Trump/Nobel? BS

Donald Trump in the Rose Garden February 15, 2019

“In fact, I think I can say this: Prime Minister Abe of Japan gave me the most beautiful copy of a letter that he sent to the people who give out a thing called the Nobel Prize.  He said, “I have nominated you…” or “Respectfully, on behalf of Japan, I am asking them to give you the Nobel Peace Prize.”  I said, “Thank you.”  Many other people feel that way too.  I’ll probably never get it, but that’s okay.”

“So Prime Minister Abe gave me — I mean, it’s the most beautiful five letter — five-page letter.  Nobel Prize.  He sent it to them.  You know why?  Because he had rocket ships and he had missiles flying over Japan.  And they had alarms going off; you know that.  Now, all of a sudden, they feel good; they feel safe.  I did that.”

The President of the United States told the American people the Prime Minister of Japan had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.  The Prime Minister of Japan would neither confirm nor deny this claim.  This, in and of itself is not alarming, “The Nobel Committee for the last 50 years has not disclosed who recommended and who was recommended. In line with this policy, I would like to refrain from giving a comment,”.

Japanese media reports, such as The Nikkei, quoting Japanese government sources confirm the submission of the nomination. 

What one might find distressing are additional reports that denote the U.S. government had requested that such a nomination be made. 

Donald Trump has no shame.  His ego requires constant and extraordinary stroking.  This is a man who must be unceasingly validated.  He denies the findings of his intelligence agencies because they do not conform to the perspective he is promoting at any moment.  He is incapable of considering that anyone who doesn’t agree with him and support his view is an honorable human being.  They are only to be denigrated, minimized, and bullied.  He has the bully pulpit and uses it for precisely that purpose.  He has no concept of how to govern, only to dictate and subjugate. 

The majority of the citizens who voted in the last Presidential election had no desire for this man to be our President.  Every day he makes it clear as to why.

Whaduyathink?

National Emergency? Time for some golf.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 201 and 301 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), hereby declare that a national emergency exists at the southern border of the United States, and that section 12302 of title 10, United States Code, is invoked and made available, according to its terms, to the Secretaries of the military departments concerned, subject to the direction of the Secretary of Defense in the case of the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Also, Donald Trump on February 15, 2019 “I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it much faster,” he said. “I just want to get it done faster, that’s all.”

The first paragraph is from a Presidential Proclamation.  The second is from a televised statement in the Rose Garden.

There is a national emergency or there is not.  The President says there is a national emergency, the President says there is not. 

  “I hereby declare that this emergency requires use of the Armed Forces and,…”

  The President has declared he requires the U.S. military to operate within the domestic borders of the United States to perform civil functions.

Of course, there has never been a case in recorded history where this has gone poorly for the civilian populace.

The current situation at the southern border presents a border security and humanitarian crisis that threatens core national security interests and constitutes a national emergency…. In particular, recent years have seen sharp increases in the number of family units entering and seeking entry to the United States and an inability to provide detention space for many of these aliens while their removal proceedings are pending. 

According to cbp.gov In FY17, CBP recorded the lowest level of illegal cross-border migration on record, as measured by apprehensions along the border and inadmissible encounters at U.S. ports of entry.

Furthermore, there has been a steady decrease in the number of undocumented entrants since the year 2000.  You can see the data provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection 2017 Border Security Report.  In 2000 there were approximately 1.7 million.  In 2017 the number was less than 0.5 million. 

Where is the sharp increase of which the President speaks? 

The President has declared a National Emergency and goes to his resort in Mar-a-Lago. 

When is enough enough?

The above text in red is copied and pasted directly from whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-proclamation-declaring-national-emergency-concerning=southern-border-united states.  Contrary data is provided by government agencies and available to you. 

My opinion is the President of the United States will continue to lie, mislead, and obfuscate like a petulant child whose only desire is to achieve their own personal selfish aims.  However, where a child may throw toys and break things in a fit of pique, the President consumes the treasure and lives of the nation’s citizens.

Whaduyathink?

Yesterday Apples, Today Oranges

Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on current  world wide threats 01/29/19 at 0930 et.
In attendance as witnesses were:
Director Daniel Coats
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
ODNI 
Director Christopher Wray
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI
Director Gina Haspel
Central Intelligence Agency
CIA
Director General Robert Ashley
Defense Intelligence Agency
DIA
Director General Paul Nakasone
National Security Agency
NSA
Director Robert Cardillo
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
NGA

APPLES

     The opening statement was made by Daniel Coats.  The following are excerpts.

China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea increasingly use cyber operations... 
China and Russia pose the greatest espionage and cyber attack threats...
China presents a persistent cyber espionage threat and a growing attack threat to our core military and critical infrastructure systems.  
We assess that Russia poses a cyber espionage, influence, and attack threat to the United States and our allies. Moscow continues to be a highly capable and effective adversary, integrating cyber espionage, attack, and influence operations to achieve its political and military objectives. Moscow is now staging cyber attack assets to allow it to disrupt or damage US civilian and military infrastructure during a crisis and poses a significant cyber influence threat...
Russian intelligence and security services will continue targeting US information systems,,,,
North Korea poses a significant cyber threat to financial institutions, remains a cyber espionage threat, and retains the ability to conduct disruptive cyber attacks.
Our adversaries and strategic competitors probably already are looking to the 2020 US elections as an opportunity to advance their interests. More broadly, US adversaries and strategic competitors almost certainly will use online influence operations to try to weaken democratic institutions, undermine US alliances and partnerships, and shape policy outcomes in the United States and elsewhere.
Russia’s social media efforts will continue to focus on aggravating social and racial tensions, undermining trust in authorities, and criticizing perceived anti-Russia politicians. Moscow may employ additional influence toolkits—such as spreading disinformation, conducting hack-and leak operations, or manipulating data—in a more targeted fashion to influence US policy, actions, and elections.

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND PROLIFERATION

North Korea Pyongyang has not conducted any nuclear-capable missile or nuclear tests in more than a year, has declared its support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and has reversibly dismantled portions of its WMD infrastructure. However, North Korea retains its WMD capabilities, and the IC continues to assess that it is unlikely to give up all of its WMD stockpiles, delivery systems, and production capabilities. North Korean leaders view nuclear arms as critical to regime survival.
We continue to observe activity inconsistent with full denuclearization. 
Russia We assess that Russia will remain the most capable WMD adversary through 2019 and beyond, developing new strategic and nonstrategic weapons systems.
China We assess that China will continue to expand and diversify its WMD capabilities.
Iran We continue to assess that Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities we judge necessary to produce a nuclear device. However, Iranian officials have publicly threatened to reverse some of Iran’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commitments—and resume nuclear activities that the JCPOA limits—if Iran does not gain the tangible trade and investment benefits it expected from the deal. 
 Iran continues to work with other JCPOA participants—China, the European Union, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom—to find ways to salvage economic benefits from it. Iran’s continued implementation of the JCPOA has extended the amount of time Iran would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon from a few months to about one year

TERRORISM

ISIS ISIS still commands thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria, and it maintains eight branches, more than a dozen networks, and thousands of dispersed supporters around the world, despite significant leadership and territorial losses. The group will exploit any reduction in CT pressure to strengthen its clandestine presence and accelerate rebuilding key capabilities, such as media production and external operations. ISIS very likely will continue to pursue external attacks from Iraq and Syria against regional and Western adversaries, including the United States.
ISIS is perpetrating attacks in Iraq and Syria to undermine stabilization efforts and retaliate against its enemies, exploiting sectarian tensions in both countries. ISIS probably realizes that controlling new territory is not sustainable in the near term. We assess that ISIS will seek to exploit Sunni grievances, societal instability, and stretched security forces to regain territory in Iraq and Syria in the long term.
Al-Qa‘ida Al-Qa‘ida senior leaders are strengthening the network’s global command structure and continuing to encourage attacks against the West, including the United States, although most al-Qa‘ida affiliates’ attacks to date have been small scale and limited to their regional areas. We expect that al-Qa‘ida’s global network will remain a CT challenge for the United States and its allies during the next year.
Homegrown Violent Extremists Homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) are likely to present the most acute Sunni terrorist threat to the United States, and HVE activity almost certainly will have societal effects disproportionate to the casualties and damage it causes. 

Additional

Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy The global race to develop artificial intelligence (AI)—systems that imitate aspects of human cognition—is likely to accelerate the development of highly capable, application-specific AI systems with national security implications. As academia, major companies, and large government programs continue to develop and deploy AI capabilities, AI-enhanced systems are likely to be trusted with increasing levels of autonomy and decision making, presenting the world with a host of economic, military, ethical, and 16 privacy challenges. Furthermore, interactions between multiple advanced AI systems could lead to unexpected outcomes that increase the risk of economic miscalculation or battlefield surprise. 
Information and Communications Foreign production and adoption of advanced communication technologies, such as fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks, most likely will challenge US competitiveness and data security, while advances in quantum computing foreshadow challenges to current methods of protecting data and transactions.
Biotechnology Rapid advances in biotechnology, including gene editing, synthetic biology, and neuroscience, are likely to present new economic, military, ethical, and regulatory challenges worldwide as governments struggle to keep pace. These technologies hold great promise for advances in precision medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing, but they also introduce risks, such as the potential for adversaries to develop novel biological warfare agents, threaten food security, and enhance or degrade human performance.

TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME 

Global transnational criminal organizations and networks will threaten US interests and allies by trafficking drugs, exerting malign influence in weak states, threatening critical infrastructure, orchestrating human trafficking, and undermining legitimate economic activity. Drug Trafficking The foreign drug threat will pose continued risks to US public health and safety and will present a range of threats to US national security interests in the coming year. Violent Mexican traffickers, such as members of the Sinaloa Cartel and New Generation Jalisco Cartel, remain key to the movement of illicit drugs to the United States, including heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cannabis from Mexico, as well as cocaine from Colombia. Chinese synthetic drug suppliers dominate US-bound movements of so called designer drugs, including synthetic marijuana, and probably ship the majority of US fentanyl, when adjusted for purity. 
Transnational organized crime almost certainly will continue to inflict human suffering, deplete natural resources, degrade fragile ecosystems, drive migration, and drain income from the productive—and taxable—economy.  Human trafficking generates an estimated $150 billion annually for illicit actors and governments that engage in forced labor, according to the UN’s International Labor Organization.

HUMAN SECURITY 

The United States will probably have to manage the impact of global human security challenges, such as threats to public health, historic levels of human displacement, assaults on religious freedom, and the negative effects of environmental degradation and climate change. Global Health We assess that the United States and the world will remain vulnerable to the next flu pandemic or large scale outbreak of a contagious disease that could lead to massive rates of death and disability, severely affect the world economy, strain international resources, and increase calls on the United States for support.  

Environment and Climate Change

 Global environmental and ecological degradation, as well as climate change, are likely to fuel competition for resources, economic distress, and social discontent through 2019 and beyond. Climate hazards such as extreme weather, higher temperatures, droughts, floods, wildfires, storms, sea level rise, soil degradation, and acidifying oceans are intensifying, threatening infrastructure, health, and water and food security. Irreversible damage to ecosystems and habitats will undermine the economic benefits they provide, worsened by air, soil, water, and marine pollution.  Extreme weather events, many worsened by accelerating sea level rise, will particularly affect urban coastal areas in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. Damage to communication, energy, and transportation infrastructure could affect low-lying military bases, inflict economic costs, and cause human displacement and loss of life.  Changes in the frequency and variability of heat waves, droughts, and floods—combined with poor governance practices—are increasing water and food insecurity around the world, increasing the risk of social unrest, migration, and interstate tension in countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, and Jordan.  Diminishing Arctic sea ice may increase competition—particularly with Russia and China— over access to sea routes and natural resources. Nonetheless, Arctic states have maintained mostly positive cooperation in the region through the Arctic Council and other multilateral mechanisms, a trend we do not expect to change in the near term. Warmer temperatures and diminishing sea ice are reducing the high cost and risks of some commercial activities and are attracting new players to the resource-rich region. In 2018, the minimum sea ice extent in the Arctic was 25 percent below the 30-year average from 1980 to 2010.

REGIONAL THREATS

North Korea Nuclear Ambitions Pyongyang has not conducted any nuclear capable missile or nuclear tests in more than a year, has declared its support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and has reversibly dismantled portions of its WMD infrastructure. However, we continue to assess that North Korea is unlikely to give up all of its nuclear weapons and production capabilities, even as it seeks to negotiate partial denuclearization steps to obtain key US and international concessions. North Korean leaders view nuclear arms as critical to regime survival, according to official statements and regime-controlled media.
 We continue to observe activity inconsistent with full denuclearization. North Korea has underscored its commitment to nuclear arms for years, including through an order to mass produce weapons in 2018 and an earlier law—and constitutional change—that affirmed the country’s nuclear status. 
Saudi Arabia Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman continues to control the key levers of power in Saudi Arabia, but his simultaneous push for economic and social reform creates potential flash points for internal opposition. Saudi public support for the royal family appears to remain high, even in the wake of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Moreover, we assess that the Saudi Government remains well positioned to stifle small-scale protests and discontent; it has preemptively arrested or forcibly detained clerics, business leaders, and civil society activists who could be nodes for discontent. 

Global Ambitions

 Russia’s efforts to expand its global military, commercial, and energy footprint and build partnerships with US allies and adversaries alike are likely to pose increasing challenges. Moscow will continue to emphasize its strategic relationship with Beijing, while also pursuing a higher profile in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We assess that Moscow will continue pursuing a range of objectives to expand its reach, including undermining the US-led liberal international order, dividing Western political and security institutions, demonstrating Russia’s ability to shape global issues, and bolstering Putin’s domestic legitimacy. Russia seeks to capitalize on perceptions of US retrenchment and power vacuums, which it views the United States is unwilling or unable to fill, by pursuing relatively low-cost options, including influence campaigns, cyber tools, and limited military interventions.  
After decades of increased spending to support modernization, Russia’s defense budget is decreasing to about 3.8 percent of GDP in 2019, from a peak of about 5.4 percent in 2016. Because of momentum in military acquisitions, we judge that the budget is normalizing to pre-peak spending levels.

ORANGES

President Trump said Russia does not pose a threat to the United States, contradicting his director of national intelligence on a critical security issue and deepening a political controversy that began at his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump, standing beside Putin after their meetings, suggested he gave equal weight to the Russian leader's denial of election meddling and the conclusion of the U.S. intelligence agencies that the meddling occurred. 

V. Putin "President Donald Trump is “right” to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, ..."

Donald Trump "“There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.”

Donald Trump “This horrible one-sided deal allowed Iran to continue its path towards a bomb and gave the regime a cash lifeline when they needed it most.”

Donald Trump "But we've done an excellent job. We've defeated ISIS. ISIS is defeated in all of the areas that we fought ISIS, ..."

Donald Trump "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! "

Donald Trump " Caliphate will soon be destroyed, unthinkable two years ago. "

I don't know about you, but I'm sticking with APPLES. The APPLES have over 150 years of legal, military, intelligence and public service experience. In the ORANGE corner we have ALMOST 2 years of public service that has been characterized by hyperbole and lies. Donald Trump claims to know more about everything than anyone. Donald Trump is commended by the leader of Russia, our most capable foe. Donald Trump is a threat to the union. When your enemies support your actions you may actually need to reconsider. This is not something Donald Trump is capable of. Donald Trump mocks the cold that is killing our fellow citizens and asks for the relief of "global warming". Climate change is significant enough it is considered to be a global threat by the APPLES, According to Donald Trump, his entire intelligence apparatus is incapable because they cannot support his flights of fancy, his "natural instinct". He can deny 10's of 1,000's of hours of research and analysis by professionals because, "My gut tells me more than anybody's brain".  Are you effing kidding me?  Who thinks it's a good idea for someone who can initiate the launch of nuclear weapons to actually operate on the basis that his uninformed, self serving, incomplete notions of policy are more valid than verified vetted data?

I am exhausted by his ineptitude.

*highlights added by me

1/25/19 Donald Trump today

"We’ll work with the Democrats and negotiate and if we can’t do that, then we’ll do a - obviously we’ll do the emergency because that’s what it is. It’s a national emergency,” 
If there is a national emergency then by all means declare it. Why are you waiting? Otherwise, you are nothing but a petulant bully utilizing threats. Of course, that would be in character.
"I want to thank all of the incredible federal workers, and their amazing families, who have shown such extraordinary devotion in the face of this recent hardship.  You are fantastic people.  You are incredible patriots.  Many of you have suffered far greater than anyone, but your families would know or understand.  And not only did you not complain, but in many cases you encouraged me to keep going because you care so much about our country and about its border security."
My wife and I fed 7 furloughed federal employees and 1 of their family members yesterday. Based on what the President said about many feds encouraging him to keep going, you would think at least 1 of my guests would have given some indication they would bear the sacrifice. That was not the case.  
With regard to walls; "They save good people from attempting a very dangerous journey from other countries — thousands of miles — because they think they have a glimmer of hope of coming through.  With a wall, they don’t have that hope. 
This must make you proud. The President of the United States, our representative to the world thinks the desire of the American people is to deprive those to whom Lady Liberty speaks, of all hope. No longer shall we be considered "Mother of exiles". Do not attempt to burden is with your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  No, allow us to make a new proclamation to the world. 

Just like the brazen giant of Greek fame

With conquering limbs astride from sea to sea;

Here at our fear-washed , padlocked gates shall stand

A berserker with a torch, whose flame

Is a firebolt of intolerance, and her name

Forsaker of exiles.  From her beacon hand

Glows world-wide rejection, her wild eyes command

The bridge spanned harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips.  "We reject your tired, disdain your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. 

Hinder these, the homeless, tempest-host, forbid them from me,

I douse my lamp beside the impermeable door!"

If you believe this man has any interest in making America great, God help us all.

Finally, walls explained

Well, I'm convinced.

Donald Trump: “Everyone knows that walls work,” claimed the president as he addressed reporters outside the White House. “You look at different places, they put up a wall, no problem.

“You look at San Antonio, you look at so many different places; they go from one of the most unsafe cities in the country to one of the safest cities, immediately, immediately. It works. We have to put them up, and we will put them up. We've got to."

Oh, wait, there is no wall around San Antonio. Is this a lie or is POTUS just this stupid?

He must be exhausted

This man is pathetic.
About 330pm on December 21, 2018 the President of the U.S. tweeted, as he is wont to do. The tweet included a photo of him sitting behind the Resolute desk, apparently acting resolutely. There is a large stack of folders to his right. He is holding a pen, poised over what is purported to be a piece of legislation.
The President's own words say, "Some of the many Bills that I am signing in the Oval Office right now. Cancelled my trip on Air Force One to Florida while we wait to see if the Democrats will help us to protect America’s Southern Border!"
You can view the picture and the text at twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076256868190834689
According to whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions the "many Bills" consisted of all of the following:
(1)Memorandum on the Delegation of Functions and Authorities Under Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019
(2)Presidential Memorandum on the Delegation of Functions and Authorities Under Section 1238 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
(3)Presidential Proclamation to Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and for Other Purposes
(4)EO on Promoting Active Management of America’s Forests, Rangelands, and other Federal Lands to Improve Conditions and Reduce Wildfire Risk
The above is not an opinion nor derived from a talking head on any news broadcast. This information comes directly from the President and the official Whitehouse information center.
Apparently, in the workday of our Chief Executive, "many Bills.." consists of 2 memos, 1 proclamation, and 1 Executive Order. It would appear all those files supposedly containing all the bills he is signing are nothing more than props to delude you into believing he is actually hard at work.
Then again, it would appear this massive workload is sufficient to compel him to cancel one of his trips to Florida. Mar-a-Lago may never recover.

Let's try something different

Howdy, my name is still Michael Wesley and I want to thank all of you for being here to share and worship together.  I pray you will be patient with me and that I may provide you some insight.  This comes not from me but Jesus and Mr. Rogers.

While I am certain most of you have heard this story, I will not presume that all of you are familiar with it.  I’ll ask that you indulge me while I share a familiar piece of scripture.  From Luke 10:25-37, the New International Version, the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]”

²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

The first part of this exchange is merely a recitation of direction found in the Torah with which every even casually devout Jew would be familiar.  Deuteronomy 6:5  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  and Leviticus 19:18,  Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Originally these verses were addressed to a select group as indicated by the phrase “among your people” and where they are found, in the Torah. 

The person to whom Jesus is speaking is no mere casual jew but an expert in the law, a scribe. They were basically bureaucrats, experts on Jewish life and law. They might be lower level scribes who served the villages as village scribes, making contracts, documents, and serving as government officials.  This expert was not content with a response with which he was already intimately familiar but wanted to “justify” himself.  He sought to validate his position and confirm his entitlement to eternal life.  In this context he inquires as to who his neighbor is.  Maybe before one may know WHO their neighbor is it is necessary to know WHAT a neighbor is.  According to dictionary.com:

1.      a neighbor can be a person who lives near another.

2.     a person or thing that is near another.

3.     one's fellow human being:

In the context of this teaching tool, the parable, although it is possible, it is not likely the victim in the ditch lived next to or near to any of his potential rescuers.  The victim certainly was near to the Priest, Levite and Samaritan, separated by no more than the width of the road and without any doubt was a fellow human being.  So, in the context of our parable, what makes a neighbor?  I would not feign to address this issue adequately.  Rather, I turned to THE authority on neighbors and neighborliness of the 20^th century, Fred Rogers.  Or, if the name Fred is not familiar to you, MR. Rogers, some of you may be familiar with the television personality.  This year “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood is celebrating 50 years of syndication.  Fred Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister and dedicated most of his adult life to inviting you to be his neighbor.  He didn’t have to live next door to you or even nearby.  You were a fellow human being and that was sufficient.  He expressed this by saying “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say “It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.”

That’s what the Priest and Levite said to themselves.  The Priest would be made “unclean” in touching a corpse.  Therefore, he did not even risk determining the status of the man in the ditch.  Although the “rule of mercy” would take precedence if the man were clearly alive it was not worth the risk.  Also, the rules for Levites were not as strict but he also desired to avoid defilement.  As if one could be defiled by another human being.

Then, along comes a Samaritan.  He has money, transportation, and a centuries long quarrel with this dude in the ditch.  The D-I-D, dude in the ditch, is an obvious sign the Samaritan needs to move along.  This part of the road is putting him at risk.  He doesn’t make the prudent decision.  The Samaritan chooses to make the welfare of another at least commensurate to his own.  He ascertains the D-I-D is not dead.  At this point surely no one could have criticized him for moving along.  Get the dude on his feet, maybe give him some water and move along.  That’s not what happened.  As mentioned above he provided transportation, found shelter for the Jew and fronted the cost of care to the innkeeper, even pledging to make good on any additional costs.  In these acts the Samaritan practiced Mr. Rogers 3 ways to ultimate success.  According to Fred Rogers, the first way to ultimate success is to be kind.  The second way is to be kind and the 3^rd way is to be kind.

Jesus asked the scribe who was the neighbor to the man in need and the scribe answered the one who showed him mercy.  I think there are actually two neighbors in this parable, the man in need and the man who provided for that need.  There was an offer of care and at least a tolerance of his ministrations.  There’s 2 characteristics we could use more of, care and tolerance. 

     Your neighbor will not always look like you.  Your neighbor will not always act like you.  Your neighbor may not share your beliefs.  That does not preclude them being your neighbor.

     “Perhaps we think that we won't find another human being inside that person. Perhaps we think that there are some people in this world who I can't ever communicate with, and so I'll just give up before I try. And how sad it is to think that we would give up on any other creature who's just like us.”  Again, thanks to Mr. Rogers.

     The only limits to being neighborly are self-imposed.  The basis for being a neighbor is love.  “Love is like infinity: You can’t have more or less infinity, and you can’t compare two things to see if they’re “equally infinite.” Infinity just is, and that’s the way I think love is, too.”

     The Samaritan was kind and generous in his love.  Go and do likewise.  Amen