could not live, but midwives found a way
to circumvent, a little civil disobedience
that gave us Moses and his law,
foundation of religions, justice, Cecil
B. DeMille's account in cinematic glory.
German law was clear: Jews were not
allowed sanctuary, but families hid them
any way, beneath the floor, inside the walls,
saving not just lives but humanity itself.
Gandhi broke the laws of Britain for
the higher good of independent India.
King and others marched, protested,
went to jail, gave up their lives to
remind America of her conscience.
In hindsight we applaud them, give them
space within the history books, documentaries
hailing them as great. But at the time,
people whispered, "No! The Law, the Law!
You have to do what's Right!" Those words
are whispered now, regarding laws that
never should have passed. Easy to forget
that those whose principles compel
in other directions may one day get
parades each year, a stamp or holiday
to tell the world, this man or woman
went against the flow, saw truth
where most saw only unjust Law.
(c) Ellen Gillette, 2013
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