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Society's Belligerence
We have entered what columnist Kathleen Parker calls "a political era of uninhibited belligerence," that is finding expression in sermons, at town hall meetings, on radio talk shows, even on the floor of Congress -- especially when we differ. Why are people so angry and belligerent, and so willing to express their anger publicly? Why has our civil discourse become so uncivil? What does this public anger say about our private faith? What should we do about it?
I don't think it's just a "political era of uninhibited belligerence", I think we're in a sociological era of uninhibited belligerence.
In the time since this question was asked, a major sports figure having a meltdown during a tennis match and and a major entertainer being part of a scripted, pre-planned scandalous event, were the most talked about and sought after events on YouTube....not the President's speech on health care or economic recovery; and not only that, but what is most talked about of the President is his opinions on the matter.
Maybe the "new birth" pastor Rick Warren talked about at the Inauguration hasn't actually happened yet, maybe "change" hasn't come yet.
We voted for leaders that we really don't interact with. Even with Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, a White House blog, video updates from the President, and more press conferences in the past 9 months than the past 9 presidencies, we still elect people who live a completely different lifestyle than the average American - which is fine - but that means they are not accessible as mentors and influencers; so who do people look to? They can't all go to an Ivy League school so who do they look up to for how to lead? Who do they emulate as they develop their value systems and social ethics? What happens when they form most of their opinions, attitudes, and behaviors from whatever is readily available? If not from reading a book, then who - Perez Hilton?
What happens when you don't pay attention in high school or college? What happens when you don't have a father or mother? What happens when you're raised on entertainment, and you don't know how to think? What happens when a loud group of people are so heavily influenced by fear on both sides of the political spectrum that they lose the ability to think for themselves? The way I see it, in January, a massive spending bill (that most Americans have NO IDEA the implications of) was created under the pretense of fear. That same pretense of fear is now being used to stonewall health care reform, which is so desperately needed in this country. However, do we just continue to pass massive bills without debate or recourse? Do we need town hall debates, or do we need responsible media clearly giving people the facts - not being a press office for the right or the left?
In short, what i believe is that lobbying has corrupted and is continually corroding the political framework of this republic; and what is needed is a new law.
What we are witnessing is nothing less than the deterioration of society, because at the heart of society is family; and what is at the heart of family is love.
So what is love? A feeling? Just Sex? Self gratification?
I think we all intrinsically know love is gift. Love is sacrifice. Love is a decision.
At the heart of uncivil behavior is a heart rooted in something outside of love, for whatever reason; be it selfish, or fearful; angry or manipulative.
We need to get back to the beginning - we need to get back to love.
With love comes service. With love comes purpose. With love comes meaning, co-operation, listening and humility.
I am my brother's keeper, and he is mine.
Maybe before we can legislate charity, we can integrate it back into the framework of society. The chief agent of that has always been faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love.
By
Matt Maher
|
September 15, 2009; 11:56 PM ET
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Posted by: tony55398 | September 22, 2009 2:23 PM
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The politics of today and the views of right wing Republicism and of some Democrats, verifies Christ's statement that money is the root of all evil, nor is Socialism as practiced in a Democracy, the dirty word they would like us to believe, neither is populism. Capitalism, however is, we have developed a system that has taken the away rights of its citizens and given them to the corporation, the corporation can now dictate to the government, and to the workers what laws and conditions are necessary for its own welfare and the welfare of the citizens of this country. Money talks.
Posted by: tony55398 | September 22, 2009 10:13 AM
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If we want a truly Christian nation than we need one where the corporations and the government serves society, serves the worker, serves our famlies, provides goods and services necessary for lives and our wellbeing, no other reason is required, including the creation of wealth for the few. Why are people angry, because they feel locked out, they gave their time and effort to these corporate giants and these same companies walked away and left them with nothing to show for their work, nothing, no insurance, no retirement the rug pulled out from under. This in a supposedly a Christian nation.