Reference no: EM131355966

Question: American Values

Throughout history, and across nations and cultures, mankind has struggled between good and bad. We often hear officials speak of "Family Values" or "American Values." The nature of this sort of political rhetoric is that we assume the meaning of these terms, often without actually defining them.

In this phase we explore values.

Describe the average American: you can't. Americans do not share a common race, national heritage, hair color, language, or religion. What we do have in common is our citizenship and a system of values which usually include justice, liberty, and equality. Critics of our society would suggest that Americans also value materialism, entitlement, and selfishness. Since Americans do not have a common ethnic background our common values are the glue that binds American society.

Among the many good things about American society is our right to engage in dissent against the government. According to Thomas Jefferson, we have a duty to protect the rights of others against injustice by engaging in dissent against the unjust actions of government. We can help our society to pursue greater justice by defending what is just or fair and being critical of what is unjust.

Patriotic values are not uniquely American. However, to understand our role as citizens each of us needs to build our own unique and individual foundation of citizenship which is based on objective knowledge and a value system so that we can help perpetuate a system of government whose authority is based upon, "the consent of the governed" (Jefferson, 1776).

English writer Beatrice Evelyn Hall is credited with having written a phrase which sums up the duty of American citizens and free speech when she wrote, "I don't agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

With more than 300 million citizens there are a lot of conflicting opinions about what is just. At times being a "good American" means protecting the constitutional rights of those we disagree with or those we don't like.

At times, it is easier to defend our ideals than it is to live up to them. Forging a better society should be difficult.

During this phase, you will:

Synthesize information from a variety of sources and translate it into written arguments defending the importance of preserving civil and human rights in a democratic society.

Establish how personal values, behaviors, and integrity lead to building trusting relationships as part of the political process.

Critique the rational underpinnings and legitimacy of arguments to choose more ethical courses of political action.

Video & Commentary: American Values
https://youtu.be/nHFTtz3uucY (Please watch Video in link)

FDR ''Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself'' 1933 Inaugural Address, Donald Pohlmeyer , 2013
In 1933 Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the 32nd President of the United States. This video is a snippet from Roosevelt's first inaugural address. FDR won an unprecedented four Presidential elections (which resulted in the 22nd Amendment which limits a President to two terms). Although you cannot tell from this video, like many Americans of this era, FDR was a victim of polio and was unable to walk unaided.

FDR's wife, Eleanor was the niece of America's 26th President Teddy Roosevelt. (Yes, the teddy bear is named after Roosevelt and yes, Robin Williams plays "Teddy" in the movie series, "Night at the Museum"). Interestingly, Eleanor was related to 11 American Presidents.

Although WWII began in 1939, the United States was stayed out of the war until 1941. In his State of the Union speech that year, Franklin Roosevelt stated that our fourth freedom is, "Freedom from Fear." In 1948 his wife Eleanor helped write the United Nation's, "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" (which you will read in Phase 4). Mrs. Roosevelt's declaration will include the human right to freedom from fear. In 1991 (female) Burmese rights activist Aung San Suu Kyi (Aun-san-sue- shee ) published a text entitled, "Freedom from Fear", which we will read in this phase.

Fear is a very powerful emotion. Social scientists know that evoking anxiety, or fear, is the primary emotion which will get humans to pause and change their behavior. At the time of FDR's first election, American society was amid the Great Depression with an unemployment rate of approximately 25%. In addition, one generation earlier, the world had endured WWI. In addition to massive unemployment, world trade was down and an Oklahoma "dustbowl" would devastate Midwest agriculture: which resulted in a massive human migration to the west coast where white Midwest farmers found work as migrant workers. (This is featured in the Steinbeck film and book, 'The Grapes of Wrath'. The characters in Steinbeck's book are the subject matter of Bruce Springsteen's 1995 album, 'The Ghost of Tom Joad.')

Today, many Americans are feeling anxiety over their future. This fear manifests itself today in numerous ways including vitriolic political discussion in social media, calls for more assistance from the government and in tumult in our political system.

Readings & Research: American Values: Good and Bad

Review the following Required Reading Articles:

https://sites.asiasociety.org/asia21summit/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/1.-Aung-San-Suu-Kyi-Freedom-from-Fear.pdf Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, 1990

https://content.bellevue.edu/cas/la/400-410-420/id/kss/the-pursuit-of-truth.pdf

https://www.mkgandhi.org/voiceoftruth/civildisobedience.htm

https://ezproxy.bellevue.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=647171&site=ehost-live

Review the following Required Research Articles:

https://www.gallup.com/poll/181790/nearly-billion-women-worldwide-struggling-suffering.aspx?version=print

https://www.people-press.org/2014/11/13/public-trust-in-government/

Videos: American Values: Good and Bad
Review the following videos:

Due to fear, according to this video, American's live in the most stressful society in the world! What is, and what is not a problem is often a matter of perspective. This video examines how our happiness is relative and comparative in nature to those around us. What we learn is that making more money does not necessarily make us happier.

https://youtu.be/6uLL418S1GQ

We often define ourselves and our value in society by the work we do. What is the history of work? We all work but are we fulfilled by our work? What is the connection between morality and hard work? How does conspicuous consumption pervade our lives? How might happy workers connote good citizenship?

https://youtu.be/cKnSMCjzmco

Does the power of American society reside with the American people? In this 'Ted Talk,' Eric Liu suggests that, "Far too many Americans are illiterate in power - what it is, how it operates and why some people have it. As a result, those few who do understand power wield disproportionate influence over everyone else. "We need to make civics sexy again," says civics educator Eric Liu. "As sexy as it was during the American Revolution or the Civil Rights Movement."

https://youtu.be/Cd0JH1AreDw

What are the variables that separate rich countries from poor countries? Why do some countries prosper while others stagnate? What role do "good institutions" and corruption play in the development of rich and poor countries?

https://youtu.be/9-4V3HR696k

Throughout the course, many of the assigned materials will reflect values. Some of our shared values contribute to better society and some of our values detract from the construction of a better society. In a free society citizens often see a tug-of-war between the positive values that build us up and the negative values that tear us down. As free and sentient beings our choices, our actions, and our behaviors drive these values.

Thoughtful people usually suggest that American society can be improved. In this assignment, we want to identify some of the values we see in our lives and understand how these values are being leveraged into forming and affecting what American society looks like. Critical thinkers will embrace not only the positive values we see around us but also acknowledge the negative values that we often see in ourselves and in others.

Your assignment is to prepare a PowerPoint presentation. The audience of your presentation is a powerful (influential) body of elected officials. Provide a prescriptive solution to a social value that is negatively affecting society.

Using no more than 15 slides, and no more than 25 words per slide, your presentation needs to define the issue (the concerning value), demonstrate the concern, and then advocate a prescription. Since you are unknown to the audience, you first need to establish credibility by demonstrating your knowledge of both positive and negative social values.

Using the assigned course materials, construct a discussion of two American values. (This is where you want to anchor your presentation in the week's assigned course materials). Use at least three assigned reading articles in your discussion of the two values being discussed.

Then find a topical current event that reflects a negative value. (Be certain to share your examples within the assignment: don't assume the audience is aware of the event you are referencing). Analyze your event using the assigned course materials as the foundation.

Be certain to clearly define and describe the problem. Use facts (provide sources) to describe the implications of the negative value.

Then give a prescriptive solution as to how American society might appropriately address the negative value. In your assignment you can include (appropriate) images, jpegs, memes, quotes, or other sources to exemplify your thoughts.Post your Power-Point on the Peer-to-Peer.

Clearly describe your proposed solution.

Avoid over-worn clichés and flimsy, politically-correct arguments.

Be certain to ask the audience to join you in pursuing a solution.

Post your Power Point on the Peer-to-Peer.