WHERE HAVE THEY GONE

Where have all the values gone?
Those virtues our forefathers held so dear.
Their substance has faded these past few years,
And now some, if allowed, will soon disappear.

Where have truth and honor gone?
When asked: "Did you chop down that tree"?
George was honor bound to tell the truth.
He said: "I cannot lie. Yes, it was me".

Today, if you believe the polls.
Most people say that they just don't care.
Integrity and honesty are cast aside,
As long as everyone can "get his share".

Patriotism no longer is a source of pride.
Love for country is a forgotten phrase.
Attendance is pitiful on Veterans Day,
And too few stand when our Anthem plays.

Compassion, kindness and courtesy.
Are these merely words on a printed page?
Society has allowed them to be replaced
By hate, intolerance and Highway Rage.

The role of the family is under siege.
As our children are influenced by means extreme.
And "Entertainment", having fallen to an all-time low,
Has allowed violence and vulgarity to reign supreme.

If we let greed and expedience dictate our lives,
And if our values and virtues matter not at all,
Then this will surely be recorded in history
As one reason for America's decline and fall.