Monday, March 18, AD 2024 9:18pm

Saint Thomas More on the Zimmerman Case

Sir Thomas More: You threaten like a dockside bully.

Cromwell: How should I threaten?

Sir Thomas More: Like a minister of state. With justice.

Cromwell: Oh, justice is what you’re threatened with.

Sir Thomas More: Then I am not threatened.

Robert Bolt, A Man for all Seasons

 

 

Roger Kimball has a good piece of commentary at Pajamas Media citing Saint Thomas More in reference to the Zimmerman case:

That’s not stopping the race mongers, of course. For them, the death of Trayvon Martin is an allegory of how America is a racist society. If only they could take a break from their race baiting histrionics to watch an improving film, The Man for All Seasons (1966), for example.  A friend, pondering the spectacle of race hatred on view in the aftermath of the Zimmerman trial, sent me these exchanges from the movie:

William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!

Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?

William Roper: Yes, I’d cut down every law in England to do that!

Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned ’round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man’s laws, not God’s! And if you cut them down, and you’re just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!

And this:

Margaret More: Father, that man’s bad.

Sir Thomas More: There’s no law against that.

William Roper: There is: God’s law.

Sir Thomas More: Then God can arrest him.

 

As  in the Zimmerman case, Saint Thomas found himself on trial for political reasons masquerading as a criminal prosecution.  When the law is thus prostituted for political ends, none of us are safe or free.

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mary De Voe
Wednesday, July 17, AD 2013 6:38pm

“The Constitution is the last refuge of the reprobate.” Author unknown.

Rich Morales
Rich Morales
Thursday, July 18, AD 2013 7:54am

When one chooses violence in answer to a perceived affront there will always be consequences.

trackback
Thursday, July 18, AD 2013 11:49am

[…] – Cindy Wooden The Vatican Bank Is Rocked by Scandal Again – David Willey, BBC Saint Thomas More on the Zimmerman Case – Donald R. McClarey JD, TAC Disabled Babies, Moms & Men: Can We Please Love Them All […]

Discover more from The American Catholic

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Scroll to Top