The above Latin phrase can be loosely translated as “Corruption of the best is worst of all”.
Lately, my kind readers who are indeed well read and are also keen observers of present-day times can readily attest to the depth and width of the apparent corruption within our public and private entities. Nothing to brag about or cause of celebration. The sadness of what could be but ain’t.
Gumshoe has the vision of pigs dining at the trough; vomiting and then going back for more. Disgusting for sure! Reality indeed.
These institutions are comprised of people. The folks behind the mortar and brick as well as the unnamed people entwined within the internet plasma.
Cancel culture denizens and the forsaken woke dopes.
Leaders who are empty suites with insatiable appetites for perdition.
The infamous list of these corrupt scalawags is long and continues to repopulate itself in a perpetual motion media machine that plagues us God-fearing folks. Garbage in and garbage out.
Where have the best and the brightest gone? A cry in the wilderness unanswered? Perhaps maybe in time to come, there is hope. A ton of darkness cannot snuff out the smallest candle.
The case in point that Gumshoe is talking about are the individuals in the position of power who are bankrupt in moral virtues and values.
Name your poison from the seven deadly sins (capital vices) and you will ascertain the motivation “to sell one’s soul”. The old Baltimore Catechism had it right all along don’t cha know. Mother Superior with the ruler was justified. Ouch!
It’s always a piecemeal conversion in time to arrive at the dark side. The person develops a self-induced blindness within their own personal cocoon of corruption. Sort of a sarcophagus that encapsulates their vainglory. That old phrase of absolute power corrupts absolutely rings true, thank you, Lord Acton.
Pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth are the Cardinal sins that ultimately lead to corruption in this life as well as damnation (if you are a believer) in the next.
Now Gumshoe is not and never will be the paragon of virtue but a personal credo as a working cop had always served him well:
Always try to do the right thing, in the right way, in the right way at the right time for the right reason.
Gumshoe firmly believes that all of us living and breathing human beings practice this mantra to some degree in our lives.
But of course ever since Adam and Eve had their moral compasses bent by Diablo’s persuasion coupled with their own personal vanity, there will always be the sons and daughters of Cain who will raise Hell just this side of Eden. Pilgrims’ progress has always been challenging with obstacles.
Well, folks, Gumshoe will now climb down from his soapbox. Always remember to love the ones who love you and really try to love the ones who don’t.
PS: Good incorruptible leaders please come forward. Applications are now being accepted. We the people have your 180.
The downhill slide (I believe) began when we (as a country) removed God from our schools and no longer said the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of each classroom day……and we (as a country) slowly but surely allowed evil to creep into our educational, entertainment and tech industry (to name but a few) without a fight. We (as the Christian church) are culpable for allowing our school boards to be populated by those who did not have our children’s best interest at heart. We (as a country and as the church) somehow looked the other way, were busy with other ‘more important’ things to notice these things……..I believe with WITH GOD all things are possible, especially those things which seem impossible in the natural. It begins with me and it begins with you – willing to stand up, speak up and to get involved. We all have a sphere of influence that we can use for good – it’s time to stop complaining and do something. God’s Word says the prayer of a righteous individual is powerful and effective – by ‘righteous’ the Bible means a man or woman who believes that Jesus is the Son of God, died for our sins and rose again; we confess that with our mouth and believe it in our hearts. The Bible calls it ‘born again’…..a spiritual birth. Our trust is no long in the elephant or the donkey but in the Lamb, Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Christianity is not for sissies; we no longer live selfish lives intent on our own comfort……we love God with all of our heart, soul and strength…..we love our neighbor…..we forgive – God leads and we act. That is how this country will once again be blessed by God……that is why we’ve been blessed thus far, due to the God foundation upon which this country was built. Nuff said. Good article bro.
Correct on all points my brother. If God is not part of building a house it will fail. This nation was founded under God we trust. He is with us if we choose to be with Him.
Danny your article hit home in so many ways. First I am a Sicilian on both sides of my family. We (me included) don’t forgive or forget. Has been part of my issue over the last few years. I have been somewhat of a coward for not standing up to those who would try to change our country, not for the better but for the betterment of themselves. Again I am being a coward cause I won’t address those issues that have been dividing this country.
When I became a Police Officer back in 1970 my dad who was a Sgt. on the Syracuse Police Department gave me some great advice which you touched on in the article. Your Personal Credo “Always try to do the right thing, in the right way, in the right way at the right time for the right reason”.
His advice was “When you start working the street you treat the citizens you are protecting the same way that you want to be treated”. He also told me “do not take any crap on the street cause the first time that happens it doesn’t take long for those that don’t have respect for the police for the word to get around that “Stassi” is an easy mark”. I took that advice and it got me through 25 years of Law Enforcement with minimal problems and injuries. I hate what I see going on with our government and am at a loss as to how we can right the ship. In my humble opinion there is a storm coming and it scares me to death.
Thanks again Gumshoe for your very powerful message.
Semper Fi
Your dad gave you great advice that you accepted and most importantly Tom, you practiced it. Most of us are indeed fearful about our once great country that has been systematically destroyed right before our eyes. I do have faith that the silent majority of patriots will unite this November and throw the bums out! Biden along with his corrupt cronies must be held to account. God help us all!
Point well taken Nightingale. A old Sicilian saying says that the fish rots from the head down. The present and corrupted Biden administration has
done its best to put America last with its insane socialist policies. If things don’t change we better brush up on our Mandarin.
This article dear Danny speaks volumes. The leadership right now in this country is slowly eating away the United States strength and power to fight against the adversaries that only wish to completely destroy America as we once knew it. It can be that again. If China continues to sweep its evil across our land we will some day wake up to a leadership that controls mankind to the point where we are locked into submission or die.