No, not ark that floats, though certainly the arcs of society, and the individuals within, of that time were most incorrect, negative in every aspect, societal destructive in every which way. The arc I am referring to is the arc of morality. If this arc was defined in colors, it would be the darkest, deepest, ugliest, coldest color available or known to mankind. It would frighten all who looked upon it for its very presence negates humanity, all that has been good, progressive, helpful, and replaced it with our worst arcs, those which contradict morals and conscience, the arcs of lack of morality and the encouragement of greed and negativity.
Vaguely recalling the relevant phrase from a speech by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., it was adopted as the favorite quote of Barack Obama, to the point of being woven into the Oval Office carpet.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Yesterday I came across a character in a novel who stated, hopefully, that the moral arc of the universe will prove true. I have my doubts about that, almost to the despairing feeling that we are approaching the point of no return - or have done so already.
“I do not pretend to understand the moral universe. The arc is a long one. My eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by experience of sight. I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends toward justice.”
That is the original quote, from a speech in 1853 given by Theodore Parker, an abolitionist, Unitarian minister. Hopeful, it yet reminds us, warns us, that while there is a tendency for the arc to find a home, a directional pulling for justice and morality, it is not automatic.
We, the people, have to acquire sweat equity, work for it. Enable it. Protect that arc. I did begin to think more re this topic. The entire topic of moral arcs, of right and wrong, has become verboten in the present world, a topic verboten among friends and family, the divisiveness too powerful, too inculcated within, a product of the Trumpian era.
Others have referred to this powerful statement. In an interview on CBS, in 2016, Eric Holder reinforced the idea that yes, there is a moral arc, but it does not happen in a vacuum.
"the arc bends toward justice, but it only bends toward justice because people pull it towards justice. It doesn’t happen on its own.”
Far from that for it takes the efforts of all to choose that arc representing the best of humanity. If not, then we are allowing, even pushing, the arc of ugliness, of pain, of the lowest depths to which humanity can fall -and indeed has already. These views, when adopted by too many, inevitably lead to the worst moments in the history of mankind. To adhere to the moral puts brakes on behavior contrary to conscience while ignoring and defying the moral undoes all our achievements to this point.
No one is perfect. No matter how often we try to find that ideal of perfection. We must, of necessity, understand that we are our own role models. We have chosen, via our free will, the paths and deeds of our personal arc. When all the majority of individual arcs meld with the better arc of society, then we have a society on the path to justice, bending that arc deeply in its pursuits of justice and morality. A true morality, not the deadly, twisted, artificial morality of bigoted individuals.
We can build such a society only if we actively participate. No standing silent. No allowing apathy to enable dangerously improper self-proclaimed leaders to gain their goals. No implicit or explicit deeds and words which do the same.
We are the authors of our destiny.
We are told the way if we lose our way.
From a Gullah Geechee proverb we learn that "If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you come from."
Simply put, we cannot divorce ourselves from our roots, from the meaning of the lives of those who came before and those who will follow.
"As we were, as we are, as we will be."
We are one. When we forget, ignore our past, our errors and our successes, we are rootless in a hostile environment.
Let us replant ourselves in a swift, sure moment.
Let us keep the arc of morality bending surely, powerfully to that goal of justice.
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