The news service article was a throw away; something about the boos for Taylor Swift at the latest Super Bowl. But then the new president of our nation is quoted as having made a very low-end comment saying the boos are a sign of a “very unforgiving MAGA”. He apparently thought this was a good thing.

America was once known for its capacity for humanitarian work and diverse spiritual traditions of providing aid and assistance to its vulnerable members, not to mention aid and assistance to the globe’s starving or seriously ill men, women, children, and elders. We were a wealthy generous nation even though while growing into maturity like any young entity making and trying to correct disastrous mistakes while occasionally showing unbelievable spiritual depth in our empathy and generosity. I suspect some of that good work was the result of a level of aspiration of being a nation of both tolerance and spirituality. But being a good Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Native American religious practitioner, Unitarian Universalist, Hindu, and on across the diverse faith communities of this nation is hard work involving personal sacrifice. 

There are three things that can never fit together. A nation that is (1) Great, (2) Unforgiving, and (3) Christian. I only select this last religious tradition for comment because more than a few of its proclaimed members have a robust commitment to overturning the Constitution in favor of Christian Nationalism dominating the diverse, pluralistic American religious culture. At the human level a concurrent commitment to ‘unforgiving retribution’ and ‘Christianity’ is a deep, dangerous contradiction not only for the persons perpetuating this false version of founding teachings of the Christian Religion but also for the balance of our nation. When considering the actual teachings of the Christian tradition, a committed posture of unforgiving is not just amoral, but actively immoral. For the believers out there, feel free to fear for this country that is edging itself toward the perils of complete vulnerability to your God’s wrath, while figuratively, the original founding teacher of the Christian way walks to either Canada or Mexico, looks back and shakes the dust off his sandals.

Good is the Supreme Court immediately without delay ruling that the President must administer the Budget Congress and the American people constitutionally authorized saving tens of thousands of lives in this country and around the world. I believe that might be called Pro Life. There should be no penalty for simply being born and alive. Good is the President who can untangle and separate the rules of the NFL, Pro Wrestling and real estate sales from the life and death solemn obligations of national and international leadership. Good just might be the currently ‘unemployed’ minority political party adopting ‘Restoring A Free Democracy” for the banner headline of its next campaign platforms and for seasons to come. If you don’t think you have enough evidence and information to support that platform, wait three months but don’t wait too long.