We start off today with this word of wisdom from Greek Philosopher Plato (c428-348 B.C.) who says: Any topic worthy of discussion or reflection must be rooted in ethics. In other words, whatever we think, say or do, must be inspired by ethics, ethical thinking, ethical behavior and action.
This word of wisdom echoes the word of another spiritual giant, Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) who says: “All of your scholarship, all of your study of Shakespeare and Wordsworth would be in vain if at the same time you did not build your character and attain mastery over your thoughts and actions”.
One can say that we live in the best of times and in the worst of times as well. We witness bitter conversation in international and national politics. In our country we certainly need to see evidence of more justice and peace and we need to have a more common understanding of how to forge ahead as one nation in harmony and national cohesiveness. That is our most fundamental desire and aspiration at this time in our nation’s history.
This is where the wisdom of Philosopher Plato reminds us that our political conversation and our political ambitions for a prosperous and peaceful nation must be founded on ethics. In practical everyday language we are talking of a nation in which everyone feels valued and respected, a nation where justice reigns so that genuine peace may be born. It is a stubborn fact that you cannot have peace unless you have justice for everyone in our community.
It is imperative therefore that all our leaders, political, religious and otherwise, rally together and move in the direction of proper dialogue and proper listening to each other. There is a need today, perhaps more than ever before in this nation, to sit down and speak truthfully about our situation. There is need to listen to each other’s voice, to cry with those who are mourning and celebrate each one’s success. In short, there is a pressing need to let ethics be the ultimate foundation of our national discourse.
I cannot end this conversation without quoting my father who told me countless times: My son move slowly in this world, do not step on anyone’s foot, do not take that which does not belong to you and most of all, share what you have with the hungry and needy. It is as if my dad had a conversation with Plato even though they lived centuries apart. But the truth refuses to go away, whether it be in the first century or in this century.
