Treason and hypocrisy

The fear and uncertainty caused by the pandemic is exposing many fault lines in our society—political, economic, racial, and religious differences—that threaten our well-being as much as does the COVID-19 virus. One example is the protests to government guidelines and requirements for social distancing and business closures

Politicians from both parties have stated that we are in a war and that the COVID virus is the enemy. In fact Trump has styled himself as a wartime leader in this fight. If that is the case, those who violate the government-imposed closure bans and those who advocate others to do so are aiding and abetting the enemy because their advocacy and actions promote spread of the virus. Aiding and abetting an enemy in wartime is treason. This is particularly true of the protestors who barged into the Michigan state capitol carrying guns in an obvious effort to intimidate those who are leading the fight against the virus. It is sadly ironic that so many of these treasonous protestors proclaim themselves to be patriots and wrap themselves in the flag.

Similarly, some religious leaders and their followers are protesting and defying social distancing guidelines and laws, particularly those that restrict or prohibit religious gatherings. Many of the more vocal protestors proclaim themselves to be Christians, yet their actions are completely antithetical to the teaching of Jesus who is quoted in Mark 12:31, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Although these supposed Christians claim to believe those words, they are advocating actions that may result in illness and deaths not only of themselves and their fellow congregants but of others—the very neighbors that Jesus instructs them to love. Ah, hypocrisy!