Yesterday, we talked a little bit about mass incarceration. While empathetic to those neglected and abused by the legal system, most did the crime. I do not want liars, thieves, and violent criminals in my family.
On the other hand, many of my heroes were rule breakers: Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Daniel Boone, etc. If they saw injustice or things they believed were wrong, well, they wouldn’t always follow the rules.
What to do with my children, or myself? How do we navigate injustice?
Here is what Henry David Thoreau had to say about it:
“Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once? Men generally, under such a government as this, think that they ought to wait until they have persuaded the majority to alter them. They think that, if they should resist, the remedy would be worse than the evil. But it is the fault of the government itself that the remedy is worse than the evil. It makes it worse. Why is it not more apt to anticipate and provide for reform? Why does it not cherish its wise minority? Why does it cry and resist before it is hurt? Why does it not encourage its citizens to be on the alert to point out its faults, and do better than it would have them?” – Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
“If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth–certainly the machine will wear out… but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn.” – Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
“An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Gold Stars and Lt. Michael Murphy: Daring, Hope, and Will - Memorial Day 2020 Tribute Part 2
Memorial Day 2020 Tribute Part 1: There Will Be Blood
Hope In Fallen Heroes: A Pope, A Preacher, A Monk, An Apologist
An Eagle Has Flown: A Tribute to Mark Zook and Those Who Serve
A Nugget from Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Grandma Toodles: On Prayer and Witness to Others
Harmony and Humility: Inspiration From Country Churches and A Garage Chapel
Where are We Going, and Who Will We Follow Out of the Dark Forest?
Deepening our Faith in a Time of Crisis, While Fighting Against Tyranny
Tolkien, Hitler, and the Words of an 8-year old: Walking the Fine Line
Rebecca Bryan Boone and My Girl: "We’ll Make Do”
From Turmoil to Peace: Regaining a lamp to my feet and a light to my path
Destiny and Anxiety Part Three: Let Your Light Shine
The Cross of the Paradigm Shift: What are you willing to change?
Facing Chaos: Uncle Milton, Jordan Peterson, and Snapping Turtles
Destiny and Anxiety Part Two: You have triumphed, You are not a failure
Tipping Points: Your effort matters
Destiny and Anxiety Part One: Asking the right questions to remove planks and overcome fear and find truth
The Light of the Sun, and the Fire of Faith
Are you crazy enough?
Eat a Popcycle: A Creek in the Woods and the Collective Unconscious
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Life After Ministry
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)