America relies on the strength of its people and their choices. We are free to make our own choices and live our own lives and yet we are united in our freedom to represent a proud whole.
We are constantly in a turmoil because we have this freedom, this right to do as we wish. The decision to be kind and love eachother in order to live together is one of the biggest challenges we face. Sarah Vowell touches on this point a multitude of times. How could she not? It is the essence of Jon Winthrop's speech. She recounts a story of Winthrop giving a theif wood from his own woodpile after being reported by another member of the community. Instead of punishing the man he simply supplies him with wood to cure him of this thievery.
This is a classic example of heart felt generosity and the Puritan way of loving thy neighboor. And it was quite a charming story.
But whats important about this story? Its that even though this man broke the law and and should have gone to jail, it was more important to use common sense and help him rather than condemn him.
I dont argue that this man not going to jail was lawful. In fact in order to satisfy the law he wouldve probably had to have spent only one night in prison. But was following the letter of the law more significant than why this man was stealing? No. Because showing kindness when a person needs it is a more effective lesson than prison ever will be.
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This is a good point. Puritan values would insist that "if thy enemy hungers, feed him," no matter if it means less food to stifle your own hunger. However, this brings modern American life into perspective. If someone was caught steeling wood, the only action taken wold be to call the cops with no second thought on the matter. This is a reality check to the greedy ways we have grown accustomed to while others are suffering and struggling to live through the week.
ReplyDeleteIts also a good point that showing kindness is a better lesson then simply locking away the thief in jail. For the next time that he needs something, he will ask as a favor or work for it rather than unjustly taking what is not his.
I fear that while the kindness may seem to have fixed an issue in this case, it is an oversight to think that showing kindness on such an occassion will work in many cases. Had the man asked if he could share in his neighbors supply of wood and beseeched him as a fellow Christian to help his neighbor then I may have had a little sympathy for the man. However, the man instead decided to resort to petty thievery. In contrast to Miss Costello's view I find that it would be even less likely for this man, having received what he wanted through committing a crime, to bother to work for his living when he could simply live off of the supply that he has been given. This sort of idealism leads to people believing that they are entitled to certain things without that bothersome part on the side where they have to work and benefit the society to earn them. It is not justice to reward a man for criminal actions.
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