Morals, ethics today

I was challenged recently to reveal what I thought of America’s future. I was sorry to say that I don’t like the looks of what I have seen over the past decades. I don’t know the age of the person who made the challenge, but I feel certain they were quite young and their perspective is determined by the prevalent attitudes since the nineteen-sixties when honesty and morality hit the skids. A time when so many young people adopted an “Anything goes” attitude and the motto, “If it feels good do it.”

I remember saying during a discussion, “Mankind tends to be evil and do really wicked things unless he subscribes and abides by a code of honesty, ethics and morality.” There are good people who profess to disagree, but who follow really good qualities even while denying them. They are good folks in spite of denial.

It’s not that there weren’t people over the centuries that lacked honesty and morals. There have always been thieves, outlaws and evil people who do bad things. The majority of citizens, however, subscribe to higher standards based on honesty, kindness and the religious teachings of the Ten Commandments.

I remember during the years I was young, the strict codes of morality we were expected to live by. Business agreements were often made with a shake of hands. People were expected to remain celibate until after marriage. Out-of-wedlock babies weren’t open and common as they are today. Pornographic literature wasn’t open to everyone, including children. Sex and sexual discussions weren’t open as they are today. Foul language was seldom allowed in public, and never in schools.

Movies had strict rules, enforced by a Hayes Office that did not allow cursing, foul language, couples in bed or suggestive sexual innuendos. Today, every day we commonly see movies and public television, with people tearing each other’s clothes off, followed by sexual scenes in bed that leave little to the imagination. When one of those shows comes on, I usually hit the off button and hunt for a good story.

Killings and crimes of all sorts, with violence, murders and more fill both television and movie screens. There are more violent stories than inspiring stories where good things are done by good people. It seems little wonder that many children, youths and people with few principles turn to drugs, booze, violence and unacceptable behaviors.

And conditions seem to get worse every year.