musicwriter
8 Sep 2010
Life / Poland, maybe the world's last bastion of faith [67]
You have composed a nice little thesis for a college course on 'Moral Behavior' but...sadly, no such course is taught. I grew up in Ohio during WWII when there was rationing of staple foods and gasoline, a halt in construction and auto manufacturing. The main concern then was whose sons that got drafted into the army or navy would return home someday, and whose sons would die fighting for freedom. After each Sunday Mass the priest knelt down before the altar and we all said a prayer for "our boys overseas". During those years we walked through a vale of tears.[i]
The war ended in 1945 and we had five years of peace. Also, that was also end of the Great Depression. But then 1950 we went to war again in Korea. The fighting stopped in 1953 with a cease-fire but not a surrender. In the 1960s, we sent troops to Vietnam. Many were killed on both sides and we pulled out and let the Commies take over. Thus, it seems that when the American public is concerned about war or the threat of enemy attack, they tend to be more vigilant and keep there moral standards high. Sixty years ago men would wear a clean white shirt to Mass and women covered wore a hat or a mantilla. My mom never wore slacks or shorts at all. She felt that pants are for men and boys. We walked to church, school, grocery store, etc. because my parents never had a car. Today you can wear anything you want to Mass and nothing is said to you. Want to wear shorts and flip-flops on your feet? No problem.
Today, there is too much emphasis placed upon money and self-gratification. This mind-set is constantly energized by the plethora of commercials on radio and TV. They say you should never live in pain, you should never be unattractive, you should never be alone on Friday night, and that every hunger and want should be fulfilled. Ultimately, it espouses that every pleasure we yearn for can be tasted, and unless this happens, we cannot be happy. Because of this, we over-expect.
Five years ago we had a house guest from Poland who came to the US to give a doctoral dissertation in Atlanta and New York City. He mentioned that the Poles attend church regularly because they are told to do so. But the Poles are contemptuous toward their neighbors. He gave this example: If you saw your Polish neighbor in the backyard and greeted him like "Good Morning, how are you today"? The neighbor would reply " Hmm, I suppose you want me to do you a favor"!
Regarding Muslims that came to live in the USA, may I relate events that occurred a couple years ago in Ohio at a nearby business (carpet and floor covering store) that was in a strip mall along with four other businesses. Well, for years things were fine. Eventually, a little carry-out store opened up right next door. Like most of those, it is run by Muslims and many of their patrons are Muslims. Now the floor covering store had many 12 X 24-inch samples of carpeting on a table near the front door. As time went by, the owner noticed that samples are gradually disappearing. So they put a surveillance camera up high. Soon he learned what was going on. Muslims were coming in, stealing carpet samples and running away. They were using them for prayer rugs. Eventually the floor covering store moved to a different location and so far, nothing has been swiped.
You have composed a nice little thesis for a college course on 'Moral Behavior' but...sadly, no such course is taught. I grew up in Ohio during WWII when there was rationing of staple foods and gasoline, a halt in construction and auto manufacturing. The main concern then was whose sons that got drafted into the army or navy would return home someday, and whose sons would die fighting for freedom. After each Sunday Mass the priest knelt down before the altar and we all said a prayer for "our boys overseas". During those years we walked through a vale of tears.[i]
The war ended in 1945 and we had five years of peace. Also, that was also end of the Great Depression. But then 1950 we went to war again in Korea. The fighting stopped in 1953 with a cease-fire but not a surrender. In the 1960s, we sent troops to Vietnam. Many were killed on both sides and we pulled out and let the Commies take over. Thus, it seems that when the American public is concerned about war or the threat of enemy attack, they tend to be more vigilant and keep there moral standards high. Sixty years ago men would wear a clean white shirt to Mass and women covered wore a hat or a mantilla. My mom never wore slacks or shorts at all. She felt that pants are for men and boys. We walked to church, school, grocery store, etc. because my parents never had a car. Today you can wear anything you want to Mass and nothing is said to you. Want to wear shorts and flip-flops on your feet? No problem.
Today, there is too much emphasis placed upon money and self-gratification. This mind-set is constantly energized by the plethora of commercials on radio and TV. They say you should never live in pain, you should never be unattractive, you should never be alone on Friday night, and that every hunger and want should be fulfilled. Ultimately, it espouses that every pleasure we yearn for can be tasted, and unless this happens, we cannot be happy. Because of this, we over-expect.
Five years ago we had a house guest from Poland who came to the US to give a doctoral dissertation in Atlanta and New York City. He mentioned that the Poles attend church regularly because they are told to do so. But the Poles are contemptuous toward their neighbors. He gave this example: If you saw your Polish neighbor in the backyard and greeted him like "Good Morning, how are you today"? The neighbor would reply " Hmm, I suppose you want me to do you a favor"!
Regarding Muslims that came to live in the USA, may I relate events that occurred a couple years ago in Ohio at a nearby business (carpet and floor covering store) that was in a strip mall along with four other businesses. Well, for years things were fine. Eventually, a little carry-out store opened up right next door. Like most of those, it is run by Muslims and many of their patrons are Muslims. Now the floor covering store had many 12 X 24-inch samples of carpeting on a table near the front door. As time went by, the owner noticed that samples are gradually disappearing. So they put a surveillance camera up high. Soon he learned what was going on. Muslims were coming in, stealing carpet samples and running away. They were using them for prayer rugs. Eventually the floor covering store moved to a different location and so far, nothing has been swiped.
