Romans 1:21
"Early on in the gospel traditions the power elite in Jesus’ society, who were colluding with the Roman Empire, recognized him as a threat and began to conspire to kill him. Jesus became a reference point for much of the hostility and resistance to the power of the empire because he refused to accommodate it, and told another story of reality that the empire could not co-opt."
Jonathan Merritt, Brueggemann On How to Speak Truth to Power, June 26, 2014
"Those who wish to live in the grace of Christ will be persecuted, but the hypocrites and their charlatans will move from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived."
2 Timothy 3:12-13
"The humanitarians and civilians should never be paying the consequences of war. This is a basic principle of humanity. At the time, this looks like it’s not a war against terrorism anymore. It seems this is a war against humanity itself. You cannot be destroying every building. You cannot be destroying every hospital, every school. You cannot be targeting humanitarians. You cannot be targeting children. You cannot be fighting the basis of what humanity should be standing for."
Charlie Nash, Aid Workers Were ‘Targeted Deliberately’, Mediaite, 4 April 2024
"You are always on the right side when you are with those who suffer persecution and injustice."
Léon Bloy, Le Pèlerin de l'Absolu, 1914
"What is more disturbing to our peace of mind than the unconditional loyalty of members of totalitarian movements, and the popular support of totalitarian regimes, is the unquestionable attraction these movements exert on the elite, and not only on the mob elements in society. It would be rash indeed to discount, because of artistic vagaries or scholarly naivete, the terrifying roster of distinguished men whom totalitarianism can count among its sympathizers, fellow-travelers, and inscribed party members."
Hannah Arendt, Origins of Totalitarianism, 1951
As is customary of late, the stock futures slumped badly on Sunday evening, but little by little they were pushed higher, and behold, there was yet another rally on a Monday morning.
Gold and silver of course were sold, but managed to hold up fairly well and even posted modest gains.
Bitcoin has risen to the upper half of its intermediate trading range.
The dollar slipped off the 100 handle.
VIX did its usual dipsy-doodle in the face of increasing risks.
Below is a chart showing the performance of 'alternative asset managers' in the markets. They are not faring well, as the quality of private debt is corroding like its 2007.
The geo-political economic and military risks are sky high, but the markets are looking the other way, as if this is a way to support the effort, in abject denial.
The West is slipping into recession. That last nail in that coffin was the invasion of Iran, and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the carelessly uncaring actions of The Mad King.
This afternoon Trump gave Iran an ultimatum for this Tuesday at 8 PM, or face 'obliteration' of its civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants. And the markets yawned.
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Have a pleasant evening.
