Thank G-d for Trump’s Adversities

 

There is no doubt in my mind that had Trump won in 2020, we would not be seeing any of the amazing events that are happening right now. And everything that has happened to Trump since 2021 (the lawfare threatening ruination and prison, the boundless accusations, even the assassin’s bullets) has only served to make him (and all of his supporters) more convinced and hardened of the righteousness of their cause. Events are progressing at warp speed.

And it all came to be as a result of the last 4 miserable years. The hardships Trump – and honest American people – have suffered over the past four years have served to burn off whatever residual credence we used to give to talking heads or nattering nitwit nabobs. Nobody who is now in power gives a fig when some media figure tries to stir up nonsense over an exuberant hand in the air. Because we can see clearly now.

We know from studying the biosphere that seemingly destructive events, like forest fires, can end up triggering new life, directly as a result of the fire. The cones of the Aleppo/Jerusalem Pine are sealed shut with a resin – a resin that melts away when heated, releasing the seed. In all, many hundreds of different plants respond in a similar way to what we commonly (and erroneously) assume is an apocalyptic event.

The theme of new life rising from the ashes of the old life is not merely found in trees, or in the mythological Phoenix. Fire itself is both destructive and purifying, forming and forging metal.

We apply the same theme to the survivors of hardship or trauma, not merely because it sounds poetic, but because our challenges can have the same effect on us as a forest fire does on a pine cone: it shocks us into productive action.

This theme is found in the founding of modern Israel out of the ashes of the Holocaust, and the history of many other nations. But what really prompted me to write about this topic is the realization that the very same theme is found in plain sight: in the language of the Torah.

The Torah word for “seed” is zera. The word in the Torah refers to all manner of seed, from seeds inside fruit to human offspring. The word is laden with symbolism: new life from an almost imperceptible origin. Sometimes we forget how wonderous the natural world can be. It is pretty mind-boggling when one thinks about it: great trees grow from tiny seeds. And even new people are conceived from a mysterious flow. (It makes sense that the goddess of fertility is one of the most fundamental of all pagan faiths.) In the Torah, the exact same word, zera, is used to mean both plant and animal seeds, as well as progeny. And new life is even considered immune from the taint of death:

If such a carcass falls upon seed grain that is to be sown, it is clean.

Regardless of exposure to fire and death, new seed starts life ready to elevate and grow.

The Torah is the great anti-pagan text, showing how the people evolved from merely serving one deity among many, to clearly recognizing that there is truly just one Creator. But we did not get there because of our superior intellect, or wisdom. No, we got there as a result of oppression and trauma and a hardship so punishing that the vast majority of people lost all sense of identity. We got there only after – and because – we went through the fire. That fire burned the dross away:

And when you look up to the sky and behold the sun and the moon and the stars, the whole heavenly host, you must not be lured into bowing down to them or serving them. These your G-d allotted to other peoples everywhere under heaven; but you your G-d took and brought out of Egypt, that iron blast furnace, to be God’s very own people.

We needed the fire, as horrible as it was. Because before we went to Egypt, we thought we could achieve our goals and still be considered “reasonable.” Rachel, Jacob’s wife, takes (and does not destroy or dispose of) her father’s idols. Her underlying gut temptation to not destroy idols is a bit like the “moderate” Republican who wants to “reach across the aisle.” See all the Establishment Republicans of 2017-2020.

But we know now that the path of “bipartisanship” is like keeping a little idol. That way lies temptation, and ultimately perdition. If you compromise with the devil, you lose – even and especially when you thought you won!

Adversity has a way of clearing the mind. It did it in Egypt, in the Holocaust, and in the last 4 years. I, for one, am delighted and thrilled beyond words for the new seeds to sprout and grow, and to create and nurture a new age of freedom for the world.

May G-d grant Trump and his advisers the wisdom to stay the course and resist the temptations of the past. The way forward is clear, because all other paths have been burnt away.

P.S. There is a linguistic connection as well – the “furnace” of Egypt in the above verse is linked to the “cushion” under which Rachel puts the idols. (The “furnace” and “cushion” share the same core letters,כַ֥ר,)

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  1. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    This is very meaningful for me. I’m a Mormon, but somewhat of a Jack Mormon who doesn’t always abide by the principles, but I do attend sacrament meetings whenever I can.

    The LDS Church operates with a prophecy that America will be a critical part of what happens at Christ’s Second Coming and I had to lead a discussion of the importance of free agency and free speech in the process of bringing people to accept Christ as their Redeemer.

    These concepts add much to why I’m dedicated to the preservation of America under the founding principles.

    • #1
  2. DonG (¡Afuera!) Coolidge
    DonG (¡Afuera!)
    @DonG

    iWe: There is no doubt in my mind that had Trump won in 2020, we would not be seeing any of the amazing events that are happening right now.

    Agreed.   The downside is that Trump has to do so much just to get back to 2019.

    • #2
  3. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    DonG (¡Afuera!) (View Comment):
    The downside is that Trump has to do so much just to get back to 2019.

    Not a downside because Trump knows and understands so much that became clear under Biden and so do the people who voted for Trump. There is so much that we would not really have become aware of if Trump had served consecutive terms.

    There’s many dead and wounded in Ukraine and Russia who would agree with you.

    • #3
  4. Nohaaj Coolidge
    Nohaaj
    @Nohaaj

    In a side note,  I am amazed and in awe of the energy and speed that Trump operates with.  Does the guy even sleep?

    Trump is the real trans.

    A transformative figure that is reshaping and reforming  America, culture and the world. 

    • #4
  5. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Nohaaj (View Comment):
    In a side note,  I am amazed and in awe of the energy and speed that Trump operates with.  Does the guy even sleep?

    I have a patient who made his money in commercial real estate in New Jersey.  He was involved with a couple of projects with Trump, years ago.  He’s a Democrat, but he has enormous respect for Trump.  Says he’s very direct and very honest, which is refreshing in the world of real estate.

    He told me that he was talking to Trump’s assistant once, to schedule a 10 minute meeting with Trump.  He looked over her shoulder at his schedule.  His first meeting of the day was at 4am, and the last meeting was at 10:45pm.

    He said that it may have just been an unusually busy day that he happened to see.  But he didn’t think so.  He thought that was just his typical schedule.

    • #5
  6. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Nohaaj (View Comment):
    In a side note,  I am amazed and in awe of the energy and speed that Trump operates with.  Does the guy even sleep?

    I have a patient who made his money in commercial real estate in New Jersey.  He was involved with a couple of projects with Trump, years ago.  He’s a Democrat, but he has enormous respect for Trump.  Says he’s very direct and very honest, which is refreshing in the world of real estate.

    He told me that he was talking to Trump’s assistant once, to schedule a 10 minute meeting with Trump.  He looked over her shoulder at his schedule.  His first meeting of the day was at 4am, and the last meeting was at 10:45pm.

    He said that it may have just been an unusually busy day that he happened to see.  But he didn’t think so.  He thought that was just his typical schedule.

    • #6
  7. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    It seems that Ricochet posts dual copies of my comments more frequently recently.

    Not sure why.

    • #7
  8. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Dang.  

    It would have been funny if that one would have posted twice.

    • #8
  9. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Dang.

    It would have been funny if that one would have posted twice.

    You can always make it look like it did.  :-)

    • #9
  10. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Nohaaj (View Comment):
    In a side note, I am amazed and in awe of the energy and speed that Trump operates with. Does the guy even sleep?

    I have a patient who made his money in commercial real estate in New Jersey. He was involved with a couple of projects with Trump, years ago. He’s a Democrat, but he has enormous respect for Trump. Says he’s very direct and very honest, which is refreshing in the world of real estate.

    He told me that he was talking to Trump’s assistant once, to schedule a 10 minute meeting with Trump. He looked over her shoulder at his schedule. His first meeting of the day was at 4am, and the last meeting was at 10:45pm.

    He said that it may have just been an unusually busy day that he happened to see. But he didn’t think so. He thought that was just his typical schedule.

    I recall seeing reports during the first term that Trump sleeps less than four hours per night. 

    • #10
  11. AMD Texas Coolidge
    AMD Texas
    @DarinJohnson

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Nohaaj (View Comment):
    In a side note, I am amazed and in awe of the energy and speed that Trump operates with. Does the guy even sleep?

    I have a patient who made his money in commercial real estate in New Jersey. He was involved with a couple of projects with Trump, years ago. He’s a Democrat, but he has enormous respect for Trump. Says he’s very direct and very honest, which is refreshing in the world of real estate.

    He told me that he was talking to Trump’s assistant once, to schedule a 10 minute meeting with Trump. He looked over her shoulder at his schedule. His first meeting of the day was at 4am, and the last meeting was at 10:45pm.

    He said that it may have just been an unusually busy day that he happened to see. But he didn’t think so. He thought that was just his typical schedule.

    I can’t do that every day. I could and did in my early 20’s as a Petty Officer in the Navy but at 60…no. I can also say that I don’t really want to either.

    • #11
  12. GlennAmurgis Coolidge
    GlennAmurgis
    @GlennAmurgis

    Watching Trumps enemies reminds me of Wiley Coyote and the Roadrunner. Make you wonder if TheBulark is sponsored by ACME 

    • #12
  13. Sisyphus Member
    Sisyphus
    @Sisyphus

    GlennAmurgis (View Comment):

    Watching Trumps enemies reminds me of Wiley Coyote and the Roadrunner. Make you wonder if TheBulark is sponsored by ACME

    That would explain their track record.

    • #13
  14. Nohaaj Coolidge
    Nohaaj
    @Nohaaj

    Nohaaj (View Comment):

    In a side note, I am amazed and in awe of the energy and speed that Trump operates with. Does the guy even sleep?

    Trump is the real trans.

    A transformative figure that is reshaping and reforming America, culture and the world.

    here is confirmation of his work schedule.  With an interesting and obvious comparison to the ice cream munching, little girl sniffing imposter.

    • #14
  15. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Nohaaj (View Comment):

    Nohaaj (View Comment):

    In a side note, I am amazed and in awe of the energy and speed that Trump operates with. Does the guy even sleep?

    Trump is the real trans.

    A transformative figure that is reshaping and reforming America, culture and the world.

    here is confirmation of his work schedule. With an interesting and obvious comparison to the ice cream munching, little gi sniffing imposter.

    Many believe the 18-21 month period before the next mid-term election is where Trump must show voters  America’s new direction. I agree, but I also think it is the period in which to build confidence in Americans that we now have it right and build a party structure with a bench to continue into the future.

    The Democrat Party members have established themselves as domestic enemies of America’s constitutional principles and will have to completely redo to recover and be competitive with the new Republican Party.

    • #15
  16. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Trump is conducting a non-military demonstration of shock and awe. The Dems don’t know what to defend. They can’t defend everything, and as the results come in, the indefensibility will become apparent to all.

    • #16
  17. Sisyphus Member
    Sisyphus
    @Sisyphus

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Nohaaj (View Comment):

    Nohaaj (View Comment):

    In a side note, I am amazed and in awe of the energy and speed that Trump operates with. Does the guy even sleep?

    Trump is the real trans.

    A transformative figure that is reshaping and reforming America, culture and the world.

    here is confirmation of his work schedule. With an interesting and obvious comparison to the ice cream munching, little gi sniffing imposter.

    Many believe the 18-21 month period before the next mid-term election is where Trump must show voters America’s new direction. I agree, but I also think it is the period in which to build confidence in Americans that we now have it right and build a party structure with a bench to continue into the future.

    The Democrat Party members have established themselves as domestic enemies of America’s constitutional principles and will have to completely redo to recover and be competitive with the new Republican Party.

    I am going to take that further. The majorities in both houses of Congress are too thin and a normal mid-term election will see a firm loss of both houses and Trump defending constant impeachments. He needs to see voter ID imposed as a national standard and he needs to find compelling candidates in lean Blue jurisdictions that can be turned, and in deep Blue jurisdictions, that can be subverted. They need to find resources to turn the midterm into a major deal with real voter turnout.

    • #17
  18. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Sisyphus (View Comment):

    GlennAmurgis (View Comment):

    Watching Trumps enemies reminds me of Wiley Coyote and the Roadrunner. Make you wonder if TheBulark is sponsored by ACME

    That would explain their track record.

    Did you both hear about the Coyote Sues ACME movie?

    Company got it all made and everything, people who’ve seen it say it’s great.

    But the company decided to DESTROY the movie instead, to get a tax break.

     

     

    I hope someone managed to keep a copy, somehow.

    • #18
  19. Sisyphus Member
    Sisyphus
    @Sisyphus

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Sisyphus (View Comment):

    GlennAmurgis (View Comment):

    Watching Trumps enemies reminds me of Wiley Coyote and the Roadrunner. Make you wonder if TheBulark is sponsored by ACME

    That would explain their track record.

    Did you both hear about the Coyote Sues ACME movie?

    Company got it all made and everything, people who’ve seen it say it’s great.

    But the company decided to DESTROY the movie instead, to get a tax break.

     

     

    I hope someone managed to keep a copy, somehow.

    A minute ago I was blissfully unaware, and now I am wracked with regret. Beep, beep.

    • #19
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