A Camel And The Loss Of Faith

much as for the acquisition of raw power? With power, others may be influenced to believe as they believe. Power is intoxicating, and too often wielded poorly, with calamitous effects on the unknowing. Does the Madoff scandal come to mind?

Ordinary people manage to eke out a survivable existence based solely on their commitment to honest labor, and honest dealings with those with whom they trade. Devoid of such honesty, mortal life loses quite a bit of it's lustre, and it's appeal for us. Moments of despair are foisted on us by virtue of our own actions, actions that do not satisfy the standards of christian beliefs.

Christ, during a rare moment of anger, entered the Temple of the money changers, and drove out those who sold, and those who bought in the Temple. Christ sternly announced that, "...you have made it a den of robbers!" ( Mark 11:15-17 RSV)

Robber. Greed. Money Changers. All may be found today on Wall Street, in New York City. The ancient money changers were more business like than their contemporary counterparts, and they had to face an irate Christ in their temple. Todays money changers are not frightened of the likes of Congressman Barney Frank. No, they appeal to us through Barney for more and more money that their ship of capitalist state may stay afloat and on course. Now, not a soul is bashful about stepping forward and asking, at times demanding, more of our financial resources. With this money firmly in hand they go on about their lustful way. Company revenues underwritten with this infusion of new money, are now pronounced as fit vehicles for rewarding executives with seasonal bonuses and perks we could only dream of.

Greed is deadly to the soul. It is deadly to the health of a nation, And when we acquiesce to the greedy one's demands, we too, are accomplices, abeting the evil that surely follows.Many years ago, Liberalism, Classc Liberalism, was indistinguishable from modern day Conservatism. The Founders themselves were of the Classic Liberal mold, and a country was born, thrived, and became the envy of the world. In mid-century, it was John Kenneth Galbraith who preached in behalf of Liberalism, and we were on our way to a new kind of Liberalism---Modern Liberalism. At one time Liberals believed in liberty, individual liberty, and freedom too. Property rights were an important cog in this spinning wheel. Entrepeneurship was not only encouraged, it was looked upon with pride. Stocisim, and stiff upper lips guided a nation forward, but then came the rocks inhabited by the Sirens of greed, and of corruption. The end was near for Classic Liberalism.

Ali Baba, and his merry band of maurading Congressional thieves are working assidulously to dominate our every doing, our every thing in life. The money changers, too, from on high look down on us, contemptful of our very existence it seems. they will exchange "Holiday" greetings with one another this year, and pass us by on the sidewalks we share. Theirs will be an example of Godlessness on parade, for they have given up on Christ, and given up on the most meaningful things in life itself.

We are religiously instructed to tithe our meager monies in the name of goodness, and we do so. But no one ever told us we would be told that tithing doesn't always stop at our home, and in our pockets. Tithing, a metafor for taxation, is said to be noble in and of itself. The only thing noble about this is, the self styled noble aristocracy which seeks to enlist us as Knights of someone elses round table. All this, in the name of a new God, the god of wealth and power acquisition, for the privileged few, but not for the ordinary folk.

Wish yourself a very Merry Christmas this year. So great a number of people, bound inescapably to the gentried set, and not a peep is heard. It is long past the date when we should have taken more direct action against these people. The time is here, the time is now!

So, to Barney, and Chris, and Chuckie, and Nancy, and Harry, it is time for you to pull the Christmas sleigh through the darkened night.In your travels, may you gain the wisdom, and the strength to admit your failings, and tell us you seek repentance. Do it now!