Thursday, June 08, 2023

Camels, Needles, and Rich Golfers

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

Luke 18:25 NRSVue

 Last year a number of the world's leading golfers decided to make a deal with the devil. They left the PGA tour to sign for riches with a new tour called LIV financed by Saudi Arabia's Prince Salman. 

Phil Mickelson, in his fifties, has made upwards of 100 million US dollars through the PGA but the Saudi's dangled 100 million more in front of him to make the jump. He tried to spin his defection as freedom from the shackles of the PGA even though he said this about the Saudi regime at the time:

They’re scary mother (expletives) to get involved with.We know they killed (reporter Jamal) Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. “Knowing all of this, why would I even consider this? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates. 

What makes Mickelson's choice even more disgusting is that he is often touted as a devout Christian who is proud of his faith. He obviously know that the Saudi's are, well, MF's who oppress women and LGBTQ2S persons and will kill opponents without a qualm. But I suppose if he goes to church and makes Born Again noises it doesn't matter that he has no integrity whatsoever and has developed a lame justification for his greed. "Let my people go" or something to that effect. 

It is all about greed, isn't it? Today's bombshell news is that the PGA has merged with LIV which will "invest" billions in the combined tour. Rich people get richer. Those who claim to be Christians might pay heed to Jesus' words that it is easier for a duffer to get a hole in one than for a rich golfer to enter the Kingdom of God (Golfers Revised Verson of the Bible). 

P.S. Aren't political cartoonists the brilliant prophets of our time? 



2 comments:

kb said...

Well done David! -KB

David Mundy said...

Thank you Kathy. I can be my own strongest critic but I kinda liked this one myself.