In following the constant news of injustice and corruption, I feel what Asaph, the demoralized writer of Psalm 73, felt in verses 2-14.
But then I pray and reflect after his example that God sees and will give the wicked what they deserve (verses 16-20).
My twitter thread on observing politics.
A PDF of the this thread:
Download News of injustice and corruption
Recommended: Kierkegaard: A Single Life (Zondervan, 2016) by Stephen Backhouse. A short accessible biography of Kierkegaard that made me want to pursue truth with a pure heart, obey Jesus, and read more Kierkegaard. Endorsements by Stanley Hauerwas and Rowan Williams. I learned (afresh) from Kierkegaard's father to talk with one's kids!
Poor Kierkegaard. What agony he lived in after spurning his true love! A lesson from Kierkegaard: Instead of making fun of the kid who is not good at sports, engage him in conversation. There may be some very interesting thoughts going on in there.
A very wholesome effect of reading Kierkegaard is the invitation to question whether the observed Christian religious behavior looks like Jesus. Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855). Age 42.
Kierkegaard: A Single Life
By Stephen Backhouse (2016)
304 pp.
—-
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900). Age 55.
I Am Dynamite!: A Life of Nietzsche
By Sue Prideaux (2018)
464 pp.
Both were creative, prolific philosophers. Both single. Both Kierkegaard and Nietzsche were rejected and suffered. Kierkegaard seemed to respond largely with mercy and joy, though also firmness; whereas Nietzsche wandered and squirmed in rage and misery. I felt sorry for and grateful for both of them. Kierkegaard fell in love with Regine, got engaged to her, broke it off, repeatedly rejected faithful Regine, insisted she move on (which she finally did), then journaled about his regular sightings of her on the street and in church for the rest of his life. Don't be like Søren.
Rachel Maddow (DPhil in Politics from Oxford) correctly explains that Putin won today. Ukraine's leader Zelensky agreed to terms favorable to Putin.
And now Putin will claim sanctions should be relieved.
Trump has been astoundingly consistent in assisting Putin.
Maddow Blog✔@MaddowBlog
Russia appears to be on the verge of settling the war with Ukraine on the exact terms Putin would want.
Michael MacKay@mhmckMy heart is breaking for the terrible thing that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has done today. Russia invaded Ukraine 5 1/2 years ago and since that time thousands of Ukrainians have died to defend Europe and Western civilization.
Ukrainians will fight on. But Zelenskyy is giving up.
Dr Alina Polyakova✔@apolyakova
And when Russian forces occupy Luhansk and Donetsk, where there is active warfare, and OSCE monitors can't access the entire territory. The idea of free and fair elections is a pipe-dream while Russia still occupies and wages war in Ukraine. https://twitter.com/ianbremmer/status/1179272006157647874 …
ian bremmer✔@ianbremmer
How do you have free elections in occupied Ukraine when the Russians control the border?
Seth Abramson✔@SethAbramson
Trump and Putin finally got their way—as apparently quid pro quos, secret promises, and military invasions will work in the end. I wonder whether the people of Ukraine will stand for what was pretty obviously a deal struck as part of a larger bargain to drop sanctions on Russia.
Scott Stedman@ScottMStedmanUkrainians are pouring into the streets now in protest of Zelensky’s move re:Russia. https://twitter.com/olarhat/status/1179111082994085889 …
Thread ⬆️
More Ukraine / Russia watchers:
@stevenjharper1 @lukeharding1968 @Isikoff @DavidCornDC @craigunger @muellershewrote @page88 @EvelynNFarkas @Susan_Hennessey @RichardEngel @McFaul @kyledcheney @joshtpm @adamgoldmanNYT @qjurecic @MollyMcKew @AlexandraChalup @TimothyDSnyder
@TimothyDSnyder (mobile.twitter.com/NTenzer/status…)
Zelensky has made a deal (Steinmeier Formula) with Putin, which Trump asked him to do.
Now Putin also has France's Macron willing to give up his previous demands.
Putin tells Russian State media to stop criticizing Ukraine. (mobile.twitter.com/ulrichspeck/st…)
Texts and "transcript" reveal Trump demanded Ukraine look into Biden in exchange for aid and White House meeting.
Aid sent, meeting occurred.
Today Ukraine says they will review past cases.
See:
Christopher Miller✔@ChristopherJM
Trying this again:
Ukraine's prosecutor general, Ruslan Riaboshapka, says that his office will review all cases closed by his predecessors, of which there are 15 that deal with Burisma, the gas company where Hunter Biden sat on the board of directors.
Jonah Fisher✔@JonahFisherBBC
For context on Riaboshapka Ukraine's new PG. On his first day he shared a fake announcement on Facebook – that a prisoner swap was underway leading to relatives going to the airport to wait for them. https://twitter.com/JonahFisherBBC/status/1180054684133933057 …
Jonah Fisher✔@JonahFisherBBC
I've had a closer look – so the review of these Burisma related cases is in the context of a review of ALL the cases that were closed/divided under the previous prosecutor general. https://twitter.com/JonahFisherBBC/status/1180049034532270081 …
Daria Kaleniuk@dkaleniukGuys, here is original press-conference of Riaboshapka. From 5.15 minutes he responses on Burisma case question. And he is not promising to reopen the case against Burisma, Biden or Zlochevksyi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g90zksrW_qM …
Natasha Bertrand✔@NatashaBertrand
Zelensky aid texts Volker our @politico story breaking the news that Ukraine military aide was being withheld at Trump’s request
Natasha Bertrand✔@NatashaBertrand
Ambassador Taylor, Sept 1: “Are we now saying that security assistance and WH meeting are conditioned on investigations?”
Michael MacKay@mhmckAmericans who don’t know Ukraine should understand that the General Prosecutors Office has never been reformed or undergone lustration. It has been thoroughly corrupt since independence. When it announces a high-profile investigation it’s signalling the start of a shakedown.
Trump won (for now).
Matt McDermott✔@mattmfm
Who gives Trump the headline he’s been looking for? The New York Times.
In the July 25th call, Zelensky told Trump "the next prosecutor-general will be 100% my person … and will start … in September. He or she will look into the situation, specifically the company."
Now Riaboshapka, who started Aug 29, has done it.
kevin dork@PapaCokeEven though he was already on his way out of the Ukrainian government, it's interesting that he would say something like this on the same day (7/26) that Zelensky met with US Special Envoy Kurt Volker to discuss Donbas in a very different light:
https://www.unian.info/politics/10632117-zelensky-u-s-representatives-discuss-situation-in-donbas-photo.html …Zelensky, U.S. representatives discuss situation in Donbas (Photo)
The participants of the meeting expressed the hope the ceasefire introduced on July 21 would be comprehensive and sustainable.
unian.info
kevin dork@PapaCokeThen of course on August 29th, Klimkin is replaced and Riaboshapka is also brought in as Prosecutor General who Zelensky refers to as '100% my person' in regard to things Trump wanted investigated on the July 25th call.
👀
Kyle Griffin✔@kylegriffin1
Mike Pence in the 2016 vice presidential debate: "This is basic stuff. Foreign donors — and certainly foreign governments — cannot participate in the American political process."
From the debate transcript, we see Pence is referring to the Clinton foundation, saying it is far more pernicious than—and this how he ends his answer—"all these baseless rumors about Russia and the rest." (politico.com/story/2016/10/…)
I do not like "gotcha" quotes taken out of context but it is helpful to remember that there are some norms and moral principles upon which there was some agreement.
See also George Washington:
and John Adams:
on foreign influence.
James Comey✔@Comey
“Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence…the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government.” Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796
Joanne Freeman✔@jbf1755
John Adams (1798)
In virtuous republics, the will of the majority is the will of the whole.
But in "Republicks vicious and criminal, the Minority always resorts to <foreign> Influence for <Aid and> support, and for assistance [to] overthrow and take Vengeance on the Majority."
