Truth, justice and the American Way. This was Superman\u2019s catch-phrase, and has been in circulation for almost 80 years. It certainly has an appeal to it, equating the divine qualities of truth and justice to our American culture. It makes us proud to be Americans. In recent months we have seen a variety of tragedies in the national news. As my friend, Lt. Kris Sell said recently, \u201cOvert signs of hatred and eruptions of violence seem to be everywhere.\u201d These are troubling times and they cause us to question who we are and to consider who we want to be.<\/p>\n
Juneau has responded with a variety of events. The Juneau Interfaith Council hosted a Peace Vigil on July 17. Three days later, the Juneau Police Department called for community support and asked that we talk together and listen to understand rather than debate. A coalition of at least a dozen community organizations had a creative conversation on Racial Justice and Anti-Violence the next weekend at UAS. On Aug. 9 the Black Awareness Association and the Bridge Builders of Juneau held a Call to Unity, led by Sherry Patterson and First Lady Donna Walker. There are likely many other such attempts to address this challenging issue, and this is an important and meaningful conversation for each of us to be engaged in.<\/p>\n
I recently read, \u201cThe Vision of Race Unity: America\u2019s Most Challenging Issue,\u201d which is a statement issued by the Baha\u2019i community about 25 years ago. It could have been issued yesterday, as the subject couldn\u2019t be more pertinent to today\u2019s topic. But that shouldn\u2019t be a surprise \u2014 after all, the global Baha\u2019i community has been dedicated to overcoming prejudices and promoting the oneness of mankind for over 150 years. The opening paragraph captured my attention:<\/p>\n
\u201cRacism is the most challenging issue confronting America. A nation whose ancestry includes every people on earth, whose motto is E Pluribus Unum, whose ideals of freedom under law have inspired millions throughout the world, cannot continue to harbor prejudice against any racial or ethnic group without betraying itself. Racism is an affront to human dignity, a cause of hatred and division, a disease that devastates society.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it comes to effectively combatting racism I think it comes down to truth: how we learn it, know it, live it and teach it to others. The cultural and spiritual beliefs and practices that we accept and pass on to our children are largely influenced by others, by our parents, teachers, friends and clergy. But Baha\u2019u\u2019llah tells us that we have the capacity as human beings to recognize truth, and a responsibility to investigate truth for ourselves.<\/p>\n
Justice likewise is an essential component. I believe that God loves to see justice in the world above all else. As children we develop a keen sense of justice, able to sense the smallest slight from others when it is directed at us. So we need to work to ensure that we treat everyone with that sense of justice, of seeing their truth, understanding their pain, helping them overcome their circumstances.<\/p>\n
Sometimes people think that unity means sameness \u2014 the American melting-pot tradition of merging everything until we become an even shade of gray. But I prefer to think that building unity is like making a salad \u2014 we need a bit of everything and every ingredient adds to the color and character of the salad. We need to value diversity, not just tolerate it. We should seek out diversity in everything we do. Find people of different races, religions, cultural backgrounds, national origins and professions.<\/p>\n
We can make a better world. Baha\u2019u\u2019llah tells us that, \u201cThe betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.\u201d Overcoming racism is a simple problem of improving our deeds and conduct, one step at a time, one day at a time. This is the way forward, one generation at a time, one family at a time, one child at a time. I\u2019m confident that truth and justice will become the real American Way.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Keith Hermann is a member of the Juneau Baha\u2019i Community.<\/p>\n
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