I’m feeling a bit punk – feverish and swollen glands – so I’m just going to throw this question out and invite answers from readers and from other bloggers:
In 100 words or less: What’s Wrong With the World?
About 100 years ago, a British paper invited many writers to answer the same question, What’s Wrong With the World? They extended the invitation to G. K. Chesterton who wrote back,
Dear Sirs;
I am.
Sincerely,
G.K. Chesterton
I will take his answer for my own. Have at it.
I – and this site – am emphatically not responsible for the opinions of others expressed below!
UPDATE I: Dr. Helen turns the question on its head! Good thinking! It puts me in mind of The Psalm of the Common Man
UPDATE II – Over at Snarky Bastards, Hubbard has an amazing response: We are all Bernard Shaws, now. Go read!
My time in the Army taught me that I am responsible for my actions and that my actions will affect those around me. What is wrong with the world is that we have discarded personal responsibility for the victim culture. It’s always someone else’s fault.
My time in the Army taught me that I am responsible for my actions and that my actions will affect those around me. What is wrong with the world is that we have discarded personal responsibility for the victim culture. It’s always someone else’s fault.
Islam…a “religion” that says:
Don’t associate with those who have another faith (not lover your neighbor as yourself).
It’s okay to lie if it furthers the cause of our “faith”.
Kill and/or subjugate those who don’t believe as you do.
Keep your women ignorant and covered up,
But you’re free ta rape and assault the women who don’t believe.
Our god is not love, nor mercy, nor compassion…our got demands death…death of the infidel and your death in overcoming and killing the infidel.
Islam is what’s wrong with the world.
Islam…a “religion” that says:
Don’t associate with those who have another faith (not lover your neighbor as yourself).
It’s okay to lie if it furthers the cause of our “faith”.
Kill and/or subjugate those who don’t believe as you do.
Keep your women ignorant and covered up,
But you’re free ta rape and assault the women who don’t believe.
Our god is not love, nor mercy, nor compassion…our got demands death…death of the infidel and your death in overcoming and killing the infidel.
Islam is what’s wrong with the world.
The short answer, IMO, is lack of prayer. We’ve simply, “lost our way.” Allow me to quote Dr. Peter Kreeft
If God showed us all the differences our prayers made to all the lives they affected, down through the generations, we’d never be able to get up off our knees for the rest of our lives.
The short answer, IMO, is lack of prayer. We’ve simply, “lost our way.” Allow me to quote Dr. Peter Kreeft
If God showed us all the differences our prayers made to all the lives they affected, down through the generations, we’d never be able to get up off our knees for the rest of our lives.
(I know I can’t top Chesterton, but I do want to try.
)
We are “instead” people.
Instead of “fair weights and measures”, we impoverish our old and infirm through inflation.
Instead of choosing life, we destroy millions of our babies.
Instead of running away, we consume enough porn to line a thousand landfills.
Instead of raising our children to love the Lord, we use low cost daycare centers.
Instead of “until death do us part”, we love only while we feel like it.
Instead of desiring God’s will, we envision how God is going to do our will.
Instead of being hot or cold, we are lukewarm.
We should choose God instead.
(I know I can’t top Chesterton, but I do want to try.
)
We are “instead” people.
Instead of “fair weights and measures”, we impoverish our old and infirm through inflation.
Instead of choosing life, we destroy millions of our babies.
Instead of running away, we consume enough porn to line a thousand landfills.
Instead of raising our children to love the Lord, we use low cost daycare centers.
Instead of “until death do us part”, we love only while we feel like it.
Instead of desiring God’s will, we envision how God is going to do our will.
Instead of being hot or cold, we are lukewarm.
We should choose God instead.
Nothing.
Nothing.
I love Peter Kreeft (C.S. Lewis for the Third Millennium). My favorite quote from that book is:
“Percy’s “message in the bottle is the gospel. The gospel is the good news about the Savior and Salvation. Salvation presupposes sin to be saved from. Sin presupposes the Tao, the objective moral law we sin against which defines our sin as sin. But modern man has has been injected with the “poison of subjectivism” about values. Therefore the castaways who read the message in the bottle do not look up with joy and hope, but rather only say of the message, as of all messages, “It’s only from us.” Everything is “only from us.” Everything is only from us to the modern man that rejects transcendence. Values too are “only from us”, “our” values, “our” commandments, “our” rules, “our” games, “our” gods.
We are the New Man (see Liberal Fascism), the trousered ape Lewis presents in Abolition of Man.
One last quote…this time from Kirk:
“Over half a century ago while I was still a child, “Solzhenitsyn said, “I recall hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: ‘Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.’”
I love Peter Kreeft (C.S. Lewis for the Third Millennium). My favorite quote from that book is:
“Percy’s “message in the bottle is the gospel. The gospel is the good news about the Savior and Salvation. Salvation presupposes sin to be saved from. Sin presupposes the Tao, the objective moral law we sin against which defines our sin as sin. But modern man has has been injected with the “poison of subjectivism” about values. Therefore the castaways who read the message in the bottle do not look up with joy and hope, but rather only say of the message, as of all messages, “It’s only from us.” Everything is “only from us.” Everything is only from us to the modern man that rejects transcendence. Values too are “only from us”, “our” values, “our” commandments, “our” rules, “our” games, “our” gods.
We are the New Man (see Liberal Fascism), the trousered ape Lewis presents in Abolition of Man.
One last quote…this time from Kirk:
“Over half a century ago while I was still a child, “Solzhenitsyn said, “I recall hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: ‘Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.’”
What’s wrong with the world?
You stole my Chesterton quote: I will see your GKC and raise another:
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult, and abandoned” G.K. Chesterton.
Anyone for another try?
What’s wrong with the world?
You stole my Chesterton quote: I will see your GKC and raise another:
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult, and abandoned” G.K. Chesterton.
Anyone for another try?
Oh, come on. EVERYONE knows that George W. Bush is “what’s wrong with the world” — just ask Peggy Noonan and those brilliant elites at NRO.
Oh, come on. EVERYONE knows that George W. Bush is “what’s wrong with the world” — just ask Peggy Noonan and those brilliant elites at NRO.
My, but we think alike. Bill Katz at “Urgent Agenda” asks a question each week of his readers. It stays up until Sunday, and on Monday he posts the replies.
One question (sorry, can’t remember it specifically, but to paraphrase) asked if his readers agreed that our country had declined over the past few decades, and if agreeing that it has, to please give the three main reasons for it happening. He then asked for solutions to reversing the trend.
My answer was as follows:
“Good evening Mr. Katz,
Well. This one is much simpler than the first question.
Do I agree? Why, of course.
Three most important causes of this decline? Me, myself and I (multiplied by about 15-20-million others who are … oh … about 48-60 years old).
What can be done to reverse it? Become an adult, like I did. Just don’t wait until you’re 37, like I did.
Sigh.”
And what caused me to finally grow up my dear? Finally agreeing to go to a Cursillo. It’s amazing how being brought to one’s knees changes a person’s view of the world. Realizing your really not the center of the universe does wonders for the soul.
Oh, and I did so love your post “Oh Great Mystery..” My wife and I listened to it several times that evening. And you did it this evening as well, by reminding me of the half time U2 performance of 2002. How different the two, yet equally poignant.
Ah, well. I do run on.
A good evening to you.
My, but we think alike. Bill Katz at “Urgent Agenda” asks a question each week of his readers. It stays up until Sunday, and on Monday he posts the replies.
One question (sorry, can’t remember it specifically, but to paraphrase) asked if his readers agreed that our country had declined over the past few decades, and if agreeing that it has, to please give the three main reasons for it happening. He then asked for solutions to reversing the trend.
My answer was as follows:
“Good evening Mr. Katz,
Well. This one is much simpler than the first question.
Do I agree? Why, of course.
Three most important causes of this decline? Me, myself and I (multiplied by about 15-20-million others who are … oh … about 48-60 years old).
What can be done to reverse it? Become an adult, like I did. Just don’t wait until you’re 37, like I did.
Sigh.”
And what caused me to finally grow up my dear? Finally agreeing to go to a Cursillo. It’s amazing how being brought to one’s knees changes a person’s view of the world. Realizing your really not the center of the universe does wonders for the soul.
Oh, and I did so love your post “Oh Great Mystery..” My wife and I listened to it several times that evening. And you did it this evening as well, by reminding me of the half time U2 performance of 2002. How different the two, yet equally poignant.
Ah, well. I do run on.
A good evening to you.
geol2003 is right. We have abandoned personal responsibility. We have abandoned our responsibility for this world and the next–in this world, it is always somebody else’s fault, and regarding the next we cop out by taking the easy route to “disbelief”. Not even our atheists take responsibility for their lack of belief.
As the Jewish joke goes, “No, no, my young friend; I’M the heretic. You, you’re just an ignoramus”.
geol2003 is right. We have abandoned personal responsibility. We have abandoned our responsibility for this world and the next–in this world, it is always somebody else’s fault, and regarding the next we cop out by taking the easy route to “disbelief”. Not even our atheists take responsibility for their lack of belief.
As the Jewish joke goes, “No, no, my young friend; I’M the heretic. You, you’re just an ignoramus”.
You see, there is this fallen angel who at this moment is “prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” and making things miserable for all of us peace lovin folks. But take heart! Please see 1 John 4:4
You see, there is this fallen angel who at this moment is “prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” and making things miserable for all of us peace lovin folks. But take heart! Please see 1 John 4:4
The World is just fine.
The people currently inhabiting it are a bit confused…
The World is just fine.
The people currently inhabiting it are a bit confused…
I am responsible for my thoughts, beliefs, words and actions. I must pay attention to how they affect others.
Too few of us accept that responsibility.
I am responsible for my thoughts, beliefs, words and actions. I must pay attention to how they affect others.
Too few of us accept that responsibility.
This world and humanity both seem to me to absolutely marvelous creations. There is nothing wrong with either as far as I can tell.
This world and humanity both seem to me to absolutely marvelous creations. There is nothing wrong with either as far as I can tell.
Gotta be the lack of personal responsibility. We fought that first war for the *pursuit* of happiness – no guarantees that you’ll get it, but you have a shot at it. When you encounter someone better off, whether they be richer, happier, or with a more attractive partner, that should catalyze ambition, not jealousy. Imagine everyone trying to better themselves – it’d be a pretty nice place to live, eh?
Gotta be the lack of personal responsibility. We fought that first war for the *pursuit* of happiness – no guarantees that you’ll get it, but you have a shot at it. When you encounter someone better off, whether they be richer, happier, or with a more attractive partner, that should catalyze ambition, not jealousy. Imagine everyone trying to better themselves – it’d be a pretty nice place to live, eh?
That the U.S., one of the greatest forces for good the world has ever known, is losing its way.
With the still-stunning number of abortions and the drive to euthanasia; the doubt and self-loathing that our press and our universities wallow in; the boomer-driven culture of victimhood and identity politics; the mad, but growing, belief that statism can somehow be benevolent (“Free government health care for all!”); the fading of our will to survive as a nation and a people — and the blithe obliviousness of those who won’t see the danger we’re in, including the “I’m sitting out the election because they didn’t nominate MY guy” crowd — it’s getting very hard to retain any sort of optimism. And if the United States no longer exists as a hope for the world…. well, the times ahead look very bleak indeed.
That the U.S., one of the greatest forces for good the world has ever known, is losing its way.
With the still-stunning number of abortions and the drive to euthanasia; the doubt and self-loathing that our press and our universities wallow in; the boomer-driven culture of victimhood and identity politics; the mad, but growing, belief that statism can somehow be benevolent (“Free government health care for all!”); the fading of our will to survive as a nation and a people — and the blithe obliviousness of those who won’t see the danger we’re in, including the “I’m sitting out the election because they didn’t nominate MY guy” crowd — it’s getting very hard to retain any sort of optimism. And if the United States no longer exists as a hope for the world…. well, the times ahead look very bleak indeed.
Response to #8 (rogoplp) re: Solzhenitsyn. Do any remember that Solzhenitsyn was the Harvard Commencement Speaker about 20 something years ago? Indeed, he gave the “Men have forgotten God speech”, only of course, to have “been forgotten.”
Response to #8 (rogoplp) re: Solzhenitsyn. Do any remember that Solzhenitsyn was the Harvard Commencement Speaker about 20 something years ago? Indeed, he gave the “Men have forgotten God speech”, only of course, to have “been forgotten.”
As someone above mentioned: There is nothing wrong with this wonderful world, it’s just that some of its current inhabitants believe they are or should be governing it.
As someone above mentioned: There is nothing wrong with this wonderful world, it’s just that some of its current inhabitants believe they are or should be governing it.
It seems to me, the problem with this world is not only people not taking responsibility for themselves, but trying to force their own idea of responsible behavior on others. You may go to heaven in your own way, and leave me to find my hell. We’ll both be happier for not seeing each other on the way.
It seems to me, the problem with this world is not only people not taking responsibility for themselves, but trying to force their own idea of responsible behavior on others. You may go to heaven in your own way, and leave me to find my hell. We’ll both be happier for not seeing each other on the way.
Sin, stupidity, and the refusal of salvation.
Sin, stupidity, and the refusal of salvation.
I’m feeling grouchy, so perhaps my response is skewed, but:
1) The fall (both ours and the angels’)
2) The magic bullet mentality: so many think (sometimes with very good intentions) that if they could just change/fix one thing all subsequent problems would disappear. There are no magic bullets. Personal sanctity is the fix for anything. Gotta get working on that one.
I’m feeling grouchy, so perhaps my response is skewed, but:
1) The fall (both ours and the angels’)
2) The magic bullet mentality: so many think (sometimes with very good intentions) that if they could just change/fix one thing all subsequent problems would disappear. There are no magic bullets. Personal sanctity is the fix for anything. Gotta get working on that one.