National demographic
Apr 17, 2014, 12:00 PM | Updated: 1:32 pm
Do you consider yourself a moral person?
Hold it…let’s define the issues here. First, what do you mean by “moral” and where in the world do you live?
This week, the Pew Research Center issued the results of an international survey regarding what is morally unacceptable, morally acceptable or not a moral issue.
Citizens of 40 countries were interviewed with often surprising results. For example: The U.N. need not fear any longer about U.S. and Russia in conflict, as both countries are in absolute agreement on the subject of the use of contraceptives. Just 7 percent of both Americans and Russians consider contraceptives to be morally unacceptable, while 65 percent of Pakistanis do. Clearly that explains why there are so many Pakistanis.
Americans who were asked about extramarital affairs were strongly opposed, something like 84 percent. Of the 40 nations who responded to the question of infidelity, only one — France — had fewer than 50 percent who were opposed.
After all, when French children say they want to grow up to be president of France, many of their moms must say, “Sweetheart, your father is president of France.”
I’m Pat McMahon.
