What Was She Thinking?

I freely admit there have been times in my life when I have made mistakes. Fortunately, most of them have been in my personal life, rather than in public service.  Most of my mistakes have been redeemable, but a few have been real doozies. In at least one case, someone asked me, “What were you thinking?” Fortunately, I have never been third in the line of succession to the presidency.  We have a right to expect a higher standard from those who are entrusted with the fate of the nation. 

Christians are required to be respectful of the government and government officials. (1Peter2:13-17)  Therefore, it is with all due respect that I wonder what Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was thinking when she announced plans to visit Taiwan.  By doing so, she gave the Communist Chinese an open door to precipitate a confrontation, the results of which may damage our national interest and security. 

If Speaker Pelosi travels by a US military aircraft (customary) escorted by fighter planes, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is warning of possible military action to stop it.  The PRC’s state-run media has labeled the proposed visit as an “invasion.”  Our argument against that is weakened because the United States has recognized Taiwan to be a part of China. 

However, the speaker of the house is third in line if the president and vice president are not able to serve.  If we allow China to dictate where or when our government officials may travel, the possible outcomes may have dire consequences. 

Our allies and partners in the region may perceive that the United States lacks the will to do whatever it takes to oppose the Communist Chinese.  As a result, our system of alliances in the region may be weakened.  If they lose confidence in America, they may begin to gravitate to the PRC.  Our ability to promote, preserve, and protect our interests in the region could be compromised.  One reason that Communist China covets Taiwan is that it is a leading producer of semiconductors.  It is important for the US to have a dependable source of semiconductors – other than the PRC.  These days, almost everything is computerized, including our military weapons systems. 

The PRC may conclude that we are unwilling to defend Taiwan.  In turn, this could cause them to attempt military action to annex Taiwan by force.  Then, if America and our allies use military force to defend Taiwan this thing could escalate into a bigger war. 

Unfortunately, our opponents have been given time to consider their options.  Consequently, the Russian Republic has reiterated its “one China policy” in support of the PRC.  The implication is that Russia could provide support to China in the event of hostilities over Taiwan. 

We win if Nancy Pelosi goes through with the trip, and the PRC backpedals.  We are reminded, however, that “losing face” is a big deal in the Orient.  In the event that China’s overreach in this matter results in their humiliation, it will aggravate what has already become a bitter antagonism between our two countries.  The Chinese remember things like this, and there will be trouble later for it.

We hope someone will have the diplomatic acumen to find a win-win solution out of this for the USA and the PRC.  An example might be something like, we could agree to cancel Speaker Pelosi’s trip if the PRC would agree that this does not create a precedent; and also, to stop their harassment and intimidation of Taiwan by intruding their military aircraft into airspace where such intrusions are a threat to Taiwanese security. 

All of this is well beyond the control of the average American.  Yet, we will pay a terrible price in the event this thoughtless action on the part of Speaker Pelosi results in the United States’ being forced to “back down” in humiliation, or it results in open military conflict with China. 

We can only hope Madam Speaker did not announce this trip for her temporary, personal political gain.  However, somehow I doubt it.

 

 

Whosoever Believes

Before he became a Christian, The Apostle Paul was known as Saul of Tarsus.  Saul was a Pharisee, as was his father before him. He studied under a member of the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel.  Gamaliel was a respected teacher of the Law of God as given through Moses, and Saul was zealous for the law.  Saul gave his approval to the execution by stoning of Stephen the Martyr, and he persecuted the church. (Acts 5:34, 22:3-5, 7:58, 8:1) 

Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute the believers there when he met Jesus Christ.  That changed everything: 

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.  And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”  The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.  Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.  And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”  And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,  and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”  But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.  And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”  But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”  So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;  and taking food, he was strengthened. 

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.  And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”  And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”  But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 9:1-22 ESV)

https://biblehub.com/esv/acts/9.htm

If Jesus can save a man whose heart was as hard as that of Saul of Tarsus, He can save you.  Please, accept salvation provided through the sacrifice of the Son of God.  If you let Him, Jesus can change everything.

 

More Newspeak

In the media, we hear a lot about the government “investing” in one thing or another.  News commentators, elected representatives, or public officials tell us about the government allocating funds for a program or effort to do something they would like us to think is necessary to preserve or enhance our wellbeing.  Using the term “investment” to describe this activity is misleading at best, and at worst it is outright fraud.  They are not investing – they are spending. 

Investing usually involves acquiring a tangible asset in the hope of making a profit. When we buy precious metals, commodities, stocks, bonds, or real property in the hope that it will increase in value; that is investment.  Investing does not usually involve consuming the asset.  We retain the asset over time to put our money to work for us – to create wealth.[1] 

The profit or loss from true investments is real and measurable. One way to measure it is called return on investment (ROI).  ROI measures the amount of profit or loss from an investment relative to its cost. It is usually expressed as a percentage derived by dividing an investment’s net profit or loss by how much it costs.[2] 

Government spending seldom results in a tangible return on investment that is measurable.  Benefits may, or may not, result from government spending, but too much spending results in inflation.  In turn, the outcome of inflation is a net loss to us all. 

Regardless, We the People don’t like it when we are treated like we are stupid.  We understand the difference between the truth and “spin.”  It would be nice if people would stop using euphemisms to sugarcoat the (sometimes) bitter pills we are given to swallow.

 

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[1] Hayes, Adam, Investment, Investopedia, 20 August 2021, https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/investment.asp 

[2] Fernando, Jason, Return on investment (ROI), Investopedia, 30 June 2022, https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/returnoninvestment.asp