Our Own and Others

One of the hallowed experiences of life is to look down at the close of day upon a sleeping child⎯especially one of our own, who is safe and sheltered, well and at peace. Few greater benedictions than this come to any of us. Blessed are we when those who belong to us are safe within the shelter of our homes, within the circle of our love and protection. But such surpassing satisfactions are somewhat qualified if other men and other men’s children are not also sheltered and safe. A commonplace illustration may emphasize this thought more fully: We may work hard to keep our field free of weeds, but if our neighbor’s field is infested, our field will never be free from the threat of intrusion. Weeds are in part a personal problem and in part a community problem. And so many others things. Another example suggests itself: Communities have quarantine laws so that those who are well may not be touched by the contagion of those who are ill. But we have long since learned that we cannot quarantine ourselves from the very air in which we live and breathe. It is even more difficult to quarantine ideas and influences. And yet it is as urgent that men be protected against moral and spiritual maladies as it is that they be quarantined from physical maladies. Fortunately, we build up some immunities. But as long as there is any accessible source of contamination, as long as there is any place in any community where anyone or anyone’s children are likely to be touched by what shouldn’t touch them, there are hazards to everyone and everyone’s children, no matter who is seemingly safe. And satisfying as it is to see our own sheltered and sound and secure, we had better be concerned about others also. We do well, exceedingly well, if we care for our own. But if a neighborhood isn’t safe, if a city isn’t safe, if a nation isn’t safe for everyone’s children, it isn’t safe for anyone’s children.