Link
By the way, thanks to a fellow local, himself an “Okie,” a “Trad,” a blogger, and a reader, for telling me that title, and background info.
Check it out on YT, as I did. It’s a worthy 20 minute evening entertainment. Makes you ask what percentage of the public, in special circumstances, would choose to murder or otherwise seriously damage undeserving people, for the sake of money or some social gain.
I think the moral dilemma in the story could be converted into any number of more realistic but still similar moral situations most face today, which seems to be the theme of the story.
Pushing the red button could be the equivalent of making a singular, thought-out, deliberate choice to tell someone a) a lie, b) slander, c) detraction, or d) calumny; or to 1) steal, 2) cheat, 3) embezzle, 4) commit fraud; or to betray a friend or acquaintance, seriously undermine a superior’s legitimate authority, harass, discriminate against, or any other grave offense that you know will cause real substantial harm to your fellow man.
The Golden Rule being the entire foundation of the Ten Commandments, the New Law of Jesus Christ which fulfills those commandments (not abolishes), and Justification itself, the moral imperative to follow all moral absolutes is central to our Faith and salvation.
I’ll give an example of someone “pushing the button.” Years ago, a Catholic man I know worked very hard to get into Physician Assistant school, with outstanding grades, GRE scores, resume, medical experience, exceptional professional references, etc.
In an interview, the female interviewer, seeing on his record a degree from a Catholic college (which he did not hide on his application), questioned how he could be a Catholic and a PA, stating “If you are Catholic, I don’t think you can be a Physician Assistant. You would have to be okay with birth control and reproductive health. It just wouldn’t work.”
He had said nothing indicating whether or not he believed Catholic teaching against birth control. She had asked him a loaded question, which he had actually prepared for ahead of time with a general statement.
Mental reservation in that situation wasn’t enough to gloss over this question, which was really a trap.
Needless to say he was not admitted to their program. Because of (at least in part) overtly religious bias, and probably feminist bias, that person’s singular comment and ultimately the written assessment they gave after the interview was over, as to their recommendation, almost certainly prevented him from entering the PA program and profession. This being the 3rd year to apply, he decided to stop trying. God’s will be done.
Most of us have had similar experiences, on some level, in one form or another, at one time or another on our personal timeline. One person making an extremely unfair, if not illegal decision that negatively affected our life history on this planet.
Either because that person gained something from it for themselves (like the satisfaction for a few fleeting minutes of blocking a well prepared, religious, pro-life candidate from entering the medical profession), or for some utilitarian reason, they made an extremely unjust choice and you suffered for it.
Grave evils have always been committed by one man, through singular, direct decisions, against another who did not deserve the consequence. Just read any Shakespeare tragedy. But today this is common place in the family, work place, social organizations of all kinds, making contemporary society itself into a collective, diabolic tyrant to not be trusted.
This is a good argument for turning even more strongly than ever back to subsidiarity, local authority and living, self-reliance, and a counter-cultural lifestyle.
When your central government has been now overtly usurped by foreign powers, and traitors in collusion with them, to create an effectively one world, godless, tyrannical government; when the president has no conscience about abandoning thousands of innocent people in Afghanistan to the Taliban, or to force a universal vaccine under threat of losing your livelihood, or to enforce baby dismemberment on demand; when the average person would push the red button in many scenarios rationalizing the self-gain, then you cannot trust the government or social mainstream.
These times call for extraordinary measures. Consider re-locating to rural areas of red states, and near places like St. Mary’s, KS or Clear Creek Abbey here in OK.
This is a good argument for turning even more strongly than ever back to subsidiarity, local authority and living, self-reliance, and a counter-cultural lifestyle.
When your central government has been now overtly usurped by foreign powers, and traitors in collusion with them, to create an effectively one world, godless, tyrannical government; when the president has no conscience about abandoning thousands of innocent people in Afghanistan to the Taliban, or to force a universal vaccine under threat of losing your livelihood, or to enforce baby dismemberment on demand; when the average person would push the red button in many scenarios rationalizing the self-gain, then you cannot trust the government or social mainstream.
These times call for extraordinary measures. Consider re-locating to rural areas of red states, and near places like St. Mary’s, KS or Clear Creek Abbey here in OK.
Work to one day start a sustainable business rooted in your faith, morals, and values.
Live an Amish-like lifestyle. That is minimal immersion in technology, simple living, self-reliance, connection with nature, focus on faith and the family.
Associate only with people, places, and things that are decent, honorable, and trustworthy. Wean off of digital media addiction. Embrace the stoic life. Let life be more quiet slower, rational, and clear.
I am often far from faithful to these values myself, but I am nonetheless advocating here for them. This is as much a self-reflection for my own personal growth, as it is an admonition for the anonymous reader stumbling upon this blog.
Let us be more in reserve and retreat, to develop wisdom and virtue, through prayer and good works among family and acquaintances, and less “busy” running around all over kingdom come focusing on excessive errands, sports and competitions, all kinds of extracurricular activities and distractions, and all those things frenetically “busy.”
Otherwise, we risk losing focus on the good and true, objective moral absolute truths, and whenever presented with a “push the button” kind of scenario, we end up that much more tempted to, you know, push the button.
By the way, enjoy this Fall weather. I almost caught a fish last Sunday.
Live an Amish-like lifestyle. That is minimal immersion in technology, simple living, self-reliance, connection with nature, focus on faith and the family.
Associate only with people, places, and things that are decent, honorable, and trustworthy. Wean off of digital media addiction. Embrace the stoic life. Let life be more quiet slower, rational, and clear.
I am often far from faithful to these values myself, but I am nonetheless advocating here for them. This is as much a self-reflection for my own personal growth, as it is an admonition for the anonymous reader stumbling upon this blog.
Let us be more in reserve and retreat, to develop wisdom and virtue, through prayer and good works among family and acquaintances, and less “busy” running around all over kingdom come focusing on excessive errands, sports and competitions, all kinds of extracurricular activities and distractions, and all those things frenetically “busy.”
Otherwise, we risk losing focus on the good and true, objective moral absolute truths, and whenever presented with a “push the button” kind of scenario, we end up that much more tempted to, you know, push the button.
By the way, enjoy this Fall weather. I almost caught a fish last Sunday.