American Virtues

In the wake of the terrible shootings at Buffalo and Uvalde, Americans have struggled to make sense of the tragedies and to develop some consensus concerning how to prevent repeat shootings. Demagogues like President Biden, Beto O’Rourke, and the talking heads on CNN and MSNBC have done nothing to bring America together; they have, if anything, driven us further apart with their irresponsible rhetoric and groundless accusations of fault.

Actor, Matthew McConaughey has addressed the tragedies with an impassioned and heart-felt plea for, among other things, a return to American values. Since that has gained a great deal of positive comment, the Ratcatcher has felt compelled to comment.

Once upon a very long time ago, we spoke of virtues: Justice, courage, wisdom, and moderation (self-control). Virtue had something to do with character. These virtues partook of moral achievement. Aristotle formed it like this: “We do not become righteous by doing righteous deeds but, having been made righteous, we do righteous deeds.” [Ethics]. Nietzsche taught that all truth and morality were dead – meaningless. His views, popularized, became generally accepted in most of Europe and Great Britain. Gertrude Himmelfarb, an expert on Victorian England, observed that, beginning early in the Twentieth Century, morality became to thoroughly relativized and subjectified those virtues ceased to be virtues. They became values. Consequently, expressions of “values” may mean nothing more than a preference , a belief, a feeling, habit, or convention. Values are flexible and they change with the wind. A value held by Black Lives Matter will likely differ substantially from a value held by members of the NRA. “Values” espoused by supports of pro-life organizations likely are different from the “values” held by members of NARAL or supporters of Planned Parenthood. It is abundantly clear that the “values” espoused by members of the Republican Party differ radically from those held by members of the Democrat Party.

Mr. McConaughey’s plea was well-intentioned, but it missed the mark. What is required is a major review of the moral underpinnings of America. The “conversation” that so many claim to long for must address such fundamental questions as whether there is absolute right and absolute wrong and how those terms can be defined.

One of the traditional Virtues identified by the classicists was justice. America will not find peace until it addresses what is meant by that term. For example, Is it fair for the Department of Homeland Security to publish a warning of mass violence this summer following the issuance of the decision of the Supreme Court in the case dealing with abortion, falsely accusing pro-life advocates of threatening violence? Is it just for the Department of Justice to prosecute vigorously the defendants accused to attacking the Capitol on January 6, 2021, while ignoring the crowds of demonstrators threatening Supreme Court Justices for their supposed views on abortion? Is it just for the FBI to falsify documents submitted to a court while seeking to unseat a duly elected President of the United States? These are but a few of the countless very serious issues that must be put on the table for open, frank and honest discussion if America is ever to heal. If the discussion is to be open, frank and honest, that means people have to stop lying – starting with the President and running throughout the government! It is impossible to reach a level of trust and peace with a liar; so stop lying!

Matthew McConaughey is a fine man and a wonderful actor. But his prescription for America’s ills will, in the end, be nothing other than more noise in an already noisy yelling match

This final bit from the Ratcatcher will surely earn us the scorn and obloquy of some of our readers. So be it. It remains true that America needs to return to God on its knees. Only then will the wounds of years begin to heal.

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