Muddy Thinking

Many people's thinking today is muddy. I came across a statement recently that makes a grand display of muddy thinking. In responding to our current President's desire to deport dangerous illegal aliens, it was said that President Trump, "identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality". No, it is not true that every illegal immigrant is a murderer or drug dealer, but think for a moment about that statement. How could anyone not identify "illegality" with "criminality"? They are synonyms! Since when is something that is illegal somehow not also criminal? The word, "illegal", means that something or someone is contrary to a law. If you break a law you are a criminal.

Yet, so few people catch this clear contradiction of terms because our society today is filled with muddy thinking. Argumentation has degenerated from clearly constructed points to emotional outbursts. We, as Catholics, really need to guard ourselves against this. We must work towards clear thought; God is not a God of confusion but of wisdom and truth. Whether we are speaking about vital societal issues, or just shooting the breeze and talking about a book we read, let us do our best to to be good examples of what truth is: accurate and clear.