All cultures have things that they value. The things that are most valued are those things that are preserved at the greatest cost. Although a culture may seem to value a certain thing, the true value can be determined when it costs the culture something to preserve what it values. Unfortunately in America, we have verbally placed value on things that we THINK we should value. But the test of time and money has shown what we value the most.
Our system of education has been contronted by many difficulties. The economic crist that has swept our nation has not left the school systems untouched. How do we cope? What is it that we value the most when it comes to cutting the budget and improving our society? It is very interesting that the arts programs in a school, particularly music programs, are often the first on the chopping block. The "extracurricular" activity last affected by economic woes are sports programs. What does that tell us about American society?.
As Americans we have trained ourselves to live for the moment instead of preparing for the future. How thankful we should be that our forefathers did not have the same point of view! We have changed over the years to become a society that spends and does not invest, and this is seen in our attitudes toward the arts. In many homes it is more important that Johnny be a champion athlete than to have character, discipline, and moral value. What have we done to ourselves?.
Investment in the arts is for life. Sports are quite temporal. Even a professional athlete is considered a veteran at the point of retirement at the age of 35. It is at this point of life that most musicians begin to blossom. Even a tired old grandmother at age 70 can sit and play or listen to music and lift her spirit. We must re-learn to evaluate our lives on the basis of the permanent and not the momentary. Let's think ahead and not leave a generation with no culture or values at all because of our short-sightedness.
