4 Responses to What We Must Do

1. AshiAkira says:

   February 17, 2014 at 11:02 pm

   Corrupt politics
   By the govt that calls for changes in our constitution
   Which is the basic law aimed at regulating the govt by the people
   So what would happen if the govt can change it?
   Ultimately war, of course, the best opportunity for powerful people
   To obtain even more power—and wealth

   Hidden crime by the police
   Quiet and seemingly nonviolent and friendly approach to the people
   By the police which is one of the govt’s end functions to link with the people
   Police officials would spot docile-looking citizens in the street
   Bring them to the police box for a quiet psychological torture of questioning
   And a “look toward three o’clock… eleven o’clock” photo taking

   All these end up with an “official” statement of the victimized innocent citizen
   That he/she has done something wrong and “criminal”
   This gives a beautiful credit to the police
   That they have done some service for the people
   At tax payers’ expenses
   I know all this because I was once victimized myself

   Deep down in our society, there is the truth
   Which is independent of what we think or believe
   It is a tiny spot of bright light far in the darkness
   Only if we can reach it, we have happiness for all
   I have a feeling that it is easier for the man disfigured at surface
   To reach that light for incredible hardship he must have gone through to live

   Let me quote and say, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle”
   Than for the people disfigured at heart to find the light
   Often our leaders are some of these people, yet we have no choice but follow them
   But there is a way we can veer away from this route to hell by the power of literature
   It is my faith that we will be led to that light by diligent use of poetry or whatever
   For literature is our work as human beings from heart to heart

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   • margaretjeanlangstaff says:

     February 18, 2014 at 12:06 am

     Ashi–You have said so much and it is indeed all so complicated, disheartening and formidable from a strictly human standpoint and in human terms. Yet somehow my faith remains; I feel its power to raise me up to do the often very difficult but right and loving thing for lives in the crux of pain and suffering. Literature, for you and for me, has this seemingly divine transcendent power to lift us out of ourselves, to empower us, strengthen us and to make our survival possible by extending our hands and hearts to others. Thank you so much for your thoughts and suggestions. They lift me up.

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2. 1WriteWay says:

   February 18, 2014 at 11:43 am

   I just read a post decrying the inhumanity in the world (notably, North Korea, Iran, Egypt). Thank you for your post. It amazes me how a photo of one man (ok, a very public, powerful man, but still one man) committing one positive act can make me throw my arms around faith in humanity and hold on tight.

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   • margaretjeanlangstaff says:

     February 18, 2014 at 12:00 pm

     Very powerful image, yes. It says it all for me. Embrace, comfort, ameliorate the actual lives of those who are suffering–directly. Don’t leave it to agencies, governments or charities. Each one of us can do something very important in this regard in this way every day of our lives. To recoil or run away from alarming or “dirty” situations or to just drop a check in the mail to an impersonal organization seems to me to be a cop out, a denial of our real responsibilities and in a sense a denial of our humanity. “Faith without works is dead.” Thank you for affirming this and taking the time to offer your remarks here.

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