Dumbing Down

Dumbing Down

Dear Editor:

Social commentators frequently speak of the "Dumbing Down" of America. Usually they are describing what is happening in our public schools and universities. But it also aptly describes what is happening across the entire spectrum of our culture. The idea is that rather than challenge citizens, young and old, to aspire to greater, grander and more noble goals in life, they are encouraged to settle for mediocrity at best and in many cases to go for the lowest of the fare. This is the most glaring example of the moral and cultural decay that is eating away at the vitals of our society. Consider the following examples:

In public education the prevailing philosophy has been to lower standards and expectations so that the dumbest, laziest and most disinterested kid will not be left behind or made to feel inferior to the smartest and brightest. Rather than expect the underachievers to shape up and work harder, everyone is held to their snail's pace. Consequently many kids complete twelve years of school barely able to read, write or cipher. Most graduates desiring to enter college must take extensive remedial courses to be able to do the expected work.

The same disease has infected our colleges and universities and thus they allow students to take all kinds of trivial, crip courses so they can give them a degree. Classroom demands have been lowered and testing has been reduced or even dropped by some professors. Now we have college graduates who are incapable of holding anything other than a basic skills job.

In the field arts and esthetics "dumbing down" is common. Rather than aspire to greatness, refined skills and esthetic beauty, leaders in this field have fallen to the muck of the barn yard. We use to go to art museums to see things exquisite, beautiful and inspiring, one can now see scrap metal welded together, excrement displayed on canvas, objects displayed in urine, paint thrown on canvas, canvas marked with the footprints of animals who walked through paint and onto the mat. All sorts of sexually obscene objects and anti-Christian expressions are offered for public observance. Compare these disgusting productions with the great historic creations of human art... much of which was based on Biblical themes and you can see how many of the current generation of artists have been "dumbed down."

The movie and television industries are the most glaring example of "dumbing down" to the lowest level. Since the 1960s these professions have devolved to the point that sex, obscenity, profanity, sacrilege and violence are the stock and trade for most of their productions. Wholesome, family friendly shows are now the minority. Rather than produce entertainment that lifts up viewers to higher, purer, nobler planes, they specialize in fare that drags observers down to the sewers of immorality.

The music industry competes with the movies and TV industry to see who can produce the most raunchy, debased and degrading fare. In days past most music was not only as entertaining, but lovely, exciting, inspiring and uplifting. Today, much of the music that fills the airways is loud and jarring, sensual and vile. In days pasts there would be a hundred decent pieces published to one that was ugly or suggestive. Now lyrics are commonly vulgar, especially if they are targeted at the young.

Successive generations of young people are being led further and further into the stagnate waters of degeneration. Rather than being encouraged to reach for and learn to appreciate that which is high and nobler, they are encouraged by the cultural leaders to embrace the degenerate culture of antisocial, anarchist drug-heads. They are persuaded to dress like the street thugs of the ghettos. They style their hair and imitate the makeup and dress of bewildered souls who are just outside the gate of the mental hospital. They tattoo and pierce their bodies like primitives from the steamy jungles. Young ladies are encouraged to adorn and dress themselves in a way that robs them of their natural beauty or leaves them looking like a hooker on the street corner. Morally and socially, young people are being led to "dumb down" and be like the most undesirable and disgusting of their peers.

Politicians justify their corrupt and immoral behavior by pointing out that it is no worse than that of European politicians who are years ahead in their moral slide.

Cultural heroes are "dumbed down." Modern folks prefer the super athlete, the screaming rock singer, the lawless rapper, the movie star, the homeless street person, or the aids infective homosexual to the patriot, the benefactor of mankind, or the person who lays his life on the line for others.

"Dumbing down" is not without consequences. When a "dumbed down" generation grows to maturity and assumes the leadership of our homes and nation, our industry and institutions, then we will pay a fearful price for this terrible waste. That which took generations to build can be brought down in a few short years. Christians are reminded to think on things which are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8-9). Don't let the world "dumb you down" to their disgusting level.

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