The Demise of Consequence

One of the most disturbing societal trends noted of late is the absolute demise of consequence.  Not merely the limiting of consequence, but the utter and complete lack of consequence.  It's almost as if Aleister Crowley's famous dictum of "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" has become the absolute law of the land. The desires of individual will supersede any moral constraints put upon it, especially by any deity, we are told.  Morality has gone out of fashion.  How quaint.

Deserter at large

Take for instance the recent courts martial of one Bowe Bergdahl, the US Army Sergent who deserted his post in Afghanistan in 2009.  He mailed his personal belongings back to his parents, told them he was ashamed to be an American, and then walked off his post to join the Taliban.  A search and rescue unit was sent out to find and return him, and they met with hostile enemy fire and suffered casualties.  This wasn't "Saving Private Ryan."  This was a mission to take custody of a traitor.  We're told Bergdahl was "captured" by the Taliban and tortured.  But for five years gave up valuable information to the enemy about US operations in country. He was charged with - and later pleaded guilty to - “desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.”  The judge, a female officer it should be noted, gave "considerable weight" to Bergdahl's supposed treatment at the hands of his presumed captors.  Further, his attorneys argued that Bergdahl was suffering from certain personality disorders, and suffered from stress.  He could have received a life prison sentence. Instead, he received no prison time, a reduction in rank, a fine and a dishonorable discharge.  It was a slap on the wrist for a traitor Muslim sympathizer; a slap in the face to America.  For the treasonous acts of desertion and giving aid and comfort to the enemy, Bergdahl suffered no consequence for his actions. It's been said that case law makes for bad law, and this judge's decision leaves emasculated any notion of consequence to treason.   

Not convinced?  Read further.

Martin Luther

Five hundred years after Martin Luther first nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in Germany, anonymous evangelical Anglicans this week posted a 95 Theses-style complaint on the doors of five British cathedrals, essentially demanding that the Church of England follow the Bible on LGBT issues.  The established reform churches - Episcopal, Anglican and others - in the US and UK have strayed for from Biblical teachings as they have caved into the pressure put upon them for acceptance by the homosexual and confused sexuality crowd.  Infamous in his decree some years ago, Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson - a homosexual himself - led that church away from convention into a confused politically correct policy of homosexual inclusion.  Memberships in those churches dropped precariously.  But no matter God's word, homosexuality must be embraced, even worshiped, on the altar of man's law.  So consequence be damned: morality is a social construct; it's meaning is fluid.  There is no higher authority than that of the will.  Do what thy wilt.  There is no consequence for defying moral law.  Right.

Still not convinced?

How about the revelations of the astounding, mind boggling activities in perversion, depravity and selfishness exhibited by the elites, our betters?  Misogyny, misandry and pedophilia is everywhere we look in the high towers.  Hollywood has always been known for is promiscuity, as the powerful take advantage of the powerless, and the powerless prostitute themselves to the powerful.  But when it's done in the dark of deceit, no one notices.  Or cares.  But should it come to light, as it now has, the hew and cry is heard throughout the land.  A show is canceled.  A board membership is rescinded.  An apology is made. But what of consequence?  Is there to be any?

And what of the corruption of our political leaders?  The examples are numerous.  An ex-senator goes to prison for sexting a 15-year old girl.  Ex-presidents frolic in a Caribbean island with underage boys and girls, out of sight and away from the law.  The deceit and corruption of an ex-Secretary of State and former First Lady is so vast, well, she's just too big to fail.  She'll retain her millions of dollars unlawfully gained and will face no consequence at all for her decades of deceit and even murder.

There are many, many more examples of corruption without consequence.  Just read the news.  The trickle down is obvious.  Society defines deviancy down ever more every day.  James Madison said that only a just and moral society can remain a republic.  Ben Franklin noted that a man's moral core was indeed required to permit him to govern himself.  And John Dewey reminds us that the lack of personal responsibility leads to tyranny.    Perhaps the tide has begun to turn, back to acceptance of personal responsibility and of consequence of actions.  

We can only pray.