American+Culture

I found the articles regarding American culture very good reading. In particular the article by M. Gene Aldridge made me think. In the article there is a passage that reads ".....culture can begin to promulgate ideas and values which they believe will lead to the survival of the species, but which in fact do not and further, //__when they impinge on the freedom of others in doing so makes it impossible because it violates the natural liberty of human kind__//". This last statement of the passage brought a wave of patriotism upon me. The article further elaborates on the "meaning" to me of the priveledge I have in being an American and why so many risk it all even now to come here. There is no perfect society but the ability of the United States to exist for, in reality, the sole purpose of preserving our individual "natural rights" is to me very awe inspiring. I also wonder how people can accept to live in societies and countries where they are not free. I believe all of us, humans everywhere, want to be free to live as we see fit and that we all have the same hopes and dreams of a good home and loving friends and family. If this is true, as I believe it to be, then I wonder why the populous of opressive and idealogical regimes do not revolt. This is of course a rhetorical question, one which I am sure there is no easy answer.

The article further goes on to discuss the American civil war. I believe the article over emphises a bit the driving force for the war. The war was mainly started over state rights, which ties into the thought of "natural rights". The southern states did not want to be forced into the Union and believed more in individual state rights to self govern. This part of the artcle made me think about the size of fedral government today. I question why the federal government is involved in things such as public education which I believe would be much better handled at the local level.

I will end less my comments become too political in nature. I believe the readings this week were very good at spurring thought.