Means to an end

St. Patrick's Day yesterday was also the 100th birthday of Bayard Rustin. He was a major figure in the civil rights movement in the 1950s and '60s. He was a major behind-the-scenes guy, dealing with organization and strategy. Two important points about him: His strategy stressed non-violence. He organized the March on Washington which was the scene of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Even so, you might be saying, "Bayard who?" He didn't get a lot of credit or press for a simple reason. He was gay. At that time homosexual acts were very much illegal.

Rustin's nonviolent methods got Rob Tisinai, in his personal blog, musing about the phrase, "The end justifies the means." This is a perennially favorite topic of college all-night bull sessions. If an end result is vitally important does that justify any actions taken to achieve that result?

This appears to be the philosophy of the GOP and their backers. Their end seems to be, "We are supposed to be in power." And to achieve that important goal, they are willing to lie, cheat, and steal (for starters) to get what they want. The end -- unshakable power -- justifies the means -- whatever it takes to get there.

Tisinai turns the phrase around. Your means will shape your end.

What you do along the way of achieving your goal will influence your goal. Use lies to get power and the deceit industry remains in place after the election. That industry then has its own survival as a goal and can easily turn on its maker. Use fear to frighten the populace into submission and soon the fearmongers will frighten those in power.

Your means will shape your end.

So what to do? Tisinai has a few suggestions. Look past the immediate end. Have a long-term vision. What do you want the world to look like? Live that vision now. Live the community you want to build. Live the equality you want to achieve.