Pelosi's Speech Ripping was a Symbolic Act of Violence

Jaquelyn Kennedy’s dignified response to the assassination of JFK is said to have prevented riots, as the nation mourned in shock at the unthinkable. She held herself with poise and self control when she exited the hospital, when LBJ was sworn in, when she greeted the White House staff upon her return from that terrible day, when she walked with Bobby Kennedy at the funeral accompanying the casket, when she knelt at the casket, when she left the White House with her children, the list goes on.

 

Jaquelyn Kennedy was in a position of influence, and took that grave responsibility seriously, thus acting with poise, touching countless lives and strengthening us by showing that one can respond to tragedy with courage, faith, and poise.

 

Queen Elizabeth II is said to have prepared herself for her coronation. She knew that she was bearing the responsibility of a chain of royalty going back to Alfred the Great, and perhaps to the legendary King Arthur. For hours she would be subject to under bright lights and cameras as she went thought the rites of coronation, yet the young queen did not express discomfort in any way, she was aware that she was responsible for showing an example of royalty, and she took that responsibility so seriously that she did not allow herself one flinch, one extra blink of the eye.

 

Nancy Pelosi’s behavior at the State of the Union address is of grave concern. She is seen mumbling when President Trump was speaking, reading his speech when she ought to have been listening respectfully, clapping when President Trump praised women but conspicuously not clapping when he praised the lowest Black unemployment in US history - now that should be a serious wake up call, not clapping for Black empowerment, wow. Finally, she unapologetically ripped his speech four full times up there on the podium knowing she was being watched by half the world.

 

Her behavior was that of open contempt. The speech ripping was a symbolic act of violence.

 

What followed was swift. Riots, looting, physical violence, murders. Is there a connection? Let’s look at scripture and tradition.

 

Nadav and Avihu were the sons of Aharon the High Priest. In the Sinai desert, the Jews were commanded to build a Tabernacle and dedicate it on a specific day in a specific manner. These brothers deviated from the correct practice of the dedication service: a fire came down from heaven, removed their souls from their bodies, and they died on the spot.

 

Why such a harsh heavenly punishment? The Midrash (tradition) says - because they were the sons of the High Priest and expected to show an example to the Jewish nation of correct Temple service. Any deviation, even if well intentioned, would have had terrible ramifications on the nascent Jewish nation’s understanding of observing the commandments. A slight deviation on the part of a leader can lead to chaos on the part of the people.

 

At the state of the union address, Pelosi’s mumbling, selective clapping, pointing her harshly clapping hands at the President, and finally the brazen speech ripping, were, according to scripture, tradition, and historical precedent, utterly reprehensible actions.