David Cameron struggles to restore, inspire UK morality

Keeping moral relativism in mind, Middle Eastern countries and their largely theocratic governments serve as obvious examples. The Iran Revolution of 1979 in particular, recalls the conservative uprising that overthrew the western-backed Iran monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, becoming by national referendum an Islamic Republic vehemently opposed to the Westernization and Pro-Americanism of the administration before.

While political factors and maneuverings were inherent motivators in the revolution, on the societal level, leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's fundamental views of Islam versus a modernizing government detached from religious rule served as his catalyst in attempting to rescue the Iranian public from their perceived moral bankruptcy.

The anachronistic idea of merging church and state (in U.S. political lingo, so to speak) remains problematic in many parts of the world, and the notions of religion as the bedrock of morality, the pillar of principles and instiller of good values are debatable at best.

This, however, begs the question of how a nation's leader can restore a secular society after a moral collapse. It is an issue many countries in the free world must face, whether they are willing to admit it or not.

Despite a strong start, UK Prime Minister David Cameron's popularity ratings have fallen after a series of unfortunate events surfaced and spiraled out of control. On top of the heavy criticism he received for associations with Rupert Murdoch's News International executives after the News of the World phone-hacking scandal broke, recent polls showed over half of Britons believed their prime minister also failed to show sufficient leadership in handling the prolonged riots that gripped London for four nights.

Now, Cameron appears to be waging a war on morality, or the lack thereof. Citing "laziness, irresponsibility and selfishness" as the cause of Britain's "moral collapse," Cameron is calling for Britons to confront their fears of discussing the breakdown of the family unit, poor parenting and most importantly, to talk about "what is right and what is wrong."

Quoting Cameron, "Children without fathers. Schools without discipline. Reward without effort. Crime without punishment. Rights without responsibilities. Communities without control. Some of the worst aspects of human nature tolerated, indulged — sometimes even incentivized — by a state and its agencies that in parts have become literally demoralized."

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