I was discussing current events with a friend of mine who has cancer and he used the following analogy. What do you do if you are on a ship crossing the ocean and it starts to leak water?
You will have one group of people who say that everyone should plug the leaks with their fingers and keep on going across the Atlantic. Others will say that it would simply make sense to turn back and take the ship to dry land.
There is no solution here that does not involve an openness to humility and to mercy. Consider the contrast between the present behavior of our country and that expressed by the Six Nations in their Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy when they held their councils.
"The Onondaga Lords shall .. make an address and offer thanks to the earth where men dwell, to the streams of water, the pools, ... to the maize and the fruits, to the medicinal herbs and trees, to the forest trees ... to the animals that serve as food and give their pelts for clothing ... and to the Great Creator who dwells in the heavens above"
Our public discourse centers on personal autonomy: “At the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.” (Associate Justice Anthony_Kennedy)
It is a fact that none of us lives in a bubble -- we live in Planet Earth -- so I think that's plain wrong.
There is a disturbing loss of common sense in the public sphere. We take it for granted that a politician is a little like Humpty Dumpty.
When my State Senator Bob Wieckowski proposes assisted suicide for the terminally ill, nobody has the good sense to ask him sensible questions because it would pierce his bubble and hurt his feelings.
Contrast this situation with the attitude advocated by the Iroquois:
When my State Senator Bob Wieckowski proposes assisted suicide for the terminally ill, nobody has the good sense to ask him sensible questions because it would pierce his bubble and hurt his feelings.
Contrast this situation with the attitude advocated by the Iroquois:
"Neither anger nor fury shall find lodgment in your mind and all your words and actions shall be marked with calm deliberation. In all of your .. efforts at law making ... self interest shall be cast into oblivion. Cast not over your shoulder behind you the warnings of the nephews and nieces should they chide you for any error or wrong you may do, but return to the way of the Great Law which is just and right. Look and listen for the welfare of the whole people and have always in view not only the present but also the coming generations, even those .. unborn of the future Nation."
I think my friend with cancer is right. There is a problem with our Great Law and plugging holes will not stop the ship from sinking.
