The Fading Moral Voice

The Fading Moral Voice
by Linda A. Prussen-Razzano

In 1965, Social Psychologist Stanley Milgram of Yale University conducted what was, in my opinion, the most critical experiment ever in understanding the human heart.

In the experiment, volunteer students presumably assisted in a study on the effects of negative conditioning in the learning process. The students were asked to sit at a console, the "shock generator," while a second "student" was placed in a chair in another room and attached to the "shock probes." The "shock generator" console had switches on it, with electric shocks ranging from 15 volts to 450 volts. Underneath the voltage ratings are clear warning signs, starting with "slight" and ending with "danger severe shock."

The "shocker" is responsible for reading a list of words. The "shockee" is responsible for memorizing them.

A full 65% of the "shockers" went all the way to 450 volts, even though the "shockee" complained of a heart condition at 100 volts, protested at 150 volts, screamed at 300 volts, and fell deadly silent afterwards. If a "shocker" became nervous or began to protest, a person in a white coat would enter the room and gently, sometimes firmly, urge them to continue. The "shockee" was actually an actor, unharmed by the experiment.

Less than 2% refused to administer even one shock.

In truth, the test was not about negative conditioning on learning; it was about a person's response to authority. Less than 2% of the individuals present had the moral fortitude not to cause a fellow student the slightest bit of pain, even under pressure. What's even more frightening is how the other participants presumed that the person in "authority" was ultimately responsible for their actions, not themselves. The true shocker of this experiment was Milgram's original intent: to discover how and why the Nazis were able to slaughter 9 million people in concentration camps across Europe with such efficient ease.

At one time, the ideals of the 2% were the established norm. While brutality, bloodshed, adultery, deception, and treachery still existed, these were unacceptable crimes, causes for revulsion and horror. Those who violated the norms were typically mocked in a public square, subject to scorn and derision. The moral voice, whether it stemmed from religious influence or practical secular law, reigned supreme. Society outwardly reached for the pinnacle of moral perfection, even as it continually stumbled privately in its quest. Moral perfection may forever be an unobtainable goal, but the desire to obtain it motivated individuals to greatness.

Sadly, we have seemingly abandoned our quest for moral perfection, ceased striving for a world where murder, treachery, stealing, lying, dishonor, infidelity, and avarice are evils to be conquered, no matter our personal shortcomings.

Now, we are immersed in a culture that decries morality as some sort of sad shackle from days gone by. Those who speak out against lying are branded hypocrites. Those who lament the destruction of marriages are called prudes. Those who ask young people to honor themselves through abstinence are mocked. Those that beg for society to recognize the sanctity of life are dismissed as extremists. We excuse, we parse, we ignore. In short, unless one has lived a life in parallel to Christ, without sin of any kind, they are in no position to "judge" another. The silencing of the moral voice, through the elimination of religious influence or through the destruction of traditionally established secular norms, means that the sole moral compass of our country will come from the government and the media.

These two institutions are the ultimate source of "authority."

There is just cause to be concerned. History clearly shows that when the government and the media control the moral voice, when there are no contrasting moral goals in attendance, unspeakable acts are allowed against our fellow man. Hitler and Stalin, for example, were masters of dominance and propaganda. Those who did not repeat their violent rhetoric, did not support their destructive and evil agendas, were eliminated or silenced.

Right now, there is a struggle taking place across America, where all tenants of religious expression are being silenced and those who dare discuss moral perfections are dehumanized. People in positions of power must now frame their turns of phrase in completely ambiguous language, afraid to take a strong stand on any one issue for fear of offending the greater 65%.

There is, ironically, one voice with wide public access that is not backing down from the moral fight. Dr. Alan Keyes, long dismissed by the media as a pretender to the Republican Party's nomination, has made our moral decline the centerpiece of his stump speeches, his rallies, and his platform. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, he is addressing the harsh consequences of our diminished moral voice without fear or hesitation. While pundits may bemoan his presence in the debates and belittle his message as "crazy," he is not crazy.

He is a constitutionalist. He is a reformer. He is diagnosing the underlying causes of our social ills, instead of promising a government made panacea to treat the symptoms while never finding a cure.

For that alone, he deserves a spot on the stage -- but those in "authority" may soon decide to silence him, too.