Quick question - what are "family values"?

[JoeM]

I've seen this phrase thrown around as if it has an absolute value.

....

those who claim a monopoly on what family values should be, please educate me.

Without wanting to sound trite and excepting political abuse of the phrase - you'll know when you have a family of your own.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Expected value of family members on the free market?

"How much are your daughters? I wish to purchase them. No? What about your wife, how much for her?"

 

[JollyRoger]

"Family values" is a catchphrase, that if you use it enough beforehand, magically deludes people into defending you when your actions don't fall within the bounds of what you implied the catchphrase meant.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

"Family values" is one of the reasons why whenever I am debating something I insist on defining my terms so carefully.

 

[CartesianFart]

I think "family values" is a collective notion (a purse full of beliefs) by a particular organization that lobby to politicians and the media.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

my family has strong family values and I believe in them.

 

[Rhymes]

my family has strong family values and I believe in them.

And what do they represent?? Define....

 

[MobBoss]

I agree - in US politics "family values" = homophobia.

Ridiculous. Fred Phelps isnt a poster boy for family values...not in any way, shape or form.

Family values are concepts that promote family growth and unity. If something has a negative impact upon the family then it can hardly be called a family value. Homophobia isnt a family value.

 

[LucyDuke]

Ridiculous. Fred Phelps isnt a poster boy for family values...not in any way, shape or form.

Did anyone say he was?

 

[JollyRoger]

Ridiculous. Fred Phelps isnt a poster boy for family values...not in any way, shape or form.

Sometimes the freakshows become the posterboys. Just like you assume that what you see at a gay pride parade is the norm for an entire group, some people are going to think that Phelps isn't that far off the norm for the family values crowd. Maybe we should annoint Ted Haggard as the posterboy for both groups and be done with it.

 

[The Yankee]

Let's ask the Family Research Council!

The Family Research Council (FRC) champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilization, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society. FRC shapes public debate and formulates public policy that values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family. Believing that God is the author of life, liberty, and the family, FRC promotes the Judeo-Christian worldview as the basis for a just, free, and stable society.

Core Principles
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* God exists and is sovereign over all creation. He created human beings in His image. Human life is, therefore, sacred and the right to life is the most fundamental of political rights.
* Life and love are inextricably linked and find their natural expression in the institutions of marriage and the family.
* Government has a duty to promote and protect marriage and family in law and public policy.
* The American system of law and justice was founded on the Judeo-Christian ethic.
* American democracy depends upon a vibrant civil society composed of families, churches, schools, and voluntary associations.

See, they mention schools!

Well, as much of a catchphrase as its become, first and foremost, no matter where you draw the political lines, it should be about breeding respect as well as making the family a stronger unit so that each individual in the family also becomes stronger as people.

 

[onejayhawk]

it's a political idea that doesn't really exist. There really isn't any law that would apply on the family level that would hold up in court. Since trying to force people to not be homosexual and read bible stories to children would never actually go through, it's just a ploy to trick a dumb constituency(sadly it works)

It does exist. It approaches the norm in fact. "Family Values" is simply that the nuclear family, ie one man, one woman, and their genetic offspring, is the best situation for the raising of children. It extends to the moral, ethical and religious values which promote the nuclear family, in preference to single parent, group, or same sex families.

J

 

[Toxitalk]

I've seen this phrase thrown around as if it has an absolute value. From my brief analysis it seems to mean - hating gays and not allowing them to be part of the family (or at least don't talk about it) or have their own families, puritan work ethic, being republican, basically being one of those quiet unassuming "perfect" families that you read about in the paper (you know, those stories you see all the time where the man hangs himself after murdering his wife and two daughters because he sees himself as a failure after losing his job or something, the neighbors didn't suspect a friggin' thing of course because part of family values in America seems to be not knowing or paying attention to your neighbors).

But maybe I have it wrong. For those who claim a monopoly on what family values should be, please educate me.

Its a turn that has been turned into a political football, for people who want to take a moral highground. It is therefore mostly used by polititions and religious types.

For me Family Values, should be those that promote those things you would like to see in a Family setting, for instance respect, love and truth. But for me you could cut all this down to one sentence.

Treat others how you wish to be treated yourself!

FACTOM (retro Battle Isle 3 reference)

 

[dh_epic]

Family values is anything that helps families. But it's come to be a loaded term, usually meaning religious values.

 

[Red Door]

my family has strong family values and I believe in them.

I don't think family values usually involves wanting to kill Palestinians.

 

[Narz]

western canada is over rated, check out eastern Canada, mostly the french part, and you'll never go back to the US

I did very much enjoy Toronto (not quite the French part but heard there's nice too).

 

[Shadylookin]

It does exist. It approaches the norm in fact. "Family Values" is simply that the nuclear family, ie one man, one woman, and their genetic offspring, is the best situation for the raising of children. It extends to the moral, ethical and religious values which promote the nuclear family, in preference to single parent, group, or same sex families.

J

the 'nuclear family' has never been the norm in society, and if family values is just another term for nuclear family I don't think it would have so much political pull.

 

[dh_epic]

Yeah, the nuclear family is way overrated. When my parents emigrated, they shared their house with extended family. Sometimes they even shared with family friends. This "one household one family" thing may have actually led to more problems than anything. I'm not sure how it started. Maybe it was the belief that we could all be so wealthy that we could all live separately.

 

[LucyDuke]

the 'nuclear family' has never been the norm in society, and if family values is just another term for nuclear family I don't think it would have so much political pull.

Agreed. The nuclear family is worthless by itself, and a distraction.

 

[downtown]

Agreed. The nuclear family is worthless by itself, and a distraction.

Why do you say that?