Values are pronounced and debated today with the thoughtfulness of a 60-second sound bite. There are thousands of pundits espousing values that are based on poll ratings.

Anything that intrinsically questions our reality or widens our horizons of other people, will ensure that discovered truths do not become forever-unquestioned dogmas. I firmly believe that values need to create a learning environment that does not quench our thirst for questioning and the pursuit of knowledge in this world, but that it leaves us thirsty in our quest to question ourselves.

Values and political views have been, in essence, fused and promulgated by fear and antagonization. Our leaders have failed us by lowering the debate of values to semantics, while we have failed our leaders in not raising the plane of debate to a higher level.

I believe values need to instill respect for the human dignity of others.

Instead, we are in a standoff of beliefs and values that are unquestioned truths, and values that are never reexamined or evaluated in the light of another perspective.

Values such as the world is a solely black and white one, and the assumption of truth that overlooks all the nuances of grays that pervade our dynamic lives. That does not mean that my values reside in ethical relativism, but rather that I hold values that question prevailing norms and understandings, instead of indoctrinating and conformatizing individuals.

Some of us have assumed a belief that fits our identity: malleable religions that fit who we are and what our interests are, a value system that comforts and coddles our complacency. A value system where harsh rhetoric is thrown at other groups to repent and convert, while never asking the tough questions that need to be asked.

There is no shortage of criticisms for others’ views, but there are numerous undiscussibles in our own lives we cannot accept.

We long for empathy, compassion and understanding for ourselves, but we write off with semantics the failings of others, with the words of evil, fool and dolt.

We seem to demand a view of others that conforms to our own. We want values that are our own, but that make others sacrifice theirs. Personal responsibility is a phrase and guise to shirk from collective responsibility to others. There are many scapegoats for our problems, but little ownership in our collective future.

Values seem to reinforce our economic realities. Values seem to be interconnected with our own material reality. A material reality that seems to define us with power, status, and consumption patterns. However there is very little questioning or thought about the consequences of materialism on others.

Phrases such as you are either “with us or against us” assume an arrogant self-righteous infallibility, which is impossible for fallible beings such as ourselves.

Instead, values need to not be unquestioned dogma, but have the inquisitive nature of an infant and the thought and reflection of a wise sage. Righteousness needs to be defined as long-term consequences and their impact on other living creatures.