Thursday, August 16, 2012
Politcal Mayhem Thursday: On death and Paul Ryan
Today, for your consideration, I offer up two great pieces from friends of mine who have recently begun writing for the religion section of the Huffington Post, where I have been writing for some time.
First up, we have this great piece from my St. Thomas colleague Chuch Reid, titled Paul Ryan's Libertarianism and Catholic Social Thought (I recommend clicking on the link to read the whole thing):
The good king, according to Thomas Aquinas, had to be motivated by charity. Love must animate the way he regarded and treated his subjects, especially the least of his kingdom. Thomas well knew that the great prophets of the Hebrew Bible summoned rulers, over and over again, to show solicitude for the widow and the orphan. Those who had no natural defender, those whose welfare depended upon the kindnesses of others, they were the ones kings were charged most directly to support and assist. For Thomas, this was simply another aspect of the common good that leaders must strive to conserve and promote. For the leader knew that no individual exists in isolation, that civilization is an enterprise lived in common, and that we are in the end all brothers and sisters.
Catholic social thought, as it has evolved ever since Pope Leo XIII issued that great call to action, Rerum novarum, in 1891, both draws from and remains committed to the Thomistic ideal. From Leo's courageous first footsteps to the grand encyclicals of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, the popes have elaborated a rich theology of the state.
The state, the popes recognized, is above all social. It exists for the good of all. It is not a vehicle by which a few are enriched while others are beggared. The popes well understood, furthermore, that private property is never wholly private. John Paul II coined the expression "the universal destination of human goods" -- capturing in this term the realization that all that we have is owed to God, that it must not be used exploitatively, and that we must finally give an accounting of its use before God's majestic throne.
The popes have also insisted that the state has an affirmative role to play in protecting and improving peoples' lives. John Paul II and Benedict XVI have spoken eloquently about the dangers of marginalization. Forcing the poor to the edges of society, systematically stripping them of their dignity, depriving them of the means to support themselves, are social sins that carry social consequences -- from petty crimes to devastating acts of mass terror. The state is uniquely positioned to cure the malady of marginalization through the public services it renders. It teaches, it marshals resources, it regulates the economy. It ensures, in short, what Thomas called fair distribution of social goods. Similarly, the state is called upon to see to the needs of the disabled, the elderly, the frail and the enfeebled -- all of those, in short, whom a modern Thomas Aquinas might class among the "widows and the orphans."
For most of his public life, Paul Ryan has embraced a philosophy that is, frankly, at odds with these insights. Indeed, for most of his public life, he has enthusiastically endorsed the gospel of Ayn Rand.
Second, we have a remarkable article from Jeanne Bishop, titled Gun Violence Victims: Parmjit, Subegh, Satwant, Nancy, and Richard in Oak Creek, about taking her two boys to the Sikh Temple that was attacked by a gunman in Wisconsin (again, I recommend following the link to the entire piece):
The men brought us hot milky tea, served in white Styrofoam cups, and two heaping plates of cookies, one for each of my boys. One man spoke of how his wife had been grazed by a bullet. Another told us of cleaning up the blood, the damage, but for one bullet hole left as a memorial. A third talked of the temple's plans for expansion: they are building an outdoor playground, volleyball and tennis courts, free and open to the public. "We want to bring good out of evil," he said calmly.
I was astonished: anyone else would build a high fence with a security gate, put up razor wire. These people were not closing themselves off; they were opening themselves up. Their response to the taking of their loved ones' lives was to give.
The boys and I were given head scarves and allowed to go into the worship space where a vigil was taking place. Men sat on one side, women on another; our gracious hosts showed us a place in the back where my boys and I could sit together. We held hands and bowed our heads while the sounds of the prayers washed over us.
Those prayers were in another language, but we understood them. They were prayers from the Comforter, the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us in groanings too deep for words, the one who had led us there.
Our Sikh host is right: God will bring good from evil, will overcome it with good.
The Sower has already planted some of the seeds of that victory. "We are so alike, our faiths are," Brendan observed on the way home in the car. "I want to learn more about them." Stephen said, wide-eyed: "Those people were amazing. They were so nice. How could that man think he had a right to kill them?" In the wisdom of youth, it was a rhetorical question; we both already knew the sad, true answer.
Comments:
<< Home
Unfortunately, Thomas Aquinas's message is too challenging for today's America. Paul Ryan recognizes this and is smart enough to capitalize on our weakness.
We wall in and protect our wealth, our homes, our stuff and eventually our hearts. We are missing out on so much opportunity to enrich ourselves and our communities by sharing and caring.
Your statement and both articles have so much meat in them. It makes me optimistic for the future.
Thanks, Dad
We wall in and protect our wealth, our homes, our stuff and eventually our hearts. We are missing out on so much opportunity to enrich ourselves and our communities by sharing and caring.
Your statement and both articles have so much meat in them. It makes me optimistic for the future.
Thanks, Dad
# posted by 
: 2:34 PM
: 2:34 PM
"We are so alike," especially our children - optimism, when voices are not only heard, but listened to (as those above have shared).
Tears of happiness fill my eyes as I envision the encounters Jeanne and her children experienced.
As another school year is about to begin combined with this week's Haiku challenge, I am reminded of a gift (a box of eight Crayola crayons) given to a young Muslim woman beginning a new life journey. She will continue to be guided by "the one who has led us there."
"...Life begins as a child’s first box of crayons, vibrant primary and secondary colors representing the comfort and security of treasured moments - black and brown, shades of cloudy skies on the horizon; the absence of white, supplanted by the light of love.
Life’s journey, when untethered from security of the known, a sojourn through light and darkness, experiences more defining than perceived. We can harden our hearts, unable to accept, embrace and share all that is encountered and offered to us, including the sweet serenity we are promised. Walls and barriers erected to protect often hold back the light resulting in a darkness that diminishes sight, sheltering us from experiences intended to nurture, holding us fast to known valleys blanketed with shadows – adding crayons to our coloring box representing the sullen shades of life.
Or we can embrace our new todays with an open heart, letting light shine through, courageously experiencing life in the moment, nurturing with reverence all its brightness. We can add an array of crayons, the addition of white, creating tints not shades, savoring moments experienced in the light - crayons representing the peace, happiness and joy of life’s journey. Hold your box of crayons close, each color reflects what has been experienced and responded to, to what has been shared.
"...The Sower has already planted some of the seeds of that victory."
Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences - may we tend to the "seeds" you have planted...
Post a Comment
Tears of happiness fill my eyes as I envision the encounters Jeanne and her children experienced.
As another school year is about to begin combined with this week's Haiku challenge, I am reminded of a gift (a box of eight Crayola crayons) given to a young Muslim woman beginning a new life journey. She will continue to be guided by "the one who has led us there."
"...Life begins as a child’s first box of crayons, vibrant primary and secondary colors representing the comfort and security of treasured moments - black and brown, shades of cloudy skies on the horizon; the absence of white, supplanted by the light of love.
Life’s journey, when untethered from security of the known, a sojourn through light and darkness, experiences more defining than perceived. We can harden our hearts, unable to accept, embrace and share all that is encountered and offered to us, including the sweet serenity we are promised. Walls and barriers erected to protect often hold back the light resulting in a darkness that diminishes sight, sheltering us from experiences intended to nurture, holding us fast to known valleys blanketed with shadows – adding crayons to our coloring box representing the sullen shades of life.
Or we can embrace our new todays with an open heart, letting light shine through, courageously experiencing life in the moment, nurturing with reverence all its brightness. We can add an array of crayons, the addition of white, creating tints not shades, savoring moments experienced in the light - crayons representing the peace, happiness and joy of life’s journey. Hold your box of crayons close, each color reflects what has been experienced and responded to, to what has been shared.
"...The Sower has already planted some of the seeds of that victory."
Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences - may we tend to the "seeds" you have planted...
# posted by : 11:01 AM
: 11:01 AM << Home
