Picking a fight with the Pope

                       There are a few things in the patois of the Political arena that are absolute gospel. “Keep your mouth shut and your ears open” in one prime directive. “Don’t talk in elevators” is another.

 But, missing from this informal directive is “Don’t pick a fight with the Pope.”   That advice is so elemental, that even those with an I.Q. of a block of wood would be  thought to understand  that proscription without being told.

A Religious primate who has  1.4 Billion loyal followers, and you gratuitously insult the man in public? What kind of brain-dead moron  does that? Apparently the President of the United States is one of the latter. The advice could not have come from his advisers. They know better. Yet, we see on the nightly news the President calling the Pope names.

I have to wonder if the darkening fog of dementia is finally settling in on this man. Whatever you think of Donald Trump, no one has ever, until now, called him stupid.

And this fascination with playing with Defense Department military toys and killing people? What is that all about? Since when did America ever become the aggressor?

In the nightly news, two other staunch allies today have castigated America for its arrogance and lack of international understanding.

Blocking the Straight of Hormuz? I bet that won’t drive up already sky-high gas prizes. One Iraqi, with an Exocet missile, can destroy an American ship close into shore. Isn’t Congress supposed to be considering all of these things before we act? Those are American boys out there, standing as targets.

And then, there is mention of “going after Cuba.” What is that all about? Playing with computer war games is okay, if it is deemed in the American interest. Killing people because you are bored is not. Must the Whole world suffer from attempts to take the media focus from the Epstein files? Didn’t we all see the film “Wag the Dog?” What is in those files that can force such conduct?

If you watch the “All Trump All The Time “ network you get a skewed replay of the T.V. series “Mr. Rogers.” Every Day  is  a “wonderful day in the neighborhood.”

During most of my life time, America was revered as a bastion of democracy and a defender of all that is right and good. Now, even our closest former allies look at us  with contempt and wonder what crazy action we will take next.

I believe that we are the greatest experiment in democracy in the world’s history. Our men and women of the military have fought and died to make others free.

Somebody in Congress or Industry has got to set this ship right, before we founder on the international sea.

The coming mid-term congressional elections should change things, but can we wait than long?

May the Good Lord bless the United States of America and all that she once stood for.

                                            -30-

                                    (492 words)

                              Joseph Xavier Martin