At one time Americans shared a significant commitment to their offspring, recognizing both their responsibility to their children and the important contribution of parenthood to future generations. If a recent poll reported by the Washington Times is correct, the belief system that motivated sacrificial parenting has been eroded and American mothers and fathers have become increasingly self-oriented.
Once, couples put their children's needs first. Today, significant numbers are less willing to do so. Asked, "Should a couple stay together for the sake of the children," 81 percent of today's women say no, a jump from 51 percent in 1962.And while the percentage of households with children has declined from half of all households in 1960 to less than one-third today, there has been sevenfold increase of babies born out of wedlock, soaring from 5 percent in 1960 to 36 percent in 2004.
Some call this progress. Others rightly recognize the destruction of the family is destroying our society. Michael J. McManus rightly comments, “America pays a price for exchanging selflessness for selfishness.”
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