Here is an editorial published in The Sentinel on October 26, 2007. You don't have to read far to realize that the editor may not mean what he wrote. The factors cited in the first paragraph would not cause "nervous uncertainty" among those who feel we are headed in the wrong direction. They would cause just the opposite--cool certainty.

Crumbling From Within

The great Roman Empire crumbled from within. Is the United States headed in the same direction? The actions and words of many of our political leaders, insane legislation that has actually ben passed by Federal, State and local legislators, the decline in our national work ethic and the apathetic attitude of much of our adult population would certainly cause a feeling of nervous uncertainty among those who feel we are headed in a direction of national decline.

Disturbing most of all is the attitude of many of our adolescents. Last night on cable televisions [sic.] Bill O'Reilly program a number of school-aged youngsters, mostly junior high and early high school age, were interviewed. Questioned about what it was like to be an American, a teen simply shrugged her shoulders...there was no answer. Another was asked if he felt he owed anything to his country. He said, "No, what has the country done for me?" Another was asked if he would prefer to live in another country. The answer was, "Yes, I'd like to live in Europe." And, so it continued. What have we done, or not done, to have failed to instill in our public school students that they live in the greatest nation in the world with guaranteed freedoms not enjoyed by the vast majority of people on this Earth? How have we failed to instill in our youth an apreciation of the tremendous sacrifices of millions of American service men and woman [sic.] in our military to guarantee those freedoms?

First it is obvious that our public school eduation system has failed, and continues to do so. They are so concerned about test scores and their school district rating that they forget to teach their students the things that are really important. Many in our own federal government are poor role models for our citizens, young and old. Many parents today are so consumed in attaining goals to purchase material possessions that they spend little time with their children and less than required time being their children's first and most important teachers.

If we are going to get our great nation back on track, if we are going to raise a new generation of citizens who will appreciate, respect and contribute to the advancement of our nation we better take a good look at how we are teaching them both in the schools and as parents, mentors and role models.