Seriously Christians? Let's take a look at Trumpism through the lens of some of the Beatitudes, shall we?
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Trump said:
"Show me someone without an ego and I'll show you a loser. Sorry losers and haters, but my I.Q. is one of the highest and you all know it. Don't feel so stupid or insecure. It's not your fault." And this gem, "For me, the important thing is the getting, not the having."
Jesus said:
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Trump said:
"Part of the beauty of me is that I am very rich. I like money, I'm very greedy...I love money."
Jesus said:
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
Trump said:
"First of all, I am a great Christian. Why do I have to repent or ask for forgiveness if I am not making any mistakes?"
Jesus said:
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
Trump said:
"Torture works. Would I approve of waterboarding? You bet your ass I would, in a heartbeat. And I would approve of more than that. Torture works. And if it doesn't, they deserve it anyway."
I think you get the idea. This guy is as far from Christianity as one can get. And yet, he has all this support from a large swath of evangelicals. It is absurd. If that isn't enough for you, here are some more quotes.
"If you do not get even, then you are just a schmuck. I love getting even. When people wrong you, go after those people, because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it. … When someone hurts you, just go after them as viciously and violently as you can.”
"Tell people a lie three times and they will believe anything."
Where does one even begin to start unpacking this ridiculousness? When someone has a lifetime of showing you who they are, believe them. I seriously doubt God needs help from the likes of Trump.
Churches are increasingly involving themselves in politics. Recently General Michael Flynn called publicly for one religion in America. I'm sorry ex-General Flynn, but that is not America. However, it is an America that a large group of the Republican party desires. They clamor for a return to 1940's and 1950's inequality. You know, back when it was normal, accepted, and condoned without question. White men had the power and all were subservient to them. Making America Great Again. Hopefully, we will avoid a return to that kind of greatness.
The U.S. has been demoted from a full democracy to a flawed democracy for the first time, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. We are at a tipping point. The media continually portrays Democrats as in trouble for the mid-terms, and report incessantly about President Biden's falling ratings. They love to stroke the fear and conflicts for their ratings, and little is said about some major accomplishments of this new administration.
The real truth is the Democrats are doing well by every measure. The bipartisan infrastructure bill is the largest investment in our country in my lifetime. Not since the interstate highways have we made such an investment. Every election cycle, we hear the rhetoric about our crumbling infrastructure, but nothing ever happens. This administration delivered.
The Build Back Better Act is the greatest social spending bill in decades. Sorely needed, and benefiting everyday Americans, instead of the usual gains for the wealthy. The deficit hawks will oppose it. Do not let them fool you. The dollar is a tax credit and unit of measure. The government cannot run out of dollars unless it politically chooses to do so. Here are some factoids:
The U.S. creates its own money. It can never go broke.
Only real resources should ever constrain spending.
Federal Taxes do not fund spending.
Those who claim they do should not be listened to, or their opinions followed.
We win by understanding this. Political will decides what gets done. That's why you seldom hear any mention of a deficit over military-industrial complex spending. For once, we must care for the people. This is a tipping point.
If we do not remove the yoke of Trumpism from our collective necks, it is likely we will soon live in a fascist country. That is not great, and that is not America.
I think I can confidently state this as truth. Jesus was a liberal in every way. He would be supportive of a progressive agenda. Supporting Trumpism and his minions are far removed from Christian behavior.
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