That’s what religion always says it is supposed to be for: to provide epiphanies---moments of moral clarity leading to positive changes in behavior to the benefit of others and the exaltation of mood and emotional comfort for the self as well.

When it comes to analyzing religion and religion-based behavior and speech, I differentiate between truly compassionate acts and those evolutionary, corporate impulses designed to reproduce one view numerically and at all costs.

Dan Fagan describes what appears to be a deeply-felt, spiritual reawakening (“Policy, not personality, will be new focus,” Anchorage Daily News, Opinion, 8-2-09). This is one of the most important op-ed pieces in a while because it goes directly against the current infestation of exponential, excremental, trash-talking, policy-obscuring media noise. The critical quote from Dan’s column is this: “…If my profession calls for tearing down others to be successful, then I’ll just have to find another career.”

The myth of “liberal media” is just one falsehood perpetrated by the American Enterprise Institute-type think tanks mass-producing the acolytes that dominate the ranks of opinion columnists funded by conservative money (well and "equally" represented in the Anchorage Daily News op-ed pages). Which brings us to Dan’s statement that his change of heart might result in losing listeners to his radio show. It’s a real possibility because the masses (also possessing tentative souls) will feed on raw sewage if it is self-righteously presented and dovetails neatly with existing prejudices. Fear and hatred sell better than moral restraint.

The media never gets these “spiritual” things quite right anyway because almost no one gets it right---including a clergy co-opted centuries ago by roughly the same economic and political interests now running the country and the World into the ground. No matter who we believe to be the grand conspirators, their mendacious purpose is well-served to have everyone else at each others' throats at all times without a break for the type of reflection that Dan has revealed in his momentous print column.

Civility and decent speech is but a prelude to realizing that certain of our country’s policies---both foreign and domestic---are also inherently uncivil, indecent, immoral and hurtful to the people. While Dan apologizes to the individual political figures he has maligned in the past, it would be well to consider the invisible masses who get caught in the backwash when tongues of evil flutter.

That said, it is a reflection upon the widespread corruption of the masses---the common, “salt of the Earth” folk---that well-paid talking heads can fill the air waves with evil talk and find willing mobs to react to the fear and implement the hatred.

Dan’s job now is to take his readers and listeners with him on his spiritual and secular journey of awareness, compassion and civility.

In furtherance of this mission it is Dan’s other job to resist having too many epiphanies and concentrate on implementing this one. If I may offer an observation: Spiritual experiences, spiritual epiphanies in general, are in danger of losing their spiritual value and meaning from the very moment that talking about them is contemplated. Never mind actually saying them out loud. Good luck, Dan, and God-speed.

Rudy Wittshirk

[To TheSdog/Brian Sweeney Jr. - What I inferred about you has absolutely nothing to do with your gun ownership status.]