EQUALITY

EQUALITY

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

"When will justice run down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream?"




"I sit on a man's back, choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am very sorry for him and wish to ease his lot by all possible means - except by getting off his back."

By Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy wrote these words over 130 years ago in one of his seminal books, "What is to Be Done?" and yet man and woman are still burdened by the weight of hypocrisy. The thirst for freedom, peace, equality, and harmony for all Humanity continues to go unfulfilled. How long will injustices that are in our grasp too correct go unchallenged? How long will black, brown, and other minorities have to languish in a subordinate status? When will I ask, "Justice run down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream?" Paraphrasing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his sermon, "I've Been to the Mountaintop," quoting Amos.


The technology we have at our availability allows us to connect and correct the ills of this society if we have the will. In a matter of seconds, we can connect with another human across the globe unburden by race, color, creed, or language. The dialogue needed to address many of our issues, in a forum of inclusiveness, is set on the world stage via our advancement in technology. Let the people speak as a representative for themselves, not at the United Nations, but the Peoples Nations for Humanity of the World. Therefore, "We The People" will resonate with all Humanity as the building block for freedom and justice for all.

The United States of America is the origin of my birth, residence, and citizenship; however, I also hold citizenship as a citizen of Humanity. At times, our citizenship of Humanity challenged, we must join in our Humanity to solve the issue through collective dialogue. To attack, kill, maim, destroy, rape, and enslave another is a fundamental wrong that attacks the core of our Humanity. Let the conversation be your first, second, and only weapon of choice. Albeit, some in our community are not likely to understand this rational concept, and we must be on guard. Our global police force is already in place to strike when force is necessary, but first and foremost, we must have a dialogue—an open and honest conversation seeking the truth, not power. We currently have the United States, China, Russia, Europe, and the other G20 Nations armed and ready to fight for its strategic interest. However, this interest must coincide with the overall cost and benefit to Humanity. One death by violence of any kind is one end too many because the suffering continues for the family as long as they live!

The violence we see ravishing our communities must give way to a conversation to those on the warpath. Black on black crime is a sickness that has destroyed black communities but has had a profound effect on others as well. The honor killings in India, the bombing of schools in war zones, the raping of girls and women, the Jihad called against the innocent; the list is too long to capture. To understand this illness like all sickness, we must determine the root-cause and proliferation and find the appropriate solutions to heal and change the course of direction. Perhaps a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) similar to South Africa could begin the building blocks for the healing and change needed.

Leo Tolstoy, in his writings, had a profound impact on such infamous and pivotal people like Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and James Bevel. All who fought and spoke truth to power, and equality of Humanity at their peril. We must pick up the baton in our continued fight for justice. In unity, we have power, and we have strength. Let us all join freeing the world of its fear, prejudices, misogyny, and anger for healthier world citizenship: Equality of life for all is the proper goal!



By James H. Williams

Photo: Tolstoy in May, 1908, four months before his 80th birthday (photographed at Yasnaya Polyana by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky; the first colour photograph taken in Russia)