Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 08/14/24

Everything is your fault. Overall, you’re quite deplorable – and every good person agrees with me. Those are pretty much the claims of every purveyor or negative religion throughout the millennia toward those who don’t believe exactly as they do (and, let me be clear, I’m speaking specifically about negative abusive religion here – positive, empowering faith and trust in God is something else altogether). They’re false claims are remarkably similar to the equally false claims put forth by those who trade in Wokism, today’s political and cultural religion that, very much like traditional negative religion, utilizes a toxic blend of guilt, presumed moral superiority (for its leaders) and fear of the future to disempower and subjugate those who dare question their authority.

In today’s political climate that means convincing Americans that they are somehow uniquely at fault when it comes to worldwide historical evils such as slavery. It’s not a particularly hard sell since most Americans are good people who, in fact, want to be good, are taught to respect authority and have often been psychologically impacted by guilt-based religion.

In short, it is the very desire of most Americans to be good that is used against them in a sort of psyop that causes them to doubt their better judgement – to convince them that maybe enforcing boundaries are wrong (after all, the land is stolen), that maybe their instinct to protect children from those who would mutilate is itself somehow immoral, that maybe everything they think is right is actually wrong. Another term for the practice is gaslighting. Abusers are masters at it.

None of this is to say that Americans haven’t been wrong about many things over the years. Our country – like virtually the whole world (as the John Stossel videos below point out) – has certainly been on the wrong side of slavery. Legal discrimination based on skin color persisted for far too long in our country – but such discrimination was not – and is not – unique to our country. We must, of course, own up to our nation’s sins but doing so does not require falsely shaming our ancestors as singularly evil. In fact, I believe it can also be fairly noted that America (along with Britain) played a significant role in, if not totally stamping out slavery, at least greatly reducing it around the world.

Those folks who took a brave moral stand when they had nothing personally to gain from it – and perhaps everything to lose – deserve more credit and attention then they currently receive. If we truly want to continue to make progress against bigotry we’d be well advised to spend more time celebrating the heroes who have stood against it so that people are shown an example of the goodness that is possible for every person.

We are not trapped by the evils of the past but inspired by the good. The Israelis have understood and practiced this principle with their Righteous Among the Nations presented by Yad Vashem to those who have selflessly risked their lives to protects Jewish people, particularly during the Holocaust.

We need to spend more time and energy expressing gratitude for those before us – of every color – who have lifted us to a point where the vast majority of people embrace equality and human rights for all. We live in a society where advances in technology have made our individual lives so much easier (though the potential abuse remains a peril). Unfortunately, we are allowing those who benefit from discord to rob us of the tremendous progress that has been made.

Don’t be manipulated. Reject shame and, on the opposite end of the spectrum, the high of the haughty pride that comes from holding yourself up as morally superior to your neighbors. They lead to destruction.

Reckoning belongs to God – who, thankfully, is compassionate and forgiving. Gratitude and a steely determination to build on the good that has been accomplished for us is what will propel us to a better future. A balanced view of history is a good place to start.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.