I just finished watching the documentary on Prime, BAD FAITH, and I find myself filled with dread and terror. It is a must see! It traces the rise of Christian White Nationalism, and how far these folks will go to make this nation White and Christian. Indeed this means no Jews, Muslims, Hindus --any religion aside from Christianity. However, this is not the Christianity of goodness, kindness, compassion, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is a vision of an apocalypse, where perhaps, as one gentleman interviewed suggests, there will have to be another Civil War, so the nation can return to what it once was. "Start storing your guns," he shouts to the congregation, and they respond, "Amen." They feel the world has been taken over by non-White, non-Christian people and the world is binary: THEM and US, where God and Satan are engaged in battle, and the messiah can rise once again in Donald Trump returning to the White House, a man who will help bring their vision to fruition.
I am not saying all the Trump base are engaged in this verbal assault and warfare, but if January 6th is any indication of what his core base is willing to do, you, too, should be terrified. Trump has already said the country should engage in a Day Of Bloodbath if the fails to unseat Biden--now Kamala (he is proud of his angry rhetoric, so my guess is Fox News people have heard this, too). He spews hateful rumors about immigrants, when FACTS have proven that crimes are most often the result of people who are American citizens. He elevates violence in his speech, so that his base feels entitled to violent speech and actions; this, as Tim Snyder says, is so reminiscent of Nazi Germany.
But that's not the biggest threat, but what is are all the under-handed ways the party is playing in order to help Trump win. The G.O.P. is filing a deluge of suits over elections. My guess is he could not win the popular vote, but with the Supreme Court on his side and the lower courts and state courts already in place, we are in a heap of trouble. There is an onslaught of litigation for an election that has not yet occurred. He is poised to turn to these law suits if he does not win, like in 2020 (disproven coast to coast), he will go to the state courts to engage in recounts and establish cases to prove he is the annoited king. Right now there are states where the electorates may make the final decisions, since they are in Republican hands. People are being thrown off the voting rosters in these states, since states with Republican electorates have the ability to make their own decisions. This past Sunday, I went out with a few friends where I heard of such a threat. One woman explained she got a letter from the Florida board explaining, WE NEED TO RE-CERTIFY ABSENTEE BALLOTS, SINCE IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO RE-DO THEIR ROSTERS. This letter was sent to seniors, most of whom are Democrats, so they will, perhaps, not vote, since it is too much of a hassle. Voter intimidation, fraud, hassles--all this and more to get their man elected. My friend is astute and saw through this charade. But what about those who are not? What then?
Which brings me to the Jewish New Year. I am not religious. I no longer go to shul, but I feel throughly Jewish, which to me means I live giving tzedakah, good deeds, and believe in decency, integrity, humanity and compassion, the way many righteous people of other religions live. I live with GOOD FAITH, not BAD FAITH, where people will do the right thing, not vote for a dictator who spews hate and venom, not look at the world through his prism--destruction, deportation, jailing your enemies. My wish for the world this New Years is to discard your sins in the water, in the spirit of goodness and redemption, and help to build a better world, one of goodness and joy. And when you vote in November, rely on the humanity with which you have raised your family, with which you regard your neighbors and friends. You may not know her (Kamala has shown herself to you, so I don't buy this), but you know him!
Happy new year. Search in your heart for all that is kind and generous. Amen, with health and happiness. And, in good faith, Shana Tovah!
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