Fitz,
Thanks for sharing your perspective. I’d like to see what some others think about this, also.
I don’t particularly care for people who like to get on their high horse and dwell upon perpetual rants, making a crusade out of it. I do think that merely ignoring them may ultimately be the best route as such types are usually seeking to get a charge and just draw attention to their platform, anyway. That said, I guess that I do get a bit concerned about some from the other end who can sometimes get overly defensive of any criticism (even when there may be a worthwhile perspective to be offered), unless such criticism or commetary is in agreement with one’s own biases.
As someone else already noted, this is primarily a
Catholic discussion board. That might mean that certain things in American culture and our tendency to look at all things from an American worldview (or some ideology within that worldview) could well be challenged even from our very Catholic roots. If a leading light like Cardinal George can comment upon how we here in the States are all influenced by a longstanding Calvinist culture which imbues the American spirit, then perhaps there is at least something to be heard out.
What we have to be careful of is not believing so heavily in how necessarily “good” we must certainly be, that we subconsciously end up taking a “my country right or wrong - and we’re never wrong” attitude. For that goes beyond virtuistic patriotism to scandalous and corruptive nationalism. I’m one of the biggest U.S. patriots you’ll find. But I’m not a nationalist. As such, I’ll sometimes make interesting observations and critiques about America (even strongly and perhaps damningly so), noting where I do think that we have failed, are shortsighted or self-indulgent, parochial, and even bad. Though I like to also balance that, when I can, with a hopeful sense of how we can ultimately come through it for the better and find that this is also in our spirit. I try to recognize both sides in all of their brutal and ugly or upbuilding and beautiful honestly. We’re not always glorious saints. Certainly, we are’t all bad, either. We can’t go to extremes and be taken seriously. However, too often we are truly all too human sinners with weaknesses and faults. Offering a sugar coating doesn’t pull the wool over anybody’s eyes, and actually makes us look bad, if not decietful; seemingly living in a world of self denial, feel good propoganda. Admitting to our weaknesses, however, makes us stronger as it offers us integrity and gives us an opportunity to grow and change for the better. Of course, often we’ll disagree about just what the faults are and what is not a fault at all; possibly a virtue. So, in that, I suppose will be room for much debate.
In the end, then, if somebody wants to rant, I figure it might be best to just let them rant. It may be worthwhile to dialogue with them, when necessary and possible, but not to perpetually fight over essentially the same things to no end. If each party is interested in coming to a better understanding and forwarding some common interest, generally speaking, that’s good. But if all someone wants to do is win an argument, I don’t know if it is even very effective to explore this route. Besides, those people who will come around just to proselytize their perceived gospel and taunt their own boogeymen by throwing stones, then may well end up looking like the fool to the average and honest observer if we just let them.
I can hold my own in most arguments and will sometimes dedicate myself to a lengthy discussion. But I often find it worthwhile to just step back from such a debate and let it take care of itself. Often, you’ll be surprized at just how well it moves along without you involved. Make your point
once, perhaps clarifying briefly, or rebutting genuinely new material if there’s something that you think needs to be said that hasn’t. But then let it drop. Otherwise, the whole mess (and a mess is what it often becomes) ends up as a self fullfilling and perpetuating nightmare, building steam upon itself rather than becoming diffused. God will take care of things, ultimately, it something truly needs to be addressed. Sometimes I think that certain people just enjoy fighting, however, and are almost scrupulously zealous about putting down their seeming enemy. I’m not sure how productive that is and wonder if it isn’t actually counterproductive more times than not. My experience, at least, tells me that it usually isn’t worth my time and I can find more important things to do, effecting better results, without too much trouble.