Acting Morally | Entitlement in American Society

I burned my hand on a Pop-Tart® the other day. So, should I go and sue Kellogg? After all, isn’t it the company’s fault? They didn’t warn me: “May be hot after heated in toaster for an excessive length.”

Well, I did not sue Kellogg. They are not at all responsible for my burnt hand. However, in many instances today — such as the case where a woman sued Kellogg after her house was burned down for leaving a Pop-Tart® in the toaster  — people do not take responsibility for their own actions. Increasingly, American society considers itself “victimized”: It’s not my fault. I have a disease; I’m an alcoholic, for example.

This has been the theme of discussion for several of my classes. In my leadership course, we talked about what we feel victimizes us and why we blame others for our circumstances or for our inabilities. Why? American society has reached a level where they feel like everything is a right. We are completely entitled. This is especially true of Generation Y, the so-called “Millennial Generation,” as one term defines it.

One of the greatest steps we can take to improve our society is take responsibility for our own actions. Make ethical decisions and use common sense. Act morally even when no one is watching.