As we abandon our faith, and
replace a belief in a higher power with a rationalization that man is supreme,
then there can be no choice but to understand morality is relative. “Morality
is the product of the evolutionary development of man and society. Morality is
always relative and never absolute. Within the framework of our society, we
chose our own, personal code of moral conduct.”[1]
As I’ve noted in previous posts,
segments of our society are today outraged over the conduct of men in their
treatment of women. Unfortunately, they
are not outraged at all abusive men for all misconduct, but are selectively outraged by
those whose politics differ from their own, or whose political usefulness is
waning. For example, Kate Harding,
writing in the Washington post shouts. “I’m a feminist. I study rape culture. I
don’t want Al Franken to resign.”[2] Or, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) who has
accepted support, funding and advice from the Clintons for years has just come
out with “Bill Clinton should have
resigned over the Lewinsky affair.”[3] Over the past eight years there has not been
one new fact exposed about Bill Clinton’s sexual abuse of power, yet now she is
coming out to condemn him? Hmmm, seems
just a bit disingenuous or opportunistic if you ask me.
Then we have Michelle Goldberg,
writing in the NYT that she believes Juanita[4]
(Brodrick), but this use of sexual transgression was really just a Republican
plot that swept up an unsuspecting Hillary who had no idea of his
transgressions. It was used in the 2016 campaign
solely to deflect criticism of Trump and cast a bad light on a faithful wife. She points to an argument made by Brian Beutler
that right wing propaganda will exploit the left’s recently discovered injunction
to “believe women.” Seriously I doubt
that the left will maintain that commitment for long, as we already see when
people like Lena Dunham write on one day women never lie about rape (which is
pretty damn ironic coming from someone who had falsely accused a Republican of
raping her), and then the next -- except when they accuse my friend.
There is a story I learned long
ago that seems in keeping with the news and perhaps offers some insight into
the political decisions we see. Joseph
Stalin[5],
was the dictator of the Soviet Union from 1929 until his death in 1953. A cruel and paranoid master, it is said he was
singularly responsible for the deaths of over 60 million citizens of the USSR. In the power struggle that occurred after his
death the politburo appointed three men, but ultimately Nikita Khrushchev was
able to consolidate power and assume the supreme role. When that happened, he was ushered into
Stalin’s private office and sat at the huge desk that had marked the seat of
power for Joseph Stalin. Still a bit
awe-struck he dismissed his aids and sat pondering his good fortune and what he
would do to rule the Soviet Union. After
a few minutes of reflection – he started to open the various drawers of the
desk until he came to on small drawer partially hidden by the scars of times
past when Joseph Stalin would fly into a rage and beat the desk.
Khrushchev opened the drawer and
found three yellowing envelops that must have been in the desk for some
time. The writing was clearly Joseph
Stalin’s and there was a simple note paper underneath the envelops. Khrushchev carefully removed the envelopes
and set them aside as he read the note, scratched out in Stalin’s own writing.
Comrade,
If you have found this note, I am dead
and the ruling of the Soviet people has become your great prize. I have few words of advice for you, but there
are three things you should know. The
people are there for your service, but the land has been harsh to them, despite
my most humane efforts many have died from war and famine so unrest is always possible. Finally, the west is at our throats like
the wolves of Siberia. I expect you will
govern well, but there will come a time when all seems lost. When that happens
open the first envelop. I warn you, do
not open it until you have no other choice, for its advice is sensitive.
Nikita quietly slid the envelops
back into the drawer and began to govern the Union as best he knew how. The political in-fighting kept him occupied,
as well as the various conflicts for world power.
But as Stalin had forecast, there
came a great famine and all seemed lost.
Quietly, Nikita opened the drawer, pulled out the first envelop, and
looking around to make sure he was alone, he broke the seal and read the
advice.
Comrade,
If you are reading this there is a great
calamity that has fallen upon our great Soviet Socialist State. Here is what you should do. Call for new elections and create a five-year
plan to address whatever has befallen our great land.
Have confidence,
Joseph Stalin
Khrushchev saw immediately the
wisdom of this advice and immediately disbanded the politburo, calling for new
elections. While that was going on he
announced to the world the creation of a new five-year plan promising all the
people of the Soviet Union would be fed and starvation would be a thing of the
past.
A few years passed, and it seemed
the plan had worked and the people were, for the most part quiet. But there was a lingering problem with the
Warsaw Pact, NATO was becoming a problem and the divided city of Berlin was a
growing concern. Then there was the
problem with the US spy planes, but he had handled that when they shot down the
U-2 and tried Francis Gary Powers for spying.
People were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with survival when the
saw the prosperity of the West, unrest continued to grow until there were riots
in Hungry and Poland. He went back to
the drawer and pulled out the second envelop hoping Papa Stalin would once
again have the answer.
Comrade,
If you are reading this, the second
letter, your five-year plan has failed or there is some other crisis that has
befallen you. Take heart. There is an answer. Blame me, your predecessor, for the ills that
have befallen you and our great land. I
was in power for a long time… there are many lives I had to take to preserve
the Union. This will bring sunlight to
you and give you time to ensure your power is absolute.
Stay Strong,
Joseph Stalin
Taking the advice
Khrushchev implemented a state purge, condemned the evils of Stalin and allowed
some minor freedoms to quell the riots.
Unfortunately, this only quieted the discontent for a short while. Once again Khrushchev opened the drawer,
pulled the last letter from it and slit it open to see Stalin’s final advice. It was brief.
Comrade, Write three letters. JS.
But, I digress.
The question I
started with can also be stated as “What is immoral in an amoral
world?”
Today we are to
be outraged over sexual abuse including rape and pedophilia, but it was only 40
years or so ago we were condemning homosexuality with the same fervor. Hollywood stars who were homosexual had to
hide that fact from their adoring fans, while keeping an “open secret” among
their friends. In the 1980’s how many
famous names fell victim to the AIDS epidemic, while the most religious (conservatives)
vilified them and called AIDS the “wrath of God.”
Then the LGBT community
became true activists. The entertainment
industry began to push increasingly sympathetic depictions, there were parades
in the major cities, they had a flag, and they aligned themselves with the
Democratic Party where they steadily increased their presence until the party
was forced to recognize their rights and advocate for their support.
Today, I think
the majority of Americans have come to accept the LGBT community's right for equal treatment under the law,
but the community will continue to advocate that their rights should be
superior to others, and that their lifestyle should be encouraged at the cost
of other beliefs. Whether we like it,
agree with it, or not, this is the way power politics works in these days of a
bi-polar and schizophrenic government.
Other societies,
both historic and modern, have embraced various sexual rights and
allowances. So, as those who study the
subject suggest, if morality is never absolute and we can choose our own
personal moral code, why should we assume pedophilia and the use of sexual
violence won’t be perfectly acceptable one day in the future? It seems only a question of time until the liberal/progressive
movement can come to advocate for these rights.
That is until it
is time to write the three letters.
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