|
|
 |
Does Time Stand
Still??
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! "What a sublime conception is that of a last judgement!" said
he, - "a righting of all the wrongs of ages! - a solving of all moral
problems, by an unanswerable wisdom."
"Perhaps," said Miss Ophelia, "It is impossible for a person who does
no good not to do harm."
"And what, said St. Clare, speaking abstractedly, but with deep
feeling, "what shall be said of one whose own heart, whose education,
and the wants of society, have called in vain to some noble purpose;
who has floated on, a dreamy, neutral spectator of the struggles,
agonies, and wrongs of man when he should have been a worker?"
"And what are you going to do?"
"My duty, I hope, to the poor and lowly, as fast as I can find it out,"
said St. Clare, "beginning with my own servants, for whom I have yet
done nothing, and, perhaps at some future day, it may appear that I can
do something for a whole class, something to save my country from the
disgrace of that false position in which she now stands before all
civilized nations."
"I don't know," said St. Clare. "This is a day of great deeds. Heroism
and disinterestedness are rising up, here and there, in the earth. The
Hungarian nobles set free millions of serfs, at an immense pecuniary
loss."
"But suppose we should rise up tomorrow and emancipate, who would
educate these millions, and teach them how to use their freedom? They
would never rise to do much among us. The fact is, we are too lazy and
unpractical ourselves, ever to give them much of an idea of that
industry and energy which is necessary to form them into men. They will
have to go north where labor is the fashion - the universal custom; and
tell me now, is there enough? You send thousands of dollars to foreign
missions; but, could you endure to have the heathen sent to your towns
and villages, and give your time, and thoughts, and money to raise them
to your standard? If we emancipate, are you willing to educate? How
many families in your town would take a negro man and woman, teach
them, bear with them, and seek to make them to our standard? How many
families would board them? You see, Cousin, I want justice done to us.
We are in a bad position. We are the more "obvious" oppressors of the
negro; but the prejudice of the north is an oppressor almost equally
severe."
"Well Cousin, I know it was so with me." said Miss Ophelia, - "till I
saw it was my duty to overcome it; and I know there are many good
people, who in this matter, need only to be "taught" what their duty
is. It would certainly be a greater self-denial to receive heathen
among us, than to send missionaries to them." (Before "duty" is the
word "Christian").
The above is geared toward slavery. But take out the word "negro" and
insert Mexican, Honduran...almost any word like these two.
Does anything sound familiar?? I'm actually speechless.
The above are excerpts from the book "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
It was written by Harriett Beecher Stowe.
It was required reading in Greenville City Schools.
It was published in 1852.
That is 166 years behind us.
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!!! MONA
|
|
|
<
|
