Be Careful What You Wish For

Back when I was a first-grader in Catholic school, our reading primer presented little morality plays designed to teach us more than just how to read.  One story was about a little boy who chanted “Rain, rain, go away…” when he wanted to play outside and the weather wouldn’t cooperate.  The rain went away, alright…for months and months.  The crops withered, the stock died, his family’s well dried up.  Pretty heavy shit for a six-year-old…obviously it left an impression on ME. 

Be careful what you wish for.

Sister Vianney was the principal at our grade school;  a grumpy old nun, a brilliant woman who didn’t much connect with the students.  We feared her more because of her stern visage and haughty detachment than because of anything she actually did.  Knowing the transitory nature of nuns’ assignments, we all wished very hard that she would go away…soon.  Finally, when I was in about fifth grade, Sister Vianney was reassigned.  Par-ty!!  Then, in stormed Sister Paul Marie.  Taller, louder and way more animated than Sister Vianney.  She connected with the kids plenty—with a wooden paddle. 

Be careful what you wish for.

I’m reminded of this every time I think about this year’s election.  Between 2000 and 2008, we lefties hated on George W. Bush something fierce.  And there was plenty to hate:  the politicization of 9/11, an illegal war, torture, the Patriot Act, inappropriate Supreme Court nominations, the tanking of the economy.  Bush himself was a compliant political puppet of the guys with the money.  We dubbed him “The Shrub,” called for him to be arrested for war crimes, mocked him mercilessly for his tendency toward verbal gaffes.  Safe to say we thought him utterly unworthy of our respect, so we very loudly and publicly showed him none.        

There are times, these days,  that I almost prostrate myself before the Creator to beg forgiveness for the abuse we heaped upon George Bush.  Because waiting in the wings to take his place is the unmitigated universal disaster that is Donald Trump. 

Be careful what you wish for.