What are "American Values"?

[downtown]

I'm seeing this tossed around an awful lot lately...such and such groups are "threats to our values".
Seems awfully vauge here. Lets get some operational definitions. What are "American Values?" How do they differ from other values of the west? Other countries? the world? Does everybody in America have to value the exact same things?

 

[Riesstiu IV]

Watch South Park and you will understand what makes this American values great.

 

[Leif]

They are whatever you decide they are.

Personally, I say '**** tradition', but that's just me.

 

[Inqvisitor]

I'm seeing this tossed around an awful lot lately...such and such groups are "threats to our values".
Seems awfully vauge here. Lets get some operational definitions. What are "American Values?" How do they differ from other values of the west? Other countries? the world? Does everybody in America have to value the exact same things?

Traditional European Christian cultural outlook, strong respect for traditional family life and marriage, belief in national pride and charity toward fellow man...pretty much similiar to the universal values of Western civilization up until the weasel generation (world war II) started running the show.

 

[Perfection]

Meaningless words slung around by political types as a justification for thier spin on what should be done.

 

[blackheart]

Depends on the American you ask really.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Meaningless words slung around by political types as a justification for thier spin on what should be done.

I am inclined somewhat to agree. And I even like this darned country.

 

[jojoweb]

USA and Europe have close cultures, but i think that there are specific values in your country, like in ours. In America you believe more than us in :

-Capital punishment
-Religion and cult of jesus
-Anti-communism
-Family order


But, even if United States have a unique culture, and common values, i think that america must be a world, not only a country. Your people love liberalism and capitalism (70 % of the Americans love this system according to a poll), but, the movements against the globalization was created in america. You talk all the time about religion, respect, and somethings like that, but in your tv, people always say "****" or "suck". So, i think that America don't think as a unique man. And some old people want to kill your variety of thought. They are stupids. In Europe this kind of people is so much less influent...

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

And one thing I noticed - a lot more Americans think that the country is headed in the wrong direction than Europeans, as far as I can tell. This country is either too religious or not religious enough, the Republicans or Democrats are screwing it up, there are too many or too few regulations, etc.

 

[Perfection]

I am inclined somewhat to agree. And I even like this darned country.

Note by this I'm not saying there aren't value systems that have an American flavor to them (like constitution worship), rather that the word has been slung along to the point where it's meaning is almost entirely context driven.

 

[sanabas]

I'm seeing this tossed around an awful lot lately...such and such groups are "threats to our values".
Seems awfully vauge here. Lets get some operational definitions. What are "American Values?" How do they differ from other values of the west? Other countries? the world? Does everybody in America have to value the exact same things?

They are the opposite of whatever you're pointing at when you declare something 'a threat to our values.' Just another tool to get people to ignore thought or logic in favour of emotion.

 

[Kayak]

They are the opposite of whatever you're pointing at when you declare something 'a threat to our values.' Just another tool to get people to ignore thought or logic in favour of emotion.

Sounds good, now let's go hang someone!

 

[The Yankee]

I'm seeing this tossed around an awful lot lately...such and such groups are "threats to our values".
Seems awfully vauge here. Lets get some operational definitions. What are "American Values?" How do they differ from other values of the west? Other countries? the world? Does everybody in America have to value the exact same things?

They are Family Values and whatever those 20% that said they voted on values in 2004 would say they are. Now if only we could define those...

Then there's the Morals issue...which seems to shift just as much as Values.

 

[Kozmos]

It is to work hard and make sacrifices,so your kids could have a better life and go crazy and destroy themselves.

 

[Babbler]

Meaningless words slung around by political types as a justification for thier spin on what should be done.

You beat me to it.

I remember Paul Martin's Liberals using "Canadian values" during the 2004/2006 elections. And I wouldn't surprise me if the platitudes of "British values" or "Dutch value" or "(insert country here) values" was used around the world by tried old governing parties.

 

[ybbor]

In the sense it's used it generally means "judeo-christian values"

 

[MobBoss]

Baseball, Hotdogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet.

 

[GenMarshall]

Baseball, Hotdogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet.

Dont you mean General Motors?

(Chevrolets are actualy under the General Motor's Banner)

 

[HawkeyeGS]

whatever justifies the invasion of this weeks 'national threat'

 

[Dragonlord]

I remember Paul Martin's Liberals using "Canadian values" during the 2004/2006 elections. And I wouldn't surprise me if the platitudes of "British values" or "Dutch value" or "(insert country here) values" was used around the world by tried old governing parties.

Too true... let me just add that the last political use of phrases like 'good old German values' in our country was by the Nazi party... no German politician has dared use the phrase since then (though some came close) which is a good thing IMO.