Final Thoughts on Yesterdays Tragedy: to the families of the two cops that were brazenly assassinated, my condolences; and to my fellow members of law enforcement, may God protect each and every one of you in your daily efforts to protect this city. My city. Having said that, I hope that every American, regardless of where he/she lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. Folks, this Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. Today, we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. And when Americans are sent to war, we do not ask for whites only. Therefore, it ought to be possible for Americans of any color to receive equal protection under our laws without being forced to resort to demonstrations in the street. It ought to be possible, in short, for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his color. Said differently, every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated. But this is not the case. This is not a sectional issue. Difficulties over discrimination exist in every city, in every State of this Nation, producing in many cities a rising tide of discontent that threatens the public safety. Nor is this a partisan issue. In a time of domestic crisis, men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics. This is not even a legal or legislative issue alone. It is better to settle these matters in the courts than on the streets, and new laws are needed at every level, but law alone cannot make men see right. We are confronted primarily with a moral issue, and to me, it is as old as the scriptures and is as clear as the American Constitution. The heart of the question is whether all Americans are to still be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities; whether we are going to treat our fellow Americans as we want to be treated. If an American, say because his skin is darker than yours or mine, cannot enjoy the full and free life which all of us want, then who among us would be content to have the color of his skin changed and stand in his place? Who among us would then be content with the counsels of patience and delay. We preach freedom around the world, and we mean it, and we cherish our freedom here at home, but are we to say to the world, and much more importantly, to each other that this is a land of the free except for certain minorities; that we have no class or cast system, no ghettoes, no master race except with respect to certain Americans. Now, the time has come for this Nation to fulfill its promise. The events in Ferguson, New York, and elsewhere have so increased the cries for equality that no city or State or legislative body can prudently choose to ignore them. The fires of frustration and discord are burning in every city, North and South, East and West, where legal remedies are not at hand. Redress is sought in the streets, in demonstrations, parades, and protests which create tensions and threaten violence and threaten lives of many decent, respectable, hard-working men and women, especially those in law enforcement. We face, therefore, a moral crisis as a country and as a people. It cannot be met by repressive police action. It cannot be left to increased demonstrations in the streets. It cannot be quieted by token moves or talk. It is a time to act in the Congress, in your State and local legislative body and, above all, in all of our daily lives. It is not enough to pin the blame on others, to say this is a problem of one section of the country or another, or deplore the fact that we face. A great change is at hand, and our task, our obligation, is to make that revolution, that change, peaceful and constructive for all. Remember, those who do nothing are inviting shame as well as violence, and those who act boldly are recognizing right as well as reality. May God bless each and everyone of you, and I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and blessed New Year. Signing off until January 1, 2015. ~NB #wisewordsfromtheOracle
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 19:29:31 +0000
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