Yaknow, with people like JJ and Harold around, 122 years don't seem so long after all. :)

"Lou Gossett epitomizes our likeness of being. We are not only one nation under G-d...but one people..His only people..."

Oooooh, yeah, history's just full of tales of *harmony and delight* about people who say that.

Circumcision of the eight day

Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for My name is in him.
But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

“Behold, I send an Angel before thee”
“to keep thee in the way”
“to bring thee into the place which I have prepared”
“My name is in him”
“He shall bless thy bread, and thy water”

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

“Give ear, O ye heavens”
“I will speak; and hear”
“O earth, the words of my mouth”
“My doctrine shall drop as the rain”
“I will publish the name of the Lord”

But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:
A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.
And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

“drinketh water of the rain of heaven”
“A land which the Lord thy God careth for”
“I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain”

Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

“I will rain bread from heaven for you”
“the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day”
“I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no”

Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.

“I will give you rain in due season”
“the trees of the field shall yield their fruit”
“sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely”
“I will give peace in the land”
“I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land”

And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

“the first rain and the latter rain”

The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

“the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season”
“to bless all the work of thine hand”
“the Lord shall make thee the head”

And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

“the first rain and the latter rain”

Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

“Thou leddest thy people”
“by the hand of Moses and Aaron”

The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

“the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.”

As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.

“as it is written in the book of the law of Moses”

So Aaron and his sons did all things which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.

“Aaron and his sons did all things which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses”

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

“who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb”

And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.

“God remembered Rachel”
“and opened her womb”
“she called his name Joseph”
“The Lord shall add to me another son”

And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

“The Lord shall add to me another son”
“she called his name Benoni”
“but his father called him Benjamin”

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.
And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

“he lifted up his eyes”
“saw his brother Benjamin”
“The Lord shall add to me another son”
“his mother's son”
“she called his name Benoni”
“God be gracious unto thee, my son”
“for his bowels did yearn upon his brother”

They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.

“Aaron the saint of the Lord”

And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.
And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

“Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel”
“came with ten thousands of saints”
“from his right hand went a fiery law for them”
“Yea, he loved the people”
“all his saints are in thy hand”
“they sat down at thy feet”

And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

“I praise the Lord”
“called his name Judah”

Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;

“Judah is my lawgiver”

I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

“I have set the Lord always before me”
“he is at my right hand”

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

“I looked on my right hand”
“there was no man that would know me”
“no man cared for my soul”

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

“Then said David”
“I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts”

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.

“On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them”
“The Lord bless thee”
“and keep thee”
“The Lord make his face shine upon thee”
“be gracious unto thee”
“The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee”
“give thee peace”
“And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel”
“and I will bless them”

Circumcision of the eight day
“the day that the Lord made the earth and the heavens”
“And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel”
“and I will bless them”
Judah
Benoni

“by the hand of Moses and Aaron”
“God remembered Rachel”
“and opened her womb”
“she called his name Joseph”
“Then said David”
“I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts”
“I have set the Lord always before me”
“he is at my right hand”
“I praise the Lord”
“called his name Judah”
“Judah is my lawgiver”
“The Lord shall add to me another son”
“she called his name Benoni”
“the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.”
“as it is written in the book of the law of Moses”

“who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb”

“My doctrine shall drop as the rain”
“I will publish the name of the Lord”
“the trees of the field shall yield their fruit”

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,

“generations of the heavens and of the earth”
“the day that the Lord made the earth and the heavens”

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

“She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her”
“The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth”
“understanding hath he established the heavens.”
“the day that the Lord made the earth and the heavens”

Lou Gossett epitomizes our likeness of being. We are not only one nation under G-d...but one people..His only people...who watches over us each day, protects us, guards us and shines his countenance down upon us. One day..those who make war will learn to make peace..for it is easier to live in peace and harmony, nations supporting nations, treating one another like brothers and sisters assuring that no man woman or child shall go without food or shelter than it is to take a life so unnecessarily for money, power or oil. When will WE learn...that we have but one chance...to teach our children in hopes they will help make our planet safer and come closest to the purpose for which we are all born.

I remember Lou very well. He was in my math class, Dr. Engelhart being the teacher, Abraham Lincoln being the high school. He was a star even then. I saw him perform at Brooklyn College and he and I were friends. He shows, in his comments, that he didn't fogot the ones who loved him and cheered him on and gave him hope and encouragement. I enjoyed this article very much. and am proud to have been part of his youth.

here we go again. the you-can't-move-up-if-you're-black-and-don't-have-non-blacks-supporting-you routine. sounds like you're telling young blacks not to trust the wisdom of their own families. sad. very sad.

in the words of my late father, "i love you, BUT...!"

ps: i really do wish that the current prayer of allegiance was replaced with the original pledge of allegiance.

Religion is divisive regardless of the success stories like Lou Gossett’s. Lou’s message is on point as it relates to belief in one’s self. However, no where in the article is the mention of God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

I believe that all things are possible if we only believe in God not Judaism or Catholicism or Protestantism or Buddhism etc. Whether we believe in God via the church or without the church is not important.

Lou Gossett is the perfect example of the problem of man. We have placed ourselves above God and refuse to recognize him as our lord and savior. Lou, if you need proof (believers do not need proof) that God is real and that he sent his only begotten son to earth to absolve us from sin (something most Jews do not believe) try to follow this event an event man cannot change or can be explained away by science.

2008 years ago God in a tribute to the sacrifice that his son Jesus made stopped time as we knew it and restarted time as we know it. To do that the world it self had to stop momentarily. So please Lou give praise where it belongs. END THE WAR IN IRAQ.

I have allways been a respected fan of Louis Gossett.

I have allways struggled with prejudice in society since I was a kid, starting with school.

I have been viewed my entire life not by who I am, but by my skin color. Very rarely have I been asked who I am racially or spiritually.

Game recognize Game! Only an itellegent person that seeks peace and respect can quide ones self through the obsticles of society.

In my view we are all the same, but what we choose to invest into our minds is what has seperated man and therefor created pain where there is no need for it.

To resolve this pain, I choose to follow your example of speaking truth to whomever chooses to listen, as well as helping whomever chooses to accept help with no conditions attached.

This is the way of my faith and I am happy to live in the footsteps of great men such as Louis Gossett.
Shalom,
VB

Baroukh ha ba

aMEN, Lou! Shabbat Shalom!

So you were not self made, eh? Thank you for this article. None of us gets anywhere without the help of others, not always of similar race or religion. Some of us are unable to recognize this, others to realize it and the rest to admit it. You've done all three, with a lot of class.

What an excellent article. I have long wondered at how the people most vocal about race or religion disparities they almost singularly manage to divide. I have thought since the 60's that the ideal is for everyone to become color blind. Thank you to Lou for an excellent intuitive piece.

" Hoodwinked:

"122 years, first African American speaker - and they're admitting that?
Whew. That's deep on so many levels."

Deeper than you seem to be aware. Trust me, Powers Dat Be playing minority neighborhoods off each other is by no means new in America.

I grew up where Paddies and blacks and Jews didn't get along so well, and I assure you it wasn't about theology. Though some might say it was.

When I was last in the old neighborhood, well, it was still there. But it was ghosts. Even a few I brought with me, ... *Expecting* it would still be the same. But ghosts nonetheless.

That it took 122 years doesn't mean it's insincere, it means... It's well past time. But good on them.

Just don't think it's so easy as saying 'God.'

The thing about people saying goodness between people depends on 'God' is, it can as easily be taken away by people saying 'God.'

Or, that what works between any given two groups may not be the universal answer.

122 years, first African American speaker - and they're admitting that?

Whew. That's deep on so many levels.

Please. Isn't there a way to block this person who loads the comments section on EVERY post with all this upper case lower case drivel?

I am so proud of Louis Gossett Jr., and his affirmations in his faith. Also, I am so glad he is deciding to open up about his life, faith, and his commitment to family, faith, and country, and to the world.

A lovely article and lovely thoughts. I hope he can take that message to other synagogues and African American churches as well.

Lou,
PS80's basketball court and Lincoln High did some good. Congratulations!!

Anyway, Mr. Gossett.

Sorry about how this site gets... A little silly, after you took all the trouble to write that article.

I would like to caution, though, in our attempts to find common ground and an appreciation of our nation's great diversity, and an appreciation of each other, as neighbors and fellow Americans as citizens of the Earth, ...that we don't make what's common ground between any *two* given groups ...conditional upon things which in fact exclude, marginalize, and dehumanize others.

Too often what may seem like self-evident 'common family values' to one or two points of view, actually become a means to *destroy* families and friendly and mutual relationships between people.

And peoples.

A common humanity needs to be the most important, and most enduring basis for the people being united in our many common *purposes* as a nation.

"Only Jealous/lost Queers can make Fun of the 4-way Totem Pole Reality!"

Are you so sure of that, JJ? I think it could be fun for the whole family. :)

But, well, too much of anything stops being fun. Maybe you could post to fewer blogs.

*You've* been repeatedly banned from here, and the only one telling *me* to leave, ...is you.

Please remove the rambling drivel from the discussion. Seriously. What does that crap even mean?

Shabbat Shalom.

We can live without violence. We can live without prejudice. When we achieve this, we will truly be able to live by the precepts of our Pledge of Allegiance as "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Well, this sounds nice, unless you don't believe in god. Then it makes you feel kinda crummy.

The precepts of the Pledge of Allegiance indicate, 'One nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for *all.*'

'Under God' was a political move, inserted to divide 'one nation indivisible' during the Red Scare.