Values vs Virtues: There is a Difference

Many believe that the words virtue and value can be used interchangeably, but there actually is a difference in meaning. According to Pediaa, “values are principles or standards of behavior that help one to decide what is important in life whereas virtues are qualities that are universally or generally considered to be good or desirable.”

I raise this question because Vice-President Kamala Harris keeps insisting that her “values have not changed.” Looking back at Kamala’s behavior (i.e., performance) during her time as a county prosecutor in the San Francisco Bay area, her term as Attorney General of the State of California, her role as Vice-President of the United States of America in the last 3-1/2 years, and now as the Democrat candidate for President of the United States, I think she is correct on this point. Her deeply rooted Marxist, self-serving values have not changed.

Watching what a person actually does (i.e., their behavior) is always a better indication of what they value than what they say they value in a campaign sound bite or rehearsed media interview. During the very few times in the last two months when Kamala did speak “off the cuff,” most of what she said made absolutely no sense at all to well-informed, clear-thinking voters. There are plenty of examples of this on the internet. Just type “Kamala, word salad” into your favorite search engine and several video clips will pop up (unless, of course, you are using Google, which still practices censorship of anything unfavorable to the Left).

But let’s go back to the Pediaa.com definition of virtue. Many, many books have been written throughout the ages about how to live a virtuous life. While different cultures may have some variations on what is considered a desirable personal trait, most western (and dare I say Christian) cultures would classify personal traits such as honesty, trustworthiness, patience, kindness, courage, diligence, humility, and temperance as virtues. Personal traits we call virtues are generally considered to hold high moral value.

Our personal values govern how we behave as human beings in the society in which we live. Our values are often subjective and can change over time. We have all heard stories about a convicted killer going to prison for 20 years and then coming out “a changed man” because his personal values had changed while incarcerated. The values we each embrace are a result of our family practices, culture, religion, and general life experience.

Because I most definitely do not like Kamala Harris’ stated values and political agenda, I am likely totally blinded to any admirable qualities or virtues she may possess and/or display.

I find her manner of speaking quite annoying because she appears to always be lecturing or “talking down” to her audience, and most of the time, what she has to say doesn’t even make any sense from a practical and/or political perspective.

However, the United States of America is still “a free country” – at least for the next four months – so I do not yet have to live in fear of expressing my personal opinions. I can even say publicly that I do not like someone even if that someone is running for President of the United States. However, if Leftist elites like Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Gavin Newsom, and certain members of the U.S. Congress get their way in 2025, the Constitutional protection of “free speech” may become even more endangered than it is right now.

One of my personal values is not being afraid to say what I truly think or believe. It is not always easy or comfortable to do that, but it is necessary to do that if I want to have mutually respectful and honest relationships with the people around me. Whether or not this behavior on my part is “virtuous” is open to debate, but it does allow me to have many trusting and fulfilling relationships.

When a person doesn’t “walk their talk” (as they say in The Twelve Step recovery programs), the person is generally perceived as untrustworthy. I think most Americans have pretty much had their fill of hearing Biden say he wants “to unite the country.” Words are cheap; actions require commitment. Kamala also does not “walk her talk.” In fact, she probably can’t even remember what she said on most subjects because she has changed her mind and/or lied so many times.

Personally, after watching the complete breakdown of American values and lack of virtue in the Biden-Harris Administration, I will be voting for someone who says what he means and means what he says. While many people still can’t get past Donald Trump’s hair style, tweets, and penchant for giving his political opponents names like Sleepy Joe or Crazy Hillary, I believe Donald Trump worked diligently and tirelessly during his first term as President to Make America Great Again, and I believe he will do the same and even more during his second term. My personal values are in far greater alignment with Trump’s than with Kamala’s, so you know who I will be voting for.

May God bless the United States of America at this very critical time in our history.

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