Some small thoughts on the correspondents dinner and President Trump

 I watched the Correspondents dinner last night and it left me having great sorrow for President Trump. There was an excellent documentary about the history of and what it means to have freedom of the press. I had hoped that the president really listened and understood the documentary. After that there were awards to reporters; I wondered what Trump was thinking as most of those awards were for articles about some problem with the presidency. He gave funny smiles and in some cases threw up his hands. and then it was time for him to speak. I don't think that he knows what it is to roast people, using satire. His speech was an hour long and filled with awful insults that were simply not funny. I realized that he has no ability to make jokes about others, only insults; and given his now seeming mental problems it was hard for him to stay on subject. I don't know if it is some kind of dementia or something else. But what I saw was a very broken confused man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I truly felt sorry for him.

You Shall Not Murder: An Unholy Army

 

“You shall not murder.” Exodus 13

An army is roaming about the United States killing, imprisoning, destroying people’s lives. It is called ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Its main leaders are the President of the United States, Donald J Trump, the Deputy White House Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, Stephen Miller, the Immigration Czar, Tom Homan, and the new head of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.

There is much in our country that I am troubled by for instance the corruption of the president and the failure of Congress to do anything about it, but it is our mistreatment of so many people by the leaders and organizations I have named that has me deeply depressed. In another time militia who roamed our streets wearing masks, driving unmarked cars, ramming other cars, shooting the drivers, watching them die without helping them would be arrested by the police. In fact, the police would undoubtedly shoot back at them and imprison them until they could go to trial.

In another time there would be no prisons for children. In another time no children as young as three, without parents, family or guardians would be set before a judge to have their fate decided. Yes, it is happening.

We are becoming a nation who cares little for the helpless, the stranger, the children, the orphan, the widow. The very ones that ancient Israel harmed and because of it finally were sent into exile. (of course, they started down this road because, they, while supposedly, existing as worshipers of God worshiped idols—deadly idols that came from self-will and love of power—read Ezekiel chapter 8.)

But to see people, some citizens, some who are not citizens but have lived here making a living, raising families, lying on our streets bleeding out and law enforcement nor city or government officials doing anything about it is unthinkable. It is like a nightmare descending on us. It is as though another country; another government has overpowered our democracy.

Congress needs to standup to it all. To say enough, to pass laws to make it impossible for an army of unknown members who disobey laws that should govern them, is allowed to exist.

Trust in Him at all times, O people. Pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuse for us.

Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; in the balances they go up; they are all together lighter than breath.

Do not trust in oppression and do not vainly hope in robbery. If riches increase do not set you heart upon them.

Once God has spoken and twice I have heard this:  That power belongs to God; and loving kindness is yours O Lord. For you recompence a man according to his work. (Psalms 62:8-12)