1st a clarification. Octavia E. Butler, first sci-fi writer awarded the MacArthur Foundation fellowship put the words “Make America great again” in the mouth of a fictional president in 1993’s Parable of the Sower and in the mouth of a fictional presidential candidate in 1998’s Parable of the Talents. Ms. Butler was a six foot tall Black woman, genius of a writer and her estate should receive residuals from every MAGA product sold.
But to my point. I know Gwen Stefani is just an artist and a girl. And perhaps some don’t believe she has a right to her opinions. Perhaps some believe her saying “God bless” makes her a freak and that’s all that you want her to be. Perhaps she’ll offer her apologies and you’ll let her be more.
Maybe she really does want God to bless you. Maybe the Hallow app people paid her to promote prayer and Lent. If not, they sure got a lot of free publicity. But Gwen is an American in a capitalist society. She can render to Caesar if she chooses to do so because God does permit choice.
What if she really wants God to bless you? Does that offend? Yes, I know it does to some. Still, unless Gwen says “bow down to JD Vance” I’ll respect her opinion. And even if I don’t respect her opinion I must agree she has the right to expression.
Finally, I do ask God to bless you. For this I am not ashamed. Calm down, my faith does you no harm. Let Gwen practice hers. If she’s wrong, if I am wrong, most of the harm will be to ourselves.
