Our country celebrated Memorial Day this past Monday. I am reminded what so many men and women sacrificed for our country to give us the freedoms we have today. I am also reminded that we need to show respect for all the men and women who are serving our country today.
The words "respect" and "decency" are words I heard all the time as a young boy growing up in Dunn Center.
But, sad to say, these two words are not used very often today. We don't respect our elders, our teachers, and our superiors; men don't respect women; we don't respect the laws of speeding and stop signs, we don't respect elected officials, and we don't respect the biblical principles I learned in my younger days.
People tell me that I am old fashioned and times have changed. I don't think so -- laws are put into place by a civilized country to keep the country a safe and comfortable place to live.
What has happened to us? We elect public officials who cheat on their spouses. We drive a little faster to make sure the other person doesn't get ahead of us, and we hurry to beat the next person to the line in a fast food establishment. Did we forget that the right thing to do is put the other person's concerns before us?
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The word "decency" has almost left our society today. A person having morals and character is considered out of touch with society.
Women dress so skimpy that men have lost respect for them. Women living with women and men living with men is accepted by many people today. My mother and father would be ashamed of our country over this fact.
Telling a lie for personal gain is accepted as the truth and we praise and honor these people for being so wise. We think nothing about suing someone who has offended us for the most minor infraction.
I guess I am getting old and out of touch with the world today.
But, one thing I remember from history was that there was another country that changed from a civilized country to a self-serving and self-centered people and they turned to extinction. That country was the Roman Empire. Is United States on the same collision course? I pray not!
Nodland is a former North Dakota state senator from Dickinson.
