Truly a Christian Attitude…
Forgive the detour, but I need to veer from the earth for a bit. Please bear with me — I need to get this off my chest (although the reduction in weight will likely not repair my damaged heart).
I enjoy etymology (the study of the origins, history, and evolution of words and phrases), and — as I try to make sense of the irrationality assailing the globe — I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the proverb “It is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.” This inevitably leads me to the ever-popular idiom “The straw that broke the camel’s back.” I imagine we’ve all heard it, and have likely even used it in any number of situations.
The short version is comparatively simple: you can keep adding straws to a camel and it will be just fine, but… each of these tiny amounts of mass add just a little more weight, until the “bearing capacity” of the camel’s spine is finally reached and its back is broken. It’s simple physics (ahhhh… isn’t science wonderful!)
The idiom is used to describe seemingly minor events that accumulate over time. Each is no big deal, but, ultimately, a breaking point is reached. Think “Chinese Water Torture” (which was actually designed in the 15th century in Europe), or Harry Potter writing his lines, and in the process carving “I must not tell lies” on the back of his hand, and you’ll get the general idea. (Or, think about the sadly successful “Flood the Zone” strategy currently coming out of Washington.)
Well, my “last straw” regarding our president came today. As you may or may not be aware, Robert Muller passed away last evening. Along with his numerous accomplishments and awards, he had the temerity to lead the investigation into Donald Trump’s relationship with a foreign government before (and during) his first term.
A brief summary of Mr. Muller’s professional life from Wikipedia:
A graduate of Princeton University and New York University, Mueller served as a Marine Corps officer during the Vietnam War, receiving a Bronze Star for heroism and a Purple Heart. He subsequently attended the University of Virginia School of Law. Mueller was a registered Republican in Washington, D.C., and was appointed and reappointed to Senate-confirmed positions by presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
Mueller served both in government and private practice. He was an assistant United States attorney, a United States attorney, United States assistant attorney general for the Criminal Division, a homicide prosecutor in Washington, D.C., acting United States deputy attorney general, partner at D.C. law firm WilmerHale and director of the FBI. He was the only FBI director who Congress allowed to serve more than the statutory limit of 10 years since the death of J. Edgar Hoover in 1972, by giving him a special two-year extension.
On May 17, 2017, Mueller was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as special counsel overseeing an investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and related matters. He submitted his report to Attorney General William Barr on March 22, 2019. On April 18, the Department of Justice released it. On May 29, he resigned his post and the Office of the Special Counsel was closed.
Anyway, a bona fide American hero, but apparently not to President Trump:
As a lifelong Christian (and conservative Republican), I know my Bible fairly well. If memory serves, there are oodles and scads of verses that extol the Christian values of peace, love, forgiveness, tolerance, compassion, and so many other virtues that truly define Christian beliefs.
Indeed, it’s not just Christianity that holds these values sacred, and consider them to be important guideposts to be searched for along any path to salvation. I have little doubt that Allah, Buddha, or any other deity you want to consider would share similar values, and encourage them amongst their adherents.
Sorry, but I can’t seem to remember any verses, psalms, parables, or anything else in my Bible that encourage hate, animosity, retribution, vengeance, or any of the other negative emotions so clearly expressed in the “Truth” published by our president.
Truth? Again sorry, but this is NOT my version of Christianity. Can’t wait to see how T-47’s supporters spin this one.
The fact that we citizens of the United States elected this man for a second time makes me really sad, because this time it was clear what we would be getting.
Evidently that’s just fine with a plurality of voters.
Sad? Aren’t we all (or at least the other 51% of voters)? Speaking only for myself, I’ve been sad and stomping in the privacy of my own thoughts for quite a long time now, but today finally convinced me to come out of the closet and stand up for what has always defined the good that is America. I encourage you to do the same.
I’m temped to apologize to the supporters of the current administration, but… maybe they should recognize the hypocrisy and anti-Christian sentiment of T-47 and stand up themselves.
It’s only through all of us that meaningful change can be made (my God, I sound like a 1972 Pinko-Commie, Anti-Vietnam rabble-rouser).
If only someone in Congress would stand up and say “Mr Trump, have you no shame?” And then file for impeachment, because there is no other non-violent way to put an end to this nightmare. (Sorry, no longer interested in your resolutions or hearings.)
From what I remember, that is almost a direct quote from what finally brought Joe McCarthy’s anti-communist drive to an end in the early 1950s.
On another subject, perhaps of interest to your readership, I want to recommend the Geological Society of the Oregon Country and their events. For example, they have a zoom talk tomorrow night, titled “Geological Treasures of the Oregon Country”. Geology for rockhounds and other lay people. They have field trips and other interesting talks and activities. https://www.gsoc.org/calendar
Thanks for the heads-up and link. A worthy organization.