⚓ Welcome to Tidal Echoes

Series: “Youth Speaks Its Mind” (A republication of our hometown newspaper, The Suffolk County News, from 65 years ago)

Our history isn't just a timeline; it's a series of waves that shape who we are today. In this series, we revisit the bold voices of Sayville’s past. Today, we listen to Stephen Zegel as he reflects on the moral standards of the early 1960s.

Originally published in The Suffolk County News on January 25th, 1962. Transcribed for the Sayville Alumni Association.

A Re-examination of Moral Standards

By Stephen Zegel, Sayville High School

Educators say that history repeats itself, whether optimistically or pessimistically. From the historical point of view, the American society faces a rather pessimistic future; specifically, a magnified recurrence of the Pompeii tragedy.

This pessimism has been instigated by the degenerating moral trend in American society today. The author ascribes this growing degeneracy to the paramount significance placed upon materialism, supported by its parent, affluence.

This degeneracy has been most precipitous within the last decade. Certainly, the ever-mounting divorce rate, the Goldfine-Adams scandal, the TV quiz scandal, the corporation scandal, and the basketball scandal do not reflect austere moral standards. All these scandals involved the hierarchy of citizenry that represent the political, social, and economic facets of American society. Imagine the impact that these corruptions have had on our youth!

Educators also say that today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders. As this is a logical precept, then here lies the remedy of this present dilemma. Basic moral and spiritual training must begin in the home, and must be established through examples set by the parents. This training should then be continued and emphasized in the classroom, by effecting proper social justice, by creating for the student a true evaluation of his achievements in relation to his potential, and by placing education in its proper perspective, all of which today’s youth need so desperately. Youth should be guided to emulate men like Dr. Tom Dooley, a man who abandoned materialism to perpetrate his ideals.

All emphasis today must be directed upon the virtuous, instead of the materialistic. True all this is very ideal, yet it can be far more realistic than it is now. It is imperative that the American people re-examine their moral standards and true values so that they can live without fear of the impending communist volcano.

⚓ Cast Your Thoughts

How do these words from 1962 land today? Reflecting on Stephen Zegel's insights:

• stephen mentions the "tv quiz scandal" and "basketball scandal"—do you remember the shock these caused at the time?
• he points to dr. tom dooley as a role model—were there other figures from that era who inspired you to value ideals over materialism?
• looking back from the present, do you think his "pompeii tragedy" warning about society was justified, or did we find a different path?