hree rivers have converged to flood our land with a disaster of historic proportions.
The first is the river of greed. Donald J. Trump lives on this river in a very fine yacht. His sole desire is to get rich, which he has done nicely since living in the White House. He trades stocks on a weekly basis, investing in companies that do business with the federal government. He owns stock, I am told, in all of the companies whose CEOs accompanied him on the recent trip to China. That trip was not for diplomatic and military purposes, which he why he took with him no State Department experts. It was all about business, the kind of business that earns him money.
Trump has many friends who live with him on this river. They are the billionaire class. They are doing quite well, these days. Many of their companies pay very little in taxes. They enjoy life on the river of greed, As their river has merge with two other rivers, they are realizing their dreams: political power that favors the rich and ignores the poor.
There is a second river that has helped produce this historic flood of corruption and disruption. Let’s call it the river of white. The headwaters of this river are in the mountains of racial inequality. The people who live on or near this river are, naturally, white, and they do not like it with non-white people buy land near them or attend school or, God forbid, show up at church.
This river of white grew wide when a meandering creek call male merged with it. Later, the rushing torrents of a stream called straight added its angry waters to the flow. The folk who live along this three-streamed river are angry about all the opportunities that have come the way of people of color, women and girls, and of course, the gay, the lesbian, and the trans. Especially, these days, the trans.
These river folk are also doing quite nice in the flood that has overwhelmed so many of our public norms and values, that has carried us into war and division and danger, that has swept away the emerging consensus that all people, regardless of color, creed, religion, or gender can find in these United States life, liberty, and their pursuit of happiness. Inch by inch, mile by mile, the flood of prejudice has pushed down the civil rights so many fought so hard to win.
The river of greed and the waters of white merged to form a fearful geo-political force that has disrupted so much of public life in the United States.
But the real danger came as yet a third stream of discontent overflowed its banks and contributed to the natural, political, and cultural disaster that has enveloped us all. Let’s call this the river of religion. Not just any religion, but Christianity; and not just any Christianity, but conservative Christianity that finds inspiration, not so much in the life and teaching of Jesus, but in a random collection of texts that deal with masculinity, sexuality, and Israel. They carry Bibles and roseries.
Their real concern is the public display of religion. They want nothing but Christianity, a type of Christianity that hosts public prayers, posts public rules, and honors in public their religious leaders (often known as apostles and prophets). They are happy these days, especially this week, after having gathered in Washington DC for a public display of religious fervor funded by the federal government. Yes, their leader and benefactor, Donald J. Trump, skipped out to play golf, but they are sure that his thoughts and prayers were with them all day long.
These three cultural, political, and economic rivers merged to make this mighty flood that has filled our land. Much that we have treasured has been washed away; many landmarks have disappeared; people precious to us cannot be found. We are sad; we are shocked; it is hard to sing for joy and live with hope.
As in any flood, there is little any of us can do except escape to higher ground and wait until the waters recede. And they will. In fact, there is some evidence that the dry ground of justice, mercy, and humility (to claim the space defined by the prophets) has been seen; there are signs of sanity appearing; there are people who swear they have set foot dry ground and taken pictures of green trees.
My grandson will soon turn 18. He will look back in his old age and remember the great flood of 2026. He will give thanks that he survived, that his family survived, that his country survived. And that gives me great comfort.
hree rivers have converged to flood our land with a disaster of historic proportions.
The first is the river of greed. Donald J. Trump lives on this river in a very fine yacht. His sole desire is to get rich, which he has done nicely since living in the White House. He trades stocks on a weekly basis, investing in companies that do business with the federal government. He owns stock, I am told, in all of the companies whose CEOs accompanied him on the recent trip to China. That trip was not for diplomatic and military purposes, which he why he took with him no State Department experts. It was all about business, the kind of business that earns him money.
Trump has many friends who live with him on this river. They are the billionaire class. They are doing quite well, these days. Many of their companies pay very little in taxes. They enjoy life on the river of greed, As their river has merge with two other rivers, they are realizing their dreams: political power that favors the rich and ignores the poor.
There is a second river that has helped produce this historic flood of corruption and disruption. Let’s call it the river of white. The headwaters of this river are in the mountains of racial inequality. The people who live on or near this river are, naturally, white, and they do not like it with non-white people buy land near them or attend school or, God forbid, show up at church.
This river of white grew wide when a meandering creek call male merged with it. Later, the rushing torrents of a stream called straight added its angry waters to the flow. The folk who live along this three-streamed river are angry about all the opportunities that have come the way of people of color, women and girls, and of course, the gay, the lesbian, and the trans. Especially, these days, the trans.
These river folk are also doing quite nice in the flood that has overwhelmed so many of our public norms and values, that has carried us into war and division and danger, that has swept away the emerging consensus that all people, regardless of color, creed, religion, or gender can find in these United States life, liberty, and their pursuit of happiness. Inch by inch, mile by mile, the flood of prejudice has pushed down the civil rights so many fought so hard to win.
The river of greed and the waters of white merged to form a fearful geo-political force that has disrupted so much of public life in the United States.
But the real danger came as yet a third stream of discontent overflowed its banks and contributed to the natural, political, and cultural disaster that has enveloped us all. Let’s call this the river of religion. Not just any religion, but Christianity; and not just any Christianity, but conservative Christianity that finds inspiration, not so much in the life and teaching of Jesus, but in a random collection of texts that deal with masculinity, sexuality, and Israel. They carry Bibles and roseries.
Their real concern is the public display of religion. They want nothing but Christianity, a type of Christianity that hosts public prayers, posts public rules, and honors in public their religious leaders (often known as apostles and prophets). They are happy these days, especially this week, after having gathered in Washington DC for a public display of religious fervor funded by the federal government. Yes, their leader and benefactor, Donald J. Trump, skipped out to play golf, but they are sure that his thoughts and prayers were with them all day long.
These three cultural, political, and economic rivers merged to make this mighty flood that has filled our land. Much that we have treasured has been washed away; many landmarks have disappeared; people precious to us cannot be found. We are sad; we are shocked; it is hard to sing for joy and live with hope.
As in any flood, there is little any of us can do except escape to higher ground and wait until the waters recede. And they will. In fact, there is some evidence that the dry ground of justice, mercy, and humility (to claim the space defined by the prophets) has been seen; there are signs of sanity appearing; there are people who swear they have set foot dry ground and taken pictures of green trees.
My grandson will soon turn 18. He will look back in his old age and remember the great flood of 2026. He will give thanks that he survived, that his family survived, that his country survived. And that gives me great comfort.
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