The answer to my title question is: giant rats. Yup, that’s right. If you don’t believe me, click here, then read, and weep. Or drink, whatever gets you through the night because after we’ve poisoned the environment and bombed the hell out of all surviving life forms, giant rats will take over and I imagine they’ll do a better job of taking care of the planet than we humans have.
Of course, if you’re a good Christian you’ll take umbrage with this prediction.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5
The Bible has been translated countless times so it’s hard to know exactly what Jesus meant by “meek.” But he probably didn’t mean rats. According to many theologists he meant the “righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering, long suffering willing to follow gospel teachings; an attribute of a true disciple.” (Wikipedia)
However, many American politicians argue that acting in a Christian manner in the modern world makes us look like pussies. And these are politicians who claim to be devout followers of Jesus.
“Weakness inspires evil.” Governor Mike Pence.
Does this statement by vice presidential candidate Mike Pence remind anyone else of the small-dick jocks in high school who decided anyone weaker than themselves deserved to have their heads shoved into the toilet?
(Before you tell me that in high school you were a football player and have an enormous dick, no pictures are necessary. I believe you. I don’t mean to say every jock is a bully with an equipment issue.)
Of course, Gov. Pence isn’t really suggesting that being weak inspires Satan to rise from the pits of Hell. Or at least I hope he isn’t. Babies are weak. Sick people are weak. Elderly people are weak. No, he’s suggesting that trying to solve world problems through peaceful channels is weak. We gotta go bomb everybody.
He’s rifting on an aphorism dating back to Homer’s “woe to the conquered,” Might Makes Right, the theory that if you’re powerful enough to dunk someone’s head in the toilet then you must be right. Right?
Gov. Pence should keep in mind the following words of Abraham Lincoln, his party’s standard bearer:
"Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it" - Abraham Lincoln, February 26, 1860, Cooper Union Address
As you can see, Lincoln inverted the phrase to read “right makes might” in a speech addressing the constitutionality of the federal government controlling slavery in new territories. He wanted to emphasize that doing the right thing is what gives us real power. Enforcing your vision through the use of might alone forges at best an uneasy peace. Poor fellow, he’s got to be rolling over in his tomb over the inelegance of his party.
President Trump – Yikes!!Beware of three word slogans containing verbs, folks! Might Makes Right (fascism), Arbeit Macht Frei (death camps) and now Weakness Inspires Evil (heaven help us). They never lead to anything good.
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9
Saying nothing in particular 
Love this post. Need a love button.
I can’t stand my governor, so the only nice thing I can say about this is at least he won’t be my governor anymore.
Thanks Joey. He’s certainly taken some scary positions on women’s rights!
Beautiful and spot on post Jan.
I so try to stay out of the politics in other countries, but because you are our neighbors and we are the world’s two largest trade partners what happens there matters here too.
In my opinion the biggest thing needed to ‘fix’ American democracy is a viable third party. Someone to assume the sane middle ground and moderate or temper the hysterics at the two extremes. Unfortunately your two-party system is so entrenched and so beholden to corporate interests, no one in power wants it to change.
And in the meantime somewhere President Lincoln is rolling in his grave…
Thanks Norm. I think Trump is going to kill the Republican party and so there will be need for another party. I try to keep in mind that the Clintons ran this country for 8 basically peaceful and prosperous years so at least they have some idea of what they’re doing.
I don’t normally weigh in on political comments, particularly as it relates to other countries, but this post ‘talked’ to me.
The statement that “doing the right thing is what gives us real power” spoke volumes. I think this message is the one that’s getting lost. It seems to have morphed into “doing the right thing for me and my followers”. There’s no other way to explain some of the truly disgusting things going on right now.
Thank you Joanne. I don’t like to blog about politics either but that statement from Pence really sent me reeling!
Right on!!! Although I thought it was cockroaches and slime that were going to inherit the earth.
Could be. I’m not sure I agree with the Giant Rat theory but then we won’t be around to prove it wrong.
I always though it would be bacteria… and it might… Thank you for the great post!
Thank you! Well, we’ll never know!
I always heard it would be the cockroaches- so rats are kind of a step up.
As to whether right makes might or vice versa – I’m honestly tired of the whole thing.
I do hope love wins out in the end – and it seems to have done, so far – as so far there has been no end. I love you, Life:))
I do too Sloanie. I do too.
Very very very nicely put. I totally agree with everything you’ve sad (pssssst I don’t like Mike Pence!).
Thank you Tom and thanks for stopping by!
“I try to keep in mind that the Clintons ran this country for 8 basically peaceful and prosperous years so at least they have some idea of what they’re doing.” That’s what I’m thinking too, Jan! Good, thought-provoking post. Yeah, I’m thinking bacteria will turn out the lights when we’re gone 🙂
Rats, cockroaches and bacteria – all life forms that make more sense than certain politicians. ; )
Sorry for this late reply but I wanted to find the title of a book that I read recently that you might find thrilling with rats involved and who inherited the earth. The book is “The Gemini Effect” by Chuck Grossart and it was a thriller with changes in the plot when you least expect it. I got it from Amazon Prime on my Kindle. Read it if you can.
Thanks! I’ll check it out.