In one of the most poignant scenes from the film “On the
Waterfront”, Karl Malden delivers one of the all-time great sermons ever captured on screen. Father Barry, portrayed by Malden in the film, has taken an oath to
stand by one of the men who has agreed to testify against the mobsters who
control the waterfront. When that man is killed Father Barry steps up to the
plate and tells the truth about the corruption that mires the world all around
him.
In the 6 decades since this film was released many
things have changed. Technologically we have eclipsed some of our wildest
dreams, yet there is still a vacant spot in our hearts and souls. And the
problems always come back to the same point of origin; greed and vanity.
That’s
right, vanity. For what can be more vain than to think that your life; your
needs, your desires; are more worthy of fulfillment than another’s? Until you
can answer that question honestly, and without prevarication, then we will
never grow to our true height as a civilized society.
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