The late Jean Bethke Elshtain cited “hardening of the categories of debate” in the U.S., where matters are discussed
. . . in a narrow language of rights and [we celebrate] an individualistic notion of “choice.”
The distinguished sociologist Robert Bellah, along with his colleagues, pointed out in the 1988 bestselling book Habits of the Heart that Americans have lost ways of talking about their commitments and what gives their lives meaning, except in and through a subjective kind of rights-talk.
Other “languages” central to the American political tradition—civic republicanism or a rich scripturally-inspired language (here all one need do is read Abraham Lincoln’s great speeches)—have faded as rights-talk has triumphed.
Commitments and what gives meaning to one’s life, yes.
Blithe Spirit 