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On the last night of the Republican National Convention in 1988, George H. W. Bush spoke of his vision for a kinder, gentler America. What happened along the way that our country seems to have lost his message? Now, 40 years later, we cannot help but be struck by how far society has fallen from the ideals and hopes of a former time.
Today, though COVID has been a factor in this fallout, we cannot blame every setback in American life on the pandemic. Rather, we need to recognize that today’s changed values have been fueled by a few personal and societal trends that have been a long time in the making. For one thing, the world has gone digital, fostering the rise of internet connectivity and loss of face-to-face communication. That, coupled with a society moving at a frenetic clip, enables people to get things done without getting personally involved.
Someone who is kind knows that this virtue does not always come easily. Personality differences, misunderstanding, and misinterpretation can sabotage the best of intentions. On the flip side, those dedicated to helping others are gifted with opportunities to embrace kindness in its fullness. Saint Joseph Villa bears witness to this time and time again.
The dictionary defines kindness as the “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate,” but kindness is not just a word; it is a disposition of heart. Its very nature makes it a two-way-street—what goes around comes around. There isn’t one among us who is not called to make respect for all people an essential part of her life. How do you score in kindness toward your neighbor? minority groups? and LGBTQ communities?
At the end of his speech President Bush promised to keep the country moving forward toward “a better America and a thousand points of light.” Today, when the country seems to walk backward under a thousand points of shadow, we continue to believe that kindness reflected in us will illuminate the world and lead ultimately to Jesus, the Light of the World.
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