. . . a different drummer

 'when law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative
of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for law.'   
                                                                                                                                        Bastiat, 1848
 
  Eric LaMont Gregory


We live in very interesting times. 

As we approach the end of the third semester of the Obama Administration,
it is perhaps time to take stock of the social fabric of this nation.

Every society has its problems, and in rather austere times 'the problem'  has too often been some minority group against whom the majority could lash out.  But, minority groups usually emerge from these problems stronger.

'The path to liberty is often strewed with thorns'.
                                                                              Thomas Jefferson  
                                                         

Some Americans envisage mass deportations of undocumented workers.  

The philippic nature of contemporary broadcasting would become even more self-righteous, if such were possible, than at present.  We are only doing what is legal they would say.  We are a country of laws, and we are deporting them according to law.

This example, which has precedent in history, would be used by less scrupulous states to begin or to re-new ethnic cleansing programmes.  And, without the moral indignation and the threat of the use of force by the United States these programmes would run their ugly course.
 
Everytime there is a Bosnia or a Rwanda the words 'we must never let this happen again' are often echoed. 
Everytime there is a Sudan or a Kampuchea ...

What has brought a semblance of social progress to the world community has been those nations that have stood against the tide of 'scapegoating'.

I should like to count America as one of them.

I speak here of those who see little, if any, contradiction between what is legal and what is right.

It should be remembered that 'when law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative
of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for law.'  

To those who must stand against the tide, the choice is to lie ' ... fallen cold and dead '
' ... or  to take arms against a sea of troubles. 
And, by opposing, end them'.