Crossposted at Street Prophets
Billions of people around the world celebrate the feast of Holy Thursday tonight. In part, it's the commemoration of an act of great betrayal.
From Miriam-Webster:
betray
Main Entry: be·tray
Pronunciation: bi-'trA
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from be- + trayen to betray, from Old French traïr, from Latin tradere -- more at TRAITOR
transitive senses
1 : to lead astray; especially : SEDUCE
2 : to deliver to an enemy by treachery
3 : to fail or desert especially in time of need
4 a : to reveal unintentionally b : SHOW, INDICATE c : to disclose in violation of confidence
intransitive senses : to prove false
This past week, we have seen both 2,000-year-old spin and up to the minute spin, all in the effort to white wash and attempt to explain or justify acts of betrayal.
Tonight, millions of people have been led astray, delivered to an enemy by treachery, and been deserted in time of need. They sleep in Abu Ghraib, Dafur, New Orleans, New York City, in your town and mine.
And all we get from the people who continue to betray us are excuses. About as good as the ones we got from the Gnostics in the newly translated
Gospel of Judaslast week.
From the Service for Wednesday in Holy Week (April 16, 2003) St. Mark the Evangelist Anglican Church, Ottawa, Ontario
Reverend L.G. Bloomquist
(Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 70, Hebrews 12:1-3, John 13:21-32)
Betrayal is finding an innocent person and handing that person over to people who will abuse that person and hurt that person, even though that person has done nothing to deserve it. . . .
Knowing full well what was going to happen, Judas handed the innocent Jesus over to those who would mock, and strip, and beat, and kill him.. and who knows what else happened that the Gospel texts have spared us. Judas probably knew all this and more.
I believe in all my heart that there are very, very few people in the world like Judas. I believe that it would be very difficult to find such people in our midst. Therefore, I believe it is very hard for us to say about ourselves, "I wonder if I would have been like Judas?" I sincerely doubt it.
Rev. Bloomquist, tell that to the
thousands of Iraqis wrongfully imprisoned at Abu Ghraib, including women and teenagers.
Tell that to Lynndie England, Charles Grainer, and Janet Karpinski, who were led astry by civilian contractors in the employ of the Department of Defense. Tonight, as they sit in prison or reflect on an aborted career, they bear the brunt of the shame and pain that others have caused.
And who knew this was going on?
QUESTION: Mr. President, how do you propose to bring private military contractors under a system of law?
THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate that very much. I wasn't kidding -- (laughter.) I was going to -- I pick up the phone and say, Mr. Secretary, I've got an interesting question. (Laughter.) This is what delegation -- I don't mean to be dodging the question, although it's kind of convenient in this case, but never -- (laughter.) I really will -- I'm going to call the Secretary and say you brought up a very valid question, and what are we doing about it? That's how I work. I'm -- thanks. (Laughter.)
President Bush Discusses Global War on Terror April 10, 2006
Are you still with me, Rev. Bloomquist?
"Master, as you have listened to all of them, now also listen to me. For I have
seen a great vision. . . .Master, could it be that my seed is under the control of the rulers? What good is it that I have received it? For you have set me apart for that generation."
Judas Iscariot, Gospel of Judas
"In America's ideal of freedom, citizens find the dignity and security of economic independence, instead of laboring on the edge of subsistence. This is the broader definition of liberty that motivated the Homestead Act, the Social Security Act, and the G.I. Bill of Rights. And now we will extend this vision by reforming great institutions to serve the needs of our time."
George W. Bush, Second Inaugural Address
For the
Gnostics that wrote the Gospel of Judas, the teachings of Christ were full of mystical secrets. Their vision of Christianity, then, led them to "spin" the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. There were reasons why Judas had to do what he did. In fact, Christ told him to.
Sound familiar?
Scooter Libby's
faulty recollection of just what the President authorized him to leak to reporters is about as genuine as the
President trying to convince us that he has absolute power to selectively declassify anything he chooses.
Even if he leaves out the part about how the very reason we're going to war is untrue.
There are just far too many betrayals to mention anymore. Perhaps we're becoming immune to them.
But if we don't keep fighting and keep speaking out, the modern-day "gnostics" can make something secretive and mystical about this Administration.
Let's not confuse mystery--which is not knowing the unknown--with mysticism--which ascribes some power and sacredness to the unknown.
There is nothing sacred and mystical about this Administration.
They have lied to us. They have lead us astray; they have delivered us an enemy by treachery; and they deserted us in our time of need.
But the most serious charge is that they did this fully aware of or--perhaps even worse-- with no regard to what the consequences would be for this nation and for the people of the world.
They have betrayed us.