Club joins SPP in celebrating the life of Rep. John Lewis

HUMANIST CLUB

By Dave Silva

LW contributor

Jackie Clarke, 0resident of the Senior Patriots for Peace, organized a demonstration held in front of the Leisure World Globe on July 29 between 4–5:30 p.m. The Leisure World Humanists joined the Senior Patriots in celebrating the life of John Lewis and his lifelong commitment to social justice.

The signs the groups displayed supported the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice and equality, violence against peaceful protestors expressing their first amendment rights, demands for police reform to reduce excessive violence and advocating that everyone wear masks to protect themselves and others in the midst of the pandemic. Many of the cars passing by honked their horns in support of our commitment to a more peaceful and just society.

John Lewis served as Congressman in the House of Representatives from the 5th District in Georgia for over 30 years. He was known by his colleges as the Conscience of the Congress. Lewis was second only to Martin Luther King Jr. in his struggle to bring racial justice to these United States. Lewis adopted the non-violent methods of Mahatma Gandhi to overturn segregation and bring voting rights to Black citizens. In this he was not completely successful.

Lewis was perhaps the most vocal critic of racism and inequality at the March on Washington, where King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

There are many great quotes attributed to John Lewis. One of them being, “None of us will be free until all of us are equal.” Under the guidance of Martin Luther King Jr., he adopted the non-violent method of dissent created by Mahatma Gandhi, that called upon the compassion innate within the human spirit to treat others as they would wish to be treated and to grant them the basic human right they would claim for themselves. Throughout his life John Lewis never wavered from these basic principles.

Although King and Lewis often sought these principles of equal justice for all under the law from the Bible and Christian teachings, the values are universal in their nature. Gandhi was a Hindu, who was deeply influenced by the Jain religion that practices complete respect for the sanctity of all life – not just human life. Much of Gandhi’s success was built on his respect for the beliefs of other beliefs that embrace equality and justice for all.

Humanists believe all people are equal under the law regardless of the color of their skin, sex, sexual orientation or their nationality. We contend to believe otherwise can only result in discrimination and violence. The philosophical concept of equality doesn’t need a religious foundation to support it.