[Buddha-l] Silence ?

[Stanley J. Ziobro II]

On Tue, 5 Apr 2005, Richard P. Hayes wrote:

> Among my many Catholic friends, I cannot think of one who admired this
> pope. I am inclined to see him as something like the protagonist in a
> Greek tragedy, that is, a potentially great man undermined by a major
> flaw in character. His flaw was a certain rigidity of temperament that
> was no doubt his particular defense mechanism against the painful
> experiences of growing up in a country dominated by totalitarians, first
> the National Socialists of Germany and then the Soviet Communists. His
> life shows that all men are conditioned by circumstances completely
> beyond their control and for which, therefore, they do not deserve to be
> blamed or held in contempt.

Richard,

Actually, this Pope was his own person and not nearly as rigid as rigid
liberals seem to characterize him.  How rigid, after all, was this man who
easily drew millions of youths to participate in the various World Youth
Days he initiated?  The real issue, it seems to me, touches upon polite or
impolite rhetorical moves to denigrate the Other when the Other does not
agree with one's point of view.  For example, anyone who disagrees that
abortion, the destruction of the traditional family, euthenasia, and the like
are fundamentally good for any society is termed "rigid," whereas anyone
who agrees with this nexus of agendas is, what, "progressive," "forward
looking," "intelligent," "visionary"?

Rigidly yours,
Stan Ziobro