one of the most vital things in the world is understanding this. like I am ostensibly an atheist in the western world, but the shadow of Judeo-Christian values looms over me and mine even if I believe i've unshackled myself from that or not. Because it's seeped into the cracke and foundation.

many of my crotchety uncles are not believers, but their attitudes about the value of work ethic and their roles as men, even if they don't dress it up in those trappings, are deeply rooter into those values. probably also me without realizing it. i'm not special.