Has America changed for the better?
70The future of America
I am worried about the present state and the future of our country. The changes in our national culture and our society over the past 40 to 50 years would have been shocking beyond belief to a citizen of 1960, though many people living now seem oblivious to what has been lost. Radical Liberals took control of the universities, the media, the Supreme Court and even main-line Protestant churches. They brought with them, besides political correctness with its attendant thought police and phony use of the word "tolerance", their beloved set of "isms" including a creeping relativism, multiculturalism, deconstructionism, socialism, anti-Americanism, anti-Godism and Secular Humanism. What have been the results?
What is a Conservative?
First of all, I admit I have become more and more Conservative as I have aged. Maybe that is to be expected. After all, the old saying is "If you are a young Conservative you have no heart; if you are an old Liberal you have no brain." I have never possessed enough of either. By declaring myself a Conservative I simply mean that I believe there is much wisdom, tradition and custom passed down to us through the ages from those who have lived before us that is worth conserving. That is not to deny or not to enjoy the benefits of the incredible progression of technology.
What has been lost?
I have seen quite a number of older relatives and family friends die in the past five years. I am struck by how many of them were married for 50 years and at their deathbeds there is the person they have lived their entire adult life with, holding their hand. Gathered there may be three or four or five of their children and the whole lot of them are full blood relatives, bound by genes and by a lifetime lived together as a family. I think these deathbed scenes will be very uncommon in the future. The rate of divorce has exploded from 14% to 50% in the last 50 years. Most folks have step parents and siblings, perhaps half brothers and sisters, and the resulting grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins of various relation. It increases the difficulty of putting together a family reunion. In 1959 only 4% of the children born were illegitimate and that number now stands at 34%—an increase of nearly 900% in 50 years. Even though it is unequivocally proven that no arrangement of the rearing of human children produces healthy, productive citizens as does living one's life with your natural mother and father into adulthood—few people seemed concerned with the loss of the traditional family. Even though it is the accepted fact that children who grow up without both of their parents are far more prone to crime, imprisonment, depression, drug use, promiscuity, sexually transmitted diseases, suicide and the perpetuation of more generations of the same—few seem to care.
The missing generation
And then there are the 55 million souls who never got the chance to live at all. The ones killed in the womb while still babies. On this issue, I have been a Conservative from the beginning. The day I first heard what abortion was, I knew it my heart it was an abomination. This has been the American Holocaust. A stain on our National Soul. I do not know how on earth anybody—regardless of political persuasion or spiritual beliefs—can think it is OK to kill an innocent human life in the very place designed to keep it safe during gestation—the womb of its own mother.
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Nothing less than I would expect. A soldier whose armour, the word of God shines bright and true while throwing himself at the throngs of sinful chaos. We were born too late to enjoy some of the better times of human kind and now we have to witness most of the worst. But stand and fight my brother for we are many.
Robert
'I believe there is much wisdom, tradition and custom passed down to us through the ages from those who have lived before us that is worth conserving.'
Couldn't agree more James. Lovely hub.
Freddie- Thank you for being the first to offer encouragement as my brother in arms. Little matters more than the search for and the discernment of the Truth while we walk through this vale of tears.
Robert- It is certainly a battle for the Soul of our Nation in which we find ourselves engaged. We did not ask for this war. It was thrust upon us. Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
I appreciate your comment very much.
Nemingha- Thanks for reading and commenting. I am pleased that we are in agreeance.
I learned something here. Thank you.
Elynjo— Welcome! What better result could I have? You are welcome and thanks for saying so.
James,
It's eerie to watch the events unfold in real time and trace them through history.To watch Hillary Clinton accept an award in the name of Margaret Sanger or to equate Sanger's achievments under testimony in congress and equate her to Thomas Jefferson is abhorrent.I fault the younger generation liberals more,they will be the first to deem Hitler's unacceptable as they are defending a womans right to choose,never bothering to understand that what they are fighting for is one and the same.The thought of the progression of the progressive movement is scary and the ones who survive gestation will be delivered unto evil and for that I fault the adults of today.
Dear Brute— I get your salient point that wheras Hitler practiced Eugenics openly and proudly, America now does the same through the back door—aborting millions of babies conceived by the poor—but still proudly. Margaret Sanger, and that Madalyn O'Hair woman, are the two most evil women in history if you ask me.
Thank you for your poignant comments and for tuning in.
"They brought with them, besides political correctness with its attendant thought police and phony use of the word 'tolerance', their beloved set of 'isms' including a creeping relativism, multiculturalism, deconstructionism, socialism, anti-Americanism, anti-Godism and Secular Humanism."
What's wrong with multi-culturalism?
student— At the heart of Multi-Multiculturalism is a lie. Since I believe the Truth is of paramount importance, an ideology based on falsehood raises my antennae. This ideology was dreamed up by Marxists who, desiring to cut Western Civilization down to size, foisted it upon a generation of our children—over the howling objections of parents (who were ignored)—through their control of the public school system and the universities. They are not worried about it not actually being true because one of the other pillars of their worldview is relativism—that Objective Truth does not exist. Thus they can say with a straight face that the culture of a tribe of cannibals that doesn't know what a wheel is is of equal value—and therefore should be celebrated—to the culture of Western Civilization. Or shall we say (as they do) Dead White Guys.
It's a great comfort to know that there really are other people out there that think this way. That have chosen sanity and logical thought with which to live their lives, rather than what they're told to think by the mainstream media. Thanks, James, for cheering up a California gal who's usually in the minority.
Madame X— I am glad to be of comfort. I appreciate your encouragement!
55 million is assuredly a sickening statistic of the American womb. I cant help but believe that some of these women were coached along in thier decision of sacrifice.
In these days, there are those lurking who are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women.
RE your question, changing for the better. As long as we still have trust in God, we're going to make it.
newsworthy— Thank you for reading and your sensible commentary. Many women are coached by Planned Parenthood—a sinister organization since its inception. I trust God and I'm glad you do, too.
Wow! Very interesting hub that I read over and over! Thanks.
Ladybird33— I very much appreciate your compliments. Thanks for visiting!
This is a very well written hub. I agree with you . We have become a country with no morals or values. I often wonder what the future will be like with this new generation coming up that will someday run our country.
I also take the same stand on abortion. Very well written!
Useful Knowledge— I am well pleased that read this article and left these encouraging and affirming comments. Thank you very much!
James not only Is It sad that the family unit Is an endangered species . It Is even sadder that most of todays society does not really see that as a problem . It just goes to show how we have lowered the bar for what Is a quality existence and made mediocre the new standard . My grandparents were married 67 years . My Grandma died and I knew my Grandpa would not last long after that . I was right . I could,nt even fathom something like that !
James as always another solid effort.
it seems this country has a moral compass that spins as if its in the Bermuda Triangle. i wonder what Philip Nolan would say. beyond the usual shocks that would hit any Rip Van Winkle, what would Nolan think of his beloved country and the people who feel entitled to run it? the words Hale wrote as Nolan's final lamat always caught at my heart. he spoke of service, sacrifice, honor, and, yes, God. i'm possibly too much the dreamer, the philosopher, but i had thought his words could be applied to simply living with honor and integrity, and truth.
..."For your country, boy," and the words rattled in his throat, "and for that flag," and he pointed to the ship, "never dream a dream but of serving her as she bids you, though the service carry you through a thousand hells. No matter what happens to you, no matter who flatters you or abuses you, never look at another flag, never let a night pass but you pray God to bless that flag. Remember, boy, that behind all these men..., behind officers and government, and people even, there is the Country Herself, your Country, and that you belong to her as you belong to your own mother. Stand by her, boy, as you would stand by your mother...!" I was frightened to death by his calm, hard passion; but I blundered out that I would, by all that was holy, and that I had never thought of doing anything else. He hardly seemed to hear me; but he did, almost in a whisper, say, "Oh, if anybody had said so to me when I was your age!"
I wonder if Philip Nolan were to finally be allowed to come ashore and received a grand tour of what this country is like now, would he not opt to dejectedly go back aboard ship and say to her captain, “Hoist the sails and take me back out to sea. Just take me home.”
i don't know why your hub brought the book, "The Man Without A Country" to my mind, but it did. i thought i would offer it up to you, James.
tony0724— Thank you for visiting. I am touched by the story of your grandparents. When you have this type of example in your life, I know you can really see what I am talking about. And yes, not many seem to care. It is a shame. Thanks for your insight, brother.
womanNshadows— You amaze me. I had not heard of Philip Nolan (or the book). You caught me by surprise, so I paused before responding to you whilst I went to check him out and—what an amazing story and how appropriate of a comment by you! You are indeed learned and wise.
I don't think I've ever had such a comment in my Hubs that was as incisive and stunning as this one. Thank you very much for the eye opener.
James...I'll probably say many things here that Christians will disagree with. The problem is not the secular or liberal world. It hasn't change for thousands of years. Abortion isn't new. It has been going on also for thousands of years. Within the perfection of God...using a condom or a drug to prevent life is no different than terminating it....the end result is "no life."
Most Christians have done exacly what Jesus told them not to do. They huddle in expensive buildings and point their fingers at the world. Jesus went out into the world to give hope to sinners. Why would he preach or condone preaching to those who already believe?
He was pretty much only angered with the religious leadership of his day. They were about money and power....it is no different today. I asked a Christian friend of mine once."Why are you sending your children to public school?" He answered,"Because I'm not a coward...I believe God will be with them...the children in public schools need to know children like mine, and my children need to know them."
His children all graduated and are to this day....fine young people. When Cristianity separated from the world and began to develop social club churches and private schools...they left the love of Jesus. Jesus loved all of the people and went out among all of the people.
Modern Christianity has turned the body of Christ into a prostitute. They are selling the holy spirit just as Simon Magus wanted to do.
I am far more concerned about the souls of Christians than the secular population. The secular population doesn't know Jesus. The Christans are supposed to know him. Who will Jesus hold more accountable?
Well, Tom . . . I hope you know by now that I love you. There were 39 recorded abortions in 1972 and a million or more every year since Roe v Wade. If this represents no change to you . . .
Christianity was never to separate itself from the world. It was not to accept the values OF this world, yes. To say that Christians should all be hermitaging in a monastery is not the message of the Gospel. Christians are commanded to change the hearts of those in the world and that is impossible without engagement.
James....Your first sentence is the very gospel of the real Jesus. It is about love and nothing other than love. Without love....the words of the bible are dead.
If abortion is outlawed....the only thing that will change is that clinics will be shut down and women will sneak into back alleys to have them done as before the 70s. It is a curse on the heart of man that it has come to what it is. We...as the world allow 30 thousand children starve to death each day.
For the last 30 years, Christians have pulled their children out of public schools and enrolled them in Christian schools. Where is the faith? Perhaps the Christian children could have convinced the secular children to live a better way? It is impossible without engagement as you said.
Jesus said,"Shall I find faith when I return?" He will return. He will repair the heart of man. I love you also James.....that is the Christ of my soul.
Tom Cornett— I see both sides of the public school issue. The Christians pulled their kids out of public schools for good reasons in the past 30 years in response to the radical liberal curriculum. Some teachers ridicule the beliefs of Christian kids. They can't say Jesus is their favorite person in history but they can name the local warlock. They are taught that the theory of evolution is a fact—that they are descended from monkees. Then there is the dumbing down of the curriculum. Honors classes were all the rage for a time, so the brighter kids could learn more advanced knowledge but when it was discovered by the teachers union that 98% of the kids who qualified for honors classes were white or Asian, they dumbed that down to to be "inclusive." The history books have changed to condemn America instead of teaching Civics, as we were. A history book I saw hardly mentions our Founding Fathers and doesn't mention Thomas Edison but has 16 pages on the Feminist movement and remark after remark about the oppressive nature of our country; that people from around the world literally die to get to. Multiculturalism, Heather has two Mommies—there are sound reasons not to expose your 3rd grader to this demonic influence before they are old enough to handle it. Maybe by high school, when well grounded in the Truth, they could be a strong balancing influence on the other kids. But, the fact is, kids who go to Christian schools, or are homeschooled, do much better in adult life; graduate from college at a far higher rate; score higher on all tests.
Then ...I would suppose...the devil has won and Christianity has failed it's mission. The children in public schools are then left to the devil's hand. As I said....where is the faith?
The Devil HAS won over the public school curriculum. I think, Tom, that ADULTS, are to carry out the Lord's work. The Great Commission was not assigned to children of 5 or 10 years old. You or I can handle demonic influences. It's not so easy for a barely developed mind. I think subjecting our children—who we want what is best for, right? We love them and want to nurture them—to the public schools today is exactly what the devil wants. Then he plant those seeds of doubt early. Mostly, your parents are superstitious bumpkins. We (the school) are the authority.
I get what you are saying and I don't say you are wrong. You make sense. It is a complicated issue. And you might be right but I am not convinced it is best if the goal is to create good, educated, knowledgeable citizens—which should be the goal of school.
Christianity has not failed. It is booming worldwide. But not in the public school system. It is the only worldview that is openly ridiculed.
You have awakened the truth. It is the RIGHT of Christian parents to demand the freedom of their children. Christians pay taxes and under the constitution....freedom of religion is guarenteed. Why didn't the parents of the past demand that right? Why don't they demand it now?
I'm off to a job interview...this has been good....it is how we learn.
Tom,
And if you pay for a Christian school, or home school, you still have to pay for the public school, too, through your taxes.
In the not too distant past none of this was an issue. What they teach the children has been radicalized over the past 30 years, mostly. In addition, there has been a hard effort to feminize the natural behavior of boys.
Job interview!? Are you selling out!?
I gave it some thought and I was wrong about the little ones in public school...that should be a choice of the parent ...period. I believe that I am right about about how Christians should fight hard to defend their rights and Christian youth should attend public school because they are American citizens and they absolutely should have their voices heard.
If not for believers in God paying taxes....there would be no public schools.
Selling out? Nope...just have to pay the bills. :)
Tom,
Good luck with the job. I would hope a writer with your talent could make living at it.
I think we have reached agreement all the way around. I do agree that if one's children are well grounded in the Truth, it would be best for them to be around children who are lost, in the hopes they might influence them positively.
I appreciate your insights, thoughtfulness, and gentle spirit.
Thanks James...I looks like I might get hired.
Jesus is willing to teach if we are willing to learn from each other. A true conversation between believers is the church of God. It is where the spirit lives...it is where his word is born in the hearts of mankind. Until next time brother.....see you in church.
Tom Cornett— Congratulations! I agree. We'll learn from each other.
James
I really thought this was a wonderful hub and yes I too have become a true conservative believing that many traditions and beliefs of the old are dissipating! I often have wondered what our forefathers would say if they came back from the heavens and saw this world as it today!
mdawson17
mdawson17— I think our forefathers would be shocked out of their shorts and terribly disappointed.
I thank you very much for visiting! This is a nice surprise to see you here. I appreciate your gracious comments, too.
Tha apostle Paul wrote about how the world would wax worse and worse. It isn't just in America. What many don't realize is that without God there are no morals. Everything that is good, is because of God, and everything that is evil, is because of man.
SirDent— You are right on, Brother.
Christianity is dead in Europe, but it is booming in Africa, Asia, and South America big time. There is still time for a Great Awakening here. Let us pray it comes soon.
I appreciate you stopping in and leaving your wise words.
I sure could use your help on this. This is from Linda's hub:
IF YOUR A CHRISTIAN THEN JESUS IS CALLING "YOU" RIGHT NOW!
EVERY SINGLE CHRISTIAN MUST STAND UP NOW MORE THAN EVER BEFORE! EVERY SINGLE CHRISTIAN MUST TAKE A STAND AND FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING WITHIN YOU AGAINST THIS HEALTHCARE PLAN! WE MUST STAND TOGETHER AND TELL OUR GOVT OFFICIALS WE WILL NOT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM PAY FOR ABORTIONS WITH OUR $$$ UNDER THIS HEALTHCARE PLAN THEY ARE PROPOSING! YES! WHETHER YOU ARE FOR OR AGAINST ABORTIONS, THIS HEALTH CARE PLAN STATES WE WILLLLLLLLL HAVE TO BE FUNDING ABORTIONS!!!! NOOOO MATTER WHAT OUR FAITH IS!!!!! THIS HEALTHCARE PLAN ALSO "RATIONS" HEALTHCARE!!!! YES!!!!!! YOUR HEALTHCARE WOULD BE LITERALLY........... "RATIONED" ......... DON;T LEAVE THIS TO "OTHER" CHRISTIANS...............FRIENDS, JESUS NEEDS EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY CHRISTIAN TO STAND TOGETHER AND FIGHT!!!!!! THATS WHY I AM PLEADING WITH "YOU" TO MAKE EVEN "YOUR" VOICE HEARD!!!! CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENITIVES WHILE THEY ARE NOW CURRENTLY HOME ON THEIR SUMMER VACATIONS!!!!! CALL THEM NOW AND MAKE YOUR VOICE KNOWN TO THEM...........TELL THEM NOOOOOOOOOOO!..!!!! AND DO IT NOW, "BEFORE" THEY GO BACK TO WASHINGTON TO VOTE ON THIS AFTER THEIR SUMMER BREAKS.
SIGN THE PETITIONS, THEY ARE STANDING BY THE PHONES RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT TAKING YOUR CALLS TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ........ CALL 1-877-989-2255
OR GO TO......
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LASTLY, PLEASE BE SURE TO PASS THIS ON TO REACH AS MANY AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. THANK YOU & GOD BLESS YOU ALL:)IF YOUR A CHRISTIAN THEN JESUS IS CALLING "YOU" RIGHT NOW! Body: Thanks!!
Sciantel— Thanks you for your heart felt commentary. Don't worry, I am on it. I have been involved in the Pro-Life movement for quite some time. Check out www.abortionno.org
I couldn't agree with you more! America is not changing for the better and that is a fact. The family unit has become all but a thing of the past. Family values I don't think exist anymore except maybe only in a very small percentage of the population! The concept of one man, one woman marriage, fidelity, and raising children with God fearing morals has been pushed aside for same sex marriages, living together, infidelity, and giving birth control to our children and saying go ahead just don't get pregnant. But if you do you can always have an abortion! Sad, Sad, Sad.
Kebennett1— Our society is tragic. And not many seem to care as long as they can feed their appetites and have fun. I am working on a Hub very much related to your comments. Still researching but I hope to have it out maybe midweek. It's not the one I am publishing tomorrow. The next one I am planning. I'll get to work on it in earnest after I finish this one. Thanks for your continuing support. I very much appreciate you.
James - Madame X wrote:"It's a great comfort to know that there really are other people out there that think this way. That have chosen sanity and logical thought with which to live their lives, rather than what they're told to think by the mainstream media. Thanks, James, for cheering up a California gal who's usually in the minority."
I couldn't agree more
You are a great American
We need more people to stand against the total arrogant nature that our present government has taken on. This includes the "in the tank" media. They should step in and report ALL OF THE NEWS and not only their opinions. They harm our country more than the current administration.
hglick— Thank you for your wise words. And I appreciate the compliment, too. I only want the best society and culture and nation and world we can muster. I am glad you are on board. Thanks for the visit!
I have to agree with you on the point of this nation's decaying moral values and ethics. But on terms of abortion I have to say you're quite wrong. Using your religious dogma right at you, God intended for the baby to rest in the body of the woman and gifted free will in the minds of his creation, so thus a woman has the right to choose what she wants to do. For some woman there are dire circumstances, such as rape or teenage pregnancy, a child should be born into a home he is wanted in and not forced on a society, or do you want more broken homes? lower graduation rates? it is this conservative tendency towards social politics that has eroded there leadership, change with the times man.
george— Does the Truth change with the times?
I think God made the uterus as a place of nourishment and protection.
I think adoption is a wonderful option and there is no shortage of willing adopters.
But I do appreciate your point of view and I thank you for visiting and leaving your comments.
James I too like the adoption route. I guess that is why I enjoyed Juno. It tugged at my heart to see a young girl experimenting at such a young age and ending up pregnant - being the mother of a teenager. However, I thought the movie portrayed adoption as a viable and positive experience. The stigma of condemnation on the young girl was not like it used to be, which made this option possible and placed adoption as the better route to go. We need to do this more for our young girls and praise them for making the responsible choice if they find themselves pregnant and unprepared to be a parent. This type of hub is just what is needed.
trimar7— I loved that movie Juno! I am so pleased that you visited my humble hub. Thank you very much for your thoughtful insights. I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Thank you for calling attention to the slaughter of our pre-born innocents along with your other well written observations. GOOD FOR YOU! And God bless you!
cjv123— You are welcome, fellow Michigander (ex for me). I appreciate your gracious words. I look forward to reading some of your work soon.
James,
It is hard to say that I enjoyed reading your hub given the subject matter. You did a find job on the hub, although it did not leave me feeling warm and fuzzy. You addressed a painful topic very well. The realization that not only have many lives been lost, but so have values and families. The damage done will last for generations. History has shown that the impact of those loses often extend much further than people realize. Keep up the good work
J D Murrah— It is a pleasure to hear from you. I suppose this piece isn't exactly upbeat. :)
I agree with you, friend, the damage will go on much farther than the deeds themselves.
I appreciate you coming to visit. Thank you for your insightful remarks.
This is and educational article. Life should be more than sex. God and nature did not design a woman's body to become a sex instrument. Today it is so easy to ignore God's Commandments. Your choice in being a conservative is not a bad one because a man cannot only do what makes him feel good. He must have some decent standards to live by.
stars439— Thank you so much. There is a whole lot more to life besides sex, as nice as it is. Your words in this comment box are very wise. I appreciate you sharing them with me.
I like the way your brain thinks, makes me feel alive listening to what your thinking, very cool...Keep it up ...PS Now I Know Why I bookmarked your page ;-) ...Hope you are doing well,
Thank You so much! It's really nice to hear these words coming from an adult! It seems many famous musicians, politics, celebrities and so forth preach about "realtivism" and enlightenment all the time. I too believe realtivism has clowded my generation into seeing the truth. There is a God and there is a right and wrong and I am not afraid to call a culture or a person out for being immoral! and if that makes me close minded and ignorant then so be it!
Lee Thacker— I see that your comment is six months old! I'm sorry I didn't answer. For some reason it was marked as spam. I am doing well. Thank you very much for coming and for the wonderful words you left for me to read here.
Rubysprings— You are quite welcome! I'm an adult alright—at least chronologically. :D
I so appreciate your remarks. You are wise and discerning. Thank you for visiting and commenting. Welcome to the Hub Pages Community! I'll be coming by to read your work soon.
I remember as a young child in elementary school, we started the school day off with, "The Lord's Prayer" and "The Pledge Of Allegiance." Now, a student can get in trouble for showing his/her Christian faith. It's a totally different world now, where it seems that anything goes, except the right thing.
mquee— I remember those days, too, my friend. It is a different world. I agree completely with your words. Thank you for coming by and leaving your insightful wisdom.
Freddie Langston 3 years ago
From History.. Yes I said His story.. The King is watching.. and as you said.. it's incumbent for us to watchful of His eyes piercingly gazing at His creatiion in Revolt.
Thanks for putting legs on truths.. that should incite near riotous repsponse from the Faithful.. who realize Who's they are..
You're the best as you remain in process.. straddling the present into the Future.. that He has for us all.
Stand strident and pure my friend .. For it does matter.
In the Battle with you,
freddie