On apathy and passion
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
--Revelations 3: 15-16
I have heard it said that those who refuse to believe in anything will believe everything. The exact quote I remember is "refuse to believe in God," but I think my version is more applicable and appropriate.
William Kristol on "Boneless Wonders"
In "Atlas Shrugged," one of the people held most in contempt in the novel was not one of the major villains, but a man who was so devoid of belief and so racked by self-doubt, that he couldn't make even the most trivial decision even in the face of death.
While peace and harmony are nice, there is something to be said for passion in your beliefs.
When we fought WWII, our population was inspired. Patriotism was high, and there was no problem believing our country and values to be in the right. Nor was there a problem declaring our enemies to be evil, and referring to them in politically-incorrect terms that would give modern folks the vapors. "Flag-waver" was not an insult.
This kind of thinking is now considered primitive and childish. The sophisticated person of today refuses to be pinned down on questions of values. Who has the right to judge?
Someday we will be faced with another enemy who believe their god or philosophy has given them the absolute truth, and the right to conquer the Earth in its name. And we will meet it with generations of men and women who have been trained to believe there is no real right or wrong, no absolutes at all, and will face the oncoming enemy with the question, "how am I so sure they're not right?"
In such a conflict, the fanatic will usually win. It does not require a fanatic to face a fanatic, but it does require someone who at least believes they deserve to exist, and knows why.