I wish to remind the Democrats that we elected them under the banner “Change We Can Believe In”. And let’s recall that spirit is always delivered by songs of justice. Justice, taken in spiritual terms differs from arbitrary and politically foreshortened arguments about fairness–the rich will always argue that paying more taxes is unfair; the unlettered will always argue that their poorer neighbors don’t deserve health care or surplus food, or bottled water or a rebuilt home following a tornado–false subjectivities are not the material of songs of justice. A Christian society should desire and strive for health care for all. And one may argue convincingly I think that a Christian society would not blanch from paying higher taxes so that the poor and the elderly and children in poverty and people with disabilities and wounded veterans are treated with due respect. The spirit understands spirit. The spirit knows higher justice and always, always knows when it is being bamboozled. The spirit isn’t swayed by roving bands of juvenile delinquents. The spirit has seen that stuff before. And so it keeps on singing, often in the dark. Redemption doesn’t mean that a burden is lifted, not always–sometimes it means that we carry more weight as Jesus did. It means we are called upon to carry our weaker brothers and sisters. It means democracy is hard. It means songs along the road. I know of no good songs about blue dog democrats. I do know a song about a singular dog named Blue. He was a good dog too. Blue was probably a guide dog. Funny how the small “d” democrats seem to need guidance.
S.K.
Planet of the Blind 