Tango and Family Values

I raise chickens in my backyard. On cold winter days like these, they huddle and tango together to keep themselves warm. Individualism is a luxury chickens can't afford. They rely on each other for survival, much like early human beings (see The Spirit of Tango).

Sometimes I wonder: are modern people really smarter than chickens? Why have they formulated radical ideologies like individualism and feminism to justify behaviors that do not serve the greater good? Why are they so obsessed with self-interest and personal rights, yet apathetic toward others? Why do they mistreat, exploit, take advantage of, bully, plunder, abuse, torture, and even slaughter their own kind? Why do they greedily accumulate wealth far beyond their needs, at the expense of their fellow human beings? And why, little by little, have they abandoned the values that united and strengthened them as a species?

History shows that the darker sides of human nature can allow evil to flourish. People can be led—often unknowingly—into embracing ideas that harm both themselves and society. Perhaps we are living through such a time once again (see Pluralism vs. Monism).

Still, I refuse to give up hope, because I see goodness in people like firefighters, Doctors Without Borders, and tango dancers alike. I admire them because it takes a big heart to open your arms to others, to provide a supportive shoulder to those in need, and to be a good Samaritan. Tango was created by such people—immigrant men and women who were homeless, lonely, and vulnerable, seeking refuge in a strange land, yearning to be loved—who hold compassion to others like themselves. Like chickens, they huddle and tango together to keep themselves warm in a cold world (see Why People Dance Tango).

I also find hope in parents who teach their children to love one another, to care for their little brothers and sisters, and to work together as a team. When such children grow up, they will become responsible members of society. Evil prevails only when families disintegrate, when family values are lost, when human bonds fade away, when egoism dominates, and when materialism, individualism, feminism, racism, hatred, divorce, single-parent families, irresponsible sex, and self-indulgence become the accepted norms in society.

But I don’t believe this path can last. As a species, we are part of nature, and nature’s laws ultimately prevail over the laws of man. Humanity's success depends on our solidarity and cooperation—abilities deeply embedded in our nature. As long as humanity exists, so will love, teamwork, families, and the values that hold us together, so harmful ideologies like liberalism, individualism, and feminism cannot endure.

Family will always remain the cornerstone of human civilization. Our collective desire to survive and our shared conscience reject what is harmful to society. After all, we must thrive not as individuals, but as a species. This is why, in times like these, more and more people turn to tango—a dance that connects us, a dance that demands cooperation, a dance that teaches people to love, and a dance that aligns with family values (see Tango Is the Search for a Dream).