Threat - 4
Moral, Ethical and Spiritual Ruination
Technological revolution that we witnessed in the last century has gone so far for our human moral to catch up with.
~Hun Sen
Arnold J. Toynbee in the mid-twentieth century, explored civilization processes and traced the rise and, in most cases, the decline of 21 civilizations. Civilizations generally declined and fell, according to Toynbee, because of moral or religious decline, rather than economic or environmental causes. Many other scholars also see sobering parallels between the decadence of ancient civilizations in their decline and the decadence of World culture today.
One of the significant developments of the last 50 years has been the dramatic shift away from ethical-religious values that provide the foundation of any civilization. Older generations wonder why this is happening and where it will lead. Younger people seem oblivious to the concern. While some analysts realize why this is occurring, most have no idea where these changes will lead to.
Media which controls the popular mind set has become increasingly callous and hostile to ethical-religious values. Public schools today demand value-neutrality. Religious leaders are increasingly prone to ambiguity and compromise in vital areas of doctrine and morals and are disregarding universal principles of goodness. State has outlawed God in public places while claiming that ‘In God We Trust’.
The result has been a surge in divorce, cohabitation, sexual promiscuity, perversion, teen pregnancy, abortions, child abuse, drug abuse, rape, cheating, shoplifting, embezzling, bankruptcy, incivility, and violent crime—the very things God prophesied would happen to nations that forsake His laws.
The intellectual elite of the world - academics, writers, filmmakers, television producers, liberal politicians and theologians are promoting "do-your-own-thing morality". Over several decades they have waged an all-out assault on common sense and the common traditional values and we thus appear to be witnessing the gradual abdication of tradition and culture. Even religious authorities who are supposed to protect and strengthen the moral fabric of society, have taken a hike by downplaying sin and the importance of marriage while condoning promiscuity, easy divorce and homosexuality. All this being done at a time when people need strong moral and spiritual guidance more than ever before.
One of the significant developments of the last 50 years has been the dramatic shift away from ethical-religious values that provide the foundation of any civilization. Older generations wonder why this is happening and where it will lead. Younger people seem oblivious to the concern. While some analysts realize why this is occurring, most have no idea where these changes will lead to.
Media which controls the popular mind set has become increasingly callous and hostile to ethical-religious values. Public schools today demand value-neutrality. Religious leaders are increasingly prone to ambiguity and compromise in vital areas of doctrine and morals and are disregarding universal principles of goodness. State has outlawed God in public places while claiming that ‘In God We Trust’.
The result has been a surge in divorce, cohabitation, sexual promiscuity, perversion, teen pregnancy, abortions, child abuse, drug abuse, rape, cheating, shoplifting, embezzling, bankruptcy, incivility, and violent crime—the very things God prophesied would happen to nations that forsake His laws.
The intellectual elite of the world - academics, writers, filmmakers, television producers, liberal politicians and theologians are promoting "do-your-own-thing morality". Over several decades they have waged an all-out assault on common sense and the common traditional values and we thus appear to be witnessing the gradual abdication of tradition and culture. Even religious authorities who are supposed to protect and strengthen the moral fabric of society, have taken a hike by downplaying sin and the importance of marriage while condoning promiscuity, easy divorce and homosexuality. All this being done at a time when people need strong moral and spiritual guidance more than ever before.
Popular culture has been infected by nonsense - nonsense about truth and reality, nonsense about self, nonsense about thought and feeling. These false views have had a devastating effect on peoples lives leading to the breakdown of the family, self-indulgence, and undermining the pursuit of excellence.
~Vincent Ruggerio
The Immorality Explosion Moral Standards Falling Fast And Inexorably To Barbarity
Our moral standards are in steep decline. What's worse is that as older generations pass away, fewer and fewer of present generation are even aware of the decline. Younger class probably think that today’s standards have always been so.
Now a days for vast majority of the people, the qualities of honesty, sincerity, having high moral standards are no longer valued, rather for them these are meaningless qualities which have no relevance in the present day world. People are increasingly mired in selfishness , corruption, knavery and other wrong doings. Today one can do anything to meet his or her narrow ends. The pace at which people are giving up their values, future of human society remains a debatable topic.
Now a days for vast majority of the people, the qualities of honesty, sincerity, having high moral standards are no longer valued, rather for them these are meaningless qualities which have no relevance in the present day world. People are increasingly mired in selfishness , corruption, knavery and other wrong doings. Today one can do anything to meet his or her narrow ends. The pace at which people are giving up their values, future of human society remains a debatable topic.
In ancient Egypt, Carthage, Greece and Rome, the collapse of society began each time with a period of obvious moral decay. Every one of the symptoms of decline are present in this nation today… to ignore such lessons is to court disaster
-Black
Proud To Be Immoral And Adulterous
North America has television shows like ‘Jerry Springer’, ‘Jenny Jones’, ‘Ricki Lake’ and ‘Montel Williams’. These programs feature guests telling detailed stories of deviant behaviour, such as mothers sleeping with their daughter's boyfriend, kids who curse and threaten their parents, parents who teach their kids how to shoplift and incest stories at times. It seems as though acceptance or rejection of their deviant behavior is measured by the applause of a degraded audience. Deviancy and immorality are not new in human history. What's new is the willingness of people to put bizarre lifestyles on display to millions of strangers. Even worse is the relative absence of social sanction. Years ago, people would have been personally ashamed if others knew about their corrupt lifestyles. They'd try to hide it rather than go on national television or radio to broadcast it. Now various other countries are copying these American programs.
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So similarly, when people will be so much degraded that they will not be able to understand anything about God... That time is coming gradually. Already the time is there. People are not at all interested in God’s business. In your Western world all the churches are vacant. Nobody is interested now in church. Especially in Europe, we have seen... In your country also. So people are being degraded, godlessness. Because godless means animal. What is the difference between animal and man? The animal cannot be instructed anything about God. It is not possible for them to understand. But a man, however degraded he may be, if he is trained up, he can understand about God. |
Decency, Chastity Gone Down Under
Sexual overtones permeate every aspect of modern society. Media is filled up and based upon sex. It has become the guiding principle in people’s lives. Products and services are marketed on the basis of sex appeal.
Then there are television advertisements featuring female personal-hygiene products, with pictures and descriptions that leave little room for the imagination.
Discretion is a thing of the past.
Years ago, for example, sanitary napkins were discretely sold and wrapped in plain brown paper. Condoms were sold with similar discretion. Decency is a thing of past.
Most of human behavior cannot and should not be regulated by law. Informal codes of conduct and moral standards provide the glue that holds society together. When these codes and standards, sometimes called traditional values, are ignored, trivialized or forgotten, we take another step toward barbarism and incivility.
Then there are television advertisements featuring female personal-hygiene products, with pictures and descriptions that leave little room for the imagination.
Discretion is a thing of the past.
Years ago, for example, sanitary napkins were discretely sold and wrapped in plain brown paper. Condoms were sold with similar discretion. Decency is a thing of past.
Most of human behavior cannot and should not be regulated by law. Informal codes of conduct and moral standards provide the glue that holds society together. When these codes and standards, sometimes called traditional values, are ignored, trivialized or forgotten, we take another step toward barbarism and incivility.
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Hari-sauri: The whole civilization is completely crazy. |
The Dot Net Generation - A Generation of Undisciplined Barbarians?
Modern entertainment is so saturated with sex, violence and anarchy that normal relationships, respect for law and order and the value of human life are disappearing—especially in the young. Many young people today have no sense of discipline, no goals, no direction and they are kind of lost in their ownselves.
All over world, there is reemergence of a "pagan mentality" that believes "there is no fixed truth, no final good, no ultimate meaning or purpose, and that the concept of God is a primitive illusion.
Great nations like United States, Germany, France, Great Britain, Canada and Australia are finally entering a ‘post-Christian’ age.
All over world, there is reemergence of a "pagan mentality" that believes "there is no fixed truth, no final good, no ultimate meaning or purpose, and that the concept of God is a primitive illusion.
Great nations like United States, Germany, France, Great Britain, Canada and Australia are finally entering a ‘post-Christian’ age.
Teen Pregnancy & Abortion
Teen pregnancy is a major issue to many people all across the globe. Many efforts are being made to educate youth about sexual activities and birth controlling methods but there is hardly any education on abstinence or self control.
This is also an important cause for the spread of AIDS. Early and rapid exposure to sex, early marriages and rise in sexual abuse are some of the reasons for the rise in teen pregnancy, which usually occurs between the age group of 16-19.
Most of the teen mothers drop out of school are physically weak and are not economically self-sufficient. The children of teen mothers are more likely to have developmental delays, may get involved in anti-social activities and if the child is illegitimate it may be ill-treated by the society.
Nearly 1 million teens in US alone and nearly 6 million worldwide become pregnant each year; 78% of these pregnancies are unintended.
In US, every year 3 million teens - about 1 in 4 sexually experienced teens - acquire a sexually transmitted infection. Approximately half of all new HIV infections in the US occur among young people under age 25.
And as far as abortion is concerned, in year 2008 alone, nearly 42 million babies were killed in the womb all over the world. Put simply, per day, 115,000 babies were killed in 2008. This translates into 80 babies every minute.
This is also an important cause for the spread of AIDS. Early and rapid exposure to sex, early marriages and rise in sexual abuse are some of the reasons for the rise in teen pregnancy, which usually occurs between the age group of 16-19.
Most of the teen mothers drop out of school are physically weak and are not economically self-sufficient. The children of teen mothers are more likely to have developmental delays, may get involved in anti-social activities and if the child is illegitimate it may be ill-treated by the society.
Nearly 1 million teens in US alone and nearly 6 million worldwide become pregnant each year; 78% of these pregnancies are unintended.
In US, every year 3 million teens - about 1 in 4 sexually experienced teens - acquire a sexually transmitted infection. Approximately half of all new HIV infections in the US occur among young people under age 25.
And as far as abortion is concerned, in year 2008 alone, nearly 42 million babies were killed in the womb all over the world. Put simply, per day, 115,000 babies were killed in 2008. This translates into 80 babies every minute.
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The gross heathenism of civilization has generally destroyed nature, and poetry, and all that is spiritual. |
Evil Is Good, Good Is Evil The Deviant Is Normal And The Normal Is Deviant
Public today is condoning or at least is nonjudgmental about behavior long considered disgraceful and immoral.
What about personal character? Take the example of a former US President who had his lawyers seeking an out-of-court settlement on charges of indecent exposure, not to mention presiding over a scandal-a-day administration. Yet he received high approval ratings from the general population.
Clinton's moral lapses say little about the man himself. He's just one among thousands of men who have cheated on their wives or have been charged with indecent exposure. The fact that he became president, was re-elected and retains a high approval rating does say something about the new standards people have for what's acceptable conduct. This is probably the first time in history that a open womanizer could have been elected and re-elected president, and, in the face of one scandal after another, get high public-approval ratings.
Then there is French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is living with a former model Carla Bruni. When he was touring Asia, some of the hosting leaders were in a fix and they feared public backlash as cohabiting is considered prostitution in their cultures. Sensing trouble, the President dumped his partner from the tour.
What about personal character? Take the example of a former US President who had his lawyers seeking an out-of-court settlement on charges of indecent exposure, not to mention presiding over a scandal-a-day administration. Yet he received high approval ratings from the general population.
Clinton's moral lapses say little about the man himself. He's just one among thousands of men who have cheated on their wives or have been charged with indecent exposure. The fact that he became president, was re-elected and retains a high approval rating does say something about the new standards people have for what's acceptable conduct. This is probably the first time in history that a open womanizer could have been elected and re-elected president, and, in the face of one scandal after another, get high public-approval ratings.
Then there is French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is living with a former model Carla Bruni. When he was touring Asia, some of the hosting leaders were in a fix and they feared public backlash as cohabiting is considered prostitution in their cultures. Sensing trouble, the President dumped his partner from the tour.
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“If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen.” |
A nude photograph of Carla, France's first lady, has been auctioned for $91,000. To top it all, in what is being called in diplomatic circles as an unprecedented and dangerous move, she, France’s first lady, has stripped for a pay-per-view special and given the proceeds to Somalian kidnappers in order to secure the freedom of their hostages aboard a French-owned cruise ship just off the coast of Africa.
Bedlam erupted in the security council chamber of the United Nations as furious diplomats took the government of France to task when the 'Breasts for Hostages' campaign was finally uncovered. It seems that leaders of countries within the southern hemisphere were seen as having no qualms about using their wives in such a manner.
Bedlam erupted in the security council chamber of the United Nations as furious diplomats took the government of France to task when the 'Breasts for Hostages' campaign was finally uncovered. It seems that leaders of countries within the southern hemisphere were seen as having no qualms about using their wives in such a manner.
Child Abuse
Child abuse is the physical, psychological or sexual maltreatment of children. Most child abuse happens in a child's home, with a smaller amount occurring in the organizations, schools or communities they interact with. There are four major categories of child abuse: neglect, physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.
Many children today are unwanted and uninvited arrivals, resulting from uncontrolled passions. Naturally they become subjected to abuse in various forms. According to a UNICEF report on child well-being, the United States and the United Kingdom ranked highest among first world nations with respect to the maltreatment of their children. This study also found that child neglect and child abuse are far more common in single-parent families than in families where both parents are present.
Many children today are unwanted and uninvited arrivals, resulting from uncontrolled passions. Naturally they become subjected to abuse in various forms. According to a UNICEF report on child well-being, the United States and the United Kingdom ranked highest among first world nations with respect to the maltreatment of their children. This study also found that child neglect and child abuse are far more common in single-parent families than in families where both parents are present.
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It is related that someone asked the late President Kruger whether there was gold in the moon. He replied that it was highly unlikely because, if there were, the English would have annexed it. Money is their God. |
Children with a history of neglect or physical abuse are at risk of developing psychiatric and physical health problems. Also they have higher criminal tendencies. Approximately 15% to 25% of women and 5% to 15% of men were sexually abused when they were children. The WHO estimates that 150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 have experienced forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual violence involving physical contact, though this is certainly an underestimate.
Most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims; approximately 30% are relatives of the child, most often fathers, uncles or cousins; around 60% are other acquaintances such as friends of the family, babysitters, or neighbors; strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse cases (Family Research Laboratory, US). In India, a report by Ministry of Women and Child Development says that in a Government conducted survey, 53.22% children in 13 states reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse.
Political instability and other internal disturbances, including conditions of insurgency in many countries are also creating major problems, with increasing number of child soldiers, refugee children, trafficked children and children on the streets.
According to the report published in 2005 on ‘Trafficking in Women and Children in India’, India is a major source and destination country for trafficked children from within India and adjoining countries and it has by conservative estimates, three to five lakh girl children in commercial sex and organized prostitution. (Sen, S & Nair P. M., 2005)
Child sexual abuse became a public issue in the 1970s and 1980s. Prior to this point in time sexual abuse remained rather secretive and socially unspeakable. Studies on child molestation were nonexistent until the 1920s and the first national estimate of the number of child sexual abuse cases was published in 1948 in US. By 1968, 44 out of 50 U.S. states had enacted mandatory laws that required physicians to report cases of suspicious child abuse. Legal action began to become more prevalent in the 1970s with the enactment of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act in 1974 in conjunction with the creation of the National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect. Since the creation of the Child Abuse and Treatment Act, reported child abuse cases have “increased” dramatically.
Most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims; approximately 30% are relatives of the child, most often fathers, uncles or cousins; around 60% are other acquaintances such as friends of the family, babysitters, or neighbors; strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse cases (Family Research Laboratory, US). In India, a report by Ministry of Women and Child Development says that in a Government conducted survey, 53.22% children in 13 states reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse.
Political instability and other internal disturbances, including conditions of insurgency in many countries are also creating major problems, with increasing number of child soldiers, refugee children, trafficked children and children on the streets.
According to the report published in 2005 on ‘Trafficking in Women and Children in India’, India is a major source and destination country for trafficked children from within India and adjoining countries and it has by conservative estimates, three to five lakh girl children in commercial sex and organized prostitution. (Sen, S & Nair P. M., 2005)
Child sexual abuse became a public issue in the 1970s and 1980s. Prior to this point in time sexual abuse remained rather secretive and socially unspeakable. Studies on child molestation were nonexistent until the 1920s and the first national estimate of the number of child sexual abuse cases was published in 1948 in US. By 1968, 44 out of 50 U.S. states had enacted mandatory laws that required physicians to report cases of suspicious child abuse. Legal action began to become more prevalent in the 1970s with the enactment of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act in 1974 in conjunction with the creation of the National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect. Since the creation of the Child Abuse and Treatment Act, reported child abuse cases have “increased” dramatically.
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We have created an industrial order geared to automatism, where feeble-mindedness, native or acquired, is necessary for docile productivity in the factory; and where a pervasive neurosis is the final gift of the meaningless life that issues forth at the other end. |
Nudity Explosion
In the opinion of Darwin, humans have come from monkeys and for Darwin’s followers it is only appropriate to display monkeyism of nudity.
In today's world, an outfit is rarely considered beautiful if the wearer does not bare a little flesh. Necklines are plunging deeper and wider and because so much is bared, a normal cleavage no longer arrests attention. To get attention, some women go the extra mile leaving nothing to imagination.
In today's world, an outfit is rarely considered beautiful if the wearer does not bare a little flesh. Necklines are plunging deeper and wider and because so much is bared, a normal cleavage no longer arrests attention. To get attention, some women go the extra mile leaving nothing to imagination.
Srila Prabhupada: Human life is meant for cultivating God consciousness. But in the modern so-called advanced civilization, instead of cultivating God consciousness people are cultivating nudity. Isn't it so? So nature will punish them: "All right, you want to be nude? Then become a tree and remain standing naked for five thousand years." Trees sometimes live up to five thousand years. I've seen them in a park near San Francisco. Devotee: But they argue that if God wanted us to wear clothes. He would have made us with clothes.
Devotee: We could argue with the nudists that by their logic, if God had wanted us to have food He would have made us with food, too. Just as you have to work for your food, you also have to work for your clothes.
(Conversation)
So much has been bared that these days, men get impatient with little or no exposure at all. For you to be noticed, you have to bare a lot. Why are a lot of older women involved in this practice they see as fashion? A woman blamed the development on the problems created by younger women. “What do you want the housewife to do when her husband is busy looking at younger women who wear skimpy clothes and display their firm bodies?
"How many women like what they see when they stand in front of the mirror?" A lot of women after having children, feel uncomfortable with their bodies. So, when they are able to get their bodies 'lifted', mainly through plastic surgery, they want to flaunt what they've got. The competition is very raw and stiff.
So much for clothing and its complications. Now public nudity is becoming more common with nude sporting and other activities being held. These include naked hiking, nude canoeing, naked skating, the World Naked Bike Ride, Solstice Cyclists, and modern art movements and nude news on TV. No general public outcry has accompanied these events.
In many countries and in some US states, public nudity is legal and protected as free speech, as long as there is no "intent to arouse". In many other countries, police can only ‘invite’ a nude person to dress up but can not force. All over the world, many nudist resorts have come up. Nudity at many beaches is legal and common. If you work in a restaurant in New York City, the chances are you've seen a lot more shocking things than a room full of naked diners. Yoga classes across America are encouraging participants to expose their ‘inner selves’. There you have to obey two rules - leave your clothes behind, and bring your own mat. Its easier than ever before to get lost in an ‘attire-optional’ crowd. As the saying goes, ‘if you've got it flaunt it.’
Nudity in media, advertising and films is on the rise. Portrayal of body is becoming more explicit. They cannot make any TV program or film that does not incorporate some ‘demented instinct driven human primates rutting every episode, four times an hour.’
"How many women like what they see when they stand in front of the mirror?" A lot of women after having children, feel uncomfortable with their bodies. So, when they are able to get their bodies 'lifted', mainly through plastic surgery, they want to flaunt what they've got. The competition is very raw and stiff.
So much for clothing and its complications. Now public nudity is becoming more common with nude sporting and other activities being held. These include naked hiking, nude canoeing, naked skating, the World Naked Bike Ride, Solstice Cyclists, and modern art movements and nude news on TV. No general public outcry has accompanied these events.
In many countries and in some US states, public nudity is legal and protected as free speech, as long as there is no "intent to arouse". In many other countries, police can only ‘invite’ a nude person to dress up but can not force. All over the world, many nudist resorts have come up. Nudity at many beaches is legal and common. If you work in a restaurant in New York City, the chances are you've seen a lot more shocking things than a room full of naked diners. Yoga classes across America are encouraging participants to expose their ‘inner selves’. There you have to obey two rules - leave your clothes behind, and bring your own mat. Its easier than ever before to get lost in an ‘attire-optional’ crowd. As the saying goes, ‘if you've got it flaunt it.’
Nudity in media, advertising and films is on the rise. Portrayal of body is becoming more explicit. They cannot make any TV program or film that does not incorporate some ‘demented instinct driven human primates rutting every episode, four times an hour.’
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As the twenty-first century dawns, American culture is in a mess… the system has lost its moorings, and, like ancient Rome is drifting into a dysfunctional situation. |
Promiscuity & Perversion
To say that we are living in times heavily saturated with sex and the myriad ways by which it is being expressed and experienced is an understatement. It is virtually impossible to go through a day without being exposed to images and language which bluntly remind us that God's sacred gift of sexuality has been disgraced, distorted, abused, misused, and perverted!
"Sexting," sending nude or partially nude photos via cell phone, is becoming more and more common among high school students. Twenty-two percent of 13 to 19-year-old girls and 18 percent of 13 to 19-year-old boys have taken or electronically sent nude pictures of themselves, according to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy's survey in US.
"Sexting," sending nude or partially nude photos via cell phone, is becoming more and more common among high school students. Twenty-two percent of 13 to 19-year-old girls and 18 percent of 13 to 19-year-old boys have taken or electronically sent nude pictures of themselves, according to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy's survey in US.
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Due to their extraordinary materialistic way of life, the so-called "civilised" human society has degraded to the position of the animals. They are now dancing naked on the public stage and so-called "respectable" persons are going to enjoy such performances. The animals wander here and there naked, the monkeys walk naked; even the aborigines in the jungles, they also cover their private parts by some skin or tree or leaf. I do not know how the so-called "civilised" men are gliding to the stage of animal life, and still they are proud of their advancement of education and civilisation. So the disease of human society is becoming more and more acute, and Lord Caitanya desired that the Indians should preach this cult for the benefit of human society. Unfortunately, the present generation of Indians is more attracted to technological knowledge than this cult of Krishna consciousness. Their position is very precarious. |
Sexting usually begins with a young girl taking a picture of herself and sending it to her boyfriend. When they break up, the boy will send the picture to all his friends. To prevent teen sexting, many high schools are planning to teach texting safety.
Then there is mass mooning, an act of displaying one's bare buttocks by removing clothing, usually bending over. Mooning is being used to express protest, scorn, disrespect or provocation but also being done for shock value or fun. In 2006, a Maryland USA court of appeal determined that mooning is a form of ‘artistic expression’ protected by the United States constitutional right of freedom of speech!
The Annual Mooning of Amtrak is a long-running annual tradition in California, U.S.A, where many people spend all day mooning at Amtrak trains; some even ride the trains on that day just so they can witness the event. This mooning has spawned a chain of "train moonings" throughout the entire country. In July 2008, 8,000 people participated in the ‘festivities’.
In June 2000, a mass mooning event was organised outside of Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom by the Movement Against the Monarchy (MAM). The idea was for anti-monarchists to show their dislike of the British monarchy by performing a mass mooning at their home.
Then there is mass mooning, an act of displaying one's bare buttocks by removing clothing, usually bending over. Mooning is being used to express protest, scorn, disrespect or provocation but also being done for shock value or fun. In 2006, a Maryland USA court of appeal determined that mooning is a form of ‘artistic expression’ protected by the United States constitutional right of freedom of speech!
The Annual Mooning of Amtrak is a long-running annual tradition in California, U.S.A, where many people spend all day mooning at Amtrak trains; some even ride the trains on that day just so they can witness the event. This mooning has spawned a chain of "train moonings" throughout the entire country. In July 2008, 8,000 people participated in the ‘festivities’.
In June 2000, a mass mooning event was organised outside of Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom by the Movement Against the Monarchy (MAM). The idea was for anti-monarchists to show their dislike of the British monarchy by performing a mass mooning at their home.
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"In those days, it was easy to tell a prostitute from a decent lady through her dressing. When young girls strayed from decency, their parents, particularly their mothers immediately whipped them back on line. Today, the story is so different. You can barely differentiate decent and indecent ladies via their dressing. Housewives are dressing no different from prostitutes. What is happening? There is a shift in values and prostitution is relocating to homes and family life." |
Rising Crime
The definition of what constitutes a crime depends on the social and political factors in a particular society, and the nature of crime can change over time. For example thirty five years ago, abortion was a crime in almost all countries of the world including US but today it is perfectly legal to kill babies in the womb. Same goes with homosexuality etc.
Since 1960, per capita crime rates have more than tripled, while violent crime rates have nearly quintupled. By any measure, we live in a world much less safe than that in which our parents grew up. US Department of Justice estimated that 83 percent of all Americans are victims of violent crime at least once in their lives. About a quarter would be victims of three or more violent crimes.
Increasing crime rate means more murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, and auto thefts. At about 50 per 100,000, Washington DC has the highest murder rate in the developed world, more than a hundred times that of the capital of the European Union, Brussels. The highest murder rate for a large city in Europe is in Moscow, 15 per 100,000 per year.
Violence is also increasing among teenagers and other youths. Crime is not a function of poverty but the overall moral fabric of the society. The total number of prisoners in the United States increased from 319,000 in 1980 to 1.3 million in 1999. Another 523,000 people were also in jail. This translates into 1 in every 150 Americans being in prison or jail. The present ratio of the population in prison is more than four times what it was in the mid 1970s, five times the rate of imprisonment in Britain, eight times the rate in France and 14 times the rate in Japan. This is disturbing for a society perceived as law abiding and which inscribes its currency with "In God We Trust." Crime and a godly society are not compatible.
Since 1960, per capita crime rates have more than tripled, while violent crime rates have nearly quintupled. By any measure, we live in a world much less safe than that in which our parents grew up. US Department of Justice estimated that 83 percent of all Americans are victims of violent crime at least once in their lives. About a quarter would be victims of three or more violent crimes.
Increasing crime rate means more murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, and auto thefts. At about 50 per 100,000, Washington DC has the highest murder rate in the developed world, more than a hundred times that of the capital of the European Union, Brussels. The highest murder rate for a large city in Europe is in Moscow, 15 per 100,000 per year.
Violence is also increasing among teenagers and other youths. Crime is not a function of poverty but the overall moral fabric of the society. The total number of prisoners in the United States increased from 319,000 in 1980 to 1.3 million in 1999. Another 523,000 people were also in jail. This translates into 1 in every 150 Americans being in prison or jail. The present ratio of the population in prison is more than four times what it was in the mid 1970s, five times the rate of imprisonment in Britain, eight times the rate in France and 14 times the rate in Japan. This is disturbing for a society perceived as law abiding and which inscribes its currency with "In God We Trust." Crime and a godly society are not compatible.
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“There is something even more valuable to civilization than wisdom, and that is character” |
Since 1980, the United States has engaged in the largest jails buildup of any country in the history of the world. So much money and man-hours are required for just the fingerprinting, photography and paperwork involved. Stuffed into police files are about 50 million criminal records—enough to represent nearly one-fifth of the entire U.S. population. One would think the extraordinary expansion of the criminal justice system would have made at least a small dent in the crime rate! But no. Almost two thirds of those released are convicted again for committing new crimes. It has been estimated that one quarter of all inmates are victims of sexual assault each year during incarceration. The overall rate of confirmed AIDS cases for prisoners in 1995 was more than six times the rate for the general population.
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Formerly the kings were so... The king himself used to judge. A criminal was brought before the king, and if the king thought it wise, he would take his own sword, immediately cut his head. That was the duty of king. Even not many, about hundred years ago in Kashmir, the king, as soon as a thief was caught, he would be brought before the king, and if he is proved that he was a thief, he has stolen, immediately the king will cut off his hands personally, chopped off. Even hundred years ago. So all other thieves warned, "This is your punishment." This one example will stop millions of thieves not to commit stealing. So there was no thieving. There was no stealing, no burglary in Kashmir. Even somebody lost something on the road, it will lie there. Nobody will touch it. The order was, king's order was, "If something is lying on the street uncared for, you cannot touch it. The man who has left it, he would come; he will collect. You cannot take." Even hundred years ago. So this capital punishment is required. Nowadays the capital punishment is excused. Murderers are not hanged. This is all mistake, all rascaldom. A murderer must be killed. No mercy. Why a human killer? Even an animal killer should be immediately hanged? That is kingdom. The king should be so strict. |
Porno Plague
As technology progressed with development of photography, wire and tape recording, motion pictures, video cameras and camcorders, so did the industry that sought to exploit human sexuality make great strides forward as well. Businesses sprang up throughout the countries whose sole purpose was the marketing of a variety of literary and visual materials focusing on every conceivable kind of sexual indulgence!
It was the icing on the cake — a double scoop of gravy on the potatoes — the long awaited bonus — it was the conquering of the Mt. Everest of human sexuality with the advent of the internet.
It is not without exaggeration to say that with the rapid expansion of home computer purchases with the fringe benefit of home privacy and the establishment of the internet, “all hell broke loose!”
As with a fast growing deadly cancer, so the immoral exploitation of human sexuality quickly became a multi billion dollar business enterprise whose tentacles reached out to persons of all ages through an incalculable number of websites.
It was the icing on the cake — a double scoop of gravy on the potatoes — the long awaited bonus — it was the conquering of the Mt. Everest of human sexuality with the advent of the internet.
It is not without exaggeration to say that with the rapid expansion of home computer purchases with the fringe benefit of home privacy and the establishment of the internet, “all hell broke loose!”
As with a fast growing deadly cancer, so the immoral exploitation of human sexuality quickly became a multi billion dollar business enterprise whose tentacles reached out to persons of all ages through an incalculable number of websites.
Commercialization Of Human Sexuality
Sex sells. If you want to be successful in your business of selling goods and services, then use scantily dressed (or undressed) young women in your ads. Whether you are selling toothpaste, soap powder, motor oil, pizza, or advertising your air-conditioning and plumbing business, you need to inject sexuality into your marketing strategy.
“At the present time we have reached the bottom of the abyss — we have gone about as low as it is possible to go — we can’t dig the pit any deeper — there is no way we can further express as a culture our total rejection of our Creator’s guidelines for sane, sensible, and healthy living.”
Widespread Incest
Incest refers to any physical relationship between closely related persons, often within the immediate family. Some societies consider it to include only those who live in the same household, or who belong to the same clan or lineage; other societies consider it to include blood relatives; other societies further include those related by adoption or marriage.
Incestuous societies simply cannot exist and the effective prohibition of incest is linked with the functioning of every society. One important distinction between human culture and animal culture is abolition of incest. Levi-Strauss says, "the prohibition of incest can be found at the dawn of culture... It is culture itself."
How prevalent and common incest is, can be judged from the authoritative figures mentioned below:
* In US, incidents of mother-son and father-daughter incests are reported to as high as 20%. Brother-sister incests are rated anywhere between 30% to 35%.
* In India, a government survey of 12,500 children and parents in 13 of 29 states found that over 53% of children between the ages of 5 and 18 have been sexually abused. Most surveyed said they knew the abuser. (Ministry of Women and Child Welfare, United Press International, April 2007)
* In Barbados, a national survey of women and men aged 20 to 45 found that 33 per cent of women and 2 per cent of men reported having been sexually abused during childhood. (UNFPA)
Incestuous societies simply cannot exist and the effective prohibition of incest is linked with the functioning of every society. One important distinction between human culture and animal culture is abolition of incest. Levi-Strauss says, "the prohibition of incest can be found at the dawn of culture... It is culture itself."
How prevalent and common incest is, can be judged from the authoritative figures mentioned below:
* In US, incidents of mother-son and father-daughter incests are reported to as high as 20%. Brother-sister incests are rated anywhere between 30% to 35%.
* In India, a government survey of 12,500 children and parents in 13 of 29 states found that over 53% of children between the ages of 5 and 18 have been sexually abused. Most surveyed said they knew the abuser. (Ministry of Women and Child Welfare, United Press International, April 2007)
* In Barbados, a national survey of women and men aged 20 to 45 found that 33 per cent of women and 2 per cent of men reported having been sexually abused during childhood. (UNFPA)
"After my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days"
~Moses (Deuteronomy 31:29)
* A review of victim reports in 3 states in the US in 1992 revealed that 46% of rape victims under age 12 had a family relationship with the perpetrator, and 20% were raped by their fathers. (Bureau of Justice Statistics)
* One of every seven victims of sexual assault reported to law enforcement agencies were under age 6. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, US)
* In a 1992 report from Canada, 17% of girls under the age of 16 had experienced incest. ( J. Holmes and E. Silverman, 1992, We're Here, Listen to Us: A Survey of Young Women in Canada)
* A random survey of 2,627 women and men conducted by the Los Angeles Times found that 27% of the women and 16% of the men had been incestuously abused as children (By Silence Betrayed, John Crewsdon, Little Brown, 1988).
* In Australia, based on a range of behaviours where children are used for someone's sexual gratification, the prevalence rate is 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men. (Fergussen and Mullen, 1999)
*According to a 1989 study, one out of every eight women in New Zealand has had an experience of incest (Otago Women‘s Health Study, 1989)
* According to New Zealand's Rape Crisis Auckland 2003 statistics, 43% of cases of childhood sexual abuse were perpetrated by a family member.
* In Malaysia, there are approximately 300 cases of incest reported each year. Unreported cases are hundreds of times more. (Women's Center for Change, Panang).
* In Serbia's Belgrade Incest Trauma Center statistics for 2005, the average duration of incest and sexual abuse of a minor was 5 years, 8 months. In 28% of the cases, the minor was abused by two or more offenders.
* Even though there are no reliable statistics for most European countries, a recent flurry of books, articles and telephone "hotlines" has begun to reveal widespread sexual molestation. A recent BBC "ChildWatch" program asked its female listeners - a large sample - if they remembered sexual molestation, and, of the 2,530 replies analyzed, 83 percent remembered someone touching them, 62 percent of the full sample recalling complete incest. Official estimates of German children sexually abused and raped each year now number over 300,000, and sexual abuse hot lines are becoming more widespread.
* Over 70% of sexual assaults are not reported to police. Only 6% of rapists will ever spend a day in jail.
* One of every seven victims of sexual assault reported to law enforcement agencies were under age 6. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, US)
* In a 1992 report from Canada, 17% of girls under the age of 16 had experienced incest. ( J. Holmes and E. Silverman, 1992, We're Here, Listen to Us: A Survey of Young Women in Canada)
* A random survey of 2,627 women and men conducted by the Los Angeles Times found that 27% of the women and 16% of the men had been incestuously abused as children (By Silence Betrayed, John Crewsdon, Little Brown, 1988).
* In Australia, based on a range of behaviours where children are used for someone's sexual gratification, the prevalence rate is 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men. (Fergussen and Mullen, 1999)
*According to a 1989 study, one out of every eight women in New Zealand has had an experience of incest (Otago Women‘s Health Study, 1989)
* According to New Zealand's Rape Crisis Auckland 2003 statistics, 43% of cases of childhood sexual abuse were perpetrated by a family member.
* In Malaysia, there are approximately 300 cases of incest reported each year. Unreported cases are hundreds of times more. (Women's Center for Change, Panang).
* In Serbia's Belgrade Incest Trauma Center statistics for 2005, the average duration of incest and sexual abuse of a minor was 5 years, 8 months. In 28% of the cases, the minor was abused by two or more offenders.
* Even though there are no reliable statistics for most European countries, a recent flurry of books, articles and telephone "hotlines" has begun to reveal widespread sexual molestation. A recent BBC "ChildWatch" program asked its female listeners - a large sample - if they remembered sexual molestation, and, of the 2,530 replies analyzed, 83 percent remembered someone touching them, 62 percent of the full sample recalling complete incest. Official estimates of German children sexually abused and raped each year now number over 300,000, and sexual abuse hot lines are becoming more widespread.
* Over 70% of sexual assaults are not reported to police. Only 6% of rapists will ever spend a day in jail.
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There is a story that one man was drinking. So, drinking in India is a great sin. So his friend advised that “You are drinking. You’ll go to hell.” So he said, “Oh, my father also drinks.” So he said, “Your father also will go to hell.” “Oh, my brother also drinks.” “Oh, he also will go to hell.” In this way, he continued to say, “My father, my brother, my sister, my this, my that…” So… And he was replying, “Yes, he will also go to hell.” Then the drunkard replied,”Oh, hell is heaven. Because we’re all drinking here and we will drink there. So what is that hell? That is heaven. |
Focus On Self And Self-imagery
For lot many people today, the world is shrinking to within themselves. Care and concern for others, even own family members and friends seems to be evaporating. More for me is the mantra or the guiding principle in life and let the world go to hell. The younger generation is confined to cell-phones and internet and they are living in a phantasmagoria, with very little touch of ground realities of life. It appears that a whole generation is simply floating in air and they suffer nervous breakdown when they come crashing on the ground. Other than technology, things like fine arts, poetry, culture, spirituality, community life, contemplation, introspection etc. seem to have lost relevance. Materialism is commanding more attention than ever before and preoccupation with latest trends and fashions is sapping the vital energy.
Clinical psychologist Oliver James claims in his new book ‘The Selfish Capitalist: Origins of Affluenza’, that "selfish capitalism" is making us sick, literally. Owning too much stuff drives us into a spiral of sadness. He says the emergence of selfish capitalism has led to a "startling increase in the incidence of mental illness".
Clinical psychologist Oliver James claims in his new book ‘The Selfish Capitalist: Origins of Affluenza’, that "selfish capitalism" is making us sick, literally. Owning too much stuff drives us into a spiral of sadness. He says the emergence of selfish capitalism has led to a "startling increase in the incidence of mental illness".
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“Civilization has gotten further and further from the so-called ‘natural’ man, who uses all his faculties: perception, invention, improvisation.” |
Alcohol & Drug Abuse
Experimentation with alcohol and drugs during adolescence is becoming common. Doctors are seeing rising numbers of patients in their late teens and early 20s with severe alcohol-related disease, many of them women. Teenagers are using a variety of drugs, both legal and illegal. Legally available drugs include alcohol, prescribed medications, inhalants (fumes from glues, aerosols, and solvents) and over-the-counter cough, cold, sleep, and diet medications. The most commonly used illegal drugs are marijuana (pot), stimulants (cocaine, crack, and speed), LSD, PCP, opiates, heroin, and designer drugs (Ecstasy). The use of illegal drugs is increasing. The average age of first marijuana use is 14, and alcohol use can start before age 12. The use of marijuana and alcohol in high school has become common.
Now this civilization has spread in the Western countries -- they want to remain naked. There are so many nudie clubs. So next life they'll be given chance to become tree, to stand naked for thousands of years. This is laws of nature. They do not know how they're getting chance, different types of body for different types of enjoyments, material enjoyment
-Srila Prabhupada
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.31 -- Vrndavana, November 10, 1972)
Whereas before most hospital consultants and rehabilitation centers would have seen patients in their fifties or sixties in the past, they now describe seeing patients in their early twenties with alcohol-related hepatitis, and women whose livers are permanently damaged with the disease known as cirrhosis by the time they are 30.
In the United States and Canada, approximately 40% of adults will use an illegal drug at some time during their lives. This does not include the use of alcohol or prescription medicines. There is a strong connection between the use of drugs and alcohol and high-risk sexual behaviors. This increases a person's chance of getting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Alcohol abuse causes over 100,000 deaths in the United States and Canada each year, mostly in automobile accidents.
In developing countries, more and more people are resorting to alcohol these days. Thanks to the destruction of traditional values, easy spending power and wide availability of brands to choose from...a modernized Third world is saying cheers.
In India, around 15 to 20 per cent of Indians consume alcohol and over the past twenty years, the number of drinkers has increased considerably. According to a survey done by The Hindustan Times, an estimated 5 per cent of Indians can be classified as alcoholics which projects that at least fifty million people in India are addicted to alcohol.
Prior to British colonization, cannabis, marijuana and light country liquor were the major intoxicants in the third World but their consumption was extremely low. Use of alcohol was limited to the upper echelon of society. British rulers propagated alcohol and opened liquor shops.
In India, it became fashionable among Indians to use and offer alcohol at their western style parties. The use of alcohol started among educated and middle class. Gandhi was opposed to alcohol consumption and on his insistence, the constitution of India incorporated a directive principle of State policy stating that the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption of intoxicating drinks. In 1977, India imposed total prohibition that lasted two years. But despite all this, alcohol has become the in thing, a sign of social sophistication and a symbol of prestige. Just a century ago it was condemned and regarded as something alien to local culture.
In the United States and Canada, approximately 40% of adults will use an illegal drug at some time during their lives. This does not include the use of alcohol or prescription medicines. There is a strong connection between the use of drugs and alcohol and high-risk sexual behaviors. This increases a person's chance of getting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Alcohol abuse causes over 100,000 deaths in the United States and Canada each year, mostly in automobile accidents.
In developing countries, more and more people are resorting to alcohol these days. Thanks to the destruction of traditional values, easy spending power and wide availability of brands to choose from...a modernized Third world is saying cheers.
In India, around 15 to 20 per cent of Indians consume alcohol and over the past twenty years, the number of drinkers has increased considerably. According to a survey done by The Hindustan Times, an estimated 5 per cent of Indians can be classified as alcoholics which projects that at least fifty million people in India are addicted to alcohol.
Prior to British colonization, cannabis, marijuana and light country liquor were the major intoxicants in the third World but their consumption was extremely low. Use of alcohol was limited to the upper echelon of society. British rulers propagated alcohol and opened liquor shops.
In India, it became fashionable among Indians to use and offer alcohol at their western style parties. The use of alcohol started among educated and middle class. Gandhi was opposed to alcohol consumption and on his insistence, the constitution of India incorporated a directive principle of State policy stating that the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption of intoxicating drinks. In 1977, India imposed total prohibition that lasted two years. But despite all this, alcohol has become the in thing, a sign of social sophistication and a symbol of prestige. Just a century ago it was condemned and regarded as something alien to local culture.
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A great civilization… is on the edge of extinction and… we have very little time to save it. |
Due to its large population, India has been identified as the potentially third largest market for alcoholic beverages in the world which has attracted the attention of multinational liquor companies. Sale of alcohol has been growing steadily at 6% and is estimated to grow at the rate of 8% per year.
In developing countries, barely three decades ago, less than 1% of the cases in psychiatric wards were admitted for alcohol-related problems; now the number exceeds 30% in most of the major psychiatric centres.
Dealing with drunkenness and with alcohol-related accidents, crime, violence, and disturbances consumes more resources than any other aspect of police operations, while the health consequences of alcohol abuse add enormously to national health care costs. Illegal drugs are more rapidly addicting than alcohol and have a more powerful effect on human behavior, but the alcohol consumption is many times greater than the level of illegal drug use. Normalisation of heavy drinking is putting a whole generation at risk from a silent killer.
In developing countries, barely three decades ago, less than 1% of the cases in psychiatric wards were admitted for alcohol-related problems; now the number exceeds 30% in most of the major psychiatric centres.
Dealing with drunkenness and with alcohol-related accidents, crime, violence, and disturbances consumes more resources than any other aspect of police operations, while the health consequences of alcohol abuse add enormously to national health care costs. Illegal drugs are more rapidly addicting than alcohol and have a more powerful effect on human behavior, but the alcohol consumption is many times greater than the level of illegal drug use. Normalisation of heavy drinking is putting a whole generation at risk from a silent killer.
“Industrial man --a sentient reciprocating engine having a fluctuating output, coupled to an iron wheel revolving with uniform velocity. And then we wonder why this should be the golden age of revolution and mental derangement.”
Divorce And Break Down of Family
The institution of marriage is turning into a joke. The “live-in lovers” avenue is heavily traveled — in fact, the traffic volume is steadily increasing as young males and females decide to set up housekeeping together without getting married. When older parents voice their objections to this ever increasing practice of “living together” by the younger generation, usually the “old fashioned” folks who are “out of touch” in today’s world are told that it’s none of their business, old fogeys should not try to interfere. Peaceful married life is a thing of past.
Divorce rate continues to escalate with 2 of every 3 marriages ending in divorce in developed countries and 1 out of 4 in developing countries. This is the result of infidelity — with the chat room mess on the internet and websites featuring married women and men who desire to have a sexual encounter — just a “one night stand” with some one, why should there be any surprise that the divorce rate continues to accelerate.
Divorce rate continues to escalate with 2 of every 3 marriages ending in divorce in developed countries and 1 out of 4 in developing countries. This is the result of infidelity — with the chat room mess on the internet and websites featuring married women and men who desire to have a sexual encounter — just a “one night stand” with some one, why should there be any surprise that the divorce rate continues to accelerate.
Purposeless Life
Making things, buying things and selling things is not the goal of life. This is not the purpose of life. Human life is not meant for ‘shopping culture’ but for cultivation of ‘spiritual culture’. Material things don't bring peace and happiness. Today billions of people have got things which even Kings did not have in the past. Car, computer, television, fridge, telephone - no King ever had these things but people are still restless and unhappy, more than ever before.
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"Beware of the dog. Beware of the revolver." This is your culture. And when you go to the airport everyone is searched out, pocket. So who is gentleman? Is that gentleman? There is no gentleman in the world. All rogues and thieves, cheaters, bluffers. Here is the proof. |
In Greed We Trust Corruption & Loss of Integrity
The history of corruption goes back to the history of civilization. Although corruption existed in all societies and at all times, the problem seems to be more prominent in the context of modern civilization.
Moreover, gradually corruption is becoming more and more institutionalised involving policy-making authorities. Colonial and neo-colonial backgrounds of a large number of present day developing countries had also contributed in flourishing corrupt practices.
Black’s Law Dictionary, one of the premier legal resources, defines corruption as “The act of an official or fiduciary person who unlawfully or wrongfully uses his station or character to procure some benefit for himself or for another person, contrary to duty and the rights of others.” Gradually, over the periods, the concept has expanded to include all areas of life such as private business, religion, culture and so on.
With passage of time the concept has widened significantly. In modern world, corruption is evident in every sphere of life. Political corruption (involving governments or the policy-making bodies of a country) seems to be the major concern of developing countries whereas Corporate corruption is increasingly becoming a problem in industrialised rich nations. A long list of activities that include taking bribes, neglect of duties, profiteering activities, lavish living, gambling and visiting prostitutes, smuggling and so on can be included in the definition of corruption.
The political corruption has become so widespread that certain practices are no longer considered as illegal or unethical. Political donation at election times with expectations of favour in future is one of the most common practices in all democratic systems in the world.
Moreover, gradually corruption is becoming more and more institutionalised involving policy-making authorities. Colonial and neo-colonial backgrounds of a large number of present day developing countries had also contributed in flourishing corrupt practices.
Black’s Law Dictionary, one of the premier legal resources, defines corruption as “The act of an official or fiduciary person who unlawfully or wrongfully uses his station or character to procure some benefit for himself or for another person, contrary to duty and the rights of others.” Gradually, over the periods, the concept has expanded to include all areas of life such as private business, religion, culture and so on.
With passage of time the concept has widened significantly. In modern world, corruption is evident in every sphere of life. Political corruption (involving governments or the policy-making bodies of a country) seems to be the major concern of developing countries whereas Corporate corruption is increasingly becoming a problem in industrialised rich nations. A long list of activities that include taking bribes, neglect of duties, profiteering activities, lavish living, gambling and visiting prostitutes, smuggling and so on can be included in the definition of corruption.
The political corruption has become so widespread that certain practices are no longer considered as illegal or unethical. Political donation at election times with expectations of favour in future is one of the most common practices in all democratic systems in the world.
In light of the coarseness and vulgarity of our time, there are just too many signs of decivilization; that is, civilization gone rotten
~Black
There are two structures of corruption exists in practice in governments – top-down and bottom-up (Waller et al, 2002). Under the top-down structure, decisions are made at the highest level of the hierarchy and lower-level officials get whatever is given to them. Bottom-up structure is decentralised. Lower-level officials collect bribes and the highest ranking official is just one of the recipients.
The structure of corruption has changed from top-down level (in former USSR) to bottom-up level in present Russia, and the problem has become much more acute.
Developing countries like India, China, Indonesia, Cambodia and various Afrcan nations have very high levels of decentralized corruption.
In some nations, the corruption is as basic as greasing the palms of a telephone company clerk to expedite installation of a phone line or get away from violation of traffic laws. In other cases, corruption means millions in payoffs, often to secret foreign-bank accounts, where development funds are siphoned that should have been used to expedite roads, schools, bridges or basic health and sanitary facilities. Also if you get caught accepting bribe by anti-corruption Bureau, you can get away by paying bribe.
The structure of corruption has changed from top-down level (in former USSR) to bottom-up level in present Russia, and the problem has become much more acute.
Developing countries like India, China, Indonesia, Cambodia and various Afrcan nations have very high levels of decentralized corruption.
In some nations, the corruption is as basic as greasing the palms of a telephone company clerk to expedite installation of a phone line or get away from violation of traffic laws. In other cases, corruption means millions in payoffs, often to secret foreign-bank accounts, where development funds are siphoned that should have been used to expedite roads, schools, bridges or basic health and sanitary facilities. Also if you get caught accepting bribe by anti-corruption Bureau, you can get away by paying bribe.
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“In the modern techno-industrial culture, it is possible to proceed from infancy into senility without ever knowing manhood” |
Corruption occurs in all countries, irrespective of whether they are rich or poor, socialist or capitalist, dictatorship or democracies etc. Only the form of corruption and its extent might be different.
The corruption issue assumed a very serious dimension with technological development in early 1980s and with globalisation of production factors. From late 1980s it has become a very serious global issue.
India’s Holy text, Srimad Bhagavatam foresees this phenomenon five thousand years ago, “In Kali-yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man's good birth, proper behavior and fine qualities. And law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one's power. (SB 12.2.2)
The corruption issue assumed a very serious dimension with technological development in early 1980s and with globalisation of production factors. From late 1980s it has become a very serious global issue.
India’s Holy text, Srimad Bhagavatam foresees this phenomenon five thousand years ago, “In Kali-yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man's good birth, proper behavior and fine qualities. And law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one's power. (SB 12.2.2)
Degenerate Art and Music
Art and music are the windows of a society. We get a peek into a society by its art and music. Over the decades, art and music has turned crude and foul. Fineness is gradually vanishing.
One painting in an European museum was hanging upside down without any one noticing any thing wrong until the painter visited and had it put up straight. No one could make out head or tail of the painting. Music is also turning gross and louder. Fine and tasteful literature is becoming a thing of past.
Sex has become an obsession in media and music. A new study shows a "significant" increase in sexual content on TV over the last 2 years. The number of episodes with sexual content increased from 56% in the 1997-1998 season to 68% of all episodes in the 1999-2000 season.
One painting in an European museum was hanging upside down without any one noticing any thing wrong until the painter visited and had it put up straight. No one could make out head or tail of the painting. Music is also turning gross and louder. Fine and tasteful literature is becoming a thing of past.
Sex has become an obsession in media and music. A new study shows a "significant" increase in sexual content on TV over the last 2 years. The number of episodes with sexual content increased from 56% in the 1997-1998 season to 68% of all episodes in the 1999-2000 season.
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Jayapataka: That was published in the Bombay Illustrated Weekly, that the prostitutes are having difficulty because women are so freely available that no one is coming to pay for them. |
Loss of Religious And Traditional Values
Godlessness is bad and also bad is fanaticism without philosophical understanding. Godlessness in the last days, the description is sounding not too unfamiliar.
Mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. They will be loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Opposing the truth, they will be men of depraved minds. That’s a prediction about current times made long ago. Sounds familiar?
Srimad Bhagavatam predicted five thousand years ago, “Then, O King, religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life, physical strength and memory will all diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the age of Kali.(SB 12.2.1)
Atheism was almost nonexistent, something like one out of every 7,000 people on the planet, in 1900. But situation is vastly different today.
A new survey in the U.S. shows that the number of 18-25 year olds who are atheist, agnostic or nonreligious has increased from 11 percent in 1986 to 20 percent today. Also The proportion of Americans reporting “no religious preference” doubled from 7 percent to 14 percent between 1991 and 2000. This doubling of no religion preference is significant because for the 17-year period from 1974 to 1991, there was no significant change in religious preference, but “no religion” responses have accelerated since 1991. One good thing is that some of the religious dissenters are distancing themselves from the church and not from God. They may consider themselves ‘spiritual’ yet not ‘religious.’ They pray but do not attend service. They detach themselves from organized religion, not God.
Mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. They will be loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Opposing the truth, they will be men of depraved minds. That’s a prediction about current times made long ago. Sounds familiar?
Srimad Bhagavatam predicted five thousand years ago, “Then, O King, religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life, physical strength and memory will all diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the age of Kali.(SB 12.2.1)
Atheism was almost nonexistent, something like one out of every 7,000 people on the planet, in 1900. But situation is vastly different today.
A new survey in the U.S. shows that the number of 18-25 year olds who are atheist, agnostic or nonreligious has increased from 11 percent in 1986 to 20 percent today. Also The proportion of Americans reporting “no religious preference” doubled from 7 percent to 14 percent between 1991 and 2000. This doubling of no religion preference is significant because for the 17-year period from 1974 to 1991, there was no significant change in religious preference, but “no religion” responses have accelerated since 1991. One good thing is that some of the religious dissenters are distancing themselves from the church and not from God. They may consider themselves ‘spiritual’ yet not ‘religious.’ They pray but do not attend service. They detach themselves from organized religion, not God.
The industrial revolution has tended to produce everywhere great urban masses that seem to be increasingly careless of ethical standards.
~Irving Babbitt
In general, people are becoming too lazy to get into religion and more concerned with self imagery. No one wants to be known as the “Jesus freak”. It's not like they are actually sitting down and thinking about it to make the choice to be atheist. The whole societal and cultural mould is designed on Godless ethos. Atheism and non-belief in general are proportionate to industrial and economic prosperity. The developing countries are tasting economic prosperity and rise in hedonism as well.
In a survey of eleven industrial democracies with population over twenty million, it was found that the non-religious were making more converts between 1990 and 2000 and the atheists had net gains through conversion. Atheism is headed toward a long term recovery. With the fall of communism, coerced atheism has fallen rapidly. But voluntary atheism and other forms of voluntary non-belief are clearly on the rise.
In a survey of eleven industrial democracies with population over twenty million, it was found that the non-religious were making more converts between 1990 and 2000 and the atheists had net gains through conversion. Atheism is headed toward a long term recovery. With the fall of communism, coerced atheism has fallen rapidly. But voluntary atheism and other forms of voluntary non-belief are clearly on the rise.
This gambling, drinking, meat-eating, these things were all unknown in India. They did not know how to drink. These Britishers introduced. There is still a lane, a street, Porterly Street. There was a woman of suspicious character. She was supplied big bottles of wine, and she used to canvass rich men’s son to take wine, and it was distributed free. In this way wine was distributed, and people began to drink, gradually. And I have seen a tea committee. They... Advertising tea, preparing tea nicely. “You take this tea, you’ll not feel hungry, you’ll be cured from malaria...,” and so many things. And people come and take tea in this way. Now any man is taking tea. In the morning they’ll gather in the tea stall. You see. So people, they did not know what is gambling, what is drinking, what is meat-eating. So these things were introduced gradually.
-Srila Prabhupada (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.2 - London, September 17, 1969)
In many places in Europe, to visit a church you need to pay 5 Euros as less people are visiting there, so they need money to maintain churches. Many churches in Europe and America have been sold or rented to other denominations or being used as warehouses. Looking back at the history two centuries ago, we find that people were remembering God. There was a place of worship in almost every small town and city of the world.
Spiritual life prevents people from going mentally down. As we are shifting from spirituality to atheism, we can see social disintegration. An example would be divorce rate of 85% in California alone. Every third person in US is consulting a psychiatrist at some point in his or her life.
Rise in bigotry and dogmatism is another bad news. People are more concerned with getting stamped as christians or hindus rather than understand and seriously follow their respective tenets. There is less need to try to make others think like you think. Christians are going out of their way to convert the whole world to their belief. Better they find peace within themselves and their own beliefs, live by example, and they’ll have a much better chance of convincing others that their chosen path is the correct one. There was an old 60's quote, came out of Berkeley and the free speech movement "A man without Jesus is like a fish without a bicycle.
Political scientist Ronald Inglehart, in a 1998 survey gives us a ray of hope when he says, "Although church attendance is declining in nearly all advanced industrial societies, spiritual concerns more broadly defined are not. In fact, in most industrial societies, a growing share of the population is spending time thinking about the meaning and purpose of life."
Spirituality has the answers to the ills afflicting modern man. The desire for sex out side of marriage has caused man to rape little babies, the desire for money has caused man to overtake countries killing thousands, the desire for solace has caused man to take his own life. The society is changing. These are the critical stages it is passing through and naturally it does produce a creeking noise.
Spiritual life prevents people from going mentally down. As we are shifting from spirituality to atheism, we can see social disintegration. An example would be divorce rate of 85% in California alone. Every third person in US is consulting a psychiatrist at some point in his or her life.
Rise in bigotry and dogmatism is another bad news. People are more concerned with getting stamped as christians or hindus rather than understand and seriously follow their respective tenets. There is less need to try to make others think like you think. Christians are going out of their way to convert the whole world to their belief. Better they find peace within themselves and their own beliefs, live by example, and they’ll have a much better chance of convincing others that their chosen path is the correct one. There was an old 60's quote, came out of Berkeley and the free speech movement "A man without Jesus is like a fish without a bicycle.
Political scientist Ronald Inglehart, in a 1998 survey gives us a ray of hope when he says, "Although church attendance is declining in nearly all advanced industrial societies, spiritual concerns more broadly defined are not. In fact, in most industrial societies, a growing share of the population is spending time thinking about the meaning and purpose of life."
Spirituality has the answers to the ills afflicting modern man. The desire for sex out side of marriage has caused man to rape little babies, the desire for money has caused man to overtake countries killing thousands, the desire for solace has caused man to take his own life. The society is changing. These are the critical stages it is passing through and naturally it does produce a creeking noise.
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Our trajectory continues downward… we are on the road to cultural disaster. |
Overspending & Indebtedness
On the surface, we seem better off than earlier generations. We might live more comfortable and stuff-filled lives than our forefathers did, but Oliver James, a Clinical psychologist, believes the rise of materialism has come with a high price tag attached -widespread anxiety and depression.
In the past, having a TV was seen as an indicator of wealth and class. Now, according to a study carried out by marketing and information group CACI, the average UK home has 4.7 television sets. Also, seven out of 10 children have a TV in their rooms and half of them have a DVD player too.
Can it really be the case that as we've become more comfortable, we've also become mentally ill? Yes, unfortunately it is the case. Average person's ‘real’ wage has broadly remained the same since the 1970s, he or she is now constantly bombarded with messages to buy, buy, buy, and aspire to a posh and high flying life.
In the past, having a TV was seen as an indicator of wealth and class. Now, according to a study carried out by marketing and information group CACI, the average UK home has 4.7 television sets. Also, seven out of 10 children have a TV in their rooms and half of them have a DVD player too.
Can it really be the case that as we've become more comfortable, we've also become mentally ill? Yes, unfortunately it is the case. Average person's ‘real’ wage has broadly remained the same since the 1970s, he or she is now constantly bombarded with messages to buy, buy, buy, and aspire to a posh and high flying life.
The Western, the Britishers were for two hundred years and they preached. Their policy was to kill the Indian culture. Because that report of Lord McCauley, after studying Indian situation, the report was to the Parliament that “If you keep India as Indian, then you will not be able to rule over them,” so therefore there was regular policy to kill Indian civilization. And because they were on the governing power, they could do it. Therefore India lost its own culture and victimized by the Western culture. This is the position. Just they are learning how to eat meat, how to drink wine, how to dress them with coat and pant, how to go to the hotel, illicit sex.
-Srila Prabhupada (Morning Walk - Durban, October 13, 1975)
The media, advertising, reality TV shows and so on, they give people unrealistic aspirations that they simply cannot meet with their wages and living standards. As a result, people get sucked into competitiveness and workaholism....and indebtedness.
People end up tirelessly striving for material wealth and valuing it over family and friendships. This really heaps pressure on people, damaging their health.
Yet consumerism can be seriously addictive for some. Some experts believe 10% of Men and possibly 20% of British and American women, are manic, compulsive shoppers whose condition can lead to family break-ups, depression and in some instances suicide. Rest of the world is trying to walk in their footsteps. An American pharmaceutical firm is developing a pill to help wean shopaholics off their addiction.
In a book titled Stop Me Because I Can't Stop Myself, a compulsive shopper called "Gloria" describes how she shopped online for six to eight hours a day, ending up in $80,000 of debt. She lost her job and split from her husband and checked into a psychiatric institution after "shopping ruined my family".
It is time we valued what is truly important rather than focusing society around competitiveness and consumption.
People end up tirelessly striving for material wealth and valuing it over family and friendships. This really heaps pressure on people, damaging their health.
Yet consumerism can be seriously addictive for some. Some experts believe 10% of Men and possibly 20% of British and American women, are manic, compulsive shoppers whose condition can lead to family break-ups, depression and in some instances suicide. Rest of the world is trying to walk in their footsteps. An American pharmaceutical firm is developing a pill to help wean shopaholics off their addiction.
In a book titled Stop Me Because I Can't Stop Myself, a compulsive shopper called "Gloria" describes how she shopped online for six to eight hours a day, ending up in $80,000 of debt. She lost her job and split from her husband and checked into a psychiatric institution after "shopping ruined my family".
It is time we valued what is truly important rather than focusing society around competitiveness and consumption.
The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it.
~George Bernard Shaw
83 Percent British Believe UK's Moral Standards Are Falling - A Survey
According to BBC's The Big Questions programme, a vast number of people believe that Britain is experiencing a moral decline. The poll found that four out of five or 83 per cent Britons believe that moral standards in Britain are falling, while only 9 per cent disagreed that the country was in moral decline.
Religion still kept its place of significance, with 62 per cent agreeing that religion was an important moral guide for the nation, while only 29 per cent disagreed that faith was important in shaping a nation's morals.
Religion still kept its place of significance, with 62 per cent agreeing that religion was an important moral guide for the nation, while only 29 per cent disagreed that faith was important in shaping a nation's morals.
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Real civilization is not concerned simply with man's animal needs but with enabling man to understand his relationship with God, the supreme father. One may learn about his relationship with God by any process - through Christianity, through the Vedic literatures or through the Koran - but in any case it must be learned. |
