A civilized society’s first line of defense is not the law, police and courts
but customs, traditions and moral values.
Behavioral norms, mostly
transmitted by example, word of mouth and religious teachings, represent a body
of wisdom distilled over the ages through experience and trial and error. They
include important thou-shalt-nots such as shalt not murder, shalt not steal,
shalt not lie and cheat, but they also include all those courtesies one might
call ladylike and gentlemanly conduct.
The failure to fully transmit
values and traditions to subsequent generations represents one of the failings
of the so-called greatest generation.
Behavior accepted as the norm
today would have been seen as despicable yesteryear. There are television debt
relief advertisements that promise to help debtors to pay back only half of what
they owe. Foul language is spoken by children in front of and sometimes to
teachers and other adults.
When I was a youngster, it was unthinkable
to use foul language to an adult; it would have meant a smack across the face.
Back then, parents and teachers didn’t have child-raising “experts” to tell them
that “time out” is a means of discipline. Baby showers are held for unwed
mothers. Yesteryear, such an acceptance of illegitimacy would have been
unthinkable.
To see men sitting whilst a woman or elderly person was
standing on a crowded bus or trolley car used to be unthinkable. It was common
decency for a man to give up his seat. Today, in some cities there are
ordinances requiring public conveyances to set aside seats posted “Senior
Citizen Seating.” Laws have replaced common decency. Years ago, a young lady who
allowed a guy to have his hand in her rear pocket as they strolled down the
street would have been seen as a "slattern". Children addressing adults by first names
was unacceptable.
You might be tempted to charge, “Williams, you’re a
prude!” I’d ask you whether high rates of illegitimacy make a positive
contribution to a civilized society. If not, how would you propose that
illegitimacy be controlled? In years past, it was controlled through social
sanctions like disgrace and shunning. Is foul language to or in the presence of
teachers conducive to an atmosphere of discipline and respect necessary for
effective education? If not, how would you propose it be controlled?
Years ago, simply sassing a teacher would have meant a trip to the vice
principal’s office for an attitude adjustment administered with a paddle. Years
ago, the lowest of lowdown men would not say the kind of things often said to or
in front of women today. Gentlemanly behavior protected women from coarse
behavior. Today, we expect sexual harassment laws to restrain coarse
behavior.
During the 1940s, my family lived in North Philadelphia’s
Richard Allen housing project. Many families didn’t lock doors until late at
night, if ever. No one ever thought of installing bars on their windows. Hot,
humid summer nights found many people sleeping outside on balconies or lawn
chairs.
Starting in the ‘60s and ‘70s, doing the same in some
neighborhoods would have been tantamount to committing suicide. Keep in mind
that the 1940s and ‘50s were a time of gross racial discrimination, high black
poverty and few opportunities compared to today. The fact that black
neighborhoods were far more civilized at that time should give pause to the
excuses of today that blames today’s pathology on poverty and
discrimination.
Policemen and laws can never replace customs, traditions
and moral values as a means for regulating human behavior. At best, the police
and criminal justice system are the last desperate line of defense for a
civilized society. Our increased reliance on laws to regulate behavior is a
measure of how uncivilized we’ve become.
Posted by The Blue Eye View, Blue Eye, MO