Tuesday, April 14, 2015

As Relevant as Today’s Headlines

In an opinion piece for The Claremont Independent, Taylor Schmitt waxes eloquent about “How Campus Progressives Ruined Liberalism for the Rest of Us”. 

Coming from a self-avowed leftie and supporter of the legalization of both marijuana and gay marriage, it’s an interesting read. Mr. Schmitt is obviously not about to embrace conservatism, but his lucidity and willingness to call a spade a spade are bound to create serious distance between him and his fellow liberals.

Among his more candid statements:
“… despite my overwhelmingly liberal political leanings, the progressive movement has made me embarrassed to identify myself as a liberal.”
How we self-identify isn’t a problem for many Christians. We often hold strong political views, but many among us recognize that our primary allegiance is not to the current world order. Sure, it’s far too easy to set our minds on earthly things but, like Abraham, on our best days we look “forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God”. 
 “I am struggling to come to terms with this new reality wherein sticking to an objective view of the facts is considered a conservative trait.”

It is unfortunate and wrong to be unfairly labelled simply for displaying basic personal integrity or traditional journalistic ethics, but we Christians have been getting labelled for centuries.

The difference is that I’m not sure what reward Mr. Schmitt can look forward to for his integrity.
“In fact, though they would have you believe they merely support truth in journalism, many liberals openly disregard the truth — and criticize those who don’t — when it conflicts with their worldview.”
This is something about which many of us have more than a sneaking suspicion, but it’s nice to see one of their own admit it candidly (again, he’s going to pay for this, sadly). But it ought to motivate us to consider carefully what sorts of liberal media influences we allow into our homes unchecked. You and I may be well equipped to parse a stream of unremitting propaganda. We may be adept at discerning fact from fiction. Our families may not be, unless we are prepared to provide a running commentary for their benefit.
“Unless my fellow liberals learn to stop shoehorning every situation to fit the narrative they are trying to construct, the left of tomorrow will be made up of individuals who are unable to distinguish their beliefs from reality.”
Yet another feature of modern liberalism anticipated by the prophets:
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
Isaiah wrote it almost 27 centuries ago, but it’s as relevant as today’s headlines.

No comments :

Post a Comment