Once again, I'm into listening to the DNC this week. It's been a bit harder to catch all of the speeches, but I am able to watch some of the key speakers online. It's amazing how former President Bill Clinton can still inspire so many people. He was quite engaging and an enjoyable speaker. Many pundits were talking about how long his speech was, but it didn't feel that way. I have not been impressed with his sense of self-importance, however.
He did touch on some topics that address the "values" of America. Certainly the issue of whether or not being successful is a shared experience rather than an individual one is an important distinction between Republicans and Democrats. It's a good thing to think about. Do we attribute our success to the fact that America is built on individual's work? Or, do we attribute our success to shared effort? The fable of the Little Red Hen is an important narrative exposing this "american value." Where does the family fit in to this narrative?
Obama speaks tonight. I am looking forward to hearing his speech.
I haven't got to hear the whole speech yet, but from what I've heard so far and what you've written here, Dr. Talley, I have to say that this sounds a lot like a collectivist viewpoint of success. East Asian culture is one of my great loves, and I can't help but compare the collectivist views in many East Asian countries with what Mr. Clinton is suggesting. I certainly don't think that collectivism is bad; in fact, I certainly appreciate cooperation and encourage productive teamwork whenever possible. However, I am reminded regularly that the U.S.A. is an individualistic culture, and I don't think that's a terrible thing either. I would love to see the cooperation of the collectivist viewpoint combined with the initiative of the individualistic culture. However, I don't know if an entire country, especially one so divided by these entrenching party lines, would buy into that plan.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of cooperation and working together as a whole instead of the division between political parties. However, I think it would take a lot of reconstructing of viewpoints to make this work effectively especially with the numerous political viewpoints. Clinton’s idea would be very valuable if we could find a way to make it work efficiently between all parties involved there are just so many dynamics and controversies that would make it difficult. However, I do believe we would be more successful if there were more cooperation and agreement and less division. I did like that Clinton mentioned that not all the time are we right, which is very true, therefore it is important that we have many ideas and determine the possible outcomes of each idea before a decision is made. We are very much an individualistic culture. I feel that we base most of our success on our individual achievements. The question stated from the original post, Where does the family fit in to this narrative? When it comes to the family, each family unit stands alone, therefore it is important for each family to be functional and have its own individual successes. However, within the family I feel that there may be more room for viewing success as a shared effort rather than individual success, although it is important for both individual and shared successes because a family thrives of both types of success.
DeleteI like your point about the entrenched party lines. Many people seem to think that we need to mend the fences between parties. However, our country is dependent on freedom of speech. We have better ideas and policies if we can talk openly and freely. I'm not sure, though, that the divisiveness based on baiting the other parties is a good idea. When we demonize one idea over the other, what's the outcome?
ReplyDeleteI think of "a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand". I agree that freedom of speech is one of the things that allows our government and our people to come up with the best ideas (many heads are better than one, right?), but when we spend time tearing others down and pointing fingers instead of trying to solve our own issues, things get hairy and nothing great happens. I was glad to get to hear Vice President Biden and President Obama speak live last night, and I was also glad that neither of them spent an inordinate amount of time attacking anyone else. I'd rather hear someone promote his or her own self than ridicule another.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about not attacking others. I find it of no great influence to me when they spend time finding wrong with the other party. I found that to be particularly difficult to listen to in some of the DNC speeches. I don't recall that being nearly as insulting in the RNC speeches, but then I don't think I saw as many of those.
ReplyDeleteI honestly wish that the candidates would discuss the issues ACCURATELY. I'm beginning to mistrust the "fact checkers." OK, so I don't, but I'm tired of them!
What are the issues that stand out to you?
"Do we attribute our success to the fact that America is built on individual's work? Or, do we attribute our success to shared effort?"
ReplyDeleteI think that we like to attribute our own success to just our effort, but I don't necessarily think that is accurate. I honestly think that it is more of a shared effort that leads to a greater success.
For example: The taxes we pay go to help support the less fortunate or lower-income citizens; which help their families to be successful. This leads to stronger communities; which makes society more successful as a whole. Also people or families that are already considered to be "successful" have had a lot of help along the way.
I think the same idea applies to our country. All of the individual's work builds into a shared success that we can all enjoy.
I love that you brought up the fable about The Little Red Hen. I certainly wish our nation would be more focused on shared success and growth, but the narrative about The Little Red Hen sums up how or country can sometimes relate to individual growth. I recall the narrative suggests that everybody wants something for nothing. I feel the same way as others that have posted. It would be nice to have a meet in the middle on Democrats and Republican views. I felt that Bill Clinton's speech was overall interesting, but I also noticed his notions of his own self-importance. It was interesting for him to try and sway the public to vote for Obama by giving Obama's wife much acknowledgement. I am not discrediting Michelle Obama, but I do not feel that that needs to help us determine which president could do better in office by comparing their wives efforts.
ReplyDeleteI could not remember exactly what the story of The Little Red Hen was so I did a simple search. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Red_Hen, "The moral of this story is that those who show no willingness to contribute to an end product do not deserve to enjoy the end product: "if any man will not work, neither let him eat."[1] and interestingly enough "Revisions of the story include a current political version, based on a Ronald Reagan monologue from 1976.[2] The farmer claims that the hen is being unfair if she does not share her bread with the other animals, and forces her to share her bread with those who would not work for it. This in turn removes the hen's incentive to work, resulting in poverty for the entire barnyard.[3]"
ReplyDeleteI enjoy listening to people who know how to speak to the public Obama does a great job and so does Clinton. And, yes, he has notions of his own self-importance, but in a way - who wouldn't being President and then doing the work that he still does - he has a lot of experience talking to basically "everyone in the world." I did take note of what he said about "the best thing Obama did was to marry Michelle" and also about Hilary and her position and the work she has done. The one thing that I didn't like was how whatever he did and Obama did is wonderful, right, and noteworthy and was so negative about Romney and the Republican Party. He talked about how he worked so well with everyone "cooperation" and how the Republicans don't cooperate at all.
Do we attribute our success to the fact that America is built on individual's work? Or, do we attribute our success to shared effort? I think it is both. The US is very individualized in family values because when the children get old enough they want to branch out on their own, and make it on their own --- but, that doesn't mean that the value of family is not strong and is what this country is built on. Most of us don't reside in one dwelling as in other cultures, but that doesn't mean that family is not important. So, the "American Value" is that the US is founded on families who are there for each other for example, family farms/ranches or business (each live in their own homes) where the family all work together to be successful and share the outcome no matter what that outcome is.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that Clinton can say things such as "What kind of country we want to live in...If you want a "winner take all" "your on your own" society you should support the Republican ticket, but if you want a country of "shared opportunities" and "shared responsibility," "we are all in this together society" you should vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
This kind of talk makes me leery and I start to question - why talk about your opponent so negatively - where is the balance??