That’s what happens when a tornado meets a volcano
This metaphor from Eminem’s 2010 collaboration with Rhianna, even though possible, is a creative exaggeration describing two powerful personalities in a romantic relationship. But in all honesty much of what is mentioned by Marshall could apply to any relationship, partnership or collaboration. While the song’s earlier lyrics already offer enough material for us to envision an unstable environment, with this line the Detroit rapper presents the partnership in terms of a phenomenon that is unprecedented.
Imagine the fallout from the collision between these two primordial phenomena. An erupting, magma spewing mountain coming in contact with a circling column from the clouds; a heaven on earth collision. What was initially a small, isolated incident, now heaved and hurtled towards others well outside the initial vicinity – kings and kingdoms will all pass away. Consider for the property damage, not to mention the human casualty count of this encounter; way more unstable than Stan. A reminder that not everyone – or everything – works well together. Emimen must know there’s only one Reese’s .
Every 4 years, since 1937, The United States Presidential Inauguration is held on January 20th – unless that happens to be a Sunday. Meanwhile, it was president Ronald Reagan who signed a bill establishing the 3rd Monday in January every year as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Obviously in terms of historical and national significance most people would argue the presidential inauguration takes precedence. But, given the tremendous leadership displayed during the civil rights era you cannot deny Dr. King’s influence nor his efforts to unify and inspire our nation. Even today portions of his sermon are paraphrased by politicians and preachers alike. Which was the case on January 20, 2025 in Washington D.C. When, for just the third time in the 40 years of observance, the holiday celebrating the legacy of the late reverend occurred on the same day as the United States Presidential Inauguration.
Like the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, MLK Jr Day and the 2025 Presidential Inauguration overlapping was sheer coincidence; accidental. However, a decision by the individual designated to deliver the benediction at the conclusion of this year’s inauguration was intentional and inappropriate given the significantly opposing ideologies shared by the two individuals being honored on that day. Creating an environment where a monumental earth moving message, one that speaks to the essence of existence espoused by the eternal word was caught up and combined with a cyclone, carried off into a completely different direction.
Not a millimeter miss…instead, a deep impact.
Of Cabbages and Kings
They say talk is cheap, so when the time comes to talk of things you better understand the words – and underlying intentions – coming out of another person’s mouth. Especially when that someone is an elected official. Greeting the public’s gaze with grandiose gestures and a glimpse of good will meant to gain the general approval. Unfortunately, after they are elected a sudden lack of funding or support, a network of outside influences along with their own fickleness makes it apparent the fantastical speeches were written with disappearing ink, leaving only empty pages; works of pure fiction. Much like one of the most inspiring presidential speeches in the history of America.
In the early hours of July 4th, President James T. Whitmore took the stage to deliver a public address. On that day the leader of what’s known as “The Land of the Free”, echoed the architects and other leaders of the proud nation with an overly optimistic offer to the people – freedom for all. Now not only is Whitmore’s Independence Day speech a monumental moment in the blockbuster, but back in 1996 it was at this moment that it also managed to break the 4th wall. That was due to the decision to have the release coincide with the national celebration. Although the executives putting that plan into motion faced fewer hurdles than the film’s president. Because, like with Christmas, you can expect Independence Day taking place on the same date every year: The 4th of July.
The two above mentioned occasions are unique given most, even some federally recognized holidays, require the type of coordination that took place in the film’s finale only with planets instead of planes. Lunar alignments don’t always indicate an apocalypse, but they have been an instrumental tool to assist mankind in calculating the days of our lives – our calendar. Because even in the land before A.I., humanity used computus paschalis to correlate both solar and lunar calendars. This is why Easter Sunday varies each year, on the first Sunday after the first full Moon occurring on or after the spring equinox. Election Day is much easier to calculate since it is held the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
And so it would be in the early hours of November 5th that the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election was apparent. After the previous “contested” contest saw Joe Biden assume the role of 46th President of the United States, the 45th would now become America’s 47th. The entire world prepared for the moment the former president would resume his “great” work. Others still struggle with the science, since statistically rally size correlates with one thing on Election Day: V.
Bringing us again to President Whitmore. His speech that summer morning was delivered to a small assembly, with Whitmore even admitting the crowd paled in scope to the multitude worldwide it was meant to reach. Because based on his assessment, Whitmore saw this as an enemy that knew no borders or boundaries. One capable of crippling communities and civilizations alike, a threat to mankind; all life on Earth. Admittedly, their arrival could have simply been a case of a wrong turn at Albuquerque. It happens, just ask Columbus. Invaders, indicating no intentions, no inclinations towards coexistence. There could be no peace.
Much of the president’s Day 1 agenda, the top priorities the incoming president wanted to accomplish as quickly as possible, already were predicted. This is likely why outgoing president Biden pardoned the remaining members of his family in order to avoid any potential politically motivated reprisal for the previous election or administration. Still, no sooner had the presidential torch been passed, and even as the pastor’s prayer still was ringing through the mountaintops, executive orders meant to attack Biden’s legacy in other ways were made official. These included global actions such as undoing gas emissions regulations and signaling the United States exodus from various global climate control initiatives. Additionally, some saw the president remove the security details for some political adversaries like Dr. Faucci.
Each of those executive orders on the surface don’t immediately impact the individuals who cast their ballots on Election Day. Then again, like some other orders, this one appears to merely aid entrepreneurs and conglomerates who feel oversight inhibits their ability to do anything with the planet we all inhabit. A few others feel vindictive, with one even allowing the average citizen to share their thoughts on how the former Chief Medical Advisor handled America’s response to a global pandemic. In one hand the vast ocean of material prosperity provided by America, the other holds a cup of bitterness and hatred. To whose and for what benefit? Remember who first mentioned banning TikTok because of China. Moving to save it to shore up favor is the work of a spinster like Rumplestiltskin.
There are many theories on the meaning behind Tweeedledum and Tweedledee tale to Alice in Through the Looking Glass, with theories ranging from theological to political, the poem speaks for anyone who has seen what lies along the briny beach. Lured under false pretenses and promises, the table spread out for the oysters ended tragically. A lesson that not all devils come as serpents, the enemy comes in many forms. A passage in Romans reminds the reader the only requirement to deceive a simple heart is a seductive tongue. It doesn’t hurt if the wolf comes dressed as a sheep. For Lewis Carroll’s story it was the Walrus and the Carpenter.
This is a twister…so we got COWS.
Who’s The Black Sheep
Given its origin the daycare song Baa Baa Black Sheep’s really has no place being part of Lamb Chop’s Play-Along. Like many other childhood memories the words of Baa Baa Black Sheep contain a hidden, historical subtext. The lyrics recount the wool tax enacted on England by King Edward I in the 13th century. Enforcement of the tax ensured the first fruits, the revenue from selling a sack of the sheep’s wool, be dispensed in the following order. First to the king, then the church would get its share before leaving the final third to the farmer. A profit share featuring both government greed and sovereignty supposedly granted by God. But soon the citizens of England would begin to sing a new song, one which would eventually call for a separation of church and state. This same refrain would one day also ring out from the early American colonial settlements. Just like the nursery rhyme both instances have the same thing in common, a request then taking too much. Meanwhile, a portion of Dr. King’s message left untouched during the benediction that day speaks of the opposite, of the failure to make good on a promissory note.
Though King’s speech does end with the chant “Free at Last”, the choice of the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial, along with a reference to the opening lines of the Gettysburg Address aligns both these leaders’ messages to another equally powerful anthem: Lift Every Voice and Sing. Although the song is often associated with the Negro’s struggle for equal rights as citizens in this nation, it echoes the key points Abraham Lincoln touched upon back on that battlefield in November of 1863. Both Lincoln and the lyrics mention the past as less than pleasant, painful even, with the path ahead just as precarious and filled with the fallen who have gone before. Those who lay down their lives for the benefit of another due to the belief in an ideal bigger than themselves. You might remember it as the song central to the NFL’s own DEI initiatives instituted in 2018, around the time of an uptick in racial injustice and a former player taking a knee. Many parts, one body.
Two wrongs don’t make a right. Much like the wrong thing done for the right reasons, the end result is the road to hell. Either of these idioms could be compared to affirmative action, America’s previous immigration policies and even the country’s DEI initiatives. Each of these social reform actions followed a movement – and subsequent politicization – centered on a civil or human rights violation. They also could account for what took place in an American harbor on December 16th, back in 1773. Now when you consider it in the context of the taxes and tariffs such as the Stamp Act that preceded it, not to mention the Intolerable Acts that followed, does that change your perspective on the Boston Tea Party? It is all a matter of association. One of the human brain’s most common and powerful forms of memory which develops into an our actions or reactions to a situations or stimulus.
Now, would a man rob God? With help from the 1523 coup of the cross caused by Henry VIII’s Acts of Supremacy, the king of England felt and exercised authority equal to the Almighty. And this quote from the 3rd chapter of Malachi becomes relevant in American history after the conclusion of what, all things considered, could be called World War Zero but is better known as the Seven Year War. Feeling victorious following the 1763 defense of their land during the French and Indian War – the American stage of the global conflict – this young country and her citizens would start to sing a song seeking to shed their subservience to King George III’s sovereign dictatorship. While also ensuring there would be limits to the power wielded by the appointed leader of their land: The President of the United States of America. Unlike the lineage and lineup that makes up the monarchy of England, under the articles he helped engineer, even the very first president George Washington knew where his authority ended. Like another, not a robber, but a servant.
Oh Holy Night, the song that doesn’t end.
Don’t Exalt the…President
Using eeny, meeny, miny moe isn’t the optimal decision making model for most logical adults. Particularly when it involves who or what to follow and/or believe. Of course some choices are made for us, take for instance that in America…you gotta have faith. Ask any atheist and they will admit that even with the first Amendment’s provisions, there is a faith based framework surrounding – and supporting – our country.
As a faith indoctrinated nation, the presence of a preacher during political functions isn’t a foreign sight. Actually, like Dr. King and dating back to the early English settlers, many men (and women) of the cloth have engaged in civics. Extending their public service beyond simply offering thoughts and prayers. There is no stipulation in American law preventing members of church holding public office. Even today, it is quite a common occurrence to see a member of the clergy participating on a local or community government board. The faith we hold onto is that, as elected officials, these individuals act and vote in accordance with the concerns of their constituents, not their own ideologies or selfish inclinations. That they won’t present plans or projects that mislead the flock they shepard. Carrying not a staff, but sheers and shackles. The type of leaders that caused Moses’ trip to take so long.
Plans can backfire, it could be Exodus’ Pharaoh perishing after following the Israelites or the people’s own plight while in exile. Each involves a form backsliding – a return to a previous, sin-sullied existence – that is a common fear among the faithful. It encompasses not only behaviors but also mindsets that are out of alignment with the gospel – what is good for all God’s children. Proverbs 3 in particular warns us that leaning to our own understanding and selfish inclinations has a tendency to backfire. If you backtrack to England around the 14th Century, you’ll encounter an interesting scenario. Around the time that King James was canonizing the Bible the citizens, starting with Parliament, began to see themselves as joint-heirs to the kingdom. Taking a cue from the contents of the Magna Carter that said all men are created equal, as joint-heirs of the Kingdom.
As this document inspired John Locke and Jefferson who would eventually go on to be president, its principles presumably influenced Lincoln, King and others to act in the face of barbarians. Considering the present undercurrent circulating the country the names John F Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson also belong in this conversation. That is because each signed executive orders that are facing backlash because of their “bullying” tactics. Combined, these two presidents executive orders create the blueprint for what is commonly known as equal employment. This is why things like the NFL’s Rooney Rule – which requires teams with vacancies to interview a diverse spectrum of applicants – are seen by some as enforced integration, those who are blind to the fact that it is there to combat bias. Something can’t be considered merit based if there are visible – not to mention invisible, ingrained – barriers of entry.
As often as the document that inspired Independence Day is quoted, it is the mention of separate but equal that probably doesn’t get enough credit. Considering the segregationist nature and savage injustices that surround the era when it was most recently uttered, not to mention recent SCOTUS ruling, that is understandable. However, upon reading it in the full context of the Declaration of Independence, it turns into a revelation. That under God’s power, we each (separate) are entitled (equal) to at the bare minimum the basic powers of the Earth. Referred to as truths these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While the first two are easy to describe, since they both in some manner mean freedom, the last is a bit more complicated. However, if you consider what constitutes the act of being happy, it starts to sound a lot like hope. This was the foundation of what these men, and the invisible women, in 18th century America were building. Foreigners forging freedom…for all?
America at its core is a continuous example of God taking an evil, wicked endeavor and turning it around for the good of all mankind. The picture couldn’t be clearer if it was in technicolor. Unfortunately, it looks like we will get to watch it again in 4K.
E Pluribus Unum
Is one really that lonely? Even when two become one? Perhaps this is the true pandemic, the disease that infects America, the entire Earth. Five, six…grab your crucifix.
The fear that gripped Elm Street kids’ dreams was formidable for several reasons. First, it attacked a vulnerable community. Plus, most observers were unsympathetic to their plight, primarily because of their inability to make others believe (understand) what was occurring. They felt isolated and alone when all they wanted was a good night’s sleep. Sounds like the plight of all Dreamers. So if America wants to dream again, whose dream is it? Unlike the modern American motto, In God We Trust, the nation’s original slogan did not specify any as above all; sovereign. Still the statement, which translated means “out of many (comes) one”, has a familiar ring to it. For any of the faithful, this should sound like an interesting inversion of the words uttered in Christs’s teachings. The one whose mission on Earth was to make all – all who have sinned – whole by the actions on Calvary’s cross. Not simply as a possession rendered unto Caesar. Instead we are told to love each other. A neighbor not a foreigner and to consider them, doing for them as we would our own.
Following the code All for One and One for All, Maria Stewart and Lucretia Mott are only one member short of the 3 Musketeers. Fighting for rights for all mankind in the 1830’s, which has a new meaning today. Especially with how modern government is socially engineering race and gender into every aspect of public and private life. No, both of these women spoke out against slavery during a time where society still felt the female should be seen and not heard. Here in harmony, ebony and ivory, in more ways than one. Like in the game of chess, which Ben Franklin famously compared to life, a matter of content and not just color. See these women, along with several more, set forth a strategy that involved moving several pieces into specific positions on the board. So that the final score would not only result in the end of overt racism in America that has existed since slavery, but also include equal voting rights for women as well. Only time will tell if it was check or mate.
The term fate doesn’t explicitly appear in the King James Bible. Instead, we read in books such as Jeremiah how there is a plan to prosper each one of us; to gift each of us a future. Speaking of gifts, is there any bigger present – or presence – than The Statue of Liberty. Two of her most famous features are her torch that beacons travelers near and far like Bethlehem’s star and the book she holds that recounts America’s birthday. But it’s all about the base, which not only supports the Great Colossus but also this great nation. Words of open arms, open access to any who arrive upon America’s shores, unlike the oysters’ fate. Who could have imagined France, fresh off a defeat, would one day be instrumental in taking away England’s new toy when it recognized America’s independence? Meanwhile, who could envision the day when Emma Lazarus’ engraved poem’s words wouldn’t hold true?
The root words of benediction mean simply “to speak well of.” Instead, January 20th serves as a juxtaposition, evidence that one of these things is not like the other. This prayer did not even need to involve Dr. King. Yet, by reciting Dr. King’s exact words, the benediction mentions something few people know and even fewer get right – the nation’s creed. For starters, instead of the “truths” already touched upon here, unlike the Declaration 1918’s American Creed is a testimony. It begins with an opportunity for each citizen to confirm they understand the true meaning of being an American, how we got here. Then, the purpose of the government is explained. Next the speech like, others mentioned, honors and reinforces the risks others have endured. It ends with an oath to uphold the laws, Constitution and flag. So, before you go all in on the current crusade you might want to check the banner being carried. Is it one that not only inspires but also honors a past full of diversity and difficulty and encourages us to march onward toward a brighter tomorrow? That is something that the “Star Spangled Banner” does a little better than “America” – the song commonly referred to as My Country Tis of Thee. Perhaps this is the reason it became the national anthem in 1931. In a scene similar to what is occurring now, Revere looks up from despair fearing the worst. However, upon finding the flag still there amidst the rest of the country in ablaze, the writer’s hope is restored.
Now, the flames of withering injustice are starting to rise up, threatening to engulf this (Great) Nation once more.
Just gonna stand there and watch it burn.
Off The Top Of My Head And Out Of My Mind 
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