Our American Values

Last week, Mr. Smith gave us a list of 23 American Values and choose 5 values and describe how and if they still apply today, what sort of sanctions are issued if they aren't followed.

Material comfort is one value which Americans certainly take part in today, especially at a place like Stevenson. On the bus to school each day, I see no less than half the riders with trademark white Apple earbuds in their ears, listening to Apple iPods. We go to school until we're 18 years of age and then most go on to college, where we earn degrees to get high-paying jobs. With more money, Americans hope to buy more and more "stuff" to make them comfortable materially, at as cheap of prices as possible. (Hence our big box-mart stores and Chinese manufacturing) Americans like having things, without a doubt.

Racism and group superiority, while not the same as the kind of racism one would see back in 1965, still is an applicable American value today. Many Americans harbor racist feelings towards Mexican immigrants (both legal and not). We're going through an economic slump, so the first people to blame of course are the newest immigrants to come to our United States. "They're all uneducated and don't speak ingles, so they must be the cause of all our economic troubles!" Stevenson students also buy into the blatantly racist notion that Hispanics only do landscaping/janitorial work. We live in the country of opportunity, why should that apply only to "Americans"? (A blend of many cultures from all over the world)

While romantic love is a desirable ideal, it seems to be far less common in this country today. Divorce rates have soared over the past decade, showing that maybe people who thought they were in "romantic love" may not have been. It's easier than ever to get a divorce too. Kids at Stevenson are a lot more into having short term "hook-ups" than in years past, and relationships oftentimes are very short-lived. (Although maybe that always has been the case with high-school relationships) I'm going to have to take this value.. off the list. And now we'll take a quick commercial break!

*1 Dinner Later*

Physical fitness is very much a proclaimed American value to combat the little obesity problem America has. We see it in our commercials, in magazines, and other places in life. In high-school especially, the athletic/fit body is idolized socially. We have gym class still thankfully, and it is a commendable program unlike many others around the States. On the other hand, though, a lot of people have resorted to watching physically fit people playing sports on TV, all the while eating chips and other junk food. However, this practice, regardless of its popularity, is looked down upon, which supports our value of Physical Fitness = Good.

Finally, we have the value of caring for the environment. Recycling has become commonplace over the past decade, and polls show more people want to do something about slowing/stopping global warming. With the election of the Obama administration, efforts and capital have been put into researching alternative energy sources like wind, tidal, and solar energy. Gas mileage has become an important selling point for cars these days, demonstrated by the popularity of the Toyota Prius. (Although there also is an economic incentive to using less gas too) Huge gas-guzzlers still are common, especially in the South, but generally people now know that everyone wins when you get more miles to the gallon. It's a difficult concept for some to grasp, because if we reduce emissions by lowering the amount of factory production in the United States, we will fall behind in the shadow of China, which has unrestricted greenhouse-gas emissions. Overall though, the general will of the public is leaning in the direction of environmental-friendliness.