The Necessity of Conviction

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relativism-meme

 

“We are moving towards a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as certain and which has as its highest goal one’s own ego and one’s own desires.” – Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Relativism is the concept that points of view have no absolute truth or validity, having only relative, subjective value according to differences in perception and consideration. – Wikipedia (that glorious and all-knowing resource…)

Relativism. The idea that there is nothing that is absolutely true. The belief that, “what may be true for me, may not be true for you!” Perhaps the most dangerous ideology of our time.

Relativism is so dangerous because it is so easy. It is so easy to hide our principles away when we might become annoyances, or unpopular, perhaps even hated for them. Therein lies the trap. Even Hitler was passionate about his damnable cause, and even suicide bombers burn for their beliefs – literally. But relativism offers us an easy way out; it gives us the ability to say – in the finest tradition of certain politicians – “personally, I believe that this is wrong, but I’m not going to push my views on anyone else.”

It’s a lure, to “go with the crowd” because so many people just can’t be wrong!

itsatrap

Now, of course, distinction must be made between subjective and objective truth. “My lady is the most beautiful woman in the room,” may be subjective (well, at least for all of you (I jest (lolz no, seriously))), but I think we can all agree that, “Woman is the definition of beauty,” is an objective truth (and I will defend this). Just so, “Ubuntu is better than Windows and OS X,” or, “Broadswords are better than Katana,” are subjective and therefore relative, but, “I think, therefore I am,” and, “nothing comes from nothing,” are objectively true, no matter what anyone else thinks to the contrary.  Just wanted to clear that up (I’m just waiting for someone to say “Well those ‘objective truths’ may be true to you, but I don’t believe so!” (air quotation-marks included)).

We see a lot of relativistic thinking in our world today. Perhaps the best example of this is Vice President Joe Biden’s, “Life begins at conception; that’s the church’s judgment. I accept it in my personal life; I just refuse to impose that on others.”

Isn’t it so tempting to utilize that mindset in our daily lives? “Well, I believe that cheating is wrong, personally, but it would be presumptuous of me to give my buddy a talking-to about his habit of flirting around.” etc.

Of all slopes, relativism is the most slippery. One day you’re saying, “personally, I believe trying to redefine marriage is wrong, but I’m not going to impose that belief on others,” then the next day it’s, “I’m personally opposed to incest, but who am I to judge?” and the day after that, “polygamy is wrong in my eyes, but I won’t enforce that in the lives of others,” and so on.

All law and order is based on the objective Truth of Natural Law. Why is killing “bad”? If I were to be born with desires to kill a man, would it be right for me to do so? I hope that anyone reading this would answer with a resounding no. But why? Because murder is objectively and completely wrong. The problem with relativism is that there is no such thing as an absolute truth, so it holds that murder – and by extension, every other reprehensible act – is not absolutely wrong.

As I was thinking this over, it occurred to me that as soon as we get to a relativistic view of murder, we are in real trouble.  Then it hit me: we’re already at that point, and past it.  Hello, abortion.

“Personally, I am against the crushing of skulls, suctioning of brains, snipping of spines, ripping off of appendages, and clean-up-by-vacuum of whatever we did to that thing (that always seems to magically turn into a human baby when we pull it out naturally) that inexplicably got inside and began to grow inside this poor woman’s womb, but I can’t impose those beliefs on others.”

Isn’t that the most horrific thing?  If you knew that ^this^ – which is legal as described above in the United States of America – is actually socially acceptable, would you not be outraged? Welcome to reality.

This is not a post meant to defend the objective truths that I have mentioned above (maybe some other time).  This is simply meant to highlight the necessity of conviction.

If we hold something to be true, then it is our duty to defend and uphold that truth.  Though perhaps less defensible in a court of law – there is something more honest in doing something wrong while believing it to be good, than doing good while believing it to be wrong.

Is there anyone who would not be deemed a coward, who simply stands by and allows a murder, or theft, or rape to happen before him without protest?  Good zombies man, wake up!  We are compelled to speak up when we see wrong because it is the right thing to do.  To do anything else is the height of cowardice.

This is the cowardice that relativism glorifies, because it holds personal desires as the absolute authority.  It says, and causes us to say “You decide what is right and what is wrong for yourself!  You decide what is truth and deception!”  With this, every defense, every law, every fact of life is undermined.  How can murder be absolutely wrong if there is no absolute truth?  If I am driven to kill by an “uncontrollable desire” to murder, does not relativism vindicate me? I would have only been doing what was right for me!  We have laws against murder set in place by the people.  Is murder suddenly allowable if the people desire to overturn those laws? No!

This isn’t to say, go out and pick fights with everyone you disagree with.  This is to say that our actions need to be consistent with our beliefs. No more of this lukewarm business.  If you are against abortion, then fight abortion furiously.  If you believe that the Catholic Church is wrong, then be furiously against the Catholic Church.  Be passionate in your convictions, but seek Truth; always seek Truth.  Better an honest adversary than a false friend.

The reason that Samurai liked to leave the spying and assassinations to Ninja (however cool Ninja may be) is because they perceived duplicity as supremely dishonorable and cowardly.  This excerpt from the 1911 edition of the Boy Scout Handbook says it well: “It is horrible to be a coward. It is weak to yield to fear and heroic to face danger without flinching.” We are called to greatness, but there is nothing great in wavering vacillation.

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May God grant us the grace to defend Truth passionately, courageously, and charitably.

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Thank God for #Gosnell

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No.  This is not satire.

While I was reading about this case today and last night, I began to realize just how low our society has fallen.  To kill our children?  In the place that they should have been the most loved and protected?  To violate and destroy the miracle of Life?  True, I have always had a much higher level of awareness compared to the country in general, but this affected me in a way that nothing else has before.  I was furious: how could anybody do this?  And I began to wonder whether this man did not deserve to be put to death himself.

But then I talked to my friend.  I didn’t really want to talk to her about Gosnell; I had already lost something just reading these stories, and I didn’t want to taint our conversation.  We talked for an hour or so, a few texts back and forth since we were both busy, but it helped.

Ah zombies.  This post isn’t to say that Gosnell was right or justified in what he did.  No, his actions were some of the most vile crimes against humanity.  However, I am still thankful for him, because if I didn’t I would begin to hate him.

The response to his actions is proof that God can pull good out of the most evil things, and this is why I am thankful.  An unprecedented response on Twitter, Google +, and Facebook, all aimed at raising awareness and forcing the mainstream-media to cover Gosnell’s trial.  All of a sudden, people are seeing some true stories of abortion; people are asking themselves, “why is what Gosnell did (committing infanticide out of the womb) considered to be so different from regular abortions (committing infanticide within the womb)?”

It would of course, be so easy to hate Gosnell, his staff, all abortionists, and everyone else who has perpetuated this kind of society.  And of course, NARAL’s narrative, that Gosnell is what happens when we restrict abortion is complete BS (if you’ll pardon the acronym).  I mean, c’mon, if you’re so disgusted by snipping babies’ necks outside of the mother’s body, what makes doing it inside the womb okay?  I guess the thing is, hatred won’t get us anywhere.  But clear, reasonable, and charitable truth will.

*facepalm* my God, my God, have mercy on us.  I guess the point I’m trying to make, if there’s a point at all, it is to remember to trust God.  He will bring good out of the most vicious, brutal, evils.

On some level, I pity Gosnell, because what did he have to go through, what guidance did he miss out on, for him to take such a path?

I am thankful for Gosnell because out of the evil that he has committed, so much good has been done and so many people’s eyes have been opened.

Abortion is this generation’s Holocaust.  God grant us the grace and courage to fight against it, and may we use this to open our society’s eyes to the reality, horror, and brutality of abortion.

I just hope we can all remember that we all need mercy, and we should all treat each other with charity, even when a man has acted as Gosnell has.

Surgimus!

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habemuspapamfranciscum2

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum;
habemus Papam:

Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum,
Dominum Georgium Marium
Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Bergoglio
qui sibi nomen imposuit Franciscum

Thanks be to God!  We have a Pope!

Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

If Pope John Paul II was the match that set the modern Church alight, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI the mortar that shored up our teachings, may Pope Francis be the gale that feeds the fire, blows down every old prejudice and misconception, and carries the seeds of service around the world.

I am a youth, and I do not desire a Church that follows the world, for there are enough of those.  I desire a Church that will lead the world.

I will have the Church that proclaims the dignity of Man, the sacredness of the nuptial meaning of the body, the beauty of nature, and the Love of Christ.

I will have the Church that remains rooted in the traditions of Christ, whose Truth remains constant through every age.

I will have the Church that stands unwaveringly for the child in the womb, the downtrodden citizen, the dying elder.

I will have the Church that roars with the voices of the Saints!

May the coming of a new Pope breathe new life into Christ’s bride.

As his namesake did, may Papa Francisco inspire the Church towards service, humility, and a deep love and appreciation for all of God’s glorious creation.

May God and Our Lady remain in our Holy Father.  May St. Joseph guide and protect him in his role as Vicar of Christ.

Project Sammich Printer…

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and parking in reverse, and crossing arms and gesturing, and patches, and Eagle Scouts, and choir, and teams, and competitions and introducing yourself to the judges, and strange people and family members, and Adoration and March 17, and fire, and how dryers were created for lint, wet firewood, and bonfires, and the conspiracy between Boy Scouts and the inventors of drying machines, and poking, and the Great Gatsby, and how I’d get punched in the face if I tried to walk through that door, and the absurdity of purple belts, and how belts should not look like candy and be put into a candy canister thing, and how Krispy-Kreme is awesome for having a window to let you watch donuts getting made, and how my brother likes Manalive more than *other* people, and Gryph and Alan and an unbiological sister’s family, and the 2011 New Liturgical Year party, and flying through rafters and keys and King’s Island, and responsible teenagers, and rides, and ninja-jumping along the tops of pews, and points!

A: 2

H: 1

Yes, we have the best conversations…

Monthly Review – February 2013

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This month should have been dubbed the month of Scouting…

  • 2.5 – Roundtable discussion with the new Lodge adviser
  • 2.9 – Council Eagle Court of Honor
    • Sweet zombies this was awesome.  A ton of us Arrowmen took an entire row to ourselves and made sure to cheer for our guys as they came up.
  • 2.10 – Heroism at Scout Ski days
    • So three of us were heading down The Far Side when somebody fell and hurt their leg.  Of course, being the scouts we are, we unclipped from our skis, I ran up, kept the kid calm, and then helped him down the rest of the hill.  Then Josh skiied all the way to the main lodge, then back to get help.  It was actually pretty great, because the kid ended up fine!  Good stuff, I think that the guys reacted well.  I was especially proud of Josh for moving so fast to get help.
  • 2.13 – Ash WednesdaySt. Baldrick’s Head shave & Tsungani Chapter meeting
    • http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/pacopatag <- go there, go there now!
  • 2.16 – Lodge Lock-in
  • 2.19 – Good Scout Award Luncheon
    • This was probably one of the biggest highlights of the month.  I delivered the “Youth Keynote” for the Council Good Scout Award Luncheon.  It was a fantastic experience for me, and meeting Paralympian Rudy Garcia-Tolson and many other people from the Council.  It was pretty cool when a man said that he thought I had truly done a fantastic job with my speech, and then proceeded to reveal that he was associated with the Dale Carnegie institute.
  • 2.20 – LEC
  • 2.23 – Klondike and FOS
    • My Troop brought home second place out of fifteen teams, despite the mean age being 13 years old, and pulling an 80 lb sled.  Capture the Flag was especially awesome.
    • My Dad then decided to take us to his FOS presentation immediately after Klondike, where we got to help him.
  • 2.24 – FOS
  • 2.25 – Troop meeting
    • We welcomed about 10 scouts to our Troop and had a great time in our new patrols getting to know each other.  Great stuff.
  • 2.26 – Spring Camporee Planning meeting
    • In which God helps me figure out a way around the conflict between my district’s OA Call Out ceremony and the Homeschooler Prom
  • 2.27 – FOS

Maybe I’ll write individual posts for a few of these…

Open Letter from Columbine Survivor Evan M. Todd: to President Obama on Gun Control

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Mr. President,

As a student who was shot and wounded during the Columbine massacre, I have a few thoughts on the current gun debate. In regards to your gun control initiatives:

Universal Background Checks

First, a universal background check will have many devastating effects. It will arguably have the opposite impact of what you propose. If adopted, criminals will know that they can not pass a background check legally, so they will resort to other avenues. With the conditions being set by this initiative, it will create a large black market for weapons and will support more criminal activity and funnel additional money into the hands of thugs, criminals, and people who will do harm to American citizens.

Second, universal background checks will create a huge bureaucracy that will cost an enormous amount of tax payers dollars and will straddle us with more debt. We cannot afford it now, let alone create another function of government that will have a huge monthly bill attached to it.

Third, is a universal background check system possible without universal gun registration? If so, please define it for us. Universal registration can easily be used for universal confiscation. I am not at all implying that you, sir, would try such a measure, but we do need to think about our actions through the lens of time.

It is not impossible to think that a tyrant, to the likes of Mao, Castro, Che, Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and others, could possibly rise to power in America. It could be five, ten, twenty, or one hundred years from now — but future generations have the natural right to protect themselves from tyrannical government just as much as we currently do. It is safe to assume that this liberty that our forefathers secured has been a thorn in the side of would-be tyrants ever since the Second Amendment was adopted.

Ban on Military-Style Assault Weapons

The evidence is very clear pertaining to the inadequacies of the assault weapons ban. It had little to no effect when it was in place from 1994 until 2004. It was during this time that I personally witnessed two fellow students murder twelve of my classmates and one teacher. The assault weapons ban did not deter these two murderers, nor did the other thirty-something laws that they broke.

Gun ownership is at an all time high. And although tragedies like Columbine and Newtown are exploited by ideologues and special-interest lobbying groups, crime is at an all time low. The people have spoken. Gun store shelves have been emptied. Gun shows are breaking attendance records. Gun manufacturers are sold out and back ordered. Shortages on ammo and firearms are countrywide. The American people have spoken and are telling you that our Second Amendment shall not be infringed.

10-Round Limit for Magazines

Virginia Tech was the site of the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Seung-Hui Cho used two of the smallest caliber hand guns manufactured and a handful of ten round magazines. There are no substantial facts that prove that limited magazines would make any difference at all. Second, this is just another law that endangers law-abiding citizens. I’ve heard you ask, “why does someone need 30 bullets to kill a deer?”

Let me ask you this: Why would you prefer criminals to have the ability to out-gun law-abiding citizens? Under this policy, criminals will still have their 30-round magazines, but the average American will not. Whose side are you on?

Lastly, when did they government get into the business of regulating “needs?” This is yet another example of government overreaching and straying from its intended purpose.

Selling to Criminals

Mr. President, these are your words: “And finally, Congress needs to help, rather than hinder, law enforcement as it does its job. We should get tougher on people who buy guns with the express purpose of turning around and selling them to criminals. And we should severely punish anybody who helps them do this.”

Why don’t we start with Eric Holder and thoroughly investigate the Fast and Furious program?

Furthermore, the vast majority of these mass murderers bought their weapons legally and jumped through all the hoops —  because they were determined to murder. Adding more hoops and red tape will not stop these types of people. It doesn’t now — so what makes you think it will in the future? Criminals who cannot buy guns legally just resort to the black market.

Criminals and murderers will always find a way.

Critical Examination

Mr. President, in theory, your initiatives and proposals sound warm and fuzzy — but in reality they are far from what we need. Your initiatives seem to punish law-abiding American citizens and enable the murderers, thugs, and other lowlifes who wish to do harm to others.

Let me be clear: These ideas are the worst possible initiatives if you seriously care about saving lives and also upholding your oath of office. There is no dictate, law, or regulation that will stop bad things from happening — and you know that. Yet you continue to push the rhetoric. Why?

You said, “If we can save just one person it is worth it.” Well here are a few ideas that will save more that one individual:

First, forget all of your current initiatives and 23 purposed executive orders. They will do nothing more than impede law-abiding citizens and breach the intent of the Constitution. Each initiative steals freedom, grants more power to an already-overreaching government, and empowers and enables criminals to run amok.

Second, press Congress to repeal the “Gun Free Zone Act.” Don’t allow America’s teachers and students to be endangered one-day more. These parents and teachers have the natural right to defend themselves and not be looked at as criminals. There is no reason teachers must disarm themselves to perform their jobs. There is also no reason a parent or volunteer should be disarmed when they cross the school line.

This is your chance to correct history and restore liberty. This simple act of restoring freedom will deter would-be murderers and for those who try, they will be met with resistance.

Mr. President, do the right thing, restore freedom, and save lives. Show the American people that you stand with them and not with thugs and criminals.

Respectfully,

Severely Concerned Citizen, Evan M. Todd

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“We know that devils sometimes quote Scripture and counterfeit good; why should not angels sometimes come to show us the black abyss of evil on whose brink we stand?”

- Evan Maclan, The Ball and the Cross, by G.K. Chesterton