I was grateful for the news commentator this morning. When President Ford pardoned Nixon, I was angry - I wanted to see him "brought to justice."
My position was wrong in two regards. At the spiritual level, it was grounded in retribution - I wanted to there to be punishment because of the pain inflicted on the nation. I was a very new Catholic back then, but I still should have known better.
I also did not have the common good in mind, and President Ford did. NPR reported that Ford said, at the time, "the country is in enough trouble as it is. I need to be able to look forward; I can't take the time or energy to look back." He was right: a jury trial would not have undone any of Nixon's wrongs, but would have diverted energy and deepened political divisions.
President Ford's death brings this lesson to mind at a time when I need to hear it. We are facing tough and divisive issues, and need to find a path beyond blaming and judging. It is not the same - we do not have a new president. Nonetheless, I am grateful to be reminded of the spiritual and political lessons I learned from this man who never really wanted to be anything more than a congressman from Michigan.
We really do need his example right now in our country. Polarization as a result of so many difficult issues just isn't going to solve anything. Let's hope our leaders can find the willingness to do what's best for the common good .
2 comments:
I was grateful for the news commentator this morning. When President Ford pardoned Nixon, I was angry - I wanted to see him "brought to justice."
My position was wrong in two regards. At the spiritual level, it was grounded in retribution - I wanted to there to be punishment because of the pain inflicted on the nation. I was a very new Catholic back then, but I still should have known better.
I also did not have the common good in mind, and President Ford did. NPR reported that Ford said, at the time, "the country is in enough trouble as it is. I need to be able to look forward; I can't take the time or energy to look back." He was right: a jury trial would not have undone any of Nixon's wrongs, but would have diverted energy and deepened political divisions.
President Ford's death brings this lesson to mind at a time when I need to hear it. We are facing tough and divisive issues, and need to find a path beyond blaming and judging. It is not the same - we do not have a new president. Nonetheless, I am grateful to be reminded of the spiritual and political lessons I learned from this man who never really wanted to be anything more than a congressman from Michigan.
We really do need his example right now in our country. Polarization as a result of so many difficult issues just isn't going to solve anything. Let's hope our leaders can find the willingness to do what's best for the common good .
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