Berkley Center

Americans are united by a common set of ideals, not values. While theory can inform general ideals, experience creates personal values. Our ideals are grounded in the theoretical framework of the Constitution. We aspire to live in a society that promotes liberty, equality and justice for all. We hope that church is separate from our state, that the work place is a meritocracy and that all people can live the American dream. Individuals’ values are different because their experiences dictate what ideals they value more or less. For example, while Americans with consensus consider equality an ideal, a child from an inner city school will value equality of education more than a child from a well-funded school will. We value most what it is that we directly experience. An individual who experiences inequality values equality highly because he has been made aware of the discomfort and hardship associated with a lack of it. Americans take for granted privileges afforded to them if their liberties have not been curtailed. While we may all strive toward a similar America grounded on Constitutional ideals, we do not all equally understand the important of these ideals. The extent to which we value an ideal America is contingent on our direct experience.

The questions that follow from this analysis are: How many Americans face inequality and how much does this affect the degree to which they value an ideal society? The answer to the first question is that even after generations of social justice reforms and progress our society is still mired with inequality. The SB 1070 bill in Arizona, the uncharged murder of Trayvon Martin, the codification of indefinite detention in the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act and the mandatory ultrasound bill (just to name a few) show the persisting marginalization of groups within American society and the increasing influence of privileged demographics. The answer to the second question is that there are millions of Americans who have experienced discrimination and consequently hope that America works toward establishing more just society. America's duty is to reject complacency with our supposed post-social movement, post-racial, post-inequality era and understand that is not fully providing its inhabitants with the Constitutional ideals it has promised them.