Each day and all across the United States, two powerful sentiments — In God We Trust and E Pluribus Unum (“out of many, one”) — are exchanged on a near continuous basis between people of increasingly diverse and intermixed heritages. But how deeply do our actions reflect these ideals?
Signs abound of a common recognition that we, all of humanity, are one and come from the same Source; and at the same time tremors continue reminding us how deeply the fault-lines of racism run.
“Our work is not yet finished, but future generations will mark this morning as the turning point for real and necessary change in our nation. They will look back and remember that this was the moment when the dream that once echoed across history from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial finally reached the walls of the White House.” Those were Senator Feinstein’s words last week and, come what may over the course of the next four years, there certainly were innumerable layers of significance embodied in the moment a man “whose father may not have been served in a local restaurant” stood upon the steps of a building constructed by slaves, across the Potomac from a former bastion of slavery (now a state which voted for him), and assumed such a weighty position of power within a relatively (imagine the day we can rise above partisanship and campaigning?) peaceful transition.
I was moved by a link my friend Eleanor posted on how this moment impacted the perspective of a six-year old boy and how he chose to complete a coloring assignment. At the same time, and as has been stressed repeatedly, racism is obviously not cured; nor have we addressed its social and economic ramifications in our society and individual lives.
Aboard my flight home last week, I came across this disturbing video about a New York City baker’s offensive cookies. I’ve since been following public reaction to it and the varying viewpoints expressed make clear we have much further to go.
I’ve also been reading over a statement, published nearly 20 years ago, entitled “The Vision of Race Unity: America’s Most Challenging Issue”. It states, “In no other country is the promise of organic unity more immediately demonstrable than in the United States because this country is a microcosm of the diverse populations of the earth. Yet this promise remains largely unrealized even here because of the endemic racism that, like a cancer, is corroding the vitals of the nation.” It further states,
“The fundamental solution—the one that will reduce violence, regenerate and focus the intellectual and moral energy of minorities, and make them partners in the construction of a progressive society—rests ultimately on the common recognition of the oneness of humankind. It is entirely human to fail if that which is the most important to people’s self-perception is denied them—namely, the dignity they derive from a genuine regard by others for their stature as human beings. No educational, economic, or political plan can take the place of this essential human need; it is not a need that businesses and schools, or even governments, can provide in isolation from the supportive attitude of society as a whole.
Such an attitude needs to be grounded in a spiritual and moral truth that all acknowledge and accept as their own and that, like the oxygen that serves all equally, breathes life into their common effort to live in unity and peace. Absence of the genuine regard for others fostered by such truth causes hopelessness in those discriminated against; and in a state of hopelessness, people lose the coherent moral powers to realize their potential.”
Hmm… definite achievements to celebrate thus far, but what will it really take? These ideals are too potent to be left upon bills and coins and pass between us in words alone.
One essential avenue, I think, involves the attitudes we pass along — the spiritual and moral education of children and pre-teens. Another rest with us each individually taking honest stock of prejudices within our daily interactions and conversations. Towards that end, I find reflection on the practical implications of the following extremely helpful:
“Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory.” ~Bahá’u’lláh
What about you? Do you think we will realize a day when, through our words and deeds, we evince the notion that we are all one and come from the same Source?
