Posted by
peripheral on Friday, October 23, 2009 7:32:21 AM
From My Perspective - - -
Life is filled with many oxymoron situations (oxymoron: a rhetorical
figure where contradictory terms are combined). Government of the
people, for the people, and by the people is supposed to operate with
openness and clarity. Instead, what is taking place in an unfolding
drama (or is it charade?) in the US Senate at the present time is
anything but that purpose and commitment. A Committee that is working
on particulars of a Health Reform Bill and Budget has decided to
exclude the Republicans from the discussions because “they don’t behave
properly”! They have carried this to a point of absurdity by not only
locking the doors to the conference room but also changing the lock on
the door. Guess who doesn’t have a key to the door?! At a time when one
would hope there would be bi-partisan involvement, a decision for
exclusion has occurred. Even if a group or individual “does not behave
properly”, should they not be allowed to participate and offer
constructive amendments to very important matters and legislation? When
did we become a nation of rule by 60% rather than 100% representation?
This means that a growing number of citizens are deliberately being
ignored and disenfranchised so a multi-trillion dollar legislation can
be enacted.
One wonders if the following words have any meaning or significance:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect
Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings
of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.” Whatever happened to
“Tranquility” and “Liberty” in the scheme of things in Congress?
Haven’t our elected officials sworn to uphold the Constitution of the
United States? It appears they need to read at least the Preamble – and
– do so soon. In fairness, if a person wants to participate in a
conference meeting, the purpose should be something more than to merely
wrangle about minutia and counter-proposals. Those who are “locked out”
should remember that they did very little to address health reform when
they were the majority. The best they could do was come up with an
outlandish and nightmarish Prescription Drug Program.
Is there any true hope that can emerge when some choose to do business
in the shadows and secretly? Can exclusionary politics work effectively
for a nation? What is the ultimate hope and goal for a viable nation
that commits itself against any form of indenture or tyranny? One would
hope there would be the reality of particular Biblical truth in the
minds and governing protocols of elected officials.
Proverbs 21:1 from The Message: “Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; He directs it to whatever ends He chooses.”
In the KJV: “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turns it whithersoever He will.”
Proverbs 14:34 from ESV: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
John 7:4 - As Jesus was beginning his public ministry, his brothers tried to impress upon him a principle:
“No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
Luke 12:2-3 – A Truism Enunciated By Jesus:“There is
nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not
be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the
daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms
will be proclaimed from the roofs.”
There is always a day of reckoning and accountability for us all. Those
who speak, whisper and act in what they deem to be exclusionary privacy
will one day hear their words that were “whispered in secret” shouted
in public! It is a frightening prospect for us. This very possibility
should provoke greater character and manifestation of integrity and
transparency both in one’s personal life as well as in matters that
affect a greater number of people. How much whispering and scheming do
you do in the shadows and darkness? Our Mandate is to “Walk in the
Light as He is in the Light.” Why don’t we just do it? Consider these
things with me!