Saturday, November 27, 2010

Marble Collegiate Honors War Dead.

The iconic Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan was the local parish of the legendary Rev. Norman Vincent Peale. From the pulpit of MCC the late Dr. Peale influenced generations of the faithful as he preached peace, love, restraint, respect, turning the other cheek, and so many other qualities so many of us admire.

The church today ventures a little more into anti-war activism. As this picture shows there are innumerable silk steamers hanging from the wrought iron fence surrounding the church. Each green banner, for instance, might honor a dead US soldier from the war in Iraq or Afghanistan. A banner of another color pays tribute to indigenous dead from this horrific conflict.

I've read Dr. Peale's books. I can't remember him being against war and its impact on combatants and victims, but I think he'd be pleased that his parish church was taking a stand and paying tribute to every side in this dreadful affair.

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