STDs? At least I look hot.

Where'd all the good people go?

I've been changing channels

I don't see them on the TV shows

Where'd all the good people go?

We got heaps and heaps of what we sow

They got this and that

With a rattle a tat

Testing one, two

Now what you gonna do?

Bad news, misused, give me some truth

You got too much to lose

Whose side are we on today, anyway?

OK, whatever you say.

Wrong and resolute but in the mood to obey

Station to station desensitizing the nation

Going, going, gone.

~Good People by Jack Johnson

On Sunday the pastor at the church I’m attending talked about cultural acceptance. He preached on how Sarah (Genesis 16) being barren was cause for cultural ostracism. If a woman had a husband and children then she was culturally accepted. He warned us that before we jumped all over this for not being “politically correct” or being gender biased that we should consider what OUR culture considers to be acceptable. Achievement, career and sexual appeal are our cultural acceptance norms. From the young age of kindergarten children are pushed to excel and achieve, to get into the best schools, the best internships, the best careers and look hot doing it.

Not only are achievement, career and sexual appeal “encouraged” but they are broadcast in our magazines, TV, radio, and clothing styles. I especially see this in the young women who come into the pregnancy centers. They are so wrapped up in achieving a career and being successful that they would rather abort than change their plans to make room for their child. I am not saying that being successful, having a career or looking nice are bad. These are good things. I am glad that young women want to succeed but they are distorting the good.

Who is teaching these young women that a child “ruins your life”? That they can’t succeed with children. How is this a good view of women? I have seen women who make it work. Yes, maybe it’s hard but it’s not impossible. Life throws curve-balls all the time. No one has complete control over their life. Death happens. Accidents happen. Unexpected good things happen. Who are you to say that a child will ruin a woman’s life? That’s an extremely presumptuous statement.

This value of achievement in career over life is self-destructive. Secular culture says we can have it all: success, career, sexual appeal and no commitment. Post-modernity preaches a religion of non-commitment and relativism. Actions don’t have consequences. Nothing needs to be logically thought out. If you don’t want it get rid of it.

Who has post-abortion syndrome in Hollywood? What girl gets STDs after a one night stand in a “no-strings-attached” sort of movie? Where is reality? Hollywood teaches us that it will all work out. That our actions don’t have bad consequences. We’re taught to follow our hearts!

For example: typical Hollywood movie.

Scenario A.

Boy meets girl. Instant attraction. Jump into bed. No commitment. Agreement to have sex whenever they want. Boy falls for girl. Girl doesn’t reciprocate. Estrangement ensues. Girl in a sudden bout of enlightenment falls in love. Reunion. Happy ending.

Scenario B.

Boy meets girl. Instant attraction. Jump into bed. Girl gets pregnant because she forgot her depo appointment shot and doesn’t know that if she goes without it the birth control will not be effective. Girl is scared because she’s unmarried and in an entry level job. Boy doesn’t want a kid - just sex. Girl wants to stay with boy because they had SEX and he’s her baby daddy. Boy pressures abortion and shirks responsibility. Girl gets abortion to stay with boy. They break up one month later.

Haven’t seen scenario B in the movie theaters lately. Let me know if you do - I’ll buy the popcorn.