The American culture of entitlements is in stark contrast to the rest of the world and came into sharp focus with three UCLA basketball shoplifters on a cultural exchange in China. North Korea jailed and tortured a student for stealing a hotel hall poster. Singapore jailed and caned a student for theft and vandalism

But in the United States, nation of entitlements and “the man owes me,” we look the other way. We have grown used to having merchandise chained to the department store racks, in locked cases or locked to the display racks, storewide video cameras and monitors, and theft sensors at the entrances that sound if the anti-theft devices are not removed at checkout.

The problem is that shoplifting and theft cost everyone more for their purchases. Prices increase because of higher insurance cost and inventory loss. We all pay more. Shoplifting and theft are crimes against everyone and should not be tolerated.

Unfortunately shoplifting and theft are on the increase. In a sense, it reflects the growing decay in American culture and lifestyle. We see this decay in the political divide in the nation, the growing divide between law enforcement and the people they are trying to protect, the divide between the educated and the dropouts, and those who are hardworking and the non-workers.

Maybe this will serve as a teachable moment. Are we a nation of thieves and shoplifters; living on entitlements paid for by others, or are we able to return to more traditional values of law and order, education; striving for achievement and self-reliance?

The three students apologized and were ashamed of their behavior. They said their behavior did not represent who they were. Let’s hope so. Let’s hope it is a wakeup call for others, too.