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"Those who forget the past are condemned to re-live it." * And how soon they
forget! Or how easily they look the other way.
Social issues cannot be resolved by forgetting or looking the other way. Louis
Farrakhan, though it may not be clear or acceptable to some, is an obstacle in
the quest for the realization of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s noble "Dream", which,
as this Proposal attempts to demonstrate, is the only civilized, progressive and
ultimately desirable goal for American society.
In a democracy, the government cannot act against an individual who has not
committed a crime. Not even for expressing philosophically divisive opinions -
unless they incite to physical subversion (which Mr. Farrakhan is now flagrantly
attempting, without so much as a comment from the government). Therefore,
unable to frontally address the problem publicly for fear of losing votes,
everything the government says and does regarding racial issues, is merely
contemptible political posturing.
But We, the People, can. With the Pen, not with the Sword. As common sense
indicates and history demonstrates, an agreement with the Pen consolidates
an idea for the eventual benefit of all. A victory with the Sword merely imposes
an idea for the benefit of the aggressor, leaving a simmering conflict that can
flare up again and again, until the parties in conflict eventually reach an
agreement with the Pen, belatedly realizing how much suffering and turmoil
could have been avoided had they done it from the beginning.
Tyrants and demagogues have no regard for the suffering they inflict on the
people. But We, the People, do.
Consequently, in a first step toward eradicating the current pain and turmoil of
racial conflict and preventing more in the future, the obstacle posed by Mr.
Farrakhan must be addressed.
*G. Santayana's observation begs the corollary: But those who harp on the past, perpetuate it.
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