Silence in the face of evil is itself evil:
Not to speak is to speak.
Not toact is to act.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I began this essay on Epiphany, January 6, the traditional date the Magi visited the Christ child in Bethlehem. Of course, we don’t know the actual date or details about the birth that would change the world. Many envision the manger scene as the composite creche first envisioned and promoted by Saint Francis of Assisi in the 13th century. However, it is quite probable that the Shepherds and Wisemen visited Jesus at different times and in different locations.
For me, the details of Epiphany are less important than Emmanuel, translated, God with us. But on a secular level, what happened in Washington on January 6, 2025, was important to our country and the world. Donald Trump was certified as the next president by Congress as mandated in The Constitution. Thankfully, the certification process went smoothly.
I’ve never been much for New Year’s resolutions, even when needed. But after the last decade of disasters, I’m resolving to do better and America must do so as well or go onto the ash heap of history.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, who admonished Christians to forgive others; if necessary, even “seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). Perhaps Jesus was using hyperbole to emphasize his point. Admittedly, I’m struggling with whether forgiveness is possible without contrition.
Scripture tells us that the Lord will not only forgive but even forget the sins of a penitent soul (Isaiah 43:25). But is forgiveness possible for someone who is not sorry for their actions or continues to act unjustly? I admit I don’t understand how an omniscient God can forget anything, but there are a lot of things I don’t understand. Sometimes we just accept (Proverbs 3:5). We are imperfect beings who make mistakes and even commit sinful acts. So, we are challenged to forgive miscreants, at least those who show remorse and seek forgiveness.
However, what do you do with someone who continues to knowingly and repeatedly break the law, and harm others or your family? Perhaps if I didn’t have to deal with such a person again, I might be able to abstractly forgive and forget about them. Scripture also teaches that “vengeance is the Lord’s” (Deuteronomy 32:35). I can accept that, but I also believe in consequences, and would not hesitate to put a child rapist in a prison cell with Bubba on Rikers Island.
Instead of hypotheticals, what do we do with the likes of Joe Biden, who mocks the families of Americans whose loved ones were murdered by heinous criminals? How can we forgive Biden who, without remorse, repeatedly lied to Americans and pardoned his son who raised millions of dollars for Biden by trading access to then Vice President Biden? How can we forgive Biden who makes a mockery of the Presidential Citizens Medal by awarding it to Liz Chainey of the corrupt J6 committee, or Hillary Clinton, who paid for the Russian collusion hoax? And how can George Soros, who funded the likes of lawfare progressives like Alvin Bragg who releases criminals to prey upon citizens, be similarly rewarded?
And how can I forgive the legacy media and Democrats who turned a blind eye to Biden’s dementia and corruption? Even tougher, how can I forgive fellow citizens who supported the Biden/Harris Administration with their money and votes causing such harm to Americans?
Jesus once said, “To whom much is given, much is expected” (Luke 12:48). I have been blessed and much is expected of me. Yet, I am just a citizen, whereas the media were given 2nd Amendment protection and responsibility. They violated that trust by ignoring Biden’s dementia and lying to the American people for years. Similarly, the Democrat leadership (Pelosi, Schumer, Biden’s Cabinet) lied to Americans about Biden’s non compos mentis (unsound mind) and caused generational harm to the country. These miscreants traded their sacred honor for power, prestige and money. God may forgive their souls, but I cannot forget their wickedness.
Perhaps my pathway to forgiving fellow citizens is by concluding they were duped by the media and Democrat politicos. It is undeniable that propaganda works, and never has a man been more maligned and vilified than President Trump. Americans were subjected to a constant barrage of lies and were shamed into accepting Democrat and media propaganda about President Trump. Irrational hatred and the Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) became a reality for many.
Therefore, I cannot sit in judgment nor demand an apology. Awareness of the Democrat ploy that accuses others of what they are already doing is sufficient. It was Biden who was lying and selling access to the vice presidency. It was Biden who became a shell of a man. It was not President Trump who was dishonest or imbalanced.
As the failed Biden presidency ends, there is a striking contrast between the bitter and angry Joe Biden and Donald Trump, who is already considered POTUS by the world. Actually, Biden’s unelected handlers (Ron Klain, Anita Dunn, John Podesta, etc.) have been the acting POTUS for years. They were fine that Biden was on vacation 40% of the days he was in office and held only three meetings with his Cabinet over the last four years. They all knew he was incompetent to be president and, along with the media, hid the truth.
As wars rage around the world and Los Angeles burns as a result of the incompetent Democrat mayor and governor, I wonder what happened to the drones over New Jersey? Does anyone believe the Secret Service is prepared to protect President Trump at the inauguration against a drone attack?
The government has a history of incompetence and lying to us. We still haven’t had explanations for the 26 FBI “assets” and agents at the J6 riots of 2020. Why has there been no explanation for the pipe bomb outside the DNC on J6 and why was Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at the Democrat headquarters instead of the Capitol? Why did the FBI and Secret Service decide to do a communication system change on that fateful day which they said resulted in a loss of all cellular communication data? And why did the FBI just “find” a new video of the pipe bomber?
Nonetheless, I am encouraged by President Trump whose actions have already challenged China’s influence at the critical Panama Canal. How long do you think Panama or Denmark’s Greenland would stay sovereign without the United States? Perhaps the Gulf of Mexico should be the Gulf of America.
Trump has already produced results in Mexico as migrant caravans are disbanding and Mexico will be doing more with the cartels … or else. Conservative leaders are rising in Italy, Austria, Germany and Argentina. The liberal Labor government in England may collapse for ignoring “rape gangs” in that country after Elon Musk raised awareness on X. And liberal Justin Trudeau has resigned as prime minister in Canada over border issues with the US.
In this new year, it is my prayer that we are on the cusp of a cataclysmic shift from the lunacy of liberalism to the common sense of conservatism.
