Family Ties

Could any man resist the temptation of evil if he knew his acts could not be witnessed? This is a question posed in an excerpt from an article entitled, “What the Bagelman Saw,” by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. I would like to simplify this question by asking; if you knew you would not get caught, would you cheat? I believe more people would answer yes to this question in the twenty first century, than would have in the nineteen sixties. The decline of the family is one of the reasons for this difference.

I was a kid in the sixties. Life was much slower then, and families were able to spend much more time together than today. They had time sit down and eat dinner together. I’ve heard this called the family table. In those days, most moms did not work outside the home, allowing them time o prepare the evening meal. I remember this being a time of sharing with one another. Family matters were discussed, and family values were taught. A sense of right and wrong was instilled in me during those family times, and the important thing to remember is that this happened almost everyday.

I think things are much different in today’s society. Families are so much busier today. Kids are involved in many more activities. Most households have both parents working fulltime, and as a result, the family unit has been weakened. Families don’t have the time to sit down and have a meal together on a regular basis. I believe, for the most part, the family table is a thing of the past. That time of sharing, and parental guidance happens all to infrequently. Families are unable to spend enough time discussing right from wrong, and without spending time together as a family unit, how can values be instilled in our children.

Let’s get back to the question. Would you?