| Photo by Syd Sujuaan on Unsplash
Part XV of the “United States 2024 Election” Series
Today is “Palm Sunday,” the start of the Holy Week for Catholic and other Christian churches. It may also be dubbed the “Palms’s (sic) Sunday” of former President Donald Trump and his cult members. Why?
With the open palms of both his hands, Mr. Trump is desperately asking his cult-like followers and supporters to give him alms and political donations. He needs to pay off the $ 454 million in bond or cash to be able to file an appeal. Reports say that he must produce it by tomorrow, Holy Monday. Otherwise, the State and City of New York may register liens on his properties in both jurisdictions to satisfy the judgment. Lawful authorities may also exercise their power to take possession of the properties of a person or persons required to pay damages and fines to the government. Yes, especially if the authorities believe that the property owner who is the defendant or respondent of the crime or offense — as charged and found guilty — may declare bankruptcy or cause irreparable harm to or hide the defendant’s properties. Government liens take precedence over the claims of private individuals and juridical persons in any bankruptcy court proceeding.
As taught for 12 years by this journalist’s theological teachers in four Catholic schools in the Philippines, opening the palms of a person’s hand is an act of surrender—literally and figuratively. On the other hand, open hands symbolize charitable people ready to give. The Scriptures contain references to open hands that are usually paired or synonymous with the act of giving. Deuteronomy 15:8 says, “Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him enough for whatever need he has.”
The Season of Lent is the time for forgiveness. Still, it also requires the person or persons asking for spiritual pardon to make concrete changes in his/her life or their lives and compensate the victims of any wrongdoing that the would-be penitent has done or committed against them. Forgiveness requires always restitution for any damage or harm inflicted on the victims.
Perhaps it is time for Mr. Trump to ask his lawyers to seek plea deals with government entities or persons who have sued him in federal and state courts. Maybe “plea bargains” are advisable since Mr. Trump can barely pay his battery of lawyers. Apparently, Mr. Trump is “financially embarrassed” (a politically correct phrase for “bankrupt”).
“In the final analysis, Mr. Trump should remember that Americans embrace forgiveness as a solemn national trait. But many taxpayers are loathe to forgive tax evaders, crooks, and those who enrich themselves at the expense of the public, especially the poor and the old.”
It has been reported that the Republican National Committee and Mr. Trump’s Political Action Committee (PAC) used an initial $50 million to pay his lawyers handling his cases. Many of the suits involved claimed offenses that did not occur while he was the POTUS or a political candidate. Eventually, some, if not a majority, of Mr. Trump’s donors may file cases (or even class suits) with the Federal Election Commission that may seek the return of such donations inappropriately used to pay legal fees.
If this journalist were a close kin or top legal adviser of Mr. Trump, he would give him advice on how to cut his losses and end his presidential bid in this year’s election. Why? If Mr. Trump loses the election, he faces the logical probability of spending the rest of his life either in prison or in a psychiatric facility. No prosecutor or court will agree to enter a plea agreement with a loser in an electoral contest, especially if the defendant or respondent is arrogant and calls even judges “crazy.”
But first and foremost, Mr. Trump has also to end his threats that there would be “bloodbaths” if he loses his presidential bid. He must also stop insulting the bench and lawyers (and sometimes his own attorneys). He does not have the financial and human resources to carry out the threats. But if he quits now, he can still secure plea deals, significantly if he sweetens the deal by pledging to compensate any person or groups of individuals that he has wronged, stiffed, or otherwise harmed — even if it takes him forever (or for the rest of his life).
In the final analysis, Mr. Trump should remember that Americans embrace forgiveness as a solemn national trait. But many taxpayers are loathe to forgive tax evaders, crooks, and those who enrich themselves at the expense of the public, especially the poor and the old.
Finally, Mr. Trump and Company must remember that Easter is the best time to seek and receive forgiveness from God and God’s people. Or from any spiritual being individuals believe in as their Almighty Creator.
