Today 70 percent of prison and reform-school inmates come from fatherless homes, and that level is expected to rise dramatically. Demographically, too, America is undergoing profound change. Approximately 11 million immigrants arrived during the 1980s, the most ever, with people of Hispanic and Asian heritage leading the way. By the turn of the century, the percentage will be around 70. The controversies surrounding multiculturalism and diversity that have roiled the nation in recent years revolve, in part, around these demographic shifts, which challenge the traditional patterns of the country's make-up.
Cultural insecurity is another dimension of the larger condition of our age.
Schools and popular communications are principal carriers of culture, and we can all point to examples of excellence in both. Yet, with stunning frequency, we hear horror stories about our schools. It doesn't take an expert in media analysis to see that segments of the communications industry are hell-bent on seeking a level of audience engagement well below the lowest human common denominator. It's also next to impossible to avoid those messages. Other political figures, notably former Vice President Dan Quayle and Senator Bob Dole, have made similar statements to much public approval.