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Monday, 26 August 2024

Beware A Former Opponent.

 




There has been a lot of talk going around about RFK Junior joining Donald Trump in his campaign. Though many of us have zero confidence in the reality of this election campaign, and know that it will not be a fully above board and honest election, still there is something exciting about two anti-establishment figures joining forces to create change.

Both of these candidates are seriously flawed, both support abortion in some measure, though Trump did manage to get Roe vs Wade overturned with his supreme court picks. Both are well below reasonable on the Israel issue, because they are both committed to tying the United States and its destiny to its pseudo-Colony in the Middle East. Both of them have other flaws as well. But still Trump did bring some change in his previous term, they are both committed to avoiding World War 3 getting any worse, and the announcement that Trump gave Kennedy power to address some of the serious health issues caused by food and health standards corruption in the United States is a very good thing. There is certainly more good to look forward to in a joint Trump-Kennedy team than there is anywhere else.

However, if I were close to anyone who knew Trump, I’d counsel him, “Beware of trusting in a former opponent.” One of the things that plagued Trump’s first presidency was his consistent habit of trusting the wrong people to hold powerful roles in his administration. I can’t help but be a little sceptical of a long term Democrat, someone who was basically born to the blue, being willing to support not only a Republican, but one of the most controversial Republicans ever. It is exciting to think about how they could work together, and this excitement has me thinking, “Is this too good to be true?” Kennedy would have been a good pick for Trump’s vice-president spot, much better than the man he has chosen, but that such an opponent would join the opposing side in amyway sounds a little too good to be true. Does it not? 

Whenever this happens we should be wary. As this advice from The Tale of Melibeus warns us,  

“Solomon says that the words of a flatterer are a snare wherewith to catch innocents. He says also, that he who speaks sweet words to his friend, sets before his feet a net to catch him. And therefore says Tullius Cicero:

'Incline not thine ears to flatterers, nor take counsel of flattering words.' And Cato says: 'Be well advised, and avoid sweet and pleasant words.' And you must also eschew the counsels of such of your former enemies as have become reconciled to you. The Book says that no one can safely trust to the goodwill of a former enemy. And Aesop says: 'Trust not to those with whom you have been sometime at war or in enmity, neither tell them of your intentions.' And Seneca tells us the reason for this. 'It may not be,' says he, 'that, where fire has long existed there shall remain no vapour of heat.' And thereto says Solomon: 'The kisses of an enemy are deceitful.' For, certainly, though your enemy may be reconciled, and appear before you in all humility, and bow his head to you, you should never trust him. Surely he feigns this humility more for his advantage than for any love of you; for he thinks to gain some victory over you by such feigning, the which he could not gain by strife of open war. And Petrus Alfonsus says: 'Have no fellowship with ancient foes; for if you do good to them, they will pervert it into evil.' And, too, you must eschew the advice of those who are your own servants and bear themselves toward you with all reverence; for perchance they speak more out of fear than for love.”[1]

Be wary of they who have recently changed sides. This is good advice. 

Maybe I am being too sceptical? 

Someone might say that this is how American presidential races work, candidates sound each other out as they move along and then fall into alliances to work together for power. But if you have read my blog for any period of time you will know about my longstanding scepticism of alliances as well.

In his last term as President it is safe to say that having the wrong people in many positions in the administration probably caused as many or more issues for Trump that the lying harlot media constantly telling stories about him did. But I am willing to be shown wrong on this.

It is possible for an opponent to become a true friend. This can and does happen. But I would still say that the advice given in this Canterbury Tale is good advice. Beware those who suddenly sound too good to be true, wherever they turn up in your life, and especially if they had once long opposed you.

 

List of References

[1] Chaucer, Geoffrey .. The Canterbury Tales: FREE Hamlet By William Shakespeare (JKL Classics - Active TOC, Active Footnotes ,Illustrated) (p. 177). JKL Classics. Kindle Edition.

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