American Morality

“There can be no high civility without a deep morality” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Many people say that in America you are free. But what is freedom?

Freedom: (noun) exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

Is this the true freedom as we as Americans experience or are we blinding ourselves to the truth that we in fact do not live in a free society? Every day we are conscious of what people are saying about us, regardless of what we think. Every day we follow the customs of society regardless of many beliefs. Where are the moral roots of America? Certainly we are more civilized than the village of Kilanga. But by what do we declare a society civilized?

The civilization of Kilanga was uncivilized by American terminology. They had no running water, no trained physicians, no vehicles, and no electricity. But the strong morals of these people overrode the lack of these things. If I were to find a desert island to create my own society, I would certainly not agree with their practices of nudity, but that is only because I am “civilized.” I certainly would not see a “medicine man” for curing my ailments, but that is because I have health insurance. I certainly would not hunt for my food, but that is because I can drive to the store and buy it. But I would certainly not allow the morals America to pollute my society, and that is because I have morals.

Americans are very protective of themselves. If a woman is walking down the street with her full breasts hanging, she will most likely be arrested for public indecency. In America, we confine our daily excretion of personal waste to a very personal level. We wear multiple layers of clothing and feel this clothing somehow makes a difference on who we are in the world. In Kilanga, the women had no shame with being partially or completely nude in public. This I disagree with. However, the people did not think that the clothing you wore mattered. Wearing non-matching clothes was completely permissible and widely accepted. In my society people would still keep their nude bodies to themselves, as well as personal excretion, but would not judge each other on clothes brands, colors, style, and matching.

In America we pride ourselves on our bodily health. This is due to the excellent medical treatment we can have anytime we feel the least bit sick. The equivalent in Kilanga was the medicine doctor. I would not put my life in the hands of a man who was not trained in the skills of American doctors. However, while it is true that American health care is at the top of the ladder, the morals of the doctors and patients are poor. Doctors try to weasel out as much money from you as they possibly can. The average patient thinks that the slightest glitch with their bodies could mean discrimination and rejection. In Kilanga there were many disabilities such as limps, blindness, etc. The Congolese’s accept these people for who they are aside from their disability. So while my society would have the health care of America, people would be less concerned about their disabilities, and doctors more concerned about helping the patient than money.