Life plods along even as the axis-rotation of the earth appears to have been gravely skewed based on what we continue to see in the grim parade of marching events in our besieged world. Events tumbling every which way, the up appearing down while the down seems up, the right being depicted as wrong, the truths inverted into falsities. Much like living in an alternate universe, with reality appearing like mirror images all in reverse.
As the earth appears to be spinning erratically we all are fearful of an eventual loss of our collective equilibrium, or really, our collective sanity. So how does one maintain balance? Maybe by simply getting these puzzling turns of events out into the open, into the glaring daylight and hopefully the disparate pieces will realign or are seen differently as getting back to their rightful places. Which I personally doubt. Anyway here goes.
Much as one hopes things we see are simply mirages, but to one's chagrin, these eerie apparitions have been so for a while and remain unchanged continuing their awkward usurpation of reality. Start with the continuing scourge we call the pandemic. What about the naked war-like posturings of some powers. Then sidle along to the chaotic politics in the US, as preponderantly and incessantly dissected and discussed in all media, including the chattering classes in social media. One cannot help notice it because it pops up very prominently like a sore thumb. Its beleaguered president sitting alone dismally stripped of all options in his quest to be heard regarding his claims of massive electoral frauds.
One is hard pressed to fathom the merciless accusations and claims taken against the targeted prey coming from the mightiest temporal force yet assembled on the face of the earth. Sensing the buckling down of the harangued target, we find that the newly-minted potent political force in the American landscape reveals itself as merciless and brutal in dealing with those who defy it. No stone is left unturned and unattended. Any opposition however token or weak will be crushed. Thus in one feel swoop, the hapless but mightiest public official in the world is summarily shorn of his princely but petty privileges like the uses of his social media accounts which he uses to communicate with his unflinching loyalists which by conservative estimates account for half of the electorate. The edicts originating and dictated by fledgling overlords not quite statesman-like enough but possessed of wealth and power beyond the dreams of ordinary mortals and who have arrogantly anointed themselves as moral guardians and executioners for the citizens of this big country.
Sensing further the vanquished being subdued by their pre-emptive strikes, the rest of the herd approaches and circles in, ready to pounce and devour. With their rhetoric one senses the obvious relish and pleasure in their countenances. They seem not able to get enough satisfaction in their acts of relieving themselves of their hateful lexicon. They cannot help repeat themselves in cadence and like drones buzzing above. They are all expecting to hand-deliver their own merciless coup de grace.
Ironic that all this is aimed and being delivered to one now so utterly hamstrung in most things invading hordes are noted to possess and are feared. He has no despotic powers. He has no militia or military, since we are assured they all are poised simply to stand down and not follow his commands even as he continues to hold the official trappings of his office. He essentially has no meaningful powers left, save for his continued resort to at times volleys of admittedly of fast and loose rhetoric. We have seen that he cannot even muster control of the several departments under him. Much less of the party that cradled him and which he had liberally partnered with in his many accomplishments.
But just the same the angry advocates and believers of the other side continue to be flabbergasted, for they cannot understand why Trump still has massive popular support from the common people. And this is where their inordinate hatred and morbid fear of him emanate, even when he appears to stand solitary and helpless before the world. Their fear is more than palpable, making them concoct more possible actions and subterfuges to muzzle and silence him. In a manner which is not only total but thorough. They aim to remove his person, his memory, and any traces of him from the face of the earth. Of his present, past, and future. Already from the early get-go they had promised to exhume his past business dealings, and all the legal claims against his person and his business after he leaves. And for the future, they heatedly declare to bring against him impeachment papers and claims premised on the 25th Amendment which they had both previously brought before to naught to guarantee he does not have a future. Many may find the absolute zaniness of such moves, given the superficiality and the proximity of the end to his first term. All because, they are so afraid this beast may still not be contained and constrained by the manifold measures they already initiated and cooked up.
The perfunctory calls for unity from the declared victors are not really heedless, rather they have of necessity come to fruition by the lines drawn. Yes, there is unity as we speak, but it is not the unity into one that has ensued, rather it is the unity of two possibly seething factions with lines clearly drawn to separate and estrange them for battle engagement. It is now between us and the enemy within. The patriots versus the domestic terrorists. That is now the world the US of A lives in, inherited from the past actions inflicted against the republic by those whose fevered quest for power and influence know no bounds and limits. What an upside-down world it is. Those incorrigibly invested in the supreme self-righteousness of their causes whether honestly or willfully sourced will not be appeased or satisfied with anything less than total annihilation, including for those who have the hapless misfortune of casting their lot on the target. Out with the enemy lists, they shout from their gilded ramparts. Time for cleansing and re-education.
By the way, from the viewpoint of Catholics never in the country's history have the stars been so aligned. It has a Supreme Court headed by a Catholic jurist, with about 5 or 6 justices out of 9 also Catholics. The more numerous and powerful Lower House of Congress has a female head who is also Catholic. And .. tada, a president-elect who is not only Catholic, but devoutly so as publicly pronounced. And who is tacitly favored by the Papacy. But does the domain reflect the peace, inclusiveness and universality the Church is vaunted for? And beyond that what about the congruence of the moral policies of the upcoming administration with the enduring and unchanging doctrines of the Church? Judge for yourself.
Finally, disheartened to note that a good number of media pundits and amateur acolytes on social media who use such stringent and merciless rhetoric against this "sinner" are also Catholics.
Lord, in your strict justice, please allow your mercy to shower and reign supreme! For us all!
