Reflections

"When we apply our reason in addressing a problem, we have to be vigilant in ensuring that we remain honest, self-aware, and unbiased; the danger otherwise is that we may fall victim to self-delusion." Dalia Lama

I just finished Andrew W. Greeley's newest book Irish Lace last night. As was usual I enjoyed the story very much. He is one of my favorite writers. It was his latest in the wonderful story of the fey Irish singer Nuala Anne McGrail. As he does is all of his books about her he brings in a second story going back in time. The story this time came from Nazi Germany and had the story of Claus Graff von Stauffenberg who tried to assassinate Adolph Hitler. In his afterword Father Greeley talked about the American Presses attempt to blacken the name of this patriot. He spoke about how morally repugnant it is to assume that the deaths of German civilians and the rape of their women was justified because 'they brought it on themselves.'

We see this same moral justification used in today's society with respect to people of Islamic or Arabic persuasion. The press and politicians feel they are morally justified in vilifying an entire group of people because of the actions of a few. They ignore the fact that the vast majority of Muslims do not believe in a jihad to destroy all infidels. They ignore the fact that a vast majority of Muslims are like you and me and just want a decent life for themselves and their families and that they do not support the violence done in their name. Their voices are ignored because it doesn't make good press.

In our everyday lives how many times have you heard that all Mexicans should go back to their own country. They are thieves, gang members, lazy, pick your slur it has been thrown at them. It is ignored in the rhetoric about immigration that a majority of them are decent, religious, hard working people who are trying to make a decent living for themselves and their families.

The real abomination is prejudice. The ability of man to condemn a fellow human because they are somehow different. Mankind has a tendency to wrap itself in the flag of patriotism or religion and use it to justify their bigotry and hatred towards their fellow man. They are different and we refuse to learn about their culture or religion or beliefs. We are afraid to take a real look and see that they are just human beings like the rest of us. They are afraid to see that God made them too and God doesn't make junk. They are afraid to look too closely for they may discover that their own views and prejudices are flawed and they are the ones who need to grow and mature before thay can truly say they walk in God's Light.

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