In these divisive days, find time for introspection, common ground. Be a peacemaker
This week the Jewish community observed Yom Kippur, which is the holiest day of the Jewish year. It is a 24-hour fast, when we are supposed to engage in the most honest and sometimes difficult introspection, not only about our mistakes and errors with other people but also our transgressions against God. We have services beginning the evening before and worship services of atonement throughout the entire next day until sunset.
I am thinking this year of how important it is to find common ground among our rivals and even our adversaries. Can you think of a better time to make amends and to find the best side of ourselves — let alone in folks we have come to ignore, demonize and simply disagree with, whether over politics, religion or just getting along with each other?
Most notably is the unique relationship between Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Justice Antonin Scalia, who represented opposite points of view in their legal philosophies but who forged an amazing personal friendship. They may not have convinced each other in matters of the law, but their relationship helped to uphold the humanity and, therefore, the integrity of the Supreme Court. One was a Jew and the other a Catholic, and that was not an impediment. Instead, their personal friendship rose above religion and politics and even the law. Who knows? Maybe their respective religious views enhanced their famous friendship.
We are living in times today when we need more role models who can teach us how to rise above the virus of public animosity which afflicts not only our elected officials but infects our personal relationships with longtime friends.
There are other stories we desperately need to hear about how people can stretch in various ways to see another side of a person. One most recent example is that last week the famous Chicago Bears Hall of Fame football star Gale Sayers died. The halfback was African American and was assigned to be roommates with running back Brian Piccolo, who was white.
They were the NFL’s first interracial roommates, and they initially did not like each other. Their personalities were different, and it was rough going at first. Over time they learned to appreciate their differences and became brothers off the field.
The tragedy was that Piccolo had a virulent form of cancer and died at age 26. A month before Piccolo’s death, Sayers was awarded the coveted George S. Halas Award for excellence. As he accepted the award, he said, “I’d like to say a few words about a guy I know, a friend of mine. His name is Brian Piccolo, and he has the heart of a giant and that rare form of courage which allows him to kid himself and his opponent — cancer.
“He has a mental attitude which makes me proud to have a friend who spells out courage 24 hours a day, every day of his life. ...
“Tonight,” he said, when “you hit your knees, please ask God to love him.”
Is God telling us these days that we should “hit our knees” too? Can these two examples teach us what is possible in terms of peacemaking between two people?
Yom Kippur is a unique day for the Jewish people to engage in repentance. We know that we are commanded to pursue repentance and renewal every day of the year, but we must do better, especially now. The lessons from these great Americans can show all of us how.
How can we enter our houses of worship and pray to God and then go out and ignore our neighbors — or refuse to talk to old friends who have opposing views on politics or other social issues? Doesn’t God want us to practice the values and teachings of our faiths in the streets, as well as inside the prayer services of our churches and synagogues?
In one of the confessional prayers we recite on Yom Kippur, we say, “God, bring down my walls of defensiveness and self righteousness. Help me to stay in humility. Please— give me the strength to do what is right.”
I do not believe one has to be Jewish to intone this prayer, inside or outside any house of worship. In the midst of the most divisive time in recent history, couldn’t we stand for an infusion of humility?
If Justices Ginsburg and Scalia, and Sayers and Piccolo, could reach that high ground, then can’t any of us achieve this standard of humanity and mutual respect? If not now, when?