Donald Trump’s imbecilic acts keep adding nonstop maniacal distractions. Bombing Iran by his blindly stupid whim killed innocent civilians. Doubtless, a nuclear armed fanatic theocracy is hazardous to humanity, but Trump’s approach was insanely extreme, hazarding the world’s economy. The United States Congress was not advised; some members of Congress consider Trump’s attack a war crime. His dimwitted accusations that Iran caused the Strait of Hormuz blockage is a cowardly lie. Trump and his tongue-bathing cabinet are responsible for harming world economies and causing inhumane tragedies.
Ethical mental health professionals abide by a code to improve people’s lives, “to do no harm.” Dedicating their lives to serve humanity, they maintain the utmost respect for human life and avoid using medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties. Forensic psychiatrist Bandy X. Lee, MD, of Harvard’s Program in Psychiatry and the Law, recently issued an amended fourth version of The Much More Dangerous Case of Donald Trump with 50 psychiatrists’ essays concerning the effects on the nation of having a psychologically unstable and demented president.
Trump’s unhinged cruelty induced inhumane hardships for 40 million impoverished American citizens in the greatest wealth transfer from the poor to the wealthy. White supremacist killings doubled while gun murder rates escalated to levels not seen in 25 years; openly unscrupulous attempts to censor journalism persists. Trump’s ignorance made the U.S. the global epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic. The U.S. has declined as the world’s longest continuous democracy. Trump’s restructuring of geopolitical order emboldens dictators and generates a hostile political environment here and abroad.
His demented behavior encourages oligarchic politicians, like Republicans’ inquisitorial attempt to control our population through gerrymandering, intimidation, disinformation, and obtrusive Christian evangelicalism. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth incredibly asked graduating Naval cadets to seek God to kill enemies of the nation. Texas has similar false Bible-thumpers stooping to sewer-level and swaying credulous citizens to act like trained seals. Afflicting Texas society is the deeply absurd statute forcing public schools to post the Bible’s Ten Commandments on classroom walls.
Fortunate for 18 years of Catholic education with Ursuline Sisters, Oblate priests, Marist Brothers, Salesian Sisters, Sisters of Mercy, and Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, not a single poster of the Ten Commandments was ever seen on any classroom wall. One learned faith from family or in parochial school religion class. Religious posters in public schools constitute hollow and intrusive imposition and do not belong in tax-supported institutions.
Some politicians pretentiously espouse superiority by imposing religiosity in public schools, a distasteful violation of the First Amendment’s establishment clause. Arrogantly, Lieutenant Governor Patrick flew to Israel to be baptized by total immersion in the Jordan River. Based on his politics, he apparently was not submerged long enough to let Christianity soak in. Commercialized religion, a la John Hagee or Joel Osteen, is not practicing morality. They are corrupt and rapacious institutions that exploit credulous congregations and block human progress and social justice.
Memorizing the Ten Commandments in parochial school, one realizes the first four constitute a supernatural entity’s coercive scare tactic concerning an unproven afterlife. The remaining six were compacted by Christ: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you do also to them”. Better yet, instead of the Ten Commandments, Ken Paxton’s picture with the simple admonition: “Thou shalt not behave like this person” would promote good behavior.
The best seller since Johannes Gutenberg’s 1455 invention of the metal type printing press, the Bible is an inspirational story book. The prophet Nathan stood up to King David, calling him on his wrongdoings. Americans would likewise do well calling out politicians’ corruption. The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Nations shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn the art of war anymore,” something Donald Trump blatantly contradicts. Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson’s ideology is antithetical to civil rights. An obstinate Christian nationalist, he proffers social control and rejects civil liberties.
Teaching critical thinking skills is diminishing, common sense is not common. Belief in a dictatorial god should not be foisted on citizens. Mike Johnson, Greg Abbott, the pharisaical Dan Patrick and their followers are shoving religious views down Americans’ throats. On FOX “News” Johnson stated he opposes abortion, marriage equality, and contraception because “I’m a Bible believing Christian.” He and all Americans are free to believe whatever they choose, but only a dictatorship enforces religious edicts to control citizens. Social issues necessitate rational, persuasive debate based on facts and shared logic. Malevolent prejudice hides behind smug smiles, hypocritically professing “Christianity” as a sign of social superiority.
President Thomas Jefferson wrote that true democracy and liberty exist only if government establishes A WALL OF SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE. The Constitution’s First Amendment stipulates legislature shall “make no law respecting establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” the irrefutable legal barrier against government intrusion into religious practices and vice versa. In Matthew 22:20, Jesus asserts: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s,” that is, pray all you want, but respect lawful authority of civil government and do not use religion to enact civil law. Disinformed Americans babbling that our country was founded as a “Judeo-Christian” nation is conspiratorial misinterpretation.
True religious freedom is best guaranteed by a purely secular government. Imposing religious guidance on civil government undermines the power and authority of institutions established to safeguard liberties. Our republic was established by the Constitution in reaction against historically autocratic, theocratic, and imperialistic European nations. This United States is to be ruled by and for its citizens, not by kings or clerics. Laws encompass customs, morals, and regulations vital to humanity’s welfare and development. These customs and morals regulate every sphere of human society, giving stability and continuity to social order. Morality is the cooperation of the part with the whole, and of each group with the larger whole. Civilization would be impossible without it.
