Transcription
HARLAN RICHARDS
October 3, 2011
Holy War!
I was absent-mindedly listening to National Public Radio the other day and heard that somebody or other had declared a Holy War. I don't recall who it was or why—some inconsequential action by somebody or other inflamed a religious zealot and he proclaimed a Holy War to oppose it. Most Holy Wars thees days are called or by Islamic Fundamentalists and involve killing other people, mostly innocent bystanders, in the name of God.
You know, I really don't like being left out of things just because I am in prison, and I thought that I should call for a Holy War too.
But my Holy War is going to be a bit different than the ones we're used to hearing about. I want a Holy War against poverty, suffering, and oppression. I want a love offensive so pervasive that no one can evade it, so strong that no one can stand against it, and so successful that everyone is affected by it. Let me declare war on bigotry, hatred, and cruelty. I want to stand for compassion and empathy, and call on my brothers and sisters to join me in this Holy War to end all Holy Wars.
Now I suppose this seems pretty silly to all you people in the free world reading this. But as someone trapped in the bizarre world of imprisonment, I see and experience human nature at its worst every day. You cannot fight hatred with hatred. Returning evil for evil only creates more evil. The one answer, the only solution, is to let the love of the Holy Spirit flow from your heart to those around you. It's our only chance to win the Holy War we are fighting every day of our lives.
Whose side are you on?
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