Values are defined as learned, emotionally charged, relatively enduring, epistemology grounded and represented moral conceptualizations that assist us in making judgments and in preparations us to take action (Baker, 24). In simple terms the choices we make and priorities we set are basically founded on the values we hold. The usage of this concept encompasses personal values as well as communal values. America and its citizenry have the embodiment of concepts and ideals that they stand for. American values provide the basis for judgments about what is vital for any nation to rise and succeed. The fundamental values that define American way include; freedom to learn; freedom of conscience; civic participation; community and family; societal and personal responsibility; fairness and justice. These values found in the American constitution are embedded in the collective soul of our citizenry (Baker, 26). Many pundits however argue that values are subjective to an individual or to any given group of individuals. The disparities in definition of American values vary with the experiences in each citizen’s lifetime. President Barrack Obama summed American values “Everybody getting a fair shot..Everybody doing their fair share..Everybody playing by the same rules”.
In the year 1776 United States of America came into being after the great American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). George Washington the first American president that foresaw the writing of the new constitution that enshrined the national values that upon the soul of the American citizenry is hinged on. The bill of rights captures the values and liberties that define the very existence of the American people. The individual rights that fall under the Bill of Rights address the fundamental liberties that a citizen is entitled to. The abolition of slavery was also a key milestone in the nation hood of America as it provided a platform of making America a land for all despite the diversities (DeVos, 16).
All values are learned over time. They are transmitted and instilled through a complicated web of societal interactions and agents. The constituents of this web are family members, social peers, rites of passage, religious activities and work related activities. Values too are relatively enduring as they are based on the heritage of a nation or a society. They are not easily altered. The next aspect of national values is that they are not necessarily known consciously by either the individual or the society. The values tend toward consistency where like values attract like values. Compatibility is vital as values that are not consistent with already held ones are easily ignored. Values act as the moral fabric that social criteria and cultural assumptions of good and bad, noble and vile or moral and immoral are based upon. Strong feelings and emotions inundate values where what is valued as proper is passionately desired and what is valued as bad is strongly avoided(DeVos, 18).
The American believes and value opportunity and the freedom to learn. This is enough motivation to work to preserve the public education as the great push of opportunity for America’s generations and generations to come. The public schools existence has to be shielded against any assault. The federal government manages public schools through United States Department of Education. The aim of the public schools is to uphold the individual and American values of freedom to learn and equip one with skills necessarily to impact on their livelihoods, the society and America wholly as a land of opportunity. Education has been enhanced since 1700 through creation of more institutions of learning; elementary, middle and high school. The public education system has been improved over the years with introduction of more comprehensive education syllabus. The education system dwells on talents and interests of students at large. The colleges too over the years have been the avenue of creation of new innovations and research, talent growth and national platforms for integration. The American government defends the freedom to learn and equal access to quality education to all Americans.
Freedom of conscience is one of the American values. This entails American’s right to worship as they desire free from any interference, right to express one views and freedom to make one’s decision about one’s matters of conscience. America is home to many people of different religious affiliations (Baker, 39). The First Amendment denies the federal government any authority to put in place any law respecting either an establishment of any religion or prohibiting its free exercise. Religion however in America is America but not adherent. America stands out in the world as the home of many protestant churches that are spread out globally. The American citizenry values freedom of expression this is exhibited with the growth of information avenues that is the media. America has the most informed public and most liberal mainstream media that is reveled worldwide. Many laws have been enacted in the past since 1700 empowering the media as a knowledge source in America. Benjamin Franklin is one of the pioneers of the American press which has grown in leaps and bounds to have the most prolific press globally. The mass media for instance has made great strides in the years since 1907 with the advent of the Television development. The Voice of America was one of the earliest radio stations that transmitted information across America and currently is received globally.
Civic participation is one of America’s values that have been replicated world over. After the Great American Revolutionary War, civic engagement was essential in the strengthening of the American democracy. From John Stuart Mill onward to Alexis Tocqueville(1945) and Robert Putnam share the common belief that participation in civic life makes one a better individual. The American since 1700 has strived to lower barriers of citizen participation such as reduction of the voting age from 21 to 18 years in many states and also expanding the democratic space to have women participate in civic matters. The American citizenry is very aware and active of the management of their governments as Abraham Lincoln quipped that the American government is a government of the people by the people for the people. The American citizens participate actively in the states’ affairs through civic activism, opinion polls, referendums and civil strikes(DeVos, 33).
Community and family is another pillar of the American values that promotes respect for the family. The family values are defined best as the political and social beliefs that hold the nuclear family as the vital unit of society. The community and family values in some quarters are defined as Christian values while others view it mostly as conservative principles. The American definition of these values encompasses living wage, universal healthcare, support of policies that protect children and much more. The American public over the years has been very keen on debates such as abortions that impact on family values(DeVos, 38). The 2013 Presidential Debate pitting Barrack Obama and Mitt Romney tackled abortion, same-sex marriages and other issues that touch on abortion. The community and family values too hinge on the desire to have pluralism and diversity making America the land that treats every citizen equally despite the difference in race, color and descent. The community and family values ensure that hatred and intolerance are combated. The federal government over the years has instituted policies to redress impact of past and current discrimination such as affirmative action in institutions of higher learning that ensures proper representation of the minorities.
The last American value is the belief in fairness and justice that seeks to preserve political, economic and civic opportunity without forgetting constitutional and civil liberties of the American citizenry. The American people are opposed to discrimination of any sort on the basis of gender, national origin, race, or sexual orientation. The appointment of qualified men and women in the different judiciary is also one of the parameters of this value. The American public seeks to preserve an independent judiciary that upholds the individual liberties and due process of law for all (Baker, 44). The judiciary since 1700 up to date has been the pinnacle and custodian of the constitution. The American courts have made many landmark rulings that have been used world over as precedents by judges.
Works Cited
Baker, Wayne E. America's crisis of values : reality and perception. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 2005. Print.
DeVos, Dick. Rediscovering American values : the foundations of our freedom for the 21st century. New York, N.Y: Plume, 1998. Print.
