The Policeman and the Professor

"We agreed to move forward," Crowley said Thursday night when asked if anything was solved in the meeting. "I think what you had today was two gentlemen agreeing to disagree on a particular issue. I don't think that we spent too much time dwelling on the past. We spent a lot of time discussing the future."

For his part, Gates said he and Crowley had been caught up as characters in a larger narrative about race over which they had no control.

"It is incumbent upon Sgt. Crowley and me to utilize the great opportunity that fate has given us," Gates said in a statement. He said their task must be to foster sympathy among Americans about "the daily perils of policing on the one hand, and for the genuine fears of racial profiling on the other hand."

Although Obama had invited Crowley and Gates as part of what he called a "teachable moment," it wasn't quite reachable for the masses. The coverage allowed the public to get the we've-come-together photos and video footage that the White House wanted, while keeping the discussion private among the men.

Thomas Jackson: Lord, from where you sit

you can see the great distance...

...that separates our Southern men

from their wives and children.

We pray that you watch over our families.

Lord, I ask you to watch over

Jim Lewis' family...

...over his friends, his loved ones,

wherever they may be.

Jim Lewis: Lord, I know you sees

into the hearts of all men...

...just like you sees into the heart

of old Jim Lewis.

And, Lord, I know there's

no lying or deceitfulness...

...can hide from you.

You find the truth...

...in the bottom of the deepest pit

of darkness.

There be no hiding from your truth

and your ever-watchful eye.

Amen.

How is it, Lord?

Can you explain something

to this old Virginia man?

How is it a good Christian man...

...like some folks I know...

...can tolerate their black brothers

in bondage?

How is it, Lord, they don't just...

...break them chains?

How is it, Lord?

My heart is open and aching.

And I wants to know.

Thomas Jackson: Lord, speak to us.

Speak to your children.

Speak to Jim Lewis and Thomas Jackson,

your humble and obedient servants.

Speak to all of us.

Our hearts are open.

Lord, you show us the way,

we will follow.

Amen.

Jim Lewis: Amen.

General "Stonewall" Thomas Jackson and his cook, Jim Lewis

in Gods and Generals.

Thomas Jackson's dying words:

Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.

And the kingdom of priests, and the kingdom of the spirit, will continue to strive with each other until the kingdom, and Mashiach, come.