The oath of office and deuteronomy 28

Reading is a dangerous past time. No I am pulling your leg! Reading is the gateway to understanding what people have on their minds. In fact if more people (especially Black persons) read then the knowledge base would greatly expand, and we would have a better understanding of the desperation that our enemy has concerning their position in the world. It is amazing to me that we as a people spend more on clothes, shoes, food, fast food, and snacks (sugar) than we spend on reading material (not magazines as King, Flava, or ethnic erotica Zane, or hair style issues). In fact a recent break down of spending habits pointed out that Black Americans spend billions on items such as Food, clothes etc.) and spent (are you ready for this) only 250 million dollars on books and magazines! We are in a position of ignorance when it comes to world and national events and attitudes. We get information from BET which does the best it can, yet in this age of Internet, cable and 24 hour access to news, I feel that we are woefully lacking in information and this is leading us to miss (or dismiss) the coming storm which is brewing. Make no mistake the Birthers, the tea baggers, the anti abortionist, and the evangelicals; the right wing proponents are gathering a head of steam that is a threat to all persons of color. And if we persist in ignoring this we stand to be victimized by these movements. The reason I sound this alarm has to do with the fact that things are not well in America: for white people. I am not a racist, or a hater of my white brothers, but I am aware as those of my generation and those who raised me, that when crises come which will affect their culture, livelihood, or way of life there is an will be a reaction. The issue however is, that the reaction they are taking and proposing is based in Biblical misunderstanding.



In an article I read regarding the oath of office for the President of the United States, I learned that the traditional text the President -Elect swore on was Deuteronomy 28. And that as time passed the text was not used in favor of a closed Bible. This struck me as curious so I read the entire chapter of Deuteronomy and was surprised at what I read. To be brief: it a warning to the Nation of Israel of blessings and curses, to wit, that if you keep the commandments of God, treat all you encounter with correctness, be above board in all you do God will take care of all your needs. however, if not then the curses will follow, I suggest you read the chapter to get the full understanding of what will befall the Nation and any nation if the commandments of God are ignored. Here is the point. For years certain people have proclaimed and quite loudly that the United States is a Nation under God. They site our money (in God we trust), our pledge of allegiance (historical note: the phrase "under God" was added in 1954 at the behest of the Catholic League because of the Communist threat, otherwise the author of this was a Socialist) and the values we hold dear namely that all men are created equal and that we are a perfect union. These are to be sure high ideals but they are myths. This country is under judgement and the sooner we as a people admit this, the better the condition we will encounter. Again, the Bible declares in Haggai, that you look for increase and it eludes you, comfort with no comfort, protection and confusion is around. These are real facts. Diseases that were thought to be eradicated many years ago are back. The issue of juvenile diabetes, both type one and two are ravaging our future. Weather patterns are abnormal causing distress on farms and the yield they produce and finally we are not safe: at home or abroad. In fact we have become paranoid and given what has happened in some cities we should be. The rise of benign racism (Gates) and the reaction of the left and the right paint a picture of a society on the verge of collapse and it is Biblical.

The writer laments the fact that Presidents do not swear on the biblical passage in Deuteronomy 28, but if they were to then this country would have to take stock in the curses contained there in. The land was under God's protection, the production was under God's protection our security is under God's protection, and as long as the nation did what was correct this blessing would continue. Sadly the history of this nation puts us all at risk. We have taken land from those that were here already, exploited those who reached out to assist us. Stole souls from other nations, denying their history and contribution and continue in this age of Obama to exert the same indifference. There have been efforts to thwart the programs of those politicians who have had foresight under the rubric of "Conservatism" limited government and lower taxes knowing or ignoring that in the long run issues not dealt with come back as Malcom X stated to roost. However, the cry still maintains the traction and there are persons who still sing the same refrain and they are good at it. The obfuscation of events have given us the disruption of town meetings and the dissemination of information needed to make better decisions for families. This is not to suggest that the plans of the Administration should not be dissected or revisited: on the contrary, they should pass public as well as Congressional approval, but, when the discourse is interrupted by "angry" outbursts from people who job it is to do this; as Hamlet said:"I smell a rat".

So what do we as a Nation do? Are we doomed by the holy writ to destruction by an angry God? Are we never to reach the potential of greatness that is the promise of the text that if we follow instructions all will be well. Have we forgotten the comfort of Judges 1:1 and following that "as I was with Moses so shall I be with you?' Or is the arrogance and fear ( this is an explanation that gathers steam daily) of a man of color being in charge. Was it that long ago that people heralded the new president on election night? Did not we swell with pride as Americans and understand the meaning of our creed: out of many one, as the oath was administered?

In looking at the poll numbers we have seen a diminishing of numbers in support of the programs that are still in the planning stage. Pundits decry the spending and it is monstrously high. But I want to remind those who cringe at the numbers this point: that in 2001 there was a surplus, the debt clock was turned off because of the Clinton administration. Now, eight years later we are in so much red ink because of a war we entered into against the wrong enemy we are in trouble. Nations now finance the debt, nations own our land, cooperation's, banks and the security of this nation. Yet we as a people argue with the need to remedy this dangerous position. Again were are we to go in this quandary? My suggestion is to re-read the text and repent. Nineveh did and was saved, people do and are spared Nations that ignore this are like the castles built on sand: pretty, magnificent, elegant; but when storms come the erosion causes mass destruction and great is the fall. Later