Back in
September, a high school teacher in NC gave a lesson on the First
Amendment. He took out an American
flag. First, he tried to burn it. Then, he tried to cut it. Then he placed it on the floor and took two
steps on it. He said – this is an
example of free speech.
Two students
just got up and left the classroom. No words, they just left. Another student
stood up and picked up the flag. Later,
he was suspended. “There are better
ways to teach about the First Amendment then by desecrating the Flag.”
Some might
say, what is the problem? It is just
cloth. More than cloth, it is a symbol.
I have stood
in many cemeteries, watching members of our military carefully and even
reverently fold the flag and carefully handing it to a member of the family. A symbol of – as they say at West Point –
duty, honor, country.
I was
thinking of that as I watched Martin Scorsese’s film “Silence.” A very difficult film to watch. In the
1600’s, The Jesuit Order and the Catholics they were serving in Japan were
experiencing great suffering. Word had gotten to Portugal that one of the
Jesuit priests had recanted, turned against God, and left the priesthood. Two of his former students could not believe
it. We must go to see if this was
true. They were warned that they could
face great suffering, but they insisted.
When they
arrived in Japan, they found a church living in fear and secrecy. One could be arrested or killed for being
Catholic. For some time, they could
serve secretly, but they were found out.
As the 2 priests hid, people were arrested. They were being forced to renounce their
faith. All they had to do was step on
the “fumie” an image of Jesus. They
were told – just step on it, it does not matter, save your life. Some did, some did not. For some who did, they then took out a
crucifix. Just spit on it. They could not.
Just a picture,
just a piece of wood. Rather, what is symbolized. Easy for me to judge. Who knows, would I have the strength? But, I am afraid I am very capable of stomping
on the image of Christ right in my midst.
Rel Ed
teacher wanted to teach a lesson. Boys
and girls, they may be people that you don’t like. Would you please draw a picture of them? And they did. She attached the pictures to a sheet of
paper on a dart board. She handed out
some darts. Now throw them at the
pictures. They did. They were ripping
big holes. Now stop. Removed the pictures, removed the sheet of paper. Beneath – the face of Christ, all torn
up. Do you understand??
So much
hate. Ranging from politicians we don’t
like, to children yet to be born, to our elderly, sick and immigrants. Where does it stop? I always show reverence for the flag of our
country, for an image of Christ. If only
I could do the same when I see the face of Christ in others.
