If you thought MAGA stood for a Jim Crow America where Caucasian men ruled the home and the business world and kept everyone else down, you may be right. Unfortunately, President Donald Trump’s version of MAGA may go deeper, to a global era where wealthy White men dominated, colonized, and decimated.
We are entering an era where civil rights and judicial protections are not guaranteed, labor laws weakened, environmental regulations eliminated, and trillions more in tax cuts are given to the wealthy elites while everyone else gets 30 pieces of silver.
The American power brokers say this as their last chance to raid the Treasury; set back affirmative action in government agencies, businesses, and universities; undo the social safety net; weaken education opportunities for minorities and the poor; and sow seeds of discord among everyone.
This is not a racial thing. This is a money and power grab that ensures that the wealthiest Americans maintain their influence even when in the minority. It is being done by individuals who use Christianity to convince people that they are righteous and doing God’s work. Just as the Sanhedrin convinced the people that Jesus was a threat to the Jewish way of life, today’s conservative leaders consider DEI, reasonable voter registration rules, an impartial judicial system, and other social justice issues as threats to their way of life.
As a compassionate conservative Christian, I am supportive of reducing the size of government, eliminating fraud and waste, and creating a more effective approach to governing. I also support social justice initiatives that create a level playing field, eliminate discrimination, and provide support for the poor. I support strong immigration laws and the benevolent deportation of individuals here illegally. Unfortunately, the current shotgun approach to governance is like a magic trick designed to get people focused on certain things so that they fail to grasp what is really happening.
If you think this is a stretch, consider the following points:
- Eliminating DEI and Affirmative Action
Why are the president and his cronies so worried about DEI? Why do they want to remove books, educational materials, museum displays, and other materials that provide truthful examples of American history? Is it because they realize that Caucasians will soon be a minority in the U.S.? In addition to hoarding all the nation’s wealth through tax cuts, do they want to use a counter-DEI to guarantee opportunities to inferior Caucasians over more qualified minorities?
Let’s be honest, DEI and affirmative action programs came about because, in decades past, inferior Caucasian men were given jobs that they did not qualify for. DEI and affirmative action opened doors that cronyism, racism, and sexism kept closed. America cannot afford a return to a closed-minded approach. Look at the president’s current cabinet: Do you see unqualified people in positions of authority? This is what happens when you eliminate diversity.
As for teaching history, even the Bible includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. Does one think that by hiding current history and the truth, future generations will never learn it? America has tried to hide its slave-driven past before, to no avail. America has also tried to distort what was done to the Native Americans, with no success. When will we acknowledge our ugly past and move forward in a unified manner?
- Mass Deportations
Our government willingly kept the borders porous for decades, knowing that illegal immigrants were coming across and sometimes trafficking people and drugs. Democrats and Republicans—including Trump’s first administration—participated in this practice and profited politically from using immigration as a rallying cry for their respective bases.
Do Republicans really want to bring about change? When will they put forth comprehensive immigration reform? What happens to the Haitians, Venezuelans, and other people who were allowed to legally enter under a visa program and who cannot safely return home? Don’t get me wrong, illegal immigration is wrong and we should work out a way to send people home while also allowing an appropriate number of visas. But we should also protect those individuals we have already invited in. Comprehensive immigration legislation is required to prevent future presidents from opening the borders the way previous administrations have done, and to meet humanitarian and labor needs.
- Environmental injustice for the sake of profits
Dismantling EPA rules that were created to protect people and the environment will lead to further destruction here and abroad. Undoing regulations to save companies money is wrong! The Bible warns against greed, and this is the worst kind, as we know it will lead to harm. It has in the past and will again—if we allow it.
Let us not forget that a lack of protection for the environment may lead to illegal pesticide use and other forms of harmful behavior from individuals, landowners, and employers. We should follow Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si” and safeguard both the earth and its inhabitants.
- Ending USAID and any foreign aid programs
Ending foreign aid is a bad idea. Why? Because poor nations will suffer the most. Nations that lack proper health care, education, nutrition, and basic infrastructure will never get out from under poverty without foreign support. When America turns away from these nations, our adversaries and influence-seeking allies may step in. If they do, these nations will gradually shift from their Western roots towards their new friends. These actions could cut off access to these nations, their natural resources, and business opportunities with them.
Let’s not forget that it was the European forefathers who colonized the world, mistreated indigenous people, stole their wealth, and, for the most part, left foreign nations destitute and in shambles upon departure. Many African and third-world nations have been independent for less than a hundred years. They still need help building the infrastructure needed to thrive. Many African nations have natural resources that, if processed and refined, would lead to financial stability for Africa. We have a Christian duty to prevent the continued exploitation of the poor, and it starts by providing aid where appropriate.
- Recolonizing Ukraine
The president's attempts to commandeer the natural resources of Ukraine in exchange for military support is a new twist on colonization. Without even putting troops on the ground, the U.S. will steal Ukraine's wealth in the name of peace and democracy. What happens when Russia invades another country, or expands its presence in Ukraine, or when China invades Taiwan?
Who will defend the free world? What will it cost those nations to enlist our support? Will America charge NATO members if we must defend them? Will we charge countries to solve conflicts and guarantee their security? Are we willing to fight wars for other countries? That didn’t work out too well in Vietnam. What happens to poor countries with little economic benefits to offer?
Besides, if we are no longer going to defend the free world, why do we need to increase the defense budget by more than a hundred billion dollars?
- Manipulating the Courts
Neither a liberal nor a conservative court system is important. What matters most is that our judges and our courts operate in a just and impartial manner. Without jurists who put morality and justice ahead of political and personal gain, the following would still exist:
- Segregation
- Jim Crow suppression of civil rights
- Discrimination in housing, education, and employment
- Bans on interracial marriage
- Chain Gangs
If you want to return to this era, continue supporting the efforts of the current administration and the state officials who are dismantling existing laws. As a Christian, if you know that these past ills are wrong, now is the time to speak up against them. Your family may not have been involved in the Civil Rights Movement, but you have an opportunity to advocate for a better America today. Today’s battle is about helping the poor and disadvantaged, not just ethnic minorities.
- Congressional corruption
Did you know that members of Congress are allowed to profit from trading stocks? These individuals can pass legislation and while working on the legislation, invest in the companies that will benefit. For example, members of Congress have supported low tariffs that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas and then profit from their investments. At the same time, Americans lose jobs and communities are destroyed. Is it Christian to profit from political decision-making even when one knows that the results will be harmful to millions?
Did you hear about the proposed gift of an airplane to Trump from Qatar? For him to even consider accepting a $400 million gift from a foreign nation is a testament to his belief that he is above the law. It also shows a lack of judgment by our nation’s leader. Add to this the cryptocurrency, book deals, and the business moves of his family, and Trump will probably clear a billion or two in gains during his current term from individuals and nations wanting to curry favor. Where will it end? As his term nears conclusion, he will be able to pardon himself, his family members, and his cronies.
Our conservative Supreme Court sits back and lets almost everything go due to its own lack of ethical and moral standards. When will the justices uphold their duty to interpret and follow the Constitution when it comes to Trump? They are the last check and balance (and hope) in our system of government, as the Republican-controlled Congress is afraid to do the right thing.
Let us pray for a change of heart
When the curtains are pulled back and the smokescreen clears, it may not be pretty for America’s poor. When all is said and done, we will see what the world looks like in two, five, and 10 years. Time will tell how the masses compare to their status today.
I pray that I am wrong, and that President Trump will change his mind about tax cuts, DEI, and the misguided changes being proposed and implemented. If he does, if he focuses on cutting down government and working towards a balanced budget, he would set America on track to meet its own needs without depending on China and other nations to produce the goods that we consume. He can bring about positive changes that unify our nation. Let us pray that he does.
In the meantime, here's what we should do:
- Insist that elected officials behave in a faith-based manner as they craft, debate, and enact legislation, reduce the size of government, and eliminate foreign aid.
- Demand that Congress and the Supreme Court strengthen and enforce ethical standards.
- Demand that executive orders and enacted policies provide equality, fairness, and justice for all.
- Demand that Congress protect voter rights.
- Demand that Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform.
- Insist that before tax cuts are enacted, a budget plan is put in place that takes into consideration the needs of the poor, the homeless, those lacking health care, veterans, and the infrastructure needs of the nation. Let us pay down the national debt rather than enrich a handful of people.
- Encourage businesses to pay fair wages and benefits, treat employees with dignity and fairness, and invest in Central America to strengthen national security and reduce illegal immigration.
- Demand that Congress and state governments protect the civil rights of all Americans and treat all visitors respectfully.
- Pray that our elected officials put aside their partisan differences and work for a better America and a better world.
It is sad, but we must accept the fact that many Christians have accepted thirty pieces of silver to tolerate, support, and participate in behavior that is counter to the teachings of Jesus. For tax cuts, Christians have sold out the poor. Following mean-spirited and spiteful rhetoric, Christians have sold out immigrants and diversity. Through naivety, Christians have allowed elected officials and the wealthy to falsely use Christianity to change the courts and governmental policies towards a more conservative way of life. But is this a more Christian way of life? How can we live a more Christ-centered life if we exclude the poor and the afflicted? How can we serve Christ if we choose not to help those most in need throughout the world?
Jesus taught us to beware of greed and not to serve money. Today’s politicians must serve money to be reelected, especially when facing the risk of their own party running a primary candidate against them. How can these men and women do the Christian thing if they are beholden to the wealthy individuals and corporations that fund their campaigns? If your political party holds fear of losing your position over you, how can you do the right thing? Sounds like the fear (and silence) that Sanhedrin members had when Caiaphas decided to have Jesus executed. Righteous men remained silent for fear of losing their positions and status. Sound familiar?
Influencers and talking heads have misled America’s Christians for decades while fostering an environment that divides people by race, class, and financial well-being. When will Americans learn that politicians on the right do not have our interests at heart? They are just as bad as any progressive who wants to pass laws that are counter to Jesus’ teachings. At the end of the day, we Christians must take back our country and get back to the center—away from the fringes. We must enact legislation that helps the least among us without compromising our values.
The time has come to balance the budget, pay down our national debt, and provide opportunities to the poor at home and abroad. Our Christian duty demands that we take bold action to serve all humanity, and we cannot do this if we prioritize the needs of the wealthy. Let us engage with people of other faiths to put aside our differences and work together towards a better future. Let us put the poor at the top of the pyramid and reduce the number of people living in extreme poverty throughout the world. Let us end starvation, corruption, fraud, and cronyism.
We must use our God-given talents and resources for godly purposes, not self-serving greed. It’s OK to be wealthy, but how much is enough? There comes a point where one realizes that greed is in the equation. Are you able to discern when that happens in your life? If so, are you willing to do the Christian thing and share?
Let us join with Pope Leo XIV and the entire Church and prioritize the needs of the poor as Jesus asked us to do. The poor aren’t just about widows and orphans. The poor include individuals who may be mentally, physically, and spiritually poor. We have a duty to help them and as a society we cannot afford to neglect them any longer. Let us be compassionate towards those in need, whoever they may be.
May God continue to bless you as you take up your cross and follow Jesus.
Ronald E. Smith, Ed.D is a lifelong Catholic who enjoys writing. He is a Rotarian, member of the Thea Bowman Council #406 of the Knights of Peter Claver, and a parishioner at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Dana Point, California, and St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Rubuguri, Uganda. He and his wife Sandy recently founded Friends of St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School in Rubuguri, Uganda, where they serve as missionaries. He can be reached at resmithinc@aol.com.
