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Great piece. Americans do have a ton of core values in common that we forget to admit we share. However, America has always been missing a core value that we now need as a rapidly changing society: empathy. Equality, liberty and opportunity are all ‘me’ values. This is the great flaw in the American experiment we must overcome and it has contributed to the polarization we see around us.

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The article bemoans the erosion of core American values. But it gives itself away by reporting on his condescending dismissal of his classmate’s observation that Americans who voted for Trump were duped. He was duped too if he fails to mention a core value we do share: truth. And that can’t be found in a profligate liar.

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Sep 4, 2023·edited Sep 4, 2023

It is time to put "woke" to rest, because that only confuses things. The problem is we are all sort of inside out these days. We were at my brother-in-law's eating vegetarians as it puts it. He raises cattle. Many generations many political orientations, from baby diapers to Depend, Republicans, Democrats, and God knows what, I swear we all answered this question the same way: What is a good person? The trouble only starts when you put on your "Identity" mask instead of your human face.

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