Reflecting on the actions of President Clinton, Kenneth Starr, Henry Hyde, the Independent Counsel, the media and the impeachment process, I cannot help but think our nation is off kilter. Call it a lowering of standards, call it a lack of kindness or even politeness. Call it a set of ever changing rules. Or call it a lack of civility. Or call it down right meanness. It makes no matter. Society is being changed and torn ¬ and not always for the best. Common decency is often lost in the turmoil which surrounds us. With floating standards, society is often lost at sea. And I see few bright signs for the future.

Let me start with an examination of our public political life. Substantive issues are hardly ever debated. Forget the facts. Many politicians, on the attack, go after weaknesses in fellow human beings. The "negative campaign" has become a way of life. Just examine the commercials from last November's election. Demonize the opponent before the message becomes too clear. Kill the messenger. Forget about sex in the Oval Office with an intern and then lying about it for seven months. Starr is really the demon! And do everything possible to destroy Newt Gingrich. Has the numbness to White House events flowed from cameras in the court at the OJ trial? Could it be that "all Monica, all the time" on television warped our sense of values and decent standards? Or could it be that our bank accounts are fat and happy with few of us willing to stick to any form of principles? Take a poll and find out what people are thinking. The last thing we need is leadership. Lying is OK so long as it is about sex.

Language is another area where our social fabric is being torn. It is "cool" to use four letter words. In the old days of my youth, a man would never think of using foul language in front of a woman. Today, from Broadway to Main Street, anything goes. In addition to four letter words, mean words can also be hurtful. Contrary to the old saying, "words" do hurt. Being hurt by a "stick" or "stone" might leave a scar, but the wound can heal. The scar left by unkind words may never really heal. The talking heads on television have added to the trauma. The ten second sound bite is happening. And if the public were not interested, those shows would be gone in a minute. Sponsors only stay with shows which have viewers.

That leads me to the words ¬ "Thank you." Today, I find fewer and fewer people who remember those words. And for the recipient, they can be the most beautiful words in the English language. Try it sometime. Those words can even warm your own hearts.

Change is all around us. And I have to admit that I am struggling with it, because some of the change is really not for the better. Let me know what you think.