You're making up excuses. It's to hold onto power. Humans are extremely motivated by power. When your worldview is the dominant one, of course one feels a sense of power. A fundamental attribute of human nature is to preserve one's culture because it offers a sense of dominance and power over others.
Further, I don't care about traditional value systems, except within the context of good evidence. Something could be a traditional value but not align with good evidence. Many "traditional values" have gone by the way side because it's been proven to be wrong. Again, I don't care how old or new the stance is. I care whether it stands up to the scrutiny of good evidence. That should be the only
parameters in which a value system should be examined--not because "well, it was done in the past."
Holy cow! I didn't realize you had such an adversarial view towards those that don't share your beliefs. Is it possible that you can leave open the possibility that I, as well as others, hold the views that we do because we actually believe in them? That it's not to assert dominance and power over others. That we actually believe that having a mother and a father is the best situation for raising a child. That we believe in clear distinctions between men and women: how they act, how they dress, the role they play in society and family. That marriage is between a man and a woman...
And, of course, you; and many, many others, dismiss traditional values and shake your head and turn your nose up at them. Old fogies. That's why we fight. That's the eternal battle.
But you claim you do care if it stands up to scrutiny and evidence.
Well, how has that worked out? Now that the government has assumed the role of the provider, men no longer feel that sense of responsibility when deciding to have children than when I was a kid. How has the single parent family worked out? How has the blurring of the roles and behavior between men and women worked out for society? How has the more "fluid" nature of sexuality worked out for our children?
What kind of role models are boys taught to aspire to? This was something that was inculcated in my generation. I remember my father was wise to the fact that I always looked up to strong, kick-ass type of men: Bruce Lee, Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, so he tried to teach me that there's more to strength than just muscles, fists and guns. That there is strength in character. He made me read books like "To Kill a Mocking Bird" and pay close attention to how the character Atticus Finch conducted himself. Always with dignity, respect, fighting for he believed in regardless of the outcome.
“Atticus, you must be wrong…,” said Scout.
“How’s that?”
“Well, most folks seem to think they’re right and you’re wrong…”
“They’re certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions,” said Atticus, “but before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”
-- Harper Lee, To Kill a Mocking Bird
