Comments on: Charity And Priorities http://larison.org/2008/01/17/charity-and-priorities/ n. the principle of good order "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:17:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: black sea http://larison.org/2008/01/17/charity-and-priorities/#comment-8660 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:40:26 +0000 http://larison.org/2008/01/17/charity-and-priorities/#comment-8660 ". . . apparently our resources are as infinite as the ever-multiplying “interests” that the Gersons of the world discover for us in every problem around the world." Gearson seems to be enamored of the parable of loaves and fishes, without recognizing that this was a miracle, and not policy position. Mere mortals are not expected to tackle all the ills of the world becuase we are, well, mere mortals, not gods. One is not under obligation to do that which is beyond one's power to do. What's more, and though I'm not terribly religious, I believe that Gearson's understanding of Christain faith lacks a dimension of the tragic, and that is a gaping absence indeed. Regardless of what we do, or don't do, here or elsewhere, men and women will die. All of us will die, and with death will come suffering and loss for those who survive us. We cannot prevent this. There is nothing we can do to erase this. This is an essentail, inescapable fact of life, as true aimd the chaos of Africa, as on the streets of Detriot, or within the luxurious apartments surrounding Central Park. A rejection of Gearson's ethos is not an argument for indifference, but rather for humility grounded in mortality. “. . . apparently our resources are as infinite as the ever-multiplying “interests” that the Gersons of the world discover for us in every problem around the world.”

Gearson seems to be enamored of the parable of loaves and fishes, without recognizing that this was a miracle, and not policy position. Mere mortals are not expected to tackle all the ills of the world becuase we are, well, mere mortals, not gods. One is not under obligation to do that which is beyond one’s power to do.

What’s more, and though I’m not terribly religious, I believe that Gearson’s understanding of Christain faith lacks a dimension of the tragic, and that is a gaping absence indeed. Regardless of what we do, or don’t do, here or elsewhere, men and women will die. All of us will die, and with death will come suffering and loss for those who survive us. We cannot prevent this. There is nothing we can do to erase this. This is an essentail, inescapable fact of life, as true aimd the chaos of Africa, as on the streets of Detriot, or within the luxurious apartments surrounding Central Park. A rejection of Gearson’s ethos is not an argument for indifference, but rather for humility grounded in mortality.

]]> by: OldNewEngland http://larison.org/2008/01/17/charity-and-priorities/#comment-8631 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:37:41 +0000 http://larison.org/2008/01/17/charity-and-priorities/#comment-8631 This makes a good case for just how much the Democrats sacrificed by making a sharp left turn in the cultural arena. The Boomer Dems ran the party flat into the ground by scaring off Social Gospel liberals, who just couldn't abide by sharing a party with abortionists and same-sex marriage cheerleaders, but who have zero problem with spending public money on "good works." They were a critical element of the long perished New Deal coalition, and their departure helped end liberalism's dominance of American politics . . . http://beaconopinion.blogspot.com/2008/01/bush-liberal.html This makes a good case for just how much the Democrats sacrificed by making a sharp left turn in the cultural arena. The Boomer Dems ran the party flat into the ground by scaring off Social Gospel liberals, who just couldn’t abide by sharing a party with abortionists and same-sex marriage cheerleaders, but who have zero problem with spending public money on “good works.” They were a critical element of the long perished New Deal coalition, and their departure helped end liberalism’s dominance of American politics . . .

http://beaconopinion.blogspot.com/2008/01/bush-liberal.html

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