How Dinnertime Could Reinvent the Modern World

O.K., so I am reading "How the Scots Invented the Modern World " by Arthur Herman.  Listen to this- pg. 72:"As human beings living in society,we have certain rights that we bring to the TABLE with us from our natural state, such as the right to our own life and our property.  But there are certain obligations we have to observe.  One of the most obvious of these is obeying the laws established through common consent.  But the other is the moral law governing our private conduct towards others.  Without a moral law, no community is possible.  Without community,  there is no protection for ourselves and the things we need to survive, i.e., our property.  When we realize...that our self-interest dictates that we treat others as ourselves, we are ready to live among our fellow men."  This came from the Scottish intellectuals in the early 1700's setting the stage for our Declaration of Independence.  They talked of rights that come with obligations.  They talked of a moral law directing our "private"(everyday) actions toward and for others.  They talked of the need for community for our very survival.  So dinnertime, regularly sitting at your own table, with the TV off perhaps is one of those obligations and actions you can take for your family,even if it is just 2, that cements the family as a small unified community discussing the joys and trials of the day, checking everybody's schedules, making plans for future events, bringing new words to the table( Katie Couric's parents did that), discussing articles, finding out where your teenager has been driving etc.  "When we realize...that our self-interest dictates that we treat others as ourselves,  we are ready to LIVE..."  and reinvent and reenergize the modern world!