NINETY-FOUR
On p. 94 of GR, Sarah continues her discussion of her appointment by Governor Frank Murkowski to the important post of chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. She writes, "When Murkowski appointed me AOGCC chairman, one of the first things I told him was that we needed to make sure our resources were not being wasted and hold the oil industry accountable to its contracts."
Sarah here succinctly alludes to two kinds and species of sacred trust to which we are bound: Gratitude towards the Lord, on the one hand, and just stewardship of the talents and resources and abilities He bestows upon us, and, on the other hand, justice towards any neighbor with whom we have entered into a binding contract of any kind.
Love of the Lord, and a just gratitude towards Him;
Love and justice towards our neighbor;
The Two Great Commandments!!
For example, in a marriage, one employs one's Heaven-bestowed talents and gifts and abilities for the good of one's family, and also maintains the sacred trust and troth of the matrimonial contract and bond.
The twin adherence to duty to God and duty to neighbor is the glue and mortar that helps to hold societies together.
Another example is Sarah's heroic conduct in her teen years, when she played on a bum ankle, a stress-fractured ankle, and helped lead her team to the Alaska high-school basketball championship.
She kept faith with the Lord, Who bestowed certain athletic gifts upon her (more gifts of grit and determination than great natural physical ability and aptitude for sports, as Sarah has herself asserted), and she kept faith with her teammates, who were counting on her; she kept her "contract" with them.
Again, when she ran for VP in 2008, she employed her wonderful gifts of oratory and charisma and courage, and she kept faith with Senator McCain and with the American People.
I would like finally to suggest that I believe the American People themselves AND ESPECIALLY THE GOP DELEGATES WHO WILL GO TO TAMPA THIS SUMMER are bound by a sacred duty and obligation not to waste and squander the precious and unique and Heaven-bestowed gifts of Sarah Palin. The delegates are also, IMV, bound and tied morally to keep and hold to a contract with America that is no less obligatory just because it is implicit: To nominate the one whom they consider to be the BEST QUALIFIED person to hold the Presidency of the United States.
As I did in yesterday's post on p. 93 of GR, I would like to cite something that may have particular relevance for my Catholic brothers and sisters, but may also have general interest for everyone here.
When members of the Sacred College of Cardinals cast their votes in a papal election, each one takes a solemn oath before the altar in Latin that runs something like this (this may not be exact, but I think the gist is correct):
"I testify before Jesus Christ, Who will be my Final Judge, that I am casting my suffrage (ballot) for him whom I consider most worthy to occupy the Supreme Pontificate."
Would that our convention delegates had to take a similar and solemn oath:
"I testify before the American People that I will choose as the Republican Party candidate for President him or her whom I consider most and best qualified to hold that office, so help me God."
Even though the delegates will take no such formal oath, it is my hope and prayer that many of them will feel morally bound by an obligation that will be the equivalent of such a promise, and that they will, in spite of all exterior pressures and inducements and threats, choose SARAH PALIN to carry the Party's and, indeed, the nation's battle standard against the Marxist usurper in the White House this fall!!
We must not waste God-bestowed resources and gifts; we must abide by sacred contracts and obligations … as Sarah well knows!!
FIAT, FIAT: let it be, let it be!!!!!
