-—-—
Speaker raps self-interest
By Ron Hunt
Of lh» Em»nkt
America has been tearing more and more
holes in its moral fabric since 1970, according
to sociologist Robert Bellah
The nation's post-World War II success
brought affluence, mobility and other changes,
weakening the traditional morals of family and
community, said Bellah, author of The Broken
Covenant. But since 1970, self-interest has
increasingly replaced "equality of opportuni
ty” due to the economy’s slow growth,
stagnation and decline, he said
He attacked the individualism of most Amer
icans, both in the ‘ amoral majority" — those
who “look out for number one” — and the
Moral Majority. “In an age of scarce resources,
justice dries up in the heart of the average
American," Bellah told a sparse EMU Ballroom
audience earlier this week
The "amoral majority” is hooked on the
gospel of success which says, “Do everything
you can do to keep from having to share," he
said Secular freedom — to be “left alone by
others” — is its highest value, Bellah said He
quoted a woman who said, "In the end you’re
really alone You’re responsible for yourself
and no one else ”
Individual needs are the only criteria for
action in the "amoral majority.” making
marriage, friends, work, community and
church dispensable, he said
Symptoms of individualism are intensified by
higher education, Bellah said, calling the
American university a missionary outpost for
the "amoral majority ”
The Moral Majority, however, merits more
alarm and distress than the amoral version, he
said The Moral Majority, whose adherents
have never been close to the centers of power
and are more apt to be poor, old and from the
South, is a “backlash of people who feel left
out," Beliah said.
Reacting against changing sex roles, in
creasing permissiveness and the growing
homosexual movement, the Moral Majority
concentrates on a "relatively simple explana
tion," Betlah said. It believes individual beha
vior is the key problem because individuals are
wicked and subject to punishment from God.
More ominously, he said, the Moral Majority
alternates between two dangerous archetypes
of the United States — evil Babylon or hopeful
New Israel.
“They shift from one image to another in
mid-sermon,” Beliah said. Hundreds of
thousands of people view America as Babylon
and propose withdrawal, waiting for total
collapse, he said. Others see America as the
New Israel — under punishment from God but
ready to clean up its act by "putting homosex
uals in prison, or, perhaps better, executing
them,” he said.
Most Americans are deeply repelled by the
Moral Majority approach, Beliah said. "The last
thing they want is anyone telling them what to
do — certainly not Jerry FalweU.”
Participatory democracy, authoritarian rule,
or a collapse into violent pluralism are three
options for a nation bent on individualism,
Beliah said.
Participatory democracy, based on a major
restructuring of the economy, is “the most
hopeful prospect."
Another possibility is pluralism — “the loss of
any coherent center." Violence is likely in this
scenario, Beliah said, citing Northern Ireland
and Lebanon as two of the most pluralistic
nations in the world.
An authoritarian government would not
show its power by swastikas, but by a president
who tells Congress to go home because he can
do a better job
"We certainly have seen signs of that
already."
Hawaiian club holds 7th annual luau
The EMU ballroom will be
transformed into the setting for
a Hawaiian luau Sunday during
the seventh annual luau pre
sented by the Hawaii Club
Performances include the
dances and music of Hawaii,
Samoa and New Zealand The
first show is at 2 p m and costs
$3. The second show, which
includes a genuine Hawaiian
dinner of kalua pig, lomi salmon
and poi, is $7 50 for adults,
$6 50 for students and $5 50 for
senior citizens and children.
Tickets will be sold outside the
University bookstore through
Friday and at the EMU main
desk until the show
“We want to bring the
Hawaiian culture to Eugene with
the dances of Hawaii and the
food." says Frances Libby, co
chairer of entertainment "We
want to have the general
atmosphere of Hawaii." The
event is the annual fundraiser
for the club
The musicians and 50
dancers have been practicing
about four hours a week since
January to prepare for the hour
and a half show.
Much of the of the food and
flowers used at the event is
flown here from Hawaii. Some of
the it is donated by friends,
parents and companies in
Hawaii.
The Hawaii Club uses the
money to sponsor trips for
Hawaiian students to various
places in Oregon.
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