You read the title correctly. Amid countless piles of fresh horse manure, I once saw a cat meticulously bury its own contribution. Regardless of our surroundings, we can always have good mental hygiene.
Paul said in Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things."
Here are eight ways America has morally improved:
- Democratic Party support for slavery, Jim Crow laws and segregation evaporates
This is an enormous moral victory for the American people.It took until 1965, almost a hundred years after they lost the Civil War, for the Democratic Party to be on the right side of history.In 1924, tens of thousands of KKK members, in celebration of Democratic Party platform plank against their racist violence being rejected by slightly over 50 percent of votes, gathered in a New Jersey field across the river from the New York City site of their spiritual home: the Democratic Party Convention.
In 1926, KKK members had an enormous parade in Washington.
Hats off to Democrats and progressives for changing their minds, albeit reluctantly. Roman philosopher Seneca said it best: Fata volentem nolentem trahit. "Fate leads the willing, the unwilling it drags."
- Better treatment of homosexuals
Like lynching, groupthink bullying and violence were particularly disgusting when thugs would "roll or beat up an innocent homosexual just for walking down the street. Thank God this is no longer condoned.
- Churches rediscover meditation
Silence is God's homily. Incessant thinking, chatter of the mind, seldom brings inner peace or communion with God. For this reason, meditation is a form of listening, like prayer. It's been wisely said, don't believe everything you think.Even though meditative practice was part of the early Christian church, it was lost for centuries to the laity even while certain monasteries kept the practice alive. Of course, Buddhism, Zen and Hinduism developed their own iterations.In America, the meditative discipline is now available to explore without danger of ecumenical heresy in most churches. It reduces stress. It also cultivates a less materialistic and impulsive perspective to life's problems. Secular venues offer a wide selection as well.
- Abortion health-care coverage mandates losing ground
The Supreme Court unanimously overturned a lower court's ruling against the Little Sisters of the Poor that codified into law the loss of religious freedom.Even after this humiliating rebuke, Pennsylvania and California state governments are taking the pro-life nuns back to court over related unconscionable health-care mandates.
- Better treatment of animals
The horse whisperer paved the way for better treatment of animals. Brutality against them is not only inhumane but ineffectual as a training paradigm.The dog whisperer, Cesar Millan, helped me through his TV show to cure my dog of a vexing problem in two minutes that previously eluded me for 10 years of frustration.
- Radical feminists are now rightly shaming male perverts instead of masculinity itself
I have never been prouder of our American female gymnasts on the Olympic team, past and present, who in court confronted convicted pedophile Dr. Larry Nassar. I wish there were a gold medal for courage. All 156 victims deserve one.As an expert on financial markets, my dear father used to teach people about enantiodromia (pronounced əˌnan(t)ēəˈdrōmēə): the tendency of things to change into their opposites.The pendulum of radical feminism is finally swinging back to a healthy range. Public discussion of what is right and wrong is a refreshing development.The gender slur "toxic masculinity" is now ascribed to sex criminals and not rambunctious 6-year-olds or normal fun-loving college students in fraternities. Masculinity is not toxic. Half of all human DNA is not toxic; creepy individuals are. My hope is that perversion is on trial, not manhood. Time will tell.
- More humane treatment of the mentally ill
Two psychiatrists, Dr. Abraham Low and Dr. William Glasser, have done remarkable work to cure mental illness. Both were pioneers at destigmatizing the illness and offering humane treatment.Both empowered their patients to take control of their own cure.
- U.S. legal immigration, best interests of Americans and sovereignty are being defended, finally
Kudos to the current administration for not demonizing those who debate the legitimate safety concerns of citizens, and for taking action to keep America a little safer.