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September 7, 2005
Our Shared Western Values
In my last post I took some people to task for having fuzzy ideas as to Western Values. What follows are some of the things that we in the West do, or should, have in common. They are what make us what we are, and make us different, and yes, better, than others around the world.
A Judo-Christian heritage. I'm not so much talking about going to church on Sundays, or even really being religious. The simple fact is that the Old and New Testaments have had enormous influence on our development whether some people like it or not.
A Democratic, or Representative form of Government. One can trace our democratic heritage from Athens, to the Magna Carta, to the Declaration of Independence.
A Free Market Economy, with Regulations. We are the envy of the world. We have figured out how to bring the most economic well being to the most people. Am amazing achievement, really, given human history.
Tolerance of Differences. A proper definition of "tolerance" is a societal agreement not to legally persecute people who are different in some way, or to openly "hassle" them in everyday life. Unfortunately, the term been misused of late. Gay-rights activists now tell us that "tolerance" really means approval of their lifestyle. This is incorrect. One may tolerate something one disapproves of.
Individual Rights. This as opposed to "community rights", sometimes espoused by advocates of "Asian Values". Further, rights are not "culturally specific". These rights, such as the ones in the American Bill of Rights, "are endowed to us by our creator', and thus apply to everyone on the planet, whether their governments are currently respecting them or not.
We see ourselves as Individuals. This as opposed to seeing ourselves as members of a group. Sadly, some in the West today are trying to reverse this trend. Paradoxically, it is the "multiculturalists" who are pushing this.
We look Forward Instead of Backward. Tradition is important, but it is the emphasis that counts. This idea of looking forward is stongest in the United States, but I believe that in is a value that most in the West hold.
Feel free to disagree, or to suggest additions.
Posted by Tom at September 7, 2005 11:00 AM
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