Shout it from the rooftops!
Posted on 12/10/2006 5:56:47 AM PST by ConservativeStLouisGuy
As Christmas approaches people like me are expected to write columns about the horrors of saying "Happy Holidays," about the attack upon the traditional Christmas and about how dreadful it is that Nativity scenes are banned from certain shopping malls.
All of that may be true. But as much as we should be less materialistic and more faithful and religious, I'd like to make another plea as we enter the Christmas season. Be more judgmental.
In the name of all that is good and holy and right and precious, be more judgmental.
Now let's sort out our definitions here. Don't preach one thing and do another because that would be dishonest. Don't condemn that of which we are also guilty because it would be hypocritical. Don't look to judge when we can do otherwise.
But call a sin a sin and a crime a crime and never confuse morality with manners and compassion with sentimentality.
Nowhere is this more obvious than in the area of sex and sexuality. We're told we should now call prostitutes "sex-trade workers" and strippers "exotic dancers." But they're not. They're prostitutes and strippers. And "Johns" are fornicators.
We use the real, genuine descriptions not to degrade women who sell their bodies and remove their clothes for money but to degrade and denounce the professions themselves. A prostitute may or may not be a good and fine woman but she is behaving in a manner that is certainly not good and fine.
This cult of the euphemism is like a disease. It sickens our understanding, it weakens our defences, it upsets our sense of truth. And if anyone thinks words don't really matter they're not only foolish but clearly wouldn't object to having their mother called a filthy name.
We wouldn't, for example, suddenly call a torturer a Pain Operative or, more pertinent perhaps, describe a pimp as a Sex Enabler.
Words are vital and they can be used as weapons. Which is precisely why the liberal elites are trying to change what we call those who sell and cheapen sexuality as if it were a mere commodity. Sex is more important than that. It is the loving, and life-giving, expression of care, pleasure and empathy for another person and not some vulgar physical spasm.
Okay, so maybe you're still with me. Let's see if you stay. Marriage is not living together and a common-law marriage may be common but it's not a marriage. It goes without saying, of course, that while homosexual couples may be happy and loving, they can never be married in spite of what politicians and legal zealots try to tell us.
Still with me? Right. If you tell lies you're a liar. If you steal you're a thief. If you betray your spouse you're an adulterer. If you use drugs for fun you're pathetic. If you believe in unjust wars you're a coward and a bully.
If you support abortion you believe in killing unborn children. If you're indifferent to the poor and the Third World you're a selfish wretch. Still there? Doesn't matter.
Any attempt to legitimize what is by nature illegitimate does not make us a more fair society but merely a less honest one.
We need a restoration of stigma. We need to reintroduce the concept of sin. We need to become more judgmental.
Merry Christmas.
BTTT
I agree with the primary point of this article, and oddly enough, I had just made this point in a post last night, so it was interesting to see it in this.
My point is that society views being judgemental as being something bad. I say that being judgemental is necessary for a well ordered and moral society.
That said, is there room for discussion on various issues? There had better be.
In particular, the sentence jumped out at me "...If you believe in unjust wars you're a coward and a bully..." Which "unjust wars" is this person referring to? The current conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan? Because if he is, this conflict is one of the most moral and just things this country has ever engaged in. If I have to choose a side on the basis of that one sentence, then I am choosing the other side of whatever side this person is on.
I like Michel Coren - except when he coddles the lefties he has as guests...but that could be me wanting him to go for the throat. I guess that's why he has a show and I don't.
Many in the world who are attempting to silence any protest against depravity and evil by stigmatizing the protesters' "judgmentalism" - have the most to fear from being judged for their inaction against, and thus acceptance of, depravity and evil.
Thanks for posting and Merry Christmas.
I agree...that "unjust war" line kind of threw me for a loop too...usually Mr. Coren is spot-on in his analysis, but I too wonder what he meant by that...in toto, though, the article was very good and to-the-point....I too wish he'd elaborate on that "unjust war" thingee...
Agreed. I do not subscribe to a monolithic view on things, but that does not mean I am a moral relativist. (the mere mention of that phrase just puts me over the edge)
If one had to take a knife and cleave liberals from conservatives, moral relativism might very well be the place where the separation would occur.
The best example of this is that many liberals do not believe that there are "evil" people, only evil governments, situations and "root causes" that make them that way.
Many conservatives believe there *ARE* evil people in the world, and explaining away their evil by addressing "root causes" does not make them any less evil.
I sure could have used this piece of truth the other day while Free-ping here at FR.
This is a good and, factual piece of work but, no matter how hard you try, you can never convince the moderates and the liberals of truth.
I have found in my 63 years on this planet that if a person doesn't believe in the Holy BIBLE but, would live their life according to its dictates they would have lived a good life.
Everything man needs in living a peaceful live is in this Book, the BIBLE.
I, as an individual have used it as my guide and, it has helped me through many difficult times.
You can search around the term "just war" and read many discussions of the theory.
It is rather difficult to find a purely reasoned discussion on google- most of the articles cited on google are anti-war screeds using the just war theory to bolster one sided views against President Bush's decision to forcibly remove Saddam Hussein and attempt to rebuilt Iraq.
I did have a good site on Just War theory at one time but cannot find it right now- here is a discussion for starters.
http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList163/D9DAD4EE8533DAEFC1256B66005AFFEF
The line itself is correct, and logically neutral. No sane person is in favor of "unjust war". However, in today's PC culture, while logically neutral, the term "unjust war" is ideologically loaded (aka a code word) in favor of the leftist agenda. Including it was fine, but he should have balanced it with "and if you strap a bomb to yourself and blow yourself up along with innocent women and children in order to "further your cause", your're a terrorist and a murderer, not a freedom fighter".
Yes, I agree. You stated it very well in your last sentence.
In and of itself, the phrase in isolation is not problematic.
It is the current usage and context that makes it troublesome.
Very good!
Refreshing!
John.7:24
[24] Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Yeah, God isn't relative or cofnused!!!
On the contrary. That's ALL sex is. LOVE, on the other hand, is far more abstract. Where the two keep company, the experience is transcendental. Where they become separated, as in the case of homosexuality or prostitution, it is mere carnality. The distinction is critical.
If you're indifferent to the poor and the Third World you're a selfish wretch.
The problem comes in what form that "indifference" takes. If my compassion is obligated to take the form of a financial instrument, then call me indifferent. But if by "caring" you mean "willing to teach a man to fish," then I probably care as much as anyone.
Any attempt to legitimize what is by nature illegitimate does not make us a more fair society but merely a less honest one.
Hear, hear!
We need a restoration of stigma.
A tool far more powerful than law. And one that any citizen can wield.
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