Background: For a number of years as a nurse, I worked with Alzheimer's patients. What difficult, tragic lives they lead! One personality trait they develop as their disease progresses is the Inability to Restrain Themselves Mentally, or inability to 'put on the brakes.' In other words, they say just what's in their minds at the time. They also act on whatever is in their minds at the moment. This usually gets them in trouble with others. But they can't help it.
Now what about our present American culture of sexual permissiveness? It would appear that many adults have forgot about their 'mental brakes!' Many of our TV shows, movies, magazines, and popular songs depict everyone who is married cheating on their spouses, promote the idea that all single people cavort from one partner to the next without end, and advertise women not only in 'suggestive' clothing but in many cases, bare, lewd, clothing. They all have given America a truly bad image. No wonder foreigners think we are depraved! Many of us are depraved!! Even worse than that is the education our children are receiving in all this. Just like falling in a mud puddle, if you are immersed in a 'dirty' culture, you can't help but get muddy!
Where is this heading: confident that adults are fully 'liberated,' now the groups feel children have the right to sex. No kidding!
Situation: Yuri came to New York City from an Eastern European country at age 18 to get his education here. Very soon, he met a woman who wanted to have sex. The woman quickly became pregnant. He was shocked! Then he quickly found out that he would have to support the child for 18 years. He was honorable, he did the right thing. In addition to his schooling, he worked full-time so he could take care of the child. Yuri did eventually become a U.S. citizen. Looking back, Yuri said, "When I came to America, I thought everyone was 'doing it.'
Lessons learned: It's really not enough just to try to be a good, moral person! My Bible reading yesterday said, "By their fruits you shall know them." We are expected to try to make things 'right.' For some of us, that may be only in the Voting Booth. We need to elect courageous, morally strong officials.
Years ago, I was asked to canvass my long street, door-to-door, to encourage voters to vote for a miniscule library tax, which I supported. I was given a print-out of registered voters. What a revelation! Those of my neighbors who did the most complaining about laws and government weren't even registered to vote!
I don't hold myself up as an example for much, but I am passionate about voting! Since I could vote at age 18, I haven't missed a single election, even the primaries. When Daughter #3 was born, she and I were discharged from the hospital and I went directly to the Precinct before going home. Also, be informed. My Daddy told me to 'vote Democrat' but I try to find out about all the candidates and vote for the best, or sometimes, for the 'least worse.'
Really, voting is like our nursing instructor telling us about excuses for missing her tests, "The only excuse is death: yours!"
My worst enemy put me down one time by telling me, "Why do you even bother to vote? You and I always vote opposite and our votes cancel out." I thought about that for a long time. But my vote actually is worth more than my enemy's because I've belonged to various political action groups over the years. We 'spread the word!'
Outcome: I'm still keeping up with Yuri. He's a fine gentleman and will do all right!
What about the rest of us? How can we 'bear fruit?" Can we encourage others, especially our young people to 'put on their moral brakes?'
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