BILL MOYERS
Pass the Bread
> Civilization sustains and supports us. The core of its value is bread. But bread is its great metaphor. All my life I’ve prayed the Lord’s Prayer, and I’ve never prayed, “Give me this day my daily bread.” It is always, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Bread and life are shared realities. They do not happen in isolation. Civilization is an unnatural act. We have to make it happen, you and I, together with all the other strangers. And because we and strangers have to agree on the difference between a horse thief and a horse trader, the distinction is ethical. Without it, a society becomes a war against all, and a market for the wolves becomes a slaughter for the lambs. My generation hasn’t done the best job at honoring this ethical bargain, and our failure explains the mess we’re handing over to you. You may be our last chance to get it right. So good luck, Godspeed, enjoy these last few hours together, and don’t forget to pass the bread.
Man, I admire the hell out of Bill Moyers. I’ve been a fan of his since I can’t remember and I almost cried when I heard he was leaving his most recent PBS show, NOW, for retirement. But if he keeps this kind of speechmaking up, I’ll be satisfied.
Tags: grommes, bill+moyers, hamilton+college, address, speech
> Civilization sustains and supports us. The core of its value is bread. But bread is its great metaphor. All my life I’ve prayed the Lord’s Prayer, and I’ve never prayed, “Give me this day my daily bread.” It is always, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Bread and life are shared realities. They do not happen in isolation. Civilization is an unnatural act. We have to make it happen, you and I, together with all the other strangers. And because we and strangers have to agree on the difference between a horse thief and a horse trader, the distinction is ethical. Without it, a society becomes a war against all, and a market for the wolves becomes a slaughter for the lambs. My generation hasn’t done the best job at honoring this ethical bargain, and our failure explains the mess we’re handing over to you. You may be our last chance to get it right. So good luck, Godspeed, enjoy these last few hours together, and don’t forget to pass the bread.
Man, I admire the hell out of Bill Moyers. I’ve been a fan of his since I can’t remember and I almost cried when I heard he was leaving his most recent PBS show, NOW, for retirement. But if he keeps this kind of speechmaking up, I’ll be satisfied.
Tags: grommes, bill+moyers, hamilton+college, address, speech