MPBC Event Greater New Mount Moriah Baptist Hosts State Covention

 

Law Abiding Citizens--Wherefore Art Thou? Stand Up and Be Counted

 Note: This post was first written on December 7,2024 and edited on January 7, 2025.

Today, FBI staff given termination notices. What next? Excuse me, you say appropriate...okay. Let me check with the US Constitution, federal statutes, government regulations,etc., and other law fare.

Since the election of our current President and the swift nominations of some controversial cabinet picks to put it mildly, many law abiding citizens may be feeling a bit insecure about the nation's safety. The group may also include those citizens who are also borderline rule breakers and may occasionally straddle the fence, those fine line, close call situations in their efforts to genuinely help individuals or larger segments of the population for the greater common good. 

They may be feeling a bit overwhelmed by the swarm of billionaires cloistering it seems our President elect.  That from all appearances seem intent on turning the government of "We the people,for the people and by the people" upside down, inside and out to suit their  own political interests and their multi-million or billion dollar business interests. Law abiding citizens may be sensing they may be in danger of becoming extinct, fading out rapidly into a forgotten silent and disregarded majority or worse yet, potential and ripe targets of a looming lawlessness of the kind that stormed the capitol on January 6 and were later pardoned or the kind that are akin to those science fiction movies--displaying and where characters act out purges in which any crime committed is okay for a season---no penalties, punishment or retributions will be sought or result from their illegal behavior. 

Where over the next four years a signal is sent out that it's a free for all and open season for getting over, getting rich or maintaining that wealth attained however you can and by any means necessary. Where go for it! Is the credo and astonishingly both law enforcement and law makers will look the other way. Transgressions will either be thrown into the hopper of a court system that can be readily neutralized by delays or politically allied judges. 

There may be increased need to hang on to possessions and other properties that could easily or cleverly be seized pursuant to plots and orchestrations by those with disregard for authority, disrespect for ethical codes as they condescend, feed their egos and cavalierly if not cunningly thumb their noses at those less fortunate---financially, that is---and, the rule of law. Even those pillars of society who conveniently or indifferently look the other way, insulating themselves sometimes protectively behind layers of apathy.

They may be getting paranoid or on the other hand, justifiably apprehensive about just what is going on with all those hints at making government more efficient. And while it is indeed a lofty and applaudable goal, the question becomes, how is it really going to improve their standard of living? Is it just another crock of confidence gaming hooey? 

Will all the hoopla it has generated be synthesized and forged into ground breaking government policies and programs that will not by just a mere scintilla, but instead that will sizeably increase their wages  health care, social security, significantly lower inflation and the cost of living while making more realistic the pursuit of happiness and the attainment of the American Dream?

Maybe someone should put their minds at ease. It is a huge task of course. Perhaps our President elect is up for it. From all accounts  he certainly has the wherewithal and the brain power in the Doge-Executive branch alliance. Especially if all those billionaires attending the inauguration really get on board, pool their enormous resources and do the math.

Maybe they could come up with a goodwill fund where each citizen is awarded a million dollar check--I know this is incredible,but you have to start somewhere--like the one by lottery that Musk conducted during the time of last year's Presidential elections encouraging folks to get out and vote. But this would not be a lottery. Instead, this million would be a sound stimulus with substantial or "beautiful", as you might say, potential to put every citizen on a level playing field or at least at a remarkable starting point. It might even transform society as we know it and maintain our beloved democracy in the process. 

And, if not a million, as it may be judged as too "pie-in-the-sky-esque", unrealistic or even too fantastic, by finance wizes and Masters of the Universe, maybe some kind of alternative economic boost or commensurate incentive sincerely aimed at improving our great American quality of life nationally as well as America's global humanitarian objectives. Those that have been the mission of  currently walking wounded agencies such as USAid and others.

 With a million dollars a person could donate a sizeable amount to charity while getting a decent tax write off. There may be other creative ways they could use such a resource to assist those who have been the target of lay-offs from their jobs due to down sizing of staff.

I will be praying along with others who value our democracy, for our country--"We the People"...our leaders in congress, in the judiciary and those at our executive branch--and Doge.  All working together to keep our country great.

Special Prayer for Survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton

 

 

 

The following is a Prayer that I wrote for those devastated by previous Hurricanes. You can find it at the "Pray in Place" prayer group archives at this link. Links are also provided to blog posts and updates about experiences our group encountered as we provided   disaster relief to those devastated by Hurricane Katrina. 

 I was a member of a group of seminarians, ministers, clergy and social workers from Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University who traveled from New York City to Atlanta,Georgia, Biloxi,Mississippi and Ocean Springs, Mississippi to pray and provide comfort to Survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

 Another resource which I refer you to if you are headed to Florida and North Carolina is a book of prayers, reflections resources and stories entitled Katrina: Listening with Our Hearts prepared by scholars, social workers and clergy documenting our trip. You can purchase the book at this link. Two of my blog articles are contained in that book as well.

This is a prayer for Puerto Rico that I posted on Facebook after the Hurricane. It can be repurposed for Hurricanes Helene and Milton:

Most high, magnificent, omnipotent, wonder working, mighty God, you are a strong tower, a present help in the hour and minute of need,

a shelter from the storm. Most beneficent all powerful maker of heaven and earth, creator of ways out of no way, we call upon you at this critical time. Our planet is in an emergency in deep need of your intervention in these calamitous and disturbing times with back to back hurricanes, tropical storms, cyclones, tornadoes, flooding shaking up our way of life and devastating our cities. It appears that our very planet is in an uproar screaming out for help. Please calm the chaos in the weather as the winds appear to be sounding alarms that we have not heeded by taking better care of our planet. Manifest calm, sound reason and diminish the threats and rumors of war and global conflict. Steady the weather, bring peace to our politics and stability to earth's terrain.

Hear our prayers. We stand on your word and trust in your ability to intercede in our desperate time of need. Calm the mighty winds. Bring our challenged regions of the Carribean and Eastern seaboard into alignment with your will and your grace, saturated by your divine mercy which endures forever. Please steady the ground on the islands of Puerto Rico and all others in the path of this latest raging hurricane. We love you God. We need you now. Help the victims of the storms in Houston and throughout Texas, Florida, the Carribean. We await your miracle. Please answer our prayer. We will be careful to give you all the praise, all the honor and all the glory! In the name of God almighty! Please answer our prayers. Amen.

 

If you have prayers you would like to offer for family AND friends in affected areas. please feel free to add them in the comments.

Biden-Harris Greet Freed Russian Hostages

In a monumental exchange of prisoners which President Biden described as a feat of diplomacy and friendship, he and Vice President Kamala Harris greet them and their very happily relieved families  at the airport. (The above news video is courtesy of the Guardian Newspaper.)

Kamala Harris to Visit Detroit for Labor Day Events

 

 Democratic Presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Detroit for Labor Day events including Detroit's popular yearly Labor Day Parade. The parade is a favorite event attended by politicians and labor leaders alike.  President Barack Obama attended and gave one of his rousing speeches before hundreds back in 2011. 

Click on the link below to review a podcast of my archived post from September 2011. You can also find the written blog article by searching the search box on the right-hand column of this blog. The search box will appear in the lower right hand column of this blog when you click on the "View Web Version" link found at the bottom of this page. The post's title is "Detroit Welcomes Obama with Fired Up Chants of Four More Years". If you would like to read more articles on Obama, just type in Obama and a number of archived posts will appear.

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/restoration-harvest-part-3-episode-2--41182465 

Have an eventful Labor Day! Enjoy the parade! And, let's keep Vice President Harris and her running mate Governor Walz lifted in prayer.

Blessings,

Cynthia Wilson