The Unforgiven, Even in a Christian Nation: From Joe Biden to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and More

Forgiveness is the meme in America, a nation imprinted with the teachings of Jesus Christ, as they are presented in the New Testament. While dying on the cross, Jesus exclaimed: Father,  [meaning God the Father in the holy trinity] forgive them, they know not what they do.  

America is also a capitalist economy in which the legal system supports property values. Without that, capitalism couldn't hold on. Part of the legal infrastructure is the role of the defense lawyer. The mission of law firms such as Jones Day, Kirkland & Ellis and Paul Weiss is to put in context the alleged wrongdoing. Judges and juries can deliver forgiveness, in whole or in part.

Forgiveness can also be earned. The old-line ethos, an offshoot of the Protestant Ethic, is that hard work can bring salvation. In prison, Watergate rascal Chuck Colson labored on behalf of the spiritual needs of the inmates. In the process he found redemption - and a post-release new career path as a founder of a non-profit ministry.

But there's a growing school of thought which posits that forgiveness, despite its proven positive effects, is not always recommended. 

Last year The New York Times published an article with the title: 

"Sometimes, Forgiveness Is Overrated"

The first paragraph reads:

"Extending an olive branch can be healthy, but experts say it isn’t something people should feel pressured to do."

As a tarot reader I give "permission" to clients to not buy into the conventional wisdom that forgiveness is the best path to travel on this journey we call life. However, the ill feelings have to worked through or else they become an obsession. Letting go of those feelings doesn't mean the return of good will or the desire for reconciliation. 

Perhaps we don't "owe" forgiveness to former US President Joe Biden. Had he surrendered to the severity of his decline in time for other progressives to compete to be the Democratic candidate, we might not be struggling with the values of the current administration. 

The same goes for late US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Had she accepted the sacrifice of retiring during a Democratic administration, which would replace her with a progressive, "Roe v Wade" might still be standing. 

And over time unforgiven in this era of survival of the fittest in the global economy could be those who have added lots of runway to their careers by vilifying the nine law firms which made deals with the administration. Those law firms include Paul Weiss, Simpson and Latham. 

As an entrepreneur who has operated a number of enterprises I understand business. That involves soul-wrenching decisions, with no guarantees the strategy will pan out. Instead of condemnation there might have been compassion. 

An irony: When the dust settles on the dealmaking issue will the law firms treated so harshly in the court of public opinion forgive those who might have been opportunists?

The takeaway: In the tarot the Five of Cups symbolizes not becoming trapped in the past. The force field can entail being tormented by the forgiveness question. The wise might just drop that whole thing.  The preoccupation usually results in missing the opportunities which are ahead.

Thriving in difficult times starts from the inside.

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