Page 79 - The Gonzaga Record 1987
P. 79
create wealth, and on the other, an insensibility to the plight of those who
have not been blessed by material success. There has resulted from this
estrangement a divided society which is not just, compassionate, or
Christian. All institutions must seek to remedy this state of affairs~'
The Dangers of Romanticism
He goes on to talk of the "young idealists leaving this school, and others
like it, whose idealism has been corrupted by romanticism. They develop
a romantic view of groups other than their own; they reject their own
group or class, and they have an impatience with those who create the
wealth they wish to see shared; an inability to see that a life of Christian
idealism could be lived in the world of business, commerce, or admin-
istration~'
There seemed, however, to be little evidence that Gonzaga had
managed to have an impact on those whom it wished to influence.
Society is still divided, possibly even more than forty years ago. It seemed
that the aims of the school were unachievable in such a competitive
society. Obviously there was, and still is, evidence of Christian idealism
in business or administration: but there seemed little possibility of that
idealism spreading far enough to influence society to reflect Christian
values.
A Re-appraisal of the position
The Project has forced me to make a re-appraisal of my feelings on Fr
Barber's arguments. It has convinced me that the failure to make
demands from ourselves is as much a mistake as making demands that
are unrealistic and unachievable. I felt that the Project made real for me
the idealism that Fr Barber had for the school. It showed that significant
goals could be reached through faith in ourselves. More and more often
in today's world Christians are being forced to have faith not only in their
beliefs but in their own determination. Unfortunately, cynicism is part of
man, and all too often we disguise cynicism as realism.
It is through efforts like the Project that the school can reassure itself
that it is educating its students to have faith in themselves and in others.
It has shown that it is indeed realistic to say that installing of Christian
value has effect. I would not go so far as to say that the school succeeds
with every student, for the student has his own free will, and he must co-
operate. I feel that the school and the Project complement each other,
and is an example of what we can achieve.
"For that we were founded; for that we exist; and by that we shall be
judged~'
Jonathan Newman (S.5A)
77
have not been blessed by material success. There has resulted from this
estrangement a divided society which is not just, compassionate, or
Christian. All institutions must seek to remedy this state of affairs~'
The Dangers of Romanticism
He goes on to talk of the "young idealists leaving this school, and others
like it, whose idealism has been corrupted by romanticism. They develop
a romantic view of groups other than their own; they reject their own
group or class, and they have an impatience with those who create the
wealth they wish to see shared; an inability to see that a life of Christian
idealism could be lived in the world of business, commerce, or admin-
istration~'
There seemed, however, to be little evidence that Gonzaga had
managed to have an impact on those whom it wished to influence.
Society is still divided, possibly even more than forty years ago. It seemed
that the aims of the school were unachievable in such a competitive
society. Obviously there was, and still is, evidence of Christian idealism
in business or administration: but there seemed little possibility of that
idealism spreading far enough to influence society to reflect Christian
values.
A Re-appraisal of the position
The Project has forced me to make a re-appraisal of my feelings on Fr
Barber's arguments. It has convinced me that the failure to make
demands from ourselves is as much a mistake as making demands that
are unrealistic and unachievable. I felt that the Project made real for me
the idealism that Fr Barber had for the school. It showed that significant
goals could be reached through faith in ourselves. More and more often
in today's world Christians are being forced to have faith not only in their
beliefs but in their own determination. Unfortunately, cynicism is part of
man, and all too often we disguise cynicism as realism.
It is through efforts like the Project that the school can reassure itself
that it is educating its students to have faith in themselves and in others.
It has shown that it is indeed realistic to say that installing of Christian
value has effect. I would not go so far as to say that the school succeeds
with every student, for the student has his own free will, and he must co-
operate. I feel that the school and the Project complement each other,
and is an example of what we can achieve.
"For that we were founded; for that we exist; and by that we shall be
judged~'
Jonathan Newman (S.5A)
77
