Morality and Lessons in American Culture

Morality is the sense of knowing what is right, from what is wrong. People with a strong sense of morality generally are considered good or thoughtful types of people, with moral knowledge already ingrained from an early age. Some people--depending on how they are brought up, or based on their character in general--don't have a strong moral compass, and have no problem hurting people; be it physically or emotionally. People lacking morals may say or do things to people that are cruel, calculating and uncalled for.

Morals that teach us a lesson would include morals learned by people who have the ability to accept fault for their actions, or lack thereof. Some people never learn decency, especially selfish, spoiled types, yet may learn lessons in regard to proper morals when their negative actions affect them only, and their sense of well-being.

An example of morals that teach a lesson, would be a person who water-boarded another person, then gets water-boarded themselves. This person may not have learned a lesson about their actions until they experienced what the other person went through. They may then in turn think that water-boarding is cruel or unjust, even if opinions vary on this subject.

Groups of people may be taught a lesson when they act together in malice toward another human being; say in a bullying scenario. An example of morals that teach a modern lesson in regard to groups could include Cyber bullying. A person may see a group of insecure cowards going after someone, and the direct result of their cowardly actions, especially if the bullied person commits suicide out of fear.

The person that didn't participate in the bullying of a human being, learned a valuable lesson, just by seeing the end result of other's negative actions, and lack of morals. If there is sincere guilt on the part of the bully, a lesson was learned as well. If a person also helps another person out of a sense of decency with a lack of agenda, they learn a lesson in regard to doing the right thing, by taking the right course of action.

In America, the government and presidency can be an example of morals that teach us a lesson. Those in power make decisions from their own moral viewpoints or agenda, which could affect Americans in either a positive or negative way. A lesson learned would be the result of these actions, as interpreted by those in power and the masses.

Resources:
http://fitzgerald.narod.ru/critics-eng/mcadams-ethics.htmlhttp://www.mademan.com/mm/10-movies-teach-moral-values.htmlhttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2008/07/02/hitchens-gets-waterboarded-to-teach-us-a-lesson/http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100408/0218098933.shtml