Our country lived over 200 years under the standard of right and wrong. We as a nation understood that some things are wrong and inherently bad for society. There are also righteous ways that build a society.
What Is The Standard?
The standard was based on ancient wisdom and common sense. People regarded behaviors like addiction, disrespect for authority, envy, murder, theft, unfaithfulness, “spoiled” children, laziness, freeloading, self-will run riot, etc., were NOT the attributes of a successful and happy life. Neither were racism, factions, divisions, pride, or arrogance the ticket to a blessed life.
If you didn’t accept this standard as the norm, you generally ended up in trouble with the law or in a world of hurt or a miserable existence. Many of our peers tried to travel the “straight and narrow road.”
Self-Centered Values Replace Right and Wrong
Today, American society is more likely to reject a standard of right and wrong. Instead, we have replaced the standard that made America prosperous and a world leader with whatever we value. If we value laziness, we don’t work. If we can make more money staying at home, we value daytime television and a bowl of chips over productivity. If we want what someone else has, we value our “right” to go and get it for free. If we can’t make up our minds about anything, we just do anything in any way we please.
Additionally, children are not valued. They are disposable, an inconvenience, an intrusion. Or, we do the opposite. We value our children too highly. We spoil them with everything money can buy as a replacement for time with them. We value our time, so we do whatever we need to keep children from intruding upon it.
Anxiety is a value we cling to. Somehow, if we have more and worry more about what we have, we mistakenly think it is a good value.
Consequently, we have lost our way. We have traded common sense for cultural drift, and self-will run riot.
What happened to hard work, loyalty, patriotism, faith, family, freedom, and the free market? Also, the “Good Book” used to be our standard. Now, many of us look to the culture as our guide. Being liked and doing what gets approval, even if it’s the most heinous thing, is the value.
It’s springtime, a time for self-renewal. America, it’s time to return to our roots, if you will, the standard.
What Do You Value?
Want to know what you value?
-Check your checkbook
-View your voting record
-Dial in to what’s on your DVR
-Take time to be still and search your soul
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸
