The Greeks have invaded the "conservative party" in the form not of a Trojan horse, but of the Goddess of Democracy. To warn us of the past and present terrors of communism around the world, a Victims of Communism Memorial was made by sculptor T. Marsh, mimicing one already in San Francisco.
It's about time someone set up a memorial to remind us of the "more than 100 million people who died in a terrible ideology's revolutions, wars, and purges" (National Review, 'A Goddess for Victims,' 5.28.07). What I find remarkable in this monument is her name, which belies either the national identity that we consider ourselves an humanistic, urbane, sophisticated people who no longer believe in God or the other identity in being an evangelical, law-abiding, idol-hating people who think we can actually save the world from heretics.
So, now we host in D.C. the little sister of the Statue of Liberty: introducing the Goddess of Democracy, who represents "a universal symbol of freedom, representing in majestic form the rights and aspirations of all women and men" (ibid). It is not my intent to direct your attention to the impending doom of Rome-like characteristics of the USA, or to the fanatisicm of either liberal or conservative parties at the Capitol. Neither do I desire for you draw a sharp intake of breath over the possibility of publically sanctioned belief in gods and goddesses. The explaination for these events lies in the ancient poetry of the venerable Asaph--am I stretching the Psalm here?--that when Athena, goddess of justice and wisdom, is called into our midst, God takes "his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgement...:
"How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
"Give justice to the weak
and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted
and the destitute.
"Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from
the hand of the wicked" (82:1-4).
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