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To the Editor,
I thoroughly enjoyed Rob Denham’s excellent article on the philosophical difference between liberals and conservatives. In essence, the problem is similar to Bible believing Christians; belief is one thing, promulgation another, but the toughest is being true to it!
Not only are we at odds with our “human nature,” but in our political realm, the system is stacked against those who honestly want to do good. Our freedom (our right) to speak has been so broadly interpreted that it means just about anything including money, which takes precedence in our nation’s capitol. So we can easily rationalize our integrity into oblivion and be blinded to our own corruption because our intention is to “do good.” That is the reality of our current political system and why James Traficant, in his last address to the House before being escorted to the door, was -- “this house is nothing more than a house of prostitution.”
Much in life is polarized, not just our politics. A common polar opposite is perceiving our lives as gifts versus being owed, entitled or having a right to. We are inundated with rights. We have the right to housing, to food, to a decent job, to medical care, etc. I once commented to a cashier I was happy the price of gas had come down. She enthusiastically exclaimed, “It’s our right!” I have previously railed against the greed of big oil, but don’t think cheap gas is a right any more than housing, food or medical care.
I was drafted in 1966 with a beginning pay of $68 a month. I ended as a buck sergeant at $235 a month! I took advantage of the GI Bill for college, and I have taken advantage of the VA for medical care. I am thankful for both. I look at them as gifts from a generous nation, not as rights. If the VA were to be disbanded, I would not feel cheated. I feel fortunate it was given to me. Just like the times when I did not have health insurance and needed medical attention and the doctor’s staff negotiated discounts for me, sometimes considerable, because of the exorbitant pricing. Those were gifts, not just monetary, but more importantly, gifts of the good-hearted with good will.
This is what we are losing sight of in this country when we see too much of life as a “right” -- the fundamental understanding that life is a gift, as well as our talents, our health, our families, our faith, our friends, our freedoms, our natural resources, our opportunities and the goodness and the good will of others.
Blaise Hogan
Weirton