CRACKING the MONOLITH

The Struggle for the Soul of America

A Peace and Justice Manifesto

William W. Rankin

My novelist friend Anne Lamott once referred to the remote centers of political power, seemingly impenetrable and aloof, as "the monolith." She had in mind an image of a place, or constellation of locations, in our coun-try where the wealthy importune the powerful, and decisions are made that structure society to the advantage of the privileged and the disadvaň-tage of others.

A monolith, literally, is a single stone; as a metaphor for impassive power, the term evokes shades of Kafka. Feelings of helplessness before this are all but inevitable. Unchallenged, however, they induce our collusion with the status quo. We need, instead, active engagement with the justice and peace-making imperatives central to the Christian affirmation.

from the Introduction