GN Commentary: March 10, 2009 - Happy Meal Morality

No civilization in history has ever survived the collapse of sexual morality and the resulting destruction of the family. Once a nation starts down that path, the result has always been the same. Which is more important to you—a moral happy meal or a moral, happy family?

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Video Transcript

One of the quirks of human nature is our ability to focus our attention on relatively unimportant trivia while refusing to seriously consider what really matters.  The phenomenon can take many forms, and Mary Eberstadt, a fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, has offered insight into one of today's most popular forms of misguided morality.  "Policy Review" magazine recently published her essay titled, "Is Food the New Sex?"  Ms. Eberstadt documents a fascinating yet disturbing switch in our attitudes about food and sexuality. 

In the not too distant past, sex was considered a serious moral issue, while what people ate was basically a personal choice.  Today, many people view the food they eat as a moral matter while believing sex is nothing more than a personal choice.  Eberstadt says this has produced "mindful eating and mindless sex."

As columnist George Will observed, "Today 'the all-you-can-eat buffet' is stigmatized and the 'sexual smorgasbord' is not." This misplaced morality tells us we should be more concerned with having free-range chicken than with having a free-range bed partner.

Eberstadt goes on to write, "…two generations of social science replete with studies, surveys and regression analyses galore" have produced clear findings: "The sexual revolution—meaning the widespread extension of sex outside of marriage and frequently outside commitment of any kind—has had negative effects on many people, chiefly the most vulnerable…"

The statistics are overwhelming, but statistics can't capture the impact of this moral tragedy.  40% of newborns in this country enter life with only one parent.  60% of children born in the last ten years will spend at least a portion of their childhood in a single-parent home.  One of every four teenage girls in this country already has a sexually-transmitted disease.  How much heartache does it take before we're willing to address the big issues?

Is it true that morality should impact the food choices we make?  Morality should impact every area of our lives.  But does it make sense to focus our attention on painting the kitchen when the bedroom is on fire?

No civilization in history has ever survived the collapse of sexual morality and the resulting destruction of the family.  Once a nation starts down that path, the result has always been the same.  Which is more important to you—a moral happy meal or a moral, happy family?

For GN Magazine, I'm David Johnson.