Giving Thanks? Yes, Thanking God that I'm Not Like Them!

By Walter C. Uhler
Created Nov 24 2006 - 8:50am

While immersing myself in Russian literature during the 1970s, I was struck
by the age-old Russian tradition of "kissing the earth." Russian women would
kiss the earth as prisoners commenced their long trek into Siberian exile.
Not only were they acknowledging the first step in the prisoners'
redemption, but also acknowledging: "there, but for the grace of God, go I."
Also implicit in their actions was the recognition that they were, in a
small way, complicit in the prisoner's transgressions.

Dostoyevsky's famous anti-hero, Raskolnikov, -- having separated himself
from the human family by committing murder -- eventually kissed the earth in
belated recognition of his kinship with other human beings.

There, but for the grace of God, go I: Atlantic City today is reeling from
the news that it might have a serial killer on its hands. The bodies of four
women, placed so that their heads faced Atlantic City, were found behind a
group of "seedy" West Atlantic City motels.

It's the type of story that would have set Dostoyevsky's mind reeling. He
would marvel at the arrogant depravity or mental illness required to snuff
out the life of a fellow human being - the possessor of an immortal soul. I
thank God I'm not such a depraved, sick murderer.

There. But for the grace of God, go I: Randy Burbage is commander of the
South Carolina division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Mr. Burbage
intends to file a legal suit against the NCAA, because it prohibits any
championship events being played in South Carolina, so long as the
Confederate flag flies on the grounds of the state capitol. The NCAA's
position sounds fair to me.

But, according to Burbage: The NCAA has "no business getting involved in the
politics of this or any other state." Ahhh, yes, the good old "state's
rights" canard - first used to disguise slavery, then Jim Crow, then the
Republican's "Southern strategy."

Too many people in the South have failed to repent for the abomination of
slavery and Jim Crow. Not only did many a preacher and pastor defend slavery
during the Civil War, many Christian fundamentalists today extol General
Stonewall Jackson as the "Soldier of the Cross."

Thus, shame, not pride, should fill the hearts of the Sons of Confederate
Veterans. But, for the grace of God, they might have been Nazi soldiers,
fighting for a regime devoted to exterminating the Jews. Yet, their cause
was equally repugnant. I've spent most of my career in the U.S. Government
promoting equal opportunity and the understanding of other cultures. I thank
God I was not born in the South or raised a racist.

There, but for the grace of God, go I: The United Nations reported yesterday
that 3,709 Iraqi civilians were killed in October. It's the highest monthly
death toll, since the depraved men in the White House, President Bush and
Vice President Cheney, launched a war of choice - seemingly on a desperate
whim. Flawed, weak and sinful characters both, they had to respond in some
way, any way, for their demonstrably poor stewardship demonstrated by the al
Qaeda attacks they failed to prevent.

"To whom much is given, much is expected."- Luke 12:48. Obviously Luke set
the bar way too high for these immoral, incompetent clowns. Bush and Cheney
may have received much in life, but most Americans today expect very little
from them, They're in over their heads and they refuse to check the real
world outside their vacuum-packed bubble.

They will go down in history as fools, incompetents, and evil men, who, on a
desperate whim, unleashed Saddam-like death and destruction in Iraq,
destabilized the entire Middle East and earned the hatred of the world.
Thus, although I envy the exalted positions they were given, I thank God
today, on Thanksgiving Day, that I am not them.

There, but for the grace of God, go I.
_______

--
NOTICE: This post contains copyrighted material the use of which has not
always been authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material
available to advance understanding of
political, human rights, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. I
believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as
provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright
Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107

"A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their
spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their
government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are
suffering deeply in spirit,
and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public
debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have
patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning
back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at
stake."
-Thomas Jefferson