Phil said:

"Actual American values:
*spend your way to happiness
*buy more
*do whatever it takes to get "ahead"
*whatever you do look good doing it
*it's not my fault
*what's in it for me?

Just thought I'd bring some reality to the discussion."

At first I was thinking this was kind of funny but then I realized that this pretty much sums it all up.

A good subject though.

Freedom, prosperity, hope, equality, strength are all words that come to mind when I think of what "American Values" *should* be.

The words "American Values" conjure up certain thoughts in my mind.

I think of the 75 year old white man* with the modest, clean house, with well kept yard, wife in the kitchen making some grub. There would be pictures of their three children and grandchildren sitting on top of the upright piano. The guy's probably got an old, worn out tattoo of an anchor on his forearm that he got when he was in the war. There's probably a Navy flag flying out front next to "Old Glory". The man always told the kids "never tell a lie", "work hard" and "take care of your family", etc. He's just your regular average Joe who served his country, knows the value of hard work and good old fashioned honesty.

I know this man. He doesn't necessarily have a name. Rather, he has many names. This is the vision of MY America as I was growing up. This is what I am accustomed to. I don't say it is the only way, I don't say it is the right way or the wrong way. It's just the way I know.

When I think of "American Values", I think of that guy in that scenario: "old school", middle class, family oriented.

I realize that this is not the America that everybody knows. It's just the one I know from a more innocent time.

Nowadays, I look around me and I see the manifestation of the "Values" in Phil's list.

That old guy I described, he could be my Dad or my Grandpa... What happened to his kids? His grandkids? My Fellow Americans?

I grew up around men like the one I described. They seemed like real stand-up guys - you know - Truth, Justice, The American Way.

Where is the disconnect between guys like that and the lying, cheating, corner-cutting people I see around me?

Sometimes I wonder if I'm just getting old and out of touch.

One thing I know for sure though, at least around here, people are very self centered. Image, Money, More, Me!

We're Doomed!

* Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting that white, middle class and hetero are the only acceptable options when it comes to "Values". That's just the background I come from.

You broke it but you wanna see it shatter...