Memorial Day: What We Must Never Forget
I began writing this article on Memorial Day, a day that evokes patriotism and gratitude. At least I hope that it does. Not to honor the many who have given their lives for our nation, even if you don’t agree with actions that brought us into a particular conflict, is an insult to those of commitment who questioned little and gave all. The “greatest generation”, as Tom Brokow referred to those who fought in the Second World War, had a simpler vision. My parent’s generation, who grew up during the Great Depression, entered this second attempt at a “war to end all wars” not with great debate but with a sense of service. They knew that many would not return, but they understood the value of duty as they faithfully went forth, imbued with patriotism and the belief that we would triumph against the godless “isms” in the world.
Confronting the Technological Revolution
After his election to the papacy last month Pope Leo XIV gave insight to his selection of the name he chose. He referred, as I expected, to Pope Leo XIII’s focus on the well-being of working-class people in the rapidly changing socio-political environment of the late 19th century. Just as Pope Leo XIII saw the dangers that the Industrial Revolution posed and the looming specter of the Marxist ideology, which was looking to control the working class, Pope Leo XIV has stated he sees the dangers of out-of-control technology in the present day as a great threat to our humanity. Both of his immediate predecessors, Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI, also referred to the potential dangers in these technologies.
