Weekly Thought – July 16, 2024
Fred regularly challenged himself and others to “keep current.” His reminder to leave the “used to’s” behind struck home as colleagues and friends aged. Living on past experiences solely limits relevance. Choosing what one would wish it to be rather than what it is was considered by Fred to be a waste of time. This excerpt from a Highland Park Presbyterian Elliott class lesson in the 1980s proves principal-based thinking is timeless and timely.
Fact or Fantasy
No matter how beautifully or reasonably a situation is defined it is no more than fantasy if not based on truth. I am particularly impressed at this time with all the politicians vying for the presidency. They are telling us of the panaceas they can provide if elected. They list all the major problems and tell us they will solve them once they are in charge of the government. They have made one big miscalculation. They have the wrong concept of human nature.
Humanity is flawed and cannot be perfected by governmental programs. Welfare, no matter how well intentioned, that does not require individuals to be responsible will create perpetual dependence.
Once I fortuitously had breakfast with the well-known commentator David Suskine the morning after he debated Bill Buckley (who cut him to ribbons). Suskine, however, maintained a gracious spirit. I opened up the breakfast by saying I admired his attitude my politics were conservative. I asked him, totally aware and respectful of his intellectual capabilities: “How does a man as learned as you take your political and philosophical position?”
“In order to be a liberal you must first believe in the basic goodness of man,” was his reply.
I told him with that statement he gave me a complete understanding of his position. I went on to say I believed in the doctrine of man’s original sin. He said, “That is a horrible thought.” I asked him if it was a thought or a fact. Sometimes in order to control a subject we will rename – and misname – it.
I further told him that if I believed in the basic goodness of man than I would freely support education, and financial aid as the solution to social ills. But if humanity is basically sinful and we provide privileges without responsibilities we could create monsters. I feel many of our programs fail because we do not understand the sin nature of humanity.
The imperfectability of humanity is a fact. Programs built on the basic goodness of humanity is built on fantasy. Faulty conclusions are the natural result.
This week think about: 1) How clear am I in my fact v. fantasy thinking? 2) Where does wishing alter the actual situation? 3) How much time have I spent thinking about the nature of man?
Words of Wisdom: “Humanity is flawed and cannot be perfected by governmental programs.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5 NET Bible)