wnd--2020-05-05--Bring back those 'antiquated' education methods

The Department of Education just released results of the quadrennial National Assessment of Educational Progress tests in U.S. history , civics and geography given in 2018 to thousands of American eighth-graders : `` Grade 8 Students ' NAEP Scores Decline in Geography and U.S. History ; Results in Civics Unchanged Since 2014 . ''
The tests were administered from January to March 2018 to a nationally representative sample of 42,700 eighth-graders from about 780 schools .
The news is not very good .
Only 24 % of students performed at or above the `` proficient '' level in civics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ proficient or above in American history , and 25 % were proficient in geography .
At least 25 % of America 's eighth-graders are what NAEP defines as `` below basic '' in U.S. history , civics and geography .
That means they have no understanding of historical and civic issues and can not point out basic locations on a map .
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos referred to the recent national report card as `` stark and inexcusable . ''
She blamed `` antiquated '' education methods for low test scores among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I 'd bet the rent money that eighth-grade students of earlier periods , say during the 1920s , '30s and '40s who were burdened with `` antiquated '' education methods such as having to learn algebra and geometry , identifying parts of speech and memorizing poems like `` Old Ironsides '' could run circles around today 's eighth-graders , high school graduates and perhaps some college graduates .
I think we need to bring back these authentically antiquated education methods .
Part of the solution to our education problem is given by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science and executive director of the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University .
He said : `` Students need to go back to America 's past and ask it questions , starting with our Founding .
They need to study great documents like the Declaration of Independence , the Constitution , Abraham Lincoln 's 'Gettysburg Address , ' and Martin Luther King 's ' I Have a Dream ' speech .
Not just read about them in boring textbooks , but read the documents themselves , for themselves .
Have great conversations with those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story of America in the words of those who lived it . ''
The school climate , seldom discussed , plays a very important role in education .
During the 2017-18 school year , there were an estimated 962,300 violent incidents and 476,100 nonviolent incidents U.S. public schools nationwide .
Seventy-one percent of schools reported having at least one violent incident , and 65 % reported having at least one nonviolent incident .
Schools with 1,000 or more students had at least one sworn law enforcement officer .
About 90 % of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Trump wants investigation of network anchor over death of intern I bet that decades ago , one would be hard put to find either armed or unarmed police officers patrolling the building .
For example , between 1950 and 1954 , I attended Benjamin Franklin High School in Philadelphia .
The only time we saw a police officer in the building was during an assembly where we had to listen to a boring lecture on safety .
Today , police patrol the hallways .
Another school in north Philadelphia , Strawberry Mansion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cameras , six school police officers and two metal detectors .
Students had to walk through the metal detectors to enter the building and were often searched by police officers .
It was on the list of those most persistently dangerous schools in Pennsylvania .
Aside from violence , there are many instances of outright disrespect for teachers .
First- and second-graders telling teachers to `` Shut the f–- up '' and calling teachers `` b -- ch . ''
To note the attitude of some school administrators , a New Jersey teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When she asked her principal to permanently remove the student from her classroom , the principal told her to `` put on her big girl panties and deal with it . ''
Years ago , the behavior of young people that we see today never would have been tolerated .
There was the vice principal 's office where corporal punishment would be administered for gross infractions .
If the kid was unwise enough to tell his parents what happened , he might get more punishment at home .
Today , unfortunately , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that sound good and caring , and we 're witnessing the results .

The Department of Education just released results of the quadrennial National Assessment of Educational Progress tests in U.S. history, civics and geography given in 2018 to thousands of American eighth-graders: "Grade 8 Students' NAEP Scores Decline in Geography and U.S. History; Results in Civics Unchanged Since 2014."
The tests were administered from January to March 2018 to a nationally representative sample of 42,700 eighth-graders from about 780 schools. The news is not very good. Only 24% of students performed at or above the "proficient" level in civics. Worse yet, only 15% scored proficient or above in American history, and 25% were proficient in geography. At least 25% of America's eighth-graders are what NAEP defines as "below basic" in U.S. history, civics and geography. That means they have no understanding of historical and civic issues and cannot point out basic locations on a map.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos referred to the recent national report card as "stark and inexcusable." She blamed "antiquated" education methods for low test scores among the nation's eighth-graders. That's nonsense. I'd bet the rent money that eighth-grade students of earlier periods, say during the 1920s, '30s and '40s who were burdened with "antiquated" education methods such as having to learn algebra and geometry, identifying parts of speech and memorizing poems like "Old Ironsides" could run circles around today's eighth-graders, high school graduates and perhaps some college graduates. I think we need to bring back these authentically antiquated education methods.
Part of the solution to our education problem is given by Dr. Jeffrey Sikkenga, professor of political science and executive director of the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University. He said: "Students need to go back to America's past and ask it questions, starting with our Founding. They need to study great documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, Abraham Lincoln's 'Gettysburg Address,' and Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech. Not just read about them in boring textbooks, but read the documents themselves, for themselves. Have great conversations with those great minds – discover for themselves the story of America in the words of those who lived it."
The school climate, seldom discussed, plays a very important role in education. During the 2017-18 school year, there were an estimated 962,300 violent incidents and 476,100 nonviolent incidents U.S. public schools nationwide. Seventy-one percent of schools reported having at least one violent incident, and 65% reported having at least one nonviolent incident. Schools with 1,000 or more students had at least one sworn law enforcement officer. About 90% of those law enforcement officers carry firearms.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
I bet that decades ago, one would be hard put to find either armed or unarmed police officers patrolling the building. For example, between 1950 and 1954, I attended Benjamin Franklin High School in Philadelphia. The only time we saw a police officer in the building was during an assembly where we had to listen to a boring lecture on safety. Today, police patrol the hallways. Another school in north Philadelphia, Strawberry Mansion High School, once had 94 security cameras, six school police officers and two metal detectors. Students had to walk through the metal detectors to enter the building and were often searched by police officers. It was on the list of those most persistently dangerous schools in Pennsylvania.
Aside from violence, there are many instances of outright disrespect for teachers. First- and second-graders telling teachers to "Shut the f–- up" and calling teachers "b--ch." To note the attitude of some school administrators, a New Jersey teacher was seriously assaulted by a student. When she asked her principal to permanently remove the student from her classroom, the principal told her to "put on her big girl panties and deal with it."
Years ago, the behavior of young people that we see today never would have been tolerated. There was the vice principal's office where corporal punishment would be administered for gross infractions. If the kid was unwise enough to tell his parents what happened, he might get more punishment at home. Today, unfortunately, we've replaced practices that work with practices that sound good and caring, and we're witnessing the results.


wnd--2020-05-06--Food shopper covers face with KKK hood

Food shopper covers face with KKK hood

( LOS ANGELES TIMES ) -- SANTEE , California -- A man was spotted wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood @ @ @ @ @ San Diego County city of Santee on Saturday , igniting outrage from the mayor , @ @ @ @ @ League in San Diego and others .
A corporate spokeswoman said grocery clerks repeatedly asked @ @ @ @ @ hood or leave the store , located on Mission Gorge Road .
A supervisor found @ @ @ @ @ in a checkout line and asked him again to take off the hood or leave @ @ @ @ @ a spokeswoman for Vons , Albertsons and Pavilions stores in Southern California .

(LOS ANGELES TIMES) -- SANTEE, California -- A man was spotted wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood in a Vons in the San Diego County city of Santee on Saturday, igniting outrage from the mayor, the head of the Anti-Defamation League in San Diego and others.
A corporate spokeswoman said grocery clerks repeatedly asked the shopper to remove the hood or leave the store, located on Mission Gorge Road.
A supervisor found the man once he was in a checkout line and asked him again to take off the hood or leave, said Melissa Hill, a spokeswoman for Vons, Albertsons and Pavilions stores in Southern California.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-06--Report: Hair-salon owner gets jail for violating lockdown

( BREITBART ) -- A Dallas hair salon owner who defied a Coronavirus lockdown order will spend seven days in @ @ @ @ @ local news report .
The salon owner refused to keep her business closed and defied @ @ @ @ @ order from Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins in April .
“ Shelley Luther , a @ @ @ @ @ opened in violation of the governor ’ s executive order , sentenced to 7 days @ @ @ @ @ criminal contempt of court and fined $ 7,000 , ” CBSDFW reported Andrea Lucia tweeted @ @ @ @ @ corrected her tweet and reported the fine to be $ 500 per day — $ @ @ @ @ @ .

(BREITBART) -- A Dallas hair salon owner who defied a Coronavirus lockdown order will spend seven days in jail, according to a local news report. The salon owner refused to keep her business closed and defied a direct cease and desist order from Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins in April.
“Shelley Luther, a Dallas hair salon owner who opened in violation of the governor’s executive order, sentenced to 7 days in jail for civil / criminal contempt of court and fined $7,000,” CBSDFW reported Andrea Lucia tweeted on Tuesday.
Lucia later corrected her tweet and reported the fine to be $500 per day — $3,500 so far and growing.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-05-07--Oregon threatens small business owner with massive fine after she defies shutdown order

Like many small business owners , Lindsey and Scott Graham of Oregon just want to get their businesses back up and running , but have reportedly been threatened with a $ 70,000 fine if they do .
The couple 's gym , four tanning salons and hair salon have been closed since late March , when Democratic Gov .
Kate Brown implemented her `` Stay Home , Save Lives '' executive order .
Lindsey Graham given birth to a newborn shortly before the shutdown began , but did n't anticipate being out of work so long .
Graham told PJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go , and the closures have cost the family thousands in lost revenue .
As a result , she opted to open one of her businesses -- Glamour Salon in Salem .
On Monday , Lindsey Graham was sanitizing her closed hair salon in preparation to open the following day , when an official from Oregon 's Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division , or OSHA , showed up .
TRENDING : Tony Fauci and the Trojan horse of tyranny Graham said he threatened her with a $ 1,000 fine if she opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noncompliance '' if she remained open following the first citation , according to PJ Media .
( It 's worth noting that Graham called OSHA , and says she was told in a recorded message and by a live representative that the agency does not enforce stay-at-home or business shutdown orders . )
The maximum penalty for that second fine , the outlet reported , is $ 70,000 .
In her Facebook video Monday , Graham said she was `` terrified '' and could n't `` possibly risk a $ 70,000 citation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening up is that I do n't want my family to be in a financial situation later because the government closed our businesses , '' she said , later indicating that she felt `` beaten down . ''
`` Well , I do n't even really want to reopen tomorrow , I just kind of have to , '' Graham told KOIN on Monday .
`` It 's been more a month , and we do n't even have a date yet , and I ca n't imagine our family surviving that way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and with no income coming in . ''
Graham joined protests over the weekend calling on the governor to allow businesses to reopen , making her a sort of de facto figurehead for the movement .
`` It was pretty eye-opening and also devastating to know that the reason we were there is because we were begging her to let us reopen our businesses and just work , '' she said .
She also told the news outlet that her employees would be taking all necessary precautions to ensure everyone 's health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinfecting between appointments , and restricting the number of employees and customers inside the business .
Still , reopening would be in defiance of Brown 's order .
Graham went ahead and reopened anyway , and a crowd showed up outside her business to support her .
Brown 's office said in a statement to KGW that they were aware of the salon 's operation in defiance of the order , calling it `` irresponsible and unfortunate . ''
Oregon 's OSHA would n't confirm to the outlet whether it would take punitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said defying the `` Stay Home , Save Lives '' orders could cost Graham up to $ 1,250 in fines and/or 30 days in prison for the Class C misdemeanor charge .
KGW also reported that OSHA `` did point out that a willful violation of their rules carries a minimum fine of $ 8,900.00 . ''
There have been no reports of Graham receiving the citation despite opening Tuesday , but another salon owner was not as fortunate , as Shelley Luther of Texas was sentenced to a week in jail after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closures .
Business owners are not grandstanding , they are just doing their best to earn a living after their businesses were shuttered indefinitely by stroke of a pen .
The shutdowns have caused economic hardship for so many across the nation , but even in the left-leaning state of Oregon , there is hope as people like Graham begin to push back against their authoritarian government .
People are losing the businesses they 've worked a lifetime to build , while their employees are left hoping they can obtain unemployment benefits .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find ways to safely get back to work , and it is the government 's job to get out of their way as soon as possible .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Like many small business owners, Lindsey and Scott Graham of Oregon just want to get their businesses back up and running, but have reportedly been threatened with a $70,000 fine if they do.
The couple's gym, four tanning salons and hair salon have been closed since late March, when Democratic Gov. Kate Brown implemented her "Stay Home, Save Lives" executive order. Lindsey Graham given birth to a newborn shortly before the shutdown began, but didn't anticipate being out of work so long.
Graham told PJ Media she had to let 25 employees go, and the closures have cost the family thousands in lost revenue.
As a result, she opted to open one of her businesses -- Glamour Salon in Salem.
On Monday, Lindsey Graham was sanitizing her closed hair salon in preparation to open the following day, when an official from Oregon's Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division, or OSHA, showed up.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Graham said he threatened her with a $1,000 fine if she opened and an additional fine for "willful noncompliance" if she remained open following the first citation, according to PJ Media. (It's worth noting that Graham called OSHA, and says she was told in a recorded message and by a live representative that the agency does not enforce stay-at-home or business shutdown orders.)
The maximum penalty for that second fine, the outlet reported, is $70,000.
In her Facebook video Monday, Graham said she was "terrified" and couldn't "possibly risk a $70,000 citation."
"The whole point of me opening up is that I don't want my family to be in a financial situation later because the government closed our businesses," she said, later indicating that she felt "beaten down."
"Well, I don't even really want to reopen tomorrow, I just kind of have to," Graham told KOIN on Monday. "It's been more a month, and we don't even have a date yet, and I can't imagine our family surviving that way without knowing when we can work again and with no income coming in."
Graham joined protests over the weekend calling on the governor to allow businesses to reopen, making her a sort of de facto figurehead for the movement.
"It was pretty eye-opening and also devastating to know that the reason we were there is because we were begging her to let us reopen our businesses and just work," she said.
She also told the news outlet that her employees would be taking all necessary precautions to ensure everyone's health, such as using masks and gloves, disinfecting between appointments, and restricting the number of employees and customers inside the business.
Still, reopening would be in defiance of Brown's order.
Graham went ahead and reopened anyway, and a crowd showed up outside her business to support her.
There’s a large crowd forming outside Glamour salon in Salem this morning as it reopens against @OregonGovBrown’s Stay Home Save Lives order. They tell us they’re in support of the salon reopening today @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/SMFljTNH8e — Amber Wilmarth (@amberwilmarth) May 5, 2020
Brown's office said in a statement to KGW that they were aware of the salon's operation in defiance of the order, calling it "irresponsible and unfortunate."
Oregon's OSHA wouldn't confirm to the outlet whether it would take punitive action, though the governor's office said defying the "Stay Home, Save Lives" orders could cost Graham up to $1,250 in fines and/or 30 days in prison for the Class C misdemeanor charge.
KGW also reported that OSHA "did point out that a willful violation of their rules carries a minimum fine of $8,900.00."
There have been no reports of Graham receiving the citation despite opening Tuesday, but another salon owner was not as fortunate, as Shelley Luther of Texas was sentenced to a week in jail after opening her salon in defiance of state-mandated closures.
Business owners are not grandstanding, they are just doing their best to earn a living after their businesses were shuttered indefinitely by stroke of a pen.
The shutdowns have caused economic hardship for so many across the nation, but even in the left-leaning state of Oregon, there is hope as people like Graham begin to push back against their authoritarian government.
People are losing the businesses they've worked a lifetime to build, while their employees are left hoping they can obtain unemployment benefits.
Good people like Lindsey Graham simply wish to find ways to safely get back to work, and it is the government's job to get out of their way as soon as possible.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-05-07--Ex-Planned Parenthood teacher reveals disturbing agenda for children

A former `` sex educator '' for Planned Parenthood has confessed that the abortion-industry giant has a social agenda to normalize all forms of sexual behavior .
Monica Cline , who was Title X training manager for Planned Parenthood for 10 years , says she was told when she was recruited for the job : `` We 're not going to teach them not to have sex .
We 're going to teach them how to do it safer . ''
She made the disclosures in a commentary published by the Washington Examiner .
Title X is a federal program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning medical services .
But Cline said it 's also `` the perfect vehicle for Planned Parenthood to promote social change by utilizing its well-meaning prevention education to proselytize youth toward sexual promiscuity and abortion . ''
TRENDING : Tony Fauci and the Trojan horse of tyranny How did the federal effort `` get from planning for a family and healthy births to risky sexual behavior and abortion ? ''
Planned Parenthood `` takes sex education to the next level . ''
`` Their added spice to education transforms our youth from naturally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
She was instructed by her superiors to have students write `` all the slang terms for reproductive body parts or sexual activities '' so they would reduce their inhibitions about discussing sex .
`` You can imagine how crass this becomes , '' she said .
Soon they `` begin to believe that this is part of healthy sex education . ''
`` The terms are dehumanizing , and the activity serves to restructure their thoughts about their bodies , others ' bodies , and the act of sex .
Sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for marriage or for having babies , to being crass , seeking pleasure over meaningful relationships , accepting STDs as a way of life , and terminating the lives of babies so we can worship our sexual rights without hindrance , '' Cline wrote .
Consequently , all forms of sexual activity become normalized .
She said Planned Parenthood teaches that parents are irrelevant .
`` This type of sex education does not protect our youth .
It only serves to encourage them to explore all sexual activities and places a burden on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bear .
Will Planned Parenthood continue to educate our youth about sex ?
Of course , they ’ ll try .
Planned Parenthood and other like-minded organizations have been collaborating for years to establish illicit sex education in our schools and communities .
Remember , it ’ s big money for them , '' she wrote .
The way to correct the problem , she believes , is to `` reclaim parenthood . ''
`` Don ’ t check out on your kids .
Engage with them and take the lead in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over our children , and our children are waiting for us to lead . ''

A former "sex educator" for Planned Parenthood has confessed that the abortion-industry giant has a social agenda to normalize all forms of sexual behavior.
Monica Cline, who was Title X training manager for Planned Parenthood for 10 years, says she was told when she was recruited for the job: "We're not going to teach them not to have sex. We're going to teach them how to do it safer."
She made the disclosures in a commentary published by the Washington Examiner.
Title X is a federal program to help women and families access family planning medical services. But Cline said it's also "the perfect vehicle for Planned Parenthood to promote social change by utilizing its well-meaning prevention education to proselytize youth toward sexual promiscuity and abortion."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
How did the federal effort "get from planning for a family and healthy births to risky sexual behavior and abortion?"
Through sex education, she explained.
Planned Parenthood "takes sex education to the next level."
"Their added spice to education transforms our youth from naturally curious to sexually explicit," Cline wrote.
She was instructed by her superiors to have students write "all the slang terms for reproductive body parts or sexual activities" so they would reduce their inhibitions about discussing sex.
"You can imagine how crass this becomes," she said.
Soon they "begin to believe that this is part of healthy sex education."
"The terms are dehumanizing, and the activity serves to restructure their thoughts about their bodies, others' bodies, and the act of sex. Sexual intimacy is redefined from being special, for marriage or for having babies, to being crass, seeking pleasure over meaningful relationships, accepting STDs as a way of life, and terminating the lives of babies so we can worship our sexual rights without hindrance," Cline wrote.
Consequently, all forms of sexual activity become normalized.
She said Planned Parenthood teaches that parents are irrelevant.
"This type of sex education does not protect our youth. It only serves to encourage them to explore all sexual activities and places a burden on them that they are not prepared to bear. Will Planned Parenthood continue to educate our youth about sex? Of course, they’ll try. Planned Parenthood and other like-minded organizations have been collaborating for years to establish illicit sex education in our schools and communities. Remember, it’s big money for them," she wrote.
The way to correct the problem, she believes, is to "reclaim parenthood."
"Don’t check out on your kids. Engage with them and take the lead in their lives. Parents are the sole authority over our children, and our children are waiting for us to lead."


wnd--2020-05-07--County: Health chief 'misspoke' saying he would forcibly remove the infected from homes

When the health director for California 's Ventura County declared at a news conference that he had mobilized teams who were prepared to remove people infected with the coronavirus from their homes , some residents took him at his word .
`` Forcibly remove people from their homes and families ?
?
?
Do you hear yourself , Levin ?
? ''
wrote one in the comment section of a Facebook post of video of the news conference Monday .
The reference was to Dr. Robert Levin , the county health director , who was announcing the launch of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deploys health workers who identify and trace people infected with the coronavirus .
It 's actually a revamping and expansion of an existing effort to comply with an order from California Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
The ability to trace the infected and their contacts is one of his indicators for loosening state-wide stay-at-home orders .
`` We will isolate every one of them , and we will find every one of their contacts , '' Levin told residents of the Southern California county at the televised conference Monday .
`` And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will check in with them every day . ''
TRENDING : Tony Fauci and the Trojan horse of tyranny What really drew the attention of some was Levin 's example of what might happen to an infected person who lives with three or four people in a home with only one bathroom .
`` We 're not going to be able to keep that person in the home , '' he said .
`` Every person we are isolating needs to have their own bathroom .
`` So we will be moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing that we have available , '' said Levin , where the county will provide food and other necessities .
'We 're not going to 'rip people out of their houses' The county 's public information officer , Ashley Bautista , told WND on Wednesday she had been dealing with the reponses of confused and angry citizens .
`` So people were feeling like Dr. Levin was saying that the county is going to rip people out of their houses , and that 's just not the case , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 `` are given guidance , and if they ca n't safely isolate , and they want a safe place to stay to protect their family , we have alternative options . ''
No one has been forced to isolate , she said .
`` But , of course , legally speaking , a public health officer has the authority to do that . ''
Bautista said Levin `` has not done that , nor does he recommend doing that . ''
She promised to send WND a citation of the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to forcibly remove people from their homes , but the email had not been received by the time this article was published .
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures , every state , the District of Columbia and most territories have laws authorizing quarantine and isolation , usually through the state ’ s health authority .
`` On social media , people really took it like the government is going to come in and take me away from my family , '' she told WND .
`` It 's not even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just , hey , this is an option .
If you need isolation , hey , we 've got a hotel for you .
We 'll even deliver you restaurant meals .
I mean , like that 's a good deal . ''
She acknowledged , however , that Levin made it sound as if he would forcibly remove people from their homes .
`` Oh , that is what he said , '' Bautista affirmed .
`` He said that people were going to be isolated .
So he misspoke .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bautista said she hoped that the matter would be resolved when Levin later clarified his remarks at the 1 p.m. news conference Wednesday .
`` I just think there 's a heightened sense of anger and fear in our community , as this drums along , but that has never been the intention of the county to take people from their home , '' Bautista said .
`` That is just an option ( for people ) at this point . ''
At the news conference later , Levin said he had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people the impression that if you were isolated you would be taken out of your home '' and `` sequestered . ''
`` If I did do that , I 'm sorry , '' he said .
Levin said people who are infected and do n't want to stay in their homes do have the option , however .
`` We 'll work with you to find a place to stay , and it 's likely to be a hotel or a motel , '' he said .
`` But we will desire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your place of residence and a bathroom that can be dedicated to just you . ''
He said there have been 600 cornavirus cases in the county , and only in `` very , very unusual circumstances have we had to put someone up in a motel or a hotel , and this is for reasons that have nothing to do with your choice of staying in your household . ''

When the health director for California's Ventura County declared at a news conference that he had mobilized teams who were prepared to remove people infected with the coronavirus from their homes, some residents took him at his word.
"Forcibly remove people from their homes and families??? Do you hear yourself, Levin??" wrote one in the comment section of a Facebook post of video of the news conference Monday.
The reference was to Dr. Robert Levin, the county health director, who was announcing the launch of a pilot program called Community Contact Tracing that deploys health workers who identify and trace people infected with the coronavirus. It's actually a revamping and expansion of an existing effort to comply with an order from California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. The ability to trace the infected and their contacts is one of his indicators for loosening state-wide stay-at-home orders.
"We will isolate every one of them, and we will find every one of their contacts," Levin told residents of the Southern California county at the televised conference Monday. "And we will make sure they are quarantined and will check in with them every day."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
What really drew the attention of some was Levin's example of what might happen to an infected person who lives with three or four people in a home with only one bathroom.
"We're not going to be able to keep that person in the home," he said. "Every person we are isolating needs to have their own bathroom.
"So we will be moving people like this into other kinds of housing that we have available," said Levin, where the county will provide food and other necessities.
'We're not going to 'rip people out of their houses'
Are governments looking at forcibly removing people from their homes in the coronavirus pandemic? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 93% (180 Votes) 7% (13 Votes)
The county's public information officer, Ashley Bautista, told WND on Wednesday she had been dealing with the reponses of confused and angry citizens.
"So people were feeling like Dr. Levin was saying that the county is going to rip people out of their houses, and that's just not the case," she said.
Bautista explained that people who test positive for COVID-19 "are given guidance, and if they can't safely isolate, and they want a safe place to stay to protect their family, we have alternative options."
No one has been forced to isolate, she said.
"But, of course, legally speaking, a public health officer has the authority to do that."
Bautista said Levin "has not done that, nor does he recommend doing that."
"It's completely optional."
She promised to send WND a citation of the law granting authority to the county health director to forcibly remove people from their homes, but the email had not been received by the time this article was published. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, every state, the District of Columbia and most territories have laws authorizing quarantine and isolation, usually through the state’s health authority.
"On social media, people really took it like the government is going to come in and take me away from my family," she told WND. "It's not even like that it all. It's just, hey, this is an option. If you need isolation, hey, we've got a hotel for you. We'll even deliver you restaurant meals. I mean, like that's a good deal."
She acknowledged, however, that Levin made it sound as if he would forcibly remove people from their homes.
"Oh, that is what he said," Bautista affirmed. "He said that people were going to be isolated. So he misspoke. But that wasn't the intention."
'Heightened sense of anger'
Bautista said she hoped that the matter would be resolved when Levin later clarified his remarks at the 1 p.m. news conference Wednesday.
"I just think there's a heightened sense of anger and fear in our community, as this drums along, but that has never been the intention of the county to take people from their home," Bautista said. "That is just an option (for people) at this point."
At the news conference later, Levin said he had been told that on Monday he "gave people the impression that if you were isolated you would be taken out of your home" and "sequestered."
"If I did do that, I'm sorry," he said.
Levin said people who are infected and don't want to stay in their homes do have the option, however.
"We'll work with you to find a place to stay, and it's likely to be a hotel or a motel," he said.
"But we will desire for you to have your own room in your place of residence and a bathroom that can be dedicated to just you."
He said there have been 600 cornavirus cases in the county, and only in "very, very unusual circumstances have we had to put someone up in a motel or a hotel, and this is for reasons that have nothing to do with your choice of staying in your household."


wnd--2020-05-06--New York's nursing home 'disaster' is Cuomo's doing

Nursing homes and other long-term health care facilities have suffered the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States .
In Connecticut , for example , 481 of 545 cornavirus deaths in the state during just one recent weeklong period were nursing home patients , the Hartford Courant reported .
TRENDING : Tony Fauci and the Trojan horse of tyranny In New York , the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S. , the problem has been exacerbated by an order requiring nursing homes to admit patients infected with the virus .
New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin chastised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was n't aware of the order .
`` If you are the governor of the state that is the national epicenter of the deadly outbreak , you don ’ t have the luxury of not knowing , or pretending not to know , about the horrendous carnage in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers , '' Goodwin wrote .
`` And if your policies contributed to that carnage , the decent thing to do is to own your mistakes and fix them .
But Goodwin pointed out that Cuomo showed when he answered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , had knowledge of the order .
`` The nursing home has to make the decision , '' Cuomo said .
`` If they don ’ t think they can take care of someone , all they have to do is say no . ''
But that is n't true , Goodwin wrote , according to nursing home executives .
`` The March 25 order that forced infected patients on them allows for no exceptions and has not been changed , '' he wrote .
He cited a `` killer '' paragraph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be denied re-admission or admission to the NH solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19 .
NHs are prohibited from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission . ''
Some nursing homes had reported no deaths before the order was issued March 25 , Goodwin noted .
Cuomo 's claim that state policy mirrored federal actions was disproven in an Associated Press report , and he even started an investigation into nursing homes .
`` For the owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning to be silent and the investigation is a bid to pin the blame for thousands of deaths on them , '' Goodwin wrote .
The Courant reported that between April 22 and April 29 there were 545 new deaths from coronavirus in the state .
By the end of that period , 1,249 of the state 's 2,089 fatalities were nursing home residents .
`` This brings tears to everyone ’ s eyes , '' said epidemiologist Dr. Albert Ko .
The report said Connecticut is not alone .
Massachusetts , New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar increases .
On Tuesday , New York announced 1,700 more deaths in nursing homes than had been previously reported .
In New Hampshire , Public Radio reported more than three in four COVID-19 deaths happened in long-term care homes .
State officials said nearly 77 % of coronavirus-related deaths reported by May 4 were linked to outbreaks at nursing homes .
The BBC reported similar concentrations in other parts of the world .
`` Care homes across Western Europe have been ravaged by coronavirus and in Spain alone there have been more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital Madrid .
The true number may never be known , but families are asking why so many of their elderly relatives were lost , '' the network said .
Nearly 6,000 people have died in nursing homes in Madrid after showing symptoms .
Spanish public prosecutors are investigating possible crimes including manslaughter for neglect , mistreatment and abandonment , the BBC said .
Twitter news aggregator Twitchy noted New York Mayor Bill de Blasio scolded nursing homes , saying many are `` for-profit organizations . ''
Former New York Post and Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City nursing homes were `` ordered to take Covid patients into a closed environment full of the most vulnerable . ''
`` De Blasio is genuinely a horrid person , and his campaign of human sacrifice should never be forgotten , '' he wrote on Twitter .
Another Twitter user wrote : `` That is some *evil* gaslighting , right there .
They did n't take those patients to make a buck – they took them because NY government *forced* them to . ''

Nursing homes and other long-term health care facilities have suffered the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.
In Connecticut, for example, 481 of 545 cornavirus deaths in the state during just one recent weeklong period were nursing home patients, the Hartford Courant reported.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
In New York, the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S., the problem has been exacerbated by an order requiring nursing homes to admit patients infected with the virus.
New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin chastised Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo for claiming he wasn't aware of the order.
"If you are the governor of the state that is the national epicenter of the deadly outbreak, you don’t have the luxury of not knowing, or pretending not to know, about the horrendous carnage in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers," Goodwin wrote. "And if your policies contributed to that carnage, the decent thing to do is to own your mistakes and fix them.
But Goodwin pointed out that Cuomo showed when he answered questions from reporters that he, in fact, had knowledge of the order.
"The nursing home has to make the decision," Cuomo said. "If they don’t think they can take care of someone, all they have to do is say no."
But that isn't true, Goodwin wrote, according to nursing home executives.
"The March 25 order that forced infected patients on them allows for no exceptions and has not been changed," he wrote.
He cited a "killer" paragraph that states: "No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the NH solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. NHs are prohibited from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission."
Some nursing homes had reported no deaths before the order was issued March 25, Goodwin noted.
Cuomo's claim that state policy mirrored federal actions was disproven in an Associated Press report, and he even started an investigation into nursing homes.
"For the owners and staffs, the threats were a warning to be silent and the investigation is a bid to pin the blame for thousands of deaths on them," Goodwin wrote.
The Courant reported that between April 22 and April 29 there were 545 new deaths from coronavirus in the state. By the end of that period, 1,249 of the state's 2,089 fatalities were nursing home residents.
"This brings tears to everyone’s eyes," said epidemiologist Dr. Albert Ko.
The report said Connecticut is not alone.
Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island have also seen similar increases. On Tuesday, New York announced 1,700 more deaths in nursing homes than had been previously reported.
In New Hampshire, Public Radio reported more than three in four COVID-19 deaths happened in long-term care homes.
State officials said nearly 77% of coronavirus-related deaths reported by May 4 were linked to outbreaks at nursing homes.
The BBC reported similar concentrations in other parts of the world.
"Care homes across Western Europe have been ravaged by coronavirus and in Spain alone there have been more than 16,000 deaths, many around the capital Madrid. The true number may never be known, but families are asking why so many of their elderly relatives were lost," the network said.
Nearly 6,000 people have died in nursing homes in Madrid after showing symptoms. Spanish public prosecutors are investigating possible crimes including manslaughter for neglect, mistreatment and abandonment, the BBC said.
Twitter news aggregator Twitchy noted New York Mayor Bill de Blasio scolded nursing homes, saying many are "for-profit organizations."
.@NYCMayor De Blasio on nursing homes: "A lot of these are for-profit organizations. I think there’s going to be a lot of questions about whether they put their residents first or whether they put profit first" pic.twitter.com/KfPZNAXH0d — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) May 6, 2020
Former New York Post and Washington Examiner editor Seth Mandel pointed out the New York City nursing homes were "ordered to take Covid patients into a closed environment full of the most vulnerable."
"De Blasio is genuinely a horrid person, and his campaign of human sacrifice should never be forgotten," he wrote on Twitter.
Another Twitter user wrote: "That is some *evil* gaslighting, right there. They didn't take those patients to make a buck – they took them because NY government *forced* them to."


wnd--2020-05-06--Lawsuit accuses Michigan governor of long list of constitutional violations

The Great Lakes Justice Center has filed a lawsuit against Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer alleging she violated at least six provisions in the U.S. Constitution .
Her restrictions in response to the Chinese coronavirus pandemic , including banning travel between homes , have drawn mass protests .
The complaint announced Wednesday challenges her claim that criminal charges can be filed and fines imposed against violators of her orders .
The lawsuit was filed in Grand Rapids on behalf of several individuals and churches in the state .
It alleges she has violated the First Amendment 's protections of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and association .
TRENDING : Tony Fauci and the Trojan horse of tyranny The complaint also alleges violation of the due process rights of the plaintiffs and the constitutional requirement for separation of powers .
Finally , she 's accused of violating the constitutional assurance of a republican form of government and the Constitution with her use of the state 's emergency powers provisions .
`` Just because a governor has ink in her pen does not mean the Constitution authorizes her to use it , notwithstanding good intentions , '' GLJC said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irrelevant during any emergency , including a pandemic . ''
The center said , `` Instead of every citizen being subject to the rule of law , they have become subjects of defendant ’ s daily edicts . ''
`` Nothing in the U.S. Constitution authorizes a state governor to suspend constitutional representative governance by declaring new emergencies every 28 days into perpetuity .
Allowing one person to wield absolute power is not a republican form of government , it is tyranny , ' '' GLJC said .
`` Churches are essential to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said David A. Kallman , senior counsel with GLJC .
`` If Walmart and Home Depot can open and sell goods to customers while following CDC guidelines , surely churches can do the same . ''
The case was filed in federal court in the Western District of Michigan Southern Division .
It 's on behalf of Word of Faith Christian Center , Keith Butler , Tim Schmig , D. Litt , Whole Life Church , Chuck Vizthum , Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church and Stanley Chatfield III .
It seeks a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlawful and unconstitutional , and a ruling that she acted outside her authority and that the state 's Emergency Powers plan is unconstitutional .
The case points argues that under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment `` government must not make a law 'prohibiting the free exercise ' of religion . ''
However , the governor `` substantially interfered with an deprived plaintiffs of their right to the free exercise of religion in violation of the First Amendment . ''

The Great Lakes Justice Center has filed a lawsuit against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer alleging she violated at least six provisions in the U.S. Constitution.
Her restrictions in response to the Chinese coronavirus pandemic, including banning travel between homes, have drawn mass protests.
The complaint announced Wednesday challenges her claim that criminal charges can be filed and fines imposed against violators of her orders. The lawsuit was filed in Grand Rapids on behalf of several individuals and churches in the state.
It alleges she has violated the First Amendment's protections of the free exercise of religion, free expression and association.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The complaint also alleges violation of the due process rights of the plaintiffs and the constitutional requirement for separation of powers.
Finally, she's accused of violating the constitutional assurance of a republican form of government and the Constitution with her use of the state's emergency powers provisions.
"Just because a governor has ink in her pen does not mean the Constitution authorizes her to use it, notwithstanding good intentions," GLJC said. "The Constitution does not become irrelevant during any emergency, including a pandemic."
The center said, "Instead of every citizen being subject to the rule of law, they have become subjects of defendant’s daily edicts."
"Nothing in the U.S. Constitution authorizes a state governor to suspend constitutional representative governance by declaring new emergencies every 28 days into perpetuity. Allowing one person to wield absolute power is not a republican form of government, it is tyranny,'" GLJC said.
"Churches are essential to the health and well-being of everyone," said David A. Kallman, senior counsel with GLJC. "If Walmart and Home Depot can open and sell goods to customers while following CDC guidelines, surely churches can do the same."
The case was filed in federal court in the Western District of Michigan Southern Division. It's on behalf of Word of Faith Christian Center, Keith Butler, Tim Schmig, D. Litt, Whole Life Church, Chuck Vizthum, Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church and Stanley Chatfield III.
It seeks a declaratory judgment that the governors acts are unlawful and unconstitutional, and a ruling that she acted outside her authority and that the state's Emergency Powers plan is unconstitutional.
The case points argues that under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment "government must not make a law 'prohibiting the free exercise' of religion."
However, the governor "substantially interfered with an deprived plaintiffs of their right to the free exercise of religion in violation of the First Amendment."


wnd--2020-05-06--China expert: Beijing fears probe of 'crime of the century'

The investigations of the origins of the coronavirus pandemic strike fear in the heart of Chinese Communist officials , according to a China expert .
Beijing 's incompetence and it 's apparent cover-up already is clear , said Gordon Chang in an interview Tuesday with the Fox News Channel 's Sean Hannity .
`` [ T ] hey know that something really wrong is going to be exposed , '' said Chang , a foreign affairs journalist and author .
Their actions , he said , `` have been malicious in terms of deliberately taking actions that would inevitably lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of China ’ s borders . ''
TRENDING : Tony Fauci and the Trojan horse of tyranny '' So this is the crime of the century , '' Chang declared .
The European Union said Tuesday its member states will co-sponsor a resolution calling for an independent investigation .
The White House , ABC reported , citing two administration officials , has ordered U.S. intelligence agencies to review intercepted communications and other data to see whether China and possibly the World Health Organization concealed information .
President Trump and Secretary of State Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
The international community 's moves to investigate will make China 's leaders feel `` cornered , '' Chang said .
`` Chinese leaders ... know they have no defense , and so therefore they are acting belligerently , '' he said .
`` This is a very dangerous period . ''
Chang was joined in the interview by Sen. Tom Cotton , R-Ark.
, who said `` calls for an international invetigation like the European Union will now make , that Australia 's already made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaf ears in China , and it 's only going to raise the stakes for making China pay for this pandemic .
`` Some things we can do , like changing our sovereign immunity laws to make sure that Americans can sue the Chinese officials who are responsible for this pandemic , '' Cotton said .
`` There are a lot of overdue actions we can take as well , like bringing our manufacturing base back to the United States , to quit letting China taking our jobs or stealing our intellectual property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a big part of the reaction you see from Congress in the months ahead . ''
Chang said he believes the true death toll in the city of Wuhan , where the coronavirus is believed to have originated , is as many as 50,000 .
`` There have been clusters of disease all throughout the country .
We are seeing a second wave ... but we really do n't know , because they have been extraordinary in covering up all of this .
So we can only guess but it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been reporting . ''
The official death count in Hubei Province , where Wuhan is located , is 4,512 .

The investigations of the origins of the coronavirus pandemic strike fear in the heart of Chinese Communist officials, according to a China expert.
Beijing's incompetence and it's apparent cover-up already is clear, said Gordon Chang in an interview Tuesday with the Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity.
"[T]hey know that something really wrong is going to be exposed," said Chang, a foreign affairs journalist and author.
Their actions, he said, "have been malicious in terms of deliberately taking actions that would inevitably lead to the spread of the virus outside of China’s borders."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"So this is the crime of the century," Chang declared.
The European Union said Tuesday its member states will co-sponsor a resolution calling for an independent investigation.
The White House, ABC reported, citing two administration officials, has ordered U.S. intelligence agencies to review intercepted communications and other data to see whether China and possibly the World Health Organization concealed information. President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have said they believe the virus escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
The international community's moves to investigate will make China's leaders feel "cornered," Chang said.
"Chinese leaders ... know they have no defense, and so therefore they are acting belligerently," he said. "This is a very dangerous period."
Chang was joined in the interview by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who said "calls for an international invetigation like the European Union will now make, that Australia's already made, are going to be met with deaf ears in China, and it's only going to raise the stakes for making China pay for this pandemic.
"Some things we can do, like changing our sovereign immunity laws to make sure that Americans can sue the Chinese officials who are responsible for this pandemic," Cotton said.
"There are a lot of overdue actions we can take as well, like bringing our manufacturing base back to the United States, to quit letting China taking our jobs or stealing our intellectual property. I think that is going to be a big part of the reaction you see from Congress in the months ahead."
Chang said he believes the true death toll in the city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus is believed to have originated, is as many as 50,000.
"There have been clusters of disease all throughout the country. We are seeing a second wave ... but we really don't know, because they have been extraordinary in covering up all of this. So we can only guess but it’s many multiples of what they’ve been reporting."
The official death count in Hubei Province, where Wuhan is located, is 4,512.


wnd--2020-05-06--Mask wearing: Progressives' new virtue signaling

I am fortunate to live in an area where COVID-19 is mostly something we hear about on the news .
Locally , I do not know anyone who has had it .
Most of my friends do n't either .
Two-thirds of the counties in Missouri , a state of 6 million people , have not had a single death from the disease .
Some counties have had not had a single case , let alone a death .
There have only been 16 deaths in Kansas City itself , a city of 500,000 people .
One county in Metro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 100,000 residents and not one death .
For whatever reason , the St. Louis area has been greatly more afflicted than Kansas City where I live .
Even statewide , however , there has been only one death of someone under 30 and only a dozen deaths of people under 50 .
In other words , if you are a millennial in metro Kansas City , your chances of dying from COVID-19 are close to zero and your chances of being hospitalized not much higher .
TRENDING : Tony Fauci and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayors everywhere , however , our mayor , Quinton Lucas , has put Kansas City under the kind of Draconian orders that would have made the mayor of Wuhan envious .
Our so-called `` reopening '' scheduled for May 15 is so inherently flawed and self-defeating I am embarrassed to having actually endorsed Lucas for mayor .
I take small consolation in knowing his progressive , lesbian opponent would have been worse .
From day 1 , my friends and I have been protesting the suspension of our civil rights and the apparent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends , however , are all crotchety right-wingers , several of whom are in the age cohorts most vulnerable to COVID-19 .
By contrast , the only thing I have seen young progressives protesting are protesters like us .
How dare we insist that churches be reopened ?
How dare we sit outside Paneras together and carry on unmasked ?
How dare we take to the public square and wave signs ?
Personally , I am as unaffected as anyone I know .
My wife and I have a big house with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife is recently retired , and I can do my work from wherever .
Area parks , at least on the Kansas side , have never closed .
I go for long walks daily .
So why do I wake up each morning outraged at this assault on our rights as citizens while healthy young people , who have lost their jobs , their pastimes and possibly their futures , say nothing ?
I have my own office in a hip , youth-oriented entertainment district filled with bars and tattoo parlors and vape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Parking is , I must admit , a whole lot easier .
I have yet to wear a mask anywhere .
Most of the young people I pass on the streets , some of them jogging or biking or even driving alone , wear masks , many of them elaborate and almost burka-like .
There is a Whole Foods in my neighborhood .
I see young people lined up outside of it , six feet apart , playing with their cellphones , virtually all masked given the righteousness of the establishment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ go .
Mask wearing has become a form of virtue signaling .
Friends of my mine have been publicly scolded .
I can not say that I have , but I have gotten more than my share of dirty looks .
As the days wear on , and the numbers do n't add up , my sentiment upon seeing these passive clowns has morphed from surprise to disappointment to outright disgust .
I keep thinking that some new indignity , some day , will push them over the edge and make them wake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that day coming .
I have a book coming out in August titled `` Unmasking Obama '' ( available for pre-order at Amazon ) .
I might have to title my next book `` Unmasking America . ''
That is , if I have stomach enough to write it .

I am fortunate to live in an area where COVID-19 is mostly something we hear about on the news. Locally, I do not know anyone who has had it. Most of my friends don't either.
Two-thirds of the counties in Missouri, a state of 6 million people, have not had a single death from the disease. Some counties have had not had a single case, let alone a death.
There have only been 16 deaths in Kansas City itself, a city of 500,000 people. One county in Metro KC, Platte by name, has more than 100,000 residents and not one death.
For whatever reason, the St. Louis area has been greatly more afflicted than Kansas City where I live. Even statewide, however, there has been only one death of someone under 30 and only a dozen deaths of people under 50.
In other words, if you are a millennial in metro Kansas City, your chances of dying from COVID-19 are close to zero and your chances of being hospitalized not much higher.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Like Democratic mayors everywhere, however, our mayor, Quinton Lucas, has put Kansas City under the kind of Draconian orders that would have made the mayor of Wuhan envious.
Our so-called "reopening" scheduled for May 15 is so inherently flawed and self-defeating I am embarrassed to having actually endorsed Lucas for mayor. I take small consolation in knowing his progressive, lesbian opponent would have been worse.
From day 1, my friends and I have been protesting the suspension of our civil rights and the apparent exorcism of civic common sense.
My friends, however, are all crotchety right-wingers, several of whom are in the age cohorts most vulnerable to COVID-19. By contrast, the only thing I have seen young progressives protesting are protesters like us.
How dare we insist that churches be reopened? How dare we sit outside Paneras together and carry on unmasked? How dare we take to the public square and wave signs?
Personally, I am as unaffected as anyone I know. My wife and I have a big house with a yard and garden to ourselves. My wife is recently retired, and I can do my work from wherever. Area parks, at least on the Kansas side, have never closed. I go for long walks daily.
So why do I wake up each morning outraged at this assault on our rights as citizens while healthy young people, who have lost their jobs, their pastimes and possibly their futures, say nothing?
I have my own office in a hip, youth-oriented entertainment district filled with bars and tattoo parlors and vape shops. I go in every day. Parking is, I must admit, a whole lot easier. I have yet to wear a mask anywhere.
Most of the young people I pass on the streets, some of them jogging or biking or even driving alone, wear masks, many of them elaborate and almost burka-like.
There is a Whole Foods in my neighborhood. I see young people lined up outside of it, six feet apart, playing with their cellphones, virtually all masked given the righteousness of the establishment. I have never been and won't go.
Mask wearing has become a form of virtue signaling. Friends of my mine have been publicly scolded. I cannot say that I have, but I have gotten more than my share of dirty looks.
As the days wear on, and the numbers don't add up, my sentiment upon seeing these passive clowns has morphed from surprise to disappointment to outright disgust.
I keep thinking that some new indignity, some day, will push them over the edge and make them wake up, but I do not see that day coming.
I have a book coming out in August titled "Unmasking Obama" (available for pre-order at Amazon).
I might have to title my next book "Unmasking America." That is, if I have stomach enough to write it.


wnd--2020-05-06--Marxist China spearheaded devastating lockdowns

China set the example for lockdown of national economies in an unprecedented move .
Western nations followed the Chinese example and shut down their own economies too .
Lack of supply or demand did n't halted growth , but political decisions did .
We are consequently facing the financial meltdown of a century by political choice .
China is now the world leader , spearheading how everyone handles pandemic crisis .
What the Marxist-Leninist president of the People 's Republic , Xi Jinping , does , we all follow and implement .
Or do we ?
Nobody seems to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city , Wuhan , and its province , Hubei .
Five million Wuhan inhabitants were allowed to leave and traveled elsewhere in China , which leaves 6 million in lockdown Wuhan .
By March 14 , most of Hubei were to resume work and production .
That means there was a lockdown for approximately four weeks in most of Hubei .
Other areas were also affected , national borders and so on .
The point is , China only closed down epicenter areas , but the West closed down whole nations , counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This has severely impacted the economy on a level that may be far worse than China .
From Day 1 , I suggested that the coronavirus crisis must be seen in light of the U.S.-China trade war .
It seems that the Western worship of oligarchs now gives China the upper hand .
TRENDING : Tony Fauci and the Trojan horse of tyranny The panic advice to shut down came from a mix between oligarch Bill Gates , the WHO leader , Marxist-Leninist Dr. Tedros , and was massively pushed by the CNN-led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud of spearheading panic ; they even summed it up in a CNN article .
Dr. Tedros first under- then over-reporting is central , since Western leaders believe that the WHO is equivalent to God .
He allegedly under-reported the China numbers , then brutally switched to over-reporting prospects of millions of dead on March 10 , to EU leaders .
In the March 10 meeting , he estimated a 3.5 % or more death rate among the infected , describing the outbreak as `` pandemic '' and predicting millions dead in Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shocked that others had to calm her down .
An estimated 60-70 % in the population were expected to contract the virus .
British authorities stated 60-80 % .
By March 12 , the EU closed down its economies .
This combined with , in essence , the Imperial College draft , which was not even peer-reviewed , caused the fear of a bug on a level never seen before .
As it turns out , the Imperial College report thatmotivated the U.K. and other nations to leave its herd immunity strategy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written by a professor Neil Ferguson who highly overestimated the numbers for Ebola and Swine influenza .
It predicted that 510,000 could die in the U.K. without lockdown , while 250,000 could die even with an isolationist strategy .
This was recently pointed out by Johan Giesecke , the state epidemiologist for Sweden who also served as the first chief scientist of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ( ECDC ) .
Everyone also forgot that 650,000 people die yearly of a regular influenza , according to the WHO .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from regular influenza was around 80,000 , according to CNN .
Bill Gates , WHO and CNN did not make fuss about that .
We currently have politicians who eagerly flock around billionaire `` pandemic expert '' Bill Gates to take his oligarch advice rather than to listen to national pandemic experts .
Stanford School of Medicine professor John Ioannidis says that the lockdowns could be a `` once in a century evidence fiasco . ''
He has described the coronavirus as a `` very common , mild infection for the vast majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justify the massive measures that violate human rights in our free democratic society ?
So asks Germany 's forefront virus expert in microbiology , Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi , in his open letter to the chancellor of Germany .
Of course , Merkel does not listen to him .
Dr. Bhakdi says : `` This is the incredible tragedy .
The life expectancy of millions is now being shortened because of this .
The horrifying impact on world economy threatens the existence of countless people . ''
Over 1 billion people are now threatened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the U.K. alone , 3 million go hungry .
Many are asking if the COVID-19 reaction was overblown .
In that case , who pushed the exaggerations ?
If politically motivated , the misinformation may have contributed to the largest economic meltdown in a century .
Let us at least now stop continuing the socio-economic suicide and get back to work .

China set the example for lockdown of national economies in an unprecedented move. Western nations followed the Chinese example and shut down their own economies too. Lack of supply or demand didn't halted growth, but political decisions did. We are consequently facing the financial meltdown of a century by political choice.
China is now the world leader, spearheading how everyone handles pandemic crisis. What the Marxist-Leninist president of the People's Republic, Xi Jinping, does, we all follow and implement. Or do we?
Nobody seems to have noticed that China mainly closed down one city, Wuhan, and its province, Hubei. Five million Wuhan inhabitants were allowed to leave and traveled elsewhere in China, which leaves 6 million in lockdown Wuhan. By March 14, most of Hubei were to resume work and production. That means there was a lockdown for approximately four weeks in most of Hubei. Other areas were also affected, national borders and so on.
The point is, China only closed down epicenter areas, but the West closed down whole nations, counties, towns, municipalities, everywhere. This has severely impacted the economy on a level that may be far worse than China.
From Day 1, I suggested that the coronavirus crisis must be seen in light of the U.S.-China trade war. It seems that the Western worship of oligarchs now gives China the upper hand.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The panic advice to shut down came from a mix between oligarch Bill Gates, the WHO leader, Marxist-Leninist Dr. Tedros, and was massively pushed by the CNN-led media. Western oligarch-owned CNN is actually proud of spearheading panic; they even summed it up in a CNN article.
Dr. Tedros first under- then over-reporting is central, since Western leaders believe that the WHO is equivalent to God. He allegedly under-reported the China numbers, then brutally switched to over-reporting prospects of millions of dead on March 10, to EU leaders.
In the March 10 meeting, he estimated a 3.5% or more death rate among the infected, describing the outbreak as "pandemic" and predicting millions dead in Europe. Apparently, Angela Merkel was so shocked that others had to calm her down. An estimated 60-70% in the population were expected to contract the virus. British authorities stated 60-80%. By March 12, the EU closed down its economies.
This combined with, in essence, the Imperial College draft, which was not even peer-reviewed, caused the fear of a bug on a level never seen before. As it turns out, the Imperial College report thatmotivated the U.K. and other nations to leave its herd immunity strategy, turns out to not be peer-reviewed and written by a professor Neil Ferguson who highly overestimated the numbers for Ebola and Swine influenza. It predicted that 510,000 could die in the U.K. without lockdown, while 250,000 could die even with an isolationist strategy.
This was recently pointed out by Johan Giesecke, the state epidemiologist for Sweden who also served as the first chief scientist of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Everyone also forgot that 650,000 people die yearly of a regular influenza, according to the WHO. Even in the U.S., the 2018 deaths from regular influenza was around 80,000, according to CNN. Bill Gates, WHO and CNN did not make fuss about that.
We currently have politicians who eagerly flock around billionaire "pandemic expert" Bill Gates to take his oligarch advice rather than to listen to national pandemic experts.
Stanford School of Medicine professor John Ioannidis says that the lockdowns could be a "once in a century evidence fiasco." He has described the coronavirus as a "very common, mild infection for the vast majority." Do we know enough to justify the massive measures that violate human rights in our free democratic society? So asks Germany's forefront virus expert in microbiology, Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, in his open letter to the chancellor of Germany. Of course, Merkel does not listen to him.
Dr. Bhakdi says: "This is the incredible tragedy. The life expectancy of millions is now being shortened because of this. The horrifying impact on world economy threatens the existence of countless people."
Over 1 billion people are now threatened by hunger due to worldwide lockdowns. In the U.K. alone, 3 million go hungry. Many are asking if the COVID-19 reaction was overblown. In that case, who pushed the exaggerations? If politically motivated, the misinformation may have contributed to the largest economic meltdown in a century. Let us at least now stop continuing the socio-economic suicide and get back to work.
Watch Hanne's recent interview with the Rutherford Institute's John Whitehead:


wnd--2020-05-06--Keep calm and cloister on

Keep calm and cloister on

As the reader will likely have noticed , there 's a common theme playing out in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the part of some of our elected officials .
Here , I refer to the emergence of little tin gods among leftist governors , some of whom are resisting calls to ease stay-at-home orders and social distancing restrictions .
This week , conservative commentator and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino excoriated certain governors in this regard , calling them `` mini tyrants '' as he condemned California Gov .
Gavin Newsom for extending marginally constitutional stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his state closed .
Newsom is n't alone , of course .
Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker was taken to task over his stay-at-home order on religious grounds ( which a U.S. district judge nevertheless ruled as constitutional earlier this week ) , and New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo 's clumsy vacillation between prudence and leftist objectives continues to provide cheap entertainment on a daily basis – at least for those who do n't live in my former home state .
Anyone who 's been paying attention will be aware that some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken by Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , whom I believe is emotionally disturbed on a very deep level .
Arrogant and imperious , she probably exemplifies the deportment against which Mr. Bongino railed .
It 's obvious that the nationwide cloistering is getting old for a lot of folks , and most Americans want to see restrictions eased in their states , largely for economic reasons .
It 's also noteworthy that private citizens who are making a lot of noise in this regard are on both the left and right sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree that some of these little tin gods have abused their offices , and it 's evident that a few are desperately clinging to the augmented powers they 've enjoyed during this pandemic .
As I indicated earlier in this space , some would probably love to see the crisis drag on indefinitely .
Part of this has to do with the advantage they believe they will have over President Donald Trump going into the November election the longer the pandemic persists , but I believe that power intoxication is playing a far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Trojan horse of tyranny Perhaps it is because I was exposed to the concept of abuse of power and authority at a very young age , but I have very little tolerance for those who do abuse their offices , whether in education , the criminal justice system or government .
Quite honestly , I do n't think there 's anything I find more despicable .
In good conscience , however , I have to admit that there are stupid things being said and done across the board ( meaning by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Some of this has clearly been reactive rather than deliberative and has the potential to significantly compound our problems .
Case in point : I 'm in contact with people who work on the front lines in the battle against COVID-19 on a daily basis and , as I 've said more than once , I 've worked with infectious diseases .
I know that this pathogen is not `` just like the flu , '' and despite the very real political opportunism afoot , I do n't believe the risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious illness , and it would seem to me that erring on the side of caution with a disease that could conceivably kill you is probably a pretty good idea .
Then we have the armed protesters who demonstrated against Gov .
Whitmer 's stay-at-home order at Michigan 's Capitol building , which drew some very well-placed criticism from Fox News ' Sean Hannity .
While I readily confess that Gov .
Whitmer would be close to the top of my list of tin gods , you do n't lay siege to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement . ''
You do this when all other contingencies have failed , as our founders intended .
Inasmuch as Whitmer is n't rounding up coronavirus patients and having them incinerated , it occurs to me that there is still sufficient time to remedy the Michigan situation in a civilized manner , either through recall , or simply voting Whitmer out of office at the earliest opportunity .
In the current political climate , it is imperative that those of us who have the capacity to govern our passions double our efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrations attendant to this pandemic .
We already know that those on the left lack the ability to do so , and that any lapses on our part in this area will only provide fodder for their propaganda and wild accusations , as well as inordinately alarming our neighbors .

As the reader will likely have noticed, there's a common theme playing out in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the part of some of our elected officials. Here, I refer to the emergence of little tin gods among leftist governors, some of whom are resisting calls to ease stay-at-home orders and social distancing restrictions. This week, conservative commentator and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino excoriated certain governors in this regard, calling them "mini tyrants" as he condemned California Gov. Gavin Newsom for extending marginally constitutional stay-at-home orders and keeping parks and beaches in his state closed.
Newsom isn't alone, of course. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was taken to task over his stay-at-home order on religious grounds (which a U.S. district judge nevertheless ruled as constitutional earlier this week), and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's clumsy vacillation between prudence and leftist objectives continues to provide cheap entertainment on a daily basis – at least for those who don't live in my former home state.
Anyone who's been paying attention will be aware that some of the most egregious actions have been taken by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, whom I believe is emotionally disturbed on a very deep level. Arrogant and imperious, she probably exemplifies the deportment against which Mr. Bongino railed.
It's obvious that the nationwide cloistering is getting old for a lot of folks, and most Americans want to see restrictions eased in their states, largely for economic reasons. It's also noteworthy that private citizens who are making a lot of noise in this regard are on both the left and right sides of the political spectrum.
I certainly agree that some of these little tin gods have abused their offices, and it's evident that a few are desperately clinging to the augmented powers they've enjoyed during this pandemic. As I indicated earlier in this space, some would probably love to see the crisis drag on indefinitely. Part of this has to do with the advantage they believe they will have over President Donald Trump going into the November election the longer the pandemic persists, but I believe that power intoxication is playing a far bigger role.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Perhaps it is because I was exposed to the concept of abuse of power and authority at a very young age, but I have very little tolerance for those who do abuse their offices, whether in education, the criminal justice system or government. Quite honestly, I don't think there's anything I find more despicable.
In good conscience, however, I have to admit that there are stupid things being said and done across the board (meaning by parties on both sides of the aisle). Some of this has clearly been reactive rather than deliberative and has the potential to significantly compound our problems.
Case in point: I'm in contact with people who work on the front lines in the battle against COVID-19 on a daily basis and, as I've said more than once, I've worked with infectious diseases. I know that this pathogen is not "just like the flu," and despite the very real political opportunism afoot, I don't believe the risks are being overplayed. This is a serious illness, and it would seem to me that erring on the side of caution with a disease that could conceivably kill you is probably a pretty good idea.
Then we have the armed protesters who demonstrated against Gov. Whitmer's stay-at-home order at Michigan's Capitol building, which drew some very well-placed criticism from Fox News' Sean Hannity.
While I readily confess that Gov. Whitmer would be close to the top of my list of tin gods, you don't lay siege to a government building brandishing firearms to "make a statement." You do this when all other contingencies have failed, as our founders intended. Inasmuch as Whitmer isn't rounding up coronavirus patients and having them incinerated, it occurs to me that there is still sufficient time to remedy the Michigan situation in a civilized manner, either through recall, or simply voting Whitmer out of office at the earliest opportunity.
In the current political climate, it is imperative that those of us who have the capacity to govern our passions double our efforts to do so despite the stresses and frustrations attendant to this pandemic. We already know that those on the left lack the ability to do so, and that any lapses on our part in this area will only provide fodder for their propaganda and wild accusations, as well as inordinately alarming our neighbors.


wnd--2020-05-06--Franklin Graham: Hated humanitarian

Franklin Graham: Hated humanitarian

Doctors and nurses put their lives at risk in March to serve COVID-19 patients in a 68-bed emergency field hospital set up in New York 's Central Park .
They did so as a mission of mercy – offering expert treatment to the sick and suffering , and showing the Gospel in action .
But to New York 's wary and unsmiling guardians of `` tolerance , '' it was hate in action .
Alarmed , Mayor Bill de Blasio announced he was `` going to send people over from [ my ] office to monitor '' the hospital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mercy mission , calling it an `` affront to our values of inclusion '' and `` painful for all New Yorkers who care deeply about the LGBTQ community . ''
TRENDING : Tony Fauci and the Trojan horse of tyranny A New York state senator fumed that the city was `` in the unfortunate position of having to accept charity from bigots like Franklin Graham . ''
Graham leads Samaritan 's Purse , which brought the hospital to New York .
His relief organization , he insisted , serves `` everyone regardless of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orientation .
… We do n't discriminate .
Period . ''
Graham 's indelible crime is that he rejects same-sex `` marriage '' and is vocal about it .
That makes him the `` notoriously bigoted , hate-spewing Franklin Graham , '' as Speaker Johnson , uh , spewed .
And for that reason , Johnson announced May 1 he wants to kick Samaritan 's Purse out of the Big Apple .
Actually , he 's a little late .
With the crisis abating , the temporary hospital will be gone by mid-May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with kicking them as they go .
And the reason ?
As Johnson put it , `` Hate has no place in our beautiful city . ''
Franklin 's father , the late Billy Graham , was one of America 's most admired men for decades .
Billy , like Franklin , believed in biblical marriage – one man and one woman for life .
But while Billy was revered , Franklin is despised – a stunning turnaround that took place in less than 10 years .
What happened ?
Ask `` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's honest , sincere , pious and irritatingly perfect neighbor has been called America 's best-known evangelical .
The epitome of evangelical nice when he arrived in Homer 's neighborhood in 1989 , Flanders ' creators later gave him a personality makeover , morphing him from milquetoast to monster .
Nice-guy Ned became an intolerant bigot in a transformation so dramatic that Hollywood took notice and titled such extreme character alterations `` Flanderization . ''
And now life is imitating art .
The left has `` Flanderized '' Franklin Graham , turning a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he has dedicated his life to helping others and that his organization , Samaritan 's Purse , feeds , heals and houses people of all stripes in dire need across the world .
That 's irrelevant .
Graham believes that marriage is between a man and a woman .
That makes him a bigot – along with anyone else who upholds biblical marriage .
It 's beyond ironic and utter fiction – a cartoon just like `` The Simpsons . ''
For proof , follow the money .
Typically , `` haters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help others .
But scholar Arthur Brooks ran the numbers and concluded in his book , `` Who Really Cares : The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism , '' that religious conservatives are much more generous than secular liberals .
And who are `` religious conservatives '' ?
Well , in a nation where three-quarters of the population claim to be Christian , that term equates , for the most part , to Christian conservatives – aka the `` haters . ''
But that 's not all .
Brooks also presented data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatives constitute a sizable portion – `` are also more sympathetic and tolerant than nongivers . ''
Givers , Brooks said , `` express less negative prejudice than nongivers toward African Americans , whites , Latinos , and Asians '' – and many more .
Boom !
So who are the real haters ?
Well , we all know about white supremacists – people who harbor racist , anti-Semitic attitudes and sometimes act them out .
They represent a real pathology in American life .
But that 's on the margins .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up on the left .
The Southern Poverty Law Center and others caricature Christians as haters – a lie that sparked domestic terrorism against the Family Research Council .
But actual malice is alive and well on the left .
A few examples : • Joy Behar , host of ABC 's `` The View , '' mocked Christian prayer as `` mental illness . ''
• Maxine Waters told people to confront and harass members of the Trump administration .
• And self-proclaimed anti-fascist protesters , dubbed `` antifa , '' practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glass bottles and bricks at police , engaged in hand-to-hand combat in street fights and set fires .
The Southern Poverty Law Center says they 're not a hate group .
Even more unsettling is the startling animosity well-educated liberals harbor for conservative Christians .
Researchers George Yancey and David A. Williamson sent a questionnaire on the Christian right to some 3,500 progressive Americans , people with advanced degrees who `` hold relatively high levels of social power . ''
A sizeable minority responded with hair-curling words of intense dislike for conservative Christians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start feeding them to lions again , or burn them at the stake . ''
( Male , aged 36-45 with doctorate ) • `` They should be eradicated without hesitation or remorse . ''
( Female , aged 66-75 with master 's degree ) • `` The only good Christian is a dead Christian . ''
( Male , aged 36-45 with doctorate ) • `` I want them all to die in a fire . ''
( Male , aged 26-35 with doctorate ) • `` Would like to give them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Male , over 75 with master 's degree ) • `` A tortuous death would be too good for them . ''
( Male , aged 36-45 with bachelor 's degree ) • `` I would be in favor of establishing a state for them .
… If not then sterilize them so they ca n't breed more . ''
( Male , aged 46-55 with master 's degree ) You get the idea .
Poisonous hate , blatant bigotry , raw scorn pouring out of the mind and heart of educated `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of power in American society .
It 's worth noticing , too , that the folks over at cafepress.com will happily sell you T-shirts , coffee cups , bumper stickers , even a cap – all emblazoned with `` So many Christians , so few lions . ''
Just satire , you may say .
But you wo n't find T-shirts blaring , `` So many Jews , so few ovens '' or the equally vicious , `` So many blacks , so few Ku Klux Klan members . ''
That 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even humanitarians like Franklin Graham – now is .
And those who mount this shocking assault are the very same people who lecture us against hate .
After all , `` Hate has no place .
… '' John Aman is Director of Communications at D. James Kennedy Ministries and the author of `` Demanding Tolerance : Losing our Freedom to Disagree , '' available at DJKM.org .

By John Aman
Doctors and nurses put their lives at risk in March to serve COVID-19 patients in a 68-bed emergency field hospital set up in New York's Central Park. They did so as a mission of mercy – offering expert treatment to the sick and suffering, and showing the Gospel in action.
But to New York's wary and unsmiling guardians of "tolerance," it was hate in action.
Alarmed, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced he was "going to send people over from [my] office to monitor" the hospital.
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson attacked the mercy mission, calling it an "affront to our values of inclusion" and "painful for all New Yorkers who care deeply about the LGBTQ community."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
A New York state senator fumed that the city was "in the unfortunate position of having to accept charity from bigots like Franklin Graham."
Graham leads Samaritan's Purse, which brought the hospital to New York. His relief organization, he insisted, serves "everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation. … We don't discriminate. Period."
Not good enough.
Graham's indelible crime is that he rejects same-sex "marriage" and is vocal about it. That makes him the "notoriously bigoted, hate-spewing Franklin Graham," as Speaker Johnson, uh, spewed.
And for that reason, Johnson announced May 1 he wants to kick Samaritan's Purse out of the Big Apple. Actually, he's a little late. With the crisis abating, the temporary hospital will be gone by mid-May.
Johnson will have to be satisfied with kicking them as they go. And the reason? As Johnson put it, "Hate has no place in our beautiful city."
Of course.
Franklin's father, the late Billy Graham, was one of America's most admired men for decades. Billy, like Franklin, believed in biblical marriage – one man and one woman for life. But while Billy was revered, Franklin is despised – a stunning turnaround that took place in less than 10 years.
What happened? Ask "The Simpsons'" Ned Flanders. Homer's honest, sincere, pious and irritatingly perfect neighbor has been called America's best-known evangelical. The epitome of evangelical nice when he arrived in Homer's neighborhood in 1989, Flanders' creators later gave him a personality makeover, morphing him from milquetoast to monster.
Nice-guy Ned became an intolerant bigot in a transformation so dramatic that Hollywood took notice and titled such extreme character alterations "Flanderization."
And now life is imitating art. The left has "Flanderized" Franklin Graham, turning a humanitarian into a hater. Never mind that he has dedicated his life to helping others and that his organization, Samaritan's Purse, feeds, heals and houses people of all stripes in dire need across the world.
That's irrelevant. Graham believes that marriage is between a man and a woman. That makes him a bigot – along with anyone else who upholds biblical marriage.
It's beyond ironic and utter fiction – a cartoon just like "The Simpsons." For proof, follow the money. Typically, "haters" don't give away their wealth to help others. But scholar Arthur Brooks ran the numbers and concluded in his book, "Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism," that religious conservatives are much more generous than secular liberals.
And who are "religious conservatives"? Well, in a nation where three-quarters of the population claim to be Christian, that term equates, for the most part, to Christian conservatives – aka the "haters."
But that's not all. Brooks also presented data showing that givers – of which Christian conservatives constitute a sizable portion – "are also more sympathetic and tolerant than nongivers." Givers, Brooks said, "express less negative prejudice than nongivers toward African Americans, whites, Latinos, and Asians" – and many more. Boom!
So who are the real haters?
Well, we all know about white supremacists – people who harbor racist, anti-Semitic attitudes and sometimes act them out. They represent a real pathology in American life. But that's on the margins.
What's not is the bristling animosity bubbling up on the left. The Southern Poverty Law Center and others caricature Christians as haters – a lie that sparked domestic terrorism against the Family Research Council. But actual malice is alive and well on the left. A few examples:
Even more unsettling is the startling animosity well-educated liberals harbor for conservative Christians. Researchers George Yancey and David A. Williamson sent a questionnaire on the Christian right to some 3,500 progressive Americans, people with advanced degrees who "hold relatively high levels of social power."
A sizeable minority responded with hair-curling words of intense dislike for conservative Christians:
"I wish we could start feeding them to lions again, or burn them at the stake." (Male, aged 36-45 with doctorate)
"They should be eradicated without hesitation or remorse." (Female, aged 66-75 with master's degree)
"The only good Christian is a dead Christian." (Male, aged 36-45 with doctorate)
"I want them all to die in a fire." (Male, aged 26-35 with doctorate)
"Would like to give them all a frontal lobotomy." (Male, over 75 with master's degree)
"A tortuous death would be too good for them." (Male, aged 36-45 with bachelor's degree)
"I would be in favor of establishing a state for them. … If not then sterilize them so they can't breed more." (Male, aged 46-55 with master's degree)
You get the idea. Poisonous hate, blatant bigotry, raw scorn pouring out of the mind and heart of educated "progressives" – people wielding the levers of power in American society.
It's worth noticing, too, that the folks over at cafepress.com will happily sell you T-shirts, coffee cups, bumper stickers, even a cap – all emblazoned with "So many Christians, so few lions."
Just satire, you may say. But you won't find T-shirts blaring, "So many Jews, so few ovens" or the equally vicious, "So many blacks, so few Ku Klux Klan members."
That's not socially acceptable. But attacking Christians – even humanitarians like Franklin Graham – now is. And those who mount this shocking assault are the very same people who lecture us against hate. After all, "Hate has no place. …"
John Aman is Director of Communications at D. James Kennedy Ministries and the author of "Demanding Tolerance: Losing our Freedom to Disagree," available at DJKM.org.