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| Joe Bakewell. |
THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN
ETHIC
There are
many autocracies in the world where an existing ethic needs to be replaced for
the purpose of keeping the autocrats in power. These countries seem to follow a
familiar pattern wherein a group of bureaucrats define, and attempt to
implement a new ethic, becoming corrupt individually and collectively in the process.
A strong man, or small group, takes over.
Prime
examples of this sequence would be: Russia, starting with the revolution in
1917 and continuing with growing corruption and one strong man after another to
the present. China is another. Mao Zedong started a communist regime at the end
of WW2 that continues today under Xi Jinping, who’s still seeking to stamp out
corruption.
When I was in
grammar school, I attended both Catholic and public schools. For grades 4-6, I
attended P.S. #3 in a small town, Coytesville, N.J. As far as I know, there
were no Jewish kids in town. At the start of every day, we pledged allegiance
to the flag and recited the ‘Our Father’.
At Christmas,
we staged a ‘nativity’ play. A role as one of the three kings was cherished. I
never got one. I was so tall, they preferred to hide me in the background.
For grade 7,
I went to Fort Lee High where I met my first Jews. They made an impression; the
boys dressed in jackets and ties, and the girls were similarly turned out. And
I was no longer the smartest kid in the class. We all stood for the pledge of
allegiance and the ‘Our Father’. The Jewish kids remained silent for the
latter.
None of the
above was considered unusual, or controversial. We all had the same frame of
reference—the Judeo-Christian Ethic. As a country, we’ve been operating under
this ethic from the very beginning. We never thought about it; the ten
commandments appeared on public buildings; “In God we trust” on our currency;
and we still take oaths on a bible.
In recent
years, there’s been a concerted effort to stamp out the Judeo-Christian ethic
and replace it with one defined by our political leaders, who, as I’ve pointed
out in many previous essays, are corrupt.
They, and
their followers, seek to eliminate any religious expression from our public
life and to subjugate free speech to political correctness. They’ve thrown out
due-process and find people guilty as charged for certain crimes such as
pedophilia, sexual harassment, and racism. Many feel that our constitution is
obsolete, and that public-opinion should guide our legal system.
No doubt, we
have many unresolved problems in our public life; a more unified approach to
solutions would be helpful—possibly essential.
I’m reminded
that one of the greatest Americans of the 20th century, Martin
Luther King, did not call for a change of ethic. He called for a stricter
adherence to the one we had.
Where are we
in the process of changing our ethic, and who gains?
With our
government dominated by special-interest corruption, can we possibly come
together on this, or any significant issue? Or, are we doomed to be constantly
at swords point by disingenuous politicians, special interests, and compliant,
sycophant media?
Funny, I
can’t see how to fix anything without getting rid of corruption first.
Can
you?
Joe Bakewell
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