Prodigal son
July 7th, 2024
I rarely get explicitly political here, by naming names and issues and particular political situations. But sometimes I cannot help myself, especially with the wave of elections worldwide with some good (UK and Poland, potentially and hopefully Iran…) and some bad (Netherlands and France and Germany) results. And of course, with the looming clusterfuck in upcoming elections in the USA.
Joe Biden is an average president and that is a generous statement. He shouldn't be standing for reelection since it is likely that his age will be the issue that will give the uncouth orange grifter another 4 years of wanton greed and nepotism and the rearranging of the political landscape across the globe. But Joe Biden is more of a man than Trump could ever be, and more of a man than any MAGA flag-waving imbecilic assholes ever was or will be. His son Hunter is an addict, who has struggled with his addiction and relapsed many times and done criminal things to fuel his addiction. He is also unconditionally loved and supported by his family, no matter what, exactly how a family should do. And I wonder how many of the flag and bible-waving fundamentalist conservatives ever read this parable below and if they did — how can they look at themselves in the mirror?
Luke 15:11–32 (NRSV)
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe — the best one — and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
