Don't worry, 'cause you can go to heaven

The new school year might be said to be getting off to a tentative start. Weren't we assuming that the pandemic would be behind us, by now? The U.S. went through the same sort of thing in the early 20th Century with the  Spanish flu: prematurely declaring it done. Is it just a case of wishful thinking? 

We are hearing strong words of caution now. The virus produces "variants." The stats for hospitalization and deaths are concerning. Exasperated, the Republican governor of Mississippi is groping to find some rationalization. Don't depend on Republicans to exercise logic much. This individual says we shouldn't be that fearful of the virus - Christians shouldn't anyway - because we can count on eternal life. 

Do you feel heartened by that? Or does it not seem sort of macabre? An indication that the Republican Party of the U.S. is devolving into a death cult? The world has seen this before with Germany of the mid-20th Century. The devaluing of human life. 

The problem is this: the virus as with climate change is a far-reaching problem that calls for government action on a grand scale. And Republicans would rather swallow shards of glass than to call for big government in connection to anything. So they rationalize. They'll use any argument available to counter suggestions for an assertive government. 

But look at all the money spent on the war in Afghanistan over 20 years, an effort begun by George W. Bush who proclaimed "we will not falter" and "freedom will prevail." Well, I am old enough to remember the U.S. exit from Vietnam. We did falter and freedom did not prevail. In desperation the Republicans are using Christian faith as a crutch or diversion, knowing there are so many knaves out there who will simply buy into this - like offering sugar cubes to a horse. 

Lots of people like that are right here in Stevens County - I witness conversations affirming it. It grows more scary by the day. If so many people are gullible buying into Donald Trump, maybe the original Christians were likewise gullible, being "played." Maybe Jesus Christ was a fraud too just like Trump. Millennials are increasingly skeptical about Christianity, at least the way the faith is being presented now. 

So we are all attempting to start a new school year. Gives meaning to the expression "knock on wood." The cold and dry air of fall will increase the odds of pandemic complications. Republicans are fighting mandates everywhere that are designed to at least blunt the reach of the virus, to protect people. Isn't that what government is supposed to do? Protect people, or to at last maximize the odds for overcoming the virus? 

MS Governor Tate Reeves

But the Mississippi governor simply says, don't worry, because if you're a Christian you'll have eternal life. Don't sweat it. 

I would like to challenge every pastor in Stevens County to give a sermon this Sunday based on what the Mississippi governor said. Don't worry, be happy? Don't bother those of us in government to spend money and craft programs to try to protect you, to keep you alive, because we're Republicans and we just don't believe in that sort of thing. We believe in liberty. And if you die, you'll just end up in heaven if you're a Christian.

Is this a palatable attitude? Well I don't think so. I think our Lord wants us to cherish our mortal lives that He has given us. Our mortal lives have a purpose. Heaven help us if they do not. What are we living for, then? To fight pointless losing wars in places like Vietnam and Afghanistan, because we saw war movies as children like "The Longest Day" in which John Wayne and others strut with superiority as the eventual "victor?" 

Well, that was then. It was a necessary war, nothing really to bathe in pride about because it showed the worst in human nature. A solution was to have more women hold political positions of power around the world. General MacArthur after WWII pushed the "liberal" idea of allowing women to vote in Japan! 

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is trying to show some humanity now by allowing local businesses to enforce vaccine mandates if they wish. And many "conservatives" are having none of it - some are inclined to try to shoot down Noem in the most personal of terms. Ad hominem. She is accused of being politically popular only because she is "good-looking." A conservative pundit has stated that. What year are we in, anyway? 

Noem failed in trying to get the South Dakota attorney general to resign. And now the attorney general has a new traffic ticket for going way over the limit in a 35 MPH zone. But hey, I suppose the fellow is a "Christian." That's all we need to know? With many people, I guess it is, like parishioners at a majority of Stevens County churches, based on my observation. 

No ability to think for themselves. Venting homophobia when in fact their leaders really only care about tax cuts for the wealthy. 

I have been attending an ELCA church that has tried to reject Trumpism. And we are dying, sad to say. Numbers and enthusiasm are diminishing. Former members of our church and of Faith Lutheran talk about how the ELCA has gotten too "liberal." We do not celebrate gay rights, we simply have asserted that gays should not be excluded from consideration for pastor positions. It's just no big deal at all. You might have a gay member of your own family. 

I assure you, Republican leaders don't lose any sleep over this issue or abortion. They use extraneous emotional issues like this to keep their flock in line so more tax cuts can be enacted and regulations slashed. 

But what about local property taxes? That concern you? Ask them about that and they'll just wash their hands of it. It doesn't concern them, they'll say. They'll say "talk to the county." That's what our Jeff Backer says. There is such a thing as LGA, local government aid, and I'll bet that Democrats talk far more favorably about that than Republicans. 

 

School year launches

So our new school year has begun for Morris Area. The superintendent had to step down rather suddenly, I hear. A family medical matter? Can we adjust to this seamlessly? What is it about our school district? Remember the legal charges against a high school principal a few years back? He wasn't even forced to step down. He came back to work for a year, didn't he? 

So it's Wednesday and I see the MACA volleyball team is 0-5. The boys cross country team placed a modest fifth in our own invitational. Our top individual was a modest 13th. Our girls cross country team failed to even register a team score. We did have an individual place third, Hailey Werk, so congrats to her. Meredith Carrington placed 12th. I have to mention that or I'd catch heck from grandpa Tom, he of the fly-swatting skill at DeToy's Restaurant. 

I hope DeToy's keeps welcoming Democrats as well as Republicans into the place. I'm starting to wonder. The Drudge Report had an item the other day about a restaurant that refuses service to known Biden supporters. 

It can't happen here? Anything can happen here.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com