Why be Salt?

INTRO

There is a growing argument in opposition circles: whether to form a coalition behind a candidate who can win, or to stand on principle behind a candidate who may not.

It is not a new argument. Faith has wrestled with it. Movements have wrestled with it. History has bled from it.

When does goodness serve the world better as witness— and when must it learn to serve as force?

By Vincent R. Pozon

The god I pray to
has a commandment
that furrows my brow
whenever I meet it:
that we be salt of the earth
and labor to influence
the flavor of the lot

‘I dissent’

why be salt when
you can be the many,
the wheat,
the venison,
the viand?

why fight city hall
when you can win buy-in?

when copywriters,
the gods of markets,
can move mountains,
sell bitter pills as blessing,
give wings to the weak
and the heretofore unsold,
so they may fly out of shelves,
out of stores, out of malls,
when shapers of the public mind
can shake governments
elect presidents,
make many of minorities,

why only dissent when
we can multiply,
be wings to coalitions?

why, Lord, must we groan
into tomorrow
when we can gallop?

write majority opinions instead?