Albert Einstein once said "The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." Einstein was echoing the statement of the eighteenth century British Statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." A concept of Jewish law is Al pi shnayim aydeem yakum davar - a fact is established by the testimony of two witnesses. Burke and Einstein stand as two pretty powerful witnesses in this matter.
This past week, we saw people in London, Paris and San Francisco do something about it. I am sure those who will watch the Olympics this summer will see some memorable athletic sights. I'm not sure there will be many sights more fantastic or courageous than those who climbed the cables of the Golden Gate Bridge to register a protest against the hosts of the 2008 Olympics.
The president of the International Olympic Committee said this week that the games are facing a crisis. I would call this a crisis l'sheym shamayim for the sake of heaven. As reported in the press, he also called on the authorities in Beijing to respect their "moral engagement" to improve human rights in the months leading up to the Games and to provide the news media with greater access to the country. Here is a man who is doing something. The European Parliament, too often known for doing nothing, urged leaders of its 27 member nations to consider a boycott of the opening ceremony unless China opens a dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
There are all kinds of questions circulating. Should the President of the United States boycott the opening ceremonies? The Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel is the first world leader to announce that she will not attend the opening ceremonies. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has made the same declaration. Should athletes the world over refuse to participate and place human rights ahead of athletic competition. These are complicated questions. The German Chancellor's declaration is especially instructive. Had world leaders spoken out in 1936 at the time of the Berlin Olympics hosted by Nazi Germany perhaps the course of history could have been different.
Let the Games Begin. That is the position of the Dalai Lama and it makes sense. Punishing or disappointing the athletes helps no one. Rewarding the Chinese for their own ongoing abuse of human rights is also unfair. The games actually provide an opportunity to keep the Chinese and their miserable record of mistreatment of their own people and others in the world on the front pages and the evening news. London, Paris and San Francisco are only a beginning. The show may go on but this can not be business as usual.
We are but a week away from sitting at the Seder Table and reciting the words "We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt." Ten plagues and lines of Dayenu later we say "In every generation, we are responsible to see ourselves as if we came out of Egypt." That identification with our people's past, as if it were our own present, can not be real unless it leads us to sympathize with those who find themselves in bondage today. Tragically, there are too many today who will not sit around any festive table but could sadly say "we are slaves today."
I wish the Olympic torch were passing through Philadelphia. I would want to join together with those who would raise their voices in a non violent, peaceful manner in support of those who are suffering and whose suffering could be alleviated by the Chinese government. I hope good and decent people throughout the world will find the forum to raise our voices and let the Chinese government know that a disregard for human rights is not the way of the free world and should not be the way of a nation becoming a great economic power in the world.
Our Parsha deals with the unusual topics of diseases of the skin, some kind of disease that grows in the walls of a house like a mold or mildew and other types of physical impurities. In each instance, the Torah offers a way to heal the disease and cleanse the impurity. We see the disease of human suffering before us. The world must try to find a way to bring healing. We will be spending much time this week cleansing our homes of the Hametz. The Hametz of suffering needs to be cleansed as well.
Yes, there should be winners in Beijing this summer; gold, silver and bronze. China itself wants to win the world's applause and acclaim. Unless China hears the voices of justice calling out in protest, China itself should win nothing. The losers should not include those who are suffering today because of China's actions or inactions. This is their window of opportunity. This is their chance and our opportunity. We should not squander it. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
Shabbat
Shalom
