WILLIAMS: The age of the American lust child

The Washington Times ^ | April 22, 2009 | Armstrong Williams

[Scanian]

My columns and other writings have long chronicled the decline of moral values in America. However, I must admit to being absolutely shocked when I read recently that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that nearly 40 percent of U.S. births in 2007 occurred outside of wedlock.

It's one thing when teenagers and members of lower socioeconomic classes fall prey to this phenomenon. But the out-of-wedlock birthrate is so high that it suggests a problem spread much wider than could have been imagined. This outrageous number of out-of-wedlock births across age and socioeconomic sectors signal the wholesale disintegration of our American family.

Welcome to the dawn of the age of the American lust child.

Some would question why it matters. What does society care whether or not children are born to wedded mothers at all? After all, if the parents are together but not married, or single but wealthy enough to support the child, then no big deal, right?

Wrong.

There is more to raising children than just food, clothing and shelter. There are non-material things that parents provide that cannot be quantified in dollars and cents, but are just as essential for that child to grow up and become a productive member of society. They include providing a strong moral foundation, teaching faith, perseverance and discipline. It's not that one parent is incapable of doing this alone. But in most U.S. households, where someone has to work to bring in an income, the moral education of children requires teamwork if it is to be done correctly.