“Alarmed by such tendencies, Teddy Roosevelt, in a 1917 letter, weighed in thusly: “The things that will destroy America are … the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life.” T.R.’s fears of what the typical American might become are perhaps best embodied by our current national mascot, Homer Simpson, a man not too proud to drink his beer from a helmet equipped with two cup holders and several feet of tubing.” From a very interesting October 07 Vanity Fair article by Jim Windolf.
I believe Solomon was right on target when he filled the book of Proverbs (wise sayings) with such admonishments as “Some people are too lazy to lift a hand to feed themselves.” (19.4) and “Work hard, and you will be a leader; be lazy, and you will end up a slave.” (12.24).
Profound, challenging, encouraging, alarming… Some words that came to mind about this entry. It’s so true.
i like homer simpson, i think he and i would be very good friends if he was an actual human being…
Absolutely! Most of our history as a nation has been prosperous. We are blessed by God to have a covering of safety and we have flaunted it as if we owned these blessings in the first place. They were not ours but God’s and we have taken them for granted. Instead of taking these beauties and looking to God with thanksgiving, we have taken this shelter to cultivate evil and sloth. Harlotries with the gods of this age.(Ezekiel 16:1-22. Hopefully avoiding v.35 and onward)
Now we have a benchmark of excellence (Homer Simpson) so low in quality and morale that any man who is apathetic to life, family and work is honored. People laugh and say, “Well, that’s how it is isn’t it? We work hard and get little reward for our efforts. Why not be apatheitc? Why should I care?” I think that’s a mockery to the undeserved kindness we have been shown as a people. It takes the least painful path of life and raises it up to modeled. And what do you have at the end of the day? You have a people so dulled from apathy that anyone with half an ambition can rule over them. Our sloth is preparing us to be ruled by far fiercer foes in the days ahead.
Preach it brother!