The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
W.B. Yeats, “The Second Coming”
Even a pretty upbeat person, such as myself, must be reaching for the Pepto-Bismol over the current state of politics in our country. There is no need to recite the disreputable litany; anyone who pays even slight attention to the news is dismally aware. Voter turnout has been declining for decades and, in a way, no wonder. “Don’t vote—it just encourages them”—- indeed.
I write this reflection on November 8 after our St. Paul’s community gathered to remember the valiant sacrifice of Canadian soldiers—particularly 25 of our own boys — and to affirm our purpose to work for peace. Most of the kids were quite moved by the ceremonies and the speeches. I was too, but now my heart is drawn to another question: what ever happened to honour among people and especially among those who would lead us?
Honour. What a quaint idea. Other than in our military and perhaps, in segments at least of the RCMP, who talks about honour today? More importantly, who has any?
A dominant value of the culture now is if you can do it, you may do it. The spying on citizenry that has become endemic, the culture of Enron, genetic manipulation, the actions of some police officers, municipal politicians….oh, sorry…I said I wouldn’t bring up the politicians. But the point is that you can do it if you can get away with it. And maybe you’re a fool if you don’t.
Here’s an idea: I can do it but I won’t because it’s wrong. Or conversely: I don’t want to do it but I will because it is right.
Ignatius Loyola was a man of honour in a culture that valued honour above all…maybe even above religion. After his initial conversion experience, this soldier renounced his arms and his fancy clothes to live the life of a beggar. But when Ignatius encountered a Moor who insulted the Blessed Virgin’s honour, he resolved to avenge Our Lady and slay him…provided that the saint’s mule took the fork in the road taken by the Moor.
Fortunately for the Moor (and probably for the Least Society) the mule went the other way.
To our modern mind, Ignatius was leaving a huge moral decision to chance, surely a sin. But to the Saint, the man who had resolved to make God’s will his own will, who had renounced his arms, this was a matter of honour and his personal advantage was of no consequence. I don’t want to do it but I will because it is right.
Back to the political culture. The “passionate intensity” of the politicos is all too obvious. In some cases nauseatingly so (Tea Party anyone??) But what about the rest of us, the presumably “best [who ] lack all conviction?” How can we “shine like stars in a wicked and perverse generation?”
I think that the Bishop of Rome is showing us The Way. I’d bet that someone has put a belt around the neck of the self-admitted arrogant provincial of his younger years and led him where he would not go…to barrios, to garbage dumps and now to the Throne of Peter. And he’s doing it because it is right. Giving and not counting the cost. And that is honour. And that gives me hope.