An Election; Looking Back; Looking Ahead; and Getting a Grip

As I said (wrote?) on Google+: "Good citizenship isn't blind obedience, and freedom isn't being told what we may believe, and what we may not." (November 9, 2012)

That referred to a post I'd written earlier:

• "Freedom for 'People of Any Faith or No Faith At All' "
  (November 9, 2012)

Citizenship: On Sunday?

Today is Sunday, the day I write about being Catholic.

From some points of view, this post should be full of nice platitudes, or musings that stay comfortably disconnected from practical issues: 'spiritual' stuff.

I don't see a problem with nifty slogans, or digging into big-picture stuff like "the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence." (oxforddictionaries.com) But I don't intend to be like these folks:

"Some people are so heavenly-minded that they are no earthly good."
(Attributed to Oliver Wendell Holmes)

Someone who is a Catholic, and part of the laity, doesn't have the option of being "no earthly good."¹ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 898)

Worship, Prayer, and the Duty of Citizens

"It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom...."
(Catechism, 2239)

I'm expected to take an active part in public life and be a good citizen. (Catechism, 1915, 2239-2240)

That includes voting: but sometimes means not following the lead of government leaders. (Catechism, 2242)

An Election

The United States re-elected President Barack Obama a few days ago. I'm disappointed, and concerned, but I'm not discouraged. I discussed some of my reasons last Sunday:

"An 'Objective Moral Order' "
(November 4, 2012)

"...It took my native country decades to produce the mess we have today. I'll be pleasantly surprised if respect for human life and religious liberty are restored quickly: but I expect that it will be a long process...."

Looking Back

I think it helps that I remember another awkward period in America's history:

"HHS Mandate, Catholic Bishops, and Foster Auditorium"
(February 12, 2012)

"...a half-century ago, America was being run by folks who were desperately clinging to the worst of a set of ideas that had been more popular in their youth.

"Today, America is being run by folks who are desperately clinging to daft ideas that were more popular in their youth. It's another set of people, with another set of ideas: but I see the same general pattern...."
(February 12, 2012)

It had taken nearly two centuries and a major war to sort out the mess left by the Dred Scott decision. Correcting major flaws in a society takes time.

Looking Ahead

Maybe it will take less time and fuss for America to learn that:

• Human beings are people
  • All human beings
  (Catechism, 1700-1703, 2270)
• Innocent people shouldn't be killed
  (Catechism, 2258)
• Religious freedom is vital
  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2104-2109)
  • For everybody
    (Catechism, 2106)

I certainly hope so.

Getting a Grip

I don't want an America that's pretty much like the one I grew up in. My memory is too good.

I also don't expect institutions and attitudes to change overnight.

The way I see it:

• The 'good old days' weren't
• Change happens
• Change can be good
• Things take time

Not expecting quick results is not the same as not caring: and that's another topic.

Related posts:

• Change happens
  • "Remembering the '60s; Praying for America"
    (November 6, 2012)
  • "Taking Life a Thousand Years at a Time"
    (June 10, 2012)
  • " 'In a State of Journeying' "
    (January 18, 2012)
  • "The 1950s, California, and Old-School Thinking"
    (February 16, 2011)
  • "Oh, For the Days of Yore?"
    (March 22, 2011)
• Things take time
  • "Becoming Something New"
    (October 14, 2012)
  • "Street Performers and Making Progress"
    (May 6, 2012)
    Particularly
    • Prostitution and Slavery: Ancient Traditions, but Wrong
    • Slow Progress is Still Progress
  • " 'To Build a Better Future ... With Confidence Rather Than Resignation' "
    (February 20, 2012)
  • "Hope, Joy, and Working for a Better World"
    (September 13, 2011)
    Particularly
    • The Future Looks Pretty Good - - -
    • - - - And We Have Work to Do
  • "Dred Scott, the Slavery Compromise, and Who to Trust"
    (February 2, 2009)
    Particularly
    • History, Civil Rights, and Religious Stuff
• America isn't perfect
  • "The Spirit of Resistance"
    (February 26, 2012)
  • " 'Those Immigrants,' Assumptions, and the Catholic Church"
    (May 18, 2010)
  • "What's With "the Establishment" in this Blog?"
    (September 15, 2011)
    Particularly
    • The Establishment in 'the Good Old Days'
    • The Establishment Today
    • Change can be Good
  • "Home Schooling, Religious and Moral Instruction, and American Culture"
    (March 6, 2010)
  • "Pro-Life People - "Domestic Terrorists and Violent Racketeers:" Who Knew?"
    (June 1, 2009)

More-or-less philosophical stuff:

• "Humans: How do We Fit In?"
  (March 28, 2012)
• " 'In a State of Journeying' "
  (January 18, 2012)
• "Faith, Reason, Certainty, and Getting a Grip"
  (January 11, 2012)
• "Existence, God, and the Meaning of Life"
  (November 16, 2011)
• "Gargling at the Stream of Wisdom"
  (October 11, 2010) 

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¹ Some Catholics decide to live in cloistered religious orders. I see it less as avoiding the real world, and more like volunteering for a front-line outfit. More about the Catholic Church's special units:

• Forms of Consecrated Life
  United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

My vocation is more conventional, and that's another topic or two.

• "Vocations for Everyone
  (December 11, 2011)
• "National Vocations Week: What's a Vocation?
  (January 10, 2011)
  Particularly
  • "Vocation" is "Career:" Sort of
  • Vocations: a Short List
• "Unity, Diversity, and Being Catholic
  (August 26, 2010)