Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

ASB – THE FINAL INSTALMENT

This will be the fifth and final article on anti-social behaviour and today I want to explore wider cultural influences and particularly the role of the media. Once again thanks for all the replies and the ideas – keep them coming. I intend to keep going on this at Westminster until we find better solutions.

We live at a time when the framework of values that shaped our nation (imperfectly) has all but disappeared. That framework was essentially a Christian heritage (love God and love your neighbour) that flowed out of centuries of religious belief. Although, it had basic flaws – the inflexible and unfair class structure and the subservient role of women to name but two - most people knew what it was and it defined us. It was underpinned by the church and other institutions, shaped our laws and social behaviour.
Since the Second World War that edifice has crumbled and now eroded.

We may now ask what framework of values defines our country today and what institutions help to shape how we live? I would argue that the media, especially TV, has replaced these old foundations and now determines how most people live, especially younger people. It is the place from which many people now draw down their values.

And what values are these? Whilst there is an awful lot of good quality broadcasting aimed at the very young, I am afraid that for the most part the staple diet served up to the coming generation has a continuous underlying theme: do whatever you want. This is the “because I’m worth it/anything goes” generation. The higher virtues of respect and duty, community and service are rarely discussed.

I agree that for each one of us achieving our potential is the right goal. But this has to be balanced by a proper understanding that we are just part of a bigger picture, that we have obligations too.
We need to agree on a new framework of values that can shape the future of our society.

My suggestion? Simply this: treat others as you wish to be treated yourself. Most of us know how we like to be treated. Thus we can carry around with us an ever-ready guide to our inter-action with others.
But unless we can harness the power of the media in shaping the mindset of the coming generation it is hard to see how such a framework could now be put in place.

posted by Nigel on Monday, July 04, 2005