I see a systematic effort over many decades to wipe out the current religious and moral foundation that has liberated our nations society for hundreds of years. In my humble opinion, this requirement shows us that there are real morals and values worth holding onto taught by the major religions -- even if most of their stories are completely made-up.

       Liberally pushing a “do-as-you-please culture” by way of movies, television and other vice-like means, the globalist supporting controllers of business who run the mainstream media are creating a cultural climate of moral relativism.[1] In such a climate there are no boundaries and the public can be led to accept any standard -- no matter how degrading. Outside of family, religious and private organization, influences for moral and ethical guidance are hard to come by. This moral relativism is not being addressed in the mass way that promotes their merchandising offers. It’s really not  being addressed.

       However, on a positive note, it is being addressed regionally in communities, through more private means. For the time being, it seems that the church and private organizations are the only leading entities reaching out to help the individuals. It appears the public suffering from this not-so-new phenomena of arbitrary behaviors in a causation directly related to the media in general. Is it not unreasonable to believe that there is a link because of the consumerism and idolization that the media breeds.

     It has been mentioned, “the philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.”[2] In the Bible, Colossians 2:8 tells us that a worldly philosophy brings captivity: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”[3]

     As an educational example, a worldly humanistic philosophy in the present educational system of many nations has produced bondage within peoples’ lives. 30 – 40 million American adults today who are functionally illiterate.[4] This is bondage when you can’t read a warning sign at work, or the label of a medicine bottle. This great illiteracy is the fruit of globalist methods forced onto global society, further enabling moral relativism.

     Societal dehumanization and desensitization through media outlets has been absolutely detrimental to the individual human being in terms of global impact. Sadly, it seems even in globalized society there is no end to the constant madness. Societies around the globe have attempted to reign in on these types of harmful effects through government controls and censorship. Underhanded tactics used by the media area aimed at tearing apart the family home knowingly, and unknowingly.

      This issue is solved through positive family and personal communication and interaction. The understanding of globalization helps in my ability to navigate life in all areas, because it serves as an additional “road map” to life. Focusing on history through a Christian lens in my work as an author and historical researcher, allows me to grasp the technicalities of this knowledge of systemization, and the “invisible bars” of slavery. Choices and options are lost when you streamline life.

     The roles we play will continue to grow and evolve as historians, because of the changing complexities and dynamics within current events, laws, and society. Viewpoints will be dependent completely on societies shifts and how it propels civilization forward into the future.  Further acting as a guardian, in that the actual truths’ in history always prevail over lies and deception. It takes the moral and ethical aptitude to change the world on a level, that historically, only a true Christian has been able to do since the founding of our great nation.

--  D. L. Smith


​Sources:
[1]Cross, Gary. "Coping With Abundance." In An All-Consuming Century: Why Commercialism Won in Modern America, p. 131. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000.
[2] Samuel Blumenfeld, Is Public Education Necessary? – Trojan Horse in American Education (Boise, 1985). pp. 19-20.
[3] The Holy Bible, NKJV.
[4] Beliles, Dr. Mark A., and Stephen K. McDowell. "The Principle Approach." America's Providential History, 3rd ed., p. 96. Charlottesville: The Providence Foundation, 2010.

Consumption behaviors started emerging by the 1930’s; where the need for instant self-gratification and a certain emphasized want for individual attentions. American consumerism foundationally expressed the new cultural ideas of America. These, certainly liberal ideas, of a self-interest approach in lifestyle choice resulted in enabling an emphasis on these same counter-principles, in our now seemingly service based culture of liberty and democracy. With little consequences from these self-destructive and humiliating behaviors; the result of this consumerist lifestyle is an American society filled with narcissistic, self-centered, attention hungry people. They aptly look to make ends meet in whatever ways possible, while continually dreaming for that million dollars to land in their laps.

The issue of societal division in reference to the consumption behaviors of Americans is pretty blatantly obvious to any American alive prior to the year 2000. Instant gratification has caused the need for instant attention… and public “likes.” It seems that a majority of Americans these days living life  by way of social media and television could definitely have the potential to be far more personable, thoughtful, skillful, creative, and generally well-rounded than they are nowadays.[1] I fear America has lost her majority wealth in human capital to consumption behaviors completely detrimental to society.

The Typical American Consumer
The typical American consumer is most impacted by the issues of social division. More importantly, targeted audiences I feel are more susceptible to the further divisions that consumerism tends to fuel in people. American families nationwide are vulnerable to the social separation that consumer behaviors have result from. Further, negative moral and ethical marketing targeting men, women, and children alike have exacerbated the issue. Consumer behaviors as a result, have stoked individual forms of division through internal rebellion; such as not living to moral and ethical personal standards set down by America’s founders. Often times it seems more and more often that individuals leave behind their family morals and values when out in the public scene. I mean, who hasn’t heard about a Wal-Mart fight on Black Friday?

It is important for the typical American to understand that consumer behaviors are not normal. In fact, even Forbes is promoting the soul-killing marketing strategy of instant-gratification to other corporations world-wide.[2] Is this not an attack on the family at home? It is important to understand that these associated consumerist behaviors creates no tolerance for delay in public (even private) venues.[3] Richard Sweeney, a University Librarian, wrote a report on consumerist behaviors in Millennials and the social impatience further proving social division (and frustration):

“Millennials, by their own admission, have no tolerance for delays. They expect their services instantly when they are ready. They require almost constant feedback to know how they are progressing.  Their worst nightmare is when they are delayed, required to wait in line, or have to deal with some other unproductive process. Their desire for speed and efficiency cannot be overestimated. The need for speedy satisfaction, or as some believe instant gratification, permeates virtually all of their service expectations.”[4]

Globalization: How It Relates
Globalization takes precedence in the effects of consumer behaviors on the American public. Instant gratification is the result of globalizations far reaching effects on personal convenience. Receiving material and/or information at extremely fast speeds only exacerbates the personal issues for any American family; with an immediate effect on social impatience and a seemingly endless need for the self-gratification that instant information provides.

To understand globalization is to understand how marketing is enabling individuals as well as constraining people intellectually, motivationally, and ethically. People tend to cut corners a lot more, to make their ends justify their means. This is an affecting consumer behavior, and as a result contributes to negative social divide. Globalization systemizes the world, and cuts back on the need for intellectual human capital. The end result would be the dumbing down (for lack of better words) of American society.

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have discovered that the controlled information from syndicated network television stations, have led to an arbitrary intelligence decrease in individuals that spend two to three hours a day soaked in media.[5] In terms of social media, it has desensitized individuals to what would be considered a “typical” social life. Impatience, self-gratification, and a desire for more pleasure – is by far the most typical of resulting consumer behaviors.

Humbly,

-- D. L. Smith



Sources:

[1] Ritzer, George. "The Irrationality of Rationality." In The McDonaldization of Society, pp. 16. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2018.
[2] Wertz, Jia. "Why Instant Gratification Is The One Marketing Tactic Companies Should Focus On Right Now." Forbes. Last modified May 1, 2018. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jiawertz/2018/04/30/why-instant-gratification-is-the-one-marketing-tactic-companies-should-focus-on-right-now/.
[3] Sweeney, Richard. "Millennial Behaviors & Demographics." University Librarian, New Jersey Institute of Technology, December 2006, 10.
[4] Ibid.
[5] "Watching Lots of TV 'makes You Stupid?" The Independent. Last modified December 3, 2015. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/watching-lots-of-tv-makes-you-stupid-says-american-universities-a6759026.html.