey Sachs was "right on" in capturing the mood and problems of America during this dismal season of our discontent.
I think the central thrust of his argument is captured here: "Much of America is in a nasty mood, and the language of compassion has more or less been abandoned. Both political parties serve their rich campaign contributors, while proclaiming that they defend the middle class. Neither party even mentions the poor ... America today presents the paradox of a rich country falling apart because of the collapse of its core values."
One of the oddities of our time is that the airwaves and print media are full of "values" talk, but they are either such generalized phrases (such as, "we need to return to the principles of the Founders") as to be meaningless, or moralizing judgments on the behavior of others.
It is "they," for example, who cheat, lie, misrepresent, etc, never "us." Yes there is scapegoating, too, towards "immigrants" and "Islamists," but underlying all of it is a nauseating non-examination of one's own behavior.
All of the great ethical teachers of all traditions have discussed the fundamental importance of knowing, and examining one's own behavior. Without such honest self-knowledge, we are unable to intelligently and compassionately approach others or to meaningfully address the problems facing us.
This moralizing, preaching and arrogantly condescending manner is not new to Americans, unfortunately (as our history with China so clearly demonstrates), but it is honestly depressing how the right wing in America so steadily (and successfully) reinforces it.
Excess by the few
As an American historian, I find these times reminding me of the America of the 1890s. That, too, was a time of excess by the few, suffering by the many, hostility towards immigrants, fears of foreigners, a willingness to engage in international adventures, and the overwhelming control of and by the wealthiest segment of society.
Mr Sachs also comments on how all of this has been reinforced by "consumerism" and an obsession with an individual's "getting ahead" without regard to the context of the larger community.
In that same edition of the paper, you had a moving and thoughtful piece (The Measure of Happiness...) in which you wrote:
"This mentality has profaned the words 'progress' and 'better.' In today's political vocabulary worldwide, 'progress' has been narrowly defined to mean greater material comforts - bigger houses, fancier furniture and sexier men and women.
"Even many of us born in the 1960s and earlier seem to have forgotten the very source of our happiness: love and sacrifice. We were happy because we loved our family and were loved in return, so we were ready to share a tiny room.
"When mutual love and sacrifice disappear, discontent arises."
Yes, and as Mr Sachs also warns, "social discontent" becomes more likely.
In your opinion pieces, sir, you have often mused about the consequences of a culture's forgetting its past, especially the ethical values once central to it.
Mr Sachs thinks that "equality" is a core American value. I am not so certain. I think "shared struggle for greater gain" used to be, as well as "fairness" and "respect for one's neighbor."
But these all have suffered from the mindless pursuit of individual wealth, despite consequences (to others, to the environment, to our children). Americans still consider themselves "God-fearing people." It is true that attendance at churches still remains relatively high (especially compared to other countries in the West). But that is focusing on "form" rather than on "substance."
The United States inherited the values of both Judaism and the Protestant form of Christianity, both of which emphasized the responsibility of individuals AND concern for the poor, the disadvantaged, and the outsider.
One would be hard-pressed to find any evidence today that these values still function in guiding the lives of many, if not most, Americans today.
So what might bring about a welcome (and much over-due) "awakening" to old values? Sometimes societies, like individuals, are not able to come to their senses until they "crash."
Like an addict who pushes himself day after day, denying the reality of addition until he can no longer function and has lost nearly everything, perhaps America will continue in its selfish delusions, including worshipping the false god of capitalism, until widespread evidence of dysfunction demands new awareness. Perhaps.
But it is also possible, as Mr Sachs warns, that the United States, finding its position declining, will angrily lash out, both internally and externally, in renewed acts of blind self-righteousness.
When we Americans and Chinese wish each other well these days, may we really mean "peace and a healthy, balanced society" for both our peoples. The alternative is too frightening to think about.
(The author was a member of the Iowa state House of Representatives. He also served in the Iowan executive branch. He retired in 2004.)
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