r25288.com Blog

By R25288 ( c ) 2006-2007

www.r25288.com

r25288@yahoo.com

 

                                            Chapter Twenty-Four

                                The Oppression & Resistance Continue

 

Folsom Prison Blues

By Johnny Cash

“I hear the train a comin’

it’s rolling round the bend

and I ain’t seen the sunshine since

I don’t know when,

I’m stuck in Folsom prison, and

time deeps draggin’ on

but that train keeps a rollin’ on down to San Anton..

When I was just a baby my mama

told me, son,

always be a good boy, don’t ever

play with guns

But I shot a man in Reno just to

watch him die

now every time I hear that whistle I

hang my head and cry..

 

“I bet there’s rich folks eating in a

fancy dining car

they’re probably drinkin’ coffee and

smoking big cigars.

Well I know I had it coming, I know

I can’t be free

but those people keep a movin’

and that’s what tortures me…

 

“Well if they’d free me from this

prison,

if that railroad train was mine

I bet I’d move just a little further

down the line

far from Folsom prison, that’s

where I want to stay

and I’d let that lonesome whistle

blow my blues away…..”

 

 

“God is with those who persevere.”

Koran, ch. VIII

 

If you missed my NPR(National Public Radio) interview, you may hear it with Mike Pesca, by typing in any search engine:

npr.org;

then in their search engine, type in Day to Day;

then In this program, select Day to Day;

then About this topic, select Politics & Society;

then On these dates, select Past Month;

hit enter;

then scroll down to page two;

then scroll down to March 19, 2007, Supreme Court Weighs Student Free Speech Case, and there it is.  Just click on the the listen/sound/volume button.  About 12 minutes long.

 

“BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU.”

George Orwell, 1984

 

I read it, as it was inadvertently posted for one day on the prison notice board, locked up behind glass.  It is there in the archives, on the computers, in the system, in the deleted files, or saved files.  I was so astounded that I did not copy it immediately, and when I went back to copy it, it had been removed.  It basically was from the Florida Department of Corrections headquarters in Tallahassee, addressed to all the Wardens, and VIP’s.  It basically said that the worst thing that could happen is to let inmates win grievances.  That, my dear gentle reader, is an example of systemic violence.

It is this type of thinking that cost two homeless men their lives recently in my county.  It is this type of thinking that cost a gay man his life this month in a nearby county.  It is this type of thinking that cost a young 14 year old African American his life last year in our state correctional system.  It is this type of thinking that allowed many guards to enter Frank Valdez’s cell in this state and stomp him to death.  Frank’s widow received about $800,000.00 for that thinking.  The young lad above has earned his family $2,000,000.00 to date, and our new Governor, Charlie Crist, is attempting to get them another $5,000,000.00.  I am sure they would prefer his company to all that money.  Virginia, that is systemic violence.

Speaking of Charlie, he wants to give me my right to vote back.  Virginia, you know that I rarely vote for Republicans, but I would vote for Charlie, if he gives me back my right to vote, which I currently have lost for live.  That is systemic violence.

My love has transferred to a new prison at his request.  It is one of our faith based prisons.  Did you hear me, Virginia?  Faith based!  Faith!  Religious freedom?  1st Amendment?  Ha!

In my time in prison, I never wore a cross.  It was not from my lack of attempt to get one.  A pastor’s wife sent me one.  DOC sent it back.  It did not come from an approved source.  My brother ordered me one, and the supplier refused to deliver to prisons.  Go figure.

The rules state you may wear a cross if it is sent from a jeweler, or approved source.  It may not cost over $50.00.  Forms must be filed.  Approval must be made.  Nothing in prison comes easy, except abuse.

I ordered my boy a cross and chain at Christmas, from HSN(Home Shopping Network).  It was sent back.  I ordered another.  It was sent back.  I called the prison chaplain.  He informed me that the cross had been sent by UPS(United Parcel Service).  The horror!!  That is not an approved method of shipment.  Who knew?  Only US mail is allowed.  It is nice to be a monopoly.

So the chaplain suggested that I may wish to order from Sidney Charles Direct Regulation Religious Medallion Catalog.  J.D. picked out from page 5, the PC108, Disk, with a cross in it, gold colored, about the size of a half dollar, with a 24″, #1 Figaro Chain, from page 14, at a total cost of $24.00, plus shipping, which was, of course, by US mail.  He filed the proper forms, and received approval.  He received it, and was allowed to wear it.  It gave him joy.

Parts of a letter my love mailed me, on 3/14/07, at 8:55pm:

“Dear Love,

“I just made 24 hours here, and so far so good.  I saw alot of people from previous camps, most of them are energy drainers, so I ‘What’s up’ them, and peel off.  Oh yeah!!  P is here too.  Do you remember P?  How can we forget him!!  He’s doing fine.  He told me that he was just thinking about me.  We didn’t talk long.  I told him you’re out doing fine, and still keeping it real with me…I still have love for him.  Blessings continue!!

“I have a straight roommate.  He looks like he’s Indian or something.  Don’t know how long he’s got, but he has been here 17 months.  He gave me the 411.  Basically, keep your nose clean, and you’ll make it.  Simple as that.

“They made me mail my chain, that you got me, home.  They say it’s ‘too flashy.’  What kind of shit is that when I got it approved and under $50.00  I didn’t show my ghetto side.  I just complied.  No matter what I said, they wasn’t trying to hear it!  So, I sent it to my MaMa.  I told her to hold it until otherwise.  This is not the camp to look sporty at.  Other than that, I’ll make it.  I’m gonna sign up for business management.  How about that?

“3/15/07  6:52am

“Dear Love,

“Didn’t go to breakfast this morning.  I felt like sleeping in, plus I needed the sleep anyway.  I got up, made my bunk, did my hygiene, now I’m writing my baby!!

“Work-call is at 8:00am, and the yard will open sometime around 9:00am.  I’m on the call-out for ITC.  I guess they’ll assign me a job.  Oh well, I can handle anything they throw at me!!

“I think I’m going to hangout for awhile ’cause it’s not that bad.  We even get to control our lights in our cells, cool, hun??

“The inmates here are different, meaning they’re not all wild acting, pants hanging off their asses, & there aren’t anybody hustling out on the yard.  I didn’t even see nobody selling spots in the canteen line, even though you’re gonna make it.  This place haven’t even had rose tinted glasses since Dec. Wow!!  So ya know this ain’t the place for the B.S!!

“Big B.J. came down to my cell yesterday after dinner to holla at me.  I showed him some pictures of ya, and he saw a couple with you & a few of your lady co-workers that he was diggin’.  Do you remember…

“Enclosed is front page of USA Today, I know you’ll enjoy reading!!  The struggle continues, Love.  You may not know this, but alot of students appreciate you, Mary, & John for making it possible for students to express their First Amendment right. 

“Baby, ya know I love ya, and appreciate ya, & I’m very grateful & thankful for all you’re doing for me!!  You’re the best, Love, and I’m going to…when we’re together again!!

“AML & M/L/&R,

“You’re #1 & Only J.D.  xoxoxo”

On Sunday, March 25, 2007, at 1:39pm, my partner wrote:

“Dear Love,

“Just came back from lunch, we had tacos, yum!!  On the way I dropped that informal grievance in the box.  Basically saying it’s been approved with the chaplain & property room at (his last prison), & I have an invoice showing it’s not over fifty($50).  We’ll see what they say.

“I enjoyed talking with ya, just hearing ya voice lifted my spirit!!  I like when ya tell me you’re…

“Yeah, Love, Ch. 21 brought back some memories!!  As I was reading, I saw it clearly like it was yesterday.  Damn, Love!! ya wrote down everything.  I still love the idea of opening up a club-C & J.D.  Hell yeah!!  Us against the world, baby!!

“…I can see us hanging out like that once I get out of here, Love.  I long for that day to come.  You are my world, Chris.  I don’t even think you know that…”

My boy is at a faith based camp and they won’t even let him wear a cross.  How fucked up is that?  It was the beginning of the 21st century, on the planet earth, in a state called Florida, known for it’s sunshine, beaches, Disney World, and abuse of inmates.  They were kept away from scrutiny, behind the razorwire.  Virginia, I know.  I was there.  It was real.  I think we can do better.  What do you think?

 

Amazing Grace

By John Newton

 

“Amazing Grace(How sweet the sound)

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

 

“‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fear reliev’d;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believ’d!

 

“Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home.

 

“The Lord has promised good to me.

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

 

“Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail

And mortal life shall cease;

I shall profess, within the vail,

A life of joy and peace.

 

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who call’d me here below,

Will be for ever mine.”

 

You may wish to check out http://www.manipulatedtrial.de/.

J.D. & I wish you & yours peace!

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

By R25288 ( c ) 2006-2007

www.r25288.com

r25288@yahoo.com

 

 

Chapter Twenty-Three

The Violations Continue

 

 

“And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do:  for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in judgment.

“Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you;  take heed and do it:  for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.”

II Chronicles 19:  6 & 7

 

 

 

“Security is mostly a superstitution.  It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it….Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure….Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”

Helen Keller

 

I watched as he urinated upon himself.  It is one of our last acts.  It occurs simultaneously when the soul leaves our bodies.  It is the end of earthly life.  He was nineteen years old.  His name was Ed.  He had hung himself in the bathroom.  It was during shift change, an opportune time that he had figured out.  It was in a psychiatric facility.  The code had been called, and I ran to his room, and assisted staff as we lifted him down, and administered CPR.  I was a Supervisor.  How had I missed the clues?  The day before he began giving away his prized possessions.  That was a clue.

In life, there are clues to systemic violence, and injustice, to those who are educated enough to know what, and how to look for them.  If you can vote, as I no longer can, vote for those who oppose systemic violence, in all its forms. 

My first street fighting occured on 28th St., just north of Ingersoll Ave., in Des Moines, when I was sixteen years old.  My friend, Marc, and I were attacked by three other young men.  Marc took on the biggest, and the other two came at me.  I kicked one in the groin, which lifted him off the ground, and landed him on his back, in the street.  The other one I managed to maneuver into a headlock, and proceeded to pound his head into the side of a car door.  The sound of a siren ended the conflict.  Later, we all became friends.  Isn’t conflict strange, Virginia?  Last week, I bought a pair of shorts from Targets, that were made in Vietnam.  Yesterday’s enemy is today’s business partner.

I have received public and private training in self defense.  I have been in riots in maximum security as law enforcement.  I have disarmed assailants.  I have triumphed in hand to hand combat.  I abhor violence, and I know how to kill, but I refuse to do so.

I currently live in Clearwater, Florida, in a neighborhood that the St. Petersburg Times refers to as, “a blighted neighborhood”(3-19-07,page 4B).  I’m glad they told me.  I have lived here for over a year now, and I would never had known.  I considered the projects of Lexington, Kentucky, as blighted, not here, but what do I know.

I watch daily as they walk by my second story apartment window.  They have ragged, torn, and ripped faces, from years of alcoholism, drug abuse, poverty, mental illness, despair, and age.  They carry their worldly possessions with them.  Sometimes, they are young, with children.  They come in all sizes, ages, and races.  They are our homeless.

I have slept next to them, lived with them, walked among them day and night, and loved them.  They have never harmed me.  Some stop, drop their worldly treasures, point to the sky, and mutter to themselves. 

FBI statistics will inform you that first floor apartments have more crime than second, or higher floor apartments.  The criminal mind is usually a lazy mind.  The first floor is more convenient.

It was Monday, March 19th, 2007, and I had been doing research and writing on my computer.  It was approximately 8pm.  I was home alone;  the windows were closed and locked;  the door was locked and bolted.  I had done my normal security checks earlier, and I knew that I was safe, or so I thought.

All my years of training;  all my education, and experience had not prepared me for what was about to happen.  I had uncensored rap playing on my Bright House channel on the TV, in the living room.  The lights were on;  the temperature was perfect. I got up from my computer, stripped, and walked to the bathroom.  I now was totally vulnerable.  All the curtains were drawn.  I opened the clear shower curtain, and stepped into the tub, drew the curtain closed, turned the shower on, let it warm up, and enjoyed my shower.  I stepped out, and dried off with my blue towel.  I placed the wet towel back on the towel rack, and walked back to my bedroom, totally naked. 

I walked into my bedroom, and there he was.  I froze in my tracks.  Where had he come from?  I never heard him.  It is the nightmare, where you can’t scream, or move.  You are paralized in fear.  He moved faster than I had ever seen anyone move.  The violation had occurred.  He had entered the most private of sanctuaries, my home.  He had come unannounced, or invited.  He meant me ill will.  As fast as he was moving, I was recording it all.  That is what I do.  The computer in my mind, better than any computer in the world was observing, analyzing, interpreting, and developing a survival strategy.  He had invaded my home, my bedroom, and my life was in jeopardy.  I grabbed the knife in his hand, and we struggled…”What the,” I said, as I felt his power.  I knew then that he was stronger than I.  I pushed the knife away from my body, and he pushed it closer to my heart.  I could not believe what was was happening, but I saw it all, and I felt his force.  He was cold, calulating, impersonal, and I knew he had a sociopathic mind.  This was it, I had met my match, I had no choice, it was him or me, and I, well today, I decided was not my day to die.  I did what came natural, I dropped down to pull his ankle away from his body, to gain the upper hand.  I saw imminent danger;  it was a real threat;  my life was in danger;  deadly force was justified, and I, I exercised it with extreme prejudice.  I jerked the power cord out of the wall, and the cursor that was his knife died on the screen.  I had killed the hacker.

He had managed to change some of my settings to allow him future access to my computer.  I corrected the violations.  He came back, but was not allowed entrance.  Was it the FBI, Homeland Security, CIA, Army Intelligence, Russian Mafia, or a lone hacker?  What was his purpose?  Ah, Virginia, these are perilous and precious times in which we live.  I’m glad to be here, how about you?

 

Dad wrote in his book, Compassion:

Compassion in Philosophy

From the point of view of the Western World, it is interesting to note that our major religion (Christianity) had its roots in the Middle East, but our philosophy originated in Greece.  Although Greece was geographically close to the middle East, its major philosopher (Plato) seemed to be more influenced by the ideas in the Indian religion than by those in the Middle Eastern religion of Judaism.  This may be at least partly a function of the fact that Plato was developing his philosophy (based on the teaching of Socrates) when the Jews were exiled in Babylon.

In Plato’s Lysis, Socrates defined friendship in terms of loving one’s enemies as well as one’s friends.  Socrates was arrested by the authorities of his time for teaching treason, corrupting the youth, and disbelieving in gods.  At his trial (as recorded in Plato’s Apology he pleaded:  “I do nothing but go about persuading you all not to take thought for your persons or your properties, but first and chiefly to care about the greatest improvement of the soul….  This is my teaching, and if this is the doctrine which corrupts the youth, I am a mischievous person.”  While waiting for his execution(as recorded in Plato’s Crito), he said to a friend:  “Not life, but a good life is chiefly to be valued….  We must injure no one at all….  We ought not to retaliate or render evil for evil to any one, whatever evil we may have suffered from him.”  The principle of coherence and its standards of judging authentic values (universality, eternity, unity, honesty, and freedom) were clearly implied throughout the Platonic dialogues.

Spinoza, the Jewish philosopher, believed that the resonable man would desire nothing for himself that he did not desire for others as well;  he would love his neighbor as himself.  The British Utilitarians defined value as pleasure, and proposed that the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people was the standard for judging authentic values.  American Pragmatists defined morality in terms of the best results for mankind as a whole.  Existentialists have emphasized the close relationship between individual freedom and social responsibility:  although man is free to choose for himself alone, every choice involves all mankind, so that the individual is responsible for others as well as himself.  Marx assumed that man was naturally good, but readily corrupted by a selfish society.  There should be a harmony of interest between the individual and community, and a close relationship between theory and practice.

Like the great religious teachers, the great philosophers have generally found altruism to be a more authentic value than egoism, but some philosophers(like some prophets) have extolled the value of egoism and the virtue of selfishness.  Nietzche, for example, glorified egoism in his “master morality” of might makes right in opposition to the “slave moralities” of Judaism, Christianity, and Democracy, which he found contemptible:  “Egoism belongs to the essence of the noble soul, I mean the unalterable belief that to a being such as ‘we,’ other beings must naturally be in subjection, and have to sacrifice themselves.”  The virtue of selfishness has been extolled in modern times by Ayn Rand, who defines what is right in terms of using oneself and one’s own property to please oneself alone.  She emphatically denies any responsibility for others, except to please oneself.  Selfishness is not supposed to hurt others in this philosophy, but the political implications of laissez-faire capitalism which she has drawn from her philosophy of selfishness would enable a few “superior” individuals to enjoy themselves at the expense of others.

In philosophy, as in religion, the issues are clearly drawn:  compassion vs. compulsion, altruism vs. egoism, the principle of coherence vs. the principle of authority, and faith in human nature vs. lack of such faith.

Altruistic philosophers and prophets generally assumed that human nature was basically good and that the human mind was able to choose between good and evil.  Individual freedom was assumed to generate its own sense of social responsibility, so that relatively democratic and permissive methods of education and government were recommended.

Egoistic philosphers and prophets generally assumed that human nature was basically evil and determined to be selfish.  Although individual freedom was emphasized as much in egoism as in altrism, egoism denied responsibility for others.  The morality of egoism clearly explicated the need for relatively autocratic and punitive methods of education and government to train and to make “inferior” individuals or groups stay in their proper social positions.  Consequently, freedom was for the few, but not for the many, from this point of view.

The altuistic principle of coherence included universality, eternity, unity, honesty, and freedom for all, as standards for judging the authenticity of values.  The egoistic principle for determining authenticity was simply the doctrine that might makes right.  These basic principles provide the most basic definitions of compassion and compulsion, respectively.

The age-old conflict between authority and freedom goes on, with authority (in the Western world, at least) on the side of compulsive egoism and freedom on the side of compassionate altruism.  How to overcome compulsion with compassion? is a question crying for some answers.  The world is dying from lack of compassion.  Can we be saved in time from destroying ourselves by ourselves?  If so, How?  When and Where?  And who will do it?

I don’t know, Virginia, I think my old man asks a lot of questions.  What do you think?  During the depression, he spent time in a Texas jail for stealing a quart of milk.  I wonder if we might be considered an organized crime family.  Just a thought. 

 

“Mankind censure injustice, fearing that they may be the victims of it and not because they shrink from committing it.”

Plato

 

 

 

 

 

 

By R25288 ( c ) 2006-2007

www.r25288.com

r25288@yahoo.com

 

 Chapter Twenty-Two

          Memories

 

” ‘Love thy neighbour as thyself’ is a positive precept.  But in all Christian communities the man who obeys this precept is persecuted, suffering at least poverty, usually imprisonment, and sometimes death.  The world is full of injustice, and those who profit by injustice are in a position to administer rewards and punishments.  The rewards go to those who invent ingenious justifications for inequality, the punishments to those who try to remedy it.  I do not know of any country where a man who has a genuine love for his neighbour can long avoid obloquy.”

Bertrand Russell, 1928

 

“It is a wise father that knows his own child.”

Shakespeare

 

I called him “Dad”, and he called me “Old Kid.”  He was a doctor of psychology, and spent the last twenty five years of his life as a peace researcher.  He was William Edward Eckhardt.

When he suffered a heart attack in 1983, I moved to Florida to assist him and ma.  When he had his testes removed due to prostate cancer, I assisted him.  At that time the normal life expectancy after such removal was five years;  he enjoyed eight more years.

Fifteen years ago today(3-17-07), brothers Bill, Ed, Steve, and I lost our father, and my mother lost her husband of forty nine years.  He was a good father, husband, and teacher.

I gained many things in prison, and I lost many, so I am happy for the Internet.  I have love for the Internet.  Today, I discovered some of his writings on the Internet that I was unaware of.

This is from his book, Compassion:

1 Compassion vs. Compulsion

The world is dying from lack of compassion.  Men are killing one another, sometimes swiftly, sometimes more slowly.  We are killing one another by pollution;  by making some of us affluent at the expense of others living in poverty;  by unjust discriminations on the basis of race, sex, etc.;  by crowding ourselves with overpopulation; and by outright slaughter in revolutions and wars.  We seem to be more or less unconsciously compelled to engage in those activities and relations which produce overpopulation, pollution, and poverty;  which promote prejudice;  and which make wars inevitable.  For the most part, these effects do not seem to be consciously desired by most human beings.  Most people and governments consider them to be undesirable as ends, but seem virtually compelled to act in ways that lead to these ends, almost as if they had no choice in the matter at all…

Historically, compassion has generally been the central concept in most of the world’s great philosophies and religions since about 800 B.C.  The concept of one God for all men seemed to usher in this age of compassion.  The concept of one God made all men one.  In Hinduism, for example, the one God (Brahma) was the one Self (Atman) distributed among all men.  Consequently, the self separated from others (Ego) was considered to be the source of all evil in human affairs.  Selfishness was sin.  Morality consisted of promoting the welfare of others, at least not injuring others, even at the expense of oneself.

This emphasis on duty to others vs. selfish desire was later shifted by “the blessed Lord,” Krishna, who defined himself as “desire not contrary to duty,” suggesting that there was no necessary conflict between duty to self and duty to others.  The good man was defined by Krishna as “He who beareth no ill-will to any being, friendly and compassionate, without attachment and egoism, balanced in pleasure and pain, and forgiving, ever content, harmonious with the self controlled, resolute, with mind and reason dedicated to me.”  On the other hand, “Hypocrisy, arrogance and deceit, wrath and also harshness and unwisdom are his who is born with demonical properties….  Given over to egoism, power, insolence, lust and wrath, these malicious ones hate me in the bodies of others and in their own.”

Being “born with demonical properties” should not be interpreted here in the Western sense of heredity, but rather in terms of the Hindu doctrine of Karma:  “A man is the creator of his own fate….  A man cannot fly from the effects of his own prior deeds.”  Fate, from this point of view , was determined by one’s own choices in this or some previous life.

The Hindu scriptures clearly implied at least five standards of judging the value of compassion:  (1)  Universality, or extent of value (”The good show compassion towards all living beings….  The world is but one family.”  (2)  Eternity, or duration of value, implied by the doctrine of Karma;  (3)  Unity, or consistency of values with one another, implies by one God;  (4)  Honesty, or doing good deeds as well as thinking good thoughts;  and (5)  Freedom, the source of all values…

The principle of coherence was reiterated by Buddha in his “Noble Eightfold Path” to achieve Nirvana, or advantageous Karma.  His noble path called for righteousness in belief, aspiration, speech, action, livelihood, endeavor, love and truth.  “To him in whom love dwells, the whole world is but one family.”  “Let a man overcome anger by love, let him overcome evil by good;  let him overcome the greedy by liberality, the liar by truth!”

While Buddha was reforming Hinduism in India, the Hebrew prophets were active in Israel, Zarathustra in Persia, and Confucius and Lao Tze in China.  Like Buddha, Confucius did not use the concept of God but emphasized the basic goodness of man and the principle of reciprocity found in all great religions:  “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”  Although he found no justice in turning the other cheek, he emphasized that justice should be administered more by good example than by punishment, and capital punishment was prohibited.  The function of government was the welfare of the people.  Following Confucius, Mencius also believed that it was better to rule by compassion than by compulsion, but some other Chinese teachers believed otherwise:  “Men become naturally spoiled by love but submissive to authority…”

Lao Tze was more mystical than Confucius, his concept of Tao coming close to the concept of God, although the two should probably not be strictly equated with each other:  “When Tao is lost, out come all the differences in things.”  Tao did not use force, but carried out relief of human suffering and returned “love for great hatred.”  Tao was clearly on the side of compassion vs. compulsion.

Some of the Hebrew prophets (such as Isaiah, Micah, and Hosea) made a universal god out of the tribal god Yahweh.  The tribal god of war became a merciful father of all men who required them to be just and merciful in relation to one another.  Like the other great religions, the prophetic religion of the Hebrews emphasized the basic goodness of man and tried to replace the Mosaic law of retaliation (an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and the death penalty for almost everything if you were poor) with a more coherent principle of tempering justice with mercy.  They constantly criticized their governments (judges and kings) for neglecting the people, the poor, the suffering, the orphan, the widow, the foreigner, etc.  A wave of compassion swept across Israel in the time of these prophets, who called themselves the mouthpiece of God or the voice of the Lord, but it may be wondered how many were  listening.  The more nationalist (tribal) prophets seem to have got a better hearing than the internationalist (universal) prophets, judging from the subsequent history of the Hebrews.

The Hindus and Buddhists in India, Confucius and Lao Tze in China, and the great prophets in Israel never mention the Devil.  Bad behavior was not the work of the Devil, but a function of lack of faith in human nature or in God.  Where there was a God, faith in God meant loving others as well as oneself, so that loving God meant loving man.  Separation from God, or the noble path, or the Tao, or the principle of reciprocity all meant the same thing:  Egoism, the source of all evil…

Then came Zarathustra in Persia at about the same time as the other great religious leaders in China, India, and Israel.  Like them Zarathustra encouraged men to relieve the poor and love the righteous.  He also emphasized the absolute freedom of man to choose between good and evil.  God was the source of all good or value, while Satan was introduced on the great religious scene for the first time as the source of all evil and violence…

During their Babylonian exile in the 4th century B.C., the Jews may have come into contact wth the teachings of Zarathustra.  At least, when they returned from this exile they brought back the concept of the Devil wth them, as recorded in the so-called apocryphal books of the Old Testament writings from about 300 B.C. to the time of Christ.  In this manner the Devil became a part of both the Christian and Mohammedan offshoots of Judasm.  The Devil may have lost some of his force in the later developments of Islam and Judaism, but he became a more and more powerful force in the later developments of Christianity, where the stronger the Devil became the weaker became the concept of human freedom.

At the time of Krishna in India, Christ came to Israel (as the great prophets came before him) to replace the Mosaic law of retaliaton with compassion, forgiveness, and love.  While the prophets carried their message primarly to the rulers of the people, Jesus carried his message directly to the people.  Practicing what he preached, he cured many forms of mental illness, proving that the Devil and even “death” itself were no match against the power of forgiveness.  He drove out “devils” and restored the ”dead” from the “tombs” (places for the dead to which the mentally ill were confined in those days to separate them from the rest of society.  There were no insane asylums nor mental hospitals in those days).

On the basis of his own insightful experience, Paul found that love overcame the “death” (wages of sin) in him which the Mosaic law never did.  In his conversion from the law (compulsion) to love (compassion), Paul found a new sense of freedom in his new belief.  The “truth” about forgiveness made men free from compulsion.  Augustine had so much faith in the righteousness of love that he could say at one time:  “Love, and do what you will.”  By the time of Aquinas, the law had returned to power.  Following Aquinas, Dante believed that free will implied responsibility, and that injustice was the greatest social sin.  Kant’s categorical imperative implied both universal and eternal standards of value:  It was right to do what every one else could do and keep on doing.  Throughout the development of Christianity, the morality of doing one’s duty presupposed individual freedom, and freedom meant choosing between good and evil.  But  orthodox Christianity in its Catholic, Calvinist, Puritan, and Fundmentalist forms promoted the belief that man is basically evil and therefore must be socially controlled.  Compulsion has triumphed over compassion in the most fashionable Christian circles today, where compassion ends nailed to a cross more often than not.  Compassion is honored in practice other than preaching only in a few small Christian sects such as the Quakers, Religious Society of Friends, for example.

There are some radical rumblings, however, which have emerged in some Catholic and protestant churches during the last ten years, which may make the future different from the past.  But don’t hold your breath while you are listening for these rumblings.  They are still rather faint and faraway.  Some of these radicals have been murdered, and some of them are in prison charged, of course with treason.  It is treacherous now, as it was two thousand years ago, to practice and preach compassion in a compulsive society.  Wherever treason is defined as “loving one’s enemies,” compassion is a crime.

Compassion is surely there in the sacred writings of the great religious teachers, but how to get it out of the book into the world, how to get its will done on earth as well as in heaven, remains a question in search of an answer… 

That was my dad, and I am his son.  He taught me about courage and justice;  giving and forgiving.

 

Also under www.rightsmatter.org, I just discovered the following speech that I gave to students in Boston, on December 3rd, 1991, and printed in Bill of Rights Network in the winter 1991:

The Day I Wore A Black Armband to school:

By Christopher Eckhardt

In November, 1965, I was one of the 60 people who made the trip from Iowa to Washington, DC, to protest-along with 20,000 other Americans-the war in Vietnam.  It took us a further eight years to bring that war to an end.

The following month, in December, a group of peace lovers in Des Moines, Iowa, decided to wear black armbands from December 16, to January 1, to mourn the dead on both sides in Vietnam and support Senator Robert Kennedy’s call for a Christmas ceasefire.  When the Des Moines School Board got wind of the plan they passed a rule that anyone wearing an armband would be suspended for upsetting the educational atmosphere of the schools.

Impending disruption

This was a good example of the use of prior restraint.Â