All are entitled to the blessings of liberty

— words of President Linden Baines Johnson in signing the Civil Rights Act, 1964

“One nation under God,“ are words we use in The Pledge of Allegiance. To use words like “blessing” and, “God” is language not-for profit organizations like Shem Center use frequently. Yet, political statements are not permitted by us even though places of worship are often used as sites in which make them.

This is not meant to be a political statement, but rather one claiming the language appropriate to Shem Center, an organization whose message honors all faith traditions and all spiritual paths. So, in a time of struggle and unrest in our country and in other parts of the world, I offer these thoughts to consider.

Justice, peace, truth, inclusiveness, respect, freedom. interdependence, are words Shem Center frequently uses in our message to the world, while the news media give reports of blatant crimes that our courts are not naming as such. We have found the delays in addressing the very real threats to us as citizens have continued far longer than justice requires. And now that immunity from prosecution has been granted by The Supreme Court to the United States presidency, we find that the democratic principle that all are equal before the law does not apply to all. We find ourselves wondering how rights, even those considered inalienable are not so for everyone.

Today, in the midst of our divisiveness and major changes in our laws regarding the presidency not being above the law, I recall a very moving visit I made to a military cemetery walking among rows of graves marking the final resting place of soldiers who have died serving our country. Most were young men in their 20’s. I remember my own father who fought in World War One as an underage immigrant from his native Lithuania, and my two brothers, Robert and John who served our country as U.S. Marines, all three of them honorable men that I remember with gratitude and love. Recently we heard words used by a politician standing in a military cemetery referring to such soldiers as “losers and suckers.” Such a man does not deserve to occupy any office, especially the presidency. This office is now declared unaccountable for its crimes, and apparently, words of insult and insolence as well.

— Br. Joseph Kilikevice, OP
Director, Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality