Do we have the
moral authority to lead?
One of
the greatest worries of parents, teachers, religious institutions and the
government today is the declining standards of morality in society. This is not
just in Malaysia but a disturbing trend throughout the world.
Recently
I was appalled at the opinion expressed by a young woman in her twenties on a
number of issues related to morality. According to her she does not see anything
wrong ‘having an affair’ with an already married man or ‘snatching’ him away from
his wife and children. She does not see adultery and divorce as being morally
wrong. A quick survey would indicate that this young woman is not an exception
as there are many other young people who share her views and the number is
increasing.
Today
staying together before marriage is no more frowned upon as it used to be in
the good old days. A friend narrated the shock of his life when his daughter
introduced her boyfriend at the breakfast table one morning. She had brought
him home late the night before without his knowledge and permission.
Pornography
which was a real taboo before is being openly circulated without much fear and guilt.
Raids on vice dens have become so common that they cause little shame for those
caught in such places. It is deeply distressing that what we were taught as
terribly wrong when we were young has become totally acceptable as norm by the
younger generation of today. Adulterers are even accepted as leaders today. How
can such tainted leaders be expected to be role models for the young?
Morality
may be subjective but divorce and adultery are vices that are despised by all
major religions of the world and it is disturbing that despite claiming to have
become more religious we seem to be becoming an increasingly more promiscuous
society where sex has become a casual affair.
Not only
divorce and adultery but sex outside marriage, group sex, abortion, sodomy and
even incest that was strongly forbidden and considered as grievous sins before are
being accepted as norms in our society today. Sex parties have become a way of
celebrating certain occasions especially New Year for our youngsters. Even
religious festivals like Christmas are marred by such sex parties.
Divorce
has become a necessity these days to safeguard the peace and tranquility of an
individuals who gets into dispute after marriage. The high rate of divorce that
is so easily obtained these days for the most trivial excuses is totally
destroying the sanctity of marriage and the family unit.
The
family unit which used to be the main source of happiness is slowly but surely
becoming disintegrated. The moderating influence of the elders in the family is
slowly fading resulting in the high rate of immoral activity, crime and
neglected elderly parents in our society today.
What has
gone wrong? As parents, teachers and religious leaders why have we failed to
instill basic moral values in our children? We take them regularly to places of
worship, we pray together in the house, we read the holy books and preach
morality to others but why are our children going astray? Are we being the
right role models for them?
We tend
to blame the internet for the declining morality in society today. It may be
true but what are we doing to arrest this decline in morality? What are we
doing to reduce the undesired effects of the internet on our youths? Internet
is here to stay as it has far more beneficial than bad effects and it cannot be
eliminated for whatever reasons. We have reached a stage where we cannot
imagine living in a world without internet.
We have
no choice but adapt to live with the internet. What is more important is to
educate our young to attain a discerning mind whereby they can differentiate
good from bad. It may be an uphill battle but what choice we have as parents,
teachers and religious leaders other than to try our best.
The
influence of religion in the lives of the young may also be fading as these
institutions of morality have become more obsessed with form rather than substance.
As followers we have become more interested in observing elaborate rituals to
attain rewards in the life-after rather than following the true teachings of
our respective faiths to interact with one another in a more humane manner. Instead
we seem to have subtly involved in a war to prove our religion is more superior
to others and in the process triggering inter-religious ill-feelings and
conversions.
In the
fight against the moral decay it is important to ensure that as elders we are
ourselves clean and morally upright. If we want to stand a chance to succeed in
combating the evil influences of modern technology we have to lead by example
not by preaching, as experience shows nobody really follows what we preach.
Leading by example has the most profound influence on our children. It is the
most important measure but it is also the most difficult to follow. Unless we
attain the moral authority to lead there is no way we can arrest the rapidly
decaying morality in our society.
