Although short, it still eloquently and poetically shows how Theosophical values of compassion, tolerance, inclusiveness, universal brother/sisterhood, oneness of humanity, global inter-connectedness, which can form a solid foundation for equal human rights and justice for all, beyond all forms of discrimination, exclusion and partiality. Moreover, there is reference to the doctrine of karma ('If we deny justice to
the newcomer today, tomorrow that denial will find its way back to our own
doorstep.') As King pithily puts it:'
“We may have all come on different SHIPS, but we’re in the same BOAT now.”
My brothers and my
sisters, we stand again at a threshold of conscience, a place where the nation
must decide whether it will live the creed it carved into stone or continue to
run from the promise it made to the world. For too long, America has
stretched out her hand to the weary and the wandering, yet pulled it back when
the stranger drew near. But I am here to say that a nation cannot bless the
earth while building walls around its own compassion.
Some say close the
gates. Some whisper there is not enough room at the table. But I say to you,
fear is a poor architect of a house meant for freedom. This land was not shaped
by one color or one tongue. It was carved by the sweat of immigrants, the
dreams of refugees, and the blood of the enslaved. Together they built a nation
that has not always loved them back. We are told that newcomers are burdened. But
history testifies that the immigrant is the seed of renewal. The bold soul who
leaves the known for the unknown. And by courage alone, it spans the boundary
of what is possible.
If we deny justice to
the newcomer today, tomorrow that denial will find its way back to our own
doorstep. The chains forged for one group soon rattle on the wrist of us all. My
friends, the question before us is not simply who belongs here, but who are we
willing to become? Will we be the nation that trembles when strangers arrive?
Or the nation that remembers it was once a stranger itself? Will we clutch our
blessings like misers? Or scatter them like seeds destined to grow.
See also:
https://theosophyproject.blogspot.com/2020/06/in-writings-andspeeches-of-eloquent-and.html
