My father, David O. Ovienmhada of blessed memory was a walking encyclopedia of idiomatic expressions. When we were little, we all used to think of him as a giant of immense knowledge.
He never said much to express himself, but he always said enough.
He loved to employ idioms.
It was then left for you to figure out what he meant. One of those expressions was: “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.” Thus, every time I saw a house with plenty of glass, I would remember my father.
Now that I’m a grown man, I understand the expression differently. You really don’t need to live in a glass house to know what it means. You, my friend, are the glass house. Every single person on earth is a moving, talking, waltzing glass house.
We all have skeletons. We are all bent, crooked, smelly, and full of holes. No one is perfect. None. We should therefore be slow to pass judgement on other people lest we be swiftly judged also.
The story of Matt “Perfect” Gaetz comes to mind as I write this essay. His big moment in life seemed to have fallen on his laps when Donald Trump nominated him for Attorney General of the United States. In a cursory look at the pecking order in terms of importance, weight and relevance or status of office, many would choose the Office of the Attorney General over many others. He is the Chief law enforcement officer of the nation. He is pretty much like a “small president.” His word is powerful. He must be seen rarely. He must speak rarely. His word is weighty. What he says, and how he says it can cause markets to move North or South.
In other words, reading his lips can
make many rich or poor, free or shackled.
For a long time, Matt Gaetz, Congressman from Florida who had dirty laundry of his own chose to be airing the laundry of others. He castigated his colleagues and berated them for no justifiable reason. He made himself into a Trump Acolyte as he became Trumpier than Trump. He carried water for Trump, unsolicited. He ruined many a career with his causticity. It was so bad that in his moment of need, there was no one left in the room to speak for him.
That must be very sad, and lonely.
When one looks at the Crossroads of life, the big moment that could have been, one could not, but feel sorry for the man as he withdrew his name from further consideration for the exalted post of Attorney General.
I remembered my father yet again. He said enough to fill our hearts, and minds for a lifetime.
In the last year, Matt Gaetz, it was, who destroyed the political career of the man who always wanted to be Speaker, to name but one.
Just because he could do it, he wielded his caustic tongue, whether it was true or not, justified or not, he laid it on Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The man became embittered enough to say he was no longer going to run for office. When you destroy a man like that who had many people in his own corner, in your day of sunshine, instead of people to clear the way for your “hosanna, what manner of man is this?” you will be hearing whispers—whispers that speak louder than the sound of a hundred empty drums strung together for a parade.
“Attorney General Matt Gaetz—2025 to 2029” will not be etched in giant letters of gold when the history of the Justice Department of the United States of America is written.
When his name is remembered, if at all, it will be when the story of another person is told, in one irrelevant corner of an obscure chapter as the pen of a ready writer writes—-the man who could have been Attorney General, “Mr. Perfect-not-so perfect Matt Gaetz.”
As you go into the weekend, remember these words from the only person who was ever known to be completely perfect. Even he said, referring to the Pharisees who liked to castigate and pass judgement, and to tear up, and to pull down: Matthew 9: 11-13.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, “I WILL HAVE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE” for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
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Michael Ovienmhada.
Excellently crafted. He that has ears let “him ” hear what the iron pen is saying. What goes round comes round
Interesting article on one of the paradoxes of life… In the Florida Rep’s case, a local proverb could be appropriate to sum it all up – A bird is caught by its wings, a man by his tongue.
The great Obanya, thank you for your commentary. I’ll add that to my repertoire of idioms.
Cha-Cha, thank you.
I really enjoyed this essay on “Mr-perfect-not-so-perfect”.
“Every single person on earth is a moving, talking, waltzing glass house.”
Thank you, my friend. Much love.
Very well put. 8 only hop3 er especially Nigerian politit9sns will learn the golden lesson.