Loyalty IX

 . . . one who is more powerful than I is coming . . . . 

 - From Luke 3

So, what are the things that we have put ahead of loyalty to honorable people? 

What are the reasons that we would turn our backs on the only people that would share their last thread of clothing with us? What could be so important, or stimulating, that we would denounce the generations that saved, invested, sacrificed, and shared, so that we could live in the most wealthy and free country in world history?

What is so urgent, or important, that we would insult our elders . . . those that have been manifestly loyal to us? Why would we deny loyalty to the ones that modeled perfect loyalty for us?

Well, you're talking about a voluminous treatise to merit doctoral study. What are some of the things we have put ahead of real, sacrificial love?

We could start with anti-racism. That's a big one. "I am willing to listen to other viewpoints, but I don't listen to racists, misogynists, homophobes, Islamophobes," etc. 

That's the biggy. And we can catch probably anybody and everybody saying, or doing, something, that will qualify them to be someone we don't listen to. Because, you know, we want to be so virtuous. But the problem is, the person with these standards can be caught violating their own rules, too, eventually. And if their ethic of elder-hate gets passed down a generation or two, they're not going to like being on the butt-end of it. 

Resentment's a viable reason to reject loyalty. Up until now, every generation in America has fared better than the one before. Perhaps the Millennials are disappointed that it's different for them. They do emphasize "fairness," after all. But envy is never a good emotion, and it absolutely is dangerous if it gets too strong of a foothold in wealthy societies. 

No, I'm not going to be loyal to you. You didn't leave me enough money to live off of for the rest of my life.

The elephant in the room is the cause for disloyalty that nobody wants to talk about. Our generation is over-sexed, over violenced, and over-stimulated. We want what we want, and we want it now. Everything comes in bite-sized chunks that may be consumed instantly. We do not want barriers. No parameters. No standards. No expectations. No obligations. Just let me do what I feel like doing.

The payoff on being able to do whatever you feel like doing, is that you will feel good. We all are enslaved by the siren-song of pleasure. 

That guy over there, with his middle-aged divorce and the opportunity to act like a teenager all over again, in the dating world, has got a good thing going. In principle, I know it is unwise and immoral. But I want those same options for me, just in case.

It makes it even better that we have made morality such a moving target. Because, it really . . . does . . . feel so good.

We have a number of reasons why we might shelve any practice of loyalty. Oh, of course. . . . in most cases we can even say "I don't have to have the values of a dead person."

If loyalty were a thing . . . most of our problems today would go away. You would not vote in ways that would create extreme friction in your family. You would want to be able to share your voting decisions with your grandparents, without feeling like you have broken their trust and good faith. 

And the positive forward movement of our society and culture would not be impeded. In fact, it would probably advance more rapidly, in the right ways. 

John the Baptist could have had the crowd in his hand. He could have stepped up and taken on the mantle of "Messiah," if he wanted. But he realized there was someone greater than he. He knew who the Messiah was, and did what we all should: point out the way, to others. This is loyalty. 

In the end, loyalty requires the humility and honesty of John. You don't have to have all the power to yourself. You don't need to feel "good" right now. You do not have to blame others for your problems.

But you do need to identify what is permanently good and praiseworthy, and make yourself loyal to it.