by
Tom Wacaster
In
his book, A Jewish Conservative Looks At Pagan America, author Don Feder tells
of an interesting incident that occurred many years ago. Emperor Joseph of
Austro-Hungary was required to sit through a two-hour opening session of
parliament. At the time the emperor was in his eighties. At the conclusion of
the parliamentary session, the emperor shuffled to the podium and uttered one
single sentence in Latin: Totus mondus stultizat. That is all he said.
Translated the words mean, “The whole world is growing stupid.” One
brother has pointed out that if polls in America are to be believed, “the
majority of Americans are growing stupid.” It seems that with every passing
generation we are losing the ability to think clearly. I am not speaking of the
inability to reason properly in such areas as math, language, and/or history,
though I could provide you with numerous personal cases in which public figures
and laborers seem to have lost the ability to think clearly and rationally in
these areas. The most apparent evidence that we are “growing stupid” is seen in
the realm of moral and ethical thinking. Perhaps the inability of our national
leaders to think clearly and rationally can be seen in the “stupid” decisions
that have been handed down by courts and judges. A recent case has been called
to my attention by a conservative organization that seeks to combat the ACLU
and other liberal organizations that are seeking to destroy our freedoms. In
this landmark decision by a higher court a Navy Chaplin has been court
marshaled for praying in the name of Jesus Christ. The courts have, in fact,
made it a federal offense for any military religious worker to make any
reference to Jesus Christ, not only in public services, but in his private
counseling that might be considered an extension of his work as a Chaplin. In
his book, Silence Can Be Sinful, Winford Claiborne has pointed out that the
word “stupid” is never used in the King James Version of the Bible. For
example, in Galatians 3:1 the KJV reads, “O foolish Galatians, who has
bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth?” The New English Bible
reads, “O stupid Galatians.” But in the final analysis, is not he who plays the
part of the fool demonstrating that he is, indeed, stupid? In less than 48
hours this year will be history. Depending upon whether you date this new
century from January 1, 2000 or 2001, the past six or seven years have
demonstrated an increasing stupidity on the part of Americans when it comes to
their moral and ethical values. In only six years we have seen a shift in
attitudes regarding homosexual marriages. Marriage in general is being
considered “outmoded” and “outdated.” Euthanasia is being widely considered as
an alternative to the so-called “drain” that the elderly and infirm put upon
our society. Lying is widely practiced and even approved. Cold blooded
murderers are plea bargaining and being released back into society in a matter
of just a few years, if not months. Every time I pick up a copy of the Dallas
Morning News I am astonished with the incredible stupidity of those who are
writing letters to the editor.
I
have been blessed to make a considerable number of mission trips over the past
three years. I have visited Russia, India, Mexico, and Ethiopia, and some
countries more than once. While much of the world demonstrates great wisdom in
their desire to flee to God for refuge, it seems that we in America continue to
demonstrate an increasing degree of folishness in casting off God and trashing
the only moral code that can lead us out of this quagmire of moral
stupidity. Perhaps you have heard of the two young Quakers who were discussing
social and political issues in their day. One gentleman turned to the other and
said something to the effect, “Sometimes I think the whole world has gone mad,
except me and thee – and I have my doubts about thee.” Maybe that Quaker was
wise beyond his years.