SHORT
COMMUNICATION 364
America-Richer
But Poorer
By
Roger
Behra
There was a time (the 1930’s) in
America when the American citizens were really experiencing some very bad economic
times. The great economic Depression was in full swimming. Unemployment was
above 25%. The economy was at a complete stop. Those that had a job were lucky
to be working three days a week. People were losing their homes. Suicides
increased dramatically. Ends were very hard to meet. The economic mode of daily
living was the order of the day. So was another mode of daily living-the
Christian way of living each day. The Americans of eighty years ago were
economically poor, but they were morally quite rich. The exact opposite is true
today.
In the modern American culture of
today (2013) people who are poor have a level material wealth that would have
been a pipe dream to yesterday’s Americans. But in spite of the fact that
today’s Americans have achieved an unprecedented level wealth, Americans are
very poor-spiritually and morally. The large majority of Americans who are
spiritually and morally poor are greatly in inferior to yesterday’s Americans.
It is like night and day. The impoverishment greatly hurts the American
culture.
In today’s American culture the level
of poor spiritually and morality would be considered great character defects
eighty years ago. But this is not so today. What’s worse is there is little
condemnation of it by those who are spiritual and moral. Crude behavior and
language are accepted today.
In yesterday’s America out-of-wedlock
childbirth would not occasion a baby shower; divorce was not a way to go;
pornography was not at all acceptable; teen sex was very seldom; women dressed
very modestly; honesty was the best policy; children respected parents and
lawful authority; most families attended church regularly on SUNDAY; despicable
acts in personal live was not openly discussed there was no Popular TV to
contaminate family lives; customs, traditions, and moral values were honored
and revered. Good behavioral norms were transmitted by example, word of mouth,
religious teaching, rules of etiquette and manners. Personal behavior was
ladylike or gentlemanly.
Police officers and courts cannot replace
the social restraints on personal behavior. Religion is not even a factor any
longer in character development. At best, laws, police, and the criminal
justice system are society’s last desperate line of defense. So the richer
America is going to stay the poorer and disgustingly unacceptable America.
R. B.
1-8-14
