Saint Mary – Saint Catherine of Siena Parish

After graduating college during the Vietnam War era and serving some time on active duty in the service, I began my career working in colleges and universities. I enjoyed the work immensely, especially the wit, curiosity and honesty of the youth. Whether I was in the classroom or in the office or around campus – it was a wonderful environment in which to live and work. Periodically I encountered one attitude that I found intolerable: cynicism.

By definition cynicism is not what it appears to be: a critical attitude toward something or someone which is dismissive and relegates the person or issue to ridicule. In fact a cynic is critical, but not because of not caring about the matter, rather because of a perception that one’s opinion cannot change the reality. So it is a manifestation of a type of helplessness in the face of something that consciously or subconsciously, one considers important, but feels powerless to do anything about.

Cynicism is a powerfully effective tool to disable a person’s belief that he/she can make a difference. In our society, everyone can make a difference – in countless ways, big and small. And no one is irrelevant and/or incapable of making a contribution. In my mind, for the rich or the poor, the young or the elderly, the literate and the illiterate each person is born with gifts to share and a contribution to make.

The tragedy of our times is when one finds cynicism in place of a constructive and willing spirit to confront the problem and work to toward the good. It is especially reprehensible when found among the young.

Fr. Ronan

6.12.11

“I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.”

~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Every day for the past 10 years, the war on terror, launched by our government after the 9/11 attacks, continues violently forward.  History will likely record this initiative as a tragic mistake, made in response to a horrible evil attack on our nation. I do not mean these words to be a partisan comment – more a human one. Even in response to attack, isn’t there a better way? Is war the only answer we have?

The murder of Osama bin Laden appears to have ripped the bandage off many of the deep wounds of our fellow citizens. We hear the story again, see the pictures and remember the agony of that violent murderous attack on innocent men and women. Indeed the mantra recited in these days is, “we will never forget”. Nor should we ever forget the presence of evil and the loss of loved ones and fellow citizens. In fact we should seek to honor them in our memories, our lives, our communities and our nation.

I am one who does not feel the highest honor to those who died is revenge – rather it is justice; and these are not the same. The first natural human response to attack is to strike back with equal or greater force. However, we can do better. Given the futility of all war, as President Eisenhower wisely said, we need to do better.

We need to educate our children and inform our conscience that humanity is ill served, indeed has failed to reach its noble calling, if we can only respond to conflict with more violence. I have no doubt that God did not create us to kill each other – rather just the opposite.

I join the many who urge a pause in these horrible senseless wars and a vigorous investment in an international search for that justice so needed to bring us to a place of peace.

Fr. Jim Ronan

Please check back soon as I begin to post to my blog. I plan to add to my blog every week.
- Fr. Ronan