OPINION: Speaker Mike Johnson’s Bible – a Distorted Version or Deliberate Misreading?

In the course of my personal Christmas introspection, which deals with both my Christian and Ukrainian soul, I recalled an interview with the then just-elected new Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mike Johnson. He stated that in his political life as well as his personal, he is guided by the Bible. He probably should have made some reference to the United States Constitution as well.

Be that as it may, after two months of his activities as speaker, I am convinced that the Bible to which Mike Johnson referred is the Donald Trump version – meaning the one, if any, on Donald Trump’s nightstand. That version does not include many of the subjects commonly found in the standard Bible, including the parable about the Good Samaritan. Love for one’s neighbor, manifested through tangible assistance, is the focus of Christianity. Discerning between right and wrong, good and evil is its essence.

There remains much hope that with or without the support of Speaker Johnson, military aid to Ukraine will be worked out. Unfortunately, much damage has accrued to date. The war in Ukraine is an existential one for Ukrainians. Ukrainians are defined as all residents of Ukraine, as well as those residing abroad who consider themselves Ukrainian.

Optimism is a factor in any war and very much a part of human nature. So, when that optimism is wounded, it is a legitimate cause for concern. Ammunition is beginning to lack and the current war is at best a stalemate as seen by the Ukrainian military. One Ukrainian soldier pointed out that there are more Russian soldiers than Ukrainian bullets.

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Ukraine can always benefit from receiving more weapons, but measuring the expected impact of the new American mines provision is more complicated, the expert said.

There are at least $1 billion available and some $4 billion more in draw-down supplies, as per the Pentagon, but the message received in Ukraine has been very much concerning. The European Union’s decision to begin Ukraine membership talks is being highlighted in Ukraine to support optimism, but the more tangible Hungarian veto of military and humanitarian aid has been relegated to the back pages. 

The people of Ukraine – military, volunteers and the general civilian population – have been heroic. Ukrainians abroad have been predominantly lethargic. Russia has been buoyed by the apparent indifference of Western support and has increased its barbaric behavior, even boasting of the use of chemical weapons, and continuing to shell civilian targets, including residences, health facilities, schools, indiscriminately killing women and children.

Mike Johnson’s Bible, however, does not consider these facts. In any event, it is anticipated that hopefully aid to Ukraine will be revisited in both the US and Europe this coming January.

If politics is an art of accomplishing sometimes creatively what is possible, then there are some alternatives to overcome or circumvent Speaker Johnson’s “religious convictions.” This includes other MAGAs in Congress, including such blind or simply dishonest politicians as Jim Jordan and Marjorie Taylor Greene in the House and a self-identified hillbilly such as J.D. Vance in the Senate.

Some ideas have come forward and are supported apparently by our allies: using frozen Russian assets throughout the world, estimated at some $300 billion dollars, suspending EU and NATO support for Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Hungary, which requires support from our European allies, transferring “Patriot” defense systems manufactured at Mitsubishi in Japan and to be sold at great discount or even simply given to the United States. Japan has agreed to do so. The only remaining issue would be that compensation by seizing Russian assets in the United States might require an act of Congress, but the lion’s share of seized Russian assets are in Europe. Our allies in Europe are certainly guided by a different Bible than Mike Johnson or Donald Trump, for that matter, even if only because of proximity.

Anyone or all of these creative solutions would not only be a valuable temporary substitute for what Ukraine has been promised, but would serve to encourage the Ukrainians who are willing to die for their own existence and to rid the world of the Russian imperialistic threat. The war against Russian aggression must be a global effort.

President Biden has often referred to American assistance as an investment in a peaceful global community which is cost effective. Apparently, Speaker Johnson and his fellow MAGAs not only rely upon an abridged, if not bizarre, version of the Bible, but also suffer from political shortsightedness.

Merry Christmas, Speaker Johnson. This is a good time to pick up a genuine Bible.

The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.