A Minor Constitutional Squabble

I'm trying to view our current events through the lens of spirituality, as exemplified by Zen masters, and by Jesus. But Zen masters recognized that social conditions sometimes required them to take sides. Sometimes, in fact, they took the wrong side, since they're only human, after all. Jesus certainly recognized the need to take sides and drive the moneychangers from the temple. He never lifted a finger to save himself, but corruption was quite another thing.

It looks like we have some moneychangers. You can't take that analogy any further, since I refuse to equate the White House and Congress with the temple, so I'll drop it there. But there's a storm of major proportions brewing in Washington. This week's collection of scofflaw behaviors by the administration was a gauntlet not simply thrown down by the White House, but first slapped in the faces of congressional investigative committee leaders. The investigators are honor-bound to respond, and the White House is likely to have greatly underestimated the force of that response, and the momentum gained by 6-plus years of repression.

Funny thing, though. It looks like we'll probably take a timeout first. July 4th is coming. Everyone is going on vacation. The White House sure knows when to throw down the gauntlet, because everyone's halfway out the door to go see the other fireworks, the kind you buy on the side of the road. We're all just gonna shut down the next two weeks or so, and maybe everyone will have forgotten about the whole thing. Meantime, of course, soldiers will die, some of them on July 4th itself; and of course, Iraqis will die, probably in the hundreds, while we have our picnics.

Looking at this through a spiritual lens, the break may be a good thing. Don't bet any money that the administration's challenge will have been forgotten when activities resume later in July, but there will have been a little time available for sober reflection. And this is a sober time, make no mistake. This 4th of July, take a little time to scan the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States. You might want to pay special attention to Article 2 of the Constitution, which defines the Executive branch of the U.S. Government (including, as it happens, the Vice President). Read over the inspiring words that represent the highest ideals of the human race regarding self-government. Ask yourself if we have acted in the spirit of those documents in our response to the crises that introduced us to the 21st century. Examine our current status in the light of all the wisdom imparted to us from Jefferson, Franklin, Jesus and Dogen. Come back from the holidays all refreshed, but give a little thought to my homework assignment.

I've taken on a nice little reading project, myself. I'm reading two American history books side by side. One is a relatively classic history called A New History of the United States, by William Miller. (I've had it in my library since college, but have never read it.) The other is called A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn. The latter is written from the point of view of the middle and lower classes as the movers and shakers grabbed for their piece of the pie. They're fascinating books, both of them, and I'll want to write more about them when I'm finished. I think it's very appropriate to take this time to look back at the road that's led us to this place.

I think there are going to be times in the coming weeks and months when we'll be hard pressed to manage even grudging crumbs of compassion towards our adversaries. We may be tempted to fits of rage that would make Ann Coulter seem laid back. We're going to have to remember the Coulter regions of our brain are just not wired for the sort of broad-based, reasoned approach that will be our salvation.

In sitting zazen, I have a sense that lends to composure. I don't see any significant distinction between zazen and heartfelt prayer. I am grateful to know I can draw upon that strength. It's one of the paradoxes of Zen, and of Life, that there can be composure while young men sweat and die in Civilization's Cradle, while rich men lie and steal, and send more young men to die.