Posted by
Chris Lee Reyes on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 11:00:14 PM
By Chris Lee Reyes
This has undoubtedly been one of the most dynamic presidential races in history, but, anyone that believes that the result of the 2008 election will entirely change the course of the world is terribly naive. Obama winning the presidency does not mean the Armageddon is automatically upon us, nor will McCain’s victory entail our eternal damnation into Dante’s Inferno. As Ronald Reagan famously said: "Politics reflect deep cultural changes." In other words, politics mirror the cultural values of the time and place; they don’t entirely define it.
What will truly define our course in history is our culture, not politics, folks. Obama’s “change we could believe in,” and McCain’s “change you can trust” are completely insufficient. Don’t get me wrong, this election result is pivotal; however, the strength of true morality in our culture is much more important.
Do you really think that the fate of our country and human race hinges on how much foreign policy experience Barack Obama has? Or did you honestly believe that John McCain’s stand against insurgents in Iraq will define the course of moral history? If you answered yes, or a hesitant maybe, then you and your world view have been corrupted.
At this point, the general election has either fascinated or un-fascinated you to death. Like most Americans, you have either been swayed away by rhetoric or have become indifferent to politics. Both illusions are dangerous; they fool you to think that America will not survive because of who sits in the Oval Office.
The reality is that the citizens’ choice of moral direction for the next four years is much more prevalent than that of the rookie senator’s– or the 71-year-old veteran’s– domestic policy.
Politicians kindle the hearts of the voters, they don’t create the voters’ hearts (i.e. Obama would simply approve the pro-choice lobbyists’ values when he keeps abortion legal; he didn’t reproduce them nor teach them their shady values). It‘s the morality of the culture that needs to be fixed. And if our moral understanding continues to dwindle-down the hill like Paris Hilton’s IQ level, then, and only then, can we say we’re in deep trouble.
Now who could possibly make this paradigm shift become a reality? Is it the Environmentalists? Could it be Shaolin Monks? Chuck Norris? What about Martha Stewart, I heard she could fix anything with a frying pan and exacto knife? Well, sure, I guess they could jump on board too, but the answer lies within the historically proven two-hit combo for cultural change: the Church and state.
The Church and state have always been the most essential tools by which to sculpt morality within the culture.In fact, church and state are to culture as Botox and sin are to Hollywood: inseparable. Through the course of American history one can see how Christianity has laid the moral foundations by which the sovereign state can function and prosper.
In the old days, I’m told, most people would value the beauty of Sundays; going to church and spending quality time as a family. Nowadays in the status quo-family's social life, the father dedicates himself to his Fantasy Football results as the kids X-Box their lives away and the mother practices safe promiscuity with the family’s roof inspector and/or plumber.
One of the most remarkable men in U.S. history, former president Abraham Lincoln, summed up this reality with much greater eloquence than I can in one of his most memorable speeches:
“…America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves…”
And destroying ourselves we are, for America today, thy name is wickedness. Looking at the core of America’s moral fiber you can’t help but feel that we are going the wrong direction. The deflation of love for God and country is very alarming. It seems not nearly enough people are willing to take a stand against the massive killing spree of babies (or as most call it: abortion) and the family-value slicing immoral acts of homosexual marriages; all which undermine the traditional values that made this country great.
Of course real change will not allow society to spit at these traditional values and enforce corrupted ideologies that will encourage the destruction of the family institution.
With divorce rates, illegitimacy and abortions skyrocketing as crime rates continue to be associated to the disintegration of the family, one can’t help but want to retain traditional values and forego secularism. And although the naysayers would like you to believe it’s worthless to try and change the culture, I believe Rome can still return to its grandeur.
Once Again, these elections are vital, and I’m not, by any means, advocating that we rip our voter registration slips into pieces and go girl-scouting for Jesus either. But we should, at least, live out a distinguishable morally-sound life with our peers, colleagues and friends; showing them that a life dedicated to something far greater than one’s self is the best alternative; demonstrating how a family instructed in Biblical-based ethics, ultimately, prevails.
Once this becomes more prevalent and the culture is re-solidified by family values, then we’ll see politicians, from both sides of the spectrum, have to adjust their policies. Whenever the church decides to “juice up” the culture with the much needed traditional values, then, we can rest assured that the shape-shifting politicians will establish social policy accordingly. This is my posed two-hit combo to change the world for righteousness.
Because all in all, the real solution to this country’s ever-growing decay is less about who will move into the White House and more about what fills the hearts and minds of the people of a country in flames.