Americanism to me means being having a love and appreciation as a citizen of our country. I Beloved Country and I believe in it and I think we should teach your children to believe in it. I wish you the finest Traditions. I don't I think we ought to tell them about George Washington and the role he played when the his way was tired and hungry and his men were but they stuck it out more or less National Security Peace of Mind where you don't have toWorried about what's going to happen the next day or the next month for the next year. What am I going to use them to me? A man's loyalty is the world and I think the foundation on which we build was fundamentally faith in God. That's the way we built the kind of citizenship that made possible our constitutional government development of our private enterprise economy, which has become the most productive economy ever known America is a conglomerate to people who have a great heritage from European Victor elephant European world and when you look at our background and what they were when they came many of our forefathers were anything but desirable citizens and their own right over there, but because of the environment in which we have created here by being concerned about our fellow man.And I think it's still exist in our nation today that we've been able to create a nation that most of us have deep honest feelings a face. But no matter what problems we hit will find an answer. I see now at a change and probably a change for the better. We went through a historic. Of time when the United States was considered to be the Melting Pot of Nations and people came to this country and wanted to be assimilated into the society. I've noticed it in past years that there were getting a great deal more emphasis on ethnic background and ethnic pride and I think these kinds of things that are that we're starting to develop the pride in our ancestry pride in our forefathers and so forth that this is going to be very prominent in the years to come.There definitely is a feeling that we take a great deal from other countries, especially the countries south of us and don't give back a comfortable in or mounter anything in return most of us complain about things that we really have. No right to complain. Will you live in the best country in the world? We generally have it better than anybody else in the world would generally have very little to really to complain about if you consider the conditions under which we live today and compare that with the Buried and which my grandparents came to this land from Norway for in the late eighteen hundreds when they lived in Winter conditions at by today's standards would be intolerable and unacceptable. Basic American characteristic may have been a search for the new or Windows 10 to 10 the new took my Jefferson in writing about the decision to declare independence and the decision to found a nation. Seem terribly aware that what was happening was something that was entirely new very much aware that the past has been cut off and let the problems of Europe. We're not going to the problems of this country. I would guess that in almost every area the countries of people share a regard for what we call individualism or the individuated cell and a belief that this is good that people ought to be able to Be as much of themselves and end say as much of what they have on their minds as soon as possible. I would think that that's probably our greatest shared value 4th of July just passed and on that day. We as Americans supposedly reflect on this country's past and hold dear the wisdom tenacity and courage of our founding fathers. So we thought that I look at America was an order. What is America do we use American share common ideals dreams and goals. How do we perceive our country? And what do we see is the future of America? These are the questions we've been asking people in the Fargo-Moorhead area for some time and today will present the many and varied answers or attempt to look into americanism begins at the North Dakota American Legion convention recently held in Fargo. americanism is more or less National Security Peace of Mind where you don't have to worried about what's going to happen the next day or the next month of the next year so far as I'm concerned. We'll just a piece of mind if you know everything is going to keep on going the way it should go where you don't have to worry about one more after another for every generation. The last war was bad enough. When were you at Korean veteran the last war that seem to have a lot of unity and that the home front to where everyone seemed to be pretty agreed on the principles are fighting for everybody knew what they were fighting for. Then there was a weird question as to what you should do and what you shouldn't do. You just went when you were calling or if you were call her or you volunteered cuz there was a real purpose behind that he had to stay up at all for the whole country would have went down. If you think there was not a sense of purpose about getting onto that should have been there frats not fought. Well, I believe it should have taken place, but I don't think it should have been. Operated the way it had been it could have been cut short after a matter of a couple of years. It would have been done properly instead of dragging it out and dragging so many young people in. That's why a lot of them disappeared which they they they had any americanism. What would you call it going to think for themselves? And they did what they thought was right, but I think it was wrong but Everybody has to think for themselves. When you are fighting in World War II. How is the biggest are you thinking about ideals? Are you think about your own Survival and the camaraderie of your colleague? You mean in the actual fighting Weller? It's just a fight for life. But there again, you had a purpose you know what you were there for You didn't have a sense of pride in your country and and what it stood for or absolutely motivating things. There was Maura americanism feeling in those days that there is today today. A lot of people see a flag on a just turn their back on and walk away. You think we need more patriotism country today? Well, I think you're brought up with the party partially at home. Just like start young enough to start in the Boy Scouts or the Girl Scouts. Metal came to build it. They have a younger age. It'll stick with it at all as they grow up I think. It's a thing of the past. Well now that the bicentennial is coming up. You're going to start seeing more Flags. What did they get the true meaning of the flag or not? But what are they going to do it just for know what they are putting the flag out for it's going to be something else. I'm heading in the next year-and-a-half. You're going to see you. Most everyone is going to have a flag. I can get the true meaning behind the flag. The American is a me what has happened in the last 200 years to build a country as it up to what it is today going to make quite a difference. But if they people get the true meaning behind it. I think it means. Another country and and the feeling of keeping it strong and defending itself and in the world and against the forces that want to tear things down. Warriors really solve anything you want not always quite frequently. They don't but sometimes you get to an impasse where it seems like the only thing you can do unless you want to back up and get dealed. What do you value most about living in America freedom freedom to go and come as you wish. You know was a lot of limitations but there should always be limitations on anybody else's toes. Some people have a Kind of a Funny idea about Liberty Liberty is no good that when it invaded somebody else's rights. The word americanism what what does that mean to americanism to me means being having a love and appreciation as a citizen of our country I Beloved Country and I believe in it and I think we should teach your children to believe in it and we should uphold the finest Traditions. I don't I think we ought to tell them about George Washington and the role he played with his men were but they stuck it out. And then I think about Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin and how they wrote labored over our first Constitution. It's still good a good cuz I don't know the better one is going to stand the test of time. What's your American Dream American dream is that we can have a a good pattern of five living up that not rich people but comfortably and that they will be at peace with our neighbors that we respect all Races and and not have reader in Vietnam heart. I think that if we let the other man live according to the dictates of his conscience and we left temple by the way, we live. Well, then I think that would be a dream come true for me. It really would I die. Just I have no hatred in my heart to hurt anybody or any racer or anything and I think that I just want to live a good life as I can and try to set a good example for other people and I want to be fattest cuerno de lis with my fellow man, and I think we all did that Testers like back in 1669 that were saying that that the government doesn't represent all the people, you know all the time. How do you feel about that? It's hard for me to understand protesters. Frankly. It really is hard for me to understand how they got that way. I think really the Vietnam War. I know it was an unpopular and it was a war that men didn't want to go fight. But but so many of them did and I admire and respect them for if they went because they were called to duty but I think maybe that I fear we you know, younger people are getting more adults at a younger age than ever before and I think wars and rumors of wars and all of these upsets and in Monson, all of these things have have upset the young people and made them feel that are you so maybe some of them just Washington what they're doing. Well, I think a lot of them a lot of them don't but I think they are again if that if we have him still I love for our country and love for a form of government in the chiller. When they're young they're not going to depart from it, but not going to they might tell but I believe in them. I really believe in our young people. Demonstrators would be either love it or leave it. Something's got to be done in America either we change it or lose it. America is a conglomerate to people who have a great heritage from European European World, Minnesota State senator Douglas Sellers, and when you look at our background and what they were when they came many of our forefathers were anything but desirable citizens and their own right over there, but because of the environment which we have created here by being concerned about our fellow man. And I think it still exists in our nation today that we've been able to create a nation that most of us have deep feelings of Faith. But no matter what problems we hit will find an answer to visions. Do you think we as Americans share with one another? Visions for the future but we haven't we basically have no doubt in our minds if we can we can cover most any problem and answer any problem. There are some indications in the media past where we we were frustrated in attempting to do this and and I but I think we still have a strong feeling that this nation can can survive and do most anything that has to be done to make a quality of living Peace and Freedom or a couple of great ideals, but the foundation blocks for changing it all. Not if they're called on to to forgive protected by the American people, we become rather careless. I think we're coming closer and closer to a position in this world at war cannot in any way pay to have I think there's no question in most Americans Minds at that. There is no price. It's worth War. And that could strengthen our star system. And we'll go the extra step to prevent it without losing our basic freedoms more than ever before. Oh no, no, no. No, the arav differences are are not the basic fundamental issues that are called on for people to pay the price when they have to their issues that are are at the moment and they divide people about the strength of America the the existence of America, which is none are currently in all of us will come up. We will pay the price we have to maintain it then that's what's important is our body differences. They aren't that their party differences are generally of the moment moment in the sense of 6 months or a year controls conflict. Yes control conflicts. That's a good term. One of the things I think that we begin to see less of is the social Mobility or the desire for social Mobility. Well oversimplifications of the port of the more affluent a prosperous and that because most of us have a Prosperity. I think if we're called on to meet the challenge in this nation as part of this world will meet it. There's no reason why they the backbone isn't still there are much much more narrow Focus relay and people are coming from Europe First Express purpose. Now as we expanded our pluralism not only have nationalities, but I've beliefs and ideals if perhaps is harder to find a group of things that everyone can agree upon but what do you see as the essential American character? Well, we went through a historic. Of time when the United States was considered to be the Melting Pot of Nations and people came to this country and wanted to be assimilated into the society. Moorhead mayor Dwayne Holberg. I've noticed just in past years that they're worth getting a great deal more emphasis on ethnic background and ethnic pride and I think these kinds of things that are that we're starting to develop the pride in our ancestry pride and iro for fathers and so forth. This is going to be very prominent in the years to come. I'm sure also that is also going to tend to to give us a broader base as far as our philosophical principles are concerned with in this country. Where do you see the country going in the future? What is the agenda that he was a political leader C is necessary for America greatest issue that we face today as a nation realize that it's about the human values. Certainly our society today has got to take care of its own and I think we face today the as a greatest problem solving social ills of our country estate and probably even we can carry it right down to the county and City because it in the years that I've served in city government of the problems of people are really the major problems that we have. Do you feel this is a material thing or is it a matter of values? I think it's a combination of both we can talk about value is only so long as we have the material things to supply our daily needs and when we have people who are suffering as a result of lack of David needs is pretty hard to talk values to those people. We've got to satisfy certain to the human needs before we can start talking about principles and values. let's all get together and sing the song right after I Let's see how much you remember from school. Okay, how about the president? they're definitely you know is a confrontation between the 4th would be calling all the third world and the Western countries World executive director of the American Lutheran Church women from other countries, especially the country south of us and don't give back a comprable, you know amount to anything in return and I know there is this whole business a matter of debate about whether or not our corporations help develop those countries or not, but it seems like the women there said we know that Some economic good is coming into the country through these companies, but it's not worth the price. We have to pay in terms of human existence. So does the feeling there was get out and leave us alone. They thought we were exploiting a natural resources for our own use over here. And naturally we have a lot of resources in the United States. Look at our agriculture this part of the country probably could if we knew how to distribute it and use all of our land but a lot of the resources we don't have and we have to take them other countries the oil the minerals the Diamonds the gold. And they know that we're taking it was there a sense of materialism vs. Spiritualism or are qualities that are non material that's in value is that we're not giving them to Yes, I'd I think though that in the west we've tended to separate body and soul. You know when we've but there's more of a sense of wholeness and the rest of the world you you don't know the person's hunger you feed that person and you don't just preach it has to go together care about the whole person and that's a Christian value that I think we have lost to a certain degree, but still just a feeling that it's just as valuable to feed a person have to preach to that person. I don't think we quite put that all together and then same way did you sense? There was really hostility toward America. Yes, I did. I felt very definitely even a personal sense of being kind of under judgment. It's strange has let you know that the people of my generation were trained to work hard to acquire Goods we grew up in the depression and we were told work hard to get ahead and that the getting ahead that we did. We were not aware that we were getting ahead at the expense of the rest of the world. And so now here we sit with her will and I wonder if there's any way that we can control ourselves and say we've got enough But all I ever hear is that we got to keep our economy going and that means sell more buy more, you know get more but I thought I wonder if we aren't at the point where we need to put some brakes on our own. Acquiring I think we don't realize the power we do have and that if we exercise it would mean a great deal. I think corporations would respond if American consumers would say we're concerned about your treatment of cheap labor in foreign countries, and that we will not buy your products unless we hear that you've changed policies. The United States dollar took another pounding on the British French and German exchange of this morning getting the lowest point ever known in West Germany. The dollar has declined by 41% since 1971 my friends. I think it's time to speak up for Americans as a generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all this Earth as long as thirty years ago. When I first began to read newspapers, I read of floods in China and India who rushed in with money men and help where the Americans dead. We've helped control floods of the Nile the Amazon today the bottom land of the Mississippi is under water and no foreign land has set up any of Hell Germany Japan and to a lesser extent Great Britain and Italy were lifted by American who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions and debts. None of those countries today is paying even the interest on a 3 meaning death to the United States when the prank was in danger of collapsing in 1956 is as the American dream. Well in the first place, I think that we need to look back. To the early part of our history and so we can appreciate where we are today, Minnesota 7th District Congressman Bob, Bergland. Most of us complain about things that we really have no right to complain where you live in the best country in the world. We generally have it better than anybody else in the world would generally have very little to really to complain about if you consider the conditions under which we live today and compare that with the. In which my grandparents came to this land from Norway for in the late 1800s. They lived in Winter conditions at by today's standards would be intolerable and unacceptable. I think the first of all we need to keep it in perspective and consider these improvements in our lifestyle. However, I can see some problems developing that gives me great cause for concern we today seem to place more value in the almighty dollar. Then we do when our creator and old money God. This is going to lead this nation to real difficulties in my judgment. And if we continue to believe that some do that making a lot of money is going to buy peace and happiness. Then we will be developing a society that's building material things and that Society will crash as I was Henry every society in the world that has built its entire value system around material things. And so we need to have a a Reawakening in that respect and take a look at ourselves. And where are we headed? What is it the end of the road? I see trouble at the end of the road because of the value. We attached to the dollar bill and the things that can buy and these things we tend to worship and we forget the real happiness is free of charge. It's a state of mind. I was just a part of the other day to see that to a church membership has dropped in the last year this troubles me no end not because I hold in Erie for the organizers per se but it tells me that people are getting away from the from the principles that have really glued this civilization together for 2,000 years and I see some signs of a coming apart government can do little or nothing about that. Unfortunately and this is a problem. They will have to be dealt with and they homes begin with And the church is in not at the schools to develop a change in our social values and this will take a generation. I expect to accomplish, but I think we best get out of one of the ways we get a sense of nation is by a sharing of common values and yet you are indicating that there is an inconsistency between but the church is say about materialism and what are capitalist Society economy says it in terms of Creating wants for people and and the need to continue to have a high gross national product and to consume more and more. Yes. There is an inconsistency here, but I know people back home at Roseville and some acquaintances in Washington and other folks around the 7th District who have who have a good job. They have a two cars one paid for and one on which their mortgage up to their eyeballs. They have a home that's beyond their real ability to handle a comfortably within their budget. They buy everything in sight and they are really trapped in. They really lose their basic freedoms. Cuz they're a slave to that job in the dollar bill. They're so busy staying alive. When I tell you that they don't have time to sit down and think and read a good book or two really reflect on where they at. Where at where we're going. I think government can help in this respect in that we can attempt to encourage people. That's about all we can do to not get themselves and it's kind of a financial bind so that they're driven as a slave to the dark. But then that of course the complex with the recommendations of the business Community, I'm not talking with just about anyone. I'm talking about business per se depends on strong consumer Demand by think business going to have to revalue which goal and exclamation in this Society Lester this whole society. So you see perhaps the next dream or the next goal for America Inn in redeem. Oral terms are in terms of redefining values human bodies for people look like there is no question about that. This seems to be a mission that has been neglected by most of our institutions. There are still some Churches who work real hard at it, but they're not too much attention and I was a consequence that commitment tonight Mission seems to be a blessing Tristan value today than it was 20 years ago. And I find this deeply coming out the American society is going through a. Of adolescence when compared to with the societies and the social institutions was most of Europe. For example that were relatively Young by the standards. They have developed a value system that We ought to examine that is very closely and that then they do not chase the almighty dollar. That is we do not to the extent we do they have a more leisurely lifestyle. They do have time to stop and think they tend to her needs of the less fortunate more generously than we and I'm not saying that we need to develop the European type of government or economy. But I'm saying the things in elements of the European attitudes and social systems that we should look at very carefully and attempt to adapt to our own the situation in the United States. So after 198 years, we look back to Our Roots even further than the original founding fathers to find some of the values that we need to regain perhaps. Oh, yes. I think we need to go back to a two thousand years to the time of Christ to really get their own problem in proper perspective, you know, this man came on this Earth and what about the preaching a philosophy? But if practice today would mean we'd need no armies. No police force. We can reduce our taxes. I think of that kind of a world and I think that somehow this ought to be our ideal and our objective that we that we develop a society that values of the teachings of Jesus Christ because of all of the promises of that type of a system hose to bring peace within our own souls and peace to the world. It's going to be a long struggle, but I think it has been committed by many and it's a mission that we must pursue vigorously. Thank you very much. Many's the time I Believe I Can Fly. Still you don't expect to be bright red and blue. So far away song. I don't know what you mean. Do when I pickles room with what's going on. And I dreamed I was dying. I dreamed and I dreamed I was flying. Statue of Liberty And I dreamed I was flying. movie come on the Mayflower we come on shoes. You changed me. Tomorrow's going to be another. I suspect that the basic American characteristic may have been a search for the new or witnessed entertain the new doctor Roland Dill president of Morehead State College Jefferson in writing about the decision to declare independence and the decision to found a nation. Sentara be aware that what was happening was something that was entirely new very much aware that the past has been cut off and let the problems of Europe. We're not going to the problems of this country and I I suppose that almost every immigrant has come to this country has been and in some ways looking for what was new quite as much as this looking for was a good for him was real sense that somehow the people were turning their back on the old country the old countries, but you see that in the kind of lack of interest in in the languages of the old countries, they characterize the the first native-born Generation Now crossword returning back to the old languages. I think that search for the experiment with a new has been fairly constant. Now that there is no longer so much knew in that sense. What do you see is fraps emerging of values that are distinctly American are or are there none? Well, I'm extraordinary pessimistic about it listened to me that the old search for the new required a corporate cooperating Community. Tell me a sense of community certainly is no man could make it on his own if there's a single American characteristic and I don't know how you got any fires American but a good characteristic that but seems to me to be that of the Future IT Self Indulgence this so you can see how this grows naturally out. His mother thing was I supposed to talk about the old about the search for for freedom in a way of a search for the new is a search for freedom because it's the way of increasing your options and without options. Of course, there is no freedom, but I think that time this desire to be free. And the fact that so many people were in so many ways more free than anyone in Europe. This is made the the desire for Freedom the search for Freedom the support of freedom, very complicated. As a matter of fact, most of our most of our problems for in the century come about because people have felt less free than they might be to determine their own Destinies the lives they want to live and hasn't really been a matter of of government for getting that all the government has got a They record that doesn't hold up too. Well, it has from time to time and Tru the terribly on people's freedom. But I think that was John Stuart Mill Plain. About the language that is a long time ago. The great restriction has been that of society requiring us to live in certain ways. The other restrictions been that that that has come about because in a free enterprise system some people get more than other people and when they get more other people they are in a position to have the power to keep other people from threatening them and I think that's what the history of Corporation. The corporations in America riding laws themselves is pretty shabby. Yeah chapter American history just that suggested that the corporation Society in general have imposed restrictions upon most people may have been able to do what they want to do and then we'll live as well as they should live to see how hard they work. But in the last few years, maybe maybe a dozen years, maybe five or six years very very emphatically. We have moved towards they permissiveness a new kind of free at the idea that people can do exactly what they want. And that only have the escape from the restrictions of society. They have this about any loyalty to the good of the community and the sad thing is what's up the Self Indulgence that we are suffering from and I think that lead to the end of this country and the world for that matter because this develops a A dearth of inner resources and development of the spirit and mind that's part of it country you you can't do anything on your own and if you're going to act as Community, you're going to have to be willing to sacrifice some of your selfish desires or personal desires. Your private needs to the needs of the community. We're going to do that second later. It seemed to me that the kind of self-indulgence which becomes you know, so much materialistic consensual is destructive of the spirit. How do I go farther and say that loyal to the community didn't want to sacrifice for it is a way of enhancing with spirit. At least it would seem that if one considers something other than his own personal needs those selfish desires. He he's making a step the important step toward towards that a spiritual life. What's in the end all that consist of the acts of love the values of the human heart is a phrase. This is what people are governed by the to a great extent and they know the freedom to do exactly as you want to do with the values of the human glands. Is that why? Some people find a new need to search for values to think that they've gotten. All the kinds of physical Comforts that they need and so they don't have happiness. Yeah, I happened to be listening on a cassette to Roosevelt's second inaugural address and the other day and that afternoon. I courted somebody in different contexts. I said that one part of our students. Are you okay by the old house in the old Mary and pretty much by their own choice it is it is a way living in communal housing which is always very satisfactory dressing not just as they wanted dress with dressing rather that definitely just shows how much money has been expended and not give me much time to eating. This is one way of showing that The the American am getting more and more especially more and more what shows a lot isn't isn't providing. What's a distraction for a lot of people is not that that we have failed to give these kids the kind of support the special support that allows me to find in the mainstream satisfaction of the fact that they are substituting values that are probably at least as shabby is the values of the side of their rejection. I have a difficult time fitness and the carpet selfishness. wishes, I think most selfish one of his most impersonal a carpet selfishness and OU's for RV values selfishness, they're both they're both supposed to the idea of a plumbing. Wish I had a lot of sentimental friend and maybe that's what's wrong with this country. Don't really good word without thinking people are going to say it's the only way to go and we're not going that way nobody suggests that we should go that way. I don't I don't know that very much is Is being done for for the future by the fact, that's so very very many kids are searching for an extra material dimension in life. And maybe it's good that they aren't finding the established church. What does is had his failures as well as other student has theirs but I suspect that there are if it is a pain of a search after a thrilling shutter of some kind in a good deal of this religion and secondly strikes me that so many of the practitioners and pictures of religion of these new religions. I felt so terribly arrogant. So certain a route is the only right path. It is very reminiscent of the 17th century with The Descent and some self-righteous people do often so many different religions and I don't think very many of them except for the Quakers were watching anybody else. There's nobody that there is an American name or an American Dream on American ideal, but there's anything that America Ought to be striving for except to be richer and more powerful and you know, it is one of The Sermon on the Mount and power are unworthy games the whole experience of this country and of mankind tells those underwear the Ames. Thank you very much. I've got some real estate. So we bought a pack of cigarettes. Is like a dream? Turn on the bus. Jaws music Dr. Joyce Flint coordinator of American studies at Morehead State College in almost every area the countries of people share a regard for what we call individualism or the individuated cell and a belief that this is good that people ought to be able to Be as much of themselves and end say as much of what they have on their minds as soon as possible. I would think that that's probably our greatest shared value of America in people would talk about americanism and and about American values much more I think than they do now perhaps that was a result of the the second world war in the first world war and you had too much greater sense of nationhood. We seem to be drifting away from that Consciousness now for the most part. Is it necessary that we have a lot of shared values or is the very fact that we don't that we have a lot of diversity one of our virtues. Well, maybe we're just more self-conscious about talking about our shared values the old kind of Fourth of July or a Tory I think makes us a little uncomfortable now, but I don't think that means that we don't have shared so much of it. Maybe you were conscious has led to a kind of pressure for Conformity or much of the old a glorious speeches about America has led to a lot of sad things like war and we just don't want to talk that way anymore. I don't think So there's grab some movement toward a more sense of world Identity or something then and nationalism per se. I think so. I think we're recognizing that that we don't we kind of don't want to function on that level. I think we're paying more attention to our our relationships with with people around us generally and we really don't need Maybe we don't have to talk about herself so much. Maybe we don't have to thump our chests and and give you patriotic speeches. It doesn't mean we don't believe it but me. So it's a sign of maturity. I think it might be I think it might be a seminal I can't imagine being in France and England for example and having the same kind of you know oratory that we used to have a few years ago a Frenchman something their chest and saying something is unfriend or Englishmen saying this is an English Behavior or something like that and maybe now we just a number of things and don't don't don't push ourselves out in the world so much and that particular way.