Preaching Truth To Power

Sometimes a picture is worth more than a thousand words. I’ll write the words too, because the pressure of my disgust needs relief.

The world saw a powerful display of speaking truth to power on Tuesday at the National Cathedral. Bishop Maryann Budde ended her sermon, looked directly at Donald Trump and gently, simply, asked him to show mercy toward our society’s most vulnerable. In the highly unlikely event that you’ve not viewed the video, I urge you to watch it here.

It is necessary to emphasize what she did not say. She did not insult, attack or demean Trump, his family members in attendance, or his political allies and supporters. She did not speak in opposition to any policy or political act.

She did ask for mercy and kindness, emphasizing the people, especially young people, who are currently afraid. She bravely included gay and transgender children, who fear the possible consequences of policy proposals and mean-spirited rhetoric. As you are likely aware, one unnecessarily cruel executive order erased transgender humans from existence.

Her most elaborate invitation was mercy for millions of immigrant workers who work the fields, prepare the food, and care for the youngest and oldest among us. She asked that this grace be extended to those with and without proper documentation. She did not propose amnesty or sanctuary. She merely asked for human kindness and understanding.

In an effort to connect the president with the nature of her request, she alluded to his own statements about the hand of God having intervened on his behalf when a bullet grazed his ear in a Pennsylvania field. Surely a man who felt the hand of a loving God in such a providential way would see the goodness of extending God’s grace to frightened children and to parents anticipating the terrible possibility of splintered families.

Surely not.

For contrast, I offer a partial list of the actions and intentions from Trump’s first days in office.

Immediate mobilization of the military to the Mexican border.

Termination of birthright citizenship for innocent children born and raised in the U.S.

Pardons or commutations for violent felons, including child molesters, involved in the January 6 insurrection attempt.

Suspend the Refugee Admissions Program

Bar asylum for people newly arriving at the southern border.

Resume a policy requiring people seeking asylum to wait in Mexico

Ensure that states carrying out the death penalty have a “sufficient supply” of lethal injection drugs.

Cuts in Medicaid for the poorest Americans

There are many more where, as often observed, the cruelty is the point.

Trump’s response was predictable. He demanded an apology. He said her sermon was “nasty.” Women who say anything slightly critical are always “nasty.” He called her a “ so-called Bishop” and a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater.”

That response was not what drove bile to the back of my throat. It was the facial expressions captured by the camera trained on the first pews. Trump was, at first, impassive. As her gentle but insistent words landed, impassivity turned to smirk. Melania looked dark, but usually seems without life or love. J.D. Vance raised his eyebrows and tried to engage Usha with a “Can you believe this?” whisper. Other Trumps – Eric, Don Jr., Ivanka, Tiffany and their families – fidgeted and looked irritated and incredulous. All these people, minus the “converted” Ivanka, claim to be Christians.

The contrast between this entitled, mean-spirited, arrogant, smug, ceaselessly ambitious and intentionally cruel assemblage and the modest, gentle woman at the pulpit was remarkable. For any person with a heart, the heartlessness was heartbreaking.

At a time of great human suffering, a group of the most powerful and privileged people on Earth cannot accept a dignified request to go about their lives and work with care and compassion for least powerful and privileged. She asked only that. Nothing more. Nasty woman.

I have no respect for anyone who supports and enables this callously inhumane regime.