Our Founding Fathers firmly held faith in the character of men. They believed human beings were inherently good-natured, capable of possessing strong moral values, and responsibly exercising our natural freedoms. For the past two hundred years we have upheld their belief and lived up to the goodness they viewed in men; fighting for what is right and opposing what is wrong. We have combated slavery, promoted the rights of women, and opposed suppression throughout the world. Yet can we continue to live up to our honorable reputation, sustain confidence in this free society, and resist all temptations that plague the minds of men: wealth, power, and control? Can we continue to uphold the firm moral values this country was founded upon? Unfortunately eighty-seven percent of Americans have lost faith in the moral values of this nation and our ability to uphold our integrity, honor, respect, and truth in all aspects (Elshtain 2008, 80). It seems there is a solid consensus among the American people. There has been a breakdown in the moral fabric of society. Evidence of this decline in morality can be seen in our growing infatuation with material wealth, the rise of American cheating culture, the disintegration of family, and the explosion of random acts of violence and indecency. As a result many have begun to fear the future of a democratic, self-governing society.
Evidence of America's materialistic moral decline surrounds us everyday. Just take a look around. Constantly we are being bombarded with advertisements and messages to buy the latest automobile, pair of jeans, or Ipod because we are told they will satisfy our needs, ease our discomforts, bring happiness to our lives, and achieve success. Many of us could continue to live contently without these goods, yet we give in to these messages and our greed, and decide to purchase billions of dollars worth of toys; money that could be donated to non-profit organizations or public projects to improve the state of society. It seems we are becoming less concerned with the overall state of society and are becoming more self-absorbed on decorating and entertaining ourselves: one notes first the poverty or narrowness of man's outlook, motivated as he is by a desire to possess things (Paul II 2008, 156). Some argue that we surround ourselves with objects to create an identity. They are tools that enable us to express ourselves and ideas to the rest of society, an individual freedom we are enforcing. Yet we have abused this freedom. Materialism has consumed our lives to such an extent that it has affected our outlook upon our lives and others'. We tend to treat other people, and at times even view ourselves, primarily as consuming objects who purchase an identity in the marketplace. (Elshtain 2008, 91). Material wealth has become so engrained in our minds and beliefs that we have begun to judge others based upon the amount of wealth and goods they possess, rather than who they are as human beings. We choose to befriend those with expensive clothing despite the fact that they may be extremely egotistical or commanding. Honor and integrity are no longer important human qualities as objects have taken their place. Further, as we begin to focus more on obtaining goods, we lose sight of much more meaningful aspects of our lives that provide true satisfaction: family, friends, and personal pastimes. our roles as workers and consumers have gotten thicker and more dominant, while our roles as family members and neighbors have grown thinner (Elshtain 2008, 90). Material wealth has distracted us from these primary components of family and friends that help us to develop strong moral values. It seems materialism has become so predominant in our culture that we have incorporated consumer ideals of image, wealth, and greed into our own belief systems. This has destroyed the firm moral values this country was built upon.
Secondly, our integrity has decayed with the rise of a cheating culture in society has greatly led to the moral decline we are facing today. Everyday, people cheat in all walks of life in order to get ahead of others. Students cheat on exams and plagiarize on essays in hopes of improving their grade, achieving outstanding academic recognition, enhancing self-esteem, or meeting parents' expectations. Athletes use performance-enhancing drugs so that they may play better, break records, gain fame, and ultimately financial rewards. In the world of business, corrupt executives of Enron, Worldcom, and Tyco lie, cheat, and deceive in order to increase their profits. It seems we have sacrificed our morals in order to advance ourselves, and the fact that there has been a growing number of cheating incidences suggests Americans are no longer troubled by the guilt or shame cheating evokes in us. We are losing our moral conscious that enables us to distinguish between right and wrong, good and bad, while maintaining the integrity and honor of our actions (Elshtain 2008, 81). However, those who perform the wrongful act argue that they do possess strong moral values and are aware cheating is wrong. They are instead forced to do so because of the circumstances and pressures of a highly competitive society. It is seen as the only option. Although we do live in a dog-eat-dog world, cheating is still uncalled for despite the situation or motive because it gives them an unfair advantage and limits the opportunities for others to succeed. Cheating deceives others into believing one is capable of using their own abilities and skills to accomplish goals. The fact that we are turning to crimes of deception as a solution to all our problems, and allowing it to occur under our noses, indicates that there has been a widespread corruption of values here in America. We have surrendered our morals and are no longer the trustworthy individuals we used to be.
Additionally there has been a decline in the family institution. Evidence can be seen in the manner in which children repay their parents for all the support, love, care, and comfort they provided. According to Jane English, grown children owe their parents nothing (English 115, 2008). What children ought to do for their parents depends upon their respective needs, abilities, and resources and the extent to which there is an ongoing friendship between them (English 118, 2008). Here in America, many have strong relationships with their parents and are financially capable of supporting them. Yet instead of maintaining the intimate friendship, we choose to house our parents in inhumane, thousand dollar senior facilities so that we may focus on our own lives and careers without having to tend to their needs everyday. Not only do we lock up our parents in apartments that provide the bare minimum for survival, but we rarely visit except for the occasional Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, even those who live independently. It seems we no longer appreciate, nor respect our parents and show them the love they deserve because we are too busy consumed in our own lives and matters. True parents should not expect to be taken care of by their children and vice versa. However, if either parent or child is ever in need of help, the other should come to their aid as being part of a family and not due to owing one another. Further, divorce rates among couples have increased as marriage becomes an optional and fragile establishment based upon love and affection: Married people who wish to part are no longer held together by legal compulsion or economic necessity (Coontz 2008, 109). Parents are the children's main role models who provide the essential qualities necessary for governing the self: honesty, trust, loyalty, cooperation, self-restraint, civility, compassion, personal responsibility, and respect for others (Elshtain 83, 2008). Marriage strengthens the relationship between the parents. Yet if this relationship is no longer stable and secure due to divorce, the child will no longer see the value in family and acquire the necessary morals such a family promotes, resulting in the moral decline we are facing today.
Furthermore, acts of violence and crime are becoming more prevalent here in America. Years ago, people could walk the streets and live life with little fear for their safety because at that time people were kind, caring, and loving and would rarely dare nor wish to injure their fellow mankind. Yet today, people are more cautious and at times must hide inside their homes behind locked doors, fearing for their lives, as man has become evermore inhumane to fellow man. Take for example the tragic school shootings of Columbine and Virginia Tech University where students and faculty members were murdered by a distraught student, or the explosion of pedophiles on the loose looking to kidnap and sexually abuse children. Or perhaps take note of the increasing number of abusive domestic relationships taking place, or the rise of gangs and gang violence. We are becoming a violent society. Being exposed to daily atrocities, one loses empathy and respect for fellow man: We seem to be living in the age of 'anesthesia' and it's no wonder. Confronted with the knowledge of dozens of apparently random disasters each day, what can a human heart do but slam its doors? (Kingsolver 208, 2008). As we lose confidence in the integrity and honor of others we subsequently treat them inhumanely, a vicious cycle that has led to the rise of violence and an uncivilized, immoral society (Kingsolver 208, 2008).
In conclusion, it is clear America is losing its moral values as exemplified through our growing preoccupation with materialism, the rise of a cheating culture, the disintegration of the institution of family, and the rise of violent crimes. People shallowly judge themselves and others by the number of goods they possess instead of their inner human qualities. People cheat in academics, athletics, and business in order to gain unfair advantages. Family, the root of moral development, no longer plays an important role in our lives. Finally the rise of violence proves that we are behaving more inhumanely towards one another. It seems we no longer treat others or see the honor, respect, and dignity in others. We have committed terrible acts. Yet, the main problem is that we have allowed these immoral crimes to be committed. Rather than stand up for what is righteous and virtuous, we have averted our eyes and consented to the decay of morality. As we allow our moral fabric to deteriorate, chaos will result as people begin to fear the state of the nation, resulting in the breakdown of the foundations of our democratic society. It is imperative that we stop the moral decline immediately so that we may save the fate of our nation and its people.