Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Not the "Party of Death" but of an impoverished view of life

Wilfred McClay writes (On the Square/First Things, August 21, 2006):

Although I have tried mightily, I cannot find much merit in the idea that there is a “party of death” at work in American politics. It seems to me that this formulation states the problem wrongly...

I have to agree. Read the rest to see why. He's got some wonderful observations, I think.

hat tip: Open Book

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good article. I think I agree too...but it's early and I'm still a little groggy. :) How's that for having a firm opinion?

Thanks for the photo link. I'm glad you found as much delight in my spider as I did!

Anonymous said...

Yes, author McClay has written an excellent piece on a subject that needs airing-- to the NEA, it seems first, and then, to parents.

I do appreciate the medical nightmare he addresses, but his thoughts are even more pertinent to the sterility to which we condemn our children. They cannot live in exile.

McClay observes wonderfully:

"We are already too much a culture of rights-talk, and the individualism inherent in rights-talk does not help us understand one of the most important facts about our moral development: We are deepened and made better—more fully human—by the experience of yielding to duties and burdens and inconveniences, and making good on our obligations to others, especially in relations, such as those with our families, that are not voluntary, not revocable, and that have played a crucial role in defining who and what we are."

This must lie at the heart of any true education, which means our public education is flagrantly morally criminal.