In a recent issue of the Parade magazine, carried by the Arizona Daily Sun (Section: Personality Parade Q&A), the Q&A addressed this issue: “In Hollywood’s Golden Age, films had morals clauses written into contracts to ensure that stars maintained acceptable standards of behavior. A contract could be terminated if it was learned that a star violated the morals clause. Unfortunately, today’s Hollywood has no such standards, acceptable or otherwise.” What has happened?
Do you recall when movies were censored for inappropriate language and explicit sexual content? This was also a time when profanity and obscenity were considered vulgar (or lower class) behaviors. Has the right to free speech allowed society inappropriate license in areas of morality and standards of behavior? This is certainly not a new question. However, it really makes one wonder how much the lack of moral standards (as once exemplified by Hollywood’s morals clauses) has damaged society. Although many people still adhere to a personal code of conduct that comes from time-honored behavioral expectations, a large percent of society has become rule adverse. Witness the sports figures, successful business leaders, and national politicians who have recently fallen from grace because of poor moral choices.
We are curious . . . to what degree do you think that in today’s “nothing is sacred” mindset does the lack of moral codes of conduct contribute to the tainting of vulnerable young minds or the damaging of reputations and careers.
Are we left to be our own arbiters of moral correctness or should there by a standard to which everyone is called to adhere?
Should moral standards be enforceable and if yes, where should they be instituted?
What is your opinion? (Voice your opinion and offer your solution.)
