By Bob Steiner
Having grown up in the American West during the nineteen forties and fifties, I had been raised under a system of government, which I was taught was based on Judeo-Christian principles. As I progressed over the years through public school and college studies this belief was reinforced when I read such documents as The Mayflower Compact (the first known set of written laws and covenants to govern the new world), The Declaration of Independence, and The U.S. Constitution. All three of these documents point towards a recognition of a special relationship between our government and GOD.
Looking back over the years, it now seems we were rather naive then. In those days even the most minor infraction of the norms of the society was enough to shatter one’s reputation. Divorce was accepted but not spoken about. An illicit love affair in the community might have been whispered about, but would never have been discussed in the press. Even a philandering U.S. President or two got by with out having his personal affairs publicized. A drunken driving arrest might have taken place, but no one talked about it in the public venue. In short, man’s failings happened but the news media and society interested in promoting the positive aspects of our lifestyle, tended to play down all but the most flagrant violations of the status quo. Life for most people was good and society benefited.
I grew up believing that my heroes have always been cowboys , firemen, policemen, soldiers, or doctors. John Wayne, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry seemed to be the prime role models for our lives . It may seem hard to imagine, but these were Hollywood stars who lived their lives without ever becoming involved in any of the scandalous conduct that we read about daily in today’s movie and music industry.
Drugs were not a problem. I can remember one instance when just a rumor of an actor smoking a Marijuana cigarette caused him to be replaced in a movie he had been cast for. While Homosexuality may have existed in those days, it certainly was not publicized. If anyone would have used the word “pedophile”, people would have thought that some sort of bicycle enthusiast was being discussed. You might say that we were very out of touch and naive in those days.
Now, moving ahead some fifty years, we have become completely liberated. Sex seems to be the most used “noun” in today’s media. Few actors, music stars, or sports figures have not spent time in drug rehabilitation centers and you can hear detailed reports of their excesses on the news every night.
Now, after four weeks of having my TV tell me how great a recently deceased singer was, despite the fact that he was known to have young boys as bed partners and was a heavy drug abuser, I am really confused. I find it very difficult to view a drug-using sexual degenerate as someone who has earned the respect and veneration being accorded to him.
Yes I guess my heroes have always been (and will continue to be) Cowboys,policemen. fire men. soldiers ( who have led clean lives and are a credit and role models to our civilization). I hope there are still a few others around who share my sentiments.
