Contemplation Corner: “I can never forgive evil and lying and cruel means, and still less can I forgive fanatics that use that for an excuse! 

by Pastor Donnie Brooks

“I can never forgive evil and lying and cruel means, and still less can I forgive fanatics that use that for an excuse! If I may imitate Romain Rolland, a country that tolerates evil means — evil manners, standards of ethics — for a generation, will be so poisoned that it never will have any good end.” ― Sinclair Lewis, (It Can’t Happen Here)

   Sinclair Lewis wrote many social critique novels that gave him quite an acclaim in the 1920s. Babbitt, a critique of middle-class midwestern suburban and small-city urban life. Elmer Gantry, a critique of early 20th century Christianity in America and its commercialism, politics, etc. Arrowsmith, a look at medicine and the nature of science interwoven in a touching story of love and sacrifice. These and many more. It Can’t Happen Here was a difference. Yes, it was serious like the rest. Yes, it had humor like the rest. Yes, it was dark like the rest. But somehow darker. He aimed and hit the jugular of various confidences that Americans took for granted in each. But here he hit faster and harder on a theme that was held so very sacred. He did so, too, in a time where America would contest what was said and yet also be so very in danger for what was being said to be reality. So very narrowly close did the US succumb to such possibilities. Europe had fallen to dictators. Whether of the communists or the fascists. It fell. Many ideas, believe it or not, that inspired Nazism even came from our soil. It was meant with much popularity, worst of all, perhaps, was that it was from supposedly religious circles. The same may prove true today.

   Sinclair Lewis believed that it too, perhaps, “could happen here.” What happened throughout Europe in the 20s and 30s, could happen here. He envisioned it happening here in a way that was very American too. It speaks very truly to how such tendencies occur today. Religion being co-opted by politics even as it co-opts it in turn. 

   So, we look at this quote. The main character, Doremus Jessup, a newspaper editor in a small town, becomes one of the last bastions of sanity in a world, the United States that had gone mad. Most folks don’t bother about it. Sure, they hate the “hated” peoples, you know, the people’s that don’t blend into the majority…whatever that majority happens to be at the time. The folks that do the things they’re supposed to, act the way they are supposed, believe the things they are supposed to, worship the right God, have the right color of skin, and who don’t have propaganda against them at this present juncture.

   But Doremus couldn’t keep quiet. He led a resistance of word and then action. Opposing the insanity and injustice of authoritarian leaders, here Senator Windrip and his dedicated followers and corrupt leaders of all kinds. He was forced, eventually, to go into exile. Sometimes that may be the case. It was for many in Europe in the last century. Or in Central and South America in the latter half of the 20th century. Or scattered throughout the world with no particular style, shade or color as today (be it Europe, Asia, Africa, South America; communist, fascist, theocratic, kleptocratic, oligarchic, etc.). He did what he had to do to restore his nation and even in exile he sought to stand and fight for its ideal principles.

   May we in and outside of the press stand for such justice here and abroad. May we pray for the Father of all to truly have God’s Kingdom come, God’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (that is, under his reign). Amen.

Pastor Donnie Brooks
Marcellus United Methodist Church

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