Fly the Friendly Skies?
Society is becoming increasingly aggressive. What, for example, does the embarrassing public relations disaster that is the United Airlines’ eviction of one of its customers from a plane warn us about our times?
Last week Dr Dao wouldn’t leave voluntarily. He had his ticket and his seat. But UA wanted some of the seats back. They forced Dr Dao off the plane to make available his seat to a UA employee. To the distress of all the passengers, Dr Dao was humiliated because he wouldn’t comply to pressure.
When bullies force a 69 year old citizen off a plane it reminds me of the brownshirts in Nazi Germany before WWII. It also tells me a lot about how our society has degenerated in recent times.
What was the attack
Degrading themselves through acts of bullying, the staff at United Airlines demonstrated that survival of the fittest, money and power, and the-end-justifies-the-means hold prominence against the qualities of grace, humility and service in the eyes of some big businesses, and their employees. This is not new, but it is shocking that in a Secular Humanist Era, one that boasts of humanity being capable of taking care of itself without God, and where political correctness is supreme, this could happen.
The consequence of ditching the teaching of the Ten Commandments has left people bereft of a powerful code of behaviour that is civilised. Thank goodness passengers recognised the brutality was wrong, but it took a while for the UA CEO even to apologise for the abuse, and that was primarily because of public opinion against the actions on the plane rather than any inherent sense of shame or regret.
What has happened is that the moral compass in our society has shifted from an absolute code, as defined by the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus, to a foggy concept of good and bad, that is adaptable, depending on public opinion and the opinion of the media. There is a serious lack of power or authority in our current social values. It has been eroding over decades with consequences that range from unwanted pregnancy and abortion, to crime and substance abuse rising and continuing to rise with little hope of change.
So when employees on a plane need to have an end result, they force the result they want because they lack the ability to determine right from wrong, and to exclude options that are uncivilised and untenable.
Is it because children are not taught the Ten Commandments that homicide – planned murder – is considered by many young adults when polled, “Would you kill your neighbour’s spouse if s/he offered you a million dollars?” I think it is.
But so far, I’m preaching to the converted, literally… Readers will on the whole agree with me that we need a return to Judeo-Christian values in order to save our society from itself. So of what value is there to my writing about this?
Who is our ally
We need to be aware there is a movement afoot to shift back to what is wholesome, powerful and pure. The agents may not be those whom we would choose, but God chooses our leaders and so we must pray for and stand with them.
When someone(s) you don’t see eye to eye with upholds the values that God originated, let’s stand with them. God is supplying push-back and we need to get on the band wagon of those He’s given authority to.
Whether it is the boss at work, or a political leader, or a celebrity, those who stand for what is Godly will experience hate and a backlash, so they need our support.
Dr Dao is suing the Airline. Many would say he’s justified. The actions of the UA employees was nothing short of diabolical.
But they are pawns. Dr Dao is a pawn. The real enemy is not United Airlines or their CEO of staff members. It isn’t even the tendency for UA to overbook their flights. The real enemy is the same source that ignited the brown shirts and the legalisation of abortion, and who is the source for anything that seeks death and destruction.
Who is the enemy
Death and destruction is on the rise. Satan’s days are short. He may know this. But this much is certain: there is a war between what is Godly and what is not. We who are called by Him must take a stand on one side of the road and stand with all others who seek to uphold and defend right from wrong, the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, and stand against the tempest that Satan is wreaking. We are soldiers, there is a war, and we have been chosen to fight.
How do we fight
The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God is where we start (Ephesians 6). We band together because where two or more are gathered, there is He in the midst (Matthew 18:20). And we remember how good and pleasant it is when we dwell together in unity (Psalm 133). We represent a mighty and good God. Let us walk in the courage and confidence of our convictions, ready to share and waiting for God to lead us.
Dr Dao’s plight was horrendous. It is a marker of what society unchecked is capable of. And we who see the wrong have the opportunity to sow righteousness and point to the Founder of it to those who seek it. Our behaviour and attitude must stand upright as we seek to reconcile others to God. And we can no longer watch from the sidelines.