Universal family values is a rediculous notion because no one family is the same as the next. We all hold different values afterall. Yet this idea of family values is shoved own our throats as gospel. We are often told family values is a husband, a wife, some children.

We're told sex before marriage is wrong, and yet so many people do this. We're told prostitution is worng and yet so many people involve themselves in this. We're told drugs are wrong and people use these things. Over and over again we're told what family values are but families across the world have different values!

To have the idea that there is a traditional view of family values seems wrong to me, it seems like pigeonholing an entire generation. So lets be clear.

There is no such thing as universal family values. Each family is different and whilst some may abide by a religion that teaches values, not everyone follows that religion. Across the globe people follow so many religions, have so many values, have so many ways of looking at life that in a multicultural system there can not be a single set of family values.

Some children live with one dad, some with one mom, some with two dads and two moms, some live with grandparents and uncles and aunts. In the end there is no one value, and to tell people there is, is to do a diservice to any thinking person.

Not sure anyone would disagree with portions of your statement, so I have to ask before going any farther...

What's the point?

The point is that we're told there are these family values and i think it causes a lot of pain and trouble for many people trying to achieve it. I just wonder why these family values are promoted as the correct ones.

Who is preaching these things as universal truths?

Furthermore, you make the point that using family values to try and prevent sex before marriage, prostitution, and using drugs is useless because so many others do those things anyway. I can't quite say I understand that point of thinking. You make it sound as they you believe that whatever "everyone else is doing" is the right thing to do.

I see nothing wrong with people promoting these family values, regardless of whether or not everyone else can achieve them or not.

I agree with you completely, ImaginaryReality1984. It's a worthless proposition to impose other people with our own values, be it morals or family values. I wouldn't think of it and I don't understand the need by some to impose theirs on others.

I see it this way. If a person chooses their values from a book (or wherever) and decides to follow those values in their life, they make a decision for their lives and for themselves. So, if THEY have the choice to get their values from a book and follow them, why am I not also entitled to choose my own set of values?

I mean, I'm an adult and can make these choices for myself. Why should I not be permitted? Why do they feel that THEIR choices also apply to me? It doesn't make sense...

And even more ridiculous is the idea of legislating morals and values and forcing others to live their lives by this set of "universal values". I don't mind promotion by example. Live your life, have your family consist of a man, a wife and 2.3 children. Keep your virginity until you're married, don't do drugs and stay away from prostitutes. Be happy. I don't happen to think that homosexuality, premarital sex, recreational drug use or prostitution are "wrong", but if you do, don't participate in them. It's simple.

But since you were the one to decide your values, please, let me be the one to decide mine.

Well it's like here in the UK David Cameron is on about giving tax breaks to couples who are married and stay together. This bothers me as i see nothing wrong with people being together but not married for example.

Starred and flagged IR.

What bothers me is that these groups espousing family values pick and choose their villains.

They single out gay and unmarried familes, yet pass up the other non-traditional "families," such as the ones you pointed out.

Most families that are "nontraditional" got that way because of circumstances beyond their control... a divorce, breakup, or death in the family. You'd think they'd be more interested in helping those folks who often could use a leg up... instead they have to go around bullying the ones that chose to be together, because they chose to.

a return to to the family values on which our society is based is a cry that has been issued since roman times, a time when these family values were intact seems to be rather elusive.

the rhetoric isn't really based on reality, it seems to me that it is really about a way to direct blame in a tangible direction.

the biggest issue is that the so-called problems in our society aren't really problems to which government can issue a solution.

family breakup happens because people fall out of love as well as into it. it happens because people are weak and do stupid things, a tax break won't keep people together.

people take drugs and drink because there are a lot of people who really enjoy inebriation. there are a lot of people that find an escape from the slavery they impose on us a relief. people consume them mostly because they can.

people have sex before marriage because we're driven, as humans, to have sex, while marrage is a social convention.

people fight and kill because there is a drive within people to assert violent control over a situation.

despite what you told, these "faults" are part of the human condition, not the poor condition.

the government would like you and i to believe that the cause of difficulties and the denigration in society is due to a fault within us, that the misery and disconnection we feel toward each other is due to something we are, or may easily be, doing.

they then point at "broken families", many of which are sane and healthy environments, they point at teenage mothers, as if they are an entity rather than somebodies daughter or sister, they point at the drunk youth, the binge drinkers, and ignore their indulgences, they de-cry drug abusers as the bane of society and lock them away for longer than child molesters and rapists, just so long as they're poor. rich drug abusers are good drug abusers.

what a return to family values entails is that we, the people, the ignorant masses, should expend energy in fighting each other rather than attempting to remove the burden of their wealth from our shoulders.