Another Sad Reality

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Tale of Two Cities

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" It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." Charles Dickens opening to the Tale of Two Cities. A story of the French Revolution. Very apropos for today considering the United States is on the verge of another social revolution with the "Occupy Wall Street Protest gaining steam. And yet strange as it may seem the complexity of living now compared to living back then in the late 1790's. Who would have thought we'd come this far. Or did we? In some aspects like technology, have brought unparalleled advances toward a better quality of life. You would think that along with technology society would also. But, alas it has not. It has only made our youth and young adults almost void of the human factor. Replaced by iPads, iPhones, and all the other marvels of modern technology have helped create more or our youth in becoming more isolated than ever before. 

In all the news of today a sense of foreboding tension, a silent force that is ripping across our moral fiber, a sagging truth of unprecedented demise of morality, liberty, and justice. A world we once new, is no more. We must face the consequences of our actions and of our inactions. What we have done in the name of social liberalization is directly affecting our society. In a world where people have become so unsympathetic and even so callous that ignoring a helpless child who was run over in China by two vehicles when both drivers and passersby failed to come to a child's aid just shows how disjointed societies have become. It has happened here in the United States countless times before and now our attitudes have spread globally where people have become too self centered to render assistance when an individual really needs help. Maybe the changes in the Good Samaritan laws has now forced people to reconsider whether to make those decisions not to intervene. It really is too sad when societies put monetary concerns over the well being of individuals. But, that is what is happening in our society as well as others today.

The United States Constitution guarantees Freedom of Speech. With this right comes with a responsibility. What we say does have a direct affect on the actions of others. A case in point; The Federal Communications Standards for appropriate expression on TV, radio, recordings, Magazines etc. have all succumbed to the liberalization that society has now embraced as acceptable. Studies and statistics have shown that there is a direct correlation with the escalation of youth violence and with the relaxing of acceptable standards by public forms of communication. The advent of more violent video games, some forms of music, and other areas of expression have all had an influence on the insurgence of more violent behavior of our youth and young adults. 

Our youth are very impressionable and are not fully capable mentally of handling the responsibility of today's freedoms of expression. Many adults still have problems handling the responsibilities of today's freedoms of expression as well. A good example is noted in the book " Lord of the Flies." Education is the best approach but along with education has to come with it's own natural maturity that comes through the aging process from infancy through young adult. Each phase of aging comes with it's own physical, mental, and emotional progressions. If we skip from adolescence to young adult with-out going through the natural aging progressions these individuals will not be equipped in all aspects to handle the responsibilities that are imposed on the life cycle they are thrust into.

The youth of today are continually being exposed to ideas, situations, and material items they are not yet equipped mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially to effectively use. This causes great harm not only to themselves but to society as well. What needs to be done is to reestablish the standards of conduct, speech and morals that were the norm and even enforced back in the middle of the 20th century. The rebuilding of ethical standards is essential for the continuation of our society. What happens when a society reverts to rampant disregard for themselves and others is a destruction of freedom everywhere.