Staff Reports
In a cultural moment as tumultuous as a reality TV show reunion, it seems the sea of faith is taking a nosedive faster than a botched cliff dive. As we clutch our popcorn, witnessing this grand theater of societal shift, a forgotten poet might help shed some light. Matthew Arnold, once upon a beach called Dover, penned words in 1867 that some say echo loud today. Listening to the waves on the pebbled shore, he mused about a western world losing faith – it was like watching a draining bathtub, without the cheerful rubber ducky to keep it afloat.
In our world of instant gratification, we’ve become quite skilled at custodian duties for this “melancholy long withdrawing roar.” It’s akin to taking the flavor out of a perfectly good bubble gum. Those white cliffs Arnold admired now appear more like ivory towers, where newfangled philosophies are concocted, only to replace the old with theatrics and drama fit for reality TV. Just like when the European Union gave its declaration an edit, cutting out that cornerstone of tradition – Jesus. It’s like pulling the Jenga piece from the bottom of the tower and watching culture wobble precariously.
Yet, there’s insight to be had when hearing faithful voices like Andrew Claven discussing the peaceful, yet sometimes chaotic transition of power in America. Political power may pass hands with a handshake, but cultural power? It’s more a game of rugby on a particularly muddy field. As Breitbart so eloquently noted, politics is downstream from culture. When culture shifts violently, you’d better be wearing your raincoat, because it’s not water that’s about to rain down.
The violence that rears its head during these shifts can spotlight personal and political philosophies, almost like a neon sign. When righteousness starts to dance on the graves of murder victims or intellectuals twist narratives into pretzels of nonsense, it’s a clear indicator: something’s amiss. Murder is not just the absence of life but, at its core, the absence of good. The antagonists in these tales might try to camouflage this with rhetoric and ideology, but no amount of verbal gymnastics can justify the unjustifiable.
This cultural tide of confusion may drag with it shiny new concepts, promising utopian dreams wrapped in old disaster recipes. Whether it’s new governance models that somehow feel like they’ve been excavated from the past, or novel ideologies that glitter with the allure of rebellion, it’s critical to remember the roots that sustain us. As we grapple with the world’s madness, we cling to the fundamental tenets: love for one another, faith in our nation, and belief in something greater than the chaotic cacophony of culture warring. In a landscape sweeping us into melodramatic battles, being true to these principles might just help us navigate the darkling plains we’re treading.
