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Last week the world saw a major American city descend into
anarchy and chaos. The destruction left in the wake of hurricane
Katrina was shocking, but even more shocking was the lack of
self-control of many of the citizens within the city. Looters calmly
ravaged businesses, sometimes even on camera, taking what they wished.
Rapes and murders were reported and shooters took potshots at rescue
helicopters. Even more unbelievable were the people who actually
publicly attempted to justify on national television the
looting of luxury items such as televisions and stereos. A bunch of
homosexuals even had the nerve to celebrate “Southern Decadence”,
an annual festival to public debauchery, with a parade in the French
Quarter last weekend. The callousness of some people in the midst of
mass suffering truly is astounding to me.
When it comes down to it, I think the blame for the selfishness
displayed in New Orleans can be placed on the radical individualism
that has taken hold in our nation.
The Bible indicates that
in the latter days the love in the hearts of people will grow cold. I
believe that the opposite of love is selfishness, so I think that it
can be argued that the rise of radical individualism, which is
selfishness, certainly fulfills this prophecy of the Bible.
Tocqueville, an 18th century Frenchman who traveled all
through America to document what made America “tick”, warned that
the emphasis on individual rights in the public life of our nation
could be destructive if there was not an equal emphasis on individual
responsibilities. Tocqueville knew that an adherence to
responsibilities on the part of individuals was important to the
stability of families and communities. Such responsibilities could
include honoring a marriage vow or providing a nurturing home for
children. Other responsibilities may be to the community or a
workplace. In our nation individual freedom seems to be expanding at
the expense of individual responsibility. I think that this is why so
many married couples divorce with little thought to their marriage
vows and their children. Their personal needs are just more important
than the responsibilities to honor their vows and raise their
children. The innocent unborn are killed because the freedom to sleep
around without consequences is more important than the life of another
person. And in New Orleans last week, the desire for material things
apparently was more important than respecting the private property
that others worked so hard to earn.
The relationship of human
government to individual freedom exists on a continuum. At one end of
the continuum we find tyranny with maximum governmental power and
minimal personal freedom. At the other end is anarchy, with maximum
personal freedom and minimal governmental power. Though anarchy is
maximum freedom, it truly has no freedom at all. It in itself is a
tyranny, but ruled by the excesses of others instead of a powerful
central government. Therefore we know that, ironically, freedom truly
cannot exist without law - a point supported by the Bible. The trick
to achieve the perfect government is to strike a balance between
government and individual freedom so that freedom is maximized without
letting it get excessive enough to allow things to devolve into
anarchy.
Unfortunately, I believe
that America has progressed to the brink of anarchy. However, the
anarchy I refer to is not of a political nature per se, but of a moral
nature. Though this moral anarchy occurs in the heart, it is
manifested as radical individualism in the society around us. As moral
restraints continue to be lifted from behaviors such as infidelity,
homosexuality, promiscuity, etc., our society will continue to
progress toward a moral anarchy that will have serious consequences
for the stability of our nation. A society cannot function and remain
stable if the citizens within it are not willing to recognize that
yes, we all have personal freedoms, but they come with
responsibilities too. As the moral anarchy of radical individualism
expands, the stability of society eventually is threatened. If the
stability of society is threatened, then a powerful governing force
will have to restore order with – you guessed it – tyranny.
-MR
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