I no longer think it's a fluke, but it seems as if the attendance in mass today is steadily decreasing in its youth attendance. I see plenty of adults, even more in the senior department. But where are the children? The teenagers? The college students? I could only pick out three or so families toting children along with them. It may be an early mass (7 AM) but I distinctly remember attending my former church which was brimming with adolescents. While I can't say I've sampled a lot of Catholic churches, I can't help but wonder if this is a larger problem.

Too often do people put off mass because it's too early, or they are too busy. I've definitely been one of those persons. Nonetheless, there is always time for mass. You simply have to make the time. You have to set your alarm, get dressed, and get to that early mass. The youth of this generation appear less driven, less knowledgeable of the world outside their own home. There exists a variety of influences, both positive and negative, which are continually catapulted at their faces—from magazines, television, to Internet, etc. our youth seem fated to be without much guidance.

Already are the labels of 'prude' or 'archaic' been slapped onto individuals who praise chastity, or who condemn foul language. The simple reason of why these smart individuals are scorned in such a manner is because the hecklers do not want to be chastised for their behavior. No one thinks they're causing any physical harm to anybody if they've had pre-marital sex or continually say f*** to incite laughter. Yet those rationalizations are short-term. I feel as if we're missing the bigger picture. We're only lowering our own moral standards! And no, I am not trying to go for a dramatic effect.

I've sat in a class with other seniors in college who believe that marijuana should be legalized because it is a victimless crime. I'd rather sit in a car with someone high, than someone drunk my own professor said. This earns chuckles, nods of approval. What's the harm in marijuana? Medical marijuana is used all the time another student points out.

So because it causes no apparent harm to people, we should just allow it? (And just to point out, medical marijuana actually has a purpose. Alleviating pain, not getting high. You don't just buy medical marijuana for fun.) This apparent disregard for taking mind-altering drugs because it has no victim only degrades our ethical compass. At what point did we believe that altering our minds, getting high, was okay? Why should we condone it? The answer is. We shouldn't.

This passiveness shouldn't be mistaken for open-mindedness or progress-thinking. It's sheer neglect of our bodies, of our minds, and of our future generations who will grow up in a world where it's okay to get high. I truly wonder what the path this nation will take as it continues to grow older. There are already too many things at a conflict for anything to be solved swiftly. However, I hope a new current will take hold of us and steer us away from this path of stupidity. It's something to work towards, isn't it?