What Happened to Decency?
Decency is defined as “polite, moral and honest behavior and attitudes that show respect for other people; behavior that people in a society consider to be proper or acceptable.”
Decency is something that cannot be legislated at your state Capitol in Oklahoma City.
Examples of the lack of decency seem to be growing more common every day.
The young man who came into the Emergency Room wearing a shirt with the “F-word” and the “B-word” emblazoned across the front and back. He has no respect for others who find this language offensive. No consideration for the young people there or their parents who are trying to teach them decency. It would be easy to be angry at this person. I felt sorry for him and his ignorance. Perhaps more importantly, I wondered why his girlfriend would continue to hang around with a boyfriend wearing a shirt so degrading to women. She too, must have low self-esteem. She could certainly do much better than that low-class dude.
The Grand Lakers who anchor their boats in a cove and proceed to blast ear-shattering rap tunes filled with obscenities for all to hear. They seem to be oblivious to the young impressionable ears of the children on the boat with them. They are certainly not concerned about others’ children who are subjected to their trash-talking music.
The television show I watched on the USA Channel. It was filled with people living a glamorous lifestyle. The language on this primetime show – which airs from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., when many kids are watching – was atrocious, using words that until only recently the FCC would not allow on TV or radio. In addition, the stars smoked cigarettes, smoked marijuana and snorted cocaine. All of this as you are trying to teach your children or grandchildren right from wrong. There are plenty of interesting TV plots to be told without stooping to glamorizing immoral and illicit behavior. Exposed to enough of this activity, young people come to see it as normal, not indecent. How sad for our country.
If decency cannot be legislated how do we stop the above? By teaching decency in our homes and by being a decent role model for young people. As parents and grandparents, we must be cognizant of the behavior of our youngsters. Do not be afraid to be a “policeman” over what they watch, what they listen to, what they read and what they view on the computer. It is part of the job that comes with good parenting. Teach decency by example.
Thanks for letting me rant. Also, thanks for allowing me to serve as your state representative. I can be reached at dougcox@okhouse.gov or 405-557-7415.
The post What Happened to Decency? – Cox’s Corner by State Representative Doug Cox, M.D. appeared first on Grand Lake Business Journal.com.