Decline of Morals Ethics Values

In recent years, it seems that America, has clearly become out of control when it comes to its young people committing crimes, the treatment of the elderly, defacing public property and all together out of control attitudes and non-accountability. There seems to have been more serious crimes committed by youth recently than there has ever been. By the way some youth act out on social media and television, it could be perceived as if young people no longer live by the morals, ethics, and values taught and passed down through generations of hard working, church going, and bible believing religious ancestors of days gone by. Some people could argue that children have begun to explore different religious beliefs and exemplify cultish behaviors. This behavior shows abandonment of those rules of life that were instilled in us as children. It could be questioned that the abandonment is exemplified by behavior far angrier, more sinister, and darker; than any behavior seen in previous years. Youth today need accountability and a better judgment when it comes to decision making.

Therefore, a solution to the problem is to return to the “rock solid” morals, ethics, and values that were taught through religious based organizations and families. This will serve as a solid foundation for the youth of America because it will show stability and focus throughout all families of every ethnicity and background, thus decreasing crime amongst our youth in America. One reason why stability will work is because when stability is increased in the homes it will increase youth’s judgment. Stability forms consistency for the youth. When young people are taught morals, ethics, and values on a consistent, stable basis they are more likely to retain those teachings. Being moral is to make good choices between right and wrong or good and bad actions (Making Choices: The Moral Aspects of Policing January 2013). Take a look at the Biblical story of the judgment of Solomon. It refers to a story from the Bible where two women who claimed to be the mother of one son were tricked into revealing the true identity of their son using their emotions.

One child was born dead and the other child was alive. Each woman was relentless in the fact that the live child belonged to them. King Solomon asked to be given a sword. He told the women that he would cut the baby in half so that each one could have a piece of the baby. The true mother was revealed because she could not stand to see her child cut in half. The mother who had birthed the stillborn baby told the king to cut the baby in half. This let the king know who in fact was the true mother. (Judgment of Solomon. 2014, December 14). The moral of such story is that when the true mother was faced with the decision whether or not to cut her baby in half she chose to give the baby to the other woman. This showed that the woman had been taught or at least had learned to have great morals, ethics and values. Scenarios such as this one are rampart in our society today.

Youth are being given many choices that solely deal with whether or not it is the “right” thing to do. Another reason why simply teaching better morals, ethics and values will work is because it will give our youth a better focus on life. This better focus can determine the outcome of many criminal activities. Josephson Institute conducts a comprehensive survey of young adults across the country every two years. The Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth, measures the self-reported values, attitudes, and behavior of high school students. In 2012 the report card was based on responses from over 20,000 students across the nation. Results showed that most young people feel that ethics and character are important on both a personal level and in business. Surprisingly, most students expressed very cynical attitudes about whether a person can be ethical and succeed in the work force or in life. Moreover, an alarming number of students admitted to recently lying, cheating, and stealing to gain employment and/or favor (The Ethics of American Youth; Josephson Institute 2012).

The need for morality teachings have been considered for many years. Take notice of a quote from Socrates that was very popular in the 1960s and its essence was used by the Mayor of Amsterdam, Gijsbert van Hall, following a street demonstration in 1966, as reported by The New York Times, April 3, 1966, p. 16. “The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.” (Socrates (469–399 B.C.)

Knowing that there has been a need for morality teaching for so long might lead one to believe that there is no hope for our youth when it comes to criminal harshness or the declination of criminal activity. Socrates expressed misbehavior of the young and how the decline in manners had begun. It clearly emphasizes the fact that if we do not place more focus on the children then the bad manners will multiply into bad actions like serious crimes. Therefore, a solution to the problem is to return to the “rock solid” morals, ethics, and values that were taught through religious based organizations and families. This will serve as a solid foundation for the youth of America because it will show stability and focus throughout all families of every ethnicity and background. Thus decreasing crime amongst our youth in America.

References

Making Choices: The Moral Aspects of Policing (January 2013). Retrieved from: http://improvingpolice.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/making-choices-the-moral-aspects-of-policing/ Judgment of Solomon. (2014, December 14). In Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:13, December 17, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Judgment_of_Solomon&oldid=638092393 (The Ethics of American Youth; Josephson Institute 2012). Retrieved: http://charactercounts.org/programs/reportcard/ Socrates (469–399 B.C.) Attributed to SOCRATES by Plato, according to William L. Patty and Louise S. Johnson, Personality and Adjustment, p. 277 (1953). Retrieved, December 17, 2014, from http://www.bartleby.com/73/195.html