Western Civilization is extraordinarily complex. From
Greece to Rome to Europe and America, a long, multifaceted, and rich line of
thought has dominated. In 1909 Harvard (oh, the irony) published a series
called the “Harvard Classics” that began a major emphasis on what we now
call “the great books”. Many universities nationally and worldwide used
this book list as the basis of understanding who we were and how the West had
come to be what it was. It was a list worthy of teaching each generation. In
today’s jaded academic world, these courses barely exist.
This
was the epitome of Western thought. From Plato, the Judeo/Christian writings,
Epictetus, Augustine, Shakespeare, Adam Smith, Edmund Burke, and many more, and
with such depth, the list was genuinely incredible. I remember asking a
professor why we didn’t study more contemporary books, rather than these stuffy
old tomes. He replied, “Because they have stood the test of time.” Checkmate.
You could say that they once formed the basis of thought for both liberals and
conservatives in the country, that they helped make America great. Post-World
War II, most boomers studied the great books.
Enter
the deconstruction. It had begun prior to the 1930s. It was the critical theory
of the Frankfurt School that began our slow death march. Our academics fell for
this critique of Western thought. Howard Zinn and the current group of
“historians” all put their stamp on calling these books as the progeny of “dead
white men.” The left, being who they are, readily accepted this new history.
It was not necessary to debate or discuss actual historical ideas. It was
more important to call them old, dead, and white. The democrat party may as
well call its platform the epitome of the deconstruction of the West.
The
deconstructionists have been winning. Our universities have literally gone
insane, teaching every new critique about our culture that pops up. Just look
at any liberal arts college course list. Most are pretty sick, intent on
salting the mental constructs of their students so they can be good leftist
role models. They want students spouting the aphorisms of ignorant live
professors who forgot how alive the classics are, if they ever knew. If you
want to know the fruit of this teaching, just look at what the universities
have instituted in recent years: safe rooms, therapy dogs, crying sessions,
counselling. They are still melting down. A generation lost in space, in
the mentally “safe”, and very demented spaces of the professoriate.
C.S.
Lewis saw this budding phenomenon back in the 1930s. In his writings,
professors spouting the deconstruction theories were the villains, universities
were the vehicles, bureaucracies were the model for Hellishness, and leftist
politicians rounded out the whole bad barrel of apples.
In
his novel, That Hideous Strength, there are powerful scenes where
his hero, Ransom, battles a professor/politician who has given himself over to
these new forces. Ransom watches as the professor deteriorates mentally and
morally, finally realizing what this new philosophy leads to. He sees the
formerly brilliant professor becoming sotted with viciousness, self-indulgence,
and foolishness. Ransom finally understands he has to fight this man, and
his philosophy, to the death. Literally.
These
scenes are powerful foreshadowing of what has happened in our deconstructed
country. C.S. Lewis and his good friend Tolkien envisioned the great earthly
battles to come, writing fiction about the courage of those who would fight
against deconstructionist enemies.
Donald
Trump this week gave a speech in Poland lauding Western values, stating our
vulnerabilities, and wondering if the West has the will to survive. He is
encouraging those in the West who have the mettle to rise up and reclaim our
heritage. He is engaging the battle against those who would tear it down. Trump
knows the stakes. When he talks about making America great again, it’s likely
because he understood the courses of great books, and knew the greatness of
what was once handed to us.
Pope
John Paul II gave some great speeches about what he called “the culture of
death. How fitting that Trump would give his latest call to arms in Poland. How
fitting that Poland, so historically war-torn, sees the battle clearly. How
fitting that they are already in the fight to preserve the West, one of the few
European countries to do so.
So
now it comes to us here in the U.S. Will we finally realize this is a fight for
a decent civilization? Or will we succumb to the petty, banal viciousness of
the deconstructionist left? Will we steel ourselves to overcome this
well-funded leftist blitz against our culture, or will we go out with a
whimper?
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/07/the_deconstruction_of_western_values.html
