"Good Night, John
Boy!" I grew up with "The
Waltons". The show was a portrayal
of a simple American family who lived in the mountains of Virginia during the depression. They plot and writing was simple, yet
compelling - so much so, that the show is still regularly aired today. Momma and Daddy were John and Olivia Walton,
who had a house full of kids and Grandma and Grandpa, too. Oh yes, family was family and family tends to
its own. It is the responsibility part
of the American dream. It has been
lived, written about and portrayed through art throughout American history.
One time First Lady, Hillary
Clinton, capitalized on the concept, as she pushed forward with her "it
takes a village to raise a child."
These days, reality shows have created a model, wherein they build a
"pseudo family unit". They
cast people with different values and ideologies, who are from different walks
of life, into a show where they live together. They build relationships (for
better or worse), or more accurately form "alliances" for the pursuit
of winning the ultimate prize, which is the bridegroom, the modeling contract,
or the $200,000 at the end of the show season.
The problem is that
throughout American history, there has been a steady decline in the family aspect of
the American spirit. "It takes a
village to raise a child" sounds workable - up until a teacher is faced
with a rebellious student and has to bring correction to that student. More often than not, that teacher (and the
administrative staff) finds him or herself on the angry end of a parent who
vehemently argues, "You have no right to do that to my child." When I was growing up, (seemingly the
"Walton's" era but actually more the "Brady Bunch" era),
the worse thing that could happen to me was to get into trouble at school. If the principal had to deal with me, I could
count on having Dad deal with me again when I got home.
There has been a steady
decline in the family responsibility which used to play a vital role in the
American spirit.
People looked out for
each other because family
looked out for each other.
Even when the Hatfield's and the McCoy's
fought one another, they would stand side by side to defend their way of life
from outside intruders. Now, such a
sentiment is considered archaic.
We have
evolved from such thinking. Today's
philosopher tries to invoke the sentiment, "Can't we just all get
along." The answer is
"no."
To get along means to be
fitly joined together. It means that values must be common. Goals must be shared. For goals to be shared, each player has to
have a goal that is larger than himself.
Even the simplest reality show has proven this about our society. Some say that television is a reflection of
life. In reality, television has, for
most people, become the “shaper” of life. Its programming has replaced reality
as the educator of how life should be.
Today's society does not
reflect a true American Spirit. It is a society divided by extremes. One extreme is the reality show, where
everyone's goal is self-motivated.
Children today helping on the home, often do so because they "want
something" rather than simply recognizing the importance of
doing their
share.
The opposite extreme is
socialism, wherein all things individual are relinquished for the common
good. There are no individual goals,
only common ones. Oddly enough,
throughout the years, those who labor to govern a socialist society usually
manage to build incredible personal wealth and power. It is one of the strongest forms of bondage
in the earth.
The beauty of the American
spirit is that it was fashioned in the way God designed us. He created us with the ability to overcome
and be victorious in our personal goals, while at the same time, make us
effective in reaching common goals. His
litmus test was simple. We are a part of
His family and as a result, our individual goals are still in keeping with the
values He placed before us. The element
which causes it to work can be carried through the family unit all the way to
the success of a nation. This has proven
true in this country throughout her history.
When you have values of
righteousness, you have the values of the family of God. When your value system is founded in God's
value system, your personal goals do not conflict with the goals of those who
share the same values. They enhance
those goals. Entrepreneurs flourish
individually because they benefit others.
Family members excel because they have strength that comes from sticking
together and making it work. John Boy
can be a writer. Ben can own his own
business. Mary Ellen can be a nurse.
Jason can pursue his music. Elizabeth can find true
love. And, at the end of the day, the
family unit flourishes because embedded in each of their goals is the
understanding that we are stronger when we are together.
This is the principle God
gave His children from the beginning. It
is the principle which was introduced by the founding fathers of our
nation. It is the key to the survival
and success of The American Spirit.
