Horsa, I agree with you up to a point that shared vaues as a nation are valuable. But they must be morally sustainable shared values. Here is a recent list of shared values held (imposed?) that lead to untold destruction and mayhem under the tutelage of monstrous dictators:
Facist Germany under the monstrous Hitler;
Facist Italy under the morally decrepit Mussolini;
Communist Russia, ex USSR, under the Georgian thug - Stalin;
Communist China under the maniacal Mao; and
Cambodia under the genocidal Khmer Rouge. Who can forget the 'Killing Fields?
And I nearly forgot Japan!
Millions of these countries' citizens suffered untold misery and torture to ensure they conformed to the values imposed by their Leaders.
