Celebrating and Witnessing Moral Courage

Moral courage is something that needs to be celebrated, always. The challenge is that we need to find it first. Some may think it's hard to find and it does seem that way some times. Usually though, that's because we just aren't paying attention. Our lives are busy. Our time is limited and we are forced, or so we think, to prioritize how we use it. Busy, busy, busy - we chase the news, the news chases us. Our work and leisure bump into each other and we are forced to make choices. Seasons change and our lives move on at a pace where we may miss what's right in front of us.

The point is though that moral courage is critically important to our evolution and experience as human beings. So we need to find it and embrace it. We need to stare it in the eye and let it stare back at us. It's good for the soul - perhaps necessary.

Today I saw a terrific article about moral courage as exemplified by Megan Rice, a nun who has stood up to the nuclear arsenal of the United States of America. She is 84years old and is spending time, perhaps her life in prison for her anti nuclear actions (writing words of peace on weapons and walls). She and her compatriots are examples of true moral courage. You can get the full story HERE at Open Democracy  Spend a little time learning her story and follow links in the article above to see her writings. Her insights on the prison experience are right on.

Another example of moral courage comes from and through the Kings Bay Plowshares. Information on their personal action against Trident Missiles is available HERE at the Kings Bay Plowshares website. I personally know a number of these folks and believe they too are filled with moral courage. The entire group is identified on the website listed above.

Years ago when the Berrigan brothers, Phil and Dan, really established the Plowshares movement, I along with others at the Catholic Worker and in the broader antiwar movement debated the rightness and/or wrongness of property destruction. There were long nights of philosophical discussions over beer, coffee and music. Was it the right thing to do? Did it cross the line and move nonviolent action to violent behavior? Breaking the law by breaking and entering government property - was that the way to go? Friends disagreed with each other then and disagree with each other now. But moral courage was never in question.

We are certainly in a time when moral courage is needed more then ever. Megan Rice knows her role in this world. She knows about the abuse of power that happens in prison. She knows that all of our time on this earth is limited and she knows how she wants to spend hers. She's a great example of moral courage.