February 12, 2017

In recent days, the Republican Party has become like a great hot air balloon, swelled with pride and a great deal of smoke from the fires stoked with wet wood.  Anytime they are criticized, to them this feels like someone poking a needle into their side.   They respond by hot air rushing out onto the face of the concerned citizen in an effort to overwhelm the person(s) criticizing them.  However loud the whooshing of the hot air, it is nothing but hot air.  There is no substance to it, but is does make a great deal of noise!

The President, however, is less forgiving.  He punishes all who cross him in the least.  Among the over 400+ lawsuits against him, he has won about two thirds.  He has learned the art of bombast and fire breathing.  All who cross him do so in the fear of their reputation and their life!

As a minister of the church of Jesus Christ, I have come to realize that my job is the prick this hot air balloon on a regular basis until enough hot air escapes so reason and sanity return to this land and our nation.  It will be so much better for all of us when the blowhards are silenced and sanity returns to political speech all across our land!

The groundhog looked for his shadow and did not find it.  So also the Trump administration, recent dealt a severe setback in the court in regards to their fiat on immigration.  It is now a constitutional question to be resolved in the courts of law.  Let the Trump Administration also go back into their hole in the ground, so we can have another six weeks of winter and SILENCE!

For this we will give thanks to God.  All across the land immigrants rejoiced to finally have “mama coming home”.  Students rejoiced to go back to their university!  The world gives a great sigh of relief.  For those of us who are native born citizens, we wonder at the bombastic tone of this administration and the overall meanness to and apparent hatred of minorities.  I would advise Republicans and our President to “make nice” to all minorities in our nation.  If President Trump had enough sense to read the projected demographics, showing Hispanics at 16.3% of the population and African-Americans at 12.6% and the birthrate projections over the next 20 years, he might pause to reflect on these voter constituencies.  We are speaking about millions and millions of Americans and he won the Presidency with less than a majority vote!

White Americans are the racial majority, with 63.7% share of the population.  If you include the White Hispanics and Latinos this rises to 77.4%. (Some statistics show 8.7% of white Americans are White Hispanics, almost 27 million of the total population).  Other American groups include Asian Americans, American Indians, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiians, and Other Pacific Islanders.  We also include in these totals Multiracial Americans, sometimes designated as “some other race.”  By definition, “white” Americans include persons from the peoples of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and white Hispanics.  If you find these designations confusing, I invite you to explore the 2010 census information and the wealth of information on the internet to your heart’s satisfaction.

The point of this summary is simply to say we Americans are a rather racially diverse group.  Being a white Caucasian with European ancestry, and part of the white majority, I find myself at odds with the current Presidential administration on so many points.  If the diatribes coming from the White House disturb me as a lily-white American, I can only imagine what they do to persons of color.

In my humble opinion, these statements from President Trump and his administration do not reflect the right spirit of the nation.  The new administration seems to be grasping for something that no longer exists, a truly white majority.   Even persons of Caucasian race do not necessarily fall in lock step with the idea of a ruling white class which excludes others not like ourselves!  And among so called minority groups, there is also diversity of opinion, with some endorsing Trump’s message of a divided America, often due to economic concerns (jobs) and political philosophy.

I argue simply for the allowance and the acceptance of our diversity.  Rather than fighting against it, as President Trump appears to be doing, led by Steve Bannon, of the Alt Right, I argue instead for an embracing of diversity.  Why not welcome all instead of excluding some?

The actual facts are that minorities are not taking white American jobs.  Often minorities, including illegal immigrants do the jobs other Americans do not want and will not do.  Many of these persons pay into the Social Security insurance plan and receive no benefits whatsoever.  President Trump should be grateful that these persons are helping balance the national budget and reduce our national debt!

The President argued this week that “he has special knowledge of terrorists threats” and is therefore justified to issue Presidential directives to protect the nation from terrorists.  Under the constitution that is quite true.  He will likely issue another more narrowly worded decree this next week, which he will hope will stand muster in the Federal Courts.  He does not have the right to exclude persons who hold green cards (H1visas) or tourists who are simply coming to visit.  All persons in our country have some rights of due process under our law.  President Trump does have the right to do vetting to be sure these persons are safe to enter our nation.

If President Trump behaves reasonably, then reasonable persons will support his decisions.  If he behaves like a tyrant he will not be received or endorsed by many.  Those of us who like reasonableness are hopeful that he will soon be educated on the limits of his Presidential power.  He seems to be trying to declare a national emergency, so he can invoke national emergency powers.

The fact we live as democratic countries across the world in a world with terrorists who are intent on denying us our democratic rights is the reality since 9-11, 2001.  However, this does not justify our President behaving like a terrorist himself.  Europe, including France and Belgium have experienced far more vicious terrorist’s acts than our nation.  Yet, they have not closed their borders to immigrants except for a few days with the intent of catching those who perpetuated the crimes against their citizens.  Their own law enforcement agencies have been vigorous in finding and punishing those who did the evil deeds of extreme lawlessness!

President Trump’s idea is simply to seal the borders, either with a great wall or with extreme vetting.  Yet he will likely inspire more ‘home grown’ terrorism from persons already living among us by his vindictive spirit.  Perception is sometimes the new reality.  There are persons looking for a reason to attack our nation.  Our president seems intent on giving these type of persons more and more reasons to dislike and even hate us as a nation.  I argue against his new restrictions for this very reason.   He is making our country a more dangerous place in which to live, despite all his arguments to the contrary.

The safety and security of this great nation is based on our benevolence towards others and in their own desire to find their own ‘American dream’.  The people dying to get into our nation are not terrorists, they are for the most part good people wanting the opportunity to live in freedom from violence and warfare and to give their children the opportunity to live a better life than they have enjoyed!   It is this basic premise of democracy and helping others to better their own lot in life which is our greatest security.  Why would anyone, save religious fringe lunatics like Isil and Al Qaeda want to destroy such a wonderful dream?

I do not fault President Trump for wanting to keep America safe from terrorists.  I do fault him for doing this in such a way as to fuel the terrorists with an unholy fire.  I do not find his policies on immigration or terrorism to be either thoughtful or reflective of our nation’s best interest.  I do not think I am the only one who disagrees with his ideas and his current approach to these areas.

In a large house which holds many diverse persons of many races and creeds, it is not uncommon to note that a rich diversity of opinion may result on any given issue.  However, the President of the United States of America is supposed to represent all citizens and not just some citizens.  I fault this President for being unkind to so many!  The President claims to be a Christian and is seen worshipping in church from time to time.   I have to wonder if he has read the words of Jesus in the Bible he swore on his oath of office:  “So in everything, do unto others as you would have others do unto you!” (Matthew 7:12).

As a Christian minister, I simply ask President Donald Trump to live by this creed, nothing more, but certainly nothing less.

I do not think our Lord Jesus Christ meant his words to exclude followers of Islam from seven nations, persons of different race or color or national origin from his commandment to us to “love one another.”  Our constitution is not as authoritative for life as the Holy Bible, but even it says we should not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin or religion for those seeking to enter our country as refugees.

It saddens me that I must spend so much time reminding President Trump and our nation’s leaders of what should be obvious to all.  It is said, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  Have our nation’s leaders become so enamored with power they have lost their Christian conscience and their own humanity?

In this small treatise, I simply wish to remind us of who we all are!  Is it a crime to speak out and remind us of our need to express true humanity towards one another, of our need to exhibit kindness and justice for all?

So I wield a pricking pen, not of unkindness or malice or hatred.  No, far from it.  I take my pen with careful love and prick this overblown balloon we call the government of the United States.  If you, our representatives, really espouse less government, give us less presidential edicts from the White House and instead go out into the highways and byways and meet all the good people of our great nation.  Listen to us!  Then go back to your acts of governance and make good laws for all the people, not bad laws for a few with wealth enough to buy a dinner plate or status enough to obtain a hearing with you! Instead, be the President for all the people of this United States of America!  Is this too much to ask of the President of this great nation?

“A Voice”, a servant of God, by God’s great and gracious mercies, our Lord, the Benevolent and Kind Ruler of us all, though Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be all glory, praise, honor and blessing, both now and forevermore!  “Amen!”

Let all of God’s people say, “Amen!”

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