For the moment, we’ll pretend that it hasn’t been over 7
months since I last wrote.
Join the
ranks of my parents, friends and earliest sweethearts to whom I have often
provided the gift of opportunities for forgiveness. Perhaps, in a later missive, I will explain
myself.
For now… let us thank Donald Trump for motivating this
current phillipic.
(we’ll wait while you google it…)
Actually, I’m being somewhat misleading. 1.
This blog will not be particularly “fiery”.
2.
There is NOTHING for which to thank Donald Trump.
Ever.
And Ever. (Amen).
But he has got me thinking.
What does one do when one discovers that he/she is living in a Reality
Television show? Because that’s how I
feel as I watch the surrealist theatre and listen to the rhetoric of the
Presidential Primaries in the U.S. Can
I simply swear at Gordon Ramsay and turn in my apron? Refuse to shower and get
voted off Big Brother? Is there any way
that I can beg the Tribe to speak or simply dance away from the stars?
It seems not.
This show will not turn off - like “Two Broke
Girls” or “Saved by the Bell” no matter how poor the writing, acting or embarrassing
the situations, it’s always on!
Living in a world where public figures re-write history on a
whim (Donald Trump’s business acumen; Hillary Clinton’s lionizing of Nancy
Reagan and her support for people with Aids; when Bewitched brought in a new
Darren) I find myself wondering what to do when the nuts are in charge. How does one live in the midst of evil,
stupidity or just plain wrong-headedness?
I respect democracy and I have bought into the idea that the majority
have the right to determine their shared future – but how does one live quietly
in the midst of those who have been fooled or hoodwinked; lack the capacity or
information to make an informed and just decision?
Do I just grin and go along with it?
As teenagers, sitting in school cafeterias or basement
recrooms we would often profess that, had we the ability to time travel, the
first that thing that we would do is go back and assassinate Hitler before his
rise to power. We knew most assuredly
that the best way to deal with evil was to kill it before it could spread. However, with commitments to life, justice, the rule of law and the priority of
democracy, I have to confess that I would be unlikely to assassinate
anyone.
(I had always believed that there
we only two assassination attempts on Hitler, but having recently been informed
that there were as many as 47, I’m beginning to wonder if some or my teen age friends
haven’t figured out how to time travel and are simply bad a assassination)
Of course, I could just bitch, moan and post constantly on
Facebook how funny, stupid, useless or disappointing everything is. But, much like my plans to assassinate
Hitler, I would like leave my teenage attitudes and practices behind me.
(Seriously… how ‘bout we give the new Prime
Minister a little more than 6 months to fix everything that needs fixing and
stop blaming him for looking good in a suit?)
So, what am I supposed to do?
I’ve ruled out assassination.
I’m trying to let go of whining.
I don’t want to live angry.
I’m not moving to Iceland.
French’s Ketchup aside, I’m not convinced that yelling and
screaming at the Parliament Buildings, a Trump Rally or Loblaws is really going
to affect much change in me or in the world.
But I can’t do nothing, can I?
This Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, most churches will be
commemorating the Palm Sunday parade of Jesus. And thinking about it, has
inspired me and will help to inform how I will live in a Trump World… and you
may live in a Trudeau world…. How we can live together in a world where we may
not be entirely “at home” living with idiots.
Historically, it is likely that Jesus' little parade happened
on the day of or very close to the time of larger parades. Parades that celebrated the Roman Empire; a
least one parade that would have been notable for horses, chariots, loud noises,
big crowds and raucous cheers in the name of Rome. A reason for celebration, but also a reminder
to the local folks as to who was in charge, and how they would deal with unrest
and disobedience. It’s all cheers and
balloons, unless you step out of line and then these same horses, chariots and
soldiers could be turned on you.
Having
been born and raised in Southern Ontario, I’ve never been to parade that
frightened me or carried any undertones of violence in my mind – but go to the
Airshow with some Refugees some time and you may see a very different reaction
to the spectacle of military jets flying overhead in formation.
In the face of this militaristic, double speak world of
violence and Empire, Jesus cannot remain silent. However, he does not go to the parade and
throw tomatoes… he does not scream “Fascist” and speculate as to the size of
Pilate’s penis (thank you Republican Presidential hopefuls for raising the bar
so high…) He simply lives and presents
an alternative. He puts on another
parade at the other end of the city… one with a donkey (or two) and people throwing clothes and waving palms. There are no clowns, no banners, no horses, no chariots
or soldiers; there is no military or commercial might on display whatsoever..,
instead, a parade of people cheering and crying out “Hosanna”. An alternative to Empire; an appeal to God
and peace, hope and love… a simple act that doesn’t dazzle or manipulate, but
provides another way. Kind of like the first the best of Pride Parades.
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| images may appear whiter than likely... or even, possible. |
I think that this will be my best way forward should I find myself
a minority awash in a sea of idiots… or a morally responsible person in the midst
of a world gone mad. I will live and
demonstrate an alternative to corrupt privilege of those who rule. I work diligently at loving the stranger, opening
my hands and heart to those in need, I will seek peace rather than victory, I
will pray rather than deride, I will keep doing what it right and trust God… and
I will have a parade - many parades! I will make visible my choices, so that others may be
inspired to come out of the shadows and live authentically, even if it is not endorsed by the majority; I will live and parade in loving
opposition to the “common sense” choices of the masses. And maybe, just maybe… someone will
recognize that “Hosanna” actually means “save us”… and our daring to hold true
to what is just and loving will eventually be enough to change "common sense" and save us all.
Or we all move to Iceland. http://www.iceland.is/
