Member-only story
Dems search for a strategy to defeat the modern Philistine…
Five smooth stones
40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41
The biblical tale of David and Goliath is especially relevant to our national politics today. The story of a young and plucky shepherd boy defeating the Philistine warrior-giant armed with only five smooth stones and a sling is a parable about the limits of power. The underdog possesses the element of surprise, which makes him so appealing and deadly. The Democratic Party nicely plays the part of the underdog, meanwhile, the Philistine bully sits in the White House.
The story of David and Goliath is found in the Old Testament Book of Samuel. The Philistines were known as the “sea people” because they migrated to the area that is now Gaza from their homeland, which many historians cite as the island of Crete. They were the mortal enemies of the Israelites, and the battle described in Samuel was a kind of winner-takes-all, with each army choosing its hero. Goliath looks at his opponent and scorns:
And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he…