What is your moral compass and where is it taking you? Lately, this notion has taken many of us on a roller coaster ride. Events over the last few weeks have driven me to search for answers because I believe the moral compass of individuals has changed. Has technology changed us? Are we less compassionate and understanding? Do we no longer know how to respectfully treat each other? Has America lost its way or is it in a temporary position in which its resetting its moral compass?
As an individual whose identity includes being an African-American, a gay person, and a male, the definition and direction of one’s moral compass, in my opinion, has always been slightly distorted. My experiences across all these identities in this country have molded my views of a moral compass. In fact, for years as I grew up, I used to think the ethical values and moral compass of gay men were plagues to our community, but I was wrong!
Today it’s clearer than ever; our values and moral compass are determined by our culture, the way our parents raise us, and the subjective definition of what it means to respect yourself and others. By now, you should be asking yourself, what is my moral compass? You can’t answer that question until you understand what one is.
“A compass is a relatively simple instrument based on a simple concept. With its northward facing needle, it is a consistent and true indicator of physical direction. By placing “moral” in front of compass, we evoke a clear picture of mental processes that point a person in a particular direction in life. These processes are consistent and true indicators upon which personal belief and action can be based. The concept of morality is also relatively simple at its absolute core. It denotes conduct or duties based on what is right and wrong. Morality is considered to be the basis of character and is wrapped around ethics.”
The definition for moral compass is clear and straightforward, but when you look closer, it’s a complex theory. The concept of morality is not quite that simple. One person’s moral compass may not point in the same direction as another’s because it raises the question of right and wrong. That is where the problem begins; most people today don’t want to be told ‘right’ from ‘wrong’ because that truth could interfere with their lifestyle.
Adding to the complexity of what is right or wrong and what is our moral direction is the fact we live in a free and democratic nation. Everyone is hyper sensitive if they fear their individual constitutional rights are being infringed upon. Collectively we must begin to understand we are individuals who come from a wide variety of experiences, ethnic and racial backgrounds, religious beliefs, and personal identities. We operate and engage within and across multiple communities and have a variety of thoughts that no longer fit at one end of a spectrum. More and more we find ourselves at one place on the spectrum for one topic, yet at another point and potentially an opposing point on the spectrum for another topic; consider the thoughts of Trae Crowder, the self proclaimed “Liberal Redneck” as an example.
“Because of man’s propensity to always treat the effects instead of addressing the cause, the solution to wavering moral compasses will continue to prove elusive. Until society comes to a full realization of the need for a single absolute authority on what is moral and what is immoral (right and wrong), no solution will ever be possible.”
A clear moral compass is a necessity for change to happen. Yes, we are one nation, however, we are one nation of many. We have multiple and different experiences and multiple and different identities. We must find a way for all to acknowledge the history of this nation which includes defining an entire group of people as nothing more than property. We must learn from history and acknowledge the systematized persecution of groups of people. We can only then find a set of core principles that today, make us all Americans.
