TakeFive ... by Tom Eggebeen

A Mother's Letter ...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 21:44:00 +0000

A Mother’s Letter to a Daughter Who Supports Trump

Honey, I can be in the same conversation with you and your sisters and not be able to get one word in. So I just sit and listen. How many times have my daughters told me ‘You’re probably right mom, but I’m doing it anyway’.

You said you had called to just say I love you. Have I ever doubted that you do? Have I ever made politics a condition of my love for my family? I’m old, I have a few years left to enjoy my children and theirs. Does anyone actually believe I care so deeply for issues for my own sake only?

It’s not just abortion. It’s health care, Medicare, Medicaid, Defense, Education, Safety regulations, Climate concerns, human rights, and every single other service the citizens of this country depend on - programs for the poor, for aiding and assisting women with children, for a woman’s right to get paid the same as her male counterparts, for the homeless and for the veterans of wars our soldiers should never have had to fight, and on and on. You will watch corporations and CEOs grab up billions of dollars as programs collapse for lack of funding and federal and state support.

Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: “And on day one, I will sign a new executive order to cut federal funding for any school pushing Critical Race Theory, and I will not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate or a mask mandate.”

Without vaccines, as his proposed pick for the health department head does not 'believe' in vaccines, this country will open up to death on a greater scale than any other pandemic or plague that's come before.

How I feel about Trump is fully justified after inhabiting the same planet with him for 76 years. He was raised by a crook, and has always been a crook. He has catered to his own pleasures and passions with no regard for the needs of anyone else. He uses and tosses away women with a wave of his hand. He is and always has been, evil personified.

What about the people the man holds up as good examples of leadership? Putin, Kim Jong Un, Netanyahu… It’s not just a myth that birds of a feather tend to flock together.

Have I ever said that about any other President? Not even Nixon. At least Nixon was somewhat acquiescent and resigned.

Have I ever said we are headed for disaster before? Have I forsaken my country before because of its leadership that I didn’t agree with?

You girls adored my mother. She was everything we admire and hope to be. She spoke with authority because of her years of service to others. She nursed our soldiers in England during WWII. She wasn’t a nurse to make money, she genuinely loved making people well, to help them recover from disease and illness. When she retired after 45 years of nursing, she volunteered in the community and at the hospital. She donated to worthy causes. She inspired in you the call to service to your Country. I bet if she was telling my family the truths about the Trump men she knew of, they would be listening.

For 33 years, my ex-husband made it clear to me that my thoughts and ideas were worth a pinch of salt in a sewer.

No, I’m not educated, but I am not without an understanding of human nature. I see the man you believe could not call someone you respect ‘losers and suckers’ as the worst possible human being to lead this Country. He is bent on spewing lies; he will disparage and ruin the reputations and livelihoods of those who oppose him. He will try to free his corrupt cronies from prison, and work to free the men and women who attacked the US Capitol at his request on Jan 6, 2021. He will divide and conquer.

But the people have spoken. This is what they want. What they celebrate as a victory is to me defeat.

I no longer have a Country, nor can I rest my hand over my heart and pledge my allegiance to a flag under which that man stands promoting division between its citizenry. I do not and will never honor that man with the title of president, and I will go to my grave trusting my instinct on this.

The Country I have always loved opened its arms to the poor and to those who had no hope! Lady Liberty needs to be torn down as she no longer holds the hearts and dreams of those seeking freedom and refuge from tyranny. Send away the French, Irish, Italians, Germans, British, Arabs, Jews, Blacks, Asians, Mexicans, Spanish, Catholics, and scores of others who have become her loyal and devoted citizens.

I will no longer be a threat to those who call me a libtard and moron for the votes I’ve cast for human rights for all, for all citizens to be seen as equals in this Country because I will not vote again.

I will mourn over the graves of those who fought with their service and lives to spare us from the likes of Hitler wannabes and beg for their forgiveness for us coming full circle to everything they fought against.

I will pray for my loved ones, as they are now all I have left in this world.

You refuse to capitulate to doom and gloom. Up until November 5th, 2024, I had hope.

It's in your and your children’s generation's hands now; whatever good comes will be your crowns, whatever bad, you will have to fix.

But never, ever, believe that I would say any of this without hearing me first say that I fear for my family's future as much as did your grandparents when they joined the Allies to fight Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese empire in WWII.

And, although I believe you do not recognize the weight of the consequences of the election outcome, I do understand that you did not grow up in the post-war emphasis on reconstruction of our country and others who had been threatened with their whole infrastructures being destroyed. The United States of America rebuilt Germany, and Japan, and gave aid to every country destroyed in the war. Democracy was the single goal and intent, to the end that dictators would never get a foothold in the door again. We were taught, even as your grandparents struggled to keep mind, body, and soul together, to love one another, to feed the poor, to shelter the homeless, to spread hope and cheer to all, regardless of any, and all differences we may have. And they did. They gave their resources, time, energy, and whatever they could get by without, to ensure the safety of our borders from forces from inside and out that weren't hungry for food and shelter, but were madmen seeking our destruction.

We made an advance in being altruistic; we had come to realize that sticking our heads in the sand, not shouldering the responsibilities of fighting evil for others the same as we would for ourselves, would lead to the ruination of our own Country’s freedoms. We never, ever believed that our country was in danger of being overtaken to be ruled by dictators.

But Pearl Harbor put an end to that fantasy. And changed how we viewed our country, no longer just an island alone, an indestructible fortress, but a member of a global world.

Trump and his party of right-wing fascists want none of what I was raised on. You won't give much heed to it as it wafts insidiously through the cracks engulfing first the poor and the hungry, because propaganda will turn your head. I hope when the elderly in your life start to tell you of the increase in their troubles, that you'll see some of it, but most in this country will shout hoorah and good riddance to what we once held dear.

All I can end with is that I love you and my family more than life itself. That I could carelessly mislead you or any of them is not in my character, let alone my want. I just want to be left be to live out my remaining years in peace, and I see little of that on the horizon.

Published with permission of the author!

Endorsement of Kamala Harris for President - The Atlantic Magazine, Oct. 10, 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 22:49:00 +0000

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰’𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀, 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗡𝗼 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀. 𝗢𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱—𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘅 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗵𝗲’𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗳 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀. 𝗛𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀.

𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟱. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽’𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗴𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗼, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀.

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘁, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀—𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟱𝟳. 𝗪𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟲𝟬 (𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗻𝗼𝘁, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟲𝟰). 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗕. 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗜𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟲, 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟰. 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟰 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘇𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁.

𝗢𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀, 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗼𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗿-𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁. “𝗪𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆,” 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟲𝟬. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿’𝘀 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗼𝘅 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀, 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀’𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺, 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀. 𝗦𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿, 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽’𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀. 𝗡𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆’𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰, 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲-𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗰𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗱. 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀’𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽’𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵—𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱𝗹𝘆. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻, 𝗕𝗼𝗯 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗲, 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀. 𝗪𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮, 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗽𝗵 𝗡𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟬—𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽, 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆, 𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻; 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀; 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟭𝟴𝟲𝟬 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, “𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀.” 𝗜𝗻 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.

𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘅 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. 𝗜𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗺𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘅 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲, 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗢𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁, 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Oct 2024 13:40:00 +0000

October 26, 2024
HEATHER COX RICHARDSON
OCT 26, 2024

Beginning in 1943, the War Department published a series of pamphlets for U.S. Army personnel in the European theater of World War II. Titled Army Talks, the series was designed “to help [the personnel] become better-informed men and women and therefore better soldiers.”

On March 24, 1945, the topic for the week was “FASCISM!”

“You are away from home, separated from your families, no longer at a civilian job or at school and many of you are risking your very lives,” the pamphlet explained, “because of a thing called fascism.” But, the publication asked, what is fascism? “Fascism is not the easiest thing to identify and analyze,” it said, “nor, once in power, is it easy to destroy. It is important for our future and that of the world that as many of us as possible understand the causes and practices of fascism, in order to combat it.”

Fascism, the U.S. government document explained, “is government by the few and for the few. The objective is seizure and control of the economic, political, social, and cultural life of the state.” “The people run democratic governments, but fascist governments run the people.”

“The basic principles of democracy stand in the way of their desires; hence—democracy must go! Anyone who is not a member of their inner gang has to do what he’s told. They permit no civil liberties, no equality before the law.” “Fascism treats women as mere breeders. ‘Children, kitchen, and the church,’ was the Nazi slogan for women,” the pamphlet said.

Fascists “make their own rules and change them when they choose…. They maintain themselves in power by use of force combined with propaganda based on primitive ideas of ‘blood’ and ‘race,’ by skillful manipulation of fear and hate, and by false promise of security. The propaganda glorifies war and insists it is smart and ‘realistic’ to be pitiless and violent.”

Fascists understood that “the fundamental principle of democracy—faith in the common sense of the common people—was the direct opposite of the fascist principle of rule by the elite few,” it explained, “[s]o they fought democracy…. They played political, religious, social, and economic groups against each other and seized power while these groups struggled.”

Americans should not be fooled into thinking that fascism could not come to America, the pamphlet warned; after all, “[w]e once laughed Hitler off as a harmless little clown with a funny mustache.” And indeed, the U.S. had experienced “sorry instances of mob sadism, lynchings, vigilantism, terror, and suppression of civil liberties. We have had our hooded gangs, Black Legions, Silver Shirts, and racial and religious bigots. All of them, in the name of Americanism, have used undemocratic methods and doctrines which…can be properly identified as ‘fascist.’”

The War Department thought it was important for Americans to understand the tactics fascists would use to take power in the United States. They would try to gain power “under the guise of ‘super-patriotism’ and ‘super-Americanism.’” And they would use three techniques:

First, they would pit religious, racial, and economic groups against one another to break down national unity. Part of that effort to divide and conquer would be a “well-planned ‘hate campaign’ against minority races, religions, and other groups.”

Second, they would deny any need for international cooperation, because that would fly in the face of their insistence that their supporters were better than everyone else. “In place of international cooperation, the fascists seek to substitute a perverted sort of ultra-nationalism which tells their people that they are the only people in the world who count. With this goes hatred and suspicion toward the people of all other nations.”

Third, fascists would insist that “the world has but two choices—either fascism or communism, and they label as ‘communists’ everyone who refuses to support them.”

It is “vitally important” to learn to spot native fascists, the government said, “even though they adopt names and slogans with popular appeal, drape themselves with the American flag, and attempt to carry out their program in the name of the democracy they are trying to destroy.”

The only way to stop the rise of fascism in the United States, the document said, “is by making our democracy work and by actively cooperating to preserve world peace and security.” In the midst of the insecurity of the modern world, the hatred at the root of fascism “fulfills a triple mission.” By dividing people, it weakens democracy. “By getting men to hate rather than to think,” it prevents them “from seeking the real cause and a democratic solution to the problem.” By falsely promising prosperity, it lures people to embrace its security.

“Fascism thrives on indifference and ignorance,” it warned. Freedom requires “being alert and on guard against the infringement not only of our own freedom but the freedom of every American. If we permit discrimination, prejudice, or hate to rob anyone of his democratic rights, our own freedom and all democracy is threatened.”

—

Notes:

https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=armytalks

War Department, “Army Talk 64: FASCISM!” March 24, 1945, at https://archive.org/details/ArmyTalkOrientationFactSheet64-Fascism/mode/2up

9.20.24 My Faith and My Politics

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 03:49:00 +0000

I was a Christian long before I became political ... God was in my life from the beginning ... I knew that ... a Presence, kind and loving, always there, for little Tommy Eggebeen.

I was a Christian long before I became political.

And when I became political, it flowed out of my heart, full of the Christ that lived, and still lives, in my heart.

Was I good little boy?

Hardly ... and I'm still far from good ... but God is as close to me as ever ... "I am with you always!" ... and that's the light of my life, it's my hope, and my peace, in the midst of this and that and everything else.

My commitment to Democracy grows out of my earliest commitments to Christ ... my sense of compassion for the bruised and the beaten flows from the love and grace of Christ ... my commitment to good government working for all the people flows from God's creation purpose - a love for all, a desire to redeem and make everything new ... can I be any less in my world view than God?

All that I am politically flows from all that I have always been in Christ, "before the foundation of the world" ... primordially, eternally, and infinitely.

I was, and am, and will be a Christian, by the grace of God, the very same grace I believe embodied in our best dreams and highest virtues ...

I've a long way to go, and so does my nation, and on this side of the great divide of time and eternity, we may never fully reach the goal, but I'm not about to give up, I'm not about to surrender my values, I'm not about to go backward into the darkness, but forward into the light.

So help me God ... Father, Son and Holy Spirit ... Mother, Daughter, and Divine Love ... Creator, Redeemer, and Giver of Life ... Above, Within, and Beyond.

A Poem a Day - who are these people?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 13:50:00 +0000

Most mornings, I begin with poetry, from an anthology, "A Poem a Day" - I've used this book since 2002, so I've read many of these poems before, if I get to it, which I do, most mornings, though there have been years in between when the book was on the bottom of a book pile, so no poems read, other than other poems and other books. With little margin notes, and smiley faces, or frowning.

Anyway, the upshot of this little note is this: the world is full of good and creative folk who sought, through poetry, to make sense of life, to offer good counsel, or complaint - to squeeze the fruit for all its worth - to get the last drop of bitterness or sweetness outta it ... to laugh and cry and moan and groan, or something like that.

Furthermore, many of them are unknown to me, so a quick tour of Wiki, and there they are - someone has written a note about them, maybe a short notice, or pages and pages ...

I think of me - why not?

And, you, too ... of course.

Laboring away ... we build our sand castles ... we do this instinctively ... it's in our DNA ... a castle that welcomes and provides, celebrates and stands strong ... in time, every castle is washed away ... but the gift remains ... something good, wise, decent, provocative, inventive, conciliatory, wise, or not, has been given, and that which is given, for the sake of life, is added to the energy of the universe - it is not lost, but incorporated, into the stars.

G.I. Joe

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:21:00 +0000

G.I. Joe …

A vast story line of women and men and their struggle to preserve the world, defend freedom, practice honor, and lift up the weary and the weak.

A remarkable pilgrimage through 50 years of story telling, where courage and hope shake hands, to form a dynamic partnership empowering the vision of good and decent world.

A world threatened by Cobra and similar forces bent upon domination and control, willing to destroy what they can’t have, and more than eager to take whatever they can, evil feeding upon the death of freedom, a curious madness of desire, that religions of various sorts might label “sin” - the darker elements of life present, perhaps, in all human beings, to some extent, and in some, reigning supreme.

The Bible says, in so many words, where there is sin, there is grace, and where there is sin all the more, grace all the more abounds.

This is the stuff of great story telling, and if religion can be characterized at all, I choose to call it Story.

Like any great story, from Melville’s Moby Dick, with Ahab’s fixation on a white whale, to the more popular writing of Edgar Rice Burroughs, with his Tarzan stories, and John Carter of Mars.

Joseph Conrad’s The Heart of Darkness, from which the film, Apocalypse Now was created … evil abounds, it’s all mixed up into the fabric of heat, despair, loneliness, and desire.

In my youth, the Western stories of Zane Grey - where the heroes are genuine men of valor, often misunderstood, putting their lives on the line for the women they come to love, their families, justice and peace, to stave off the evil schemes of rustlers, rubbers, grifters and con-men.

And one of my childhood favorites: The Hardy Boys - daring adventure, sons of the the world famous detective, Fenton Hardy … along with their friends - always coming upon crime of various sorts, and with courage and diligence, a commitment to doing what’s right, the Hardy Boys solve the crimes, the culprits apprehended, and duly punished.

The struggle between good and evil, with the lines often blurred, as the one force intermingles with the other, and vice versa, much like the ancient Ying Yang symbol … a reminder, perhaps uncomfortable, but important, and real: that a simple binary image of life, good vs. evil, fails the test of reality.

In truth, these elements are intertwined with one another, and embedded in each other - an image of social forces, and the human soul.

The images can be expanded in meaning to include all the polar opposites of life - hot and cold, youth and age, wisdom and foolishness, life and death, time and eternity, the courage of the Joe’s and the hatred of Cobra. Yet, within each, the Joe’s are always tempted by violence - the challenge, of course, is how to use violence without succumbing to it’s allure - the Joe’s are physically strong, with the finest equipment and training available to the forces of freedom. The world’s literature, including religious readings, are full of how the good succumbed to the temptations, the allure, the heady exaltation of a bloody victory, until the soul reaches a point when the shedding of blood becomes no longer a means to peace, but a means to satisfy the blood lust inherent, in one degree or the other, in every living creature.

That is, to conquer or be conquered, to kill or be killed. Even the Hebrew Scriptures, Ecclesiastes’ preacher, Kohelet, says:

a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up …

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

The Apostle Paul speaks of the same dynamic when he writes, in a moment of humble confession and honest self-appraisal:

Woe is me … who can deliver me from this body of death … the good I want to do, I don’t do … and the evil I don’t want to do, I do.

Ying Yang all over the place … in all the religions of the world, and in all great literature.

It makes for big stories, the very stories told by the gifted writers, led by Larry Hama (a Vietnam veteran) who over the last 40 years has written more than 400 Joe stories … and all the talented artists who’ve made G.I. Joe a living witness to humanity’s best and our worst - the need for greatness, greatness in character, loyalty, vision, and sacrifice.

I think of all the great stores of the last 100 years that have captured so much of our attention, our affection, our love, our study and meditation.

Harry Potter, for example - one story after the other, all centered in the great virtues of kindness, loyalty, love, devotion, caution, mindfulness, self-understanding, humility, sorrow and compassion.

The Star Wars world, much the same, with Luke and his father representing the Ying Yang tug of war - with anger being the portal to the Dark Side, an all-consuming evil bent on destroying all those who stand in its way toward total conquest.

And the classic masterpiece of Tolkien, The LORD of the Rings, with Gollum, the poor creature totally ensnared in the hate of “the one ring to rule them all,” and Bilbo and ultimately Frodo who are threatened by the same power, but ultimately prevail over it, because of virtue, goodness, kindness, and the power of working together for a common good.

From LORD of the Rings: Galadriel speaking to Frodo

But even now there is hope left. I will not give you counsel, saying do the, or do that. For not in doing or contriving, nor in choosing between this course and another, can I avail; but only in knowing what was and is and in part also what shall be. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true.

“While the Company is true” … it couldn’t be better said of G.I. Joe and Company - remain true to one another, save one another, work with and for one another - while the “folks back home” like to think of their soldiers carrying the weight of freedom and defending their homes, in reality, in combat and the rigors of war, it’s not the “lofty” thoughts that compel a soldier, but the immediate thoughts of comrades … those with whom they’re fighting, the guy in the trench, the fox hole, right next to you … you know his name, and you know that he can depend on you, because you won’t fail, and you know that you can depend on him, because he won’t fail, either.

From Gettysburg to Ukraine, soldiers fight for one another, and that’s how they fight for us!

The power of the Company …

Behind the immediate work, toil and hardship, the larger purpose, the first purpose … it may not be on the mind at any given moment, but it’s the compelling power behind those who command, who see the maps, and weigh the larger strategic issues, one against the other, bearing the burden of potential loss, and the hope for victory.

Behind everything, the first purpose - to preserve the world of freedom, democracy, human dignity and the rights of all to seek life, to do their best, to make something of themselves, to find their place in the world, as life has given life to them.

Or, as I might say in a sermon, As God has given life to life, so preserve it, with all your might … and more specially, is this not love?

To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. Everything, says Jesus, hangs on these two commandments.

Ultimate purpose - the universe, God, the final mystery and power of the stars - gives life … receive it with joy, protect it for all, enlarge upon it, and pass it on.

It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened.

But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why.

But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand.I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going, because they were holding on to something.

That there is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.

There is good, there is evil … and there’s no value in denying the reality of evil.

As Serpentor says:

Know that I am the one you seek! I am the one born to rule, destined to conquer! Let those who fear me follow me. Let those who oppose me die! For I am Serpentor, and this I command!

Saving grace … that which keeps the Company true … loyalty to the great dreams of America …

That which keeps the violence in check … a necessary violence.

It’s dangerous to speak of “necessary violence” in defense of freedom, but do we have a choice.

I’m a pacifist of sorts, but not an absolutist …

I think of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German theologian who finally decided, that for the sake of loving his nation and seeking the greater good, he could no longer stand by and watch his nation plunge ever deeper into the maelstrom of hate. So he joined forces with some family members and friends in the military, all opposed to Hitler, to engage in a plot to assassinate Hitler, the bomb plot, which ultimately failed, and in its failure, the Nazis were able to identify the perpetrators, arrest them, and murder them.

Bonhoeffer knew that his participation in the bomb plot was a step toward evil, but a necessary violence to save the nation from further bloodshed and destruction.

The question of a “just war” comes into play, and I will say, clearly, that such a notion is fraught with danger, especially as nations, driven by self-interest, can easily dress up their little wars, or big wars, of conquest.

I have no doubt that WW1 and WW2 qualify as “good wars” to defeat the forces of imperialism (WW1) and fascism and militarism (WW2) … but the war in Vietnam, for example, was a misconstrual if ever there was one … perhaps the first invasion of Iraq was justified, and when Saddam was ousted, the war ended. The second invasion, because of alleged “weapons of mass destruction” was a mistake, at least in my judgment.

But the point is clear: history is a mixed bag.

In the stories of ancient Israel, we have King Saul, a decent sort of guy, but unqualified to lead … then along comes King David, a gifted, brilliant leader, but also a man of cruelty and craven character. After him, his son Solomon, noted for his wisdom, but in the end, imposing upon his people the harshest kind rule.

As Bonhoeffer himself said (my summary): Rarely can we choose between good and bad … most of our choices are between good and good, or bad and bad.”

It’s not a clear, clean, world in which we live … we need police, we need armies, we need the means to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Can the very means of protection run amok?

Of course they can.

Police brutality … or a jaded foreign policy … it can all go south in a hurry. It shows up in the Joes, too … the killing of others, in defense of liberty and truth, takes a huge toll on the human spirit. Yet the Joes ward off the worst of it and maintain their balance.

In terms of the American government, a strong and healthy civilian leadership balances the inherent dangers faced by the military. It’s a solid working relationship vital to the wellbeing of our nation - a strong military and a wise civilian leadership … when it works well, it works to the advantage of liberty and justice, and provides both a context of restraint for the military, and, at the same time, reminds the civilian leadership to not “lag in zeal” when it comes to protecting democracy.

G.I. Joe is the quintessential message of necessary evil in this world of ours, a violence that can be kept in check by loyalty, patriotism (not nationalism, please), and a willingness to sacrifice life and limb for the purposes of democracy and freedom.

There is a fundamental reality here lifted up in all the Joe stories: strength for the sake of freedom, and never for its own sake.

This is the spirituality of the Joe story … and the heart of the Christian message … Jesus, if you will, life and limb given for the sake of creation, to preserve its goodness and peace … no holding back on this purpose - life given totally for the sake of others.

Spirituality?

Religion?

Of course - all woven together in the good stories of G.I. Joe, in the brilliant writing of gifted story tellers and in the artists who bring it all to life.

Two Things Sadden Me

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 May 2024 16:34:00 +0000

Two things sadden me ...

1) that present-day politics should be riddled

with women and men of such low character -

skilled in the nonsense of empty prattle,

given to lies and brutal imagery,

their own lives marked by suspicion of and/or outright corruption,

and

2) the millions of American who laud them,

who confuse their foolish claims

and belligerent buffoonery

with greatness and courage ...

and the millions of christians

who believe that such leaders will give them

their theocratic dreams,

which they may well do,

but all such theocratic dreams

of the past

have proven to be nothing more

than nightmares.

The laws of the universe make it abundantly clear:

Those laws guarantee the failure of all such foolishness.

A passion for faith gone bad.

An ambition that partners with death.

A zealotry willing to sell its soul to the lowest bidder.

Ordination Anniversary - 54th

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 16:20:00 +0000

This day, January 27,1970, at First Presbyterian Church of Holland, MI, the Rev. Bill Burd and others laid hands upon me in the rite of ordination.

A lot of water under the bridge, or over the dam, but the weight of those hands remain ...

I look back, mostly with gratitude, some regrets, memories of pain, and countless discoveries, books read, committee meetings, long days, pastoral calling, sermons preached, love given and received.

And the heart of it all, God's grace, with a giant share of that grace embodied in Donna M. Geurkink Eggebeen, who's put up with much, forgiven even more, and walked with me, and talked with me, all along the way.

With a family who made the journey with me - my dear children, and now a granddaughter ... all of whom are making the world a better place.

Would I change anything?

Why?

Because here I am ... now retired, living at Monte Vista Grove Homes and still working, of all places, Pasadena, CA - fulfilling, as best as I can, the promises I made, and honoring the trust bequeathed to me in the weight of those good hands, 54 years ago.

Middle East ...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 18:59:00 +0000

Concerns Re the Middle East

~ The Rev. Dr. Tom Eggebeen ~

In the midst of all the “news,” from one perspective or the other, it’s difficult, at best, to appreciate the complexities of the conflict. With this essay, I give expression to my understanding of the issues involved, and I hope it helps you, the reader, to better understand and think about the challenges of peace in the Middle East. I’m grateful to my friend and colleague, the Rev. Dr. Gary Sattler, whose comments, corrections, and additions have made this piece ever so much the better!

None is righteous, no, not one!

So notes the Apostle Paul!

In all such things, wherein folks, or nations, or any other entity, try to claim the high moral ground, Paul’s sweeping generalization helps to set the record straight and put us on the right footing.

With the cease fire in effect, as I write, we have a chance to clear our own thinking and come to grips with the reality of the struggle since 1948, the founding of the State of Israel - in a land that had been under the jurisdiction of the Assyrian Empire (721 bce), the Babylonian Empire, Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, then the Byzantine Empire, until 634 CE, when the area was taken by Muslim armies from Arabia and then, finally, the Ottoman Empire; after WW1 and the defeat of the Ottomans (who had sided with the Austro-Hungarian and German nations), Palestine fell under British rule mandated by the Allies. With the inception of State of Israel, 1948, upwards of 300,000 Palestinians lost their land and their homes.

Meanwhile, across Christian lands, anti-semitism grew (it’s a long and horrible story) - Jews were labeled “Christ Killers” … and subject to repeated, sporadic, and sometimes horrendous pogroms - culminating in the Holocaust. Throughout Nazi-dominated Europe, plenty of Christians and their governments cooperated in the effort to eradicate the Jew.

As early as the late 1800s, some Jews began to dream of a homeland, a place of safety, where they and their children could live without fear, and live their faith and culture.

The British Balfour Declaration of 1917, during WW1, announced British support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people in Palestine,” while expressing concern for the rights of Palestinian Arabs.

During WW2, nation after nation eventually closed their doors to Jews fleeing Germany; the United States turned away a ship of refugees, ultimately forcing the ship to return to Europe, and most everyone on board, to their death at the hands of the Nazis. More and more, Jews gave up hope of living with their Christian neighbors, and pushed all the more for a homeland. The Western Nations, with their own deep inbred anti-semitism, were more than happy to create a nation for the Jews.

With the inception of State of Israel, 1948, upwards of 300,000 Palestinians lost their land and their homes.

To make a long story short, bloodshed has been a tragic element of life in that part of the world for a very long time, and has remained a recurring event on both sides, since 1948. It is our fervent hope that there is a solution to this dreadful situation.

Whatever that solution may finally be, it’s imperative, I believe, to support the State of Israel, while at the same time challenging the extremists who push for an expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and the further expulsion of Palestinians; it’s equally important, I believe, to seek a two-state solution for the Palestinians, and to condemn the Hamas violence and its stated purpose: the destruction of Israel.

A carte blanche approval of everything the State of Israel does helps no one, not even its own citizens, any more than does a carte blanche approval of Hamas or other such groups.

The question of the ongoing expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank has to be considered as part of the problem, even as is the failure of the Palestinians to face the reality of Israel’s existence.

For some conservative Christians groups in the US, the suggestion, as I read a few days ago, that this a godly struggle against a godless people is not at all helpful. A conservative pastor wrote: ”As Christians, we know that what’s happening in Israel is not a human struggle; it is a spiritual struggle against the forces of darkness.”

The problem is this: such thinking violates the truth noted by Paul, and spiritualizes a very human, flesh-and-blood struggle that has gone on, and goes on, on every continent. This world is not easily divided up between the good and the bad, and such thinking only adds to the problem, and blocks communication.

Israel must be protected, but so must the claims of the Palestinians (not to be confused with Hamas, the warlords of Palestine). Everyone has to be made to feel safe; everyone has to be protected, only then will people be able to speak and to listen.

Many years ago, I visited Israel, and had a Sunday afternoon chat with a Palestinian shopkeeper in Jerusalem, who served me delicious tea, for there were no customers at hand. I’ll never forget what he said, “We all just want to make a living, and there are crazies on both sides.”

Let us pray for the peace process, the continuation of the cease fire, and the delivery of aid. Let us pray that the moderate leaders on both sides will be given a chance to work for justice and peace.

It’s a complex situation, for which there are really no perfect answers, certainly no easy ones, but there are, I believe, answers that can be good enough, and just might work. We cannot guarantee success, but by trying nothing we can guarantee failure. Let us continue to pray for Shalom, Salaam, Peace!

"The Word Made Fresh" by George A. Mason - a Review ...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 15:42:00 +0000

I had a hard time making it through this book!

I kept stoping, every few paragraphs … to underline, to make a note, just to think, to wonder, and then to read the footnotes, and jump to my computer, to check out the websites and sources sited.

From the moment I started, the book grabbed my attention. It was clear - I was reading the work of a determined and devoted minister, one who takes seriously the essential elements of the Christian life: the Scriptures and the church’s story … theology and history … people and their times, their trials, and triumphs … and the words with which we’re blessed, and the words with which we’re burdened … the words spread before us, inviting us to choose wisely, to assembly phrases carefully, because of the Incarnate Word of God.

In other words, words count - because of their power - the power to call forth light or to bring down damnation, to heal a broken soul, a broken body, or send the hungry away with a dismissive word of judgment and “othering.”

George Mason is a preacher of great skill, lifting up the central concepts of the Christian Faith, for the people who strive to live this faith every day of their lives: the saints and the sinners (mostly one and the same), with hopes and dreams common to all, and faults and failings, all too common.

Dr. Mason is a sculptor - with hammer and chisel, taking the marble of words and shaping them with care … here’s a man who’s worked very hard at language … bringing out its delight with word play and creativity.

If he were a chef, we’d celebrate the careful manner in which he knows how to flavor the hearty stew of faith with just the right amount of humor and self-deprecating honesty. He is not a preacher who happens to be human, but a human who happens to be a preacher. I see in the sermons a real human being who has been called by God to step into the pulpit. A daunting task for anyone who dares to think about it, and Dr. Mason has clearly thought about it a great deal.

The man is a thoroughgoing Christian, which makes him an ecumenical Christian. To use another image, he paints a brilliant canvass of many colors, with layers of paint, applied in brush strokes, wide and furious, and dabbed and daubed in the smallest of details. He pays attention to the larger world of religion and philosophy - he has no need to diminish what others believe in order to bolster his own faith. Rather, he welcomes what others offer, and in dialogue with the world, he lifts up the Cross of Christ for all to see, without a hint of superiority, and suffused by the humble realization that God is at work all over the world, and if we listen with care, we can hear God’s love pulsing in every voice.

Struggle is evident … the struggle of a preacher who can see the glory of God, but is defied, as we all are, by the enormity of God’s love and master; the struggle to touch and embrace that which cannot be contained by words, but only hinted at, week-by-week … in song and prayer, and the discipline to keep on trying, bringing to bear on the lectionary the best insights the preacher can muster, not only from the deeps of her or his own soul, but from the daily effort to read the newspapers, books, and wade through the torrents of social media - to find all the possible material to highlight, underscore, illumine, and tease out the ideas, the images, and the invitations flowing from love of God.

Yes, pain is evident, too … as the nation grew more and more polarized, I could feel his struggle to highlight the issues, clarify the claims made by various politicians and preachers, and then to compare and contrast various ideas with the gospel he understands and loves, while honoring the congregation with its diverse opinions and cares. Dr. Mason knows, full well, in a polarized moment, decisions have to be made - knowing all too well that a decision to not decide is, in fact, a decision likely favorable to the wrong side of history.

A good preacher walks a balance beam … I’m not talking here about neutrality, relying on the simple nostrums of sweet Jesus and all is well with my soul, but a beam, a highway, or maybe a twisting pathway, heading toward the gospel.

On just such a beam, walking with care, as to not lose one’s head or heart in frustration and bitterness, and, at the same time, chomping at the bit, convicted by and conformed to the gospel, to the power of love, and not the love of power … eschewing the easy violence of harsh rhetoric and pointing to the strange and tragic love of guns found in too much of American Christianity, challenging such ideas because they are contrary to the Cross of Christ.

George Mason knows the church universal and what it can be, and what it must be. His years of love and work at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas were clearly driven by two marvelous elements: the love God, and a congregation ready to hear the fullness of the story, ready to get into “good trouble” for the sake of Christ, for the sake of the neighbor. Not all was easy sailing; that’s clear. But the fundamental nature of Wilshire Baptist Church provided a place where Dr. Mason, this scholar/pastor/preacher could fulfill God’s calling.

George Mason pays faithful tribute to his pulpit predecessors, and to the members who have walked the walk with him and his family. As he he notes, when first called as young man to church, a leader saying: I am not worried about whether he is up to the challenge, because I know we are. Great pastors do not make great churches; great churches make great pastors.

I was pleased to see illustrations used sparingly … like salt, to enhance and not overwhelm. Nor is he given to simplistic illustrations, full of miracles and transformations that all too often leave the honest hearer wanting, or worse, despairing for want of such victory.

A lot quotable quotes here … a lot to think about … a reader of this book will never be done with it.

The book works well - compiled by friends and colleagues, with guidance from Dr. Mason, it’s topical, chronological, and liturgical - guided by the Common Lectionary. Each writer introduces the section with analysis of the sermons selected and the man they know. It’s a brilliant way of moving the material along, helping the reader see the development, the shifts, the twists and the turns of the times, and the theological search for meaning, a search that never really ends.

Dr. Mason writes: This is a book I would not have created on my own initiative, partly because of the work involved in producing it, partly because of the presumption it would entail of whether my preaching is worthy of reproduction.

But after thirty-three years of faithful preaching and work in the community, and all around the world, friends and colleagues knew that one of Dr. Mason’s legacies, of which there are many, is the sermons he so carefully crafted over the years. Crafted with a great love for God and for the gospel, and a passion for what’s faithfully needed in the times of any moment.

The book is a tribute to Dr. Mason, like a festschrift, a giant thank you to the man and to Wilshire Baptist Church for their ceaseless efforts to build bridges, welcome every body, seek the counsel of God, face the hard questions, probe the Scriptures with care and creativity, ponder what love requires, and then finding the ways and means of nudging the world toward the kingdom of God.

This is a book for the shelf-at-hand, by the desk, for quick reference … these sermons can be read again and again and should be read again and again - they’re both pointed and timely, and wonderfully timeless in their depth and their reach …

The footnotes point to sources for further work and study are invaluable … with illustrations to fine-tune the thoughts … and an exhaustive index of all the lectionary texts he’s used.

A book for both the preacher in the pulpit and the people of the pews. A book for personal study, of course, and group study, too.

The reader will learn a great deal about the heart and soul of a serious preacher, and they’ll be encouraged to listen well, to take seriously, what the sermon offers, to know that while some sermons shine brightly with the gold of God’s love, and some not quite so brightly, every sermon is an effort of soul and mind, conjoined with prayer and praise, and the vast dreams of a world made new, to offer to the world the goodness and power of God’s love.

The preacher reading this will be moved to deepen the discipline of continued learning and writing … writing again and again … to hone the focus and sharpen the word, yet not too sharp, because softened with kindness, kindness enough that any soul anywhere can welcome and embrace the Word Proclaimed, the Word Made Fresh.

Aging!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 16:41:00 +0000

Let's talk about aging ... I see myself in the mirror and ask, "Who the heck are you, and what did you do with that young man I once knew?"

Aging, the tick of the tock, the tock of the tick, or whatever ... but time moves on ... there's no return ticket on this one.

So, what does a consumer culture do?

It obsessives about aging ... what an industry ... creams and surgery, supplements and yoga, gyms and diets, pills and psychology.

Sure, let's look our best, but something is amok here - aging has become a sin. Yup, that's right, a sin. Something one shouldn't do. And looking old is a shame.

Ok, comb your hair, wear some makeup, wash regularly, and dress well ... but America's obsession with aging is over the top.

Which reminds me, as to why historic Protestant Churches aren't fairing as well as they once did ... sure, we can blame ourselves for being a bit stodgy, times change, and all that, but on the other hand, our culture, with its obsessions on aging, has grown afraid of some basic truths about life - one is that we age, the other is that we die.

Historic Protestant Churches mostly faced all of this with a degree of honesty, admitting to and accepting of reality. The Bible pushes us hard on this point.

A culture that's increasingly scared to death of death is not likely to seek out reality, a reality that admits to death and at the same time reaches for eternity, as a source of hope, a source of energy for the here and now, even as the here and now is deeply connected to eternity.

So the next time you see an add touting the latest treatments to fight aging, ask yourself some serious questions about time, and how you see it, and what you're afraid of.

Afraid?

Yes, we all are ... period!

It's what it means to be human, to be cognizant of our own own demise, knowing that we're on a plane headed off to the horizons and there's no return ticket in our pocket; it's one way.

I'm grateful to be a part of an historic Protestant Church tradition. We've failed plenty along the way, but we've also done well. In fact, I'd say, the good outweighs the wrong. Not that we should forget the wrong, or fail to rectify it, but that we have something worth celebrating, and I call it REALITY.

Being real ... with regards to time and life … and in such reality, there is something of the divine. God inhabits our years … each stage of the way … from our first breath to the last.

Aging?

It's a good thing ... look your best, but time will win out - and maybe we can recover what some other cultures still possess - a deep respect for the Elders - those who've seen it all, and done it all, and their accumulated wisdom, peace, courage, and hope.

And, in the end, be able to say, “Here I am LORD. Here I am!”

"The Power Worshippers" by Katherine Stewart

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 12:18:00 +0000

A remarkable book that needs to be read and re-read many times ... click HERE to see my GoodReads review.

Must I Continue?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 15:59:00 +0000

Must I continue to argue that a woman’s body is her own?

That a woman has all the rights and dignity pertaining to her humanity, a full and complete humanity, standing on its own in the sunlight of God’s creation and God’s purpose?

Must I continue to argue that men in their pride, men in their ignorance, have no right whatsoever to dictate to the woman the course of her health, her pregnancy, her dignity, her purpose in life?

Must I continue to argue that a woman’s purpose is fully her own? That her purpose in life is to be fully herself, as God’s purpose and God’s love unfolds that purpose for her?

Must I continue to challenge those men, and those women, who claim that a woman’s personhood, her life and purpose, her being, her humanity, is determined solely and singularly by her biology? That a woman, then, needs men around her, above her, to make those decisions that pertain to her biology, that of a being capable of becoming pregnant, and bearing a child? That this element of her being is the only element worthy of her being? Worthy of a man’s determining desire?

Must I continue to challenge the sin of white male christian supremacy? In all of its horrid manifestations and hypocritical posturing? With its Bible in hand, lofty prayers and praise songs, exulting the goodness of God and the joys of heavenly reward?

Must I continue to defend the majesty and sacredness of a woman’s body, her body, her life, her being, her soul, her destiny, as that of her own will and purpose, as she sees fit, as she measures her being, if so inclined, in the light of God’s purpose and being, seems redundant.

For the independence of being has been thoroughly determined for that of the male species, in theology and philosophy, song and poetry, literature and art.

So, must I conclude that those men and women who clearly affirm that a woman’s being is determined by her biology, and yet understand the independent nature of the male species, have determined that the female species is less a human being? Less qualified to enjoy the rights and dignity accorded to the male?

While some might say, “only a different human being”?

I then ask, how different?

How different is a short man from a tall man; a man who can sing and dance and a man who can’t; a man who loves to paint and another who grows a flower; a man who walks a thousand miles to find a home, and a man who sits by his window dreaming great ideas.

How different we all are … but differences aside, no man would suggest that any of the men so described above would be less than human, less than deserving of the full rights and liberties and responsibilities of the human race.

To deny this for women requires a mental breakdown, a failure of nerve and intelligence, a complete misconstrual of reality, and likely a meanness of spirit, a foulness of soul, a willingness to condemn some to a lesser status of being, because of their “difference.”

Must I continue to engage in this struggle?

Yes, I must … and I will … for those who would take away the rights and dignity of a woman remain determined and full of self-righteousness, a heady mess of bad theology and twisted instincts.

Yes, and so I will … and to anyone reading this note, I encourage you to stand fast, to resist the cult of white male christian supremacy, to resist it for what it is, a script from hell, a deadly idea suitable to preserving the power of some at the expense of many.

If you’re a Christian, I’ll say it, loudly and clearly: white male christian supremacy is NOT the way of Christ … but rather the Tempter in the Wilderness, who offered to Christ the easy way out, appealing to easy answers, and all of them completely wrong.

Finally, whatever your faith may be, your stance on life, the same conclusions are clear in every soul. Those who resist the rights of a woman know they’re wrong, and thus continue their murderous ways by increasing levels of vehemence and vitriol, to cover up the cries of their own soul.

Keep up the good work, dear friends, and do not relent.

We must continue!

Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow - April 19, 2022

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 14:09:00 +0000

Thank you, Mr. President.

I didn’t expect to wake up yesterday to the news that the senator from the 22nd district [state Senator Lana Theis] had overnight accused me by name of grooming and sexualizing children in an email fundraising for herself. So I sat on it for a while wondering why me.

Then I realized [it’s] because I am the biggest threat to your [Theis’s] hollow hateful scheme, because you can’t claim that you are targeting marginalized kids in the name of quote parental rights if another parent is standing up to say no.

So then what?

Then you dehumanize and marginalize me. You say that I’m one of them. You say, “She’s a groomer. She supports pedophilia. She wants children to believe that they were responsible for slavery. And to feel bad about themselves because they’re white.”

Well, here’s a little bit of background about who I really am.

Growing up, my family was very active in our church. I sang in the choir. My mom taught CCD. One day our priest called a meeting with my mom and told her that she was not living up to the church’s expectations and that she was disappointing.

My mom asked why. Among other reasons, she was told it was because she was divorced. And because the priest didn’t see her at Mass every Sunday. So where was my mom on Sundays?

She was at the soup kitchen with me.

My mom taught me at a very young age that Christianity and faith was about being part of a community, about recognizing our privilege and blessings and doing what we can to be of service to others, especially people who are marginalized, targeted and who had less often unfairly.

I learned this service was far more important than performative nonsense like being seen in the same pew every Sunday, or writing “Christian” in your Twitter bio, and using that as a shield to target and marginalize already marginalized people.

I also stand on the shoulders of people like Father Ted Hesburgh, the longtime president of the University of Notre Dame, who was active in the civil rights movement, who recognized his power and privilege as a white man, a faith leader and the head of an influential and well-respected institution, and who saw black people in this country being targeted and discriminated against and beaten and [Hesburgh] reached out to lock arms with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he was alive when he was unpopular. And marching alongside them to say, “We’ve got you,” to offer protection and service and allyship to try to right the wrongs and fix injustice in the world.

So who am I?

I am a straight, white, Christian, married, suburban mom, who knows that the very notion that learning about slavery or redlining or systemic racism somehow means that children are being taught to feel bad or hate themselves because they are white is absolute nonsense.

No child alive today is responsible for slavery.

No one in this room is responsible for slavery.

But each and every single one of us bears responsibility for writing the next chapter of history. Each and every single one of us decides what happens next and how we respond to history and the world around us.

We are not responsible for the past.

We also cannot change the past.

We can’t pretend that it didn’t happen or deny people their very right to exist.

I am a straight, white, Christian, married, suburban mom. I want my daughters to know that she is loved, supported and seen for whoever she comes. I want her to be curious, empathetic, and kind.

People who are different are not the reason that our roads are in bad shape after decades of disinvestment or that health care costs are too high or the teachers are leaving the profession.

I want every child in this state to feel seen, heard and supported, not marginalized and targeted because they are not straight, white and Christian.

We cannot let hateful people tell you otherwise to scapegoat and deflect from the fact that they are not doing anything to fix the real issues that impact people’s lives.

And I know that hate will only win if people like me stand by and let it happen.

So I want to be very clear right now. Call me whatever you want.

I hope you brought in a few dollars. I hope it made you sleep good last night.

I know who I am. I know what faith and service means and what it calls for in this moment.

We will not let hate win.

* * * * *

You can watch Senator McMorrow’s speech here.

A Letter to Senator Sinema

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 02:47:00 +0000

I appreciate your support on voting rights.

But you know, and I know, that denying the opportunity to check the power of the filibuster, voting rights will never pass in the present Senate, because of GOP obstructionism.

You know this to be true, so does America, and so do your Republican colleagues, who thank their lucky stars for you.

So, I beg you to reconsider the filibuster - it's a device devised by those who would use their minority status to stymie the progress and hope of the nation. It's been a tool of the South, and you know that, too. A tool to prevent any reform in civil rights.

The filibuster is a remnant of another age, a worn-out tool that has long since proved useless.

With one exception - if it could be restored to its original practice, of compelling a senator to take the floor and speak for hours upon hours, making a fool of himself,(or herself, these days), and letting the nation realize how foolish the speaker is.

The Senate needs to free itself from the dictatorship, the tyranny, of reactionary forces. Should the character of the Senate change, there might be a time when I regret my words, but in reality, I'd learn the lesson of politics - tides change, and to support a device that allows a disgruntled few to dominate the Senate cripples the nation, whether the Senate be under GOP or Democratic domination.

I hope, no, I beg you to support your President, my President, in the effort to send the filibuster to the neighborhood antique shop, and getting voting rights passed in the US Senate, for the sake of America.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Dr. Tom Eggebeen
Pasadena, CA

American Attitudes on "Blood" - Indigenous and Black

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:49:00 +0000

New England’s own regional twist on the national racial idiom of Manifest Destiny. It held that Indian “blood” was weaker than that of other races, meaning that the child of an Indian and a non-Indian became a “half-blood,” the child of that “half-blood” and another non-Indian became a “quarter-blood,” and then, eventually, all trace of the Indian vanished, which is precisely what whites who coveted Indian land wanted to happen. By contrast, white Americans thought of black blood as polluting, so that any degree of African descent made one black. It was not coincidental that such a formulation expanded the servile black labor pool to the benefit of white people. In other words, whites’ inconsistencies in reckoning Indian and black racial identities were not illogical at all. They were entirely in line with white colonial desires.

Silverman, David J.. This Land Is Their Land (p. 400). Bloomsbury Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Socialism in the Midwest - from Sinclair Lewis' "Main Street"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 20:35:00 +0000

From Chapter 4, "Main Street," by Sinclair Lewis ... 1920

Carol Milford, the new Mrs. Dr. Will Kennicott, at a party of the town's significant class, asks:

“There hasn't been much labor trouble around here, has there, Mr. Stowbody?” she asked innocently.

“No, ma'am, thank God, we've been free from that, except maybe with hired girls and farm-hands. Trouble enough with these foreign farmers; if you don't watch these Swedes they turn socialist or populist or some fool thing on you in a minute. Of course, if they have loans you can make 'em listen to reason. I just have 'em come into the bank for a talk, and tell 'em a few things. I don't mind their being democrats, so much, but I won't stand having socialists around. But thank God, we ain't got the labor trouble they have in these cities. Even Jack Elder here gets along pretty well, in the planing-mill, don't you, Jack?”

“Yep. Sure. Don't need so many skilled workmen in my place, and it's a lot of these cranky, wage-hogging, half-baked skilled mechanics that start trouble—reading a lot of this anarchist literature and union papers and all.”

“Do you approve of union labor?” Carol inquired of Mr. Elder.

“Me? I should say not! It's like this: I don't mind dealing with my men if they think they've got any grievances—though Lord knows what's come over workmen, nowadays—don't appreciate a good job. But still, if they come to me honestly, as man to man, I'll talk things over with them. But I'm not going to have any outsider, any of these walking delegates, or whatever fancy names they call themselves now—bunch of rich grafters, living on the ignorant workmen! Not going to have any of those fellows butting in and telling ME how to run MY business!”

Mr. Elder was growing more excited, more belligerent and patriotic. “I stand for freedom and constitutional rights. If any man don't like my shop, he can get up and git. Same way, if I don't like him, he gits. And that's all there is to it. I simply can't understand all these complications and hoop-te-doodles and government reports and wage-scales and God knows what all that these fellows are balling up the labor situation with, when it's all perfectly simple. They like what I pay 'em, or they get out. That's all there is to it!”

“What do you think of profit-sharing?” Carol ventured.

Mr. Elder thundered his answer, while the others nodded, solemnly and in tune, like a shop-window of flexible toys, comic mandarins and judges and ducks and clowns, set quivering by a breeze from the open door:

“All this profit-sharing and welfare work and insurance and old-age pension is simply poppycock. Enfeebles a workman's independence—and wastes a lot of honest profit. The half-baked thinker that isn't dry behind the ears yet, and these suffragettes and God knows what all buttinskis there are that are trying to tell a business man how to run his business, and some of these college professors are just about as bad, the whole kit and bilin' of 'em are nothing in God's world but socialism in disguise! And it's my bounden duty as a producer to resist every attack on the integrity of American industry to the last ditch. Yes—SIR!”

Mr. Elder wiped his brow.

Dave Dyer added, “Sure! You bet! What they ought to do is simply to hang every one of these agitators, and that would settle the whole thing right off. Don't you think so, doc?”

“You bet,” agreed Kennicott.

Why Do I Care???

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 15:33:00 +0000

I share the work of Dr Heather Cox Richardson, because I happen to care about the welfare of my nation.

And why do I care?

I suppose a lot of reasons, but at the base of my life, a singular reason, my Christian Faith ... a faith that strives for honesty and thrives on the truth of whatever matter may present itself ... from the proper temperature of a stainless steel pan for searing a steak in butter, or the Jan. 6 Insurrection ... not that these two events are of the same magnitude, but both require truth ... an improperly heated pan will result in a ruined steak, and ignoring the skullduggery of the GOP will only add to their effort to reshape this nation as it was in the Antebellum South.

With this conviction: that religion, Christian, Jewish, or Hindu, thrives best of all in an environment of honesty and truth, a Democratic environment of equality, respect, and opportunity.

Religion never thrives in an autocracy - if it cooperates, it soon takes on the meanness of spirit inherent in an illiberal form of government. If it resists, it suffers - sure, it'll survive as Christianity did in the Eastern Bloc nations, but I'm not talking about bare survival; I'm hoping for an environment in which people of any faith or philosophy will be able to engage with their faith in freedom, and will be able to practice the tenants of their faith without fear, yet with restraint, lest religious fervor warp the believer into a totalitarian view of things, "my way or the highway," at attitude always possible in any form of faith or philosophy.

So, my thoughts on all of this, my regard for a truth-teller like Dr. Richardson, my support of the Jan. 6 House Committee, are finally and fundamentally driven by my faith in Christ.

You probably already knew that, but I felt the need to say it again this morning.

To all who read this, God's Peace - not the peace of some soporific, but the peace of engagement, truth, and, sacrifice, in the service of neighbor-love. And those who serve the neighbor serve God at the very same time.

Evangelicals and a Divided Nation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 16:45:00 +0000

Evangelical churches have played an imposing role in the dividing of the nation; the notion of sharp division between the "believer" and the hell-bound "enemy," being a bedrock belief and a daily practice.

The evangelical world has always been deficient on its identity, knowing far less of who they are, and what they believe (their world often characterized by acrimonious debate and bitter accusations of heresy) - so comparisons came to play a central role.

"We may not know who we are, but we sure as hell know who the unbelievers are." 

These thoughts have played a tragic role in the history of our nation: from the Pilgrims killing their indigenous neighbors, setting the pace for America to America's enslavement of persons of color. And these days, "the virtuous rich" and the "deserving poor" - those whom "God has blessed because of their righteousness," and those whom God damns because of their sloth and immorality, including all who mess with the binary structure of man/woman gender, and "the American Way."

For any of us, for me, it's easier to look at others and see what's missing. So, it's vital that we use our ears and eyes to note what others might say about us. We always have things to learn.

And then do the hard work of study, reflection, and prayer, to gain some clarity as to who we are, what counts, and then, most importantly, to put aside the need for a final clarity, to engage in the practical works of justice, peace, equality, fairness, and welcome.

We all know what such words look like, and feel like. They are the words of open doors, and open windows - words that take seriously the needs of others. Words that offer hope, and a promise that together we'll make this land a land of opportunity for all, that we'll address our failings, that we'll build a nation wherein every citizen is recognized and supported, refugees welcomed, the health choices of women affirmed, and marriage equality supported.

All the best to each of you, dear family and friends. Be of good cheer, pay attention to the world, know when to take a deep breath and step back, and when to take a deep breath and step forward!

Ode to Mashed Potatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 17:40:00 +0000

An Ode to Mashed Potatoes …

Let me count the ways I love thee …

The common tator … a tuber … from the ground …

Just like you and me …

Maybe we feel something in common with this common ground thing …

They’re not picked, like apples or pears …

They’re dug …

Like good music … or hangin’ out with folks we love …

Lots of different sizes … and colors … in a lot of different places …

We do have a lot in common, don’t we?

With the humble potato …

Peel ‘em … if ya’ want …

But I like to leave the skins on* …

Adds texture … as it should be … the whole potato …

As God intended.

Into a pot of water …

Turn on the heat … lots of good things need a little heat …

Cook ‘em not too hard …

Test ‘em with a fork …

Drain ‘em and put ‘em back into the pot …

And now the good part …

A couple of butter chunks …

A generous splash of cream … I mean: be generous …

Maybe even some cream cheese …

A little horseradish?

Rosemary?

Thyme?

Salt and pepper …

And a little elbow grease …

Smash and mash these remarkable gifts from God …

Not too much, just enough …

To blend it all together …

Taste to your heart’s content …

That’s what I love about cooking …

We get to sample everything before you do.

Can it get better?

You bet …

On the plate they go …

A fork-full will satisfy all your desires for comfort …

Just like home …

But like all good things … these good things go well

With a chorus of other good things ….

Gravy …

Giblet gravy …

Corn and slabs of carefully sliced turkey, neat and precise … though I prefer the dark meat … a tad bit unruly …

Cranberry relish on the side …

And how about the country cousin, the sweet potato … with its famous hat,

The marshmallow … all white on the inside, with golden trim …

And who knows what else …

Start with potatoes, and who knows where it’ll end.

But start with potatoes …

A very common thing …

And it will end well …

As all good things do …

Happy Thanksgiving …

*skin on with Yukon Gold, but Russets need a good peeling.

Don't Give Up Dear Friends!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 13:02:00 +0000

That anyone would still support #tfg reveals a misalingment of character, so thorough and complete, as to defy my imagination.

At the every least, Republicans should be shaking their heads in bewilderment, even hanging their heads in shame; but, no, they continue to line up behind the monstrosity, bless his bluster, spin the Big Lie, and hamstring the nation.

Why not just rename the GOP, the ANP, the American Nazi Party; wear the Brown Shirts and strut around the halls of Congress with jackboots.

These are not nice people; I visit some hardcore Republican fb pages to take a peek, and evangelicals to boot, and come away sorrowful, in need of a hot shower and a thorough scrub with carbolic soap. There is no thoughtfulness, but only hatred. There is no compassion, but a lot of je-e-sus jabber.

All of this renews my own efforts to:

1) stay informed with reliable writers who have taken up the apostolic mantle of truth-telling;

2) keep in mind my own faith-commitments, and why I believe them to be true, and how they sustain me in the face of diabolical lies and disinformation;,

3) remain prayerful, that strange and mysterious element wherein a single human being realizes the great host of witnesses that numinously live within and without, conveying the light of the universe, from its very origins, to these moments wherein women and men of conscience, and soul, struggle to find the way;

4) refuse the easy way of ideology and remaining steadfast in using the gifts of The Creator - the mind and the heart - to think, ponder, consider, weigh up the claims and options, and then decide on behalf of things that seem right and just, kind and merciful, good for the nation, for the world, for the soul.

Don't give up, dear friends ... now, more than ever:

𝑂𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒,
𝐼𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑡ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑑,
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑙 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒;
𝑆𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒, 𝐺𝑜𝑑'𝑠 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑀𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑎ℎ,
𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡,
𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟
𝑇𝑤𝑖𝑥𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡.

Are There Differences Between the Parties

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 13:23:00 +0000

To a FB friend, who wonders about the parties, and their respective claims to truth and godliness.

There are always multiple sides to every social/political/religious question, which is why there is no end to books, opinions, talking heads, and Ph.D. students!

It's our task to weigh it all, and it's not easy.

The greatest danger occurs when people in authority not only claim to have the truth, but demand subservience of their followers, the end of all questions, and such. Good teachers, and politicians, too, inspire thought and investigation; power-hungry leaders quash it all.

In reality, of the two political parties, in the last century, from FDR on, the Republicans have clearly aligned themselves with big business, meritocracy, militarism, and a reduction in the social safety net, and have joined their message with zealous evangelicals to reject gender equality, condemn homosexuality, and harbor white nationalism tendencies.

The Democrats, on the other hand, have tended to favor a strong pro-active government, in the style of FDR, for all the people - from roads to schools, from gender equality to marriage equality, from business regulation to banking rules and fair wages, to insure a safe and equitable life for Americans.

The Dems are far from perfect. As individuals, of course, "all are sinners." But as politicians, and religious leaders, there are differences, profound, marked, obvious, and vital.

Of a Martin Luther King, Jr. or a Jerry Falwell, who would you choose to be your pastor?

Of a Nancy Pelosi or a Lauren Boebert, who would you choose to be your representative?

Of Barack Obama or Trump, who would you want for president?

Republicans make different choices than Dems, for lots of different reasons - it's those reasons that need to be examined, and brought to light, so that we can think clearly and make good decisions. And to that end, we have substantial resources: good historians, theologians, psychologists, and pundits, to help us do just that.

And frankly Tim, when a man or a woman stands to defend gender and marriage equality, and a strong social safety net, I believe, with all my heart, this is closer, far closer, to what God desires for God's world.

I may be wrong, but I suspect, you'd prefer to live in the world I envision rather than in one envisioned by Governor Abbott or Ron DeSantis.

Please excuse the length of this reply, but your question is a serious one, deserving as much analysis as I can muster. God's Peace to you and yours.

Religion: Some Thoughts, July 1, 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 15:22:00 +0000

Evangelicals and Catholics (religion in general) share a common trait: docility under authority. Those in charge know how to play the game, grooming people to surrender their minds, accept domination, and even invite it. For promises of safety, salvation, and sanctification.

Looking over the years, the Calvinist notion of an educated clergy and an educated membership has mostly guided my work.

To awaken the gifts of God, the image of God, in people: the power of the mind, to think through the issues and challenges of life, to frame good questions, to craft creative responses to crisis and need, to protest pretense and domination, to be content with the absence of "answers," and to resist those who would offer up sham solutions to the spiritual, existential, anxiety every human being has to bear. 

Religion, in my view of things, is that which gathers up the bits and pieces of life, our experience, our history, our context and our circumstances, and in the gathering up, to reveal patterns of healing and hope, and patterns that threaten and destroy.

Religion "talks" to God, as a way and means of easing us out of ourselves, so that we might have the larger perspective of things.  

Religion "listens" to God ... through quietness, and through action ... through community and contemplation ... through the Sacred Texts, and those who've put themselves on the line for faith, hope, and love ... which includes the whole fabric of justice: that people can be safe, and live and work to the best of their ability, to realize their God-given character, their place in the world, and what it means to love with wholeness of heart and mind.

Religion is a human thing - we reach for the heights, we plumb the depths, we seek meaning ... this kind of energy can set us up for the "silver-tonged" apostles with "another gospel."

But the selfsame energy of religion strives to create and recreate God's world - to fulfill and build upon original mandate of creation: to care for the garden, to be our sibling's keeper, to name the animals with care and compassion, to respect the limits of our mortal lives, and to enjoy God forever.

Some thoughts on religion ... this morning, July 1, 2021.

"Hitman's Wife's Body Guard"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 00:13:00 +0000

Funny, entertaining, good acting, stellar cast, but it didn't quite get off the ground ...

Selma Hayek has some terrific hissy-fit moments ... and while the rest of the cast are all a-list actors, the chemistry was weak ... it was comedy and action, but the pieces didn't quite fit ...

A mid-credit trailer, sort of "cute," and then a "scene," actually just a pic, a photo, at the very end end ...

Worth seeing? Sure ... a fun afternoon.

Flag Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 00:36:00 +0000

Today, 1777 - commemorating the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.

I have long loved the flag ... love to see it waving high in the wind with a bright blue sky holding it, in parades, and national events ... yes, it represents, for me, some of humanity's highest aspirations, and, I fear, some of the worst.

It's the flag of freedom for many, but for just as many, maybe more, it's the flag of oppression, a reminder of failed dreams and suffering.

It's a flag many of the world's poor long to see, and it's the symbol of those who would close our borders, build walls and fences, cages and jails.

In the hands of some, it's become a weapon, as in the Jan. 6 Insurrection, when flagpoles and the American Flag were used to beat police officers.

We have to constantly rescue the flag from those who would sully it with white nationalism and capitalist greed.

Because the flag, at its best, represents hope for a better future, from sea to shining sea.