When it comes to odd couples, the relationship between Benjamin Franklin and George Whitefield immediately comes to mind. In Franklin we find the preeminent pragmatist, and in Whitefield the preeminent religionist. Despite the seeming contradiction, Franklin did recognize the need for the social function of religion in society. But he would not be brought under the sway of any religious system of belief. However, Franklin and Whitefield were great friends and when the evangelist wrote Franklin of an impending visit, Franklin responded offering the hospitality of his own home to Whitefield. The evangelist in turn wrote Franklin a warm letter of thanks and acceptance “in the name of Jesus.” Franklin immediately replied that his offer of hospitality was not in the name of Jesus, but in the name of friendship.

During my years of theological studies and preaching, this story about Franklin and Whitefield would sometimes come to mind as I would reflect on Franklin’s refusal to accommodate his friend’s attempt to obligate Franklin in the name of Jesus. But to give due credit to Franklin for his wisdom one must also give him credit for making the distinction between what is done in the name of religion, and what is done simply out of a good heart. It is a distinction many of those holding firm religious beliefs are too often either unable or unwilling to make.

It isn’t a system whether religious or political that determines if a person is good or bad; it is as the ancient Egyptians and others concluded the “weighing of the heart” that determines this. Willy Wonka’s machine determined whether the egg was good or bad, and calling someone a good or bad egg though antiquated does express the truth of the matter. So no matter what the beliefs, is the person’s heart right or not, are they a good or bad egg is what really counts. Oh, well, we all know this don’t we. So what’s the point?

If a relationship is only a matter of shared beliefs rather than one of the heart it is doomed, and will undoubtedly be betrayed. While we think of Judas betraying Jesus for money, eventually it was his heart that condemned him so that he went out and hanged himself because he had betrayed the innocent. Some see this as an act of repentance, of contrition and expiation in which Judas found redemption, but only at the price of his own life; blood for blood.

But do even the good eggs, those with a good heart need reminding of what is right and what is wrong? I think so. I have a large sign in front of my place declaring in large capital letters: IT SHOULDN’T HURT TO BE A CHILD! Does any good person need reminding of such a thing? Yes. Several good people have taken the trouble to stop by and thank me for this reminder, sharing with me such a reminder has caused them to stop and think before lashing out in anger at one of their children. It was while discussing this with an elderly friend, an agnostic Jew who had lived through Hitler’s Germany I asked her whether it might have helped for the good people at the time to have signs in their windows “It shouldn’t hurt to be a Jew,” if this might have made a difference? She thought for a moment then answered, “By the time it might have helped it was too late. Besides, apart from the professions Jews stayed pretty much to themselves. We have often made ourselves targets of prejudice by refusing to assimilate, and this made its own contribution to the disaster of Hitler.”

It’s a story as old as human history, “When in Rome...,” but one that continues to be as true today as it ever was; and no amount of touted “cultural diversity” well lessen the truth of the matter. A pinch of this and a dash of that might lend flavor, but no one will eat a dish consisting only of mixed spices, each making its own demands for attention from the palate. The best chefs know what dishes require what spices, but will never allow the spices to overcome the meal. Like too much salt, when the spices become more than enhancing the dish is ruined notwithstanding the distinction Jesus made.

Where is the “meal” in “Press one for English,” ballots printed in foreign tongues, welfare for illegal aliens and their burden to schools, law enforcement, jails, prisons, unsecured borders inviting terrorism? We the People are being force-fed Spanish as though this were a spice, something the proponents of slave labor and open borders tout as a flavor enhancing ingredient rather than something that is ruining the whole dish. The English language has more than enough variety to enhance any “meal” without need of condiments, though the occasional foreign word or phrase may not be out of place. Don’t let the pretenders to knowledge in any way denigrate English unless they are equally willing and qualified to denounce Shakespeare as an unabashed “plagiarist.”

The lunacy of the situation is allowing the proponents of this illegal invasion from Mexico acting as though every illegal alien that makes it into America has the same rights and privileges as We the People! Let these lunatics go to Mexico and make the same demands there as illegal aliens before hypocritically pretending to be “preachers of righteousness.” This is not a question of whether the invaders, which by definition they are in fact, are good or bad people. It is a question of whether any nation can continue to follow the path our leaders are taking America and survive as a sovereign nation. Logic dictates these same people agitating for illegal aliens and Spanish would declare me a “bad egg” if I was a Mexican living in that nation and demanding foreigners wanting to live there learn Spanish.

It is wrong for our leaders to ignore the great majority of Americans for the sake of slave labor and profits. But unlike good people who only require a reminder once in a while, our leaders are determined to ignore all reminders of what is right and what is wrong. However, this is all a moot point since our leadership cannot even track legal visa holders, has no idea of where millions of foreigners are legal and illegal, and it would seem only that terrorist nuclear bomb going off at LAX or in DC will prompt the required action by our government. Even now as I write we are being told that was a steam pipe explosion in NYC. But was it? Well, whatever the truth, unlike the Warren and 9/11 Commissions there will be no hiding a terrorist nuclear explosion.

Should that bomb go off my continued fear is that like Hitler’s Germany the pendulum will swing far, far to the other extreme. And in that case, no amount of Constitutional “adjustments” will save the millions that overnight will become hunted and rounded up in America. And unlike religion which is a matter of beliefs, it will be America’s survival as a nation that will determine the action taken, there will be no questions about the rights of individuals, no habeas corpus, no asking for translators and interpreters, the only question will be one of survival. There is too much truth to Thoreau’s observation the civilized man is only a more knowledgeable savage.