"I'm the King of the World!" That is what the character, Jack Dawson, jubilantly shouted in the 1997 movie, "Titanic" while standing on the bow of the ship. That seems to be the way Trump is feeling right now.
"Your winning streak has ended..." That's all that I had to google the other day to pull up Joseph Nocella Jr.'s entire speech to the press about the illegal gambling investigation. I listened to it over and over, writing down the last few hilarious lines about the luck running out for the defendants. I then heard another group of words that had an impact on me. "The indictments in this case contain only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until they are proven guilty in a court of law." I listened to those words as well, several times, allowing their meaning to sink deep into my soul. I listened to them as though they were music, as if it were the very first time that I heard anything like that. Its amazing what you take for granted until its no longer there.
There has been a lack of due process in various situations over the past nine months. However, this is the first time that the lack of due process collided with a total lack of respect for life itself. In an effort to eliminate vessels suspected of drug traffic, Trump has begun blowing up ships in the Caribbean and the Pacific. The explosions have resulted in the deaths of 43 people. Forty-three people who were someone's parent, child, or sibling died in a fiery explosion with no time to say goodbye. Forty-three of God's children were literally blown off the face of the Earth. An aircraft carrier is on its way down to Venezuela now and there is talk about striking targets inside that country. None of these actions were authorized by Congress. "We're just going to kill people who bring drugs into our country." Trump said. "They are going to be, like, dead." When asked why he does not just bring them to trial, he says that that would cost too much money.
"Explain it to me like I'm a six-year-old." That quote by a lawyer in the movie "Philadelphia" is what comes to mind as I try to process this situation. Earlier in the year, a man shot the CEO of United Health Care. It was in cold blood, in broad daylight, with witnesses. A seemingly open and shut case of first-degree murder. However, he was given a trial. He showed up, well-groomed, in a suit. He had apparently been housed in a place where he was treated humanely. I remember being corrected by a teacher once when I said "capital punishment for crimes". The teacher reminded me that the only crime for which there was capital punishment in America was murder. So now you can be executed for being an "alleged" drug smuggler? With no due process? No, not in this country. That's why it is taking place outside of it!
Explain it to me like I'm a six year old. What gives us the right to even be there? Isn't that invading someone else's territory? Is it any of our business what they are doing outside our borders? Has the coast of Venezuela been renamed the coast of America? Forget the United States! Trump thinks he is the King of the World!
There are two sides to the drug problem - supply and demand. If he is so concerned about the drug problem - why not do something about the demand? Is it because that also would cost too much money? I guess we can't afford to provide health insurance for all the addicts in this country who need treatment. That would cost too much money. However, a 300 million dollar ballroom is not too much money. Please explain that to me like I am a six-year-old.
How does Venezuela feel about us killing their people? Why are they not fighting back? How long are they just going to sit back and take it, and why should they? Explain it to me like I'm a six-year-old.
How can we find comfort in the middle of this horrifying situation? We have to go to the real King of the World, the one who has already conquered evil through his death on the cross. We need to ask for his help. We have to remember who is ultimately in charge, and that to him all lives matter! Explain that to Trump like he is a six-year-old.
"Thou shalt not kill" Exodus 20:13.
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