"In any discussion of the problems in our world today, racism must rank high. Not because we are soft-minded liberals obsessed with countless crimes throughout history induced by colour, religion, tribalism or chauvinism of one kind or another. But because the poison which we hoped and believed had been eradicated in our own time by the knowledge of the ultimate evil- the gas-chamber murders committed by the Nazis--is in fact still present, not in any one area of discrimination or racism, or in a restricted number of specific rulers or governments, but in all humankind. I call it "Inner Racism."-

Gitta Sereny, "The Healing Wound"

MR. LEHNERT'S LETTER

An American Appoggiatura is honored to share with our patient reader the following letter written by Mr. Robert M Lehnert which appeared in the December, 2016 issue of COUNTRY WISDOM NEWS and we reprinted on Christmas Day: 

"November 10 - I've had much on my mind lately. Much I could not make sense of, understand and pull together in a complete coherent thought. Today, I finished reading Alan Paton's "Cry,The Beloved Country". I was moved by the following passage:

"It was Msimangu who had said, Msimangu who had no hate for any man, "I have one great fear in my heart, that one day when they turn to loving they will find we are turned to hating." Oh, the grave and somber words."

These words spoke to me. The words seemed so appropriate and necessary. A message of guidance and of warning. After reading it I knew what I wanted to say, and so I wrote:

It is a call to arms.
It is a time, as always, to fight.
And what will be your weapon of choice?
Mine is love.
Mine is kindness.
Mine is compassion.
Mine is understanding.
Mine is patience.
Mine is perseverance.
And when the battle is won, the fight will rage on,
and I will not tire.
Love & the spreading of love will
thrust me ever onward and be my
fuel.
Love will be my map, my guide.
For you my brother, for you my sister,
I will battle the horrors of ignorance.
I will not allow the death of civility.
I will cast the fear from hearts that
have embraced evil.
I will heal those who build their comforts
upon the suffering of others.
I will forgive those who wound because
they have not learned to heal.
I will tear open the minds of the
indoctrinated and lead them to
enlightenment.
I will embrace the highest power, not
simply in names and words and
doctrines, but in spirit & spirit of action.
I will combat darkness, by becoming
a bringer of light.
And I will not allow you to be consumed
by hatred. And I will hold fast 
and not allow my love to be stripped
from me.
Because I still believe, that love can
move mountains, that love can tear
down any and every wall.
I still believe, that fear has no power 
in the presence of love.
I still believe, what I have always
known, that it all begins, with me."

- Robert M. Lehnert, Patchogue 

No comments:

Post a Comment

The Joyful Moocher welcomes and encourages all comments.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)