Time for some soul searching
Dear Editor,
The president has been criticizing our country. His critics claim this proves that the president doesn't love America.
What does it mean to love one's country or church or school or friend?
This much is clear: It doesn't mean never criticizing these institutions and the people who control them. If that's a true test of love, a smaller and smaller share of Americans would pass.
Criticizing our institutions to help make them better and stronger is preferable to blind devotion.
Every election cycle, the media chides we the people for not voting. The truth of the matter is that for most voters; "none of the above" is our vote. Most of us see our political establishments as gangs of self-serving crooks and crackpots dancing cheek to cheek; the only thing they produce is a lot of crap.
The Founding Fathers placed freedom of the press next to freedom of religion because the press is the conscience of a community, or is it just a business pandering to our wants rather than satisfying the needs of our better selves?
We've been told that we're obligated to support our institutions, good, bad or indifferent. Criticism is considered unpatriotic, religious, racial, sexual criticism is politically incorrect bigotry.
During this age of moral relativism, we've been told that all opinions are personal; you're right, I'm right, everyone's right. Wrong has been exiled. In your face T-shirt slogans declare, "Just do it!" without any forethought of bad consequences.
Who are these hedonistic preachers of junk values; what are their qualifications? If everyone is right, why are America's most important institutions going to hell? "My beloved political party, or church, or school, right or wrong," but only if right is to be kept right and wrong is to be set right.
Evil is as evil does. A wise man once said evil, or if you prefer sin, is all about love. For example, loving the wrong things such as money or power, or loving God's gifts in the wrong way such as sex or food.
Jesus said, "Love one another as I have loved you." What did he mean by those words? Perhaps during this season of Lent we should do some soul searching!
Joseph Woitko Sr.
Beaver Meadows
