Spring Break
What Happened To Manners And Morals?
Caresse Spencer
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Commentary
What ever happened to "bad words?" Why has marriage lost its value? Are there any politicians or celebrities out there who haven't committed a crime or cheated on their wives? What's going on? The answer is simple - morals have become a thing of the past.
I remember when children used to say "ooh, I'm telling the teacher" when another student cursed. But nowadays, a lot of students hear profanity on a regular basis from their professors. I guess they decided, "if you can't beat them join them." It's irritating enough to walk around campus and here foul language from my peers, but do I have to here it from my professors too? The individuals in the best position to set a positive example are no longer doing much that is worthy of following. Of course the youth must demonstrate some personal accountability, but our elders and "heroes" are not doing much to help the cause.
Professional athletes provide us with a lot of entertainment and give kids someone to say they want to be like when they grow up. But do they really? Even sports have been tarnished by both male and female athletes because of steroids. They're telling kids that to get ahead you have to cheat. For young men, growing up to be like their favorite basketball player means either cheating on your wife or having a bunch of kids before you get married. It might seem unfair to ignore the many success stories these athletes offer and how they make many of their supporters feel anything is possible. But how about setting an example as a man. When you are given the spotlight, you become a "hero" whether you deserve it or not. It's not hard to see the impact you have on your supporters. Young men probably don't think about star players cheating on their wife when they are in a relationship and decide to do the same, but every moral transgression committed adds to the ever-present culture of immorality.
But athletes aren't alone. People have always regarded politicians as crooked, but now they can say that just about all of them are adulterers too. I am not bashing men, it definitely takes two, and those females need to realize that they are making women out to be objects. But of course, the person in authority is expected to demonstrate more morality, because they will be subject to more scrutiny. Looking back, so many men have fallen when it comes to upholding the standards of marriage - Presidents, mayors, governors, and civil rights leaders alike. Does cheating on your wife mean that you can't do a good job in office? Of course not, but what makes us think these people care about us when they took vows under God and didn't hesitate to defy them? Taking an oath in office can easily become null and void. Of course I believe in second chances because no one is perfect, but even those who try to talk about morals and values - like Spitzer - seem to fall, so it appears it's impossible to actually be a moral person in the midst of such corruption. A lot of people feel that same way living in this world, so they lower their standards and expectations.
I remember when children used to say "ooh, I'm telling the teacher" when another student cursed. But nowadays, a lot of students hear profanity on a regular basis from their professors. I guess they decided, "if you can't beat them join them." It's irritating enough to walk around campus and here foul language from my peers, but do I have to here it from my professors too? The individuals in the best position to set a positive example are no longer doing much that is worthy of following. Of course the youth must demonstrate some personal accountability, but our elders and "heroes" are not doing much to help the cause.
Professional athletes provide us with a lot of entertainment and give kids someone to say they want to be like when they grow up. But do they really? Even sports have been tarnished by both male and female athletes because of steroids. They're telling kids that to get ahead you have to cheat. For young men, growing up to be like their favorite basketball player means either cheating on your wife or having a bunch of kids before you get married. It might seem unfair to ignore the many success stories these athletes offer and how they make many of their supporters feel anything is possible. But how about setting an example as a man. When you are given the spotlight, you become a "hero" whether you deserve it or not. It's not hard to see the impact you have on your supporters. Young men probably don't think about star players cheating on their wife when they are in a relationship and decide to do the same, but every moral transgression committed adds to the ever-present culture of immorality.
But athletes aren't alone. People have always regarded politicians as crooked, but now they can say that just about all of them are adulterers too. I am not bashing men, it definitely takes two, and those females need to realize that they are making women out to be objects. But of course, the person in authority is expected to demonstrate more morality, because they will be subject to more scrutiny. Looking back, so many men have fallen when it comes to upholding the standards of marriage - Presidents, mayors, governors, and civil rights leaders alike. Does cheating on your wife mean that you can't do a good job in office? Of course not, but what makes us think these people care about us when they took vows under God and didn't hesitate to defy them? Taking an oath in office can easily become null and void. Of course I believe in second chances because no one is perfect, but even those who try to talk about morals and values - like Spitzer - seem to fall, so it appears it's impossible to actually be a moral person in the midst of such corruption. A lot of people feel that same way living in this world, so they lower their standards and expectations.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Lauren
posted 4/01/08 @ 10:48 AM EST
Does any one proof read what you write? Hear/here, simple elementary school grammar.
so close!
posted 4/01/08 @ 11:05 AM EST
you were SO close to not interjecting jesus into everything. i was almost proud! and then you ended with "But there is hope, because there is someone who has yet to fail, and never will. (Continued…)
IamWhoIAm
posted 4/01/08 @ 1:12 PM EST
First, Lauren please write something worth reading. Everybody makes mistakes, writers, editors, and even you Lauren. Proofread is one word. What's the space for? Anyhow, I feel that this is just an extremely Christian (moral?) article. (Continued…)
D-
posted 4/01/08 @ 3:37 PM EST
IamWhoIam -
Point well taken ---
G Love
posted 4/02/08 @ 3:51 PM EST
This "opinion piece" makes me embarrassed to be a UConn student. The sweeping generalizations put forth by the author is worrisome. Religion is the bane of society and the cause of nenarly all major conflicts in the world, past and present. (Continued…)
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