Who holds these traditions

In a response you made to a comment written about Part I, you asked readers to assess how much of the 17 Traditions was a part of the daily lives of real people in America.

“I also am wondering about these traditions. What do people think of them? Have these traditions manifested themselves in your life?”

While these are clearly traditions and values that guide and direct your personal attitudes and behavior, your implication that these represent the values held by the majority of Americans, suggests a view of American life much as presented by Norman Rockwell. His art captures an idealized view of America, that never was, and is unlikely to ever be.

You opened yourself sufficiently for your readers to understand that your family life was much like that of majority of American families, with a period of time when a single parent served as the primary care giver to the children. Compare this to the television portrayal of family life in the 1950s, when the families shown in Leave it to Beaver, and Father Knows Best, were prototypical representations of what we wished for, but was seldom present. (Then again, the comedy series, Married with Children, seems far closer to the families I have known.) You do not even speak of the millions of out-of-wedlock children, teen pregnancies, and the millions who are in foster or institutional care.

You talk about a “Tradition of History.” Yet, at another point in part I of this series, you describe your younger brother, who in your words:

“…he is not political. He is apolitical. He digs the filth of reality television and rap/hip-hop music and YouTube videos. He’s into the IPods, the designer cell phones …. and the Guitar Hero”

I would submit for your consideration, that your brother is far more the typical American Caucasian teen, than were you at the same age as he is. It seems safe to say that American or World History, are very low on his list of priorities. Without having met either of you, I feel comfortable in suggesting that Chomsky, Moore, or Franken are far from his list of favorite reading materials.

Then there is the Tradition of Thrift. How quickly you discard the sub-prime real estate crisis, or the billions that the credit card industry is taking in write-downs, as American consumers live their lives in debt, so impossibly deep that, for most, it will be inextricable, except through bankruptcy.

Little would be served in rebutting the prevalence of each of the 17 traditions you identify in this series. If these are the standards you have set for yourself, you will be among, what I believe the data will show, very much in the minority.

You have expressed your appreciation for the questions I ask, which you say motivate you to consider the issues raised. With tat in mind, I have three for you today:

In all of our dialog, there has been a fundamental theme of disagreement, which you have expressed in your biographic statement:

“…and while some will tell him what can be done, he is only concerned about what should be done.”

So the question is, what is your strategy for changing the position of those in power, who currently oppose that which you believe, “…should be done?”

As but one example, you desire the impeachment of Bush and Cheney, as do many Americans. It’s been talked about for years, yet not happening. What do you plan on doing that will bring it to reality?

Last, but far from least, is a question which you may well find to be too personal and private to address. It is safe to say that you are very much in the minority with respect to priority you give to political issues. (I can give you a number of reliable citations which will bear out this position.)

Thus, my question to you is one that I have wondered about since first reading your articles. What events, or experiences have motivated you to the activist position, so much a part of your life? (It clearly precedes your trip to Africa, which may well have reinforced your goals, but does not appear to be a primary trigger.)

by Sherwin Steffin (14 articles, 24 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 81 comments) on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 12:22:07 PM
 

Sherwin

Your questions warrant an op-ed article for each. So, in the next week, you will get your answers. Those questions are very good ones---ones I encounter often in my life.

by Kevin Gosztola (182 articles, 94 quicklinks, 63 diaries, 768 comments) on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 1:32:23 PM