Feeling vs. Thinking

This morning, as I looked over the news headlines of the day, I was impressed by just how much of current events is based upon emotion rather than reason. Discussion of whether or not America can afford the continuation of current spending levels is overshadowed by folks telling us what they want rather than what can rationally be obtained. Politics seems government by anger and dishonesty rather than consideration of the merits of issues. In international affairs, there has be little in the way of honest discussion of issues; propaganda and counterpropaganda seems to be all that is out there. This "disease of dishonesty" spans the globe, but it is locating more and more right here in the USA.

A good example of this trend is the new directive to American military forces not to say anything bad about Islam or its adherents. Think about this for a minute. Someone in Washington believes that it will make a difference whether or not soldiers talk about Islam. Maybe someone needs to clue this person in. American soldiers in Afghanistan are there to kill members of the Taliban. What genius reasoned that those who support the Taliban will be less inclined to resist if American forces, while killing the Taliban, do not discuss their religion? The directive is a triumph of emotion rather than reason.

Or how about the violence in Michigan by union thugs after the passage of the right to work law by the legislature there? Have you seen the video? The reporter asks the union guys why they oppose the right to work law and, in response, they assault him.

The battle between emotion and reason has always been part of the human experience. What has changed, at least here in America, is that the government and much of society have moved from promoting reason to exploiting emotion instead. Anyone who listened to the Obama campaign in the election knows what I am talking about. It is a dangerous trend for the long term. Unleashing human emotions unchecked by reason is never a good thing.