1949 and 2023 … “You’ve got to be carefully taught” *

John 1:38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

Epiphany was a choice of monarchs,
but for the living of these days
I’ll take lectionary text-next –
for we are in a time
of the great choosing of teachers …

and we must seek out the teachers
who do not teach hate or fear,
who open all the books,
all the books,
who go faithfully to school,
knowing that it will not be
just the adults who have guns.

We are not only called to look for teachers,
but also, to stay with them,
long enough … long enough …

to find in the mirror,
not a follower or a leader
or a person who lets another decide
who will shape children, adults,

but one who will choose against hate
before, indeed, it is too late.

[*“You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” (Rodgers/Hammerstein II, South Pacific, (1949)

You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear,
You’ve got to be taught from year to year,
It’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear—
You’ve got to be carefully taught!

You’ve got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a different shade—
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate—
You’ve got to be carefully taught!
You’ve got to be carefully taught! …]