I was in my early twenties
when the hippie generation was in
full swing proclaiming FREEDOM from responsibilities whether: government,
church or family duties. Free love
was the theme; hippies were known as the flower children. Make love not war
was their cry. It was the sixties and the Vietnam war was in full swing, Draft card and bra burning were common
among these youthful rebels. Freedom was to be pursued at all costs as youth
left their families and formed communes
where unfortunately drug use and other anti-social behaviors destroyed many
traditional values carefully built over generations.
Rebellion
against societal norms is not a recent invention. It has been going on within
families and countries throughout history. In the Bible, we see the first
family placed on earth had a rebellious son Cain who slays his brother Abel in
a fit of jealousy. Parents of every generation have sighed as their offspring
rebel against family standards and push back the norms of acceptable behavior.
Today the call is heard again for FAIRNESS. There is no need for traditional
families or control of behavior in society or movies or literature. ANYTHING GOES.
That sounds familiar. I’ve seen the results. It isn’t a new banner or slogan. There are standards of behavior that are needed to insure that our
youth grow up in a safe sane society.
There
is a reason for a man and a woman to join together in a formal agreement before
beginning a family. It gives
security and structure to their offspring, and a model to emulate. The world
declares in the court room and newspapers that it’s all right for anyone to
marry regardless of sexual orientation, and demands that this be taught in our
schools as the new norm because
to do otherwise is censorship and
taking away individual rights. That’s when I feel a need to proclaim just as
loudly my views that though in the majority seem to be discarded under the
disguise of FREEDOM at any cost.