by Bob Daniel, Ph.D., with Editing Assistance from ChatGPT
I recently read a graduation speech that called for a return to traditional values. In his commencement address to Hillsdale College graduates, Dr. Victor Davis Hanson highlighted three main virtues: honor, tradition, and optimism. While I respect these values, I find their application in today’s world not so simple and straightforward. They often mean different things to different people, and sometimes these values clash with one another. Instead of thinking in strict “either/or” terms, I think we need a “both/and” approach — one that balances competing values and even looks at ideas from outside our Western culture.
Which American Traditional Values?
Dr. Hanson claimed that tradition, honor, and optimism are timeless American values. But are they really? Honor depends on whose moral code you’re following. Tradition just means things we’ve done for a long time, whether or not they’re still useful. And optimism can be either healthy determination or blind faith. Such distinctions aren’t a matter of nitpicking. These differences matter when we apply traditional values to real-life situations.
Honor
Honor sounds good, but it can be abused. The standards can be rather self-serving, as the phrase “honor among thieves” suggests. Today, we see Congress divided over loyalty to one’s leader and party vs. allegiance to our country. To his credit, Dr. Hanson included compassion, honesty, and protecting the weak as aspects of honor. And he even challenged neutrality when confronted with indecent behavior. He illustrated such qualities with his example of his unsecured bicycle not being stolen on the Hillsdale campus. Yet he has remained silent on President Trump’s blatant dishonesty, intimidation, and retribution. Pointing out these moral deficits would require yet another feature of honor – that of courage.
Tradition
Traditional values are not all the same, and many directly oppose one another. Think of these pairs:
- Order vs. Freedom
- Security vs. Adventure
- Individualism vs. Cooperation
- Living in the Moment vs. Planning for the Future
We value both sides, but they often conflict. For example, freedom without limits can allow people to abuse others, while too much focus on order can restrict personal freedom. The challenge is to balance them – not to choose one over the other, or to endorse each independently, as it suits our purposes.
Optimism
Optimism can inspire people to push through tough times, but it can also make us ignore problems. The speech seemed to promote a “positive-only” attitude, which risks overlooking mistakes from the past. For example, praising America’s history without acknowledging the struggles of Native Americans or African Americans leaves out important truths. As George Santayana pointed out, “Those who do not understand history are doomed to repeat it.” Realistic optimism allows us to learn from both our successes and our failures.
From Either/Or to Us vs. Them
A big problem in today’s society is thinking everything must be either one way or the other. This either/or thinking can quickly turn into us vs. them when we disagree. By refusing to compromise, we feed division, making it easier for fear and anger to take over. If we want to protect democracy, we need to respect differences and work together instead of tearing each other apart.
Beyond Traditional Western Thinking
The speech praised ancient Greek and Roman ideas, but these traditions rely heavily on “either/or” logic. Eastern traditions, like yin and yang and Buddhism’s Middle Path, focus on balance. They show how two opposite values can actually work together, without canceling each other out. This perspective could help us handle the contradictions within our system of traditional American values.
No Easy Answers
Applying values is messy – there’s no simple, one-size-fits-all formula. Reliance on strictly traditional values can offer simple solutions, yet at a cost of critical thinking and current relevance. Classes that focus on applying values and principles to modern society can help us think through our tough issues. Including other perspectives can expose the limitations of our own ideology and expand our understanding.
Listening Across Divides
Some will dismiss this approach as “situational ethics,” a code phrase for moral permissiveness. Yet our values naturally clash, so we need honest conversations that respect different points-of-view. We may not always agree, but at least we’ll understand each other better. And in the process, we just might reconcile an internal conflict among our own values that we have been overlooking.
Diversity Broadening Perspective
Looking at this commencement address has helped me to sharpen my own views. I don’t reject traditional American values — I just think they need to be balanced and updated to fit our world today. Education isn’t about memorizing one set of ideas. It’s about questioning, discussing, and challenging our preconceived notions. Including a both-and approach helps us grow, both individually and as a society.
Epilogue
In recognizing how my writing style can be rather intellectualized, I decided to let ChatGPT edit my initial post. I was rather impressed at how it condensed my ideas rather accurately in plain, conversational language. Yet I noticed one other feature – it eliminated all personal references. No mention of Goldwater, Trump, or even Dr. Hanson, the commencement speaker whom I reviewed somewhat critically. I wonder – were the humans who programmed ChatGPT intimidated by potential retribution for their role in such projects? No matter – I reinstated the important personal references myself. We must speak truth to power, lest we surrender our democracy to authoritarian oligarchy.