Cause and Effect, Paris Chapter

The law of cause and effect is fundamental not only to the natural law, but the Divine law – in Jefferson’s terms, the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.

In March 2003, Pope John Paul II sent his personal emissary, Cardinal Pio Laghi, to deliver a letter to that “wonderful Christian,” George W. Bush, at the White House.

Bush curtly lay the letter aside, unopened, unread, and proceeded to deliver a churlish and childish lecture for Cardinal Laghi to convey back in Rome to one of the most gifted and intelligent men in recent history.

(In his heart of hearts, was this reformed drunk simply a belligerent bully?)

What did the sainted Pope’s letter say? It was simple: “Your invasion will cause chaos in the entire region, far beyond Iraq. Don’t do it!”

Cause and effect, cause and effect. Tens of thousands of war profiteers, at home and abroad, became immensely wealthy as a result of Bush’s ideological suffusion in hubris. Tens of millions of his fellow Christians have been scattered, killed, beheaded,  even martyred in the war that bears his name.

And hundreds of millions of Americans have lost their freedom, their livelihoods, their rights, and their country.

As the brazen lies burst forth from the shadows, some of Bush’s defenders scrambled to turn history upside down. Others, led by the snarling puppeteer,  blamed Obama.

 

Of course, we cannot read their hearts (if they even have one). But consider: what has become of the strutting prophet of democracy as Satan gorges on the blood, wallowing in BushWar’s “collateral damage” that is today destroying the Middle East and Europe itself?

He is hiding out in a bunker somewhere in Texas, reeling from the depths of the savagery he has unleashed, whimpering, perhaps, as he stretches out his quivering hand towards Prufrock, hopeful of understanding, longing for love, despairing of absolution:

 

Would it have been worth while

If one, settling a pillow or throwing off a shawl,

And turning toward the window, should say:

“That is not it at all,

That is not what I meant, at all.”

 

Cause and effect. Cause and effect. They will deny, deny, and deny. And they will never, ever apologize.

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9:05 am on November 14, 2015