Re: Decline of Values?
 

Women being allowed to work without harassment, attempts to eliminate discrimination against minorities, outright public hostility and aggression towards gays were all considered appropriate and acceptable in the 50's.

Are those indicative of a better value system and the disintegration of society caused by the events of the 60's?

Re: Decline of Values?
 

I guess it depends what you consider immoral. Bigotry (against blacks, Hispanics, basically any minority and gays) is immoral today, was accepted 40 years ago. Equal rights was non-existent 40 years ago. To me, the lynchings, beatings, Jim Crow laws were completely immoral. What people do in their bedrooms or other places in their homes is their business. So long as another person isn't unvoluntarily harmed, it is not immoral to me. It may not be what I would want to do, but, then, I there's a lot of things I don't want to do that others do. Child pornography is immoral and considered more so today than it was 40 years ago.

If the willingness to accept others as they are, to let others alone because of their sexual preference or practices is moral decline, then I say we need more of it. Accepting others as they are is not immoral, judging them for being different is (and that includes race, religion, creed, sexual preference) IMO.

Re: Decline of Values?
 

I absolutely agree Red. Another thing that I think is that a person is born gay or heterosexual. I don't think they can be changed. A lot of people do think it is a choice.

Re: Decline of Values?
 

Whether it's genetic or choice, what's the difference? Live and let live.

Re: Decline of Values?
 

Well said, Red and xNYer. While I think there has been a marked decline in general civility, I think we have made great strides in accepting one another regardless of race, religious belief, or sexual orientation. Like Gracie, I don't think people have a choice about being homosexual. I believe they are born that way. Think about it, if it was a choice, why would you ever choose to be gay and suffer the treatment many gays receive? You wouldn't. Your gay/lesbian friend may be the best friend you will ever have. I know this is off topic but it wouldn't be the first time that had happened.

Re: Decline of Values?
 

I find it weird when I hear someone say that they have a problem with homosexuality. To me it is a complete non-issue. But I can understand from a gay person's standpoint that it is an issue when they are harassed or otherwise discriminated against. I cringe whenever I hear anything anti-gay.

You could replace the words gay or homosexuality in the previous paragraph with race or ethnicity or gender and I would feel the same.

"Can't we all just get along?" - Rodney King

Re: Decline of Values?
 

Born.

Boomer of Few Words

Re: Decline of Values?
 

When I was a youngster of about 11 or 12 a neighbor, Mr. Durning walked up to me and smacked me in the back of the head. Pretty hard too, and said "if I ever hear you say that word again, I'll give you double!". I had uttered a foul word on the basketball court and oops he heard it. What's the chances that would happen today? ZERO! Parents don't discipline their own children today let alone friends and neighbors children. It takes a village? There are no villages any longer! ( well there is a village but no children there but I digress) My point of course is that we as a society are not doing our job, everyone has a responsibility with regard to values. But hey I want to move to the villages so I guess I too am shirking my responsibilities by " running away" from children!?! ???

Re: Decline of Values?
 

Great point about discipline, manners, etc. :agree: When we speak of "values" everyone has a different definition. It's a broad term. Respect, discipline, manners, work ethic, self-reliance, traditional sexual morality...these are the specifics of "values" I have been referring to.
BTW, we were surprised by the number of children (and grandchildren) here, especially in the squares.

Re: Decline of Values?
 

What I notice is a slide toward mediocrity. I don't want to say, "In my day" so I won't but let me present an analogy here. In days gone by kids playing ball were either good enough or not good enough to play. If you were not that good, guess what ...you didn't play. That made you work harder and longer. The end prize being you got to play finally. As we slide toward mediocrity, everybody has to play or we make up some "T-Ball League" with no outs, metal bats, et al. Now everyone is equal.
Wait a minute!!!! Other side of the coin. I've worked my butt off practicing long and hard and am very good at playing ball. Now some other kid who plays only half as good as I do and is to lazy to get any better, gets to play in my place? What's the advantage in working and practicing if others, who don't are playing when I should be? I might as well not work hard or practice hard if others, who are not as good are in my place. I might as well side toward mediocrity since I am no longer rewarded for my long and hard work practicing.
Moral ..... one is sliding his way down while others are pushing another up. So we can be "equal".
A couple other things .............................. Turn off your damn cell phones in a restaurant and take off you hat when you enter a building or sit down at a table for a meal. Geeeeez. Decline of values AND etiquette!
Jerry Jackson (Calumet Grove)

Re: Decline of Values?
 

I like those analogies. Totally agree with the cell phones in the restaurant. At least put them on vibrate and take the call outside. I'm OK with hats, I think it is common among my younger friends.

Re: Decline of Values?
 

Sure we have a declining in values. FIX the families and the problem will be solve. All we have are disfunctional families. What do you expect?. What is a kid to do when he gets home and there is no mother or father there; because there are both working and/or there is only one parent?.

Re: Decline of Values?
 

Saw this in today's online Sun:

http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/a...festyles02.txt


Might fit with this thread.

Re: Decline of Values?
 

Russ, It sounds like "The more things change, the more they stay the same" school of thought.
I think it's way more polite to tell someone to ------off than to bomb them. As a race we are still hideously immoral because we continue to kill one another.