The Change We Need

What is the most important thing we can do to strengthen our nation? China has for some time been advancing in their technology and economy. Many view China as the next superpower, likely to outdo us. Do we just need more scientists and engineers? Do we need more business people or better government regulations? Well, surely we could make quite a list of things that would help our nation improve on something.

But I believe we need a deeper change. We need a change that unites us as people. We need a social and cultural change in a new direction. For the past several decades the cultural changes have only divided our nation. We are losing our grip on greatness because of this. Our overriding individualist mentality sets people one against another. Our appetites for money, power, and sex lead many down paths of eventual destruction. And as we claim to seek truth through scientific endeavors, we have instead developed a new form of ignorance regarding our own origins as human beings, rejecting the aid that we could seek from our creator.

I strongly believe and I think history can show that the strength of a nation is tied to its moral values. In particular, three foundational values are essential for our unity and strength. The first of these is to love people. What I mean by the word love is to appreciate the good in others and care enough about them to want to help them regardless of whether or not we get some sort of gain in return.

The second essential moral value is to keep our passions, our desires, in their proper place. This includes anything that tends to get out of control. Unbounded pursuits of money and power often lead to harm or destruction of others’ lives. Unrestrained sexual desires can lead to diseases, addictions, sexual abuse, unwanted children, and so on. Obsessive video game playing can deprive people of opportunities and worthwhile growth. Anything carried to excess tends to have negative consequences.

Third is the moral value of seeking truth. This includes getting an education. It includes studying religion. It includes scientific research as well. But it also includes sharing what is true with others, rather than intentionally deceiving them. We also must acknowledge the truth that we don’t have all of it and that no matter how much we know, there is more to learn. Also, when one truth is discovered, it doesn’t necessarily negate other truths. In particular, because science has come to tentative, theoretical conclusions about evolution, this is not evidence that a creator did not create life on earth. We must remain open to this possibility and look for the evidence as we study life.

It seems intuitively evident that as people adopt these three values in growing numbers, unity would increase between people. Instead of hurting one another, there would be more mutual understanding, more assistance to others. This is the aim of all that I will post here. As Americans adopt and practice and teach these values, our people will gradually unite. Perhaps once again, the United States of America will be a great nation. Once again the world may look to us for leadership.