Ethics: Motivation based upon ideas of right and wrong or, the philosophical study of moral values and rules. I believe most of us would agree this is an accepted definition of ethics.
Our culture and society is primarily defined by and or decided by the laws and rules under which we are required to live.
Government has the responsibility to provide for the common good and general welfare of its people (The U.S. Constitution), and the people have the responsibility to ensure that the government does just that. Consequently, all of us and each generation are subjected to the whims, agendas, personal interests and yes-the greed of the lawmakers and egoists. This is no more evident that what has transpired in the latter part of the twentieth century.
The prime mover, which caused the change in our culture, was WWII.
Prior to 1941 our country was recovering from the “great depression”. Although most families were still struggling, there was time for family interaction, attention to education and plenty of time for “fun”, GOD and baseball. Our culture and rules were not perfect. We tolerated the KKK, using the words such as“nigger”,”spade”,”spic” and “wetback” and other such words to describe those of other ethnicity. Of course, coming from the other direction was “honky” and”whitey”.
The war came. Most of the men went to fight and most of the women joined the work force. This was the first cultural opening for the acceptance of women in industry. Although at the time most thought, it was temporary. Segregation was in full bloom within the army and marines. However there were many instances where “niggers',”spics”,”wetbacks”, “honkys, atheists, Christian and Jews fought side by side. After the end of the war, this (forced) societal change enabled the country to take a new look at our social and moral values.
So, in the years to come the lawmakers as well as those groups and individuals, with their own agenda, took whatever steps necessary to gain satisfaction and recognition, some under the guise of “doing good”. By virtue of this action our cultural and moral values have been on an ever-increasing downturn. At this point in time we have produced a generation of “it's all about me” and “if it feels good then do it”. This has resulted in higher crime and less compassion for each other. And the constant propaganda spewed by the main stream media only enforces the wild and free behavior of those who represent the next generation.
Yes, some of the legislation, which has been placed into law and some of the court decisions handed down have been a benefit to our society. Others have been like a rock around our neck causing our ethics and moral values to be sucked into the vortex setting up the next generation to sink deeper and deeper into moral decay.
Perhaps we should reflect on some of the changes, which are contributing, to our cultural decline:
- Very little, if any, corporal discipline or effective sanctions in our public schools.
- Removal and limiting the teaching of the Bible in our public schools.
- The outlawing of prayer in our public schools.
- The insistence by the minority that we accept “political correctness”. This is nothing more than “a loser's way out”.
- Accepting a hyphenated America .
- The decline of faith in Christianity-this country was founded on the Judeo-Christian philosophy producing a solid moral foundation on which our ancestors created and fostered the ideals of our society.
- Accepting the use of the first amendment (to the constitution) to further one's own selfish agenda.
- Accepting immoral sexual behavior as a norm.
- At this time tolerating the accommodation of millions of illegal immigrants who present an added burden to each legal immigrant and citizen of the country.
- The refusal of many immigrants to be assimilated into our society.
- The usurping of parental control by the government.
These are just a few of the many situations, which has caused negative change.
Now, what can we do to cause the pendulum to begin a swing back toward a higher level of moral values and personal behavior?
First, we must recognize that none of us is perfect. Second, we must believe and trust that a moral life must be based on a solid foundation. As we all must know that without a strong and solid foundation, all structure is weak. The structure may stand for awhile but sooner or later it comes tumbling down.
"Don't do to your neighbor, what you don't want him to do to yourself". The clarity of this thought is quite phenomenal. Using and practicing this principle as a motivating force can and must cause the pendulum to start swinging back. This is going to take each of us, with the desire to effect this change, to come together through many avenues. Some of which are
faith based organizations and:
- Using the Internet and other advertising mediums to petition other people to join the effort.
- Petition all of your government representatives, local, state and federal to re-instate Judeo-Christian teaching and prayer in our public schools.
- Re-empower parents to discipline their children.
- Re-empower teachers and school officials in order to establish sanctions, for inappropriate student behavior.
- Require the teaching of Ethics and Morality as a required course in all-public middle schools and high schools
- Study legislation and VOTE with your head not your heart; being handsome or beautiful is not a substitute for compassion, dedication, knowledge and understanding
Even as one person, do your part and sow the seeds of change for a better tomorrow for yourself and all your brothers and sisters.
This opinion is not meant to squelch the right of any of us to practice religious freedom. It is only meant to serve as an alarm to what is happening to our culture and in turn under what conditions we may exist in the future-after all, the Roman Empire only lasted for 1000 years and we are approaching 25 percent of that empire's life span.
What will our culture reflect 700 years from now?
Changes are inevitable but let us hope and strive for higher and more ethical change - you are the present judge!
