Democracy and Integrity

I don’t usually post my thoughts on another country’s actions in politics because that’s their business, but this time is different. Very different. Let me say up front, it’s the USA and the newly elected Democrat member of Congress, Rashida Tlaib who just happens to be a muslim. I say that because in a democracy, you get who you elect, so we must also remember to look behind the Congresswoman herself to the voters who put her there.

In the UK we are used to the knock about of MPs in Parliament, and it does get rowdy at times and childish too. It can also be rude, but the use of bad language is strictly controlled and legislated against inside the house, and the same is expected outside. Having said that, there are occasions where these rules are bent and abused by a few, but not too often.

In keeping with non reactionary reporting, and not being biased, the BBC reports the story accurately, but leaves out the expletives, and strong vocabulary used by Rashida Tlaib to describe her intense hatred of both President Trump, and the only democracy in the middle east, the nation of Israel. The news reports of her actual words are easily found online, by other media. Personally, I prefer the style of the BBC as compared to the all-out opinionated and reactionary USA Fox News, but each to their own.

My point is this, and it is simple. If a person is elected to represent everyone in their constituency in the highest free and democratic Congress in the world, please show some respect, dignity and humility. Go about your desire to change things from your position of power inside the House, but don’t lower the tone of your position, or yourself, by using crude and foul language. Human nature being what it is, this behaviour will only serve to entrench the opinions of hardcore Republicans, and prompt swing voters against her views. This may have spectacularly backfired on Rashida Tlaib, and I for one hope so, not based on religion but respect, dignity, decency, manners, humility and integrity, of which she has none. This post is not intended to offend, but it did get my goat, as you might have gathered! Here are the news reports from the BBC and Fox News. You can see and decide for yourself.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46764052

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/judge-jeanine-pirro-rashida-tlaib-this-is-my-message-for-you-do-what-you-were-elected-to-do

Exiles

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. - Jeremiah 29:4-7

We can all heave a sigh of relief in the UK that the local elections are over. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland now know who their devolved representatives are, and maybe we will get some peace from cheshire smiling politicians on the TV. But, then next month, we are all launched into a referendum to see if we want to be a part of the European Union or not. Make no mistake, democracy is important, but it can overtake the rest of your life. A certainty in these elections is that the thoughts, fears and opinions of the Christian population are sidelined, while other minorities get centre stage. It was impossible to find a party or politician who had a high moral and ethical outlook, never mind a practicing Christian.

God’s people were living in a country they didn’t choose, under a government they didn’t ask for, and oppressed. Not only were they a minority, they really were silenced by the ungodly masses they had to live among. They had no say. They moaned, wrung their hands and pointed fingers because it wasn’t fair. They complained, became bitter, and thought they deserved better. They wanted God to step in and rescue them, but God reminded them that they were there because they had disobeyed God’s commandments and it was their own doing! There is a direct parallel and lesson for us. Our country is in this state because we, as a people, government and nation have turned our backs on God’s ways. It’s really not complicated.

I like God’s two fold action for His people, and it applies equally today. You may not be able to alter the situation right away, but while you wait for God’s plan to unfold, live as the Holy people you claim to be right where you are. Make those differences which may be in your gift, and all the while, work for the good of those people who don’t respect you, or your faith. If you improve the people, community and nation around you, then ultimately you benefit yourselves. While doing all you can to improve things around you, God is already working on His part of the bargain. Just a few verses after the passage above, the prophet continues with God’s Word and the security only He can bring, so be patient because God has it all under control. We know the end of the story…..   

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. - Jeremiah 29:11-14

Trump-ed

As a family, we were fortunate to live in the USA for some time, over a period of years and in three different States, in the north, east and south. My work took us there and we enjoyed the experience of meeting new people, making friends, some of whom are still in touch, and getting to know and understand our cultural differences. None of that was a problem, maybe in part because we put our roots down into the local churches where we were placed. Most Americans are not loud, opinionated or arrogant. In fact it was easy to like them and be in their company. Talking about politics wasn’t even an issue, because although there were many differing opinions expressed, nothing got in the way of acceptance or friendships. Our last work assignment ended in 1991.

Scroll forward some 25 years, and I don’t recognise the general tone of US society and politics as reported during this run up to November 2016 when the American people will  democratically elect their next president. You would have to be a hermit to have missed the loud, aggressive candidates who are standing, and their supporters. My own recollections just a few years ago, are that debates were open, good and strong, but never personal. Something has changed.

Permit me the openness to say that the speeches and rhetoric of the present candidates who are hoping to become the unchallenged leader of the free world, are nothing short of school playground antics. I watch as the front runner of the Republican party hides behind bar room brawl talk. The kind of stuff that would only be allowed when you are drunk, and among your ‘own’ kind. Trump is a charlatan, who seems to have enough supporters who share his pub lounge antics, to get elected. If Trump is short on integrity, then Clinton is short on truth. She has not been open and honest with the nation she would aspire to lead, and is very short on credibility. Bernie Sanders is still an unknown, but he is viewed as an outsider who may just overtake the Democratic ‘favourite’.

So, the world outside the USA watches and holds their breath while a nomination circus spectacle takes place. The end result scares anyone who watches and follows with interest. Candidates with a chequered and coloured history fight it out to be the most powerful person in the free world. My questions are these: Is this the best of the country’s good people? I don’t think so. My second question, and possibly more significant: How did it come to this in the most democratic country in the world? My third question, and certainly the most significant: Do those many ‘good people’ within the USA care about the worldwide  consequences? We watch. We wait. We wonder. We worry.

Nothing Wrong

As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. Proverbs 26:11 NIV

The words, “I’ve done nothing wrong” seem to trip off the tongue of people who have been caught doing something illegal, but they don’t know how to handle being caught almost red handed. Our politicians are a prime example, once again. It wasn’t so long ago the UK MPs were all over the news when their hands were caught in the till of their expenses. Do you remember what they said at the beginning? Yup, it was “I’ve done nothing wrong” and it stayed their story until they were brought kicking and screaming to justice, the courts, and in some cases, prison.

Now there is another scandal brewing, but this time with the Lords in the upper chamber. You know, those we trust with our laws. It seems that some have been caught taking cash for asking questions in the House. That’s a nice way of saying they are taking money to promote a business or commercial venture. Some would call that corruption.

So, why are you bringing this up now, I can hear you ask? For this reason. There is a great moral issue being debated and voted on in the House of Lords in the next few days, and I at least expect these people to be above suspicion on matters of the law, but not just that, on matters of ethics and morality too. My unease is simple: How can I trust the highest group of Law Lords in the nation to do right in a moral issue, when there is an obvious inability to avoid the basic sin of greed?

Yes, the words in the book of Proverbs were written by the wisest of men, Solomon, and he knew full well that the dog will return to its vomit, repeating its folly. As with dogs, so with our lawmakers, so how can I be positive about any moral choices they might make?

Whoa there...now I have to pull back and look at myself, and if you are being honest too, you will ask the face in the mirror, “can I trust you with all your moral decisions”? The focus changes now, and all of a sudden we can hear ourselves say, “I’ve done nothing wrong, have I?” The only difference between those UK Law Lords’ hearts and ours is one of class status in our head. In God’s eyes we are all the same, we have fallen short of His standard, and in some cases we too have returned to our vomit, just like the dog. Now who is doing nothing wrong?

Bankrupt!

I am one of those people who watches and listens to the news and current affairs, and yes even politics! I, like you, am expected to vote on the 6th May, and don't get me wrong, I will!! I will vote because it's my democratic right, and because living a democracy is a lot better than not living in one. No matter how bad our system is, it is better than none at all.


So what's the problem? I'll tell you. They have only started... all of them... and they seem to be bankrupt on a couple of key issues. They are telling us that the country is bankrupt, and that we will have to make sacrifices, and that they (the politicians) will have to make 'tough choices', no matter who gets into number 10. That's their favourite saying. Now none of them want to tell us the whole, bad news. It's not good politics. 


The bankruptcy is not only on the economy. Our politicians are bankrupt. They all say that all the others' sums 'don't add up', so that means they all stand accused of not being able to count. They all also say that they have the answer, and that the others don't. To my mind, that means they are all bad at sums, but they are also morally lacking as well. What is it about politicians, that they can never give credit for a good idea that someone else has? Whoever gets into number 10 will undoubtedly use some of their 'enemy's' policies. They (not us) have just emerged from the worst expenses scandal to hit the Westminster Parliament in 200 years, so what is it about the words, "... we don't trust you..." that they don't understand? They must all be thinking it applies to everyone else, and not them. The old saying, "..abodys oot o' step but oor Jock..." seems to apply here.


Yes, in spite of that, I will still vote on May 6th, but they don't make it easy, do they? I wonder if that's deliberate?