Dale Brown with John Calipari at a UK-LSU game last season. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Former LSU men’s basketball coach Dale Brown has never been one to shy away from sharing his thoughts on social issues in our country.
His honesty sometimes irked the NCAA but Brown always said he preferred to think with his heart over his brain, something the NCAA would not do.
He sent this to me Sunday after Saturday’s chaotic events in our country and I thought it was worth sharing:
“With all the chaos, anger, and divisiveness we are now experiencing in our country, it is imperative we unite quickly or have a total collapse of our system.
“The very first thing we need to fully comprehend is that the best potential of ME has always been WE. A perfect example of this is the Boston Celtics, no team in NBA history has won more NBA Championships. What is their secret ?
“For years the Boston Red Sox held a fellowship in their dining room atop the roof of Fenway Park. A variety of people such as rabbis, priests, and civic leaders gathered to talk about living together and the virtues of brotherhood. At one of these conclaves, the Red Sox general manager listened patiently as speaker after speaker strode to the microphone and sought to capture the essence of people helping people, working together and subjecting themselves to a common cause.
“Finally it was his turn and he said, ‘I’ve heard so many speeches today about fighting on the battlefields of war, unaware of religion and nationality and that is very impressive. Right now you are sitting in a sports building talking about learning to live together-it’s called brotherhood. May I suggest to all of us that the best example of that is right down the street from here. There is a team over there in the Boston Garden called the Boston Celtics. They’re made up of blacks and whites, Catholics and Protestants, and by the way, they’re coached by a Jew. We are all running around looking for theories and searching history for explanations, but if you want the perfect example of what we’ve been talking about today, just look at the Celtics. They found out that we do have to work together.’
“Martin Luther King profoundly stated, ‘Time is cluttered with the wreckage of communities which surrendered to hatred and violence. For the salvation of our nation and the salvation of mankind, we must follow another way. Love is the most durable power in the world. This creative force is the most potent instrument available in mankind’s quest for peace and security. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence in a descending spiral of war and must be broken. Or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.’
Everyone, including you, me, politicians, president and media must understand that our country will only function properly when we work together towards a common goal. To live by relying on one another implies a risk, but without some trust in humanity, life would be unlivable. Communities and nations will be transformed only when mankind returns to God and his purpose for us. If we are not capable of getting along with each other, then we are not capable of having a relationship with God.
“It is so very easy to feel fear, anxiety, depression, sadness, anger, hatred, hopelessness, etc. However, Dr. Harry Edwards gives us hope with his message to all of us, ‘There is no power on earth more capable of forging real change than an awakened people inspired, committed and filled with determined resolve.’
President Abraham Lincoln nearly 160 years ago said, ‘America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedom, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.’
“God bless America but wake up America or this could happen. When Alexis de Tocqueville, the great French philosopher, came to America in the 19th century, he was looking for a clue as to what made it so great. After many months of exploring most of America he summed up his trip by saying, ‘I realized how great America was because she was so good and when America ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”
Something for all of us to ponder !
5 Responses
Great article. Alot of creative aspects. Jesus said "] "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John:14 1-3
I had to memorize this verse when I went to a Christian school in the 6th grade. Beth Haven Christian School. My teacher told me if I learn anything learn this verse.
Where was Dale in the summer of 2020?
Best I remember he was offering the same kind of advice
Ok thanks.
I’ll try to find that article.