Christmas 2020

The Hope of Glory: Reflections on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross (2020)

By John Meacham 

Christmas would lose its meaning if Jesus had not died on the cross, and risen three days later.  

Historian Meacham initially presented these reflections on Jesus's last words at Trinity Church, Wall Street, where he was a vestryman.  He thinks of the gospels not as biographies, but apologetic arguments ("These are written that you may believe...and that believing you may have life in his name.")  What is important is that the writers felt their audience believe Jesus said these words.  In reflecting on Jesus's words, and scripture in general, Meacham adds the caveat that he believes that "literalism is for the weak; fundamentalism is for the insecure.  Both are sins agains God," implying that we are in exclusive possession of truth about things beyond time and space, putting ourselves in the place of God (p 69-70).

The cross is a reminder that self-giving love - not hate, grace - not rage, mercy - not vengeance - are at the heart of the Christian story.  That is at least one answer to Pilate's question.  "What is truth?"

1. "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." This word is found only in Luke, who wrote for Gentiles.  Luke is possibly seeking to make Jesus more accessible to those who may have felt complicit in his death (eg. Romans, Temple establishment).

2. "Today you will be with me in Paradise."  His mercy is available to all.

3. "Woman, behold thy son! Behold your mother!" A reminder to do good to God's other children (Matt 25)

4. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Shows Jesus's humanity - also God's victory over death.  

5. "I thirst." Jesus is seen here as the Passover lamb (hyssop was used to sprinkle toe blood not eh doorposts).

6. "It is finished" [tetelestai = accomplished, completed].  Meacham points out that Jesus has completed his work but, for the believer, doing God's work continues until the new Jerusalem of Revelation comes down to heave to earth.

7. "Father, into thy hands, I commend my Spirit." Jesus surrendered to pain and mortality.  We are asked to surrender to Jesus - to find the means of grace.

The Corrosion of Conservatism: Why I Left the Right (2018)

By Max Boot 

Conservative columnist and military historian Boot immigrated to the US from the USSR when he was only six.  He writes of how he came to love his adopted country, a nation that was anti-communism, supported human rights and seemed optimistic and inclusive.  Writing for his school paper, and later the Daily California at Berkeley, Boot used every opportunity to hone his writer's chops and political experience through interviews, opinion pieces, and even work on political campaigns.  But the moderate Republican party of Reagan and GHW Bush, which he came to identify with, eventually became too centrist and a far right movement, first as a "Tea Party" in the Obama years, eventually made way for Trumpism.  Conservatives liked that Trump would push through a tax cut to benefit them, but Boot was stupefied by evangelical support for some one of Trump's character and politics.  Boot weighs the cost of capitulation by the Republican party:

1. Racism - White anxiety about the reality that whites will become a minority in American drove Republicans to vote for a candidate who emphasized reestablishing the status hierarchies of the past.

2. Nativism - Trump rejects immigrants who don't look like him, driving fear of "the other".

3. Collusion - Republicans have been willing to follow Trump wherever he leads, including defending him against charges of colluding with Russia.

4. Rule of law - Trump fires those who put loyalty to country above loyalty to him (e.g., James Comey, Jeff Sessions, Andrew McCabe).  He demonized the FBI for doing its job.  Republicans endorsed this behavior.

5. Fake news - Trump makes stuff up, and his toadies fall in line.  He says something one minute ("I fired Jim Comey over Russia"), then denies it the next. The free press is "the enemy of the people" (Feb 2017) - almost a direct quote of both Hitler and Stalin.

6. Ethics - Corruption far exceeds Teapot Dome, Credit Mobilier, or Watergate.  Many cabinet secretaries were ousted for travel or other expense abuse.  Many aides (Manafort, Cohen, Flynn, Stone) convicted of crime and imprisoned. Nepotism-Kushners. Trump's tax returns were never exposed - why? Emoluments galore (suggest China was bribing Trump, among other things).  Sexual allegations, bribes, misogyny, bullying, name calling...

7. Fiscal irresponsibility - cut taxes in times of prosperity

8. End of Pax Americana - e.g., imposed tariffs and other trade barriers on allies.

While there were precursors (Goldwater-extremist, racist; Phyllis Schafly-against ERA), none were as ignorant or crude.  Boot warns that Trump won't be the last, and another right wing extremist could be even worse if he lacks Trump's ignorance and lack of discipline.

An enlightening story - tracing Boot's own immigrant history, education and career - and the rise of the far right.

December 4 2020

 The Razor's Edge (1943)

By W Somerset Maugham

This complex novel is set in the years following World War 1.  The author makes himself the narrator as well as a character in the story, which opens in Chicago, where he is visiting his good friend the prominent decorator Elliott Templeton, along with Elliott's socialite sister Louisa Bradley and her pretty daughter Isabel.  The late Mr Bradley had been a US ambassador and the family is very at home in the European capitols, where much of the story takes place.  The story centers around Larry Darrell, Isabel's childhood friend and now her fiancé, but their relationship faces difficulties as Larry has changed following his experience as a pilot in the war.  While attractive and pleasant he has no apparent ambition except to "loaf" - as he puts it, content to live off a small inheritance, read, and travel.  When Isabel can't persuade him to get a job - an offer has been made by Isabel and Larry's friend Gray Maturin's father - Isabel finally gives up on Larry and accepts Gray's offer of marriage. They are destined to stay in touch, however, as the Maturin's firm goes bankrupt in the Great Depression and Isabel, Gray and their daughters go to live in Elliott's Paris apartment.  Larry goes in and out of their lives, working in a coal mine, then on a farm, a monastery in Germany, an ashram in India, but often in Paris in between trips.  Larry seems at peace - though his friends can't understand his constant moves and searching.  He tries to help a couple of women associated with the author (Sophie and Suzanna) though more for humanitarian reasons than romantic notions.

Despite Larry's aimlessness, it's obvious Isabel still wants him (reminiscent of Scarlett O'Hara's lust for Ashley Wilkes).  Perhaps others vets felt as Larry did, but lacked the independent means to pursue their restless feelings and instead were obligated to set goals, make a living, support themselves and possibly a family, and find hope again.  

The story offers a few surprising turns but all of the players remain true to character throughout, and in the end - as the authors suggests - each of them got what they wanted.