God sayeth: “Film ‘smalltalk’ for ‘Mouthwash’ in your car.” She knew Hamilton Co preacher Micah Beckwith would be John Schmitz’s guest on last evening’s podcast. A few minutes later Lo! So it was! Beckwith has run for political office almost as often as me, but I’ve won 1/8

(Precinct Comm 2020, Marion County, Wash. Twp 21-01). Beckwith was “secretly appointed to the [Hamilton Eastern Pub Library Bd] at a mtg where voting 4 the new appointee was not on the agenda or made aware to the public.” (Rudolph, change.org, 02/25/23). Last evening: 2/8

I said Beckwith’s views on The Constitution & on slavery are mis-informed. (I’ll try to provide links to the podcast and to my “smalltalk” segment.) Beckwith said he understands slavery, but shifted the talk (& he was in his car) to sex trafficking. 1: that ignores a big part of 3/8

chattel slavery (protected by The Constitution until 1865) was sex. Visitors to Jefferson’s estate Monticello commented how many of the slave children had red hair. 2: Beckwith is hesitant to criticize our nation’s history & how slavery is in the roots of a tree some call “liberty.” 4/8

He’s posted photos of a Hamilton Co group posing before a Confederate flag. 3: Some see Beckwith as (A) as supportive of Christofascism; (B) a voice white supremacy. 4: In a 10/24/19 video, “The Church’s role in politics,” Beckwith said you can’t be moral if you are a 5/8

“Hindu, an atheist or a Jew.” 5: Let’s be clear: the Framers knew about The Reformation, its decades of warfare betw different groups claiming to be THE “true” Christians & 8 million lives it cost. In other words: not all “Christians” are equal. People like Beckwith have been 6/8

around for a long time. We have separation of church & State because of The Framers, the amendment process & a Supreme Court that has long been held the truth or falsity of a religious belief & the sincerity of believers are safe fr examination by any 7/8

gov’t. U.S. v. Ballard, 322 U.S. 78 (1944). So is Beckwith supportive of Christofascism or white supremacy? Less filling? Great taste? Dessert toping or floor polish? Indiana saw this show a hundred years ago. Its pitchman was named D.C. Stephenson. Look it up in the library. 8/8