Inconvenient Ideals

"In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these.”

-- Paul Harvey

I was saddened to hear that Paul Harvey died today. I have often enjoyed his commentary and his wit. After I heard, I searched for a quote on which to springboard a post and stumbled upon this gem. Though obvious, it is said as only Mr. Harvey could say it.

We would do well to remember this simple truth as we continue to see our economic system unravel. It is not the first time, neither will it be the last time that such a thing has occurred. Although I am as concerned as anyone else about the economics, especially families surviving layoffs and retirees watching their IRAs dwindle to nothing, I am far more concerned about something that took me, I must admit, completely by surprise. Those of us who indulge in philosophical musing, and, perhaps naively, marry our musings to current events, often speak of American pragmatism. However, over the past few months, it has finally dawned upon my rather slow mind that pragmatism is the heart and soul of our culture. It comes as naturally to the American as barking does to a dog. When hard times befall us, we are willing to drop our ideals and ideology faster than a hot coal. "We have to do something", we are told, even if doing "something" means flushing our national heritage as despised refuse. We are told this is not a time for ideals, it is a time for solutions. Again, to the American, this sounds patently obvious, almost axiomatic. Yet, as we slow down, step back, and take a deep breath, I wonder how the integrity of a nation can be preserved if ideals are not upheld during difficult circumstances. After all, free speech, for instance, must be protected only when the speech in question is not to our liking. Popular speech needs no protection. Subversive speech does. Or, as another example, the principle of the free exercise of religion can only be considered a moral, political ideal if it applies to religious practices which cause us a bit of angst. Tame, polite religion and the religion of the majority need no protection. This is likewise true of our idealistic heritage of small, extremely limited government. It is when times are tough, when it looks like we need a savior, when the baser part of our nature calls for the state to come to our rescue, that we must hold our ground, shod our feet, and withstand the onslaughts of misfortune. That is simply the natural cost of liberty. If we are going to be a free people, then we must be willing to be a people that will weather storms by our faith, our ingenuity, our spirit, and our resolve. If we, as a people, run to the shelter of the state, we may be a bit warmer and drier, for a time, but we will all be lesser men for it. Many years ago, a man named Esau sold his divine inheritance for a pot of porridge. He was hungry after all. What good would a blessing do to fill his stomach? Blessings are just words, just ideas, they don't solve any real problems. Of course, what he didn't bother to understand was the "useless" blessing was the most precious spiritual treasure of the ancient world. For all time, he is remembered in Judaism and Christianity for his profoundly ignorant foolishness. I cannot help but wonder if Esau was really an American born in the wrong century and the wrong continent.

Honor, Liberty, Truth!