Avinu sh’ba’shamayim – God, our Parent up in Heaven…
Avinu sh’ba’aretz – God, our Parent here on Earth…
We need you now. We are lost and broken.
There is violence and hooliganism, even in our Halls of Greatest Power. Throughout history, we Americans have seen wars on other shores, and coups in other capitols. Now our own sins have come home to roost.
For years now we have looked the other way, told ourselves to be patient as the Rule of Law was thwarted, systems were skirted, good people intimidated into silence, expertise and science themselves devalued, individual citizens discarded in the face of Big Money and Corporate Interests. Now that threat – the threat to our entire Democracy – has pierced the veil of the shared good, the national interest. Out of one, many.
Please safeguard all those who work in the Capitol from bodily harm. Please safeguard the work of the Capitol – the work of democracy and justice – and this great Land of ours.
Oseh shalom bimromav, Hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu – May the One who makes peace in the heavenly heights make peace amongst us, here on earth, here in this place.