A House Divided

PRENOTE:  There are some very interesting comments at the Syria post from Dec. 9,  here.  Take a look.

POSTNOTES: Here is the text of President Biden’s Dec. 11 speech at the Brookings Institution on accomplishments of the Biden administration 2021-2024.  Take the time to read it.  Heather Cox Richardson on President Biden’s visit to Angola on December 2, here.   Joyce Vance on Pardons, Commutations etc. here.  After Christmas more politically related posts

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Dec. 11 was the deadline for states to submit Certificates of Ascertainment regarding the election of President of the United States. The 2024 Election Key Dates:  here.  Inauguration January 20, 2025.

I am one of the class of people – those who supported Kamala Harris et al – labeled by association “the enemy from within” by the incoming chief executive of the U.S., who has previously said publicly, to supporters, “I am your retribution” and who has a history of lying about everything, bullying as a tactic and revenge as a remedy.  There is much to say, to be continued.

No one knows how the next four years will go, much less how the first day or 100 days.   “Disrupt and confuse” is a common tactic.  I will be paying close attention as a citizen.

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My candidates, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, lost Nov. 5.

To give the word “lost”  `context: on December 1, the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Arizona Cardinals 23-22 – a one point victory.  The margin of victory (or loss) was essentially identical to the presidents 1.5% margin Nov. 5.  It was disappointing to lose, but it was no blowout.

The December 10 vote total, according to the Associated Press, showed the below number of votes for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.  (All the vote totals are here: Presidential vote as of Dec. 10 2024 )

Votes fo Kamala Harris/Tim Walz Nov. 5, 2024

I am one of the 75 million votes.  I certainly am not alone.

If each one of us reflected in the above number made a quiet commitment to get more involved at the local, state and national level, starting now, we could have an immense positive impact going forward.

What can you do?  (The blank space is to encourage your personal thinking.)

You decide.

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The remainder of this post is information for you, if you wish.

If you’re interested in ongoing information that is credible, here are some sources I rely on, recent link offered as an example: Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American, published almost daily on history and context with current events, subscription recommended;

Joyce Vance, Civil Discourse, frequently comments on the Law from the perspective of one who knows from experience.

Doug Mudor, The Weekly Sift, provideswell-informed analysis.  The link provided here, Dec 9, is exceptionally informative for the ordinary citizen like myself.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat‘s Lucid is an always useful emphasis on fascism;

Tim Snyder is another essential resource.

There are other good reliable sources, but the above are the ones which I find most useful.

Here are a few other recent commentaries which might be of interest to you.

November 21,  I decided to ask the internet for names of prominent authoritarians, dictators, or fascists in last century.  I was interested in a ‘second opinion’ from the ones I usually rely on – only to see what someone else might say.  There were almost infinite choices, of course.  I settled on this long article in UC Berkeley News Sep 9, 2024.  It speaks for itself, quoting several knowledgeable sources, and really only commenting on the Big Two: Hitler and Mussolini.  Its title: “Fascism shattered Europe a century ago – and historians hear echoes today in the U.S.”

Same day came an analysis by a respected conservative columnist, David French of the New York Times: “The Greatest Cancel Culture Warrior in America.…”

What Do You Do If a  Red State Moves to You?  This one is a 2017 analysis in Politico of a Wisconsin County that went Red in the 2016 election.  Fred received it from a friend on Nov. 19: “Friend Bill sent me this terrific Politico article that took a deep dive into Trump vs elitist lefties IN 2017.  Interesting“.

NY Review of Books 12 5 24 Second Coming:  Fintan O’Toole of the New York Review of Books wrote this initially November 7, 2024, and this version is “a slightly modified form” of the original.  Jeff sent this along Nov 24.

Fareed Zaharia podcast on the 2024 election received Nov. 22 from Linda who received it from another listener, said “This is one of the most sensible analyses of the election and what is likely to occur that I have read.  It was recommended by a friend in the DFL Senior Caucus.  I encourage you to read it”.

Others passed along by friends

Thinking About… Decapitation Strike by Tim Snyder, Dec 1, 2024

Major General Mark Hertling on our national values: Mark Hertling Nov 28 2024

Steven Beschloss Two Faces of Facism Dec. 2, 2024: https://www.americaamerica.news/p/two-faces-of-fascism

George Orwell and the Founding Fathers, Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance, Dec 2 2024. https://joycevance.substack.com/p/george-orwell-and-the-founding-fathers

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COMMENTS:

from Judy: Thank you for your thoughtful review.  I hope you are healthy and doing well.  Now is clearly the time I lean on the values of my religion….

from Jean: Thanks for sharing this. I am very involved at the local, state level but not as much at the national level because I don’t get out to Washington much. I read the Heather Cox Richardson piece, too. We abhor the violence and destruction of life brought by wars but it avers that military support for democratic countries brings better outcomes.

from Carol: Love those old cards.

from Chuck:

Peace On earth, Goodwill to Men!

While this holiday phrase can be interpreted many ways.   It’s true meaning is profoundly needed urgently, yet ignored.

The phrase “peace on earth, goodwill to men” is a translation from the Bible, specifically from Luke 2:14 in the New Testament.

The original text was written in Greek, and different manuscripts and translations have rendered this passage slightly differently.

Original Greek Text (from Luke 2:14)  reads: “Δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις Θεῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη, ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία.”

This can be translated as:  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, among men of goodwill.”

Meaning of “Peace” in the Original Context: The Greek word for peace here is εἰρήνη (eirēnē). In the cultural and theological context of the time, “peace” did not simply mean the absence of war or conflict. Instead, it carried deeper meanings:

1. Harmony and Wholeness: Eirēnē aligns closely with the Hebrew concept of shalom in the Old Testament, which signifies wholeness, completeness, and well-being in all aspects of life—spiritual, physical, and communal.
2. Reconciliation with God: In the religious sense, “peace” implied reconciliation between humanity and God through the arrival of Christ, the Savior.
3. Cosmic Order and Stability: Peace also reflected a restored balance in the world, where God’s divine rule would bring justice, harmony, and flourishing to humanity.

Variations in Translation

King James Version (1611):  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  This rendering suggests that peace and goodwill are extended universally to all humanity.

More Accurate Modern Translations: Many modern translations, such as the NIV or

ESV, reflect the likely original Greek meaning:  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on

earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”   This suggests peace is extended specifically

to those who are in God’s favor or the faithful.

What Did “Peace” Mean Then?  In the time of Jesus, peace had multiple layers of meaning:

1. Roman Peace (Pax Romana): The Roman Empire emphasized a political “peace” maintained by military force. It was more about order than justice or harmony.
2. Jewish Expectation: For the Jews of that era, peace (shalom) was tied to the hope of the coming Messiah who would bring God’s kingdom—restoring justice, harmony, and divine presence.
3. Spiritual Peace: In Christian theology, the announcement of peace referred to reconciliation with God and the restoration of human and cosmic relationships.

Thus, “peace” in Luke 2:14 was not a passive state but an active and holistic restoration of relationships—with God, each other, and creation. It was far more profound than mere absence of conflict, encompassing spiritual well-being, justice, and wholeness.

In this new era of disruptions I can’t think of any greater goal to achieve ‘restoration of relationships’ globally — than meeting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Please share this far and wide…

Wishing you all a happy Holidays

from Jeff: Dick,  I have time to muse these days.  We who do think about the state of the country, our republic and the rule of law may need to brush up on their 17th and 18th century  English political philosophy.  The nation was essentially founded on John Locke’s theories of  civil relationships and enlightened popular rule, but the worlds described by Thomas Hobbes seems to beckon ….when the rule of law and institutions are cast aside, the selfish nature of humanity fully takes over leading to  “nasty , brutish, and short” existence.

from Dick: A closing thought:

Air Force Academy Colorado Springs Co Fall 1962 photo Dick Bernard

I like sports, but I do not follow sports these days.  Nonetheless in this post I refer to a one point win in an NFL game, and above I include a photo I took as a young GI in 1962 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs Colorado, probably the first football game in the Academy’s new stadium.

The od photo and the one-point game caused me to think about the relationship between the immensely successful National Football League, and our divided society.

Without going into any detail, the NFL is an enormously successful consortium of rival teams each year competing in an always enormously successful Super Bowl which has been going on for 58 years.

Somehow, competitive professional sports seems to function better than our divided United States of America.  I can think of some reasons why I think this is so, but I’m not going to spend any time developing this theme.  But, I encourage you to think about this at your leisure.

Have a good Christmas season.