The Morphing Focus of Our Culture

Why is there so much turmoil in our nation? Why is there a battle and debate about marriage, about normalcy, about everything we used to call decent and wholesome. Why do we hear language in public places and on television and in films where once we did not?

Is this a failure of our political system, or is it something else? I believe it is something else.

Cultures ebb and flow in direct proportion to what most interests their people.

What most interests us? Isn’t it riches, things and pleasure? You know it is. And so those things are reflected in our culture – riches, things and pleasure.

In my parent’s generation – the one that survived a great depression and world war at the same time – things were simpler.

We were poor in things but rich in family and relationships. People pulled together out of necessity and love and commitment. Culture reflected those things, those values.

Now some of us are trying to use the political system to stop same-sex marriage, abortion and indecency. When our focus changes, so will our culture -- but not before.

I’m Cal Thomas in Washington.