The future of America rests in the hands of parents. Literally. When you think about it, no other group yields as much influence on the behavior of future generations. Right now, American parents are shaping the moral fiber of our future leaders. No question about it–we have an awesome responsibility. But how often do you and I consider this task? All too often the hectic events of our daily lives engulf us, and we give little thought to our job of shaping the next generation of Americans.

The children of parents who shirk this duty are everywhere. They fill our prisons. They are the teachers and preachers who abuse our trust. They are bribe-accepting congressmen and shady CEOs who play Russian Roulette with our retirement savings.

Imagine if the offending parents had taken their responsibility to instill a sense of morality into their children more seriously. The obvious result would be fewer victims of abuse in our schools and churches, less government corruption, and infrequent financial scandals. But think beyond our borders for a moment. The world looks at America as a self-indulgent bully bent on dictating policy on foreign shores. It doesn’t matter that our vision of freedom and justice for all is a right and noble cause. The world doesn’t care. To them, we’re a sham. Why? Because of our example.

Everyday the world bears witness to our internal problems. It reads stories of abusive teachers and priests, of corrupt lawmakers, of shady businessmen. It reads these stories and shakes its head. America’s idea of freedom and justice for all sounded so good in theory. But the example we set reports a different reality. The world sees our vision as a pipe dream, one we have failed to achieve even in our own home. Why should the world want to be like us? Our domestic behavior has soiled our foreign reputation. And since our domestic behavior is really the daily decisions we make, and since the daily decisions we make reflect our upbringing, parents are ultimately responsible for America’s lack of credibility.

So what’s the answer? Do we take our kids to religious services and teach them to obey the Ten Commandments? That alone won’t make a difference. You know it won’t. Changing behavior takes something more. A lot more. Smart men and women have written oodles of books outlining their views on the right and wrong ways to raise children. Look them up sometime at your local library or bookstore.

I will leave you with my own thought on the subject. Never underestimate the power of your daily example. Children watch your every move, even when you aren’t watching theirs. They hear your lies. They see your sloth. They understand your compromise. And just as the world has figured out America, one day your children will realize your lessons are nothing but a sham. Then they’ll begin to act like you rather than listen to you.

Every move we make has to reflect our belief in what is right and what is wrong. We have to be a better example to our children than America is to the world. If we take our job seriously and succeed in leaving America with the legacy of a moral generation, then America will be better equipped to step forward and shine as a true beacon of freedom and justice for all.

Mike is an American pediatrician. Read more at http://www.pediascribe.com

COPYRIGHT 2006 Mike Patrick Jr, MD

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