He was right. In an era when the incidence of sexually transmitted disease, teenage pregnancy, violence, greed, fraud, and countless other forms of self-indulgence are rapidly growing, it is disappointing in the extreme to watch them continuously and relentlessly extolled by the entertainment industry. The signals are diverse, but an increasing chorus calls for the redistribution of national wealth. Those with problems, like the poor, are regarded as blameless victims who must be cared for by government. They lack responsibility for their actions, so there is no question of guilt or accountability.
Less focus seems to be placed on living a virtuous life.
Church leaders are particularly important in defining these principles. I searched for America's greatness in her halls of Congress, and it was not there. I searched for America's greatness in her rich and fertile fields and teeming potential, and it was not there. It was not until I went into the heartlands of America and into her churches and met the American people that I discovered what it is that makes America great. The ultimate challenge is to recover our national principles, as we continue to participate in our major institutions.