Me Thinks

Here are excerpts from two articles that I found interesting and interwoven:

The synopsis of the first article (detailing a research study) is that people are open to change, especially young people, educated people, people of color, and those with liberal values. 

"In the U.S., this ideological gap is far wider than in any other nation surveyed: 91% of self-described liberals favor openness to changes, compared with just 28% of conservatives."

"Age is another major factor in nearly every country surveyed. Younger people are much more likely than older people to say their country will be better off if it is open to changes in its traditions and way of life." 

"Education also shapes attitudes toward change. Those with a college degree or more education are much more likely than those with less education to say their country will be better off if it is open to change."

"Americans’ views also diverge along racial and ethnic lines. Black and Hispanic adults are more likely than White adults to believe the country will be better off in the future if it is open to changes."

(May 15, 2023, pewresearch.org, "In U.S. and Elsewhere, Most Say Their Country Will Be Better Off Embracing Changes Over Sticking to Traditions")

The point of the second article (detailing two research studies) is that most U.S. parents pass along their political and religious views to their children. The young are open to change and yet they are also influenced by the views of their parents.

"The survey indicated that the vast majority of parents with teens have passed along their political loyalties."

"The transmission of religion through American families appears to be similarly efficient. In the same 2019 survey, 82% of Protestant parents had teens who also identified as Protestant, 81% of Catholic parents had Catholic teens, and 86% of religiously unaffiliated parents – those who described themselves as atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular – had teens who were also 'nones.'"

"The survey found that most people who were raised in a single religion – either by two parents of the same faith or by a single parent – retained that religion."

(May 10, 2023, pewresearch.org, "Most U.S. Parents Pass Along Their Religion and Politics to Their Children.")