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The Bradley Project arranged for a study on American perspectives on “national identity”. They found:
The good news is that most U.S. citizens believe there is a unique national identity that defines what it means to be an American. The troubling news is that over six in ten believe our national identity is getting weaker. And ?even more troubling is that younger Americans ? on whom our continued national identity depends ? are less likely than older Americans to believe in a unique national identity or in a unique American culture.? Indeed only 45 percent of 18-34 year old Americans believe that the U.S. Constitutionshould trump international law in instances where there is a conflict.
Some of the recommendations to remedy the problem included increasing focus on American history and American landmarks. Do you think that national identity in the U.S. is degrading and what do you attribute this to?
I'm a proponent of aggressive foreign policy for our own national security, but I'm beginning to wonder if we are focusing too much others' problems and ignoring our own issues.As John Quincy Adams said:
She has, in the lapse of nearly half a century, without a single exception, respected the independence of other nations while asserting and maintaining her own. She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when conflict has been for principles to which she clings, as to the last vital drop that visits the heart.
Some of the recommendations to remedy the problem included increasing focus on American history and American landmarks. Do you think that national identity in the U.S. is degrading and what do you attribute this to?
Yes, I do. I blame multi-culturalism and the new left for the failure of the American identity to remain strong. Thiis speaks to the evils of Multicutluralism and the new western inclusiveness that wants us all to be world citizens.
I'm with Scout 100%. While I understand that we should play nice with our treaties and such, but not to the detriment to our own country.I also agree that we spend too much on foreign aid and not enough on our own problems. But I'm all for private citizens sending whatever they want. Jolie-Pitt can give as much of their hard-earned cash to whoever they want. But don't be so free to spend my tax money all over the globe when we have energy and education problems that could use the money.
I think it has something to do about the kind of civics lessons (or lack thereof) that are promoted within schools. Ask your average public school kid what kind of values-oriented lessons they learn in school and I wouldn't be surprised to hear about respecting the environment, things with multicultural overtones, etc. These politically-correct values have taken the place of those by which kids gain appreciation for the real principles upon which the country was founded (including the historical context) and the sacrifices undertaken to protect these principles. As national identity deteriorates, people enter into an “every man for himself” mentality. I'd like to post a comparison of a typical curriculum from 100 years ago to one of today. I'm sure by doing that we could see where our country's educational system is going wrong.
They had an author on NPR yesterday regarding a book titled “Crayons to Condoms” that covered just that point.
The title of that book really does sum it up. IMO there is something seriously wrong in public education today that will not be fixed as long as the entrenched powers maintain their control over things.
I mentioned in another thread how my son's history teacher hated the sound of my name because I publicly corrected errors of fact in the curriculum. My wife and I are also the nemesis (what is the plural for nemesis?) of my sons math teacher. I have a real problem with the New Math they teach in our local school system. We got into it with the fifth grade math teacher because we made our son memorize the times tables to twelve. We were told that we were interfering in the learning process. We made her eat crow when my son got the highest math score in his class in the standardized TAKS tests they have take here in Texas at the end of the year.I am continually amazed at the poor level of education High school graduates have today. I first noticed it six years ago when I was a Drill Sergeant. I initially thought I was just getting old but now that I have a son in Middle School I am certain that schools have been dumbed down from even twenty years ago when I finished High School. I also notice it in the poor English of some of the board posts on my school discussion boards. It is almost as though kids are not even taught how to construct a sentence. Here is some more info on New Math, it is the thing that alarms me the most. No wonder kids cant make change. http://mathematicallycorrect.com/
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