SCOTT LUDWIG: Trump’s agenda: Habitat for inhumanity

Seeking to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope.

Such is the mission statement of Habitat for Humanity, an organization whose vision is simply this: to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

The late Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, was one of Habitat’s most ardent supporters. Continuing a regimen he began in 1984, Carter donated one week of his time – which included his considerable building skills – to the cause. It would take up a lot of space to list all of his and wife Rosalynn’s accomplishments, but that’s not what this story is about.

Rather, it’s about the current president, who appears to be doing everything in his power to destroy everything the Carter’s have built. It’s sadly ironic that just three weeks after Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100, Donald Trump was sworn in as our 47th president.

Getting back to Habitat for a moment, it is based on five principles:

1. Demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ.

2. Focus on shelter.

3. Advocate for affordable housing.

4. Promote dignity and hope.

5. Support sustainable and transformative development.

I’ll pause right here to give everyone some time to put together a list of everything Trump has done to support any one of these five principles. Go ahead; I’ll wait.

I can see that you need more time. Maybe we should just move on.

Because the truth of the matter is that such a list will never exist. In fact, most of what Trump has done in his first month in office is a far cry from anything remotely in the realm of what could be considered humane. And although it appears he is doing it intentionally, I believe some of it can be attributed to his listening to the evil voices around him and, quite simply, he just doesn’t know any better. (This is the part where you get to say “Bless his heart.”)

If that wasn’t the case, then how could you possibly explain:

· Pardoning the 1,500 defendants who were criminally charged for their involvement in the Jan. 6 attack of the Capitol. (“What I did was a great thing for humanity.” Trump actually said that when he was publicly confronted about the matter.)

· Reversing climate initiates.

· Considering the use of military force to seize control of Greenland and the Panama Canal.

· Eliminating DEI programs.

· Rolling back the Obama-era directive protecting immigrants in sensitive areas such as courtrooms, hospitals, schools and places of worship.

· Whatever it is he appears to be doing to dismantle the FBI and the CIA.

· Initiating ICE deportations in major cities, resulting in hundreds of immigrants being detained.

· Assembling a cabinet of sycophants, many of whom are clearly if not utterly unqualified for their respective positions. We all know at least one or two to whom I’m referring, so don’t pretend that you don’t.

· Alleging that DEI policies are partially to blame for a tragic air travel disaster. (Then what, pray tell, is the cause of the one after that? Or the one after that? Or the one after that?)

· Leveling hefty tariffs on Canada and Mexico because, well, why the hell not? (Brace yourself, consumers. Sort of gives new meaning to let the buyer beware, doesn’t it?)

· Suggesting turning the Gaza Strip into the French Riviera of the Middle East. (This has to be one of the absolute dumbest ideas he’s ever had – and that’s saying something, because there have been a few. As a point of reference, see any of the preceding 10 items … or the one coming next.)

And here’s one you almost had to see for yourself to believe:

· Demanding an apology from an Episcopal Bishop, for simply appealing to Trump’s better angels during a prayer service to have mercy on the LGBTQ community and migrant workers who are in the country illegally.

Trump is making it hard to believe that we’ll ever be able to live in a world where everyone even has a place to live, let alone a decent one. Because the way things are going now, that decent place won’t be anywhere in the United States of America.

Even if we get Greenland.