The tragic open secret of
a political party's fabri-
cation of religious perse-
cution, on the basis of a
failure of its bigotries,
is not remotely only an A-
merican dilemma. But it's
also not a proud American
tradition, unless we mean
the term as Homer did, as
the harbinger of contempt.
If others in the same glass better see,
'Tis for themselves they look, but not for me:
For my salvation must its doom receive
Not from what others, but what I believe.
I'd go into the dock with
Dryden, before all the Ju-
lius Streichers ever call-
ed to lead their movement.
John Dryden
Steven N. Zwicker and
David Bywaters, editors
Selected Poems
Religio Laici
1682
Penguin Books, 2001©
op. cit.
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