The following entry is from Common Sense Anew:


"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

US Declaration of Independence

Family Values
This is one of the great debates of our time. We all think our values are best and the world would be a better place if everyone followed our lead, but how can we agree on something that is not constant? Values change as we grow older, from generation to generation, and since we are an ethically diverse nation, we must consider the fact that family values differ around the world. If we consider these factors, it seems impossible that society will ever agree on one set of family values. Yet the debate rages on. Unfortunately, we have overlooked one very important issue—the "Value of Family."

This value comes from the bond that should exist in a family—a bond created in an atmosphere of love, support, and encouragement, from the willingness to place the needs of others with our own, where we are picked up when we are down. I can think of no greater value; the value of family is beyond priceless, but we overlook it and bicker about things such as what makes a family. Should it really matter who is in the family as long as this bond is shared? This bond can be between any people.

One of the great things about the "Value of Family" is that it has no boundaries. Two people, or an entire nation, can share it. In a democracy, this is exactly what we should have. Democracy is doomed without it. Unfortunately, this bond has been weakened in both family and society, which kind of makes you wonder—did the bond weaken within the family because the bond weakened within society, or did the bond weaken in society because the bond weakened in the family? Maybe strengthening the bond within the family will strengthen the bond within society. And if we strengthen the bond in society, we might find ourselves a little closer to the unity that can bring resolution.