A Fourth of July reflection: With independence comes responsibility
As we celebrate Independence Day, we're also moving toward more government regulation. But as individuals we need to look at regulating ourselves.
As we pause to celebrate the Fourth of July this weekend, it is against the backdrop of troubling realities. There is the continuing recession and its corollary, high unemployment. In real terms that means millions of people without work, struggling to support their families and uncertain about their future. And there is the oil spill, continuing to spew into the Gulf of Mexico, with long-term consequences we do not yet know.
So as we are celebrating Independence Day 2010, there is new agreement about a need for regulation. The President hopes to sign a bill regulating Wall Street to mark the Fourth. It’s an interesting juxtaposition, independence and regulation. Emotionally, perhaps spiritually, our bias is for the former. No one sets off fireworks to celebrate regulation. But independence always does exist in tension with other values, whether dependence, regulation, or responsibility.
Years ago the psychoanalyst and concentration camp survivor Erich Fromm argued that Americans needed another statue alongside the Statue of Liberty. He said we needed a Statue of Responsibility.
After the decade that began with accounting scandals of Enron and Worldcom, followed by the initiation of two costly and continuing wars, the collapse of banks and financial institutions, the recession, and now the Deepwater Horizon disaster, we may have concluded that the reigning wisdom — “No regulation is necessary, the market is self-regulating and self-correcting” — isn’t adequate. The time has come for regulation. There is debate about just how much regulation, and whether government can be trusted to regulate well and wisely.
But effectively regulating energy traders, corporations, banks, investment firms, and oil companies, important as it may be, strikes me as only part of the challenge. What about self-regulation? Is it time for Americans to rediscover the wisdom of restraint and of limits? Is there a need for strengthening not just regulations, but character?
Judith Warner raised similar questions in a recent New York Times article. “What remains to be seen, as we move forward into . . . ‘a new age of regulation,’ ” wrote Warner, “is whether this new spirit of control and reform will carry over into the American psyche? For in the anything-goes atmosphere of our recent past, it wasn’t just external controls that went awry; inwardly, people lost constraint and common sense, too.”
While it’s not easy to figure out what level of regulation of banks and corporations is workable and wise, it’s probably a lot easier than trimming the sails of a culture given to excess. Or to put it a different way, how does moral formation happen in 21st-century America, or does it? Do we think it necessary? If we do, who is doing it or going to do it?
For a long time there was an alliance of institutions engaged in moral and spiritual formation: the family, churches and other religious congregations, schools, and in some measure government. That alliance has weakened, if not disappeared altogether.
And yet, we are a country and culture riddled by the problems that stem from a deficit of character and self-regulation. From widespread obesity, to emotional and violent outbursts, to parents gone AWOL, to uncontrolled spending and accumulation of personal debt, the list is legion. Immense SUVs and sprawling McMansions with a TV in every room are the outward symbols of the disease. A widespread sense of entitlement may be an inward expression of a culture that has little use for self regulation.
As a religious leader, I think churches and other religious institutions have something to answer for here. Too often in recent decades, religion or “spirituality,” our revealing preferred term, has gone soft on hard and hard-won spiritual and ethical wisdom. Too many religious institutions have embraced happy talk, prosperity gospels, and personal spiritual experiences, but lost the capacity to speak of character and moral formation, the manifold temptations of life and of responsibility. Words like “duty” and “sacrifice” seem quaint. The prevailing wisdom has been that of the consumer culture, with church worship transformed into entertainment and theology into therapy.
There is a kind of philosophical issue lurking here. For a long time now, our operative assumption has been some version of that of the 19th-century Romantics, on the order of, “The individual is pure and good but gets screwed up by society.” So we must “do what’s right for us,” “express and be ourselves.”
A longer theological and biblical tradition that has informed western culture for centuries has a different starting point and assumption. It begins with the idea that the self is distorted and requires formation. Yes, I can hear readers yelping in protest. And yet the latter perspective is, I would argue, a truer account of reality, of the human condition. This tradition taught, with some success (and many failures), the wisdom of stability and modesty, the values of sacrifice and service, and the need for self-control and self-restraint.
After the array of icebergs that our national ship has run into in the past decade, is it possible that there may be renewed interest in moral and spiritual formation as well as social responsibility? There’s some hint of that from those who study generational characteristics and markers. Neil Howe and William Strauss, writing in the Harvard Business Review in 2007, concluded that the Millennial generation (born 1982 – 2001) are more community focused and institutionally minded that the generations before them, the so-called Boomers and Gen-X. I see some evidence of this in religious congregations and communities.
I will spend the Fourth with friends who have a tradition of reading the Declaration of Independence aloud, taking turns reading several sentences each. I actually find it quite moving. Reading the Declaration reminds us of core national values and past struggles.
Even as it reminds us how much we value independence, it also reminds us that managing independence requires self-discipline and strength of character.
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Comments:
Posted Sat, Jul 3, 6:43 a.m. Inappropriate
Anthony Robinson the statist.
Why don't you take a serious risk and write about how our moral character has been influenced by removing prayer from the schools?
You also need to put national problems in perspective. The generation that fought WWII was up against far greater threats than today. The nation was self destructing prior to the Civil War.
Sprawl is a subjective term. One mans sprawl is another mans dream. And what's a McMansion?
You're not going to get self-discipline and strength of character with more guv regulation.
Posted Sun, Jul 4, 2:40 p.m. Inappropriate
Growing up isn't learning to do what you are told, it is doing the right thing without having to be told what it is....
Posted Mon, Jul 5, 10:34 a.m. Inappropriate
"After the array of icebergs that our national ship has run into in the past decade, is it possible that there may be renewed interest in moral and spiritual formation as well as social responsibility?" Right on, Tony, there had better be!
Posted Mon, Jul 5, 7:53 p.m. Inappropriate
I find so many aspects of this article disturbing, starting with: "As we celebrate Independence Day, we're also moving toward more government regulation."
I fail to see how Independence Day and government regulation are the least bit related. The declaration of Independence celebrates the end of British rule by Kings and Queens not freedom from government regulation. Government regulation has nothing to do with it. If anything, it's the opposite. By breaking away from British rule, our country CREATED a new government. If anything, it's a celebration of having our own government.
People's hatred of our government has reached senseless proportions. It's like a child saying that just because their parents denied them their allowance or grounded them that the concept of parents and family should be eliminated. But that seems to be where many in our country have moved to.
Posted Mon, Jul 5, 9:28 p.m. Inappropriate
It is really depressing to be reminded that Republicans (or tea partiers, who can tell the difference now) think that the supposed diminishment of our moral character is due to a lack of prayer in public schools.
Posted Tue, Jul 6, 11:21 a.m. Inappropriate
Sarah -
Mega dittos to that!! From what I can gather prayer leads to organized religion and organized religion leads to war(s). That's what they're fighting now in the Middle East. Holy wars.
If everyone was an Atheist, we wouldn't have all of this death and destruction from the holy wars. Since when did we have any wars started by the Atheists?
Posted Tue, Jul 6, 2:35 p.m. Inappropriate
Richard:
The declaration of Independence celebrates the end of British rule by Kings and Queens not freedom from government regulation.
"He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance."
It is true, though, that most of the "Facts... submitted to a candid World" had more to do with tyranny than regulation per se.
As far as atheists starting wars, well, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism -- though even if a country is de jure atheist, that doesn't mean its leaders are -- and one could say Marxism and similar ideologies are themselves religions. As can be militant atheism itself.
But yes -- I am pretty sure sure removing prayer from the schools hasn't had much of a bearing on our national moral character.
Posted Tue, Jul 6, 9:27 p.m. Inappropriate
Was the U.S. Civil War religious? WWI? WWII? Korean War? Vietnam? Iraq? Afghanistan? Sure, religion is used as a moral cover, but none of these wars have anything to do with religious doctrine. Secular states are far more likely to attack in the name of their own power than are religious states. When is the last time the Vatican attacked Italy?
Posted Wed, Jul 7, 4:17 p.m. Inappropriate
Sometimes you Crosscut commenters just make my day. With the exception of the first one, your thoughts above left me feeling hopeful. Thanks.
Posted Wed, Jul 7, 7:27 p.m. Inappropriate
Sarah and Benjamin Lukoff: Is that what I said, that removing prayer had diminished our moral character? Read it again.
How is morality and character formed?
What is social responsibility? Social justice?
Can't believe the pastor thinks government has ANYTHING to do with morality and character!
Posted Thu, Jul 8, 3:06 p.m. Inappropriate
Why don't you take a serious risk and write about how our moral character has been influenced by removing prayer from the schools?
I do suppose this could be read as "our moral character has been improved by removing prayer from the schools" rather than the opposite. Is that what you meant?
Posted Thu, Jul 8, 6:40 p.m. Inappropriate
That is not what I meant.
I was challenging the pastor to take a position on a controversial subject.
He began his article talking about the troubling realities of high unemployment, recession and an oil spill. I found these trifling when compared to major challenges of the past, thus my comment.
He then talks about new regulation and independence day, which strained my senses. From this article and the two others he wrote, he obviously embraces government. “What remains to be seen, as we move forward into .?.?. ‘a new age of regulation,’?” Really think more bureaucrats will save us?
"He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance." I could write my own crosscut article making the point that present day regulation fits Jefferson's statement better than the bland acceptance that the author communicates.
Then he talks about morality, spirituality and character. Family, churches, SCHOOLS and government? How has government stepped up? What office is or has been involved?
Character, I think, is formed mostly by the family. From this basis, you pick a church, your friends, mentors and ultimately, your path.
My challenge was that the pastor take a controversial position and tell us why. He could comment on prayer in the schools on this thread.
By the way, prayer has not left the schools completely. My daughters graduated from Cedarcrest High in 2003 AND 2005. They played soccer there, and prayed publicly in front of the stands before every game.
God Bless America!
Posted Thu, Jul 8, 6:41 p.m. Inappropriate
That is not what I meant.
I was challenging the pastor to take a position on a controversial subject.
He began his article talking about the troubling realities of high unemployment, recession and an oil spill. I found these trifling when compared to major challenges of the past, thus my comment.
He then talks about new regulation and independence day, which strained my senses. From this article and the two others he wrote, he obviously embraces government. “What remains to be seen, as we move forward into .?.?. ‘a new age of regulation,’?” Really think more bureaucrats will save us?
"He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance." I could write my own crosscut article making the point that present day regulation fits Jefferson's statement better than the bland acceptance that the author communicates.
Then he talks about morality, spirituality and character. Family, churches, SCHOOLS and government? How has government stepped up? What office is or has been involved?
Character, I think, is formed mostly by the family. From this basis, you pick a church, your friends, mentors and ultimately, your path.
My challenge was that the pastor take a controversial position and tell us why. He could comment on prayer in the schools on this thread.
By the way, prayer has not left the schools completely. My daughters graduated from Cedarcrest High in 2003 AND 2005. They played soccer there, and prayed publicly in front of the stands before every game.
God Bless America!
Posted Thu, Jul 8, 6:43 p.m. Inappropriate
That is not what I meant.
I was challenging the pastor to take a position on a controversial subject.
He began his article talking about the troubling realities of high unemployment, recession and an oil spill. I found these trifling when compared to major challenges of the past, thus my comment.
He then talks about new regulation and independence day, which strained my senses. From this article and the two others he wrote, he obviously embraces government. “What remains to be seen, as we move forward into .?.?. ‘a new age of regulation,’?” Really think more bureaucrats will save us?
"He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance." I could write my own crosscut article making the point that present day regulation fits Jefferson's statement better than the bland acceptance that the author communicates.
Then he talks about morality, spirituality and character. Family, churches, SCHOOLS and government? How has government stepped up? What office is or has been involved?
Character, I think, is formed mostly by the family. From this basis, you pick a church, your friends, mentors and ultimately, your path.
My challenge was that the pastor take a controversial position and tell us why. He could comment on prayer in the schools on this thread.
By the way, prayer has not left the schools completely. My daughters graduated from Cedarcrest High in 2003 AND 2005. They played soccer there, and prayed publicly in front of the stands before every game.
God Bless America!
Posted Thu, Jul 8, 6:47 p.m. Inappropriate
That is not what I meant.
I was challenging the pastor to take a position on a controversial subject.
He began his article talking about the troubling realities of high unemployment, recession and an oil spill. I found these trifling when compared to major challenges of the past, thus my comment.
He then talks about new regulation and independence day, which strained my senses. From this article and the two others he wrote, he obviously embraces government. “What remains to be seen, as we move forward into .?.?. ‘a new age of regulation,’?” Really think more bureaucrats will save us?
"He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance." I could write my own crosscut article making the point that present day regulation fits Jefferson's statement better than the bland acceptance that the author communicates.
Then he talks about morality, spirituality and character. Family, churches, SCHOOLS and government? How has government stepped up? What office is or has been involved?
Character, I think, is formed mostly by the family. From this basis, you pick a church, your friends, mentors and ultimately, your path.
My challenge was that the pastor take a controversial position and tell us why. He could comment on prayer in the schools on this thread.
By the way, prayer has not left the schools completely. My daughters graduated from Cedarcrest High in 2003 AND 2005. They played soccer there, and prayed publicly in front of the stands before every game.
God Bless America!
Posted Thu, Jul 8, 6:48 p.m. Inappropriate
That is not what I meant.
I was challenging the pastor to take a position on a controversial subject.
He began his article talking about the troubling realities of high unemployment, recession and an oil spill. I found these trifling when compared to major challenges of the past, thus my comment.
He then talks about new regulation and independence day, which strained my senses. From this article and the two others he wrote, he obviously embraces government. “What remains to be seen, as we move forward into .?.?. ‘a new age of regulation,’?” Really think more bureaucrats will save us?
"He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance." I could write my own crosscut article making the point that present day regulation fits Jefferson's statement better than the bland acceptance that the author communicates.
Then he talks about morality, spirituality and character. Family, churches, SCHOOLS and government? How has government stepped up? What office is or has been involved?
Character, I think, is formed mostly by the family. From this basis, you pick a church, your friends, mentors and ultimately, your path.
My challenge was that the pastor take a controversial position and tell us why. He could comment on prayer in the schools on this thread.
By the way, prayer has not left the schools completely. My daughters graduated from Cedarcrest High in 2003 AND 2005. They played soccer there, and prayed publicly in front of the stands before every game.
God Bless America!
Posted Thu, Jul 8, 6:50 p.m. Inappropriate
Sorry about the repeat posts, I kept getting an error message and didn't know the posts were going through.
Posted Thu, Jul 8, 10:53 p.m. Inappropriate
eastkingcountyrednecklogger -
Like you, I have a number of problems with this article. It compares morality of people with the morality of corporations like Enron. Well, corporations have no moral fiber. They are strictly legal entities that are formed for the purpose of making money. So comparing people to corporations in that way doesn't make sense.
You seem to criticize the pastor because 'he obviously embraces government.' What's wrong with that? I embrace my government too and I support good government on many levels. I support government regulating the highways, the skyways, my water I drink and the air I breathe. Are you saying you want to take away these government agencies? I think we can all see in the Gulf of Mexico what would happen if we had corporations like BP in charge of our water quality..... No Thank You!!! I'll take my publicly elected bureaucrats ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!
Posted Sat, Jul 10, 10:25 a.m. Inappropriate
Richard,
Yea, we need government, just not near as much. the 'new era of regulation' referred to in the article will follow the normal course of going too far. It will add more layers, hire more bureaucrats, cost a bunch a'doe.
Like Jefferson said" The natural course of events has tyranny increasing and liberty decreasing"
You can't increase government and preserve liberty.
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