While the following column was published in February 2008, its message remains even more apropos in light of the shameful criminal behavior of radical leftists and others since Donald Trump was elected the 45th president.
The deplorable violence, rioting and looting, much by those widely viewed as Democrat Party leftist supporters and activists, is ugly and regrettable. Such contrived lawlessness also has worn tissue-thin with a majority of law-abiding American adults fed up with the community-organizing-styled hysteria.
It's reached the point where, to me, whatever inexplicable points liberal groups are trying to make by committing crimes are inflicting mortal political damage upon today's Democratic Party.
The late Chicago reprobate and professional agitator Saul Alinsky must be well satisfied by it all. Regardless, I and millions of others no longer see this version as the Democrat Party of J.W. Fulbright, John L. McClellan or John F. Kennedy.
That said, here's the message I expressed nine years ago.
The subtle distinctions that separate the qualities of values and virtues could mean the difference in our nation's survival.
"Family values" is a term adopted by politicians and religious groups alike, all seeking to stake out the most visible ridge atop Morals Mountain. The term is largely synonymous with conservative beliefs and a more wholesome approach to life.
It also is under constant attack today from those who prefer to abandon traditional moral boundaries. These people believe a lifestyle virtually devoid of standards is superior to the imposed constraints of traditional values. As an excuse, they point to a society in which the once-traditional family of mom, dad and a couple of children has largely dissolved into a goulash of blended families and single parents.
I recall being taught not to interrupt adults, to open doors for females, not to lie, to always share and to never cut in line. I wasn't the only child to have such values instilled early in life. But those expectations began changing during the Vietnam War era. We shifted our concern for the greater "us," which provided a heart for American society, to continually satisfying every "me."
Booming technology has fostered the "me" focus. Electronics have allowed us to escape from interpersonal communication into an impersonal world of music, computers, TV and text messages. This loss of meaningful relationships has continued to personalize each individual's interpretation of values. Increasingly, those who cling to the values of decades past are subject to public attack and ridicule.
Under such conflicted circumstances, where do Americans turn to ensure that civility and honor remain in relationships and across their culture?
Which leads me to the intensely personal nature of virtues. They involve a human's capacity to differentiate between proper and improper behavior and a willingness to act on that knowledge. Unlike society's changing values, virtues are either nurtured or ignored solely from within.
This means I'm relentlessly tasked with deciding how honest, faithful, unselfish, kind, forgiving and loyal I am. No other human will dictate whether I choose to be deceitful or truthful. This means I need to be intellectually honest enough not to deceive myself about the motives behind my actions. That can be difficult, particularly if one is accustomed to rationalizing away dishonest behavior.
Therein lies the most challenging aspect to embracing a virtuous life, for in striving toward intellectual honesty, a person must be accountable. However, humans are hard-wired to protect their own interests, which means admitting wrongdoing naturally resists confession. As with most, I've been less than truthful when honesty could damage my interests. Yet even the realization that I have many brothers in dishonesty brings more discouragement than satisfaction.
In the end, I understand I'm answerable for, and to, myself. The point is for our nation to regain self-respect lost from diminished values and virtues, each of us will have to rediscover and restore what virtues we've abandoned. Any cultural restoration of our honor begins within our own closets.
Each must comprehend within our own soul how virtuousness is crucial to preserving the fabric of the country. The center cannot hold if each of us behaves against what we realize are virtuous ways for co-existing with common goals that strengthen our nation.
Lacking integrity in our relationships only destroys faith and what pride we feel for our country's noble ideals. We are left to wallow in whatever mishmash of illusions, lies and resulting mistrust we choose to accept.
Lately, I've reflected on what a virtuous personal life means to me and every other citizen. I decided, as difficult as it might be for me as another flawed person, I'll attempt to live out what existence remains as virtuously as possible.
I hope others will join me, and that any grass-roots effect of so many striving in unison for a restoration of honor and integrity might spread deep into the halls of government and justice. Such dramatic change to benefit Americans who follow can only begin within each of us.
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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at [email protected].
Editorial on 02/05/2017