A convention program many years ago left a lasting impression on me. I have remembered its message all these years since.

The presentation was entitled “You Are Who You Are Because of Where You Were When” — or something similar. Dr. Massey, a professor from a Colorado university, was the presenter.

His theory was that at about age 9 or 10 the average child looks around and — concluding that what is seen must be what is right — creates a values system on which judgments will be made the rest of his or her life.

Only two things, Dr. Massey said, will change that values system — a religious or life-threatening experience.

I was skeptical at first, but as Dr. Massey continued his theory made more sense. He offered several credible examples including one involving the generation which was about 9 or 10 years old at the depth of the Great Depression.

This demographic group was approaching its prime earning years in the 1960s, Dr. Massey explained, when it was the target of the first major credit card marketing campaign. Because of their childhood Depression experiences, however, this generation did not readily accept the concept of “easy money.” Few wanted the charge cards.

The credit card companies retrenched and targeted the Depression generation’s now-young-adult children. When this younger generation’s values systems were formed, the nation’s economy was much healthier. Having not experienced the financial hardships of the Depression as their parents had, this group welcomed the little plastic cards. Nowadays nearly everyone uses charge cards.

As I listened to Dr. Massey, I realized how my upbringing and my childhood experiences shaped my values system. Assuming, then, that Dr. Massey’s theory is at least reasonably accurate, I wonder what things will be like in our nation a few decades from now. What are 9- and 10-year-olds observing today and how will the resulting values systems influence their decisions when they are leading our nation 30, 40 years down the road?

Too many of these kids are seeing movies and television programs where sexual promiscuity is not only treated lightly and without consequence but where promiscuous stars are idolized. Graphic physical violence and murder is routine in the entertainment industry, cheapening the value of human life. Some elements of the music industry glorify death and depravity.

What is this doing to the values systems of tomorrow’s leaders?

Some of today’s children have heard of God and Jesus Christ only as swear words and Moses as an animated film character. The Judeo-Christian precepts which helped mold 13 struggling colonies into what became the greatest nation on earth are, at best, ancient history to many. On what system of morality will these children base their decisions when they lead our nation in the future?

Generations of Americans have had presidential heroes — George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt. I have long admired Harry Truman. While all human leaders have clay feet, in recent years we have witnessed previously unimaginable depravity at the highest level of our government.

At the same time, too many of our leaders have fallen into a quagmire of blind partisanship which ultimately renders them ineffective. We are no longer led by statesmen; we are led by politicians. And we are now governed by what is popular instead of what is right.

Our kids are watching; what are they thinking?

Children who look to sports stars as role models increasingly find their heroes abusing drugs, cuffing referees or cavorting with prostitutes.

Too many parents today are so preoccupied with their own endeavors and passions they don’t have time for their children. Even here in rural America, preteen children wander our streets past the midnight hour because their parents don’t care.

Imagine what all this is doing to these children’s values systems.

Dr. Massey’s theory is credible. We must consider what all of this means to the future of our society and our freedom.

Arvid Huisman can be contacted at huismaniowa@gmail.com. ©2025 by Huisman Communications.