"Traditional Moral Values"

I have put the title of this blog in quotes, because I am uncertain these days of the definition. Comments have been made on my blog, and I see many comments and television commentators promoting the same-but what are these values they are promoting?

I was asked yesterday, to pick one historical figure in which I could identify. Who was my historic hero? Without much thought I spouted out Galileo, who was just recently pardon by the Vatican for his innovated philosophy of the 1600’s. Yes it took the Catholic Church almost 400 years to catch up with Galileo. At the time, Galileo was sent into exile and shunned from Catholic society. The teachings and writings of Galileo give us insight today; a great man of genius plunged into darkness by a repressive church. What would our society be like today if Galileo were allowed to pursue his teachings? The mind could only wonder.

Many who shed such an intellectual light over our world are discarded, shunned, exiled and even murdered for the sake of morality and values. Can this be considered virtuous and moral? Can the shunning of another’s ideas be considered a value? Is killing someone because you don’t believe in their causes be considered moral? And can the denial of one’s civil liberty and the pursuit of happiness be valued? Who determines these moral values and how can they be moral if they involve fear, prejudice, bigotry and hate? Shouldn’t kindness, tolerance and acceptance be a traditional moral value?

Sadly today, to these folks of traditional moral values – Empathy is discarded. Apparently, empathy is not a value. How can a people who discard empathy consider them virtuous? But ironically, the same people criticizing empathy as a means of judging are the very same people who want to place legislation for their moral values; stem cell research and abortion. You can’t deny someone to the Supreme Court because they have empathy, and then promote your sense of “morality” as law. It is just hypocritical. If we value morality, then we defiantly need to value empathy. The two kind of go hand in hand-or at least should.

In thinking about this, this morning, I thought of America’s traditional moral values. Traditionally, the United States was founded on freedom; freedom of religion, freedom of expression and freedom in the pursuit of happiness. It is these reasons why so many fled oppression. People from around the world came to America not to be judged so harshly and condemned; yet today I see judgment and condemnations being shouted loudly by those who promote traditional values. Today in our country, I see oppression, the very oppression many have fled over 200 years ago. I find these values more archaic then I do traditional. If you’re condemning someone’s religion, liberties, etc you are being oppressive and that is not our traditional American value. Remember, America is the home of the free and that freedom belongs to everyone.