The Gospel of Niceness

Kindness is an important virtue, whether one identifies it with benevolence or with one of the lesser social virtues. But it is not all there is to virtue, and there are other necessary virtues as well, ones dealing with aggression and assertiveness. Why do people latch on to this counterfeit gospel? Loneliness, atomization, a harsh world. But while community-building requires kindness, it also requires the appropriate response to threats and evil from other people. Do children need care and guidance? Yes, and Mr. Rogers appeared to provide that to children through his show and in real life. But children need to be taught how to live in the world as it is, not a imaginary community. Was Fred Rogers as bad as today's SJWs? No, but he could be as big an activist as others from the 60s, in his own quiet way, and people have latched on to him perhaps because they are not ready to respond to the world as it is. His version of the gospel of niceness is easily subordinated to the needs of the state, even if he didn't intend it to be -- did ever reject the Civil Rights legislation of the 60s? And what was his response to feminism?

As for his demeanor -- did he talk and act more like a mom or a dad? I have witnessed male teachers who act the same way with their students -- has something about their psychic development been stunted? Or is their behavior rooted in something physiological?

Why Mister Rogers Is More Relevant than Ever by John Pattison
Fr. Martin’s Neighborhood by Kevin Wells



Tom Hanks interview

An Erroneous Charitable View

The Cult of Niceness

There are other Latin bishops receiving "blessings" from ministers of other ecclesial communities (even female "ministers")
so why shouldn't Pope Francis be photographed doing the same as well? If we are scandalized, it's our fault, right?

The reaction at Rorate: Catholics and Ecumenism - considerations by Cardinal Siri

Eugene Girin on the Holy Father's visit to the Holy Land: Taking Ecumenism Too Far (although the meeting with the rabbis isn't really an example of ecumenism but of interfaith relations)

Should Have Called Him Out On It

Several weeks ago someone complained that I didn't let him know I was out on the playground doing yard duty, since he wanted to go to the restroom. I responded, "Sorry about that," though even at that moment I thought he was being rather childish. (Which was somewhat disappointing, since I remembered him from many years ago, but he had forgotten me.) It was a habitual response, trying to "smooth" things over in order to avoid problems in the future. But I probably should have told him that it was his responsibility as an actual member of the staff to talk to "visitors" to let them know what procedures were available for yard duty during recess. He should have been man enough to take the initiative to ask for a bathroom break. And as a regular member of the staff, shouldn't he have been aware that there was an unfamiliar face on the playground with the children? Who exactly did he think I was, anyway, if he noticed me at all?

"P-education is so lame."