“Bizarre Times”

Lately, I have been set to wondering why we as Americans are abandoning what in the past were our core values:  the rule of law, respect for the rule of law, the belief that every person has a right to be heard, to be given equal treatment under the law, and respect for the individual’s right to hold his or her conscience as to their personal beliefs, be it religious or political.

In place of our core values of justice, goodness and truth, we have become enamored and in-debt to a new cult of personality and power.  Based on the premise that power makes right and those holding political power can do whatever they want regardless of either morality or truthfulness, we have embraced the rise of “Trumpism.”   We now witness Republican politicians fawning over themselves in an attempt to ingratiate themselves to this President.  Like little tin soldiers, Republicans march in lock step to the commander in chief.  Trump himself boasts that he “destroys the careers of Republicans who oppose him.”  What is left of the Republican Party is a tattered remnant of its former self.  The party of Lincoln is now the party of Trump.  I doubt seriously that they will ever find their soul again.

This brings about a unique opportunity for something different to emerge in the nation.  Whether this will be great or not will depend on whether the Democrats or Independents can seize this opportunity and make something of it.  Americans will soon tire of a President who criticizes NFL superstars, puts tariffs on American automobiles, American soybeans and American meats, who makes Boeing airplanes more expensive and who raises the cost of groceries purchased weekly at Walmart.  Putting children into wire cages while separating them from their parents, did nothing to ingratiate this President to the American people.

Trump keeps trying to ban followers of Islam.  He expands the Russia investigation with every new round of tweets seeking to justify himself and his family members.  Even if collusion with Russia is not a crime, it is something no US president should ever do!  It still surprises me that conservative Christians do not bat an eye when this President admits to paying off porn stars and Playboy bunnies to prevent his moral indiscretions from finding light of day.  Even more surprising is that no one seems to care this President may be guilty of deception, lying about his role in obtaining dirt on his political opponent Hillary Clinton, shifting blame to his son for things he clearly did himself?  How long will it be before we find that Trump has perjured himself on his income taxes, by not admitting money laundering through banks in Germany and Russia?

These are bizarre times indeed.  Conservatives of many stripes are willing to give up their own core values as Republicans simply to obtain a conservative Supreme Court justice!  Will their abandonment of their own moral compass in order to appease this President not eventually return to haunt them for what they have done?

I would argue that no one, no President nor presidential advisor is above the law!  If the law applies to anyone it surely must apply to everyone!  Are we willing to give up this core principle of democracy to placate this President, and not a very good president at that?

If deliberative process is a core value of democracy in which debate precedes legislation and legislation precedes enactment into law, since law is for all the people, not just a select few—if deliberative process is a core value of our democracy, what happens when there is none?  What happens to our democracy when a President governs by tweets, political assassination of opposition voices and demonizing of the free press?  Some conservative voters are more apt to believe a conspiracy theory than factual vetted news!

It is easy for a President who is accomplished in believing his own lies and propaganda to become irritated when a reporter clearly points out his false hoods and his lying.  However, this is what good journalism is all about!  Reporters are the check and balance on excesses of political power so that our democracy can be cleansed of lies and untruths which stifle and pollute our democratic process.  News is not fake when it is true!  No matter what political spin is placed against a word of truth, a word of truth is still true.  The claim of “fake news” by this President is only a smokescreen he is producing to cover his own lies and fabrications.

President Trump’s supporters are unwilling to face the truth about their candidate.  His wife, Melania Trump has no such unwillingness.  To her great credit, she disagrees with her own husband when he is telling a lie.  Melania Trump has lived with this man long enough to know he deals a lot in smoke and mirrors.  I am surprised President Trump’s followers have not yet seen the wizard pulling the levers behind all the billowing smoke and fire.  “I am the Great Oz,” the wizard declares, all the while Dorothy, the Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow are observing the old man through gaps in his elaborate curtains!

This President is a bully, a blow hard and a liar.  He is also a man who desperately wants to be respected and will do most anything to obtain this respect.  I personally feel sorry for this man.  He is desperately trying to be a great leader when he is no leader at all!  May God help us as we seek to clear away the smoke and the mirrors he places around himself!  What this country needs is not a new dictator, who issues edicts whenever he has another tantrum.  No, rather, we need a thoughtful President, one who can bring forth legislation for all the people, one who believes in mercy and goodness as a means to move others into a better way, and one who will always speak the truth, even about himself.  May God help us to find such a man or a woman before it is too late for this our democracy!

Prayer:  “Lord Jesus Christ, give us such a good man or woman to lead us, a person who reflects the heart of God, who leads with mercy, truth and love for God and for all humankind.  We ask not for someone to save us, but someone who will follow your guidance and direction.  We have no problem with being led, but give us someone who can lead us in the right way, in the way of righteousness, goodness and in truth, in Jesus’ holy name we pray.  To Jesus our Savior, be given all glory and praise forever!  Amen and Amen.”

Let all of God’s people say, “Amen!”

“Amen!  We praise you, Lord Jesus Christ!”

Bill Wilson, servant of God, by God’s grace and mercies.

“Amen!”