Posted on 09/28/2017 7:42:51 AM PDT by Salvation
Among the losses in our declining culture is that of “common” or shared spaces and events. In these situations, Americans could come together and enjoy some degree of unity and common purpose. Usually they involved diversions like sports, movies, or other entertaining and uniting activities. Whatever political, religious, or cultural differences, Americans could set aside their differences and enjoy something together.
These were times when people left their politics behind and enjoyed things common to everyone. Here in Washington, D.C., political divisions could run deep, but come Sunday the stadium was filled with united Redskin’s fans, especially when we played Dallas. Even if some rooted for “the other team,” it was all in good fun. Fans of things like Star Wars and Star Trek might be in different political parties, but they could enjoy talking about their favorite characters and episodes. On July 4th, it was great to be an American regardless of which political party we favored; there were parades, fireworks, and the reading of the Declaration of Independence. We could visit the Disney of more innocent times and watch the Main Street Electrical Parade, shoulder-to-shoulder with people of all shape, sizes, colors, and beliefs.
These and others were common or shared spaces where we could all have a good time and forget our troubles and divisions, even if only briefly.
Such spaces and occasions are disappearing, one by one. Everything these days is being politicized. In the football world, the latest kerfuffle over our National Anthem (another thing that used to unite us) is only the latest in a series of attempts by players, owners, and sports networks to inject politics into the game. Football players and coaches are lecturing to us; sports anchors opine, the PC crowd pores over Super Bowl commercials looking for any sign of offense, the Super Bowl halftime shows reek of the sexual revolution. Blech!
Actors, actresses, and singers wag their fingers at us, issuing political speeches and injecting social commentary at the Grammys, Oscars, and Emmys. Do we really care what some celebrity’s political stance is? Do we need to hear how much they like the sexual revolution? Must they weigh in on the latest cause célèbre? Even the opening monologue is some sort of tirade against someone or an opinionated lecture delivered in the bubble of a like-minded crowd who seem to have little understanding of how condescending it all sounds. Gone are the days of good old-fashioned movies that entertained and/or elevated us. Everything has to have a message—usually an attack on traditional values or a foray into our political divisions. This was the very thing we once turned to entertainment to escape.
Victor Borge once said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” But today even comedy has been infected with politics and the hypersensitivity of political correctness. What makes things funny is how they often stereotypically capture a truth. Yes, it is exaggerated. Yes, it pokes a little fun. Yes, it plays to expectations, though sometimes with a surprising twist. Today we’re not “allowed” to laugh at much of anything. We’ve become so thin-skinned that we’ve lost the ability to laugh at ourselves. Comedy has also become rife with sexual banter that makes it R-rated, and one-sided attacks that reflect its politicization.
Columnist Ben Shapiro has this to say:
America needs to take a breath from politics every so often. Football is one of those breaths.
Hollywood and pop culture would do well to remind themselves that if they don’t want to alienate half their audience and exacerbate our differences, they can allow us room to breathe. The Super Bowl [once] did that … So much for that rosy notion. The NFL has become ground zero for the culture wars. Which means that we can’t see movies anymore, watch TV shows anymore, or even watch sports anymore without feeling that we’re being judged. That means our common spaces are disappearing. And we have so little political common space already that cultural common space was our last relic of togetherness.
Here’s the bottom line: this conflict isn’t good for the country. We need our shared symbols, and we need our shared spaces. Both of those elements are being destroyed for political and ratings gain. If that doesn’t stop, we’re not going to have anything at all in common anymore [Ben Shapiro, writing in “The Daily Wire”].
While this issue is not a Christian one per se — it is a wider cultural one — Pope Benedict XVI diagnosed its deeper roots when he spoke of the “tyranny of relativism.” Relativism is a form of subjectivism which shifts the locus of truth and reality from the object to the subject. Because subjects (people) differ in their perceptions, the truth is then claimed to be relative. This leads to tyranny, however, because when we can no longer point to reality and reason to make our point, we are left with shouting and pressuring. Who wins when reason and reality itself are jettisoned? Those with the most money, power, and influence; those who are loudest; those who are fiercest; those who are willing to go to extremes to force their opinion. When reason and God’s reality are thrust aside, the loud, the powerful, the arrogant, and the extreme get their way.
Amusement parks, movies, parades, and even the gridiron cannot withstand the politicization; it is forcing its way onto the field and into everything. Common spaces are fewer than ever; everything today is a bitter dispute. Blech!
Here’s a video from another world, long ago.
Monsignor Pope Ping!
The reason politics matters so much is that our government tries to do so much - and we now have a way to talk about it.
Back in the 1800’s, your only contact with the federal government was the mail man. It is now a major part of our lives and highly impactive. It’s worth talking about. And social media gives us a way to do it.
We all decry a seemingly loss of common sense.
Mark Steyn recently pointed out that it’s impossible to have COMMON sense when there no longer is a COMMON culture.
The basis of culture after all is it’s values and without shared values you can’t have a shared or common sense of how to do things.
So common sense is another victim of multiculturalism and a divided culture.
Plus we have conservative talk radio.
The good news is the left have had their rear ends handed to them on November 8, 2017 with election of one Donald J. Trump as President.
“While it was a slow, incremental path to where we are now . . .”
The road to Obama was paved with good intentions. Not all of his supporters were sincere, but many really thought everyone would get something for nothing. It’s only a small fraction of the Left who realize what they are voting for and support it anyways.
I love Monsignor Pope, both because he writes logically and eloquently and because he usually sticks to his area of expertise. If he believes the NFL shenanigans require comment, a first in many years for him, that says something important. I suspect this conflict will have lasting impact, not just on the NFL’s endurance/profitability but also on social cohesion and religious life in America. We may end up even more divided than I was expecting.
Multiculturalism is working just fine IF the standard is ‘how much money are third world types making living in the United States vs how much would they make in their home country"?
If the standard is "quality of life for Americans" then it's a different and very sad story. We were sold out by the elites for the sake of ‘cheap labor’ and extra democrats... not more complicated that
Good news.
The southern is being built.
Great article...Msgr. Pope is right on target. I have been trying to explain these things to younger family members who have become too politicized. I will send them this article.
Southern what?
FR's own ProgressingAmerica details much of the Progressive movement's agenda and the imposition of that agenda historically in some of his own writings.
America's citizenry needs to be informed through every means at hand about the insidious history of what began in the late 1800's as a group of self-declared "liberals" who published an agenda for just the purpose described in this thread.
Nothing about their agenda was secret: the agenda simply was ignored for decades and decades--almost as if American citizens didn't care that there was a movement under way to "change" America in a "fundamental" way.
Does that "fundamental change" phrase sound familiar?
The words, "the Left" mask, and are totally inadequate to the task of unmasking the bold and determined individuals who, since the late 1800's, have brought us to where we are.
Now is the time for those who care about the Founders' ideas of liberty to search the history of "the Progressive movement" and to understand the perverse ideology which motivates that movement.
And, finally, an Excerpt from the "Centennial Thanksgiving Sermon" (1886) (of Declaration of Independence) by a Black Ohio Legislator and A.M.E. Bishop Benjamin W. Arnett on "The Greatness of America"- Note that this Sermon is delivered only a few years after the end of the Civil War by this outstanding scholar/legislator/Bishop.
"Let us see what it is that makes us so great; wherein lies our strength. What has made us one of the greatest powers of the earth, politically and intellectually? Have we come to the conclusion that it is Righteousness that exalteth a nation? We have met to-day at the request of the President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, and also the Governor of our beloved State, Rutherford B. Hayes. For what? Why call us from our homes? Why come to the house of God? Why not go to the hall of mirth and to the places of amusement to-day? No that is not what they want us to do. We are commanded to go to our 'several places of worship, and there offer up thanks to Kind Providence which has brought our nation through the scenes of another year, and blessed the land with peace, plenty and prosperity.' Then as Americans we have reason to rejoice and congratulate ourselves on the greatness of our beloved country; at this the close of the first hundred years of experimental government of the people, by the people, and for the people. To be a citizen of this vast country is something, and to share in its privileges and duties is more than something." - Dr. Benjamin W. Arnett, 1876 "Centennial Thanksgiving Sermon" - Library of Congress - African-American Section
A significant section of the above-quoted message, delivered only a few years after the end of the Civil War, contains a section which addresses what Arnett called "Dangers to Our Nation" from self-described "Liberals," along with that group's published "Agenda." Readers of this thread will be surprised to read that Agenda and compare their concerns of today to the declarations contained therein.
The Southern Wall!
It's taken all the fun out of being a contrarian.
Excellent article!
Thank-you and God Bless!
This is what the Left wants... America fractured and collapsing.
It is getting hard to see imago Christi in my encounters with people.
Very, very hard.
It’s more like slogging through mud.
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