Whatever happened to saying you were sorry for wronging others? Whatever happened to being ashamed of our transgressions? For that matter, what happened to sin? Somehow that all became old-fashioned and out of style as if of no value when, in fact, the value to a well-conducted society was beyond estimate.

A "feel good society'' developed in which it became acceptable to transgress according to your whims without remorse and to indulge every appetite, including alcohol, drugs and sex for instant gratification. The catch phrase became, "Whatever turns you on.'' It became acceptable not to doubt yourself, not to question, not to be ashamed and not to repent as long as you could blame your transgressions on your deprived background, or your terrible life, or bad parenting, or any other excuse available. In reality those excuses, while aspects of life to be considered and dealt with, were indulgent excuses. Poor me, I'm an alcoholic.

Poor me, I'm a druggie. Poor me, I was beaten. Poor me, I had bad teachers.

The list is endless but the fact is that all of these things also happened to others and there are plenty who suffered similar or much worse misfortune and went on to successful and productive lives in our society. Bermuda is full of stories of such accomplishment.

This is not to deny that people who have had a hard time deserve help and consideration but it is to deny that they should forever be able to transgress while saying, "Poor me I was hard done by.'' We developed a society in which it was acceptable not to hold people accountable if they could find even the flimsiest excuse for their actions.

Blaming others - "It's not my fault because I'm a victim''- was substituted for shame and led not to freedom but to licence. Society indulged itself in sex and drugs and rock and roll and excused any old bad behaviour.

Now we see the results all around us. Young people in trouble. A drugs crisis.

A high proportion of adult alcoholics. Schools which need policing. Children having children. Rampant adultery. Large numbers of out of wedlock children produced by "adults''. A big physical and sexual abuse problem, even against children. Rising crime in the streets.

But some of the problems are more specific.

Juries bring the law into question and give the public a sense of helplessness by letting off people who are clearly guilty.

Politicians and lawyers rail against the Police and then complain about lawlessness and crime.

Some churches preach damnation but give every appearance of condoning fornication and adultery.

Five cabinet ministers are happy to mislead the people of Bermuda in a Green Paper on Independence which they bill as fair and then wonder why just about no one respects politicians.

We proceed to chaos in education with a mega school which is against the wishes of the people.

We are told we should be proud of seven young men who shamed their country in Miami? Is it any wonder that Bermuda gives every appearance of being adrift? Rudderless? Without fibre?