Validated

In receiving, yesterday, my copy of Hillsdale College’s monthly publication Imprimis I was gratified to read an article by Meghan Cox Gurdon titled ‘The Case for Good Taste in Children’s Books.’ Mrs. Gurdon is a mother, a journalist, and has been a book reviewer for the Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade. 

I was gratified not only for the defense of her subject matter, good taste in children’s books, but for the larger issue she addressed.  It was essentially the same issue that I addressed in my last weblog essay, ‘Glorifying the Inglorious.’  She even ended by using the same, very-to-the-point scriptural citation by the ancient Christian apostle, Paul—and one that is an article of my own Christian faith. 

From her in-depth experience with children’s, young adult, and so-called ‘chick-lit’ literature she made the case that there is “an increasingly dark current that runs through [these] books.”They have become, “increasingly lurid, grotesque, profane, sexual, and ugly. . . reflecting hideously distorted portrayals of life.” 

In yet another way the adults in our society—parents,  teachers, librarians, book authors, social media hosts or other, hopefully,  responsible  trendsetters who should stand as gatekeepers, those who should screen and protect the most vulnerable of our race—have  abdicated their roles and even abetted the destroyers of our once fairly-enlightened culture by contaminating our children.  ‘Freedom of expression,’ as part of our veneration for ‘freedom of speech,’ whereby flag-burning, vulgar San Francisco ‘gay-rights’ parades, profane lyrics and actions by rap-music and other ‘performers’ over our air-waves and television sets—and popular books—has as trumped good taste, common sense, and moral responsibility. 

I have long considered it an irony that so-called ‘adult movies,’ ‘adult literature,’ ‘adult entertainment,’ is somehow okay for adults, but is (or now was) rightly recognized as not okay for children.  What hypocrisy from adults who children, at least for all too brief period of their lives, look up to as their role models in all things. 

   

Degradation engulfs us from all sides.  And we give our tacit approval to it. 

I end with this well-said summation from  Mrs. Gurdon’s speech:

            “This is why good taste matters so much when it comes to books for children and young adults.  Books tell children what to expect, what life is, what culture is, how we are expected to behave…. Books don’t just cater to tastes.  They form tastes.  They create norms.”  

If I haven’t made the point yet in these essays I probably never will make it.  But if you choose, instead, to see it for yourself just check out the Miley Cyrus antics of the past week, or the Brittany Spears behaviors of the past few years, or the costumes of the women on Dancing With the Stars, or a few of the books cited by Meghan Cox Gurdon in her critique that I have credited today.  Be prepared to be shocked. 

And then (and this is most important), ask yourself what you are going to do about it.  I would hope you, too, will raise the warning voice in your own sphere of influence.  You will not be a lone voice crying in the wilderness.  You will get validation—at least from me. 

Glorifying the Inglorious

As one of my primary sources for understanding the pulse of the nation and what is going on in the world I listen to National Public Radio (NPR).  As a counterpoint I also, of course, listen very carefully to my Church leaders (who are highly informed regarding social issues and cultural trends) and the Holy Spirit with which I am gifted; I also subscribe to a national newspaper as well as my local county newspaper.  And I also do a lot of general reading.

In listening to NPR for nearly a decade I have strongly mixed feelings about its programming.  On the one hand I appreciate their news clips and the breadth of the many interesting topics its programs explore. But on the other hand I find the content of many of its shows featuring interviewed—and interviewing—personalities, topics, and treatment of social issues and behavior to be highly slanted with liberal bias, and demonstrative of a tacit support for the iconoclastic. 

Notwithstanding the high-sounding principles of fairness and impartiality they claim in their NPR Ethics Handbook (which I have carefully read), the pro-liberal agenda in their programming is strongly evident.  Traditional values, especially Christian values, are given little treatment; indeed, they are dismissed, disregarded and disparaged.  For a social institution that is partially funded by public tax-payer money (currently 4.6% of their operating revenue) I find this unacceptable.

Here is the problem:  I am genuinely concerned with the direction this country is heading with regard to the collapse of our moral foundation—especially family values.  National media, such as NPR contributes to that.  NPR interviews, for example, especially in programs such as On Point with host Tom Ashbrook, and Fresh Air with Terri Gross, seem very sympathetic with the many guests they choose to interview whose lifestyles are far from the norm or depart radically from the traditional cultural ideal. Their focus is frequently on people such as these who represent lifestyles or viewpoints that are at variance with the principles that made this a once-great (and good) nation. It is evident that the NPR producers do this deliberately.  The problem is that the naïve and susceptible, such as our youth and young adults, are vulnerable to this approach to social engineering. And it is this population that is particularly suffering. 

It is a rare interview or subject explored that I see, from their mission statement, programming “[providing] content that meet the highest standards of public service in journalism and cultural expression.” To the contrary, I do see (also from their Handbook) that they “make every effort to gather responses from those who are the subjects of criticism, unfavorable allegations or other negative assertions in our stories.” Is it any wonder why convicted felons, drug addicts, sexual deviants, people with failed lives and social iconoclasts might get, from a more conservative public,  “criticism, unfavorable allegations or other negative assertions” when they have brought these woes upon themselves?  “We minimize undue harm and take special care with those who are vulnerable or suffering,” they say.  Harm to whom?  To the real victims, to a struggling public, to impressionable young people who may be listening in? No. But NPR certainly doesn’t want to offend the poor sexual predators, addicts, thieves, non-contributors and deviants.  “ We strive to report and produce stories that transcend our biases and treat all views fairly.”  Oh?  Hardly.  I invite a more careful look. 

In my doctoral studies I used a statistical social-science instrument called ‘content analysis.’  Simplified it simply means to classify ‘categories-treated’ and count the number of times terms or concepts that meet the criteria pertaining to that which is being studied is addressed.  In short, what is being emphasized? 

For example, say a radio program is interviewing a book author.  Do a content analysis on the interview by counting up the number of times the interviewer or interviewee brings up or elaborates on anti-social or counter-culture or off-center criteria such as protecting criminal’s ‘rights,’ or justifying deviant sexual behavior, or pro-abortion, or promotion of illegal substances, or sympathizing with the self-created dysfunctional individual, etc.  And then contrast that with discussion that focus’ on positive concepts or exemplary people such as that encouraged by the Christian ideal expressed by the apostle Paul:

“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

This, I would like to see much more of. 

But to glorify the inglorious, to promote the prurient?  Yes, I do have a problem with that.  And so does a culture that embraces it. 

When you tune in to NPR for news, be prepared for what you are going to get in far too much of their other programming. 

Sheridan's 20 Mile Ride

Writing about words in my last essay motivates me to want to illustrate the motivating power of words in my own life and in the lives of those who gave their ‘last full measure of devotion.’ 

Some years ago my wife and I read together one of James A. Michener’s early works, The Bridge at Andau.  It was that book that a few years ago took us to Budapest, Hungary to witness the place where the brave people of Hungary, in 1956, put up the resistance against the powerful Russian invaders and occupiers. I think in the back of our minds we made the resolve that should we have to some day show such courage as did those people, we had the example before us.  We would do as they did if the circumstances demanded it.  We were glad their heroism was put down in words. 

On another occasion we read Michael Shaara’s superb Pulitzer Prize-winning Civil War classic, The Killer Angels.  We were highly impressed with the character, leadership and accomplishments of Union General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain at Gettysburg.   This book, too, took us on a journey—this time to Gettysburg to get the feel of this turning-place in American history.  

There is another Civil War general whose life and accomplishments—and especially leadership—came to light for me by the words of a poet.  Thomas Buchanan Read, the chronicler of the life of Union army General Phillip Sheridan, created a poem “Sheridan’s Ride.”

 General Sheridan had rapidly risen through the army ranks from a lieutenant because his great personal traits and leadership abilities proved he could move men. He had been given the command of the Union Army of the Shenandoah but was called to Washington D.C. for consultation when a surprise attack was made on his troops in his absence.  When the battle began,  Sheridan was twenty miles away at Winchester, but when he heard the report of the artillery where he had left his army he immediately responded.  But he did not reach the battlefield until his soldiers were already in retreat.  However, the sight of their general heading back into the battle instead away from it gave his men new courage and a greater faith.  As he rode up the valley at full gallop his soldiers turned and followed him to victory.    I end with Thomas Read’s stirring words of Sheridan and his steed:

Up from the South at break of day,

Bringing to Winchester fresh dismay,

The affrighted air with a shudder bore,

Like a herald in haste, to the chieftain’s door,

The terrible grumble, and rumble, and roar,

Telling that battle was on once more,

            And Sheridan twenty miles away.

            And wider still those billows of war

Thundered along the horizon’s bar;

And louder yet into Winchester rolled

The roar of that red sea uncontrolled,

Making the blood of the listener cold,

As he thought of the stake in that fiery fray,

            With Sheridan twenty miles away.

But there is a road from Winchester town,

A good, broad highway leading down;

And there, through the flush of the morning light,

A steed as black as the steeds of night

Was seen to pass, as with eagle flight;

As if he knew the terrible need,

He stretched away with his utmost speed;

Hills rose and fell; but his heart was gay

            With Sheridan fifteen miles away.

Still sprung from those swift hoofs thundering South,

The dust, like smoke from the cannon’s mouth;

Or the trail of a comet, sweeping faster and faster.

Foreboding to traitors the doom of disaster,

The heart of the steed and the heart of the master

Were beating like prisoners assaulting their walls,

Impatient to be where the battlefield calls;

Every nerve of the charger was strained to full play,

            With Sheridan only ten miles away.

Under his spurning feet the road

Like an arrowy alpine river flowed,

And the landscape sped away behind

Like and ocean flying before the wind,

And the steed, like a barque fed with furnace ire,

Swept on, with his wild eye full of fire.

But lo! He is hearing his heart’s desire;

He is snuffling the smoke of the roaring fray,

            With Sheridan only five miles away.

The first that the General saw were the groups

Of stragglers, and then the retreating troops;

What was done? What to do? A glance told him both,

Then, striking his spurs, with a terrible oath,

He dashed down the line ‘mid a storm of huzzas,

And the wave of retreat checked its course there, because

The sight of the master compelled it to pause.

With foam and with dust the black charger was gray;

By the flash of his eye, and the red nostril’s play,

He seemed to the whole great army to say,

“I have brought you Sheridan all the way

                         From Winchester down to save the day!”

Hurrah! Hurrah for Sheridan!

Hurrah! Hurrah for horse and man!

And when their statues are placed on high,

Under the dome of the Union sky,

The American soldier’s Temple of Fame;

There with the glorious general’s name,

Be it said, in letters both bold and bright

            “Here is the steed that saved the day,

By carrying Sheridan into the fight,

            From Winchester, twenty miles away!”

Will words building resolve propel us someday
 to take our ‘twenty mile ride’ into the fray
 so we can do our part and help ‘save our day’? 
 I pray so.

Words

When I was a kid on the playground I heard this: ‘Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.’  How wrong it was.  The truth is, ‘Sticks and Stones can break my bones, but words can break my heart.’  Or, scripturally:  “…a soft tongue breaketh the bone.” (Proverbs 25:15) Words can also delight, comfort, encourage, and inform. 

Loving words and the English language as I do,  I was delighted a couple of days ago, as I drove to work listening to ‘Car Talk’ on National Public Radio (NPR), to hear one of the Tappet (actually Magliozzi) brothers read a very funny piece written by Jack Winter, from The New Yorker, titled ‘How I Met My Wife’ (Car Talk program #1332, 10 August 2013).  The piece used fairly common words in unconventional, altered, and even unique ways.  

 It went something (I couldn’t find a transcript) like this:

            ‘It had been a rough day.  So when I walked into the party I was very chalant  despite my effort to appear gruntled.

I was furling my wieldy umbrella for the coat check when I saw her standing alone in a corner.

She was a descript person, a woman in a state total array.

Her hair was kempt and she moved in a gainly way.

I wanted desperately to meet her so I made bones about it.

Since I was traveling cognito  I was not sure of the impression I would make.

But then, for some reason, she looked in my direction in a way that I could

make heads or tails of it.

I was plussed.

It was concerting to see she that was communicado.   I made only called for remarks.

I started talking with her about the hors d’oeuvres trying to abuse her of the notion that I was civic

But then the conversation became more and more choate. 

We spoke at length to avail and I was defatigable  and told her I had to leave at a godly hour.  

I asked her if she would like to leave the party with me.

To my delight she was committal. We left the party and have been together ever since.

I have given her all my love and she requited it.’

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In an earlier broadcast of Car Talk that dealt with words, I read another humorous segment titled ‘Learn More Better English.’ It gave four ‘definitions’ that might bring a smile to your face as it did mine:

            Abdicate. v.  To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach

            Balderdash.  n.  A rapidly receding hairline

            Carcinoma. n.  A valley in California notable for its heavy smog

            Flabbergasted.  Appalled at how much weight you have gained

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I have been reading (actually listening to on an audiobook) words used in quite a different way by the 19<sup>th</sup> Century American novelist James Fenimore Cooper.  In the first published book of his Leatherstocking series, The Pioneers,  Cooper tells the tale of the opening up of the frontier region of the Ostego Lake region of New York.  The book has a rich, opulent, romanticized writing style that many today would find tedious but which I find very refreshing as his many now-archaic words paint wonderfully descriptive word pictures of early America and his highly disparate characters.  I doubt if I will ever forget Natty Bumpo or Chingachgook, or even Judge Marmaduke Temple’s highly obnoxious cousin Richard.  

I have often thought how much clearer our communications with each other could be, and misunderstandings lessened, if we used language with the precision found in the great literature of the past. 

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)

As it is now, well, like, you know. . . .