The Exporting of Bad Ideas
Reclaiming America's Moral Compass: A Call to Restore Traditional Values and Cease the Export of Divisive Ideologies
Guest Author
Not so long ago, the United States stood as the epitome of Western tradition—a Christian nation, a stronghold of freedom, and a beacon for the rest of the world. We were the shining city on a hill, exemplifying free thought, expression, and innovation. Countries worldwide looked up to America, and for good reason. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, America and the West experienced another surge of influence, as our innovations and ideals continued to captivate the global stage. The allure of the 'American Dream' drew high-achieving immigrants to our shores in search of a better life.
However, it seems that those glory days are waning. Instead of exporting the cherished principles of freedom, democracy, and free expression, we now seem to be disseminating, almost exclusively, what many consider to be detrimental ideas. Take, for example, the LGBTQ+ movement, which aims to impose its dogma into every facet of life—from the words we can say and the clothes we can wear to the education our children receive. This is just one instance of an idea that has been exported and is largely unpopular in many parts of the world.
Indeed, the shift in American values is evident in everything from the clothes we wear and the bad music we listen to, to the poor books we read. Gone are the days when our embassies worldwide proudly flew the red, white, and blue. Now, the Pride Progress Flag takes precedence, even at the White House, over our national standard.
Such a departure from tradition is more than just disrespectful to our flag; it's a profound betrayal of the principles that built this nation into the greatest free society in human history. By lowering our national standard, we send a clear message to the world: the America they once knew and admired has been supplanted. In its place stands a new, quasi-religious dogma that prioritizes social authoritarianism over the democratic freedoms that once made America great.
New York Times columnist David Brooks recently penned an article titled "Are We the Bad Guys?" In it, he scrutinizes the elitist culture that has come to pervade American media. Brooks traces this shift back to the Vietnam War era, arguing that draft exemptions for the college-educated led to the emergence of a new, elite class that now dominates both popular and mainstream culture. However, what Brooks overlooks is the extent of this cultural divide.
The chasm in American society is so wide that it's more accurate to say we no longer even speak the same dialect of English. It's not just the vocabulary that has changed; it's the very meaning of the words we still have in common. As traditional values erode, they give way to new foundational principles. And when the foundations shift, so do the ideas built upon them.
New ideals, whether beneficial or not, are now what America exports to the global stage. This shift has given rise to a creeping authoritarianism that many countries, especially in Eastern Europe, recognize all too well. It's no surprise that warnings from these nations are becoming more frequent; they've experienced firsthand the grim outcomes of such systems.
As America's foundational values erode, they're replaced by a different set of principles. This transformation not only affects our domestic landscape but also shapes the ideals we project internationally. During Trump's tenure, the focus was on showcasing American strength. In contrast, when Obama took office, he spent the first few months of his first term on an international apology tour.
→The Shift:
So, what happened? It's startling to consider that in just three decades, the America many of us once knew appears to have deteriorated at an almost inconceivable pace.
Well, as Richard Weaver eloquently penned many years ago, "Ideas Have Consequences." We are currently experiencing those consequences. The shift away from the traditional values that once united this country has led to a societal decay so profound that it has eroded any semblance of a shared national identity. This polarization is so extreme that many Americans perceive politics as having veered into radical territories on both sides of the aisle, even if it isn’t true.
Weaver's seminal work serves as a prescient warning for the state of America today. He argued that the decline of Western civilization could be traced back to the rejection of absolute truth and the embrace of relativism, a philosophy that has infiltrated not just our educational systems but also our cultural and political institutions. How could that not be more self-evident today? This relativism has led to the fragmentation of American society, as it undermines the shared values and norms that are essential for a unified national identity.
Further, he believed that the antidote to this decline lies in a return to what he called the "metaphysical dream of the world," a shared understanding of the moral and philosophical principles that underlie the American experiment. It is only by educating our citizens about these foundational principles that we can hope to reverse the societal decay we are witnessing. Education is not merely academic but profoundly moral and civic. It is the means by which we can instill a sense of shared purpose and common destiny, the glue that can hold a fractured society together.
Without such an educational focus, we risk descending into a fragmented reality defined by individual whims rather than the enduring archetypes that have guided society for centuries. This fragmentation creates a widening chasm between those educated in traditional values and those swayed by newer, more relativistic ideals. It's a divide that not only undermines our national unity but also weakens the moral fabric that holds our society together.
Recognizing the gravity of this divide, it becomes imperative to address the urgent task at hand: restoring America to its rightful place as a beacon of freedom and opportunity. The path forward is clear. We must cease the exportation of divisive ideologies and focus on reinforcing the core values that have historically made America strong. By doing so, we can once again become a shining example to the world, fulfilling our role as the "shining city upon a hill" that our forefathers envisioned. It's not just about turning back the clock; it's about resetting our moral compass and realigning our national priorities. To achieve this would not only benefit our own citizens but would also provide a more stable and positive influence globally.
Maybe it’s time to stop exporting bad ideas and start reinforcing the good ones that made America a shining example to the rest of the world. To Make American Great Again, as Trump says, is not merely a campaign slogan, but a call to action for every citizen who believes in the foundational principles of this nation.
- WALTER CURT, EDITOR, THE W.C. DISPATCH
Walter Curt is an independent journalist and editor, with a unique background that includes law, politics, government, small business, and the blue-collar automotive industry. His publication, The W.C. Dispatch, is a conservative, Christian platform offering a mix of cultural, political, and religious insights. For thought-provoking perspectives that challenge the status quo, The W.C. Dispatch is your go-to read.