Essays provide lessons in morality

Essays provide lessons in morality

Thanks for a couple of interesting essays on the editorial pages: Michael Gerson from The Washington Post Writers Group and Jeff Engelhardt, a Daily Herald intern, both supporting positions that seem opposite to current fashion in American morals.

Some years ago, I began to think that we have come to treat what used to be called Deadly Sins as our moral virtues, most notably Greed, Wrath and Pride. I’ve also noted the frequent expression of contempt and anger for “government,” which seems to me odd for citizens of a putative democracy — our government is supposed to be ourselves.

Under the heading of “humility,” Gerson points out the foolishness of being too certain of our personal views, and the fundamental nature of the proposition that other people have dignity and value equal to our own, especially as we profess to value democracy.

Forgiveness is commonly perceived as an especially Christian virtue, but it’s not much honored when prosecutors win elections (in our democracy) primarily on the ferocity of their rush to punitive retribution. The ancient virtue opposed to wrath or anger is sometimes stated as patience; the cardinal virtue of restraint (temperance) might similarly be contrasted to it.

Engelhardt’s restraint on his personal path and his recognition of the human potential of the person who has violently wronged him and his family I think is most likely to lead to his own healing and the development of his personal potential. He exercises the cardinal virtue of justice in refraining from vindictive harm to the accused, instead seeking what may best restore what can be restored in the damaged life of his family and society.

Thanks for publishing both of these.

Edna E Heatherington

Glen Ellyn