Image description: a photo of Holocaust-survivor Elie Wiesel
and a quotation of his:
“Always take sides.
Neutrality helps the oppressor,
never the victim.
Silence encourages the tormentor,
never the tormented.”
There is no such concept as “political neutrality” in actuality. When individuals say to themselves that they are remaining neutral over a given situation, they are in effect lying to themselves and anyone with whom they discuss the matter. Taking a neutral position or ignoring what is going on around you, such as the German people under the NAZIs, is in effect support for that wickedness, as Elie Wiesel attests.
In a democracy, all citizens are responsible for the state of their democracy and the welfare of their fellow citizens. This is solidarity. This is agapē or love-in-action. This is social-justice. Unwillingness to support those who need it, is tantamount to turning your back on your neighbour, cf. Jesu’s words in Luke 10: 25-37:
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
There are not only sins of commission, but also sins of omission. All folk of Faith and all folk of high Morals must work for the good of all, not simply oneself and one’s loved ones, cf. Jesus & the most important commandments, often referred to as the Great or Greatest Commandment. This appears three times in the New Testament, in each of the Synoptic Gospels. I am quoting them in their Biblical order.
The Greatest Commandment
Matthew 22:35-40
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Mark 12:28-31
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Luke 10:25-28
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
People of Faith who are sitting on their hands and doing nothing, are not truly faithful… People of Morality who refuse to assist the needy, are not really moral. Both religious and Humanist ethics require of any individual that they:
Do to others as you would have them do to you!
or
Treat others as you would wish to be treated!
This is known as the Golden Rule. If the reader follows the link to the Wikipedia article, one can read its various formations or references in most religions.
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NB All biblical quotations are from the New International Version aka NIV.
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Once again, I apologise to readers for the odd appearance of this blog-post. I have tried several different ways to publish and deleted everything twice, but this is how Blogger has decided it is going to be!
