American Values
American Values | America Faces a Moral Crisis
In the following viewpoint, excerpted from a speech delivered to the Heritage Foundation, William J. Bennett argues that America is experiencing a serious crisis of morals, as evidenced by rising rates of violent crime, illegitimacy, divorce, and teen suicide, and declining standards of education. As deviant behavior has grown more prevalent, he contends, society loses its capacity for shock, disgust, and outrage. Bennett blames America’s moral decline on a widespread rejection of religion. He is the codirector of the organization Empower America, and the author of a number of books...
[The entire page is 3928 words long]
Navigate
- Introduction
-
Chapter 1: What Values Should America Uphold?
- Chapter 1 Preface
- Capitalism Promotes Positive Values
- Capitalism Does Not Promote Positive Values
- Religion Is Essential to a Moral Society
- Religion Is Not Essential to a Moral Society
- Society’s Well-Being Depends upon the Traditional Family
- Society’s Well-Being Does Not Depend upon the Traditional Family
- Chapter 1 Periodical Bibliography
- Chapter 2: Is America in Moral Decline?
- Chapter 3: How Do the Media Influence American Values?
-
Chapter 4: What Measures Would Improve American Values?
- Chapter 4 Preface
- Shame Deters Immoral Behavior
- Shame Is a Form of Censorship
- The Government Should Legislate Morality
- The Government Should Not Legislate Morality
- Public Schools Should Provide Character Education
- Public Schools Should Not Provide Character Education
- Chapter 4 Periodical Bibliography
- For Further Discussion
- Organizations to Contact
- Bibliography
- Copyright
Tell a friend about American Values at eNotes.
