It's a story told over and over, and the foundation of the many nativity scenes set up beside our country roads at this time of year.

Bearing witness, through our simple existence, expressing love in the best way we know how, is especially important to Christians. In expressing love, we must forgive our enemies. If you think that's tough, Christians have more to do.  We are advised as follows:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

As an American with a life invested in love of country, inculcated with America's celebration of liberty, and its founding value of freedom of speech and thought, Christmas for me is as much an intellectual challenge as it is a spiritual one.

I wonder if my love of liberty and exercise of free speech is more like a nativity scene than the real thing.  I wonder if my Christianity is a cultural accommodation, rather than a commitment.

I cannot forgive the monsters among us, and I find very much to despise in our government, at so many levels.  I have always heard, hate the sin, not the sinner, but even in local government, the sins of arrogance and greed and self-righteousness infect even the lowliest of bureaucrats.

Joe Biden's staff released a massive list of pardons and clemencies, including one for the former Dixon, Illinois comptroller, Rita Crundwell, who embezzled $53 Million from the town's taxpayers until an underling asked just the right question.  When they liquidated Rita's assets, only a tiny portion of the debt was recovered.  Crundwell is the epitome of so many small town and big city bureaucrats, who use unelected power over the public checkbook to enrich themselves, without regret.

The clemency list did not include a single pardon for any whistleblowers or truthtellers imprisoned by the USG in the past 20 years.  It included nothing for thousands of people rounded up through FBI and NSA geofencing for being in DC, or knowing someone who was, on January 6th, 2021.  Crimes against the state are never forgiven, crimes by the state against humanity and morality are buried and forgotten.

There is talk, in this forgiveness season, of pre-emptive pardons for – you guessed it – a number of other rotten and corrupt government bureaucrats and suspected criminals, like Tony Fauci and members of Congress.