Tandem Vincitur

This is a reprint from Tandem Vincitur, February 1995:

The other day I received an anonymous letter. I can never understand why someone would send their opinions to anybody anonymously. If there is no name, there is no credibility. However, they enclosed a copy of a newspaper editorial by Andrew M Greeley and marked at the bottom, “You need to read this.” This was underlined. The photocopy did not credit any publication or date. The title of the opinion piece was “A Nation of Christians, or Hypocrites?” Andrew Greeley is a Roman Catholic priest, an author and a sociologist.

He began the column asserting the United States is not a Christian nation. He said this was not because more than 10 percent of the people are not Christian, nor was it due to the Supreme Court legislating a wall of separation. He premised that the unchristianness of this nation is due to the unchristian rhetoric of those who call in to radio talk shows. (more…)

Christians need to be keen that they are neither seduced, nor intimidated, by the world. There is a time to be sensitive - and most of the time, it is not the time. The sinners want free reign, government salvation and they want freedom of speech and thought to be snuffed out - in the name of tolerance and public safety, of course. I do not think Charles Sykes is a Christian, but he has a discernment lacking in most Christians.

Quote of the year - Read and Learn:

“The arguments in favor of sensitivity have moral weight and they deserve to be taken seriously. but I think the nature and tragedy of this sort of therapeutic politics, victim politics, is that it takes these legitimate concerns and it distorts them for self indulgent ends. Because the real canker is the insistence that its is not enough to behave correctly; one must be attuned to the feelings of others and adapt oneself to the kaleidoscopic shades of grievance, injuries and ego that make up subjective sensibilities of the victim. So the relationship between individuals and groups is not mediated by neutral respect or by principles of justice, but must now be cast solely in therapeutic terms. By that I mean the only thing that matters is the avoidance of hurt, injury and offense. You need to sacrifice for the self-esteem of others.

“Now, superficially, this resembles Christian charity. But I think that as a series of mandatory attitudes it’s something else altogether. And it really comes down to our understanding of naked egotism. Naked egotism is the imposing of one’s likes and dislikes and subtle prejudices and whiny annoyances of the self on others. It’s my saying, because I want something, you must want it as well. If I am hypersensitive about something, my feelings should govern your behavior.”

- Charles Sykes, Ideology of Sensitivity

copyright 1999, Dean Isaacson

My life was passing before my eyes. As I was holding the rod, I could see through the calm water a large fish ready to grab the bait. I had just earlier picked it up only because it was lying on the dock, unattended, with the hook in the water. I could picture some big denizen of the deep grabbing the hook and dragging the whole apparatus to the bottom of the sea. However, I never suspected that a fish would come if when picked up the rod.

Richard was busy setting tackle for the newly-seasoned Jon DeKeles, when I handed the rod off to him. He hollered at me to set the hook and reel him in. But I forced the gear into his hand as I calmly explained that Ryan had not yet returned with my license. “Besides,” I continued, “it wouldn’t be right. The rod and reel are yours.” (more…)