Friends,
The current racial/political imbroglio in the Commonwealth of Virginia over black face on the part of politicians, augmented by Liam Neeson’s honesty, is bringing to the fore religious precepts of forgiveness and amnesty for past indiscretions. It is more than just the alt right knee jerk defense of Trump and his racist ilk It is a discussion cast in spiritual terms, evaluating present vs past character, growth and learning, and past cultural/social dynamics.
The social justice warriors will have none of it. My even putting these thoughts into print condemns me as a heretic.
Whatever a rational person may think of it all, wherever one wants to draw the line of forgiveness by the aggrieved and pardoned by the rest, a line badly needs to be drawn. Elsewise, to take liberties with Martin Niemöller famous quote:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Intelligent society must formulate a powerful antidote to kill the contagion of identitarianism. A clear manifesto is needed.
Such a project may not be in the frame of reference of CAFÉ. However this group has the moxy and the intellect to pick up the brush and paint the missing line.
The sound track to the Manifesto could be the Eagles lyrics to Get Over It:
[Verse 1]
I turn on the tube and what do I see?
A whole lot of people crying, “Don’t blame me”
They point their crooked little fingers at everybody else
Spend all their time feeling sorry for themselves
Victim of this, victim of that
Your mamma’s too thin, your daddy’s too fat
[Chorus]
Get over it
Get over it
All this whining and crying and pitching a fit
Get over it, get over it
[Verse 2]
You say you haven’t been the same since you had your little crash
But you might feel better if I gave you some cash
The more I think about it, Old Billy was right
Let’s kill all the lawyers, kill them tonight
You don’t want to work, you want to live like a king
But the big, bad world doesn’t owe you a thing
[Chorus]
Get over it
Get over it
If you don’t wanna, you might as well quit
Get over it, get over it
[Bridge]
It’s like going to confession every time I hear you speak
You’re making the most of your losing streak
Some call it sick, but I call it weak
Yeah, yeah, yeah
[Verse 3]
Yeah, you drag it around like a ball and chain
You wallow in the guilt, you wallow in the pain
You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown
Got your mind in the gutter, bringing everybody down
You bitch about the present and blame it on the past
I’d like to find your inner child and kick its little ass
[Chorus]
Get over it
Get over it
All this bitching and moaning and pitching a fit
Get over it, get over it
[Chorus]
Get over it
Get over it
It’s gotta stop sometime, so why don’t you quit?
Get over it, get over it
Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKERBS1Z_WY