Don't ignore moral aspects of contemporary issues

Don't ignore moral aspectsof contemporary issues
EDITOR:
It seems that any time the United States has big decisions to make, Americans are concerned about the rightness or morality of the direction our country takes. Often, as in the case of abortion, we realize that our laws don't necessarily reflect the moral guidelines or vision of our religious beliefs. However, when persuasive voices make a convincing argument, anyone can be lured away from moral principles by a clever shell game that replaces a moral objective voice with a practical situational one. As we look ahead to the important decisions our country has to make in the near future, we need to decide whether our moral principles will be put on hold in deference to the Gospel of American pragmatism.
I see a mob mentality at work in America today that very much concerns me. The hallmark of this mindset is to simplify complex issues, and then find validation for views or stands based on sheer numbers and popularity. At the heart of this is the perceived sense of self-preservation -- the belief that it's we vs. them. As our country's involvement on one front becomes a drain on our collective will and psyche, we find another front that allows us to unite and express our pent-up frustrations and righteous indignation. It feels good to be so untied and find so much support for what ails us.
But as heads nod in agreement that our country's laws must be obeyed, are we considering the deeper moral laws of our creator? Our history books are replete with stories of peoples, who with heads held high and certain of the rightness of their convictions, proceeded to allow or commit collective acts that history has clearly exposed as morally depraved. (i.e. slavery). We need to remind ourselves that just because something is commonly accepted or popular, that does not make it right.
So let us look at the issues of our day through the moral compass that is a natural part of our make-up as human beings, and so scrutinize the popular sentiments we find being bandied about. If the popular way of looking at an issue also seems especially utilitarian, then shouldn't a red flag go up in our mind? Who was it that decided for the Untied States public that abortion and gay marriage alone are the moral issues of import? In the four Gospels of Christianity, Jesus was clearly very concerned about issues of social justice, especially those pertaining to the poor and outcasts of his day.
So how is it that a living wage, or equal access to health care, comprehensive immigration reform, the death penalty, poverty and food shortages, or war and peace are not being recognized for the moral issues that they are? In my own religious tradition as a Catholic Christian, these issues along with abortion and the sanctity of marriage are absolutely considered moral issues of pressing concern. All of Christendom, along with the major religions, of the world insist on humanity's responsibility to protect and promote the common good, over and above the privileged few.
We leave the moral dimension of these issues out of our public conversation about them to our own peril. Morality never serves one group of people over and above others, but always, always is applied equally for the common good of all the people.
TERRY VICARS
Boardman
Still looking for a uniter
EDITOR:
George W. Bush is a very dangerous man to the constitutional government of this country. His followers are more like a cult than a political party. They can see no wrong that this man does. They are so blinded by their hate of groups different from themselves that they are willing to see our country and our way of life fail.
My hope is that both parties elect people who don't play to hate, but play to the good in all of us. My hope is that people look past the hate ads, that are sure to be a part of the coming election, and vote for the people who will bring the country together again.
PAUL SHANABARGER
New Springfield