Have we sunk to a new low? It seems that we have. A bredren of mine went to a wedding recently, when what to his wondering eyes did appear, but a group of men smoking weed, in full view of the wedding party, adults, children; all of this at a church!My boy was repulsed to see, and smell, weed being smoked at a wedding, as was I to hear the story.There are some who feel that weed should be legalised, and these people have their reasons for feeling this way. There are others who are adamant that this should not happen, irrespective of what the proponents for legalisation may say.I know that there are places like the Netherlands where the smoking of marijuana is regulated, and permitted. But we live in Bermuda, and as long as we live in Bermuda we have to abide by the laws of Bermuda.It is illegal to import, sell or use marijuana in Bermuda. Therefore, it cannot, and should not, be consumed at all, much less in public.The fact that these people felt it okay to, not only smoke weed in public, but at a blinking wedding, is a tell tale sign of how far the moral fabric of our community has been eroded.It says that people have little regard for the law of the land, no fear that they will be prosecuted for breaking the law, no fear of the penalties if they do get caught, and, or, are prosecuted, and that they dare anyone to say anything to them about it.It also says that people cannot even respect the fact that a wedding, or other formal occasion, deserves respect and deferrence.This comes back to a piece I submitted around Fathers Day. That was a moment when as a man you have to stand up and say something. Someone, a key person, ideally a man, from either the bride, or groom’s, side of the family, should have addressed this matter, and demanded that those people smoking weed cease and desist, or go elsewhere if they must smoke weed.So the answer to the question posed at the top, have we really sunk so low? is, yes.Few people obey the rules. People do pretty much whatever they want. There is little personal dignity. I recall a day when ladies had more respect for themselves, and wouldn’t dare go to town unless they were dressed decently, appropriately and respectably. Not so these days.Ladies go to the city on a Saturday morning in ”do rags“, flip flops, exposing too much of their bodies. Then they wonder why some men treat them only like sex objects. Well you’ve dressed like one! Duuuh! It’s not right, but it is what it is. You put money in front of a thief, and he will take it.Men are no better, and often present themselves in a slovenly, and sloppy, manner. It all just speaks to how things have changed, and how our standards have dropped. Some change is good, but not all change is good.So, what’s the solution?Perhaps we need to consider where we are, and where we want to go, or where we want to be, individually and collectively. We should also ask whether our current path, and conduct, is likely to cause us to achieve our goals.This question should be taken further to ask if our current path, actions, and ways of doing things, are sustainable long term, and will deliver to future generations the type of Bermuda they can enjoy, and whether it will be the type of Bermuda they deserve?Much of what we are doing is not sustainable long term, and will not deliver to our children’s children a Bermuda that they can be proud of, and sustain themselves on a long-term basis.To use an analogy, imagine your parents left you a really nice house, in a really safe neighbourhood. The house was well maintained, roof painted, and treated regularly. The grounds were well manicured, daddy cut the grass and trimmed the hedges once a month, or hired someone to do it. Your parents had good relationships with the neighbours, the men in the ”hood“ kept everything in order, looked out for the children in the area and a happy, safe society existed.Fast forward some 10 -20 years after the parents passed, and that same house is not in the same state of repair. The roof hasn’t been painted, and is dark, dirty and unhealthy. The exterior walls have faded such that the colour is barely recognisable, while the interior walls are filthy with hand stains, and lack of paint over several years.Neighbours do not know each other, or speak much to one another. Everybody minds their own business, and drugs are being sold in broad daylight, wherever dealers decide they want to sell drugs.I think you get the point. Basically, if we want a Bermuda that is better than the one we have, we need to make some changes. It is really up to us, me, you, and the today’s adults, to fix this.Government cannot solve this problem alone. Each adult needs to stand up, and handle their family and their children, raise them right, hold them accountable, and demand excellence, or the very best that child can give.We have to take back our communities, individually, and collectively. If we don’t help the police, then we become part of the problem.It will take a while but it can be done. But, we must be committed and stay the course. Forever.