Holy Week

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is often called Holy week or Passion Week.  During this week, Jesus was in Jerusalem and its immediate environs.

Jesus sometimes avoided Jerusalem and Judea prior to Palm Sunday because He was in danger there, and His time had not yet come. (John 7:1, 11:8)  However, He was especially active on Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week.  He definitely didn’t keep a “low profile.”  Some, not all, of the things he did follow:

1.    He drove the money changers out of the temple.  (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19)

2.    He contested with the Pharisees, Sadducees, and others (Matthew 21-23, Mark 11-12, Luke 20)

3.    He prophesied about the end times. (Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21)

4.  Jesus ate the Passover Feast (Last Supper) with His Disciples. (John 13-14)**

5.    He prayed for deliverance but accepted the will of God the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. ( Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22)

6.    He was arrested, tried, and sentenced to be crucified. Matthew 26-27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19)

7.    He was crucified, died, and was buried. (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19)

8.    He rose from the dead. (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20)

Over the next few of days, Lamp in a Corner will quote some of the teachings Our Lord gave us, during Holy Week.  The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes (lawyers) asked Jesus trick questions in order to get him to say something that he could be arrested for, but Jesus foiled them at every turn:

On one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted Him, and they spoke, saying to Him, "Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?" Jesus answered and said to them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me: Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?" They reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' "But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet." So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, "Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

(Luke 20:1-8 NASB)*

In our modern parlance, they were trying to put Jesus down by asking, “Who gave you the right to teach here in the temple?” Jesus reversed the question, essentially letting everyone know that He didn’t owe them an answer.

The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them. So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor. They questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But He detected their trickery and said to them, "Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?" They said, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”  And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.

(Luke 20:19-26 NASB)*

Yes, this is the time of year for Americans to file their income tax returns.  It is a privilege to pay taxes to support a free country.  Americans’ freedom is envied by people in many other countries. However, taxes are a secondary issue in this passage.  The Enemy was trying to trick Jesus into saying something that could be used to bring charges against Him for sedition against Rome.

Now there came to Him some of the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection), and they questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; and the second and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. Finally the woman died also.  In the resurrection therefore, which one's wife will she be? For all seven had married her." 

Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him." 

Some of the scribes answered and said, "Teacher, You have spoken well."  For they did not have courage to question Him any longer about anything.

(Luke 20:27-40 NASB)*

Jesus warned the people about their religious leaders, and He exposed them for the hypocrites and frauds that they were.

"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows' houses and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

(Luke 20:46-47 NASB)*

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

(Matthew 23:1-12 NASB)*

Jesus boldly rebuked the Pharisees on no uncertain terms, even though He knew they were looking for an excuse to kill Him:

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.' You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.' You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. 

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.  So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell? 

Therefore , behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between temple and the altar.  Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”

(Matthew 23:13-36 NASB)*

And all God’s people say Amen.

*https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/

** Added April 18, 2019 - Sorry, the BlogSpot word processor will not allow me to fix the indent error.

Palm Sunday, 2019

This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday.  It is good, then, to think about the last week that Jesus walked among us, and about what he did for us. (Psalm 143:5)  The Gospel of Luke says:

He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

When He approached Bethpage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet,

He sent two of the disciples, saying,

 “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied

on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.

If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ “

So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them.

As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

They said, “The Lord has need of it.”

They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it.

As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road.

As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives,

the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting:

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord;

peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”

But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, Saying,

“If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace!

But now they have been hidden from your eyes.

For the days will come upon you

when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you,

and surround you and hem you in on every side,

and they will level you to the ground and your children within you,

and they will not leave in you one stone upon another,

because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

(Luke 19:28-44 NASB)

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/

Where is all this nonsense coming from?

The philosophy of the school room in one generation

will be the philosophy of government in the next.

Abraham Lincoln

We have been hearing a lot of very strange things from the Democrats, Progressives, Democratic Socialists, and others from the left wing in the US Congress for quite a while now.  It seems to keep getting worse and worse.  For example, the world as we know it will end in 10 years if we don’t stop driving cars to work, stop flying, stop eating beef, have open borders, outlaw billionaires, create government supported make-work jobs for everybody, confiscate private property that the government says is “underutilized,” outlaw plastic containers, take away everybody’s guns, give everybody a free college education and health care, and redistribute wealth.  Further, the profit motive is greedy and wrong.  We are being told that all of this can be paid for by the rich and the big corporations, and that the ordinary citizen’s taxes won’t go up.

Some of us are asking ourselves where all of this nonsense is coming from?  We need look no further than the public school system and our colleges and universities.  I earned my bachelor’s degree in the late 1960’s at a large state university.  It was a time of considerable strife centering on opposition to the Vietnam war and civil rights.  I was a Liberal Arts (History) major and our professors fed their students a toxic blend of Marxism, identity politics, evolution, and secular humanism.  In addition to that, today’s college students are being taught fake science about things like climate change and cultural relativism.

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him

and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception,

according to the tradition of men, 

according to the elementary principles of the world,

rather than according to Christ.

For in Him all the fullness of Deity Dwells in bodily form,

and in Him you have been made complete,

and He is the head over all rule and authority; (Colossians 2:6-10 NASB)

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/colossians/2.html

The World Economy

I have never studied Economics formally.  When I was a freshman in college, I enrolled in an Economics course, but I withdrew after the first or second class.  At that time, the math was too daunting.  Later in life, I was able to adapt to studies that required Research and Statistics, but I just never made it back to taking formal Economics courses.  I have, however, done a little independent reading, and I have been an interested observer of current economic events for years.

As usual, for the purposes of this discussion I would like to be sure we are all on the same page; as we take a look at the world economy.  Accurately stating terms helps to avoid confusion, because words like “the economy” tend to take on various meanings in the vernacular.

An economy, therefore, is a system for organizing the money, the production and distribution of goods and services, and the commerce of a locality.  It is also the monetary value assigned to the human activity in that system.  The locality can be of any size from a small town to the entire world. (1)

The local and national economies of the world are diverse.  I will attempt to avoid getting bogged down in the details of economic systems.  I do not have the expertise, and I do not want to bore the reader completely to death.  We will attempt a brief sketch of each kind of system, but our purpose here is not to argue the merits of one over the other.

Some areas of the world still have relatively traditional economies, which is to say that they rely primarily on subsistence-level agriculture, or they produce an agricultural surplus which generates commerce.  Industry is limited to what is needed to meet the basic needs of the local population.

In the modern world, political and economic systems become intertwined.  In nation states, it is a symbiotic relationship where each tends to determine the character of the other.  People often quarrel passionately about which system should prevail in their country and other countries, even to the point of going to war.

Modern forms of economic and political organization include command economies, market economies and mixed economies.  In command economies, economic activity is organized by a central authority, which owns or has complete control over the means of production and distribution.  Typically, the state is the controlling agency, ostensibly managing the economy on behalf of the people. (2)

In market economies, the production and distribution of goods and services are controlled by privately owned businesses and operated for a profit.  Goods and services produced are in response to public demand.  Demand is driven by need, and by the things people want in order to have the standard of living they desire to attain.

To avoid the excesses of command economies and market economies, many nation states have adopted mixed economies.  The means of production and distribution are mostly privately owned, and governments regulate economic activity ostensibly to protect the public interest.  The degree of regulation needed is a source of disagreement.  Capitalists argue that the people are most prosperous when business is robust, and that regulation stifles business.  Democratic Socialists favor government involvement that is far more intrusive; to the point of government ownership of major parts of the economy like health care, some forms of transportation, educational systems, and employment programs to provide for full employment.

The amalgam of national economies results in a world economy.  Further, some economic interests have become international, and operate outside the direct control of national governments.  The health and activities of the world economy affect the lives of ordinary people, who have almost no way of impacting it.

The book of Revelation in the Holy Bible speaks about a future time when a world leader will gain control of the world’s economic, religious, and political system.  This person is the Antichrist.

There will be no freedom of religion.  All will be required to worship the Antichrist.  All will be under his political authority.  Each person will be assigned a number, and those who refuse will be excluded from any kind of economic activity.  Many will be killed who refuse to worship the Antichrist, and who testify that Jesus Christ is Lord.

At first, the Antichrist will appear to be a man of peace, but he will bring with him war, famine, disease, and death.  Only the return of Jesus will bring an end to the Antichrist and his seven year reign of hell on earth.

The church will not have to go through this terrible time called the Great Tribulation, or the Time of Jacob’s Trouble.  Before the tribulation begins, before the Antichrist coopts the world’s economic system,  Christ Jesus will snatch away those who believe in Him, to be with Him in the air until His second coming.  Then we will rule and reign with Him in His kingdom.

The choice is yours.  Believe in Jesus today.  Avoid the collapse of the world’s economic system, war, disease and death.  Avoid the judgements that God will pour out on unbelievers, during the tribulation period.  Avoid everlasting agony in of the lake of fire that awaits unbelievers after the final Great White Throne judgement.  God is patient. He is waiting for all who will believe to do so.  He doesn’t want anyone to be lost.  However, His patience will not last forever.  A look at the developing world economic system shows that the conditions needed for the Antichrist to take over are already here.

(1)  https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/economy

(2)  https://blog.udemy.com/types-of-economic-systems/

Violence in New Zealand

A gunman killed 49 worshipers in two Mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand today, and wounded many others.  It is reported that the wounded may number as many as 87.  The attacker broadcast the shootings at one Mosque live on his Facebook page.  Early reports say that the shooter was an Australian with a history of racist and anti-immigration sentiments. (1)

The worshipers were unarmed civilians who were unable to defend themselves.  As with other mass shootings, we are disgusted by the hate and violence.  Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the people of New Zealand.  You have our sincere sympathy.

We have a few observations.  Killing and violence are not the answer to religious or political differences.  We hope that the day will come when people will learn to advocate freely for their beliefs in the marketplace of ideas, and then allow others to decide freely which ideas they prefer.  Authentic, heartfelt conversions are real.  Conversions at the tip of the sword are not.

Private citizens in New Zealand must get a license to own firearms.  They may own as many guns as they want under one license.  You must be 16 years of age to own a firearm, or 18 years old to own a “military style” semi-automatic firearm.  A background check, including criminal and medical records, is required to get a firearms license.  A history of addiction, mental health issues, and domestic violence may be taken into consideration in denying a license.  “Military style” semi-automatic weapons have to be registered, while other guns do not. Violent crime involving the use of guns is not common in New Zealand. (2)

Gun laws in the United States are similar to the laws in New Zealand.  However, in most places, licenses or permits are not required to own guns here.  Nationally, the only required  license is to own fully automatic firearms.  Guns do not have to be registered in most parts of our country.  A computerized check of arrests and active warrants is done if a gun sale is commercial, but not between private parties unless it involves an interstate transaction.

A great many people in the US favor licensing and registration in the hope that they will help prevent gun violence, including mass shootings.  They also favor banning “military style assault weapons.”  Licensing and registration, and restrictions on “military style” guns did not prevent the mass shooting today in Christchurch.

Finally, it is time to speak the truth, in love, to peace-loving, moderate Muslims.  That truth is that it is a wonder that more innocent Muslims have not been victimized.  Since the Munich Olympics in 1972, Extremists have perpetrated violence against innocent civilians all over the world in the name of Islam.  Further, they have been funded, trained, armed and equipped by the governments of Muslim countries and contributions by private individuals.  Moderate, mainstream Muslims have not done much to stop it.

We abhor violence and we would never advocate for vengeance or retribution.  This post should not be misinterpreted that way.  The truth is that there are natural and logical consequences to violent terrorism.  In Physics we learn that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.  We are not saying it is right, but it is inevitable.  All we are saying is, ”A man reaps what he sows.” (Gal. 6:7 NIV)

Therefore, we urge that people reject violence as a means of resolving differences. Violence only begets more violence.

(1)  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47578798?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cz4pr2gd8v2t/new-zealand&link_location=live-reporting-story

(2)  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47584603

US Intervention in Venezuela

There was talk on the TV news tonight about the need for the United States to intervene militarily in Venezuela.  While it is true that the Venezuelan people are suffering, that Nicolás Maduro Moros is a brutal dictator, that the Cubans are propping Maduro up, and that the Russian Republic and Hamas are using the crisis in Venezuela to get a permanent base of operations in the Western Hemisphere, I am against US military intervention there.

There is no consensus among Venezuela’s neighbors supporting a unilateral American military action there.  Even more, there has been no offer of troops or financial support from Venezuela’s more conservative neighbors; countries like Brazil, Argentina, or Columbia.

Tensions between the US and Russia are already high, and Vladimir Putin has done some saber rattling about his willingness to replay the Cuban missile crisis.  If that is what is necessary to prevent further Russian intrusion into Latin America … fine.  However, let’s not go there unless we have to.  We were one misstep away from a nuclear holocaust the last time.  Next time humanity might not be so lucky.

To me, an even more serious concern is whether our troops would have the full and unconditional support of the US Congress if we send them into Venezuela.  Today, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution to deny President Trump National Emergency Funds to build a wall on the border with Mexico.  They did it in spite of the fact that the United States is being invaded along that border.  They set aside the national security of the country because they oppose President Trump.  Indications are that the US Senate will approve the resolution.  In this kind of political atmosphere, there is no reason to believe that Congress would not undermine any military effort we might undertake in Venezuela.  They threw away the sacrifice of over 50,000 Americans killed in action in Viet Nam, and the bloodsucking parasites will do it again.

Although Hamas has infiltrated the Venezuelan refugees making their way here through Central America and Mexico, the United States has not been directly attacked militarily.  If President Trump chooses to send troops to assuage the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis (to get rid of Maduro), he should seek congressional approval.  Troops should not be sent unless Congress nearly unanimously approves it, and unless the wording includes language to the effect that the president is authorized to do whatever it takes to resolve the matter in our favor and ensure that the people of Venezuela can freely elect whomever they chose to lead them.

Whatever it takes would have to include kicking the Cubans out. We must also make it impossible for the Russians and Hamas to conduct operations there.  Whatever it takes means using whatever level of force is needed to do that; with the understanding that it could result in an escalation of hostilities beyond the scope of the current crisis.

US military intervention must only take place at the request of the interim Venezuelan government. It would be best if we can also enlist the cooperation of Venezuela’s neighbors.  The UN is useless, and we do not need them.

Here is what I vehemently oppose.  I never again want to see American service men and women get shot at unless the US Government and people are willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES resolve the situation in their favor.  I am sick of half-baked schemes that cost the lives of our military personnel for nothing.  I don’t want to hear a lot of crap about rules of engagement.  I want our troops to be free to find, fix, close with and destroy the enemy ... and then to get out.  I don’t want any more lingering involvements as “peacekeepers” or “nation builders.”  The deterrent we leave behind after we clean up somebody-else’s mess should be, “Screw it up again and we will be back.  Then it will go even worse for you.”

Only under the above conditions would I reluctantly agree to a US military intervention in Venezuela.

Rep. Ilhan Omar

Rep. Ilhan Omar is a Democrat, elected to the US House of Representatives in 2018. She is a naturalized American citizen who was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1981.  She is a Muslim.  Her employment background is in education and local politics in Minnesota.(1)

She has recently been criticized for making comments on social media that some judged to be anti-Semitic.  She has been critical of President Trump’s policies on immigration.  She is reported to favor strict gun control, expanded health care coverage, and abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.(2)

During a recent House Foreign Relations Committee hearing Rep. Omar verbally attacked the venerable Elliott Abrams, US Special Representative for Venezuela.  She stepped over the line of propriety by personally impuning his truthfulness and integrity.  I would point out that, although Mr. Abrams has made mistakes, he was serving this country before Rep. Omar ever was born or became a citizen.  He deserves to be interviewed about the subject at hand (Venezuela) with dignity and respect.

Regarding personal honesty and integrity, Rep. Omar is reportedly under investigation by the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board for using campaign funds for personal trips not related to her election.  Minnesota Representative Steve Drazkowski has been quoted by the BBC as saying, "She just doesn't respect the law." (3)

Rep. Omar has been compared to other young, female Democrats, elected in 2018, who are challenging the status quo in Washington.  These include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Talib.  Rep. Ocasio- Cortez is a self-avowed Socialist, and Rep. Tlaib is a Palestinian-American Muslim.(4)

Although I disagree with Rep. Omar about a great many things, I also recognize her for her authenticity.  What she says and does is consistent with who she is.  With that said, I call for a close examination of the circumstances that have allowed her to become a Congresswoman, sitting on the House Foreign Relations Committee.  In short, how could this have been allowed to happen?

It calls into question US immigration policies that allow persons from failed states that are significantly infiltrated by Radical Islamists to enter the country as refugees and then are settled in ways that concentrate them in specific areas.  This in turn, has given them the ability to elect a Congressional Representative, which magnifies their influence in a way that is disproportionate to their numbers.

I would like to urge:

1.    That Rep. Omar be removed from the House Foreign Relations Committee.

2.    That the Democratic Party examine itself, giving careful consideration to which Democratic Candidates it supports and to which positions they serve in, if elected.

3.    That my fellow citizens write, call, or email their Senators and Congressmen and prevail upon them to pass immigration reform along the lines that President Trump is recommending.

4.    That my fellow citizens write, call, or email their state and local governments and advocate that they prohibit the relocation of refugees and immigrants in ways that gerrymander their political and electoral influence.

To the young Democratic firebrands in Congress, I would offer some friendly advice based on my own experience. Those who set out to set the world on fire should consider that, if they are successful, their own house will burn down with it.

Footnotes

1. "Ilhan Omar: Who is Minnesota's Somalia-born congresswoman?" Toby Luckhurst BBC        News, 15 February 2019.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.
4. Ibid

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47238450

Post Script: I tried for a long time to fix the spacing on the footnotes, but the word processing program wants to go its own way.  So, I am going to bed.