And Now the Long-Awaited Call to War

It's a hair lash from declaring war on the United States of America, and it's coming from an elected official out of Arizona. I rush to my Wikipedia, realizing there are many who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints down Arizona way.

Including U.S. representatives.

I'm running scared now. Please don't let him be LDS, please! I mutter as I scurry to Wikipedia. I quickly scroll down to the part about his personal life. Alas, I read in horror: "(Andy) Biggs is married to Cindy Biggs. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

That's all it says about his personal life, and all I need to know -- and all I don't want to know.

We've a president -- well, a past president -- and you know he's been indicted on federal charges. And you know how he's rushed in anger to rally the masses to his defense. "In the end, they're not coming after me. They're coming after you -- and I'm just standing in their way," he cried.

And, sure enough, many in the populace are falling in step behind him, ready to march off to war. We've got your back, Mr. President. Our guns are loaded and ready.

Kari Lake -- she who lost to Katie Hobbs in a tight finish in the 2020 Arizona Governor's race -- is among those falling into line to become soldiers in the Trump army. Did I say she was from "Arizona"? There's that word again. We'll get back to it again when we return to talking about Andy Biggs.

But first, Kari Lake. Her quote when Trump was indicted is a beauty. "If you want to get President Trump, you're going to have to go through 75 million Americans just like me," she said, as the audience exploded in applause. And just who are those 75 million Americans ready to march behind former President Trump. Lake quickly pointed out that a lot of them are "card-carrying members" of the National Rifle Association.

Then she quipped, or laid it on the line, whichever way you want to look at it: "That's not a threat. That's a public service announcement." As if, her saying that it is time to fall in behind Trump is a public service announcement, just a way of getting the word out and informing people its time to take up arms.

Americans have long been encouraged to believe in one particular fear. You know what it is and you know it well. You yourself have probably bought in to it: We need to run down to the closest gun store and buy a gun or two because the day sure as shooting could come when our leaders will seek to tear away our freedoms. We've got to be ready. We've got to prepare. We've got to have guns and we've got to be set to use them.

Some militia groups even rush off to the forests and woods to hone their skills, learning the art of killing, learning the art of war.

All in preparation for the day when America leaders will need to be faced with the barrel of a Magnum .45, or a Glock G19, or whatever gun the citizen can get his or her hands on.

When you are told the day is coming, you come to believe it. You start tip-toeing around, wary of an enemy hiding in every bush, ready to fire if anything in that bush moves. You're ready, and you're able, and you're anxious -- anxious for that moment to arrive, relishing the idea of employing your gun for what you bought it for, what you hired it for.

Gun for hire, and you hired it. And you don't hire someone, or some thing, unless you've got work for it or them to do.

You even manufacture enemies that aren't there. If the poor of South America and the poor of Mexico cross the border, to you, that's an invasion. "Invasion" is a war term and you think it totally appropriate to use it on the indigent streaming across your border. They may be poor and poor, but if they keep coming, they're going to be dead poor.

Oh, you don't take up your guns against the migrants and start shooting them, but you might just make it clear you think they, indeed, ought to be shot.

Preparing, itching, looking for that day, seeing an enemy behind every rock.

Now, back to Andy Gibb -- I mean, Andy Biggs -- the U.S. representative from Arizona, the U.S. representative who, alas, is LDS. The U.S. representative who made somewhat of a call to war. (And using the word "somewhat "might be a little too generous.)

Remember we, as Americans, are NRA-trained folk, and as such, a lot of us are just waiting to be told the moment has arrived and its time to take up arms against the satanic elements within our government. We are NRA-indoctrinated and filled with distrust, and for some, that means being anxious to march off to war to fulfill a patriotic duty.

One if by land. Two if by sea. As soon as the signal comes, we will be off. We march at dawn.

I am going to change cases and use "you" instead of "we," because I want no part of what could come next. Don't include me. I'm not among those who have been stirred up.

The words of Trump are echoing in your ears. "They're not coming after me. They're coming after you." The words of Kari Lake are fresh on your mind. "If you want to get President Trump, you're going to have to go through 75 million Americans." And the training and instincts drilled into you by the NRA rushes over you.

And, while it's all echoing in your mind, along comes Biggs and tells you the long-awaited moment is here; it's finally arrived. "We have now reached a war phrase," he declares. "Eye for eye."

Well, it seems the public is peeling off, some to America's side, believing justice must be served and if Trump did the crime, he should do the time, and some to the side engendered by the teachings and indoctrination of the NRA. Will it be an actual war? Of course we think no way. Of course we don't think it will actually come to that. But with the rhetoric being issued by Lake, Biggs and others, you have to wonder.