"If we are to get through whatever level of darkness awaits, then we will need a positive, constructive vision of the future. We need to believe that there is a future for ourselves, first of all, then for the West, then for the world as a whole."
This is a good encapsulation.
Having ideals is important. And the more those ideals align with what is good and true, the better they will be both in themselves and in pragmatic terms as well.
Unfortunately, many people misunderstand the nature of ideals. They think that ideals are just a delusional hope that we can avoid hardship or a merely aesthetic aversion to difficulty or something like that. I'm sure you've read many who express sentiments of that nature.
One example that casts doubt upon this is the Christian hermits. Few lived more austerely than them, and yet who had higher ideals?
I believe it just comes down to the fact that life has both spiritual and material aspects and we have to act in accordance with both, though it's not easy. And one aspect of that is aligning ourselves with the good, through our ideals and acting in accordance with them.
"If we are to get through whatever level of darkness awaits, then we will need a positive, constructive vision of the future. We need to believe that there is a future for ourselves, first of all, then for the West, then for the world as a whole."
This is a good encapsulation.
Having ideals is important. And the more those ideals align with what is good and true, the better they will be both in themselves and in pragmatic terms as well.
Unfortunately, many people misunderstand the nature of ideals. They think that ideals are just a delusional hope that we can avoid hardship or a merely aesthetic aversion to difficulty or something like that. I'm sure you've read many who express sentiments of that nature.
One example that casts doubt upon this is the Christian hermits. Few lived more austerely than them, and yet who had higher ideals?
I believe it just comes down to the fact that life has both spiritual and material aspects and we have to act in accordance with both, though it's not easy. And one aspect of that is aligning ourselves with the good, through our ideals and acting in accordance with them.