Why the Kiss?
The etymology of kissing the ring didn’t find the genesis in the Corleone family in The Godfather. In the early 70s, movie lovers flocked to theaters to watch the American Mafia function. Two sequels of The Godfather were released, one in 1974 and one in 1990.
It is an excellent example of the significance of kissing the ring. It is an emblematic expression of paying homage to one’s superior. It is to reflect one’s respect for the other person. It is a hierarchical issue related to the submission of the person who pledges obedience.
The Catholic Church has had a long tradition of having laity or various clerical levels of kissing the ring of someone higher. During medieval times, rulers like kings and queens had commoners kiss their rings as a sign of submission and subservience to the political heads of various areas in Europe. It was a visual means of showing who is the boss.
The use of the phrase, the royal we, shows that kings and queens of England saw themselves as nearly equal to God. Hence, using the royal we means the king or queen is partnered with God.
In America, Rep. McCarthy went to Mar-a-Lago to kiss Trump’s ring after initially saying on the floor of the House that Trump was responsible for the January 6 insurrection. McCarthy must have felt like some dog asking his master for forgiveness for having an accident on the living room carpet.
Who is the king, and who is the serf?
Even after kissing Trump’s ring, McCarthy’s replacement was Mike Johnson. MJ went to Mar-a-Lago to ensure his position as the Speaker of the House. It didn’t work with McCarthy; why should Johnson fare better?
Beyond the issue of the MAGA branch of the Republican party, kissing the ring of the former twice impeached president who is facing 91 indictments, ad infinitum doesn’t last for much longer than a couple of years. Trump will dump anyone whenever he wishes. After all, he is the Donald.
Enter the strange and haunting paradox. The paradox contains two questions. The first question is to whom does Trump kowtow? And the answer is Putin.
The second paradoxical question is why? What does Putin have on Trump? That is the sixty-four trillion ruble question.
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02/23/24