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Losing Values?
Every passing generation seems to get more and more Westernised. While this is not a bad thing, it's important not to lose sight of our Indian values.
As we turn more and more towards Westernisation, it's time to sit back and re-think our values. Youngsters today are exposed to western lifestyles to a much greater extent than the previous generation. Exposure to cable television has brought the typical American family into our living room, and slowly a new thought process starts invading our children's minds.
While this is not necessarily a bad thing, perhaps you should try and figure out what your priorities are. How important is your marriage and family to you? Does it take first preference, or do career and other such matters come first?
The west has shown a disturbing trend of late. The nuclear family no longer consists of the nuclear family as we know it. Stepparents, half-brothers and sisters, divorced couples and single parents are increasing in percentage to married couples with children living together - which makes up only 23.5 percent of all households!
Then there are those who feel there is nothing wrong in living together. After all, you are not hurting anyone, you are not committing a crime, so the 'society' which frowns upon such a lifestyle should just mind their own business. Couples live together for years and years without any plans of getting married. Why? Just in case someone better comes along?
Remember, there will always be someone better looking. Someone richer. Someone more intelligent. Someone wittier. Don't be surprised if, by the time our children grow up, living together as a couple outside of marriage becomes the norm. Is that what we want?
Again, what's the harm? Well, if living together culminates in marriage, everyone heaves a sigh of relief, but if it does not, and the couple has children and then part ways, that's not very nice is it? And if this becomes the norm, what will family life come to?
Why is marriage being taken increasingly more and more lightly? There used to be a time when the only reason people would get divorced would be in extreme cases - if one partner was abusing the other, horrific in-law problems or other such extreme cases.
True, there were moments of difficulty. It wasn't always smooth running. But at the end of the day when the couples sit back and look at their children and grand children, they can look at their family with a sense of pride. They remain loved and surrounded by family till they breath their last. Family life can be very satisfying, and often sticking through the rough patches is worth the pain and heartache. Of course, there are always exceptions, but riding through the rough patches together and sticking with each other will reap untold dividends in the long run.
So perhaps it's time to get back in touch with our culture, values and roots. It will be well worth it.
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