Battle Hymn of the Republic

In these troubled times, I appreciate more than ever the spiritual Amazing Grace, especially the first stanza:

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now I’m found.

Was blind but now I see.

I have always found the melody grippingly moving, and always want to sing along, but it was probably the film version of Amazing Grace, based on the true story of the movement against the slave trade in 18^th century Great Britain, that imbued the song with the power it has for me. That world-shattering anti-slavery movement was led by William Wilberforce, who was inspired by English poet, clergyman, and former slave-trader John Newton (1725–1807), who wrote the song.

To me, Amazing Grace is not simply a rapturous expression of Christian faith, although Christianity was the particular vehicle embraced by John Newton to rescue him from the evils in which he had become ensnared. Rather, I see it as a song of redemption and hope that reaches out across estranging and often evilly-manipulated divisions of religion, race, gender, nationality. Also, I resonate to the idea of grace as a force and gift available to all, not restricted to people claiming a particular set of beliefs in a particular religion.

My recent fantasy was that somehow Amazing Grace could become a tenacious torrent of sound that would envelop all the pseudo-Christians, deceived disciples, and lost souls of other religions who profess love and peace but promote hatred and perpetrate violence. And while it was at it, I hoped the torrent would sweep up all the angry, frightened, defensive, and sometimes venemous people who vilify fighters against injustice.

Among the people I would like to see swept up are those who scorn Colin Kaepernick for standing up against racism by sitting down during the playing of a national anthem written by a slave owner, originally including a stanza degrading runaway slaves, and a sadly apt metaphor for a nation awash in centuries of murderous racism.

My grand fantasy for the future is that the world, before it is too late, will replace national anthems and battle hymns of republics with Amazing Grace and other songs that honor love and redemption rather than violence and vicious victories.

“Mine eyes have seen the glory…” These words from the Battle Hymn of the Republic, the famous Civil War song written by Julia Ward Howe, are probably familiar to all of our readers. But how many of you know that Julia, horrified by the Civil War, became an anti-war activist and, in 1870, wrote the Mother’s Day Proclamation, which included the words:

“From the bosum of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: ‘Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.’
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.”

Her efforts led to the establishment in 1872 of a Mothers’ Peace Day Observance, the forerunner and inspiration of the annual Mother’s Day, which is now celebrated around the globe, usually in March, April, or May, depending on the country.

To hear a contemporary reading of Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation, go to

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/8/mothers_day_for_peace_a_dramatic

These celebrations are not just about flowers and candy; millions of mothers across the world fight year round for peace.

This year, in honor of Mother’s Day, find a way to give a gift of peace (the most peaceful gift you can imagine)—to your mother, to your community, to the world.

Then please submit a comment to this post and tell us what your gift of peace was—a special quiet hour with your mom? A donation of time or money in her name to a peace organization or rally? A gift of peace is a gift of and for life.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology