On this day in 1789, the first American President was inaugurated. George Washington took the oath of office for presidency in New York on the balcony of Freedom Hall on April 30. Here are some words of civility from our first President:
“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence; true friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.
Let your heart feel for the affliction, and distresses of every one, and let your hands give in proportion to your purse…”
--President George Washington, excerpt from his letter to Bushrod Washington, January 15, 1783.
Source: The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.; http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field(DOCID+@lit(gw260060
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Today is the 150th Anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on 16 April 1862. In recognition of this historic moment, we lift up the words of Frederick Douglass:
“The abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia was one of the most important events connected with the prosecution of the war for the preservation of the Union, and, as such, is worthy of the marked commemoration we have given it to-day…
It placed the National dignity and the National power on the side of emancipation. It was the first step toward a redeemed and regenerated nation. It imparted a moral and human significance to what at first seemed to the outside world, only a sanguinary war for empire. This great step in National progress, was not taken without a violent struggle in Congress. It required a large share of moral courage, large faith in the power of truth, and confidence in the enlightenment and loyalty of the people, to support this radical measure...
We are now free, and though we have many of the consequences of our past condition to contend against, by union, effort, co-operation, and by a wise policy in the direction and the employment of our mental, moral, industrial and political powers, it is the faith of my soul, that we can blot out the handwriting of popular prejudice, remove the stumbling-blocks left in our way by slavery, rise to an honorable place in the estimation of our fellow-citizens of all classes, and make a comfortable way for ourselves in the world. I have referred to the vast and wonderful changes which have taken place in the condition of the colored people of this country. We rejoice in those changes to-day, and we do well. We are neither wood nor stone, but men. We possess the sentiments common to right-minded men.”
~Frederick Douglass, delivered on the 21st Anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in the District of Columbia on 16 April 1883.
Source: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/murray:@field(DOCID+@lit(lcrbmrpt0a04div2))
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The Faith and Politics Institute hosted over 250 participants, including over twenty Members of Congress and many luminaries of the Civil Rights Movement, on the 12th annual Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama over the past weekend to Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma. At the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, at the heart of the practice of non-violence, at the heart of honoring the courageous women and men who led non-violent efforts toward desegration, civil rights and voting rights, at the heart of all we seek to do at The Faith and Politics Institute is the principle of love.
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This coming Sunday is the 47th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama where peaceful
demonstrators led by John Lewis were beaten trying to cross the Edmund Pettus
Bridge on March 7, 1965. In the aftermath of Bloody Sunday, President Johnson
delivered a speech regarding the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This following
excerpt from President Johnson's speech is quoted in Congressman Lewis's
memoir, Walking With The Wind.
[The speech]...peaked with the President citing our favorite freedom song, the anthem, the very heart
and soul, of the civil rights movement:
"Even if we pass the bill, the battle will not be over. What happened in Selma is a part of a larger
movement which reaches into every section and state of America. It is the
effort of American Negroes to secure for themselves the full blessings of
American life.
Their cause must be our cause too. Because it is not just Negroes, but really it is all of us who must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice.
And we shall overcome."
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"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labour to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firm props of the duties of Men and citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man ought to respect and to cherish them."
~George Washington, excerpt from his Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
President Washington was spot on, in the realm of the public square, there has to be more than just patriotism that brings this country together. He saw happiness in the ideals of religion and morals, working together in the spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood are ever so important for the nation. These ideals ought to bring all together to do what is right for all. Thus we ought to focus on the common good of all and to be mindful of those religious and moral ideals which can inform us and guide us to a more perfect union
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The Future
I believe the children are our future
Teach them well
And let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty
They possess inside
Give them a sense of pride
To make it easier
Let the children's laughter
Remind us how we used to be
~Whitney Houston, The Greatest Love of All
As we reflect on the great musical career of Whitney Houston after her sudden passing.
We turn to one of her many #1 hits which is focused on the future.
Children are our bridgesto the future of what we can be. And they are also a link to the
past, of how we once were.Today, we need to be even more encouraging to our youth,
since a greater amount are born into poverty. We have to continually uplift the youth
to let them know that they are somebody and are filled with dignty. And in by doing so,
we make a better future for them and the nation.
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The Importance of Forgiveness
It is clear that if we look only to retributive
justice, then we could just as well close up shop.
Forgiveness is not some nebulous thing. It is
practical politics. Without forgiveness there is no future.
-- Archbishop Desmond Tutu, from The Sunflower: On the
Possibilites and Limits of Forgiveness
Bishop Tutu has hit the nail on the head. If we
as a nation, or as individuals are not capable to forgive we are looking at a
dismal future. Because there is probably not a day that goes by that we do not
think that someone has wronged us.
Through forgiveness we show that we are capable
to love, to hope, show humility, and the ability to trust those whom we
have forgiven. Let us not look at forgiveness as a sign of weakness, but rather
as a sign of courage and faith. The challenge for us is to be able to forgive
without retaliation and to be able to do it no matter how hard it may seem to do.
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"Community cannot feed for long on itself, it can only flourish with the coming of others from beyond, their unknown and undiscovered brothers." -- Howard Thurman, Search for a Common Ground
Just as "no man is an island" the same goes for communities as well. There is only so much that a community can do on its own. There comes a time when a community has to go outside of its self-made boundaries and collaborate with other to get things done. This communal fellowship is none other than the "Beloved Community." Here we are able to see past the differences of race, gender, and ideology to be able to come together for the greater good of all communities.
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"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."
-- Henry David Thoreau
One single thought can be fleeting. It is not enough to say we will work together, and then forge our own paths in different directions. To make deep paths we must consistently remind ourselves that we are neighbors, and work towards outcomes together. At the heart of every challenge, there must be love, respect, and compassion.
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In remembrance of Dr. King on MLK Day, we look at his last presidential speech given before the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC):
"So, I conclude by saying again today that we have a task and let us go out with a "divine dissatisfaction." Let us be dissatisfied until America will no longer have a high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds. Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls that seperate the outer city of wealth and comfort and the inner city of poverty and despair shall be crushed by the battering rams of the force of justice. Let us be dissatisfied until those that live on the outskirts of hope are brought into the metropolitan of daily security... Let us be dissatisfied. And men [and women] will recognize that out of one blood God made all men [and women] to dwell upon the face of the earth. Let us be dissatisfied until that when nobody will shout "White Power!"--when nobody will shout "Black Power!"--but everybody will talk about God's power and human power."
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., selection from "A Testament of Hope"
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Love for Our Neighbors
"It is no non-violence if we love merely those that love us.
It is non-violence when we love those that hate us."
--Mahatma Gandhi
As pointed out by Gandhi, it is easy to have dialogue and act peacefully with those that reciprocate our love. The crux is to love those that hate us. If we are able to love our enemies or those who do not hold our views, then we are capable of resolving issues peacefully. So, before we escalate to riots, arms, fist-of-cuffs, or slanderous words we ought to reflect on the other and see them as someone we can love and work with peacefully for the greater good of all.
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Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda
"All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin' in the sun,
Talkin' 'bout the things
They woulda-coulda-shoulda done.
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little did."
-- Shel Silverstein, Falling Up
As we transition into 2012, we ought to take account of our "woulda-coulda-shouldas" from our past.And as we reflect on them we ought to understand why we did not act upon them. Was it because we did not have the fortitude to act, or did we put off decisions for another day? No matter the excuse, the Challenge for us is to be able to act upon what is right and contribute to a good common cause for all. Move forward in 2012 and act according to what is right in your heart, leaving those "woulda-coulda-shouldas" behind.
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The Reasin for the Holiday Season
We at The Faith & Politics Institute would like to wish
everyone a Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza, and we hoped that all have had a Merry
Christmas. But we cannot forget the reason of the season no matter how we
celebrate this time of year. We all come together to express our love for one
another. What is evident is that love is at the center of all of these
traditions.
"Blessed is the
season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
-- Hamilton Wright Mabie
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Love in Turbulent Times
Nature dictates that whenever men and women are together there shall also be love.
Even in the shadow of the crematory the emotions could not be entirely suppressed.
-- Olga Lengyel, Five Chimneys
Olga shows us that even in the face of death love was expressed amongst her and her comrades. Do we today have to wait until a similar situation comes about before we express our love for one another? It is imperative for us to display love to each other daily. Hopefully, with this love for one another we are able to work together for the common good of all. Thus, love one another and be not ashamed of it, for love is the ultimate emotion expressed to one another, because in love we do what is necessary to help others.
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The Two Voices Fron Within
At the approach of danger there are always two voices that speak with equal force in the heart of man: one very reasonably tells the man to consider the nature of the danger and the means of avoiding it; the other even more reasonable says that it is too painful and harassing to think of the danger, since it is not a man's power to provide for everything and escape from the general march of events; and that it is therefore better to turn aside from the painful subject till it has come, and to think of what is pleasant. In solitude a man generally yields to the first voice; in society to the second.
-- Leo Tolstoy, from War and Peace
Which voice will you adhere to in the face of danger? Will you have the fortitude to maker the choice that benefits others and not yourselves? Would you stand idely by or would you carry out the appropriate act?
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