Readers Respond About Social Problems

In response to the column I wrote asking people to write about what they saw as the biggest problems in society today, I received the following responses:

An Iowa reader cited a quotation from Ghandi:

Eight "blunders" cause all the violence in the world.

Wealth without work.

Pleasure without conscience.

Knowledge without character.

Commerce without morality.

Science without humanity.

Worship without sacrifice.

Politics without principles.

Rights without responsibilities.

All are caused by ignorance. The way to avoid them is to get to know other people, especially people unlike ourselves.

Another Iowa reader wrote, "The greatest danger to our health care system is in a generation that is much too fat and drinks everything but water!"

A North Dakota reader sent the following list as a, "frightening and awesome lot." He describes our country as still the best country in the world. "Man has the ability to save or destroy the planet. Which shall it be?"

Here are excepts from his list of the world's ills: Greed - The number one cancer of Earth. The worst of the list. Apathetic politicians - small wonder that few vote. Personal debt - beyond our ability to pay. Television - neither education nor entertaining. Drugs - demand exceeds supply. What is the answer? Pollution - all air, food and water are tainted. Government waste - we couldn't live without it. Courts - caste system: poor versus rich.

Garbage - a monster with no hiding place. Marriage/Divorce - too easy in and out. Nuclear wasteproducts - with us for centuries. Defense dollars - too costly a hype on the tax payers. Courtesy - almost gone. Lost out to greed. Violence - man's inhumanity to man. Sad!

Welfare - if you can beg and shop, you can work. Homeless - some wouldn't live any other way Sports - farce, stockyard and meat market. Working wives - our wants dictate this.

If my list sounds like I'm disenchanted, I guess I am. An author I read many years ago wrote, "It is everyone's duty to leave the planet better than you found it."

A Minnesota reader wrote, "Our words have lost real meaning. Examples: 1) We call "creative" that which is really "flamboyant." 2) We admire as "assertive" behavior that which is really "aggressive." 3) We claim "tolerance" for what is the absence of any real standard. Polls and approval ratings have replaced measures of conduct. Jesus said, "Go and sin no more," not, "Have a nice day."

A Nebraska reader wrote: I believe materialism is America's Golden Calf - our wants instead of our needs get in the way. This is why parents are out of the home. To stand up for our beliefs would mean to me supporting those organizations that are working for family values - truly working, not just mouthing the words.

Life is the greatest gift from God. We pay people to murder the most innocent and expect our teenagers to respect life.

I believe our country was founded on Christian values and our leaders were examples for us. Now I believe our government in 80 percent of these areas are promoters of all that is basically wrong morally and financially.

Another Iowa reader sent the following: I can't decide whether you are a student of the Bible and apply that grasp in what you write, are one the bible describes as, "those who do by nature the things of the law.

I'm afraid no human agency can bring about the needed changes. Granted the solutions you offer are valid ones, but human nature in general has now gone too far . . . The only thing left out is the fact that each individual will only change by applying Bible principles and associating with those who will help them stay on the correct path for them.

A South Dakota reader replied, "I feel you left out a very important and growing problem of today and that is gambling . . It not only ruins families but also the individual who is involved."

Finally a faithful reader from Indiana voiced these thoughts, "Kids cannot go with their parents to work because they are protected from the dangers of the workplace and because of liability. Children cannot have the traditional experience of working with their parents and learning to become adults. So much is done for children.

"They do not learn to entertain themselves so they reach adulthood and depend on sports for entertainment. Sports have become the most important part of our school system. Much of newspaper and TV news is about sports. There are no health benefits in watching high paid professionals play sports."

Thank you for your thoughtful responses. I appreciate these comments and the others that were sent to me.