*Keeping with the policies of Banana Winds, the names and likenesses of known criminals will not be displayed in this blog.
So here's this instead...
Mates, you know the Captain put that picture there just to get your attention, right?
And, I suppose, to let you know this is going to be a patriotic post.
Maybe.
Many of you will remember the idiotic photo shoot the former president did in front of a church... holding a Bible...
Leading many to wonder how the book did not burst into flames.
Well,, now the former president has outdone himself.
This time, he not only holds the Bible, HE ENDORSES IT!!!
In all fairness (because the Captain is nothing if not fair), a simpatico organization is publishing the book. The Endorser simply gets a little bit for the use of his name and likeness.
Naturally, many are outraged by the sheer audacity of this man-child.
But seriously, after all this time, are you really shocked by this?
Grifters are gonna grift. We all know that.
But there is something even more dangerous about this bible.
In additions to it being an "easy to read" King James Version (no one's ever claimed that before!), the publisher has included other writings within its cover.
Now mates, the Captain had these debates during seminary wherein our professors insisted the canon of scripture is not "closed".
In simple terms, that means other writings could theoretically be added to the Bible.
Of course, back then, it seemed obvious that there are no writings that the whole of Christianity would agree upon for inclusion into the sacred book, so it wasn't likely to happen.
Apparently this publisher has unilaterally decided there are some:
-The lyrics to Lee Greenwood's song "God Bless the USA"
-The U.S. Constitution
-The Bill of Rights
-The Declaration of Independence, and
-The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag
Mates, this has the potential to lead our nation farther down a very dangerous and slippery slope deeper into Christian Nationalism, wherein specific interpretations of the Christian faith becomes conflated with our democracy, at the exclusion of non-Christians, people of color, immigrants, etc.
It's a power grab disguised as theocracy, foisted upon the American public by supporters of the former president - a twice-impeached serial adulterer and convicted rapist with multiple indictments for insurrection, stealing government documents (and lying about it), interfering with an election (did I leave something out?) - who happily caters to their whims because they give him money.
But I'm warning you now, before long you will begin to see more images like this one:
15 “So when you see the desolating sacrilege, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; 17 the one on the housetop must not go down to take things from the house; 18 the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. 19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be."
-Jesus, in the Gospel According to Matthew, chapter 24
UPDATE: According to a report from TMN.com, this Bible is was first announced by Lee Greenwood in 2021, supposedly as a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Asking price was $49.99. It was originally to be printed in New International Version but Zondervan pulled out of the project after protests from Christian groups. (Good for them!) The royalty-free King James version was a cheaper alternative anyway. The original sale was marked by printing and distribution problems, leaving a lot of disappointed customers.
But now Greenwood has the former president's "endorsement", which means an additional 10 bucks per book. We'll see how many books Greenwood can unload now.
Watch here for updates on this unfolding story.
