The Lost Art of Loyalty in Today's America-
A very large epidemic is running rampant throughout much of the western world as we speak. Its greatest strength is the fact that few, if any are aware of its growing abundance. It isn't Mad Cow Disease, or even HIV--it is something much more simple. It is called greed. Like with most things that aren't good for us it comes in a variety of forms.
It is a common misconception that the rates of divorce have been rising drastically over the course of the last several years. In reality, the rise in divorce peaked between the years 1978-1981. Since then the rates have leveled off. However, it is believed that this is due to the large number of baby-boomers who have been married for many years and in many cases are now grandparents. Still, experts project that in the next ten to twenty years the divorce rate could skyrocket to unprecedented levels of near 50% due largely to the staggering number of divorces among those in their mid-thirties and younger. This raises the question as to what is causing this drastic change in today's culture?
I think it is caused by a number of issues, but overwhelmingly greed and a devaluing of loyalty in society appear to be playing a large role in this growing problem. All we simply have to do is look around us for proof of this claim. The tabloids are filled with stories of hollywood couples gone bust after just a few years and sometimes just a few months of marriage. It is no secret that the divorce rate among celebrities is off the charts-astounding. Thus, a growingly cynical society has become accustomed and even numb to the idea that the easiest way to resolve a problem within the marriage is to terminate it. In a era of high speed internet and fast food today's average person does not have the time or patience to sit down and work through a problem, instead they are merely looking for the quick fix that best suits their own needs.
Where does loyalty come in? The latetest statistics report that the level of infidelity in the U.S. is higher then it has ever been. Among married men, 44% have reported cheating on their spouses, while 27% of married women have reported the same. Both rates are higher then ever before. The number one factor reported by couples (both men and women) leading to divorce was said to be due to a lack of communication.
The slow defacing of loyalty is not applied soley to that of marriage, it can be seen in the business world, as well. We see sports teams releasing long-time players, who in many cases provided that organization with years of financial success and prestigue, only to be shown the door when cap space runs out or a raise is due. We see star players who were given their chance by an organization to become the stars that they are leave for greener pastures at the first sight of cash and incentives, and leaving behind a fanbase that supported that player by purchasing tickets and merchandise -all without a second thought in a lot of cases. Free agency in sports, without question creates buzz and excitement, however, it is also representative of the bigger state of our culture's growing mentality toward the disregard of the word "loyalty."
There is no question that we live in an era that is rapidly on the go. But our future generation is also in danger of losing touch with one of our great values that helped make this country great. I think its very important that we value what we have and to cease searching for that quick fix to interpersonal issues as though we were replacing our toaster. Marriage, friendships, partnerships cannot exist forever if we continue to go a long this narrow path that will lead to the extinction of the "L" word. With it comes time and effort, but with that time we take, eventually will come reward and long-term satisfaction. Something more than a quick fix.
-JSM
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