The Affect of Societal Values on our Mental Health
Valley Morning StarJun 02, 2017
Are we losing our way?
In a Gallop Poll taken this month, 72 percent of Americans said moral values in America are "getting worse," compared with 20 percent who said they are "getting better" and 6 percent who said they are "the same."
This survey, when compared to past surveys, is most alarming. Gallup found that Americans were most upset by a perceived lack of respect or intolerance for other people. "So their sour outlook on
Nowhere is this more evident than the event that took place at
As I have written about to the readers of this column in the past, out moral compass is essentially based on the philosophy of virtuous behavior, as postulated by the ancient Greeks Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, whom finally conceded that being a virtuous person must be having right thoughts and doing that which is right; in other words, "Being Good and Doing Good."
Our Country's Declaration of Independence and our
Overall, the definitions always come back to describe the virtuous person's character and ability "to be good and do good."
We are not born with a moral, virtuous compass, they must be taught and learned; from parents, significant others, religion, schools, etc; we must be taught about living a virtuous life and engaging in ethical and virtuous behavior. As I have so often stated, citing Dr.
The sum total of what we learn about virtues and virtuous behavior is our self-concept and our selfimage; how we see ourselves, our perceptions of how others see us, and how others actually see us; and our relationship to our social and physical environment. If virtues are not learned, and if one does not engage in virtuous behavior, then one will engage in non-virtuous behaviors; disrespect for others, lying, promiscuity, bad conduct, criminal behaviors, etc; which are conducive to poor mental health.
How did the behavior of those few graduates at
What did the majority of the graduates who did not walk out perceive the action? How did the parents and other relatives and friends view the walkout?
I would suggest that the majority of them would also find the act appalling? discourteous, disrespectful? non-virtuous behavior.
Yes my friends, America is losing its moral compass; and the facts and figures back this up. Many Americans today, most particularly our young Americans, are choosing to adopt the rule of "E over I," emotions over intellect. Our thoughts always come before our feelings, and many people forget this. Those are the people who have stated: "If it feels good do it," despite what their intellect, their moral compass, tells them they should do.
The breakdown in the core values of our society; particularly civic pride, nationalism and patriotism have a very big effect on the mental health of our young people today.
Along these lines, as espoused by the "entitlement generation" are the disregard for the rights of others, discourteousness, lack of respect for others, and the general feelings evident by the lack of the moral compass.
Now, do not get me wrong. I talk to a lot of young people these days that do not exhibit that behavior at all?they were taught about morality and ethics and chose to follow that path.
Unfortunately, however, they are the exception now days.
In reality, the 1st Amendment to our
In reality, the 1st Amendment does not pertain to the populous at all, but limits the role of government on our freedoms. Most people do not realize this, as they have not memorized the Declaration of Independence or the
No my friends, the example of those "walk outs" were not a true exercise of freedom of speech or assembly, they were directed at the disdain and disrespect of the office of the Vice President and President of our Nation.
Whether this was sanctioned, and is an example of, the thoughts and feelings of the leaders (the chancellor, professors, etc.) of
I want to make it very clear to the reader of this article that this article is not about politics?I do not write about that at all in any of my articles. The example given has to do with the loss of our personal and societal values in our Nation today, and the affect that has on the mental health of our citizenry; of which we all should be most concerned about. There are many individuals and groups in our society today who promote division of our peoples; they work very hard in doing so?to diminish our moral values. We do well to remember the Quote by Founding Fathers of our Nation