Interesting essay here by Frank Ferudi, author of Politics of Fear: Beyond Left and Right. (ht: Maggie Dawn) Kind of long, but a thought-provoking read. I’m still digesting, but I’m interested to hear your reactions. This passage in particular:
The problem with politically motivated calls for the restoration of a moral dimension to public life is that they are driven by the instrumental purpose of gaining or retaining power. But a morality manufactured in response to the demands of political pragmatism is bound to lack any organic relationship to lived experience, and is thus unlikely to find resonance with the wider public. An unfocused and disconnected oligarchy is unlikely to possess sufficient sensitivity to the day-to-day problems confronting the public. That is why the pragmatic search for a ready-made moral purpose usually turns into an arbitrary exercise in picking and choosing some inoffensive values.
Ferudi seems to be suggesting that any call for the restoration of a moral dimension to public life must be, in essence, politically-motivated, “driven by the instrumental purpose of gaining or retaining power”…and I don’t think I agree. Any thoughts?
Just having read the snippet you included, I would at agree after some initial thought that I would shy from really giving any credibility to calls for back-to-good-old-days-morality from any people group, especially political or religious groups. But then, I’m convinced that at least some of the Repulican Party (the ones most vocally moaning about our current moral state) would love to see this country turned into some sort of Fundie Theocracy. So I guess I’m equating these groups’ calls for more morality with wanting to run things their way (consciously or unconsciously), which would indeed be grasping at power.
I’m curious (since I’m having trouble coming up with any) what groups you’re thinking of that don’t seem to be motivated in this way.
Also, when I think of restoring some sort of moral compass to a large group of people (which I take exception to straight away since 1. I don’t think humans are any more poorly behaved nowadays than they were in the past, so why do we keep harping on it? and 2. imposing a set of accepted behaviors is problematic anyway since there are so many divergent opinions on what is wrong and right - at least on more peripheral issues) I always think of the morality that consists of icky lists of rules (gay people are harming the American family so they Must Not Marry), not the kind of morality that tries to bend folks’ minds towards social justice/equity, helping the needy, etc. and then just letting each other be. I wonder why? Jaded wench, that’s me.
Cerise
Ah, crap. Should’ve read the whole thing before I vomited out that long-ass comment. This is Say Stupid Things Week, mes amis. Feel free to jump in… [slinks away in shame]
Cerise
ah morphea … we’re toooootally used to it by now. no worries
[insert smiley here]
Used to me vomiting out wordy, off-the-point, pretentious, illogical and poorly-thought-out liberal claptrap? Good, I’m glad we’ve gotten that out in the open.
Cerise
Morph, give yourself a little room!
The thing that was most interesting to me about the article was the fact that he was criticizing the Left (of which he is a part)…and the quote I selected did not communicate that at all. My bad.
Still, I don’t think I would fully agree with him, even if were criticizing the Right…I don’t believe that any challenge to the government to create a more just society is necessarily a grab for power.
You’re right. And I thought the same thing as I read it (fully). My two thoughts were: “Damn. He’s so right” because he named like every philosophical vice I carry around as a liberal - rather upsetting to my smug set of beliefs - and “Not a very balanced opinion piece on the whole.”
Really - he did kind of go ON about us liberal loonies for a bit, though I don’t think he was wrong on the whole. It is a little painful to watch the Democrats scrambling now to make the most of their moral high ground, but I’m going to hope for now that they mean well in trying to (you put this well, by the way - better than me or Mr. Ferudi) create a more just society.
Cerise
I just stumbled onto this site while searching for the actual cartoon that is all the rage with muslims in Europe. The cartoon with Mohammed with a bomb in his turbin. I have had no luck finding this cartoon. Anyway great to stumble on some other post-modern followers of Jesus. I will be sure to put this site in my favorites. Back to surfing.