In 1630, while still aboard a ship in Boston Harbor, the Puritan, John Winthrop, gave a church sermon. He reminded his fellow colonists that their new home ought to be modeled as a "city upon a hill", watched by the entire world.
This week, just a few miles from Boston Harbor, a horrific act of violence was perpetrated on innocent people. Among the dead was an eight-year old boy. Just weeks ago, this little gap-toothed boy, in a tender photograph, held a hand-lettered sign of his own artwork. It read simply, "Peace". The sign was his personal eulogy to the dead children and teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary.
Today, in a most memorable act of cowardice, the United States Senate rebuffed reasonable, sensible efforts to pass legislation that would have begun moving us forward in the effort to curb the violence that clutches at our throats on a near daily basis. The Senate's arrogance is breathtaking. Ninety percent of Americans are in favor of some form of gun control legislation.
What must John Winthrop be thinking of his "city on a hill"? Is the world still watching? If they are, what do they see?
Today, nearly 400 years after Winthrop's sermon aboard the Arabella, our children are no longer safe at school, in theaters, at malls, or at athletic events. Evil permeates our 'city on a hill' from every direction. Troubled husbands shoot their wives and children, young adults gun down one another in our streets. The 'city' has become a blood-soaked, blood-thirsty, revenge-seeking cesspool of cold, cold hearts.
Many have decided that the best way to fight violence is to respond with "an eye for an eye". They will arm themselves with even more weapons. They will bathe their fears in paranoia. They will ignore the suffering and grief of our neighbors. They will publicly carry their weapons and threaten to kill anyone who questions their value system. They have forgotten that our commission, as John Winthrop understood it so well, is to be a "city on a hill".
Winthrop's hopes and dreams were that by escaping the old world already overcome with cruelty, we would become a different kind of nation and a different kind of people. Our 'better selves' would be guided by principles of compassion, kindness, and love for our neighbors. Winthrop saw the founding of America as a rare opportunity in a new world to create a new Country founded on eternal principles.
Sadly, the lights of our 'city on a hill' are dimming. We cannot let them go out entirely. On Monday, amid the confusion and the fear of the Boston Marathon bombings, people were filmed running TOWARD the explosions. They had no idea if their lives were still in danger or not. People already in the first aid tents were seen ripping out their IVs in order to make room for the seriously wounded. As long as we have those people in our midst, there is hope that our 'city' may once again shine brightly.
Perhaps our United States Congress was watching those unselfish acts of courage and brotherly love. They needed that courage today. Sadly, for today at least, the lights of Congress went dark.
This week, just a few miles from Boston Harbor, a horrific act of violence was perpetrated on innocent people. Among the dead was an eight-year old boy. Just weeks ago, this little gap-toothed boy, in a tender photograph, held a hand-lettered sign of his own artwork. It read simply, "Peace". The sign was his personal eulogy to the dead children and teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary.
Today, in a most memorable act of cowardice, the United States Senate rebuffed reasonable, sensible efforts to pass legislation that would have begun moving us forward in the effort to curb the violence that clutches at our throats on a near daily basis. The Senate's arrogance is breathtaking. Ninety percent of Americans are in favor of some form of gun control legislation.
What must John Winthrop be thinking of his "city on a hill"? Is the world still watching? If they are, what do they see?
Today, nearly 400 years after Winthrop's sermon aboard the Arabella, our children are no longer safe at school, in theaters, at malls, or at athletic events. Evil permeates our 'city on a hill' from every direction. Troubled husbands shoot their wives and children, young adults gun down one another in our streets. The 'city' has become a blood-soaked, blood-thirsty, revenge-seeking cesspool of cold, cold hearts.
Many have decided that the best way to fight violence is to respond with "an eye for an eye". They will arm themselves with even more weapons. They will bathe their fears in paranoia. They will ignore the suffering and grief of our neighbors. They will publicly carry their weapons and threaten to kill anyone who questions their value system. They have forgotten that our commission, as John Winthrop understood it so well, is to be a "city on a hill".
Winthrop's hopes and dreams were that by escaping the old world already overcome with cruelty, we would become a different kind of nation and a different kind of people. Our 'better selves' would be guided by principles of compassion, kindness, and love for our neighbors. Winthrop saw the founding of America as a rare opportunity in a new world to create a new Country founded on eternal principles.
Sadly, the lights of our 'city on a hill' are dimming. We cannot let them go out entirely. On Monday, amid the confusion and the fear of the Boston Marathon bombings, people were filmed running TOWARD the explosions. They had no idea if their lives were still in danger or not. People already in the first aid tents were seen ripping out their IVs in order to make room for the seriously wounded. As long as we have those people in our midst, there is hope that our 'city' may once again shine brightly.
Perhaps our United States Congress was watching those unselfish acts of courage and brotherly love. They needed that courage today. Sadly, for today at least, the lights of Congress went dark.
Provocative and compelling, Betty.
ReplyDeleteSorry Betty. I find it more than a stretch to imply that lack of gun control has anything to do with the atrocity in Boston. In fact it is now looking like the murderers were probably Islamic fanatics and they certainly did not use guns in their crime.
ReplyDeleteIt is way too early to reach conclusions in this case though of course that doesn't stop people from making foolish statements (Coumo even implied that global warming was to blame). Best wait till all the facts are in.
I suspect you are thinking about a general culture of violence which is indeed a problem. However I do not believe gun control would change that in the US any more than it has in Mexico, N. Ireland etc. The fact is that we live in a fallen world, populated with good people and with some really nasty folks. Sometimes we can talk to the nasty people and prevent problems but not always. In fact the fanatic wing of Islam is unlikely to change as a result of any negotiations. I think we have to follow the Book of Mormon injunction, "let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our swords..."
I think there are two opposite errors that we can commit with evil people. One is to assume that we must fight and respond violently. The other is to assume we can solve the problem by talking and not prepare for violence. Instead I think we should try negotiation but be prepared to defend ourselves if necessary. In fact, negotiating with fanatics is much more effective if they believe we have the means and will to defend ourselves if it comes to that.
I wasn't implying anything about a link between gun control and the Boston Marathon bombings. I was drawing comparisons in courage.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about "Islamic fanatics" being the culprits is precisely the kind of "implying" that our Nation does not need right now. And as it turns out, they most certainly were armed wit guns and they did use their guns in their crime.
I doubt that I will ever write anything with which you can agree, Hal. Perhaps you should spend more time on the blogs that support your positions?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-blady-md/the-legacy-of-watertown_b_3115144.html?utm_hp_ref=email_share
ReplyDeleteI wish that I had written this . . . . .