I read two opinion-pieces in the Wall Street Journal this weelk that came together for me in a surprising, sobering and meaningful way; likely in a way that the authors would not have expected.
The first opinion-piece, “America is a Sick Society—Literally” by William A. Galston lays out in graphic and sobering detail how sick the society in our country really is.
In life expectancy, we rank 29th among the 38 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. We trail Germany by 2.5 years; Canada by 3.2 years; and France by 4 years.
The pandemic made things worse. The U.S. suffered 332 deaths per 100,000 population, compared with 240 in France; 194 in Germany; and 128 in Canada.
Over the last 20 years, deaths from overdoses of drugs rose from about 17,000 Americans in the year 2000 to 92,000 by 2020. Here again, we lead all other high-income countries. In 2020, our death rates from overdoses of 277 per million compared with Canada at 171 per million; Germany only 19 per million; and France even lower at 7 per million.
The invidious comparisons continue. On obesity. On gun violence. We lead the world on both. On the latter, the rate of firearm homicides per million adults in the U.S. stands at 41, compared with only 5 in Canada, 3 in France, 2 in Australia and 1 in Germany.
Experts, divided among many lines including political party, argue about the causes of these invidious comparisons. For my money, they have not been adequately studied or, if they have, I haven’t seen that study. But it shouts out for comprehensive, data based answers.
The second column, this one written by Daniel Henninger, is about the legacy of Pope Benedict, who passed away this past week at the age of 95. Henninger talks about Benedict's beliefs in the context of the conflict of values between President Xi and Putin in China and Russia and the West.
Putin is arguing, disingenuously to be sure, that Russia stands for “moral historical truth…there is no higher power than love for one’s family and friends, loyalty to friends and comrades in arms”, he says. This, coming from the man who cruelly invaded Ukraine. Yet, this is the argument he is making and, yes, persuading many that he is right. Xi talks about China creating a new choice for achieving “modernization.”
Here is where Pope Benedict steps in with the conviction which I have shared for most of my adult life. And that is the role of religion and faith. Pope Benedict summarized his views as Pope in his 2009 Encyclical Letter, “Caritas In Veritate” (Love and Truth) in which he argues that secularism will fall without the ballast of religion or faith.
“Reason and faith can come to each other’s assistance", he wrote. "Only together will they save man. Entranced by an exclusive reliance on technology, reason without faith is doomed to flounder in an illusion of its own omnipotence. Faith without reason risks being cut off from everyday life.”
For me, and I know this is a personal matter, this sums it up.
Henninger writes that his personal solution to reducing the country’s problems is “go to church on the weekend. To learn that, in fact, you’re not #1. And not alone.” That captures what I feel in going to church.
I embrace Henninger’s closing thought. “Perhaps the moment is right to revive Benedict’s argument for religion’s proper role in organizing a coherent, self-confident society, or nation.”
Yet, I have to confess that I am not optimistic of this actually happening in the near- or medium-term future. The incidence of church-going, especially among the young, has been declining for years. In a way I can’t define, I think religion needs to bring a new message to the public, with new messengers. I have benefitted personally from having had close contact with a minister, Rev. Paula Jackson, for 30 years. She brought me, through her words and through her service, the recognition that my belief in God, as vague and changing as it has often been, and the teachings of Jesus Christ have been very important to my living the life I sought to live.
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