Journalism, Demonstrations, and Discourse

Politicians and Journalists

The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. (Ecclesiastes 9:17-18, NASB)

Would Solomon more likely characterize journalists as "the wise" or "fools"? The President clearly thinks the latter, with considerable justification. He manipulates the media effortlessly.  For example, the day after his inauguration, he focused them on the petty matter of crowd size, and for two days the media would talk of nothing else. A lot was happening in the world, but anyone who could stomach turning on the news was subjected to an endless barrage of "experts" endlessly blithering about the obvious. Apparently the pundits couldn't get past it. I think the best description of that round is TKO by the President.

The President issued executive orders on immigration, just as he promised during the campaign. His supporters expected nothing less. Flash mobs at the airports are not expected to say anything wise, and venting emotions is unlikely to have any effect other than letting the flash mobbers feel good about themselves. They showed up. They held signs. They chanted. (Endorphin addiction in action.) No one of the mobs spoke to the issue raised by the President and his supporters. How can we tell, in a flood of immigrants claiming refugee status, which ones are ISIS plants seeking to enter, lie low, and eventually carry out acts of terror in the (unjustified) claim the of holy war.

The techniques for establishing credible fake credentials have been standard fare for centuries in the espionage community. The response to the events of September 11, 2001 was a very mechanical system designed to check the identity of airline passengers against watchlists, and prevent the introduction of dangerous items into the airplane. Neither that system nor any proposed system of vetting travelers and immigrants can know the heart of the subject. The best they can do is evaluate the actions and associates of a person. Similar personnel screening procedures for national security clearances still allow the occasional Eddie Snowden to sneak in. One sinner indeed destroys much good.

The real challenge is to develop a more effective means of countering the propaganda and recruitment by Islamic extremists of potentially sympathetic young men. Of the most notorious recent massacres - Orlando, Sacramento, Fort Hood - none of the shooters had a green card or a visa; all were born in this country to immigrant parents. If there is a strategy or plan on this front, it has not been publicly aired.

What of the plight of refugees? Isn't there the slightest bit of irony in worldwide uproar about the policies of the U.S.? "You've got to take them!" seems to be a demand or command from the politically correct around the world. This isn't speaking truth to power, but impudent and childish rebellion against authority, worthy of an adolescent. The refugees themselves offer pleas, but lack standing to plead their case.

In matters of faith, we often come to God with petitions for His intervention in our circumstances.  We also lack standing, apart from the invitation of Christ, to make our pleas to God. The essence of prayer is not some formula and certainly does not consist of making demands. Often cited is the framework that includes adoration (worship), confession, thanksgiving, and supplication (petition). At the core of petition seems to be a linkage of our circumstances to the glory of God. This linkage is unique in every circumstance because God is infinite variable and delights to reveal Himself and the glory of His holiness in the perfect response. Our challenge in prayer is to find that linkage through communion with the Holy Spirit, and then petition God for it.

This is the language of faith, utterly alien to political discourse. (I'm not really suggesting that demonstrators are engaging in political discourse, only feel-good venting.) But for refugees, there is a need for a process of dialogue, of petitioning the Powers That Be, of linking their circumstances to the values and principles of the U.S. We will never know their hearts in this life, but perhaps we can establish a common understanding.