The history of Germany in the build up to WWII has important lessons for me. Discussions of the lessons in today’s political climate are muted because if a lesson happens to apply to the current administration, the fear is I am saying Donald Trump is Hitler. I want to examine the lessons without claiming President Trump is Hitler. But if a lesson applies, I want us to take heed. I will conduct the same examination of Mamdani, the elected Mayor of New York City.
The most important lesson I learned is represented by a question: At what cost? I must never be intiminated or afraid to ask the question. If I am afraid to ask the question because I fear the answer, I am like the person who is afraid to go to the doctor because they might be told they have a health problem. They do not go until it is too late.
One of the important voices in this history lesson is Martin Neimöller. He wrote the famous warning —
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Watch My Hand. Every great magician effectively exercises one skill, they direct attention to where they want the audience to look. In a simple example, they wave the right hand to get my attention. The expectation is that I will not notice what they are doing with the left hand.
A con artist possesses the same skill. In my personal experience and understanding, a con artist’s right hand is usually a claim that appears to be in the audience’s best interest. They appeal to people overcoming fear with pride. The problem is — con artists pursue immoral ends or seek personal interests with the left hand.
The lesson from German history is — when do negative interests in the left hand outweigh the positive interests in the right hand? In other words, I need to regularly examine the question – my personal gains are coming at what cost?
The question can be applied to American history. On the right-hand, slavery had positive economic benefits, but at what cost? The left hand held immoral and devastating consequences to humans. The cost of slavery was and still is never worth the benefits.
Religion has often been misused by con artists. The promise of eternal life in the right hand is very attractive. If the left hand is serving others, then the promise is not a con. If the left hand is lining a pastor’s pocket, then in my opinion the con is on. It may be a well-meaning and unintentional con, but a con none-the-less.
Elmer Gantry and Leap of Faith are two “oldie but goodie” movies that explore a preacher as a con artist. Leap of faith is a Steve Martin movie set in the small and fictional town of Rustwater, Kansas. The setting is particularly interesting to me because I was born in the small but real town of Coldwater, Kansas. The movie is also interesting because it wrestles with the moral issues of a con.
James Jones is a real-life example of a con artist pastor. Both his large church in California, and his tragic commune in Guyana were based on religious promises with the right hand. But the left hand received personal benefits as well as ruled by fear and coercion.
What’s Next? My first concern is — in the right hand are the benefits of the deportation of illegal immigrants. The important question is — at what cost?
My second concern is — in the right hand are the benefits of the fight against illegal drugs. The important question is – at what cost?
What is the left hand doing?
I would like to hear opinions on these issues. I will give mine in the near future. In the meantime, I welcome your dialog. Tell me what you think.
This and That
For the people who like to cherry-pick scripture
Proverbs 17: 7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler!NIV
AI Misinformation. The following article is critical of FOX. I am not recommending it to complain about FOX. I am recommending it because it shows the dangers of misinformation generated by AI.
Good News
What the left hand needs to do
Florida Church Wipes Out $6.5 Million In Medical Debt For Thousands Of Residents
High School Football Player Wins Hearts After Helping Custodian Clean Up Post-Game Mess
I shed a tear
Peace
Jerry
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