Today's discussion is near and dear to my heart. I wrote a short essay on the subject last year for another website that I've copied below. Each and every one of you should become well-versed on the subject of social mores, if you have not been already.
Quick side note: If you don't know what a social more is, you're dead to me. If you think 'more' in terms of these discussions rhymes with 'door', you're dead to me. If you know that 'more' in terms of these discussions actually rhymes with 'foray', but do not know what 'foray' means, you're dead to me.
Anyway, here is my essay. It is important to note that this is only an introduction to what I deem a terrible problem. It is the tip of the iceberg. It is by no means all-encompassing. Educate yourselves:
Declining Adherence to Social Mores and Its Role in the Deterioration of Western Civilization
Across the annals of history, civilizations have risen and subsequently fallen like the ebb and flow of waves against a beach. There are several factors historians generally look toward when explaining the fall of an empire or decline of its civilization. These are often major historical events such as war or political coup d’etats, or also natural phenomena like floods, volcanic eruptions, famine, disease, etc. that bring a civilization to its proverbial knees. In less obvious circumstances, however, it is other factors which can lead to decline. One classic example concerns the many great kingdoms that today comprise modern day India. Circa 2500 B.C., the many kingdoms of southern India formed one of the most richly well established empires on the planet. Infrastructure and the workings of local government were well ahead of its time. A revolutionary taxation system for the period left kingdoms flush with enough financial flexibility to keep all cylinders running smoothly. In less than two hundred years everything crumbled. Streets and buildings were in ruins, local government was virtually non-existent, and as a result taxes failed to be collected. How did such a rapid decline befall this civilization? Rulers began petty feuds with their neighboring kingdoms over shows of wealth. Soon, the majority of monies collected went into displays of grandeur. While the kings built great palaces, their empires crumbled around them.
If history is doomed to repeat itself, one can deduce the end is near for Western Civilization. The United States, along with powerful European allies, have been reaping benefits the world over for centuries. Many predict the fall of our civilization will come at the hands of war, stating the much maligned conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan as principal causes. While it is not the goal of this essay to rebuke those notions, it is my claim that certain of these lesser obvious factors will lead to our civilization’s ultimate demise. One such factor, in particular, will lead the way: It is the intention of this essay to prove that declining adherence to social mores will play a significant role in the deterioration of Western Civilization.
Social mores are essential as a means of controlling that which the government cannot. It is this kind of self-regulation of our daily lives that keeps a nation, culture and civilization flourishing through good times and bad. The aforementioned events come and go, but a people remain stable throughout war, disease and natural disaster by adhering to social mores, thus creating a general sense of stability and normalcy. Without it, panic breeds dissent; sociopolitical decline is never far behind.
It is revealing, for the sake of argument, to review the case of British history. From the time the western world began to emerge from the lull of the Middle Ages, no group of people has remained as stable as Britain. From British dominance in colonialism, through subsequent uprisings, and up to Britain’s role in the modern geopolitical landscape, they have remained one nation, one culture, and one civilization. Why is this, one might ask? And what does this have to do with social mores and our declining situation? The answer is devilishly simple, and can be answered by posing another question: Is there a more prim and proper people anywhere on the face of the planet than the Brits? Of course not, and it is my contention that British adherence to social mores is tantamount to their cultural stability for more than a thousand years.
Americans, meanwhile, have come an awfully long way from our Puritanical roots. As centuries have passed, we have grown exponentially in numerous ways as we have grown farther apart from our forefathers. The basis of this country, its history, culture and political system, is rooted in proper British values. As we have moved further away from that, and hence adherence to social mores, we have also passed the pinnacle of this civilization and are now in steady freefall. There is simply no way to tell if a reversal of fortune is possible. However, one can only surmise that a change must come now if we are to have any chance at all. The following are several examples of problem areas for Americans as a society:
- Cramped public transportation has led to a general invasion of individual private space
- People have forgotten to walk on the left and stand to the right while on escalators
- When sitting on packed subway cars, knees must be spread no further apart than six inches, assuring enough room for everyone seated
- Elbows, bags, briefcases, purses, etc. must be kept out of contact with fellow passengers
- It is of the utmost importance not to block doors and paths of trains, buses, office buildings, restaurants or any other public establishments people might need to maneuver through
- No talking on cell phones in restaurants, movie theaters, trains, or buses
- Sidewalk etiquette needs to be strictly followed. No bikes or skateboards on the sidewalk. If one must stop while on said sidewalk, move to the right to ensure that continued steady flow of foot traffic does not become hindered.
Many of these examples are married to the dual problem of overpopulation. At a time when medical advances have increased life expectancy to an alltime high, never before has the role of social mores been more important to the future of this great nation. It would be impossible for a government of any kind to control every minute, singular facet of our lives with any sort of sustained success. It is essential, as illustrated earlier, for us as a people to use social mores as a vehicle to self-governance. Without them, circumstances could quickly become dire. We must all look inward when faced with a problem of this magnitude, rather than blaming government. For the future of our country, as well as Western Civilization as a whole, let us carry the message of social mores with us through all of our daily interactions. In short, move out of the way of closing doors. You’re going to get us all killed.
