Here is the remainder of the morality article. I must say I don’t agree with all it says. I find that we must, I assume, adjust our morality as time moves forward. It, like society, seems an elastic being to take the form of the time. I love much of the ‘old days’ for the freedom of knowledge for the homemaker, the skill the average person elicited, as well as the amount of time one had towards things other than entertainment. I think there is much there to learn and to gain control over our own thoughts and decisions. I do not, however, think that on average individuals were freer. I think what is good about being aware of our past is to take and learn the good and be glad to have got rid of the bad. I don’t want a strict moral code that seems to force its view upon others, but what I want is for individuals to feel their self worth enough to know that though sex is a part of life, there is much more. That while fashion is fun, it does not have to be overtly sexualized. In fact, the more one has to work with the more exciting and greater style allowed to women.
I am not in favor of forcing any set value system on the world, for who should decide this system? But, I want personal awareness and self-worth to lead those who have a choice to make those choices for their betterment and happiness. Not just to be ‘with the crowd’ or ‘like the people on the tv/computer/movie screen’. I suppose, then, that I want the impossible.
So, here is the rest of the article, take it as it is meant to be: an article written over 50 years ago. I have found that to try and force or coerce someone to do as you are told is the fastest way to have them do it. I have come to find that to lead by example and to teach by action rather than words is the best way for anyone from parent, teacher, to statesmen and government.
One may not agree with the morality espoused in this article but you have to admit that it is more well-thought out and has more substance than many fluff articles you will in today's housekeeping magazines. Seriously, I could care less about Valerie Bertinelli's weight loss secrets..
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought you would ever the see the words sadist and masochist in a 50s BHG article.
ReplyDeleteThey had more going on in the 50s than we thought.
That's why I love bringing these types of articles to light. I want others to see where we actually were rather than what we are 'fed' today as the 1950's.
ReplyDeleteI think his point about males needing to be told there's more to maleness than sexual conquests is right on the money!!! There is so much more to life than sex. Yes it's important, yes it's fun, but it shouldn't be the end-all driving factor in relationships. I think that's part of what was wrong in my marriage. He was, and is, so focused on the sexual gratification that nothing else matters. But when that got in the way of his other idol, money, I pretty much ceased to exist.
ReplyDeleteI agree with just about everything the writer has to say. I think the long quote from Dr. Franzblau sums things up very nicely.
The part of lost morality that I'm saddened over is the loss of moral absolutes. For me, nearly everything that's wrong with the modern Western world can be traced to losing the ideal of moral absolutes. That some things are always wrong no matter the person, and some things are always right.
I'm glad you posted this article. It's sad to think things only got worse with the following decades. Even though many teens and adults are choosing sexual promiscuity today I have heard of teens starting what they call the "New sexual revolution." I hope it grows because it is calling teens to wait until sex is right; between a husband and wife.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the previous poster. There are things that are always wrong and things that are always right.