July | 2011 | the politically challenged

I begin this article with a challenging test of visual perception and acuity:

(Please take your time and look very, very closely)

Can you find anything wrong with these gentlemen?

*(Scroll Down)

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If this challenge has stumped you, please stop reading right here. I offer you my apologies for wasting your time and wish you a good day.

If, however, you find these photos a bit alarming, please feel free to continue reading.

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The Signs of Decay

While these photos rather flippantly illustrate our degenerating societal norms, much more sobering evidence exists to better demonstrate our shockingly rapid descent into societal decay. Only a cursory review of the data is required:

FROM 1960 TO 2000:

Illegitimate Births:…………………….Increased over 500%

Single Parent Families:………………Increased over 250%

Teen Suicide Rate:…………………..Increased over 250%

Juvenile Violent Crime:………………Increased over 300%

Child Abuse:…………………………..Increased over 500%

Abortion:………………………………Increased over 800%

Divorce:………………………………..Increased over 120%

Sexually Transmitted Diseases:……Increased over 250%

Recognizing these signs of our decay is easy. Addressing the cause of this decay, however, seems to immediately induce a collective national myopia. Unless we feel all these effects are purely coincidental, clearly something major changed in our country in only 40 years that led to these tragic and devastating consequences.

What then is the root cause of this damage? We are familiar with the usual claims:

“Government slashed funding to the poor.” No. Public funding as a percentage of GDP increased over 2000%.

“Government cut spending on public education.” No. Spending per student increased 280% (inflation-adjusted).

“Systemic discrimination against minorities increased, disenfranchising the underprivileged.” No. The Civil Rights Movement actually took root during these years.

Strangely, the answer is actually quite simple. Admitting it, however — actually daring to say it out loud, makes us very, very uncomfortable.

Before I am ready to even type it here, let me illustrate a bit further:

n…………..nn..COLUMN A:nnnnnnn……..nn…COLUMN B:

……………..(“TRADITIONAL”)……………………..(“MODERN”)

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

nnnnnnnCommitment & Fidelitynnnnnnnnnn.$50 Bucks & Goodbye!

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

…………………Self-Sacrifice………………………Self-Expression

.nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

nnnnnnnnnnnnSelf-LessnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnSelf-Esteem

..nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

nnnnnnnnn.nnnnPantsnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnPantsed

nnnn.nnnnnnnnnnnnn

nnnnnnnnnnnMy Three SonsnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnMy Three Moms

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn…nnnnn

nnnnnn.n.nnnnScandalous!nnnnnnnnn.nnnn.nnnn.nnHo-Hum

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.n

nnnnnnn.nnnThose Crazy Kids!nnnnnnnnnn(What Can I Possibly Add?)

nnnnnnnnnnn.nnnnnn

…………..……OutThe Old………………………..IWith The New

………….……………………

………………..Let’s Go Team!…………………Put Down the Binoculars!

nnnnnnnnnnnn.nnn…nn.nnn

nnnnnnnnnnnnn…Pumpednnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.nnn….Inflated

nnnnnnnnnnn.nnnnn

nnnn.nn…………..Old Habitsnnnnnnnnnnn.nn.nn.NNew Habits

nnnnnnnn.nnnn.nn

nnnnnnnnnnChildren As Treasurennnnnnn.nnnChildren As Chattel

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

nnnn……..nnnnnnAuthenticnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.nnCounterfeit

nnnnnnnn

n………….nnnnnn….nn

nnnnn……………..IImplants………………………(Non-Publishable)

nnnnnnnnn.nn…nnnn

………………………..Loop………………………………Loopy

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

n………………nGold Standardnnnnnn.nnn..n..nnnnn50 Cents

nnn.nnnnnnnn..nnnnnn

nnnnnnnnnnn.nLoving Fathersnnnnnnnnnnnn..nVanishing Fathers

It’s the CULTURE, Stupid!

So what actually did happen over these 40 years that led to this decay? Quite simply, we managed to completely discard the very basis of what made our country great — our Culture of Traditional Family Values.

Does anyone doubt that the values illustrated in Column A are those that lead to virtue, meaningful happiness and a stable society? Conversely, does anyone doubt where the modern cultural values in Column B lead? Which would you wish upon your children?

Acknowledgement that the abandoning of traditional family values has led to societal decay is not a position that should be left to the Radical-Right-Wing-Orthodox-Republican-Conservative-Christian. This has nothing to do with political affiliation or religiosity. It’s just plain common sense. Facts are facts.

We have created a generation of children raised without fathers. Young men and women who believe self-expression, self-esteem and self-indulgence are more important than self-sacrifice and self-control. Where children are chattel, not treasure. Where young women no longer even aspire to marriage or having a father for their children. Where duty, loyalty and fidelity are no longer part of the national vocabulary. Where life’s most pressing concerns include where to locate one’s next tattoo. The effects of these changes are devastating and will only exponentially increase with each successive generation.

Fight the Good Fight

In medicine, treating the patient first requires identifying the disease. So too with this societal plague. So enough with the inaccurate assessments as to what ails us. The disease is right under our nose. Lets call it what it is.

To do so, though, will require us to not be blinded by one of our uniquely wonderful American instincts: our desire to be be tolerant, magnanimous and open-minded. While these wonderful qualities –when applied responsibly — permit a richness of diversity in our society, when applied blindly, they lead to ruin. Where the wearing of a traditional Indian sari should be welcomed, wearing your thong to school must not be. In the case of values and culture, we simply cannot let our fear of offending someone prohibit us from standing up for what we know to be right. The consequences are far too great.

So the next time you hear someone say,”Our schools are failing our children!”, set them straight. Tell them the problem with our schools has very little to do with funding, class size or teachers’ unions. It’s our modern culture — a culture that has thrown out traditional family values— that is failing our children.

And the next time you see this [below], please do not call it a “form of personal expression”.

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