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Pride as American as Apple Pie
Google the word Pride and you will find close to 7 million entries. Extrapolate company names, books, productions and works of art from the list and the digital portal affirms the myriad of applications that accompany and embrace the womb of sinfulness.
Pride is not just an emotion or as Thomas Aquinas stated in Summa Theologica, the root of every sin. Pride is the great motivator for 21st Century success and accomplishment. While humility lays dormant hidden in the closet of archaic virtues; Pride strides down the catway as a model for all to admire.
Pride did not emerge from the idea we call America but, undoubtedly, this anti-virtue is as American as apple pie. Pride embraced slavery, while humility gave birth to abolition. Pride fills the coffers while humility weeps for the children in Darfur, Iraq and the third world. Pride tortures, while humility applies justice. Pride spends, while humility shares. Pride looks inward and says believe in yourself. Humility looks upward and says, “Believe in something greater than self”. Pride walks upright, shoulders back, and eyes straight, while humility kneels down, head inclined and ears open to advice. Pride seeks recognition, while humility seeks righteousness.
Pride stems from the union of success and self-accreditation. However, pride never stands alone. Pride engages in flirtatious activity with envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth, yet arrogance always seems to draw closest.
Why do great empires and the vast majority of corporations and relationships fail? Pride. Pride walks down the runway of the 21st century human stage, meanwhile humility stands poised to appear at the precise moment where arrogance falls, pride collapses and Grace renders a silent introduction.
By
Samuel Rodriguez
|
January 19, 2008; 6:54 PM ET
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Posted by: mec | February 12, 2008 5:52 PM
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Dear Rev. Rodriguez,
Greetings! I saw your interview with Bill Moyer and agree and support your stand that America needs to come together and work towards justice and righteousness. You said the Hispanics are in favor of life and against abortion. But what you seem to have overlooked is that our young women, Hispanic young girls, have the highest suicide in America. Is there a relationship? I hope you can address this issue and find a solution.
Thank you very much,
Max.
Posted by: Maxmillan | February 8, 2008 11:51 PM
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Yet the two most murderous regimes in history were run by atheists who followed a system of thought in which nationalism was frowned upon...
Posted by: Garyd | January 20, 2008 7:15 PM
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Can anyone say that any of the seven deadly sins are more deadly than national pride and religious pride? These two have sparked more "win at all costs" conflicts than any other. History has shown us that we are willing to do unspeakably evil things to each other, even when we know that they are evil, to make sure that our, so-called, “way of life” is protected. It seems that national pride and religious pride has become the same thing, and that has, in the minds of some religious groups and nations, justified the participation in un-just wars.
Posted by: johnfrombama | January 20, 2008 12:51 PM
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Can anyone say that any of the seven deadly sins are more deadly than national pride and religious pride? These two have sparked more "win at all costs" conflicts than any other. History has shown us that we are willing to do unspeakably evil things to each other, even when we know that they are evil, to make sure that our, so-called, “way of life” is protected. It seems that national pride and religious pride has become the same thing, and that has, in the minds of some religious groups and nations, justified the participation in un-just wars.
Posted by: johnfrombama | January 20, 2008 12:47 PM
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Can anyone say that any of the seven deadly sins are more deadly than national pride and religious pride? These two have sparked more "win at all costs" conflicts than any other. History has shown us that we are willing to do unspeakably evil things to each other, even when we know that they are evil, to make sure that our, so-called, “way of life” is protected. It seems that national pride and religious pride has become the same thing, and that has, in the minds of some religious groups and nations, justified the participation in un-just wars.
Posted by: johnfrombama | January 20, 2008 12:47 PM
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There are you know two kinds of pride one is quiet, one is showy. One says look at me the other sits back and considers what it has accomplished and judges it by the light of Gods word and says, "It is good."
The Bible I think speaks more in terms of the former rather than the latter. I think in terms of hubris more than pride. And keep in mind whatever else selfishness is at the heart of every sin. With out selfisness there cannot be lust for Gold food sex or anything else.
Posted by: Garyd | January 19, 2008 11:04 PM
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"Yet the two most murderous regimes in history were run by atheists who followed a system of thought in which nationalism was frowned upon..."
do you care to name which regimes you are talking about?