Today is a time for the relevance of James Russell Lowell's poem, "Once to every man and Nation" which has been used as the basis for a familiar Protestant hymn.
"In Moral Man and Immoral Society, Niebuhr argued that while individuals may act out of conscience, nations and political movements are driven by power. Evil is not defeated by moral appeals alone—it must be actively opposed."
Thanks for the terrific article. Looking forward to the next one.
Gosh I thought you were talking about Democrats until I read on. All you said could be applied to the last four years. You think you deal in "facts". I know that you have actually not probed to the ends of issues. How can I state this? I have voted blue my entire life in Minnesota. Voted for Walz for US House and Governor. After the pandemic I started substitute teaching and was confronted with the fact that things I believed to be true didn't like up with what I was actually seeing inside the schools. I took an entire school year to test my beliefs against reality. That what I considered to be kindness is actually the most unkind thing there is. I voted Trump. My husband voted Trump because we now know what is actually going on in our country. But you will read this and think I was brainwashed. I became a conspiracy theorist. I am a racist, full of hate. I know what you will think because I was you. People have stopped being my friend. Not one has asked me how a person can change their entire world view over the course of a year. It is just easier to think I was brainwashed. How many people change their worldview? Have you ever tested your with an open mind? No need to answer. I know what you are thinking.
"After the pandemic I started substitute teaching and was confronted with the fact that things I believed to be true didn't like up with what I was actually seeing inside the schools. I took an entire school year to test my beliefs against reality."
I am sincerely interested in what you'd been believing while voting for Democrats and how those beliefs appeared unfounded during the teaching experience you had during the pandemic.
I'm betting the odds that you'll not convince me nor I you but, needless to say, those of us who voted for Hillary, Biden, and / or Harris (and I've been a registered Republican for most of my life) ALL have friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers - known throughout decades as being good, morally serious people, who voted for Donald Trump.
And it's driving us CRAZY! <smile>
So your own experience would be helpful (at least to me, probably to others as well).
Today is a time for the relevance of James Russell Lowell's poem, "Once to every man and Nation" which has been used as the basis for a familiar Protestant hymn.
Once to every man and nation,
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision,
Offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever,
’Twixt that darkness and that light.
Then to side with truth is noble,
When we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit,
And ’tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses
While the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue
Of the faith they had denied.
Have not yet read it but I will and respond.
As a seminary graduate I'd certainly say you picked two great role models to start.
Bill B (Bethlehem, PA)
"In Moral Man and Immoral Society, Niebuhr argued that while individuals may act out of conscience, nations and political movements are driven by power. Evil is not defeated by moral appeals alone—it must be actively opposed."
Thanks for the terrific article. Looking forward to the next one.
Gosh I thought you were talking about Democrats until I read on. All you said could be applied to the last four years. You think you deal in "facts". I know that you have actually not probed to the ends of issues. How can I state this? I have voted blue my entire life in Minnesota. Voted for Walz for US House and Governor. After the pandemic I started substitute teaching and was confronted with the fact that things I believed to be true didn't like up with what I was actually seeing inside the schools. I took an entire school year to test my beliefs against reality. That what I considered to be kindness is actually the most unkind thing there is. I voted Trump. My husband voted Trump because we now know what is actually going on in our country. But you will read this and think I was brainwashed. I became a conspiracy theorist. I am a racist, full of hate. I know what you will think because I was you. People have stopped being my friend. Not one has asked me how a person can change their entire world view over the course of a year. It is just easier to think I was brainwashed. How many people change their worldview? Have you ever tested your with an open mind? No need to answer. I know what you are thinking.
"After the pandemic I started substitute teaching and was confronted with the fact that things I believed to be true didn't like up with what I was actually seeing inside the schools. I took an entire school year to test my beliefs against reality."
I am sincerely interested in what you'd been believing while voting for Democrats and how those beliefs appeared unfounded during the teaching experience you had during the pandemic.
I'm betting the odds that you'll not convince me nor I you but, needless to say, those of us who voted for Hillary, Biden, and / or Harris (and I've been a registered Republican for most of my life) ALL have friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers - known throughout decades as being good, morally serious people, who voted for Donald Trump.
And it's driving us CRAZY! <smile>
So your own experience would be helpful (at least to me, probably to others as well).
Regards,
Bill B (Bethlehem, PA)