Ameritopia: The Fight for Culture

Another perspective about about what America faces by Father Jonathan Morris:

Some have said the outcome of this election was all about Iraq. I don't think it is so simple. Large numbers of Republicans have proven themselves untrustworthy in character and policy. In their tenure as majority leaders in Congress, they have done some good things, but they have vacillated in their stated priorities. They have failed to push forward the confirmation of important judgeships, truncated integral immigration reform, and most recently, were weak on social ballot initiatives like the Missouri stem cell research amendment and mandatory parental consent for minors seeking abortions.

The deeper problem is not policy. It is the superficial nature of political discourse. Republicans have set themselves up as the pro-life, pro-family party, and its platform promises to protect both. But much like the Democrats, its members have been unconvincing in explaining why they believe what they do. When is the last time you have heard a politician explain why life is precious, and why it is sacred? When is the last time you heard a politician give a discourse on the origin and foundation of human rights? When have you heard a Congressman or Senator lay out a reasoned explanation of a just war, given the new type of unconventional enemies?

This dumbing-down of politics is both a consequence and cause of cultural decline.

Amen, Father. This is what I've been trying to get at yesterday and today. While mired in the minutiae, big ideas ("A city on the hill"), big themes, and big reasons have given way to a mechanical and ideals-devoid series of policy arguments.

This is very un-American.

We went to Iraq initially to save ourselves preemptively from a ruthless man, with a record of nefarious behavior to those within and without. We stayed in Iraq because of a big idea: that people who are free are less likely to throw the blessing of freedom and life away for any ideology once they've had a taste of it. The Middle East watches Iraq. Secretly they hope for success even while they work for its failure. If it succeeds, what then? Iraq's neighbors must choose, too.

We keep the government small (low taxation, low pork, low entitlements) because we believe in the supremacy of the individual over the government. We believe in the common man and distrust lordship that comes with big government.

We believe in self-reliance. We know that doing for others what can be done for themselves is a soul-sucking endeavor that robs the individual the will to triumph over inevitable adversities.

We believe in taking risks. And, we believe in second chances. Punitive laws discourage risk-taking that forms the foundation of American entrepreneurship.

We believe that God created all men equal. That includes unborn babies, the sick and disabled. All life has value and must be preserved. That precludes certain "choices" like abortion, euthanasia, Embryonic Stem Cell research and cloning.

Because we believe that God created all men equal, policies like Affirmative Action must discontinue. Successful people of all races, creeds, genders and abilities find themselves diminished because of the assumption that they wouldn't succeed without unfair treatment.

We believe we are a country based on Judeo-Christian traditions. The Bible is the foundation of this knowledge. Our definitions of God, family, marriage, can be found in the Bible. This culture and tradition is not to be taken lightly--it has resulted in the most free and prosperous country in the world. That is no accident. We redefine America at our own peril.

Father Jonathan is right. Do we fight for our culture, of our shared ethos, or will it die? To live, one must have the will to live, one must have the reason to live and one must be willing to defend the self from predation.

America fights for a Culture.