And Speaking of Terri Schiavo's Judges . . .

J. A. Gillmartin of the blog The Sheep's Crib asks:

What is it that an ordinary man, who puts his pants on just like me ... one leg at a time ... sees something I don't just because he wears a black robe?

Judge George Greer and judge James Whittemore will have a lot to answer for when they are called before a Higher Judge. Or shouldn't I say, THE Higher Judge? Yes, I should.

In my previous post I discussed Jean de La Fontaine's take (in the tradition of Aesop) on the abuse of power and the tragedy of might makes right.

In this post, I'll show La Fontaine's take on ignorant judges (the original French first, followed by my English translation, once again matching the original French in form and meaning) :

L'Ane Portant des Reliques

Un Baudet, chargé de Reliques,
S'imagina qu'on l'adorait.
Dans ce penser il se carrait,
Recevant comme siens l'Encens et les Cantiques.
Quelqu'un vit l'erreur, et lui dit:
Maître Baudet, ôtez-vous de l'esprit
Une vanité si folle.
Ce n'est pas vous, c'est l'Idole
À qui cet honneur se rend,
Et que la gloire en est due.
D'un Magistrat ignorant
C'est la Robe qu'on salue.

Translation of Jean de la Fontaine's
"L'Ane Portant des Reliques"
The Ass Bearing Holy Relics

An ass with holy relics hung
Thought himself with worship glutted
In this frame of mind he strutted
And called his own the incense and hymns that were sung.
Someone saw his mistake and said:
"Master ass, get the thought out of your head
Of such foolish arrogance,
It is the idol's presence
To whom this honor is sent,
And to which is due repute."
Of a judge who's ignorant
'Tis the robe gets the salute.

© Copyright 2004 - All Rights Reserved

How true the moral to that fable is! "Of a judge who's ignorant/'Tis the robe gets the salute." Terri Schiavo's right to life is being denied by braying, posturing, strutting jackasses. People may address them as "your Honor," but all the honor is accorded only to the judicial robes and not the men wearing them. What shame and ignominy on these worshipped donkeys!

Pray for God's intervention on behalf of Terri Schindler-Schiavo and her family. The judicial jackasses bedecked with all the pomp of false idols must not prevail.

You've been told and NOW YOU KNOW.