Dear Princess: On Wise Governance
As the father to a pair of lovely daughters, I am well accustomed to both girls donning fanciful accouterments ranging from tiaras to sparkly necklaces as complements to flowing gowns. From the first moment princess paraphernalia entered our home, I’ve had to bite my tongue to avoid snuffing out the sweet joy of my daughters twirling in delight—feeling just as beautiful as they look.
The reason for the tongue biting is due to a well-ingrained distaste for anything related to monarchy. My love for Revolution Era history perhaps leaves me a bit oversensitive regarding rule by kings and queens. It is, after all, a great luxury to collectively select the best individuals to serve as our leaders. Bloodlines rarely produce the best in leadership.
Yet despite this luxury, the Republican Party now finds itself markedly closer to nominating Donald Trump as its candidate for president. This is the nomination of a man who has never governed nor operated under the consensus-building constraints of non-unilateral power. Though immensely talented in the world of business, his words and conduct suggest little in the ways of wisdom. Trump’s manner so terribly resembles that of a king, though not the noble and just ruler one might imagine in an Arthurian legend.
Trump’s rise in prominence has left me considering wisdom, which steered me to the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs was the first book of the Bible I read in its entirety, and Solomon’s writing offers much to nourish the heart and mind. Before reaching his famous and oft-quoted axioms, Solomon begins with an anthropomorphic look at wisdom (Proverbs 8:8-21):
Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.
By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
For those who follow politics and government, there is no doubt that it is an ugly and underhanded world that rarely inspires the lofty words used in Proverbs. But this country affords us a great power and privilege to seek individuals who aspire themselves to personify wisdom. We are not bound to merely accept whatever oligarch is born to rule by heritage, wealth, or brute force.
But we only protect ourselves from these ills by exercising wisdom and vigilance in how we vote and with how we monitor those who govern. Without such vigilance, we descend to an environment that allows for rule by the bombastic, the foolish, and the cruel. And avoiding such outcomes should always be a cherished pursuit.
Even in their cuteness, my daughters are unlikely to win me over to the concept of royalty. Though I might occasionally indulge their request to use “Princess Lydia” and “Princess Grace,” it will only be until I can adequately explain that “Governor Eberline” would be a far better title for them to pursue (not even I can make a reasoned case for them to pursue the presidency). But until then, I can at least encourage those around me to cherish the difference between a monarchy and a republic and the difference between the fool and the wise.
It has never been easier to watch and understand what is happening at each level of government. One piece of wisdom is knowledge, and it is important to observe how these pieces function and how individuals are serving on our behalf. This is the minimum expectation for a republic, and—like wisdom—is a worthwhile pursuit. Vigilance is the best protection against the seductive words of Folly whose ways are loud and always lacking in sense. Donald Trump shares far too many characteristics with that of a fool, and—like folly—should be avoided completely.
