Our nation is like a jungle where the strong, powerful, and rich eat the small and powerless. A dog-eat-dog arena where might is considered right. Now that it is Lent, it is important to open our minds to the sad and ugly truth that this is really a world of predators and prey, oppressors and oppressed, saviors and Judases, ruling class and the ones exploited, taken advantage of, and pushed to social, economic and political injustice. It is still the same old story and nothing has changed throughout the centuries.
Who are the Judases? Let us name a few. First are the dirty, scheming, thieving, and shameless politicians, and their dynasties of “trapos” who lie, steal, and leave no stone unturned in their thirst for power, hunger for stolen wealth, and ceaseless pursuit of self-aggrandizement. Second, the corrupt bureaucrats who manipulate executive, legislative, and judicial processes, rig public bidding, falsify public documents, connive with contractors and suppliers, and plunder government coffers, in collaboration with other Judases.
Third are the businessmen without social conscience, who manipulate market forces to derail the normal flow of supply and demand. They create cartels and unfair competition to restrain free trade and competition. They seek to control prices by many schemes and manipulations to create artificial shortage. They cheat their workers, bust unions and use force, influence, and corruption to subjugate and dominate workers. They commit unfair labor practices, illegal dismissals, non-payment of correct wages and benefits, and even harass, coerce, and hoodwink their workers.
The fourth kind are the smugglers, tax evaders, economic saboteurs. The fifth Judases are the drug lords, gambling lords, and those who prey on the naivety, ignorance, and powerlessness of the working class. The sixth are the terrorists, local or foreign, the criminals, and the syndicates who harass, threaten, and terrorize businessmen. Seventh are the kidnappers, the carnappers, the pirates and the brigands and highway robbers. Eighth are the purveyors of fake news, those who twist the news to suit their selfish agenda. Ninth are the police and military officers `who abuse their authority to solicit money or favors. Tenth are you and I who are just here, indifferent, uncaring and uninvolved, despite all the glaring and painful realities.
I wonder when and how these traitors should be caught and thrown into the abyss or hell in accordance with God’s law, or simply hit by lightning in the Lord’s own version of summary execution. Divine Justice neither fears the International Criminal Court nor is affected by the noise of those who lament the human rights of scoundrels and scalawags.