Anchor Rising: Corrupted by Association

January 18, 2010

Corrupted by Association

Justin Katz

My Rhode Island Catholic column, this month, takes up the corrupting influence that associations and images can have on our thoughts:

We live in a society that's much too quick to dismiss the significance of simple associations, taking on faith that the images that splash across television screens and flood public spaces couldn't possibly lodge in the mind with any effect. But surely they do. A man upon meeting a woman will have different thoughts behind his eyes if she reminds him of a model whom he's seen in a provocative pose than if she resembles an actress known for a role as a loving wife or if he’s seen her likeness on a prayer card.
One should hope that decorum and maturity will adjust mental images before they translate into behavior, and in this example, the woman will have the greatest effect on the man’s perception of her. Still, when vile associations pile upon each other, ever greater adjustments and contradictions will be necessary in order to dispel the collage that they create.

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A sane mind has the ability to filter the vile associations thrust upon us by an incessant media. Even young, impressional minds are wired to see the truth behind the facade.

Problem is, there are a lot of un sane people out there.

Posted by: michael at January 18, 2010 8:25 AM

Michael:

I disagree. Young, impressionable minds are not "wired to se the truth behind the facade" unless they are exposed to the "truth" revealed to them by their parents and community support systems. Bad parents leave children open to corruption (or contribute to it directly through their bad behaviors).

Posted by: John at January 18, 2010 9:45 AM

Michael:

Posted by: John at January 18, 2010 9:46 AM

I think you are right to a certain degree, but I've always believed that people are given the tools to do and think in a way to not harm others. As Justin wrote we are exposed to so much our senses become deadened and it becomes much easier to circumnavigate our inherant goodness. People know they are doing the wrong thing, but do it anyway.

I have no idea where I'm going with this, Justin's post just got me thinking.

Posted by: michael at January 18, 2010 12:36 PM

I'm sorry to say that I agree with John. Young minds are very plastic and amoral.

As Reagan said, freedom is never more than one generation away from being lost.

Today's society is filled with examples of young people without moral compasses. From the gangs of Los Angeles (or Providence) to the children in madrassas preparing to become the suicide bombers of al Qaeda at the extreme, to the welfare queens and "baby mamas" and their no-strings impregnators who view welfare as a career, to business-school students who cheerfully admit to cheating to get ahead and think it is a normal part of business, to politicians who speak of democracy while plotting to seize tyrannical power, there are an awful lot of people who are not wired to see the truth.

Of course there are many counterexamples. In fact, the vast majority of people still understand right and wrong and act accordingly. And at the extreme of this end of the spectrum are the valiant patriots who volunteer to serve our country and literally fight for freedom and our way of life.

Posted by: BobN at January 18, 2010 5:58 PM