In Mark Steyn’s column “Good Luck Hopeychanger-in-Chief” (Maclean’s magazine, Aprl 20, 2009) he notes “for us today the warnings come daily on our TV screens, but no prophet dares translate them.” He’s referring to Daniel and Belshazzar’s feast from the Old Testament.

It seems to me that Mr. Steyn, like most columnists, and bloggers like myself of course, are only too happy to pull on the mantle of prophet and pontificate to all and sundry. Friend Steyn can even, by continually blatting about his troubles with the human rights tribunal (which I agree was a ridiculous exercise, btw) pull on the added cloak of martyr.

However, I have a different prophet in mind for Mark’s consideration – Jonah. And not because of any fishy story about being in the belly of the whale.  The problem most prophets face is that they’re ignored. The Ninevites didn’t’ ignore Jonah. They donned their sackcloth and ashes and made amends with God.  Which of course meant that God didn’t blast the city.

Which pissed Jonah off no end.  He never got over it, going outside the city and sulking because called off the rain of destruction.

Yes indeed, some of the measures being taken around the world are scary. Yes indeed, unbridled capitalism has shown its flaws in its excesses and will have to be bridled. But these are not the signs of the “end of all things”, ala Steyn’s Belshazzar analogy. Its just the sign of change that’s been overdue for a long time.

Sackcloth and ashes aren’t comfortable to wear. They’re not supposed to be.

 But they’re better than the alternative.

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