In the book Cannery Row John Steinbeck wrote: “It has always seemed strange to me, the things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second.”
Though written in the 1940s, this still has a ring of truth. Consider the current front-runner in the Republican presidential primary race. Most would agree he has been successful, if the accumulation of great wealth is the measure of success in our society. And he clearly embodies the qualities of greed, meanness, egotism and self-interest. So, why is he so popular?
Republicans claim to represent the majority of Christians, especially evangelicals. Apparently Republicans have now openly adopted these qualities, but when did Christians embrace greed, meanness, egotism and self-interest as core values?
Steve Gniadek
Columbia Falls