Where have all the good men gone?

Today, a friend of mine for whom I have a great deal of respect and also happens to serve in our military, was talking about watching a pirated copy of a movie with a group of military personal. I came unglued. I ranted on his wall post, and then wrote a note ranting on my page. I literally went a little nuts. As my husband and I were driving around doing errands, I began wondering, “Why did this upset me so much?” I questioned my husband, “am I crazy?” (He refused to answer on the grounds of not wanting to sleep on the couch.) I mulled it over in my own head. I could not understand why this particular incident upset me so much. And then it hit me.

American Society is declining at a rapid pace. People are becoming increasingly selfish. Actions that once were considered anti-social and taboo (lying, stealing, adultery, lack of personal responsibility) are now expected. Yes, we are human and no one is perfect, but we felt remorse when we lied, even on our taxes. Politicians and public figures were humiliated when they were caught in a scandal. They resigned from their positions. Leaders of corporations were held to higher standards (okay, most of them). Fire, police, and military personal lived their lives under the ideas of honor, integrity, loyalty, and service. Today, we expect our politicians to lie, cheat on their spouses, and steal from the taxpayer. Corporate leaders that are honest now are the exception rather than the rule. Our police are on the take, and firefighters start fires to ensure their jobs (I know this is not true for the majority, but it IS all over the news). But as a majority, our military personal still held to the higher standards and ideals of honor, integrity, loyalty, and service.

The comment made by my friend today made me realize that our society is truly in a rapid decline. Our heroes are no longer being held to a higher standard. If our heroes can steal and not even think that what they have done is wrong, because everyone is doing it, what have we come to? Why is it that a child stealing a penny piece of candy used to result in the parent dragging them to the store and making them apologize in a rush of tears to the manager and today a kid stealing a $300 iPod results in a parent thinking “well, Wal-Mart makes enough money and who did it hurt?”

Today, the standard of right or wrong is if it helps the individual, not if it hurts someone else. If a lie gets me ahead in life, it is okay, no matter who it hurts. If I really think I need that Cadillac Escalade, then it is okay to take it because the person who had it has more than me and it is my right to have it. If cheating on my spouse makes me feel good, what right does anyone have to judge me? We have entered an era of complete lack of moral and ethical standards, and anyone who tries to enforce a moral code is considered intolerant or judgmental. When did it become wrong to expect honesty? Integrity? Values? Morals? Ethics?

Maybe I am naïve, but I still hold our heroes (anyone who would willingly put their life on the line for others) in highest respect. I look to them to guide the moral compass of this nation, for they are the ones who put others before themselves. I guess this is my plea to our heroes to refuse to follow the rest of us into this cesspool of moral decay. Stick to your ethics and values and expect the rest of us to do the same! And thank you, for being willing to put service before self.