How to change America

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table."-Ronald Reagan
I think that this is really actually quite true. What do you think?

cowboy0108: I agree. We could really fix issues if parents did a better job.

NightofTheLivingCats: Can't tell if trolling, or dumb. Prob trolling.

xXCryptoXx: lol you talking to me?

NightofTheLivingCats: America can be changed simply by citizens choosing to educate themselves, and get involved.

Change starts in the individual, and until the individual changes no progress will be made from where we are now.

xXCryptoXx: Seriously?


And what if the person in question is a bum? It falls to the parents

I really need to get a-hold of Ronald Reagan's dinner table.

cowboy0108: No. It begins in the bedroom.

drafterman: Maybe it begins somewhere in the process of it ending. Seriously, this specualtion.

drafterman: Whoa...

Pinkie: This was a interesting convo. I can't wait until edeb8 is so popular that I can't get all the last comments.

cowboy0108: I do believe that the way the average person usually goes against the general culture is if their family culture contradicts it.

ADreamOfLiberty: What do you mean?

Pinkie: I think he's saying that change begins in the home - right?

nzlockie: I don't know, that honestly made no sense to me.

Pinkie: I translate it as: "Most people go against the general culture when their family culture is also against that general culture"

In other words, if I'm brought up in a family that supports the idea of free healthcare for everyone, then I'm more likely to believe that myself - despite living in a land of grumpy stingy people who believe in user pays.

nzlockie: Oh that makes sense!

I agree with the sentiment that the original stance most people take on issues comes from the home, however I think the "way to change America" is through outside education.

By "outside" education, I mean exactly the opposite of the original quote. Discussing and rehashing ideas among friends and family is a slow way to build change. Exposing yourself to alternative views and opinions will either strengthen yours or force you to adopt new ones. Either way, this education will build better change because it'll be coming from a stronger conviction.

That being said, the way to IMPLEMENT that change DOES start in the home. So if the original quote rates application as the "beginning" of change, then I guess I agree. Personally though I think all great change BEGINS with a challenge to your belief system.

Pinkie: Let me clarify, of all the people who do not subscribe to social norms on any given issue; most do so because that is how people close to them think. For the most part that would be immediate family.

It is not absolute. At a certain point a homosexual is going to have to face facts, and find a way to live with it even if they were raised in a family that told them it's a choice and even wanting it is sinful.

A person might be firmly for the rule of law, but then spend some time amongst slaves and conclude there are deeper moral truth's than what is written on paper.

However the number of people who would revise their views without compelling reasons such as these are very few.

ADreamOfLiberty: Okay, thanks that makes sense.