PASSOVER

"Passed-over"? 
H/T to social media, a long time reader who tweeted and wondered about how Judge Merrick Garland felt yesterday, the first day of Passover, for being "Passed-over" as Judge Neil Gorsuch was sworn in as the 113th associate Justice of the Supreme Court. 

Both Judges would/will make very good justices. Both have the right-stuff. And yet, in this era of hyper-politics, each judge was opposed by a unified majority of the other party. 

This reminds us of the time we had a client who was out on bond and was having a crises and his bondsman picked him up and alerted us and we appeared in court the following day to voluntarily surrender our client to jail. And the prosecutor automatically objected. The judge smiled and let out a small laugh and pointed out the absurdity of the prosecutor's response: "Just because the defense wants something, you're automatically objecting? Even when it's surrendering his client to jail?" 

Passover is the story of liberation. But it is much more than "Let my people go." It's a story of faith and new beginnings for a people that would wander for 40 years before finding a firmament and a homeland. It's a story about a leader that was never allowed to see the land of his people that he had led them out of bondage to. 

There is a much publicized right-wing-apocalyptic book that posits that history moves in 80 year cycles. Presidential advisor and certified nut Steve Bannon keeps a well thumbed copy of "The Fourth Turning" on his desk. While the book itself is hyper-fear nonsense, there is an argument to be made that nothing is guaranteed in terms of world leadership and success. Each generation- each four year iteration of American political leaders- must pick up the mantle of past success. The accomplishments of Lincoln and Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt and Eisenhower and Reagan and Clinton and Obama await the next leader who can move the ball forward or suffer the consequences. Said another way- the world is a dangerous place and will not let America rest on its laurels. 

This is the season we celebrate the freedom of refugees from Egypt in biblical times- while we actively close our borders to families being gassed because they are Syrians. 

This is the time for leaders like Dr. King to emerge- who have dreams and may not make it with us to the promised land, but will guide us to safety and sanity. 

We can't even agree on the appointment of high-quality judges merely because the "other side" nominated them. 

This is the time to worry that the United States will be passed-over.
Because the fault dear Brutus, lies not in our stars but in ourselves. 

Pass the Matzo and gefilte-fish please with some horseradish (red only, of course).  

From Occupied America, Fight the Power!

Coming tomorrow: United We Fly!