My submission to USA today on Values

Well ladies and gentlemen, Today I am posting the response I sent to the newspaper USA today regarding American Values. They had requested that people send in a response about the so called "values" issue in the recent November elections (President, Congress, state office, local offices, amendments,etc) and its continuing aftermath. There was a limit of 250 words. So here is what I sent in response.

Dear USA Today

I am a trauma surgeon in a metropolitan hospital. Let me tell you about American values at present. Americans shoot and stab one another too often. Americans drink too much and drive killing themselves and one another. Too many Americans take illicit drugs. Americans commit too much domestic violence. Too many American teenagers get pregnant. Americans commit hate crimes. Americans engage in racial prejudice which kills by neglect, poverty and lack of health care. Americans ignore those who are homeless. Too few Americans are foster parents which is why we have so many battered children. Americans tolerate functional illiteracy. Too few Americans visit lonely men and women in nursing homes allowing diseases of neglect to flourish. Too many Americans who could make a difference by donating money to charity and more importantly donating time and work to worthwhile causes don’t. Americans smoke too much causing early deaths. Americans eat too much. Americans exercise too little. Many Americans speak loudly in words about values. Few Americans let their actions show they care about values. Where are American values headed? Americans are developing a value system which does not believe in the worth and dignity of each human being. Americans are indifferent to the idea that all people have an equal claim to life, liberty, and justice. Americans have a poverty of good works (which are the natural product of good faith). I urge every American who is able to volunteer two hours a week to helping others.

James T. Evans, M.D., FACS

Buffalo, New York