A few months ago, I posted a comment that may seem removed from this post on MJ, but at bottom it is not. I’ll post it here again because it is an interesting story on the challenges of fellowship and love. The recording I refer to below was made in a prison facility in the State of Texas. I recorded the stories of 100 young people who were incarcerated for serious crimes, including murder.

Here’s my comment:

“I recall recording the story of a young black boy incarcerated for murder. He was sixteen years old and had murdered multiple times when he was between the ages of ten and thirteen.

He talked about his family, his childhood, his neighborhood and friends, and his gang. He asked about me. I spoke to him about where I was from, what I had done in life, and why I was interested in talking to him. Then I made the gesture that I would like to visit him sometime in his world with his friends when he got out of prison. He smiled and seemed pleased that I would care.

“We talked a bit more. Then he paused for what seemed like a long time, looked at me, and asked very, very quietly: ‘Would you take me into your world? Would you take me to visit the congressmen and senators you know? Would you take me to the White House and the State Department?’ I said I would.

“As we starred into each other’s eyes, I knew he was talking about a different world than what we have created in America. He was presenting a challenge to me that went to the foundations of our entire social system. He was asking me to act contrary to the world in which I felt comfortable, the world in which I had been nurtured, the world in which I belonged.

“Would I have taken him? Yes, I would have found a way. But I also know that that promise is easy to say. Besides, the boy is still in Huntsville.

I have taken others like him from the street to meetings on Capital Hill, including meetings with Senators. But, I have to admit: each time I take someone with me I know I’m placing a burden on others. I know I’m imposing on them a different vision of America than one which currently exists. And they feel uncomfortable.

One Senator did put on display in his office a 32X40 photographic image of a homeless person that I had taken on the street. He wanted to gauge how his constituents and others would react. But an image is not a person.

“The boy is right. We should all feel comfortable inviting our friends — no matter who they are — to meet our friends — no matter who they are. But we don’t. We don’t because we are not suppose to, given the ethos of our society. So, we are afraid. We let this fear penetrate our lives. Our fear reaches out and judges our friends in ways that are visible to them but ways which WE rarely comprehend. It says to them that they are different, that they are not really worthy to be in our presence at all times. This silent judgment shouts out to them. It fractures our relations with them, even though they may well be our closest friends.

“I’ll never forget that boy. His vision of America transcended anything I’ve seen written in policy papers or written in novels. It wasn’t about ideology, or economics, or anything complicated. His vision was about authentic relations. He was speaking in the most affirmative way about the Brotherhood of Man. He was inquiring of me whether I was willing to Love him even if it was painful. He was questioning whether I was worthy to be his friend.”

Character assassination assaults the dignity of the human person, no matter who it is directed against. How can a personalist ethic ignore an ethos that thrives on this kind of sport? This American sickness needs to be unmasked for what it is.

“He needs prayers more than adulation” – I’ll echo that statement.

Mr. Jackson settled with his first accuser after the child provided the police with a detailed description of the rather unusual, “splotchy” appearance of Mr. Jackson’s reproductive organs, including where the splotch moved to when he was in a state of arousal. Needless to say that description matched perfectly with the genuine article.

As he was abused in childhood, he abused others as an adult – he needs prayers more than adulation.

I experience the impact of hardness coming from without much as you describe. At some point, it is necessary to “walk on by” (Dionne Warwick) as a means of preserving integrity. I recall as an undergraduate Jesuits closing conversations with me about things that were controversial. They did not seek the last word. They closed our discussion with a smile.

I’ve never forgotten the message implicit in that smile. To be sure, it is difficult to follow their example. But, at some point, it is essential. Otherwise, as you say, you tend to acquire traits that undermine your integrity. And you are directed away from the most important dimension of reality — Love..

Perhaps this points to one of the reasons why I have been so attracted to public diplomacy. The greatest strength of a nation lies in its credibility. To be credible it is necessary to abide by the truth. But Truth is Beauty. It is not Ugliness. Too often we think we are speaking the truth when in fact we are speaking to ego — our ego. Truth is Beauty! Always.

In the struggle with the Soviet Union, I always maintained that our position was stronger because we had very limited access to East European populations. Why do I say that? Because that meant we had to forego the desire to control the outcomes we sought. It wasn’t about being right or correct, as you say. It was not about imposing our Will. VOA had to broadcast songs of Michael Jackson or Art Tatum, e.g., and it had to allow the music by itself to do our work. In other words, we had to trust forces that were beyond our control. The truth of freedom inherent in the music alone had the power to do what we wanted done. This inability to control accounts in great measure for our success.

This is one reason why it is important to allow the events in Iran unfold and to do so naturally. What’s the rush???

Likewise, in national politics, I tend towards inspiration. If done at a profound enough level, inspiration can unleash forces within each person that will make them to act in ways that will support the common good. Programs don’t do that.

Speaking of beauty, 1 billion people today watched the ceremony for Michael Jackson. I would recommend watching the entire event to get a sense of the dynamics it offered. I’m sure it will be re-broadcast over MSNBC this evening. It’ll also give you a sense of the power of public diplomacy.

Think of the program in terms of the principles of human dignity, individual freedom, solidarity, and love. Think of belonging and what such a broadcast would mean to a young Muslim boy living anywhere from Morocco to Indonesia, from Nigeria to Kazakhstan. 70% of the Muslim population are thirty years old or younger! What would happen within this person’s consciousness? God only knows. But one thing it might do is mitigate his anger.

“Spirituality cannot be known in that realm of perception.” I know what you are driving at here. But there is nothing more beautiful than the perception of a mother’s smile.

By the way, MJ’s most favorite song was Charlie Chaplin’s theme song “Smile”. Jermaine Jackson sang it as a tribute to his brother.