Some reasons why our culture is broken

I read a fascinating article in the Feb. 13 issue of "The Atlantic" magazine titled “The Awfulness of Elite Hypocrisy on Marriage” by Brad Wilcox. Brad is an instructor of Sociology at the University of Virginia and what he found was amazing.

While many people considered "elites" in our society say they are open-minded regarding moral issues of marriage and family, the truth in practice is quite the opposite. Eighty percent of Brad’s students and 73% of students in the nation’s most prestigious universities were born to intact families who have stayed married and faithful to the same partner. Note that the students of these families are largely progressive or socialist and very neutral on cohabitation or other types of relationships. Yet they (99 percentile) admit their parents would "freak out" if announced they were having a baby or moving in with their significant other.

So, there’s some huge disconnect between what these adults and children are saying and what is being practiced in their homes. Research shows that getting a high school diploma by honest means, working full-time in your 20s, and marrying before having children minimizes the chances of your children growing up in poverty.

Many professionals including college professors, journalists, educators and others who shape our culture talk liberal but actually walk conservative. My college professors of 50 years ago would call this cognitive dissonance. It might be well intended but the result is inequality socially, racially, ethnically, and economically. 

I encourage you to check this out for yourself and do your own thinking rather than let some trope or meme do your thinking for you. Read the article in its entirety and start thinking rather than entrenching in uninformed opinions.

Look at the research. I have for a number of years. Challenge yourself to listen to something like Prager U. If you claim to be noble and inclusive, then listen to some others who might offer a different viewpoint. There is great danger in listening only to those who agree with us. I have received a fair number of comments regarding past articles from those who want me to consider their point of view but are themselves intolerant of other positions except their own. This is not open-mindedness or tolerance. It is more accurately termed prideful disdain.

Bud McConnaughey serves on the staff of North Summit Church, 201 N. Division, Sandpoint.