JUSTICE SERVED

OR 'JUST DESERTS'?

On this Human Rights Day when we celebrate the humanity of all people, we continue to endure a leader who does not. Ours is a greedy, self-serving, bombastic child more focused on building a ballroom than providing for the citizenry. His vile tongue sets a demoralizing example. Never mind his wanton past and pardons for crooks, sex offenders and drug dealers. I wouldn’t let him in my house for any amount of money.

The bobbleheads who flank him in the Oval Office make me seethe. When he calls female reporters “piggy,” “stupid” and “ugly,” his cronies smile as if that’s just business as usual and it is. Does any of this strike you as ‘Christian’ behavior? (The crucifix around Melania’s neck doesn’t count.) Congress just spent 140 million to buy six Boeing 747’s to deport people. How about spending that to support people, like our scientists, teachers and farmers?

This Administration encourages neither education, scientific research, a clean environment or ‘justice for all.’ The ‘swamp’ it needs to drain is the one it is standing in. Science has saved us from plagues, pestilence and all manner of mayhem. Measles, once eradicated, is now at its highest level in 25 years! RFK may well have had ‘a spiritual awakening,’ but thanks to him, America is awakening to a nightmare.

Let me be clear. This is not a political post but a humanitarian one. Apparently, his highness hasn’t looked away from his mirror long enough to notice that among the 8 billion people in the world, he is hardly ‘the fairest of them all.’ Further, we are all intrinsically connected. In Africa, the term Ubuntu means “humanness” and says, “I am because we are.” It reveres the importance of community. (No, Donald, Mar-A-Lago, is not a community).

2,000 years ago, in “The Republic,” Plato wrote about the ‘philosopher king;’ a leader who combines wisdom, virtue, and a deep love of truth to govern justly, prioritizing the state’s good over personal gain. Perhaps our emperor with no clothes failed to read Matthew 6:19-21 which says, “lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.”

While Trump was cutting BILLIONS from scientific research, scientists at Northwestern were discovering a way to send light to neural pathways in the brain, enabling victims of paralysis to walk again! They’ve also created a small robot the size of a grain of sand that will be able to travel through your body and rewire damaged nerves! What’s a White House ballroom compared to that? And he thinks he’s a peacemaker?

Look, I have a high tolerance for pain but a very low one for injustice. All the crypto in the world won’t keep this pathetic, lily-white dynasty from receiving its ‘just deserts.’ Hopefully, I’ll be alive to see it because I can feel vengeful, too. Meanwhile, I find myself going out of my way to be kind as if I’m trying to overcompensate for the cruel actions of those in power.

At the market yesterday, an old man in front of me was counting out his change penny by penny. The clerk was put out.

“How wonderful,” I enthused. “The little things still matter to you!” The old man seemed grateful.

Today, a young woman cut me off in traffic. I wasn’t happy. However, a minute later, we were side by side at a red light. I rolled down my window and motioned for her to do the same. Reluctantly, she did.

“I get it,” I said. “It’s tough out there but you’re not alone. So, take it easy, okay?”

Sending the same reminder to all of you. . .until next time.