BEYOND THE PALE

Many years ago while attending a course in Philosophy the professor stated the final exam would consist of one sentence which was – “Prove or disprove the existence of God.”

With a determined pen I set forth to PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, but before the time was up I had a troubled sense that I was mentally running in circles.  At this time I was the only student left in the room.  The professor stood before my desk, took my blue books and said quietly, “You gave it a good try. I shall give you credit for your effort even though your answer is incorrect.”

“How do you know it is incorrect?”, I asked.

“Because,” he answered, “the correct answer consists of no more than two sentences. The existence of God can neither be proved or disproved. It is a matter of faith.”

Today, remnants of that course still permeate my thoughts.  Here was a professor that a PHD in his field, who had written numerous books, and when asked what he believed he answered, “Nothing.”   When asked what he detested, he thought for several moments then responded, “Insincerity.”  At that time I inwardly thought he was one of those intellectuals with a great amount of knowledge and no common sense and/or judgement.  I have always told my children and grandchildren that the beginning of wisdom was the realization of how ignorant you were.  Could this nagging memory be a dim light on my own shaded understanding?

Therefore my brothers and sisters, I propose that you ponder this question – IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL?

It is written “…ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free…” (John 8:32)  We are told the first pilgrims arrived in the Americas seeking freedom, and thus began the systematic destruction of the freedom of the Native Americans.

Slavery was the catalyst that spawned the Civil War, not a battle to free the slaves, but a struggle of powerful forces for power and economic control.

The industrial revolution, sweat factories, birth of the unions, women’s suffrage, segregation, lynchings, the Great Depression and World War II careened through the corridors of time.  Then came the moral revolution of the 1950’s and 1960’s.  In all the movements seeking a change for the good of humanity, it has always been the few against the many.  I shall never forget the visual images of the beatings, bombings, fire hoses and attack dogs that the innocent endured.  Many were jailed and also killed but their non-violent beliefs secured their victory.

Today the people are being beaten, pepper sprayed and jailed as they protest the economic injustice that has created foreclosures, homelessness and poverty for millions of Americans who reside in the wealthiest country on the planet.  A country that inserted God in the Pledge of Allegiance, on its money and under the guise of protecting our freedom has embraced pre-emptive war, torture and assassinations, while the politicians conclude their speeches with “God Bless America.”

We say we are a country founded on Christian principles, yet the bible we pretend to believe in states “…Love your enemies, do good…” (Luke 6:26, 27, 28)  In response we maintain the death penalty, created overfilled prisons and held press conferences to announce the murder of men we deemed evil.

Now the drums of war have begun to beat again.  “Iran,” they shout, “cannot be allowed a nuclear bomb”, while the surrounding countries are bristling with nuclear weapons.  I would humbly suggest that we stop telling God what to do and do what God has told us to do, or stop being hypocrites and omit the name of God from political speeches and governmental icons.

There may never be time like NOW to dedicate our lives to the GOOD that includes ALL people.  Stop calling for an end to the suffering of the middle class. What of the poor?  Surely if we concentrate in lifting the bottom, the middle and upper parts rise automatically.

I believe the time has come when it is imperative for all of us to march for peace, to march for justice, and to march to preserve our very existence.  Like those who have marched before us it is now our time to MOVE!  Faith can move mountains, and to all of you now enjoined in the struggle I dedicate this poem.

A TRIBUTE

Before this little light

Surrenders to the darkness

I celebrate those lights

Which came before and

Those destined to follow me,

Who midst the storms

And vicissitudes of the

Battles between good and evil,

Have volunteered to traverse

The thorny trail of non-violence.

Clinging to principles that

Yet defy all rational reason they

Have endured the pain inflicted

By those entities held fast by the

Magnet of fear and self-interest,

And bared their defenseless bodies to

The blade, bullet and bomb

With an unwavering faith

That redemptive salvation

Exists both here and

Beyond the grave.