(Dedicated with deep devotion to The Calera Club, seeking clarity in communion since 1990)
Seldom do you see it, even hear of it, some judicial presence exercising the right of civil disobedience. Bravo! A longstanding, longsuffering practice of conscience involves now an ex-State Supreme Court Justice among the ranks of the veritable triumvirate of modernity, Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King.
You could of course name many others who've risked life and limb, or reputation and livelihood for the sake of principle in the quest for authentic humanity. In no instance would it be seemly to question the motive or the manners of such souls of passion, whether saint or sinner, sage or scholar, samurai or soldier, judge or jester.
All who stand in the great tradition of civil disobedience deserve your attention, not for their particular intention, but (simply put) because none just sat there, all did something to affect monumental change and all were willing to accept the effect, the result of their actions, almost certain resistance from the established law.
The question of civil disobedience is whether the law being challenged is unjust. How dare any one presume to be the singular judge and jury of that? It already always takes a communal conscience to discern the fruits of such political action, to decide on the political transformation of a constitution so revered around the world.
To decide the case current, it may take more than The Brothers James are up to, namely, deep thought and deep contemplation, an open mind and an open heart, in short, both tolerance and empathy, that are the very rock of Authentic Justice, the very foundation of Civil Disobedience, let alone various Biblical Admonitions aplenty.
You look far and wide and listen with keen attention and you have to witness, you notice nothing nearly so faithful to the spirit of Thoreau-Gandhi-King; and no one arising so far capable of walking in the footsteps of Moses or Muhammad,
The Buddha or The Christ, when it comes to inflicting a particular path on a people.
A single posture seems prudent at this heated moment in the state's history, namely, patience. But no mere waiting for an eventual outcome pleasing and agreeable and fulfilling to some covetous aspiration. Rather, what's required is Biblical Patience, that means waiting prayerfully, constantly, without waiting for particulars.
While you wait, pray without ceasing to avoid political or spiritual greed, the antonym of authentic civil disobedience. Perhaps that should be regarded as
The Eleventh Commandment, Pray Always. Then and only then, profess if you must, having something to say of godly influence and, more than doctrine, deep
wisdom to share.
