american values.

a community health nursing textbook says something like this:

There are only two values left in American Society:

1)Materialism: you are what you own

2)Individualism: you put yourself first and let the rest of the world worry about itself.


Reference.com says this:

1) Materialism (noun):

preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.

2) Individualism (noun):

1. a social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual.
2. the principle or habit of or belief in independent thought or action.
3. the pursuit of individual rather than common or collective interests; egoism.
4. individual character; individuality.
5. an individual peculiarity.
6. Philosophy.
a. the doctrine that only individual things are real.
b. the doctrine or belief that all actions are determined by, or at least take place for, the benefit of the individual, not of society as a whole.

I say this:


These American values = the death of community

There is no room for community when we form attachments to "things" instead of people.

There is no room for community when in your life, there is only room your yourself and your personal gain.

that's why we (we representing society as a whole) spend more time taking care of our cars, our yards, and our homes instead of making sure basic needs are met for our neighbors.
that's why we spend more time in strategy meetings to increase sales and productivity at work instead of listening to our children's stories at the dinner table.
that's why we have forgotten the dinner table altogether and instead opt for family meals around the television set.
that's why we have "homebound" ministries at church that send a taped sermon to the house of the elderly or disabled each week so they feel a part of the congregation. What if we just sent the congregation to the homebound insead of a VHS?

What if the American Dream no longer included picket fences?

fences = exclusivity anyway

What if we appreciated the cultural feast of The Melting Pot instead of fearing diversity?

What if the Land of Opportunity and Promise actually meant that it promised opportunity to all instead of just to those who can afford it?

materialism.
individualism.
the noose of community.