Imperialist v Itinerant

Say good-bye to 2025...finally! I refuse to review what has come to pass in America. But, before fast forwarding into 2026, I am looking way way way back to the first year--- A.D. ---the year of our Lord.

In that year, we are told in many ways through different faith traditions that Jesus arrived in the world. Whatever version you subscribe to, the story told is one of an itinerant man who wandered with a mission. He was not a missionary, per se, like those who arrived later aboard ships from elsewhere with the intention of converting native peoples. Jesus was an itinerant wanderer with a message meant for every person --- not just some---for all. The message, if you think back as far as memory serves to what you learned early on, or later on, is to love God and your neighbor. What in the world, in this world of ours, does that actually look like in 2025? Enter the imperialists.

Imperialists have had many names since Jesus' time: Herod, Caesar, Constantine, Byzantines, Roman Empire right up to today, (fill in the blanks) each crusading to eliminate or align with the itinerant message of love. Those opposed to it murdered their neighbors, those in support did the same. Either way, conflating the two serves a very different purpose.

Leaving aside those who vehemently oppose the message as false, what remains are those who are neutral (?), and others who adamantly support the message of love your neighbor taught by one itinerant soul two thousand plus years ago. In the name of Jesus, Christians claim this message as their own: Love your neighbor, as yourself --- no exceptions. Okay, so far, but taking that itinerant's message on the road looks nothing like what it says. Imperialists have added caveats:

Love your neighbor --- except LGBTQ.

Love your neighbor --- except dark skinned ones.

Love your neighbor --- except those who are poor.

Love your neighbor --- except those who are up North.

Love your neighbor --- except those who are down South.

Love your neighbor --- except those who believe in Allah.

Allah, the other name for God is used by nearly two billion Muslims the world over for nearly as long. Imperialists have fought with swords, with guns, with bombs---even this Christmas Day--- against these neighbors---these believers in God. Loving your neighbor is non-negotiable. It cannot be parsed out to mean this neighbor, but not that one --- this country, but not those others.

What happened along the way throughout the story of the itinerant one is imperialists hijacked the original message. Imperialists believe less in love your neighbor and more in love My country--- but not yours! In other words: ME FIRST---And only those like me.

How else can you justify dropping bombs from the heavens on unnamed neighbors on the very day celebrated as the birthday of the itinerant one who said we are to love our neighbors? How else can you justify allowing children to starve to death in a country far from your own and in your own? How else can you believe in rights for some men, but not for all women around the world? This argument does not stand up against the truth that loving our neighbor was and is the only message and whole point to the itinerant wanderer's story. Take a look at this message in action in 2025 A.D.

What does this Christmas mean to you?

After the longest night, I arose to a flock of white pelicans soaring in the pink light of the latest sunrise of the year. My heart soared with them. I gathered the Christmas cards written during the pause of the winter solstice while listening to heavenly voices singing Gregorian Chant, put on a down vest and walked through the woods to the mailbox. I was reminded of New England by the chirping chickadees, their black caps against the red maple leaves. I breathed in the cool fresh air. As the temperatures rose with the sun, the marsh turned gold outside my window. Christmas morning is three days away, but should be today with the perfect light shining down on a weary world. No matter how much planning or shopping, the Christmas Spirit cannot be manufactured. Yet, at one time or another who hasn't tried to create a fairy tale Christmas, if not for ourselves, perhaps for young ones in the family?

Christmas Past:

'Twas the night before Christmas when a very skinny Santa appeared at my mother's door. The five of us in our flannel-footed jammies fixed our eyes on the white beard and disshoveled hair, topped with a jingle-bell cap. Hmmm? Is this the real Santa? I wondered. He came inside with a box (not a sack) of wrapped presents and called each of us by name. Then, with a twinkle in his eye he spotted the spinet piano. He sat down and played jingle bells...singing all the way! Does the real Santa play the piano? I didn't think so. He let out a laugh that sounded just like my next door neighbor's. I began to see through the scheme the adults had cooked up for us. Nice try!

The darkness of the winter solstice holds within each Christmas story the"hopes and fears of all the years". I am lingering in the darkness as Christmas Present fast approaches, remembering my French Canadian grandmother, Marie Laure, who died on Christmas morning when I was a teenager. I reached her final age this year. Carrying her name as my nom de plume and middle name keeps her close in my heart of hearts. I loved the way she looked at me---seeing through me---into me. What a perfect gift to give and to receive year round.

This year, Memere, is giving another lasting gift to me and my children and their children---As good as frankincense, myrrh and gold all wrapped up with a big red bow! I had asked for this in my letters sent up North with a hope and a prayer, and fingers crossed. Sometimes, you get what you wish for. . .

On Christmas Day when all the other gifts are unwrapped, I will give my my son and daughter and three young adult grandkids the gift of a lifetime from their great-great-grandparents born in Quebec City.

Joyeaux Noel! Je me souviens.

Cruella De Vil , Disneyland . . .

Kristi Noem, Homeland

"Her dog killing-was-bad-but-to-really-understand-her-consider-the-goat . . .

"As Noem wrapped up her bloody tale in the book, [No Going Back] she wrote that being a leader is often “messy” and “ugly.”..

“Walking back up to the yard, I spotted our billy goat,” Noem wrote.

The nameless goat’s only sin in that moment was being in Noem’s field of view.

In the book, Noem tried to justify her snap decision to kill the goat by writing that it “loved to chase” her children and would “knock them down and butt them,” leaving them “terrified.” The animal also had a “wretched smell.”

Noem says she “dragged” the goat to the gravel pit, “tied him to a post,” and shot at him. But the goat jumped when she shot.

“My shot was off and I needed one more shell to finish the job,” she wrote.

She studiously avoided saying she wounded the goat with the first shot, but that’s the implication.

“Not wanting him to suffer,” she added — apparently experiencing her first twinge of feeling, after saying that killing the dog was not “pleasant” — “I hustled back across the pasture to the pickup, grabbed another shell, hurried back to the gravel pit, and put him down.”

The goat story not only reflects a disturbing lack of self-control, but also raises a question of law.

The crime of animal cruelty

Noem has defended her shooting of the dog, citing legal justification for her actions. She’s likely referencing a state law https://oklahomavoice.com/2024/05/10/gov-kristi-noems-dog-killing-was-bad-but-to-really-understand-her-consider-the-goat/

SIGN THE PETITION TO HAVE NOEM REMOVED FROM HER POSITION:

https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/kristi-noem-must-go?share=61d87e0f-dc90-4e88-a5bb-65e97f5402fb&source=email&utm_medium=&utm_source=email