American Idolatry

In a very brief period of time, we have become witnesses to an American phenomenon. We are able to see ourselves as other see us. This is not usually granted to mere mortals. The gods have given us TV. Now what do we do?

We witness the phenomenon of one person leading a group of sycophants closer and closer to the edge of the precipice. While the world watches, while the unquestioning and unaware media observe and blather, while those with their own specific and limited agendas impose and influence and direct; the principles, the values and the very purpose and objectives of a wonderful experiment are discarded for the momentary euphoria of hope, change and expanded, continued promiscuity.

In a brief time period, inexperience and relief has captured enough influence to dominate the printed and electronic press in the form of cult like popularity of a personage. Thousands appear for a slightly modified and well told campaign speech; weekly magazines and daily papers that are no longer read by enough subscribers to pay the bills showcase his visage and fill their shrinking pages with words produced by employees desperate for one or two more paychecks; college presidents hoping to grasp a mere fleeting touch of the hem of his garments bestow honorariums and listen to his garbled nonsense while their very principles are discarded in front of them; and citizens who have to pay their bills and teach their children values and principles pretend and hope that some good will come of this even while well knowing that it is not hope they are witnessing but the silliness of the uninformed and unexperienced and unaware.

From far away they come to visit the emperor and praise his new transparent clothing. Others play with the atom as children with toys. Most recently the new but used leader of a desperate state appears with an agenda that can only be imposed by playing an influence card that violates the very principles of the powerful state. And while the visitor feigns attention he also calculates his tactics. The host dances around with unintended transparency and the visitor waits patiently until he has the opportunity to wedge the host into complicity in his plans. He strikes and leaves and smiles. Does the new emperor have a clue?

In the meantime, the lenders plot their alternatives and the children, trusting and expecting the wisdom of their elders, move ever so closer to a day of reckoning. The idols - elected and appointed, don their see through jester costumes, perform and display their shortcomings.