Reflections for 6 August from 1890 and 1945

Execution of William Kemmler 1890

Fr Lorenzo Milani wrote: "I studied in moral theology an ancient principle of Roman law: the principle of responsibility in solido. The public knows it in term of a proverb: 'The one who holds the bag is as much a thief as the one who steals the money.' When two persons commit a crime together, eg, an assassin and the one who hires him, you hand down a full prison sentence for them both, and everyone understands that the responsibility may not be cut in halves.

A crime like that of Hiroshima required thousands of people sharing direct responsibility: politicians, scientists, technicians, workers, aviators. Every one of them quieted his conscience by telling himself that the total responsibility was divided among them all. Remorse reduced to the third or fourth decimal point won't keep any modern man awake at night.

And so we have come to this absurdity. A caveman gives someone a blow with his club, knows that he has done wrong and repents of it. A pilot in the atomic age fills the bomb bay of his plane with what in a short period of time will liquidate 200,000 Japanese, and he does not repent. [He is just obeying orders. He is not responsible.]

If I understand the theorist of military obedience and certain German courts correctly, they would have us identify Hitler as the only person responsible for the extermination of six million Jews. But Hitler was irresponsible because he was mad. Therefore the crime never had an author and no one is responsible.

There is only one way to extricate ourselves from this macabre word-play. We must tell youngsters that obedience is the subtlest of temptations. You (military chaplains) should educate our soldiers for objection rather than obedience. Throughout these past one hundred years of history they have known all too little objection. To their shame and that of the world, they have known all too much of obedience."

Don Lorenzo Milani, (1923-1967), was an Italian Catholic priest, unambiguous and undaunted in his proclaimation of the Nonviolent Jesus and His Nonviolent Way.

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Fr George Zabelka writes: Throughout the world August 6 is rightfully remembered as the day that humanity entered into a never-before-seen form of homicidal violence - the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, August 6, 1945. Unlike the Fourth of July in the United States, Independence Day, or the Fourteenth of July in France, Bastille Day, August 6 is a planetary day of remembrance. What is done on that day in 1945 is utterly new in human history - death finds a new doorway into life. So we remember.

But, we forget. We forget that on August 6, 1890, another never-before-seen form of homicidal violence entered human history-death by the electric chair. On that day William Kemmler, age 30, an illiterate alcoholic from the slums of Buffalo, NY and a convicted murderer is executed by electricity at Auburn State Prison. Something utterly new enters human history - death finds a new doorway into life. But, we do not remember. Why?

"I went through a crisis of faith (regarding Jesus' teaching of nonviolence and love of enemies). I am a practical man and those words of Jesus - "Love your enemies.Do good to those who hate you.Turn the other cheek when someone strikes you." were completely impractical and unworkable. I couldn't understand it. In many ways I still don't. Yet Jesus took this course of suffering and nonviolence. His words were so clear, and there is the example of His life and death. For me, the issue is very simple. Either Jesus was God or not. If not, then his words could be dismissed as idealism. But if Jesus is God, then what he said he meant. He wasn't kidding. He could not be dismissed as an idealist who didn't understand human reality. So, either I accept what he says as coming from God or else I forget about the whole business. Forget about Christianity! My crisis was a practical one.My choice was made on the basis of Faith."

Fr George Zabelka, was Catholic Chaplain for the 509th Composite Group (Hiroshima-Nagasaki Bomb Crews).

From 1 July to 9 August, the 30th Annual FORTY DAY FAST FOR THE TRUTH OF GOSPEL NONVIOLENCE has been underway. Each day during the 40 days fast, a thought is posted on:
www.emmanuelcharlesmccarthy.org/category/fast-food-helpings-2013

Thanks to Chidi & Onyinye Umeano for sending these.