We have a national problem that relates to our universal values. While no one is perfect we should have a minimum set of values that guides us and pushes us to make proper decisions. Sometimes our personal needs get in the way and sometimes we don't have the ability to think beyond our own wants. However, without a level of shared values in society will someday dissipate based on the divergence of those values.
Think about it for a moment. Values are what hold us together. As Americans we have certain values that we share in common that include freedom of religion, freedom of speech, economic opportunities, and practicality (There are more). Truth and justice are some values that are hold sacred across different societies.
The problem is that when we see obvious and blatant violation of values we have a responsibility to hold those who violated them accountable. We are not talking necessarily about life mistakes but about those things that are truly designed to harm, exploit, unfairly profit off, manipulate, and/or damage other people. The people we should not be encouraging or promoting in our society.
Often as a people we can be ignorant. Someone picks a fight and lies and we all line up to support. We go with our social networks and we go with the symbolism of similarity. That is one reason why minorities often complain of unfair treat as people are willing to compromise their values against those they see as different (Its not race or religion specific. Many people have the capacity to do this.)
The question then becomes what do you do if the values of others are not functioning as they should? Gross violations of the law and moral code. If we allow a free pass for such behaviors they spread through socially learned behaviors that could eventually distort the values of an entire group.
For example, bad values led to a wholesale attack on me and my family. To solidify those bad values they encouraged as many of their friends and community member as possible to be involved to focus on damaging, disrespecting, lying about, and provoking fights with the targets (There is some history of this behavior that some local officials feel afraid to confront and that is why it has grown. Placation of hate doesn't work.). Worse, they utilized their close association with a couple of officers to violate the Constitution and erode the trust that those positions were expected to uphold.
Now, if this group would have stopped a long time ago we would not be in this situation because better minds and positive learning would have came forward. They have not positively adapted despite what appears to be an attempt to keep friends and associates out of trouble, the actual targets were discounted (I actually tried to help them think through their behaviors and take steps to correct themselves before they get in serious trouble. Remember there are state, federal and UN laws that were likely violated and that will be out of the hands of local officials.). That in and of itself is a major violation of trust and we should not have to rely on such institutions to deal with things that are obviously wrong. People have the right to be protected from roving gangs of bigots and their blind followership.
(It comes down to who has more rights. A single father protecting his family or a group of ex sports players seeking to harm the targets through misinformation, intimidation, blocking opportunities and ostracization. i.e. cleansing. Its creepy and we know its creepy! In our current environment some will support removing minorities from communities and others will be appalled as they know all too well the subjectivity of values and how such behaviors are more common than people think as supported by the low reporting of hate crimes.)
Where do we go from here? If and when institutions default and their is no accountability you have to accept that hate is deeply embedded in our society and there isn't always checks and balances. Values, truth, integrity, and justice are not universally applied and are highly dependent on who is the perpetrator and who is the target. So you do the only thing you can do....that is encourage the system to strengthen its own values and uphold the Constitution where there have been violations and institutional defaults. The next generation deserves people willing to stand up for their needs to live free, happy, and meaningful lives.
Of course we run into our political spectrum where decisions are often not made on those values but on connectivity of political adherents (You can tell from watching paralanguage many don't believe what the bigger personalities in their parties are saying but they repeat what they must to get ahead. Its a sign of lack of integrity and in turn the inability to use leadership positions for positive national gains. For many its for self gain. btw some people really believe in what they say but in todays political environment they don't last long.). The needs of the nation and its population (being about half and half) are fodder for political fights.
Where we could have maintained those values and worked toward problem solving and resolution, we often find wan ton mudslinging that has little end in itself beyond the joy of throwing something to diminish the other side (Do we really believe all the things people are saying about the other side? We can't just keep manipulating the population without consequences. Think about it. All institutions are declining now. We have stories in our history who try and teach us essential values. The Boy who Cried Wolf.)
Ask yourself this question. Looking at our current political spectrum and what appears to be a lack of universal values and where do you believe we will be in say 10 years if such behaviors continue? There is no right or wrong answer but I do believe our risks will rise each year we don't find a middle path and uphold our shared values. This is also why we need the best and brightest (those with deep seated principles and abilities) to rise and not the most connected (Those who seek advantage through social networks and struggle with living their values. Poor political environments are created by poor values and misinformation. Skewing the truth becomes "name of the game". Few took into consideration that the success of the nation and the needs of the population to secure opportunities and democracy for the future is not "a game".).
Keep in mind that what is happening on a local and national level is something people are learning from. There is a point where the pendulum shifts too far and can't be brought back because people no longer see eye-to-eye on the fundamentals of what makes us a singular and unbroken people (Our enemies clap with glee as we eat ourselves from the inside. Wait until all these investigations are over and we get a chance to look in hindsight at what could potentially be happening. Time answers all questions. Telling our leadership to take their responsibilities seriously instead of a chronic bickering seems to be a dumb statement).
Let us use a local example of distorted values and how it would be natural for it to break down trust (Our institutions are built on trust). It would be unwise, and perhaps reckless, for me to trust any member of the local hate group because they have put me and my family at risk and then had years to continue to provoke situations (Not to mention how quickly they raise the value of their kids and lower the value of my dark skinned kids. That includes harming them and manipulating elders to take from them what was rightfully theirs. All legal in today's world when social networks pervert moral conscious. Right and wrong are based in ones social background and skin color...local officials that support those dark values.). I have not only a responsibility to them, but also to others, and to the community to not wink and nod poor behavior least it becomes embedded and repeated against others.
Justice is a value system we should support in our society (No matter the race or religion of the perpetrator or the targets. That is why universal application is important.). So I will push for change and I will hold the line against such a hate group. I will do so with kindness, empathy, truth, and courage because those are my values (I am not a perfect person but I am very experienced in life and have been exposed to worlds most people in this group couldn't possibly understand. To judge me or my kids based on "super cool" limited perspective isn't likely to have much level of accuracy. We are just in different fish bowls of knowledge and background. Another story that seeks to teach society something Allegory of Cave. While I may have came from there and hold some similarities of background I have explored this world far and wide. We are no longer the same people with the same values. I doubt based on their persistence and misinformation there will ever be rectification. ) I can no longer assume that others hold those same values. We owe it to my kids, others kids, and our future to do the right thing. That requires insight and integrity as a process of person development. I dont see anyone gaining such knowledge overnight. So let us wait and see....there is more to patriotism than blindly repeating and following others.
...again my words fall on deaf ears and we will all suffer the consequences of lack of national moral courage. Loving your country means standing up for it! Do I expect brighter minds to come forward. Not really because that is the nature of things at this time in history. Few hold such values...its mostly lip service. Hindsight wisdom is always more cheap than foresight fortitude. That is also why I dont automatically believe people whose values become important only once the political and legal winds change and its convenient to stand up for them. Where were they when it counted?
Our inability to fight for what is right means something is wrong. Everyday there is a lack of accountability is further evidence of the power of cleansing and the slow erosion of values that keep the two sides connected. Time is no longer on our side and it will determine the truth of such situations. Others have complained how things "work" and their voices also fall on corrupt indifference; at least on a local level.
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