Editorial December 8, 1945 Issue

Who Is the Common Man?

Margaret Morrison

It has been said, "This is the century of the common man," and America has been called the country of the common man. This phrase "the common man" has become so much a part of the thought and speech of the world today that we may ask ourselves, "Who is the common man?" What is the standard of this common man by which we measure a century or a country? The word "common" has two accepted meanings: that which "implies qualities below the average," which is cheap and ordinary, and that which "pertains to a joint source," which is had in common, shared alike by all. We may well ask which of these meanings we have in thought when we speak of the common man.

Without a definite, common standard of nobility of thought and action there is danger of lowered standards and ideals, of cheapened methods. It is well to be aware of and to watch this tendency, that we may keep our standard lifted high enough from the street that all men may see it and be drawn thereto, that the so-called common man may become a man of dignity and worth, culture and courtesy, of clean wit, of cheer and courage.

It has been said that Jesus chose his disciples from among the common people. Surely this means that he chose them from among those who had one thing in common—the capacity for spiritual growth and understanding which lifts men above the ordinary, material concept of life into the reality of spiritual sonship with God.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Who Is the Common Man?

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access