Insight into Social Change

August 19th, 2009

Without Moral Confrontation, Neither Them nor Us are Going Anywhere

Our failing social institutions attest to the fact that “business as usual” is no longer good enough. We have failing schools, ecological collapse, a huge national debt, a deep recession and two wars we are charging on our Chinese credit card – and that’s just for starters. The fundamental problem is that our technology has created an environment on the planet that has never before existed, creating new problems that require new solutions. Philosophers and scientists have long recognized that change is the only constant in the universe and we have elected a president who campaigned on the promised of change. And yet, resistance to change is formidable – why is that?

Change means doing something different from before and that requires letting go of the past.

Martin Amis, in his book about Joseph Stalin, said: “Before humanity can move forward, all crimes against itself must be given their day in the sun, their victims mourned, and proper conclusions drawn.” News commentators, historians and philosophers bring the dark side of our society into the light of our mainstream culture; moral confrontation is how we draw proper conclusions and stimulate social progress.

When Indians morally confronted the British Raj, India achieved independence. After WWII, when Jews morally confronted the Holocaust, the former victims became Israeli warriors. In the sixties, when African Americans morally confronted the modern version of slavery, Jim Crow, they made great strides in civil rights and began to transcend their victim status. Feminists morally confronted their inferior status and made significant progress toward social equality for women. Morally confronting the fact that millions of Americans can’t pay for health care gives us insight into what direction health care reform should take.

Modern communication technology is accelerating social change by quickly bringing information associated with the dark side of our society into the mainstream culture, including, most recently, the dark side of Christianity. For example, the word “inquisition” is no longer limited to the infamous Spanish Inquisition, but has become part of the modern lexicon, referring to any harsh investigation. When a reporter for the Boston Globe printed an expose of sexual abuse perpetrated by Catholic priests, almost immediately, victims around the world came forward, empowered themselves and prompted changes in Church policies. Jews morally confronted the inaction of the Vatican during the Nazi years and decreased the institutional anti-Semitism that has characterized Christianity for centuries. In recent years, the Vatican acknowledged some responsibility for its part in the subjugation of women and pardoned the scientist, Galileo, for saying that the earth revolved around the sun. That people are still so reluctant to morally confront not religious beliefs, but the behavior those beliefs engender, like opposition to birth control, indicates that much work remains to be done.

Albert Einstein said: “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” Albert Schweitzer said: “Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.” Jean Boyd says: “Moral confrontation is the key.” What do you say?

Tags: Christianity, civil rights, Einstein, Holocaust, morality, social change, technology

41 Comments to Insight into Social Change

This is a message which shows insight and knowledge/research The article makes the reader think about the meaning of moral confrontation. You certainly write with superior organization and the ability to analyze. This would make a good newspaper editorial. Thanks for allowing me to read and comment. Audrey

Audrey Selig on August 27th, 2009

Jean, you are so right. There must be a moral confrontation for issues to some to a head and be resolved. There are so many issues that linger forever, such as gay marriage, healthcare, lobbying, excessive spending by the United States, the financial industry with its problems with home mortgages and illegal immigration. They are very overwhelming. Let us hope that there is some resolution to these issues during our lifetime. Is there anything that we can do?

Audrey Selig on August 30th, 2009

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