Why Unification Thought is More Urgently Needed for Thought and Life than Ever
By David Carlson
“I wish to emphasize the urgent need for the worldview of Unification Thought. While much of this chapter is philosophical, this vision is meant to be lived to create a peaceful world. We do not live in a neutral environment; we are in the midst of an intense ‘culture war’ and face tangible global threats. In this climate, Unification Thought is more than a philosophy—it is a necessity. I appeal to leaders, scholars, and people of goodwill across all sectors to study this vision. I believe it alone holds the potential to resolve our current conflicts, clarify essential values, and realize the world of peace for which we have all longed.”
Part 4 (Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
10. A Shift in Strategy
For a period of time during the middle of the Twentieth Century (ie 1940s, 1950s, 1960s) America was a predominantly family-centered culture, and a strong advocate of morality and ethics.[1] Given such a cultural context, communists realized that there would never be any real chance of success in defeating America through the classic Marxist-Leninist “violent revolution.” Therefore, they revised their strategy in order to achieve their goal of “conquering” America. They took another, more subtle, approach. This revised strategy was well-characterized by Dr. Fred Schwartz in his formula: “External Encirclement plus Internal Demoralization Leads to Progressive Surrender.”[2] What this meant was that the communists would: 1) surround America with communist nations which they set up (such as Nicaragua, Cuba, etc.), while 2) simultaneously internally demoralizing Americans through negative (demonic) cultural influence, including drugs, relativism in values, family breakdown, etc., and the communists believed that 3) these strategies combined together would eventually (it might take decades) lead to the point where America would surrender without a fight. President Reagan and Rev. Moon, together, brought the “end” of communism, and the “external encirclement” part of the equation was checked (at least for a time, but it has now “re-surfaced” in a new form). However, the “internal demoralization” part of the communist strategy has proceeded apace, and proceeds today with ever-increasing vitality. The disturbing thing about this is that this strategy has, in my mind, been quite successful.
11. Has the Strategy Been Effective?
Sad to say, the “communist” strategy has apparently been successful beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. Although Rev. Moon and Pres. Reagan, together, seem to have been successful in bringing an end to the “cold war,” and the “external encirclement” part of Schwartz’s equation for the surrender of America, it is disturbing to take into account the argument, and the evidence presented by Mark Stein, a noted columnist, in his book, America Alone, in which he cautions us about the growing demographics and influence of radical Islam.[3] To put it bluntly: the first part of the (communist) equation is (still) in the process of being fulfilled, now not by “communism” per se, but by radical Islam (especially in its radical Islamic Jihadist form) which carries within itself the communist spirit, and the demonic force which animates the whole.
The Communist “to-do” list for the destruction of America has in my opinion, to a great extent been achieved. It is alarming when one sees what is on that list. That “to-do” list included weakening the Western world through drugs, free sex, homosexuality, attacks on the family, trivializing of the media, attacks on Christianity and Christian values, infiltration of the churches, influence on education through high schools and universities, and infiltration into politics, to name just a few spheres of communist activity. Churches have been infiltrated, the family has been undermined, homosexuality, free sex and drugs have been encouraged and are widespread, the media has become an instrument of disinformation, misinformation and trivia, and the universities and court system, and even the government have been effectively infiltrated. The culture war is advancing steadily. Cultural demonization is advancing full-steam. Transgenderism is only the latest “moment” in the surge of the decline in American values.
11.12. Drugs and Free Sex
An important dimension of the communist strategy (and the demonic spirit behind it) to defeat America was the introduction of free sex into American culture. Through such people as Alfred Kinsey, Hugh Hefner, and others, Marx’s “social” revolution was effectively transformed into a “sexual” revolution, and American universities were swamped by that spirit. Drugs were another means. The internet carried the disturbing news in an article on Oct 3, 2013 that the “worldwide war against drugs is being lost.” My home state of Colorado has legalized marijuana. Hard drugs are worse. Philip Seymour Hoffman, a popular actor, was found dead in his NYC apartment, with a needle in his arm and bags of heroin in his apartment. There are now drugs, such as Fentynol, even more potent than heroin. The entertainment world, which has a huge influence, especially on young people, has also been infiltrated by relative values. One only need consider certain rock stars (no names mentioned) to realize the extent or depth of our depravity in values. Performers often dance half-naked on stage, and keep needing to check in to rehabilitation centers for their pervasive drug abuse. This is not to mention their erratic (and suggestive/immoral) behavior. One popular rock star was filmed on Utube urinating in a bucket, and caused distress when he smoked marijuana on his way to the Sochi Olympics. These “stars” have, sadly, become “role models” for many American teenagers. Rev. Moon has stated:
Women chased wherever he performed. They tried to touch him and grab him and even jump on him. Do singers like and sports champions fulfill a good purpose or an evil purpose? Generally these superstars influence the world in a satanic way. Men and women who carefully groom their appearance and dress in the most elegant fashions generally have a satanic effect on the world.[4]
11.13. Gay-Rights and the Gay Lifestyle
There is also a glamorization of the gay lifestyle. On television and in movies the moral person is often portrayed as weird or “out of touch” in some way, and the gay individual is “cool,” entertaining, “in touch,” or wise, and someone to emulate. Actor Jim Parsons, star of the immensely popular “The Big Bang Theory,” on television, after winning his third Emmy award, was honored by the GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Network) with its “Inspiration Award” at the 2013 Respect Awards.[5] The series has been renewed (now in 2018- in its eleventh season). Gay individuals are often portrayed in a good light, whereas the moral person is often mocked, and portrayed in a negative light. Helen Degeneres, a lesbian, has her own daily talk-show, and is enormously popular. Suze Orman is a respected financial guru in New York. It is the “cool” thing now for rock stars, sports figures, and Hollywood celebrities to “come out” and declare with some enthusiasm that they are “gay,” and this is being more and more accepted by the American public. Greg Louganis (diving), Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova (tennis) are just a few of the major sports figures advocating the gay lifestyle. An All-American football player, and NFL prospect, Michael Sam, came out as gay, and even the White House praised him for it. Ricky Martin is another megastar who “came out.” One would be shocked to see the number of Hollywood celebrities who are gay, and who those celebrities are. I can remember when a Hollywood legend, Rock Hudson, became very ill, and finally it was disclosed that he was gay and was dying of AIDS. He had been one of Hollywood’s most famous leading men. Now, it is almost “award-worthy” to “come out.” Irene Wust, of the Netherlands, the first openly-gay athlete to win an Olympic gold medal (in the Sochi Olympics) became big news. Transgenderism is now one of the prevalent social topics.
Many well-known people are included in the number of those “coming out.” A few years ago (12/31/13) a very-recognizable host of the morning television show, “Good Morning, America,” Robin Roberts, came out on public television. Not such a surprise, but very telling was one journalist’s comment about Roberts’ coming out. Speaking of the event in the context of the wider phenomenon of “celebrities” who are coming out, the journalist noted that such people are “helping people, like Phil Robertson, recognize that they are on the wrong side of history.” This is an amazing thing to say. It directly implies that “gay people” and those “coming out” are on the right side of history. That is to say, that is the way things are going to be, even in the future. They have a sense that there is a kind of historical determinism involved with the phenomenon of gay marriage, and the gay lifestyle. Marx, too, held to a kind of historical determinism with his “Historical Materialism.” Those of us who believe in monogamous marriages and the traditional family with a husband, wife, and children, are “on the wrong side of history.” This is a very alarming vision of the way things might become. Talk about changing the world! Even politicians are “coming out” now with little sense of shame or stigma. America, along with other countries, is becoming increasingly tolerant of the gay lifestyle.
On “Gay Pride Day” there are parades in major cities around the world, glamorizing and celebrating the gay lifestyle. The legal system has virtually made it a “hate crime,” or labeled it as “intolerant” or “hurtful” to even think of criticizing homosexuality, lesbianism, or transgenderism. A Roman Catholic Cardinal recently called homosexuality a “defect” of human nature, and a storm of denunciation from gay-rights groups followed in swift consequence. In a recent news item, an elementary school student participating in a “book fair,” was wearing a T-shirt advertising harmony between heterosexuals, homosexuals, and others, and no one objected. But, wear a T-shirt advertising a rifle, or promoting religion, and you are liable to arrest, expulsion, or detention. In November, 2013, Hawaii became the 17th state to legalize gay marriage. Oregon soon followed suit. In December, 2013, Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the “Duck Dynasty,” a popular TV series, in response to a question directed to him, made a comment about his religious beliefs, which included the fact that he does not approve of the gay life-style. The media, the gay community, and liberals went ballistic in calling “foul.” What they fail to realize is that if the gay lifestyle continues, it means the literal end of the human race. Two women, or two men, cannot reproduce or bring children into the world. Homosexual “unions” may, in the public eye, present a surface appearance of being “comfortable” emotionally, financially, psychologically, etc. but do not “fit” biologically, physiologically, or anatomically.
The institution of the family is today in very serious trouble. Marx and Engels are very clear and explicit on this point. In The Communist Manifesto it is stated: “Abolition of the family! Even the most radical flare up at this infamous proposal of the Communists. The bourgeois family will vanish as a matter of course…..”[6] Gay marriage is being promoted virtually everywhere, and is being legalized in state after state. Law suits are being filed on behalf of gay couples. In some cases, little boys who want to be(come) little girls can undergo a “sex-change” operation, and then seek legal recourse to allow them to use little girls’ bathrooms. There are adults also, for those aware of Cher’s daughter-become-son, Chaz Bono, who was once prominently featured on “Dancing With The Stars” on television. Even former US President, Barrack Hussein Obama, not only came out in favor of gay rights, but proclaimed the month of November, 2013, to be “LGBT Month (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Month), while at the same time closing the Veterans Memorial in Washington DC, and many American National Parks.[7] This is a far cry from the family-oriented sentiment expressed in such classic television shows of earlier decades as “Leave It To Beaver,” “My Three Sons,” “Father Knows Best,” “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” and “The Donna Reed Show.” These shows were family-centered, expounding family values, and were clean, refreshing, and wholesome.[8] How radically things have changed! The world is being changed right before our eyes. What are we going to do about it?
The media, as indicated earlier, does little to call these cultural changes into question. In the majority of cases, the media seems to take every opportunity it can to encourage such changes, and mocks every change for “good.” That is because the media has become a liberal media, and is more-or-less promoting the liberal agenda. It is almost as if the media wants to deaden peoples’ awareness and sensitivity to anything that is decent. Now we must concern ourselves with “fake news.” If one considers Yahoo headlines from the past six months or so, it borders on the ridiculous and insignificant. Some examples are: Rihanna, Chris Brown kiss; Kate Upton’s favorite bikini; and which party did the Kardashians attend? This kind of “tabloid news” (=trivia) is the daily diet of probably millions of American people. They are living lives of irrelevancy laced with self-indulgence and covered over with apathy. Truly, as Fred Schwartz pointed out, it does seem that America might “progressively surrender” without much more than a small whimper, as it contentedly continues to eat its favorite fast-food, enjoy the latest reality television show, and tries to guess the next episode in the continuing adventures of Kim Kardashian. Or maybe they want to watch “The Bachelor” instead!
To Be Continued
- Dr. David Carlson is an educator and author with over 30 years of experience teaching world religions, philosophy, and family values. He holds a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University and spent more than a decade in South Korea as a professor of Korean history and culture. Until his retirement in 2014, Dr. Carlson served on the faculty of the Cheongshim Graduate School of Theology. His published works include Sunrise on Christology and The Dawning of a New Culture, as well as serving as co-editor of Explorations in Unificationism. Having held both academic and pastoral positions throughout his career, he currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.
[1] As anyone who has read the Divine Principle or examined True Father’s life course, would be aware, it is apparent that True Father began his public ministry in 1945, after an intense course of personal preparation. Alive in 1945 were individuals such as M. Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Teilhard de Chardin. Had True Father been able to communicate with such people about a possible religious council for the new UN, history may have taken a very different path. In reality, True Father was not received, and was forced into a “40-year wilderness course,” and the work of evil was free to work. This is why a short time later, providentially speaking, the family-based culture in America, which was prepared for the sake of True Father, experienced upheaval as demonic forces were able to invade America through the sexu I revolution, and we are seeing the mature fruits of this moral decline today. Seemingly, one American state after another is coming to “tolerate” gay marriage, as the family continues to crumble, some even “legalizing” it.
[2] Schwartz, What Is Communism, 24
[3] Steyn, America Alone, 1-40. In this context Steyn argues from a demographic point of view, discussing birthrates, and sociological transitions. His concern becomes quite evident as one reads his words.
[4] Universal Peace Federation, World Scripture II: World Scripture and the Teachings of Sun Myung Moon, New York: Universal Peace Federation, 2007, 639-40.
[5] This news came via the Internet, 10/8/13.
[6] Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, The Communist Manifesto, New York: International Publishers,
1979, 26-7.
[7] This came through the internet news of Oct, 2013.
[8] These are the television shows I grew up with in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. They were wholesome shows, centering on family values and family harmony, and they also had a moral message which came across very strongly.