EDITORIAL: The Tyranny Of Trump
By Trevor K. McNeil
That Old Tyme Religion
Generally speaking, there is a difference between old gods and what could be considered new gods. The god(s) of monotheism being firmly of the new school. The God of the Judeo-Christian Bible has gone through quite a transformation. He’s gone from a flaming-sword-angel-sending, flood killing-everything-on-earth, city destroying God of the Old Testament, to a Messenger of hope. Apparently, the Father felt he needed a new approach.
Police Violence
Loud, mostly non-violent demonstrations have filled the streets of America, again. Four police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota have murdered another handcuffed black man. Nothing new about that either. It seems a common event in this country. A large crowd was hanging out in front of the White House. AG, Bill Barr suddenly appeared, surrounded by a cadre of secret service personnel. He appeared to be surveying the situation. Minutes later, without warning, National Guard troops using tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets alongside horse mounted riot police violently cleared peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square and surrounding streets. The brutality was fast, savage and done without warning against passively demonstrating American citizens.
Brutal Passage
We would soon see the violence was done in order to create a path for Trump and his entourage to walk from the White House to St. John’s Episcopal Church. Once in front of the Priory House Trump awkwardly held up a Bible, turning it around, and around, in a bizarre manner, finally turning it upside down for a memorial photo. The newly proclaimed “law and order” president stood surrounded by his cabinet members posing for the media event. The self-proclaimed King-god of America now known as “Tyrannical Trump,” had used a militarized police force so he could shame the Bible, debase a church, and humiliate Christianity. An action of sacrilege that, in the good old days, that would have gotten him a lighting bolt right between the eyes. Thor must have been off that afternoon.
A Matter of Interpretations
The Bible can be interpreted in different ways. There have been an incredible 450 English translations of the Holy Bible. Which goes a long way in explaining the 33,791 distinct denominations of Christianity per the World Christian Encyclopedia. Even Catholics being divided into at least Roman and Coptic, with some, including me, counting Irish as a separate group. There is no problem with this. Variety being the spice of life and all.
If God Decides
Where things get dangerous, as with most things, is when the Bible is taken literally and out of context. Such as the bugaboos, of all genders and ages, I might add, who have said, in so many words, that “It’s in God’s hands. Whatever happens is his will.” Oh, boy. Those folks seeming to have skipped over the no less than 14 passages in both the New and Old Testament, specifically bestowing on man “free will.” The whole reason the “God decides” proviso was added was so people wouldn’t be killing themselves left and right to experience the glory of heaven.
Bible Misread
According to the King James version that I have, that Jesus Christ fella, for whom the religion is named, had, at best, an aloof view of the ‘state’ in general. Differentiating between the worldly and the spiritual, he said, “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, Give to God, what is Gods.” Though it is possible Tyrannical Trump, the God-King of all he surveils, might have thought it was about him. The Lord embraces togetherness and condemns selfishness. Such as the selfishness it would take to send in riot troops to clear the path to a church, Henry VIII style, for a photo-op. Though that still did not stop the Lamb of God from flipping tables and whipping backs when he found money changers doing their self-serving business in the temple. Seems like there’s an allegory there.
Reading Between the Lines
The Bible requires a certain bit of reading between the lines. Such as when Trump touted himself as a “Law and Order” president, then broke the laws of both God and the state, illegally unleashing National Guard and riot police on legally assembled peaceful protesters. Telling an already violent and brutal police force to “dominate the crowds.” Causing quite a lot of disorder among the clouds of tear gas and hail of rubber bullets, fired in petty vengeance.
Basement Hideout
Despite the God of the Bible that Trump held up, saying that vengeance belongs to God. The Lord cautioned, “Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways. Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” Trump’s threats against the American people, are shameful and outrageous. Trump has shamed his office. It is appropriate that he hide in a basement bunker.
