REDEMPTION

      We have all done things in our lives that remain with us forever. They are often moments when we did something truly beneath decency, caught in the moment, wished undone almost as soon as it took place. Strangely enough, the moment is often not marked by the person offended against, only within the heart and soul of the offender. If we are lucky, or careful enough in our deeds and words, we do not have too many of these moments, but even one is too much. And redemption is often not enough to erase the bitter taste it leaves in one's heart.

Redemption is exactly what we need now as  a nation. We have so alienated each other, so offended each other, that we need to pause and take stock. We need to check the rear view mirror for errors in our recent driving, and evaluate where this driving is taking us in future endeavors. At times there will be moments of aha! Recognition and acceptance of these egregious errors and then moments of true redemption or at least attempts to do so.

Yet I wonder. Is redemption possible in all cases. The elderly Nazi who watched Jews die, marched them off to their deaths, who now complains that he is too old for punishment, that it happened too long ago. Anyway it was not really his fault he says, and somehow he never saw anything untoward, to say the least and certainly did not participate in anything. Truly a miracle! So can this man be said to be capable of redemption, or even show some sign of recognition of his sins? And how do we know what is real and what is convenient?

Come closer in time to deeds of the days. Besides the fact that Meghan Markle is not the first person of mixed race in British royalty, as a former Queen came from a Portuguese branch of the Spanish royal family that had African heritage in its background. And who cares! Is it not time that we all woke up, that we all accepted life and people for who they are, what they do or represent via actions, and not by what they look like, which is dumb enough!!? Does it really matter in the short or long run of it if Baby Archie has lighter or darker skin tone? Really!! Is there redemption for this attitude, for these hurtful and denying remarks? I am not too sure of that.

And we arrive at the now shockingly unfolding truths coming out of January 6. Bombs. Planned attacks. Communications. Homicidal plans. A true attempt to overthrow this government,  this country, in  a storm of blood and violence, a blitz of a kind not seen in  a Western country since the putsch attempt of Hitler. The growing attempts to deny, or accept the goals of it, the trying to deny it as an attempted coup but rather a 'riot'. The gall of those such as Hawley and other 'neath the skin Fascists. The heaps and heaps of awful truths coming out under the investigation and the wonder, for if all this is so clearly there, then why the hell was it not remarked upon and prepared for or stopped in its tracks before it even happened?

Was it because there were officials in the government, in the army, in the Oath Keepers who wished for it to succeed and did all they could to insure its success? Did Trump involve himself in these plans with his mouth and with his appointments to key positions, to his demands that people be loyal to him, rather than to the country? Is there even any redemption for these actions, for these sins against the nation? Can one be forgiven for being a traitor, for demanding the blood of others in their treasonous actions?

These are serious questions and give rise to others. Is someone like Greene not a traitor as well, with her behavior and stalling, with her disgusting and open prejudice? Is there room for a Hawley, a Cruz, a Scalise, in an American government? Is there room for moral weaklings, for those who sell their souls for power and wealth, like McConnell? Is there, in effect, no end to the dangers to our country and how do we deal with them without losing our own souls and chances for redemption?

Not so simple. Confusing. Demoralizing. Disenchanting. Illusion busting. But part of life. Where and how do we draw a line, a beyond the pale situation? Wish I knew and had all the answers. But I do not and confess that what I do have is an element of fear that was not there five years ago. And who will do the redemption for that? Who will lead a national atonement and reconciliation that is so necessary if we are to move forward in a positive manner? Are we even open for that?