Imagine a world in which there are no self-centered, terrible people. A world in which diversity, equality, inclusion were a given, so ingrained in its culture that to state it is unnecessary, redundant, obvious. An eyebrow raiser. A world in which “pro-life” was not “pro-birth,” but was, rather, a 90-plus year commitment. People would, along the way, learn respect and care for their fellow humans.
Without terrible people, industries that manufacture vaults for banks, locks for businesses, for doors, lockers, cars, would not be required. Security companies, which employ so many, would be rendered completely unnecessary. Lawyers, both prosecutors and defense, as well as judges, would be for the most part relegated to roles of mediation, and far fewer would be required. Police would be responding to medical emergencies, natural disasters, removing cats from trees. There would be no need to spend fortunes on constructing and staffing jails, prisons. Products of the movie and publishing industries would be dull without unimaginable, evil antagonists. Professions structured around rehabilitation of criminals would be rendered meaningless, useless, unnecessary. Armies and armaments would be unnecessary. So much money. So many jobs.
Many forms of insurance would be pared down, as would many forms of emergency services, if all that existed, through global education and caring parents, were decent people. Computer and phone scams, designed to rip the foundations from beneath those who have worked and saved for a lifetime, and which support, through their existence, all sorts of online guardian companies, would not exist, and on the scamming front, would not provide a livelihood for the myriad of people manning the millions of phones and computers in pursuing that end. (“Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger, A brotherhood of man.”)
Religions, responsible for so many conflicts now and through history, would, somehow, if approached with reason rather than belief and emotion, realize that the golden rule exists in each of their foundational texts. Treat others as you would wish to be treated. (“Imagine there’s no countries, It isn’t hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion, too.”)
So much of civilization is structured around dealing with terrible people. Considering this, DEI and indeed decency in all its forms, were people truly educated in this, would run counter to so many agencies and societal structures and means of income that support so many people. (“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one, I hope someday you’ll join us, And the world will live as one.”)
How could we ever afford decency? Still, if you are one of the decent ones, take to heart John Lennon’s “Imagine.”
Robert Greene
Detroit
Texas recently mandated children’s Bible stories and verses as required reading for K-12 schools.The just outcry is that this mandate violates the U.S. Constitution, which bars the U.S. Congress prohibiting the free exercise of religion and forbids favoring one religion over others.
However, what happens when people who claim they are people of faith have no faith in faith, and therefore, try to teach religion as secular science or literature, the result is a tragic consequence? And this consequence is the logical conclusion that is the opposite to what the zealots intended. For younger children, the Texas Board of Education mandates the teaching of Daniel and the lion’s den, Noah’s ark, and David and Goliath, all with an embedded Christian lens. These stories will now be taught alongside beloved favorites as “Pete the Cat” and “Elephant and Piggie.”
Students in higher grades are to learn Biblical passages such as the Beatitudes along with the literature of Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Shakespeare. Literary discussions in school involve critical thinking. Plot, character development and effective narration are analyzed. Literature serves as a lens to illuminate what is happening in society at the time and to debate its current relevance. Julie Pickren, a Republican member of the Texas education board, stated (apparently without irony) that the chosen Biblical readings are meant to provide “important insight into the moral and philosophical traditions that have shaped Western civilization.”
So, when students read the Beatitudes, that state “blessed are the merciful …” there will be discussion about a president, his party and a U.S. Supreme Court that stopped SNAP benefits to feed America’s hungry children. Students will discuss the hypocrisy of those teaching “blessed are the peacemakers …” while supporting an administration that starts a war of choice and disrupts families and neighborhoods by flooding them with ICE thugs. What guidance has the Texas Board of Education provided to those who teach “all those who lift themselves up will be made humble. And those who make themselves humble will be lifted up” while supporting a president who spends millions of taxpayers’ dollars on vanity projects?
The unintended consequence of the Texas mandate to teach Bible stories in public schools is that students will no longer search for the New Testament in the religion section of their libraries and bookstores. They will look in fiction.
Linda Levy
Farmington Hills
Republicans in Texas recently passed a law that goes against the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. They now require that every public school student read and have lessons about Bible stories for each school year. One of the freedoms that the First Amendment guarantees for all Americans is freedom of religion.
Republicans claim that they are not establishing a religion by making Bible reading mandatory, but in the same breath state that it shouldn’t be an issue, since we are a “Christian nation” anyway. Conservatives, who profess to love the Constitution and our Founders, need to be reminded that we are not a “Christian nation.” In fact, one of the main reasons that colonists originally came over from England was to avoid religious persecution.
This tenet was then codified by our founders when they wrote the Constitution. We started as a secular nation deliberately, to guard against having a country that was run by one certain religion, as the British monarchy was. Religious freedom is one of the most basic American principles. We more or less invented it. However, in just 250 short years, we are continuing down an ever more slippery slope that may lead to our losing this freedom. As the saying goes, “freedom isn’t free.” We have to remain vigilant and continue to fight for this essential American liberty.
Bryan Chase
Huntington Woods
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Last modified: July 19, 2026
