LETTERS: BLAME MORAL DECAY ON SOCIETY

To the editor:

In light of the current problems in our schools, I would like to share these thoughts.

Moral decay can be blamed on society. But who is society? Are they the other guys, or are they each and every one of us? I feel that each and every one of us has a say in what society is:

When parents and grandparents cannot say a sentence without saying cuss words, get drunk and feel there is nothing wrong with it, lie on tax forms or any other ways that make money more important than the commandments. When sex out of marriage is flaunted in front of children and presented as OK. When we do not monitor what we allow our children to watch on TV or the movies. When lying and stealing are OK if nobody catches you. When we threaten and curse our fellow man in front of children.

When all these things happen as a regular part of everyday life, then how are our children supposed to act when they grow up? How are they supposed to know the difference between right and wrong? Just because society accepts them does not mean God approves of it.

In the Bible, Jesus makes it very clear about who among us are the most important. Matthew 18:1-7 is very clear on what I have been talking about. Verses 6 and 7 say, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for them to have a great millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of things that cause sin. Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come."

When we teach hate, our children pick up on it more than we realize. It is no wonder some children so not know the difference between right and wrong. Maybe they were told not to do this or not to do that, but as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. The main problem is not at school. It is at home.

GERALD MACKE

Leopold