Is Impeachment Just a Pipe Dream?

 

     In the Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage, 2^nd Edition, by William and Mary Morris the following passage concerning the use of the word impeachment is set down, precisely, as thus:

 

     A common misconception is that impeachment refers to the trial, conviction and removal from public office of an official. While impeachment could lead to such a result, in itself it is only the bringing of charges. The language of our constitution is quite clear on this point. “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on Impeachment for and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” Note that impeachment- or accusation- is not enough. Conviction, by a two-thirds vote of the Senate, must follow if the accused is to be found guilty. If fewer than two-thirds of the Senators vote for conviction, the accused is cleared of charges and remains in office, as was the case with Andrew Johnson, Dem. (served 1865-1869).

 

     In my copy of this very thick and very detailed dictionary, its second publication date is 1985- the year before I bought and started perusing it any time someone questioned my use of a particular word. Being a connoisseur of words it has been a wonderful addition to my constantly enlarging personal reference library. Sometimes you’ll find a slang word hopelessly and hilariously out-of-date but in the context of serious writing it is still quite prodigious and accurate.

     That being said, I will point out that the two words underlined are my doing because their emphasis has been insisted upon by all manner of persons who dislike the use of impeachment to curtail power abuse of any president of the United States. Apparently, the employment of impeachment on rogue and/or fraudulent presidents has been largely unsuccessful and does little to achieve its objective- removal from the Oval office. The latest use of impeachment against Trump was commenced too late to do any good for the populace or our beleaguered congress.

     Is it enough of a stain on a reputation just to have been a subject of impeachment? I believe so. It hasn’t been employed very often or perhaps, often enough but I think we can all see that something needs to be changed in the process in order for it be effective should an impeachment be an imminent need. The beginning of this year was one of those times. What happened on January 6^th when Trump incited a riotous insurrection against our state capitol, as our votes were being given another chance to speak their minds, was about as bad as it gets. I wonder how the people who lost their lives that day would view it now if they had the chance to speak their mind? That is what the legal process is all about and why we have laws. No president should be able to continue to hold office who says, “I’m the president. I can do anything I want with impunity.”

     Therefore, I believe it is time to put together a procedure that will get to the heart of a matter quickly- as any trial should be conducted- and that a vote of the people be employed rather than a comparatively small band of senators for decision making on such a trial. If we’re going to conduct these procedures it should be to get to the truth and it’s now entirely possible to do this because technology has made it possible. It will put power of government back into the hands of those to whom it belongs. Bipartisanship belongs at state fairs and Trump rallies- not in our judicial system. If Trump had ever understood anything about branches of government he would not have tried even a few of his many tactics attempting to convince the public that he had any business being president of the United States of America. Candidates should have to take a test and pass it with a 100% before they qualify to run.

The Castle Lady

A Mother's Reminder

 

  

  Back in the late summer of 2014 when I was deep into my writing and reading a book titled, Empty Mansions- a book on the life of Huguette Clark (an enormously wealthy socialite heiress who lived to the ripe old age of 104), I came across the second stanza of an old Scottish poem/hymn by Henry F. Lyte in the book:

 

Swift to its close, ebb’s out life’s little day.

Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away.

 

Change and decay in all around I see.

Oh, thou who changest not,

abide in me!

 

     It impressed me so much that I wrote it in my daybook on a page which had three beautiful red roses. I made a note that I found it on page 112 of the book. Only a few days later I took it into my mind to go through a part of my mother’s old towel and supply cabinet to see if I needed to declutter it and keep whatever I thought I would need to keep. Along with pertinent business papers and memorabilia she had kept, I found an orange card on which she had written by hand the second stanza of this hymn above! I was absolutely amazed and realized that I was meant to find it right at that time.

     This is not the only time that I have been alerted in a spiritual way and I find I have had more of these experiences since my Mom’s passing in 2012. It has come to the point that I no longer feel that Mom is gone but very much present, herself, and has guided me like this many times. Those are the moments that I feel the love of God and my mother the strongest and feel secure in knowing that every word in the Bible is true. It is comforting to me to know that I can, in fact, still talk to her the same way I talk to God- verbally and internally.

     Mother’s Day is very special to me for this reason. It has kept me strong and vigilant as a believer. The memory of my mother will always be sweet and I expect someday to see her abode which looks like a tiny home on the outside but the Taj Mahal on the inside! Bless you, dear mother, on this happiest of days!

 

The Castle Lady

 

Only one who has loved knows the power of love. – Hu Shi

Realities of Racism

 

We are human beings, not rational ones. – Shirley Hazzard

 

     There is no subject I’d rather avoid than that of racism. Not only would I rather avoid the subject, it is one I abhor discussing with people. I hate it when I hear people using racist jargon or epithets. I’m not afraid of dealing with racists but I simply cannot stand dealing with them. You can’t get racists off their pet subject once they commence their tirades and quite honestly, I cannot breathe the foulness of the air they exhale. Those two last mentioned are the trademark of racism. These people are destroyers of good relationships and the well being of mankind.

     A problem this deep in the human heart has wide ranging effects. I wish I could say that these people do not proliferate by reproducing heirs but as a matter of fact it is their primary source of recruiting followers. Followers, often, are a captive audience, unfortunately. That fact is self-evident. Racism is a pandemic that is not only killing people, it is tearing the souls of children to octogenarians apart like the plague. If it was possible for a shot to attack this problem at the source you can bet I would volunteer to do the inoculation. Alas, if only it were as simple as that- but the causes and spread of racism is much too complex!

     It is not some strange coincidence that racism has reared its ugly head so high during the Covid-19 crisis here in the United States. During times of social distress this strange ‘r’ word crops up because it is the perfect environment for its proliferation. When people become irrational they will use words they would rather repress. They do things to other people that otherwise they would shrink from carrying out. Truth is not in racism but loves to twist and distort it, especially within us. All kinds of people are victims and perpetrators of racism. Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t.

     I have heard and seen racist remarks and discriminatory actions out of every manner, color (skin and hair!), ethnicity, size and intelligence measure of human beings because I’ve been on this planet for some number of years. I’ve gone past being appalled at much of it in the same way one starts to tolerate abuse because of prevalence. I have come to use the following quote on many occasions for this very reason. This one comes from Henri DuBois…

     “A man does not look behind a door unless he has stood there himself.”  

     Hmm. Are you puzzled at this quote? You won’t be the first person. In a way, you have to try picturing yourself in this quote and if you can’t, then pat yourself on the back. If your ears are burning inexplicably then you might want to search your heart. What I’m trying to get at is this: racists don’t see themselves as any such thing. “What? Me? A racist? Never.” All the while they are saying this, another dialogue is going on in their head that they’d never reveal to people. In addition, even the most vocal of racists will deny it openly and with vehemence. Mr. Trump is a prime example of the latter. He views himself as a victim when people don’t agree with him. His mental illness is not unique. The events on January 6^th in Washington, D.C. are proof of this fact.

     Rioting protesters are not ‘off the hook’, either. These are not the actions of someone grappling with discrimination or prejudice. Their actions do not display the reactions of someone being victimized. I would not deny someone the right or the inclination to stand up for themselves. It’s the hallmark of being a U.S. citizen. Our freedoms are a right, it is clear. What is not clear is why anyone would believe that striking back in violence would achieve a peaceful end. It won’t. They have become what they claim to detest. A racist.

     Am I judging people fairly? I believe so. I do not look to skin color, appearance, weight or height, I.Q. or country of origin to make my decision when I judge. I listen to what comes out of their mouths because…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh (Matthew 12:34). I take notice of how they treat people and not just those who are easy to deal with but all people. Does this person bore you? Listen to what they have to say anyway. Does this person yell racial epithets? Be kind regardless. If you want to end the violence it has to be done in peace. There is no other way. Jesus did this on the cross but we can turn the other cheek and achieve the same results. As John Lennon once sang, “Give peace a chance.”

 

The Castle Lady

 

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”

Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Matthew 5:44