Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Ivan Raconteur Column – 05/15/20



I’ve been thinking a lot about Matthew 25:40 this week, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those familiar with the New International Version will recall the words, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Those who prefer the King James Bible might remember that it references doing something to others, rather than for them, thus: “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Even those who don’t read the Bible at all are likely to understand a secular interpretation, which would be something along the lines of, “The way you treat those you consider the least important is the way you would treat those who are most powerful.”

The problem, of course, is that some people don’t seem to grasp this concept.

When these people are angry or upset, they don’t take it up with the source of their issue, if they consider that source to be powerful, or even equal to themselves. Instead, they take out their frustrations on those they consider powerless, or those who are in service positions.

This reveals them to be spineless bullies.

There have been far too many examples of this during the current pandemic. The issue is not whether or not we agree with executive orders or measures that businesses have implemented for the safety of their employees or customers. The issue is how they choose to act if they don’t like the situation.

In too many cases, they respond badly. In some instances they act like spoiled children. In others, they respond with violence, like vicious, undisciplined thugs.

Incidents reported across the country have included people spitting on a bus driver who asked passengers to wear a mask; shooting McDonalds workers who told a customer the dining area was closed; pushing a park ranger into a lake when he asked visitors to practice social distancing; and spitting on, then killing a store employee who told customers they had to wear a mask to enter the store.

In all of these cases, the attackers went after employees who were simply trying to do their jobs.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious and complicated situation. The virus has caused illness and death, and the measures put in place to try to keep people safe have disrupted lives and resulted in economic hardship.

Yet, the people who have assaulted or killed workers do not appear to have acted out of fear for their health or concern for their livelihood. They appear to have lashed out at powerless employees because they were being inconvenienced or because they don’t like to be told what to do.

If we, as a society, reach a point where our convenience or a twisted view of our “rights” are valued above human life, we will all have a problem.

Teenagers working at a fast food joint have rights, too. They have a right not to be shot for doing their jobs. No one deserves to die for doing his or her job.

Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers or sisters, you have done to me. That is a concept worth remembering as we face this or any other challenge together.





































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