Dear visionaries,
The role of debate in a free society is often misunderstood — it is too readily assumed that people disagree simply because they are disagreeable. We also tend to misunderstand the corrosive effects of relativism. When objections are made to topless car washes — let us say — the whole thing is dismissed with a relativistic wave of the hand. “So, civilization will crumble because some girls took off their shirts?”
No, but civilizations do crumble because no one can give a coherent account of what they stand for. Nations die because a “who’s to say” relativism cannot remain limited to small town scandals and squabbles. Who will say to the consistent relativist, “thus far and no farther?” And by what standard will he say it?
So now we are on the brink of war in Iraq — an action I oppose. We are already at war on other fronts, as 9-11 and Bali show all too well. I support some of what we have done thus far in this war, while opposing the various pieces of a police state that are being assembled in the name of our war on terror. It has been well said that the first casualty in any war is truth. But the second is liberty.
But in the meantime, I would like to come to my personal request, addressed to all ethical relativists who have posted to this list in the past, whether opposed to the war or supportive of it. For the duration of the fighting, would you please withdraw from the public discussion of the war? I am not saying this to be rude — it is just that the relativist (on his own terms) has nothing to contribute. I am reminded of the joke about what happens when you cross a JW with a Unitarian — you get someone who knocks on your door for no particular reason. What do you get when you cross ethical relativism with peace activism? Candle smoke.
Bernard Iddings Bell put it well. “God save our fatherland from its enemies, and chiefly from ourselves!”
Cordially,
Douglas Wilson