The result is that America is a nation deeply divided between people who are concerned about real - life issues — war and peace,
social justice, the health and welfare of people — on one hand, and other people who are concerned, instead, about «values,» by which they mean adherence to ancient taboos, dependence on a magical God, enforcing
acceptance of ancient creeds, requiring everyone to believe as they do, and finding safety in raw (
though often hidden)
social and economic power.