westernjournal--2020-07-29--Veteran Columnist Stands Tall After Attacks for Calling Out George Soros’ Role in ‘Lawlessness’

A newspaper columnist in one of the country ’ s biggest cities is putting on a master class in journalistic courage — but liberals aren ’ t likely to be learning from it .
Veteran Chicago Tribune writer John Kass is standing tall against groundless accusations of anti-Semitism over a column he wrote last week pointing out the role of liberal billionaire George Soros in the decline of law enforcement in major urban areas .
The column was truthful and backed up by facts , and the point should have been at least somewhat familiar material to anyone who follows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HuffPost has reported , Soros and his Open Society Foundations bankrolled the elections of liberal candidates for district attorneys offices throughout the country .
Soros , Kass wrote , “ remakes the justice system in urban America , flying under the radar.
” TRENDING : Barr Asks the One Question Democrats Do n't Want To Hear During Contentious Hearing The results of those campaigns , Kass wrote in his July 22 piece , are all too evident — rising crime and urban riots that have led President Donald Trump to send federal agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the local authorities are clearly overwhelmed .
“ In Chicago , Philadelphia , San Francisco , St. Louis , and elsewhere , it is the mayors who are the faces of their cities , not the prosecutors , ” Kass wrote under the headline , “ Something grows in the big cities run by Democrats : An overwhelming sense of lawlessness.
” “ If Trump truly wants to help the cities , he might privately call the mayors and ask them about the prosecutors backed by Soros , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America who have delivered on their promises .
They promised to empty their jails through the social justice warrior policy of ‘ decarceration.
’ They also help give repeat , violent criminals little or no bond when arrested .
“ And in many of the violent cities , the prosecutors have delivered on their promises , not to keep the violent in jail , but to let them out.
” There ’ s not a word of that that isn ’ t true .
Besides his own native Chicago and the notorious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her handling of the Jussie Smollett “ attack ” that was either incredibly corrupt or criminally inept ) , Kass ’ mention of St. Louis , San Francisco and Philadelphia was no accident .
In St. Louis , Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner is a woman who has no interest in prosecuting criminals but has brought charges against a couple for defending their home from potential Black Lives Matter marauders .
RELATED : Soros Group Cash Dump Will Fund 'Black-Led Racial Justice Groups for Years to Come' In San Francisco , the Soros-backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son of domestic terrorists who doesn ’ t believe public urination is a crime worth prosecuting .
In Philadelphia , the Soros prosecutor is Larry Krasner , a lifelong defense attorney who ’ s known for having an antagonistic relationship with his own police department .
Again , all are “ progressive ” prosecutors .
All were backed by Soros money .
And all are contributing in their own way to the lawlessness that ’ s rippling through the United States .
And what is the response from the Chicago Tribune Guild ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s employees ) ?
According to Chicago media columnist Robert Feder , a letter from the union claimed the column was anti-Semitic , and demanded an apology from the newspapers ’ management and from Kass himself , on the spurious grounds that criticism of Soros is anti-Semitic .
The letter claimed the column was “ antithetical to our values as a newsroom and detrimental to our hopes of winning new readers.
” “ The essential point ?
The odious , anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that billionaire George Soros is a puppet master controlling America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mainstream voice , especially at a time when hate crimes are rising , ” the letter stated .
There ’ s not a word of “ anti-Semitism ” in the Kass column .
In fact , if a reader didn ’ t already know Soros is at least nominally Jewish by birth , there was no indication that he is .
Bringing that kind of criticism to the Kass column requires a level of intellectual dishonesty that is breathtaking even in the breathtaking year of 2020 .
The letter apparently had some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kass ’ column has been moved from Page 2 of the newspaper , where it has appeared since the death of the legendary columnist Mike Royko in 1997 , to further back with other opinion pieces , Feder reported .
Of course , any honest reader would have to know the union ’ s letter is dishonest , politically motivated garbage , but in too many cases of late , prominent figures faced with dishonest , politically motivated garbage have disgraced themselves with an alarming willingness to grovel at the feet of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees leaps to mind ) .
In a column published in the Tribune on Wednesday , he made it clear he wasn ’ t backing down .
“ Most people subjected to cancel culture don ’ t have a voice .
They ’ re afraid .
They have no platform .
When they ’ re shouted down , they ’ re expected to grovel .
After the groveling , comes social isolation .
Then they are swept away , ” he wrote .
“ The larger question is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that hopes to silence people like me , but about America and its young .
Those of us targeted by cancel culture are not only victims .
We are examples , as French revolutionaries once said , in order to encourage the others .
“ And , as they are shaped and taught to fear even the slightest accusation of thought crime , they will not view themselves as weak for falling in line .
Instead they will view themselves as virtuous .
And that is the sin of it.
” That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s another sin here : the sin that American journalism has fallen to the depth that it has — where broadcast and cable “ news ” anchors have no problems being pimped for cheap propaganda for the liberal cause .
And once-respected newspapers are no more than shrill sheets pushing an activist agenda .
The sin of it is that in the journalism of 2020 America , a column like the one Kass published Wednesday is newsworthy at all .
But it is , and as befits a piece by a veteran columnist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have been the basics of journalism — make your point , back it up with facts and let the readers decide .
It ’ s a lesson the liberal media has no interest in learning .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A newspaper columnist in one of the country’s biggest cities is putting on a master class in journalistic courage — but liberals aren’t likely to be learning from it.
Veteran Chicago Tribune writer John Kass is standing tall against groundless accusations of anti-Semitism over a column he wrote last week pointing out the role of liberal billionaire George Soros in the decline of law enforcement in major urban areas.
The column was truthful and backed up by facts, and the point should have been at least somewhat familiar material to anyone who follows American politics: As even the liberal HuffPost has reported, Soros and his Open Society Foundations bankrolled the elections of liberal candidates for district attorneys offices throughout the country.
Soros, Kass wrote, “remakes the justice system in urban America, flying under the radar.”
My response to the #GeorgeSoros bs and #cancelculture in newsrooms:
I will not apologize for writing the truth about Soros.
I will not bow to those who’ve wrongly defamed me. Ever.
But I do thank readers and friends who stood by me.https://t.co/oAq6Y0AIue — John Kass (@John_Kass) July 29, 2020
The results of those campaigns, Kass wrote in his July 22 piece, are all too evident — rising crime and urban riots that have led President Donald Trump to send federal agents to cities, including Chicago, where the local authorities are clearly overwhelmed.
“In Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, St. Louis, and elsewhere, it is the mayors who are the faces of their cities, not the prosecutors,” Kass wrote under the headline, “Something grows in the big cities run by Democrats: An overwhelming sense of lawlessness.”
“If Trump truly wants to help the cities, he might privately call the mayors and ask them about the prosecutors backed by Soros,” he said.
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“These prosecutors are among the few politicians in America who have delivered on their promises. They promised to empty their jails through the social justice warrior policy of ‘decarceration.’ They also help give repeat, violent criminals little or no bond when arrested.
“And in many of the violent cities, the prosecutors have delivered on their promises, not to keep the violent in jail, but to let them out.”
There’s not a word of that that isn’t true.
Besides his own native Chicago and the notorious prosecutor Kim Foxx (best known nationally for her handling of the Jussie Smollett “attack” that was either incredibly corrupt or criminally inept), Kass’ mention of St. Louis, San Francisco and Philadelphia was no accident.
In St. Louis, Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner is a woman who has no interest in prosecuting criminals but has brought charges against a couple for defending their home from potential Black Lives Matter marauders.
In San Francisco, the Soros-backed prosecutor is Chesa Boudin, the literal son of domestic terrorists who doesn’t believe public urination is a crime worth prosecuting.
In Philadelphia, the Soros prosecutor is Larry Krasner, a lifelong defense attorney who’s known for having an antagonistic relationship with his own police department.
Again, all are “progressive” prosecutors. All were backed by Soros money. And all are contributing in their own way to the lawlessness that’s rippling through the United States.
And what is the response from the Chicago Tribune Guild (the union that represents the newspaper’s employees)?
According to Chicago media columnist Robert Feder, a letter from the union claimed the column was anti-Semitic, and demanded an apology from the newspapers’ management and from Kass himself, on the spurious grounds that criticism of Soros is anti-Semitic.
The letter claimed the column was “antithetical to our values as a newsroom and detrimental to our hopes of winning new readers.”
“The essential point? The odious, anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that billionaire George Soros is a puppet master controlling America’s big cities does not deserve a mainstream voice, especially at a time when hate crimes are rising,” the letter stated.
There’s not a word of “anti-Semitism” in the Kass column. In fact, if a reader didn’t already know Soros is at least nominally Jewish by birth, there was no indication that he is. Bringing that kind of criticism to the Kass column requires a level of intellectual dishonesty that is breathtaking even in the breathtaking year of 2020.
The letter apparently had some impact on the Tribune’s management. Kass’ column has been moved from Page 2 of the newspaper, where it has appeared since the death of the legendary columnist Mike Royko in 1997, to further back with other opinion pieces, Feder reported.
Of course, any honest reader would have to know the union’s letter is dishonest, politically motivated garbage, but in too many cases of late, prominent figures faced with dishonest, politically motivated garbage have disgraced themselves with an alarming willingness to grovel at the feet of their new liberal masters (the New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees leaps to mind).
Kass, fortunately, appears made of sterner stuff.
In a column published in the Tribune on Wednesday, he made it clear he wasn’t backing down.
“Most people subjected to cancel culture don’t have a voice. They’re afraid. They have no platform. When they’re shouted down, they’re expected to grovel. After the groveling, comes social isolation. Then they are swept away,” he wrote.
“The larger question is not about me, or the political left that hopes to silence people like me, but about America and its young. Those of us targeted by cancel culture are not only victims. We are examples, as French revolutionaries once said, in order to encourage the others.
“And, as they are shaped and taught to fear even the slightest accusation of thought crime, they will not view themselves as weak for falling in line. Instead they will view themselves as virtuous. And that is the sin of it.”
That’s infuriatingly true, but there’s another sin here: the sin that American journalism has fallen to the depth that it has — where broadcast and cable “news” anchors have no problems being pimped for cheap propaganda for the liberal cause.
And once-respected newspapers are no more than shrill sheets pushing an activist agenda.
The sin of it is that in the journalism of 2020 America, a column like the one Kass published Wednesday is newsworthy at all.
But it is, and as befits a piece by a veteran columnist as a master class in what once would have been the basics of journalism — make your point, back it up with facts and let the readers decide.
It’s a lesson the liberal media has no interest in learning.
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westernjournal--2020-07-29--Trump Hails Restoration of Law and Order as Feds Pull Back in Portland

Federal agents who have been guarding the U.S. courthouse during violent riots in downtown Portland , Oregon , will begin withdrawing in the next 24 hours , Gov .
Kate Brown said Wednesday , though Trump administration officials said some would remain in the building and the entire contingent would stay in the city on standby .
Protests have been staged nightly in Portland for more than two months .
Some agitators have thrown fireworks , flares and rocks at federal agents , used lasers to blind them and spread graffiti over the face of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month sent agents to the city from U.S. Customs and Border Protection , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S .
Marshals Service as protests increasingly targeted federal property , including the stately U.S. courthouse in downtown Portland .
Brown said agents with CBP and ICE will begin leaving the city ’ s downtown area on Thursday , but Acting Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf wouldn ’ t specify where the agents would go .
TRENDING : Barr Asks the One Question Democrats Don ’ t Want To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal presence would remain in Portland until the Trump administration was assured the agreement was working and the Oregon State Police was sufficiently protecting federal property .
The plan calls for the U.S .
Marshals Service and Federal Protective Service agents to remain inside a fence set up around the federal courthouse , along with some state police , to keep protesters out .
State police will also be posted outside the fence to keep protesters back .
“ I want to be clear about this , the entire DHS law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whether they ’ re staying inside the courthouse , next door or a different location , obviously I ’ m not going to get into that , ” Wolf said on a call with reporters .
“ If … we have indicators and warnings that [ the state police ] deployment is not working , that entire DHS law enforcement presence is available.
” Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton said his agency would deploy a special operations team and some uniformed troopers to the courthouse on a two-week rotation .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affords the removal of the protective fence and restore a semblance of normalcy , while meeting community expectations and our obligations to protect the federal property , ” Hampton said , adding that the troopers were Oregonians .
The agreement also calls for the U.S. government to clean the graffiti off the courthouse , which is federal property .
Trump tweeted shortly after the announcement that federal agents prevented Portland from being “ burned and beaten to the ground.
” Mayor Ted Wheeler also took to Twitter .
“ The federal occupation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fear to our streets .
Federal agents nearly killed a demonstrator , and their presence has led to increased violence and vandalism in our downtown core , ” he wrote .
The tweet referred to a protester who was critically injured July 11 and required facial reconstructive surgery after he was struck by a non-lethal round fired by a federal agent .
Wednesday ’ s announcement was an abrupt about-face from two days earlier , when the federal government said it might send more federal agents to Portland instead .
Brown cautioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t immediately resolve the conflict at the courthouse .
“ I have grown increasingly concerned at the nightly confrontation between local community members and federal officers .
We need to recognize that the protests in Portland are not solely about the federal presence , ” Brown said .
Many protesters want to see the Portland Police Bureau defunded and are angry that officers used tear gas on rioters before federal agents arrived .
Protesters have tried almost every night to tear down a fence erected to protect the courthouse .
Authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concrete highway barriers around it .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Federal agents who have been guarding the U.S. courthouse during violent riots in downtown Portland, Oregon, will begin withdrawing in the next 24 hours, Gov. Kate Brown said Wednesday, though Trump administration officials said some would remain in the building and the entire contingent would stay in the city on standby.
Protests have been staged nightly in Portland for more than two months.
Some agitators have thrown fireworks, flares and rocks at federal agents, used lasers to blind them and spread graffiti over the face of the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse.
President Donald Trump earlier this month sent agents to the city from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service as protests increasingly targeted federal property, including the stately U.S. courthouse in downtown Portland.
Brown said agents with CBP and ICE will begin leaving the city’s downtown area on Thursday, but Acting Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf wouldn’t specify where the agents would go.
He insisted that a federal presence would remain in Portland until the Trump administration was assured the agreement was working and the Oregon State Police was sufficiently protecting federal property.
The plan calls for the U.S. Marshals Service and Federal Protective Service agents to remain inside a fence set up around the federal courthouse, along with some state police, to keep protesters out.
State police will also be posted outside the fence to keep protesters back.
“I want to be clear about this, the entire DHS law enforcement presence in Portland will remain in Portland, whether they’re staying inside the courthouse, next door or a different location, obviously I’m not going to get into that,” Wolf said on a call with reporters.
Do you support federal intervention in violent cities? Yes No
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“If … we have indicators and warnings that [the state police] deployment is not working, that entire DHS law enforcement presence is available.”
Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton said his agency would deploy a special operations team and some uniformed troopers to the courthouse on a two-week rotation.
“OSP hopes to develop an atmosphere that affords the removal of the protective fence and restore a semblance of normalcy, while meeting community expectations and our obligations to protect the federal property,” Hampton said, adding that the troopers were Oregonians.
The agreement also calls for the U.S. government to clean the graffiti off the courthouse, which is federal property.
Trump tweeted shortly after the announcement that federal agents prevented Portland from being “burned and beaten to the ground.”
If the Federal Government and its brilliant Law Enforcement (Homeland) didn’t go into Portland one week ago, there would be no Portland — It would be burned and beaten to the ground. If the Mayor and Governor… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2020
Mayor Ted Wheeler also took to Twitter.
“The federal occupation of our community has brought a new kind of fear to our streets. Federal agents nearly killed a demonstrator, and their presence has led to increased violence and vandalism in our downtown core,” he wrote.
The federal occupation of our community has brought a new kind of fear to our streets. Federal agents nearly killed a demonstrator, and their presence has led to increased violence and vandalism in our downtown core. https://t.co/dImlr5o6jw — Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 29, 2020
The tweet referred to a protester who was critically injured July 11 and required facial reconstructive surgery after he was struck by a non-lethal round fired by a federal agent.
Wednesday’s announcement was an abrupt about-face from two days earlier, when the federal government said it might send more federal agents to Portland instead.
Brown cautioned Wednesday that the departure of federal agents won’t immediately resolve the conflict at the courthouse.
“I have grown increasingly concerned at the nightly confrontation between local community members and federal officers. We need to recognize that the protests in Portland are not solely about the federal presence,” Brown said.
Many protesters want to see the Portland Police Bureau defunded and are angry that officers used tear gas on rioters before federal agents arrived.
Protesters have tried almost every night to tear down a fence erected to protect the courthouse. Authorities this week reinforced the fence by putting concrete highway barriers around it.
[jwplayer pbBAREXy]
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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westernjournal--2020-07-29--Op-Ed: Thanks to Cancel Culture, Now Even ‘Hamilton’ Is Off Limits

As cancel culture continues to rise in the United States , it is inevitable that everything we enjoy will ultimately be deemed offensive by the radical left — even the progressive cultural icons it has previously praised .
A perfect example of this was highlighted with the cinematic release of “ Hamilton ” on Disney ’ s new streaming service , Disney+ .
Shortly after , the previously hallowed musical quickly became the latest target of oppression by the cancel culture mob .
In 2015 , the release of “ Hamilton ” on Broadway stunned our nation , quickly becoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our nation ’ s history through hip hop music with a racially diverse cast allowed Americans from all backgrounds to engage with the story of our Founding Fathers in a manner never before seen .
Praised by celebrities , journalists and politicians alike , the cutting-edge production was turning heads and exciting countless Americans to learn and understand more about our nation ’ s history .
It received 11 Tony Awards ( including Best Musical ) , a Grammy Award and even the Pulitzer Prize .
Speaking objectively , “ Hamilton ” was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through which to view the true events of American history .
TRENDING : Barr Asks the One Question Democrats Do n't Want To Hear During Contentious Hearing Incredibly , in early 2020 , the progressive cultural mentality had shifted so substantially that # CancelHamilton was a hashtag gaining significant traction on Twitter , with one user even tweeting , “ Can we cancel Hamilton for glorifying our racist founding fathers and painting America as a good country ?
” Numerous opinion pieces have been published by CNN , The New York Times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describing the musical as “ problematic ” and “ [ incompatible ] with our current moment.
” So , what happened in the last five years ?
When the musical debuted in early 2015 , President Barack Obama ’ s second term in office was coming to a close .
America had gone through a progressive and cultural transformation with the first black president , and the Black Lives Matter organization was formed following the death of Trayvon Martin .
To see a racially diverse cast performing as America ’ s Founding Fathers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major cultural victory for the left .
The musical quickly became beloved by lovers of the theater and history alike .
As President Donald Trump assumed office in early 2017 , the progressive left had taken much deeper roots throughout American culture , particularly on college campuses , where students were encouraged to engage in cancel culture in a much more prominent and vocal way than ever before .
Allegedly “ offensive ” speakers were targeted on campus with extreme protests and violence , students were attacked by professors and even received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative thought and “ free speech guides ” were issued on hundreds of campuses to limit what students should and shouldn ’ t say at the risk of being offensive .
Today , the students who attended college during these days of extreme ideological indoctrination have graduated ; now we are seeing the results through the growth of cancel culture .
Goya Foods , the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States , was targeted with calls to boycott the brand after its CEO publicly supported President Trump .
RELATED : Victor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Save Itself Thanks to 3 Woke Industries That Just Suicided America ’ s most popular fast-food chain , Chick-fil-A , was constantly under attack for being a Christian-affiliated company and labeled “ anti-LGBT ” before ultimately caving to cancel culture .
And , of course , statues of many of the Founding Fathers have been torn down and vandalized for being associated with any time period which related to historical slavery .
Even statues of President Abraham Lincoln , our first Republican president and the man credited with preserving the Union and ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been canceled by the radical left .
Wait , what ?
With the emotionally driven , hungry mob leading the charge to cancel anything that could possibly be deemed offensive by someone , somewhere , it ’ s inevitable that everything will become a target of cancel culture at some point in time .
Apple Pie ?
Oh no , you ’ re next .
As the needle of the cultural acceptance gauge continues to change with time , eventually even the icons of progressivism like “ Hamilton ” will become the targets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uplift .
The radical left is an increasingly progressive entity with constantly changing standards for what is politically correct .
The movement is eroding its own credibility and exposing itself for nothing more than a rogue attempt at anti-anything .
Sadly , as long as the silent majority remains silent , it is possible that unchecked cancel culture could eliminate any sense of independent identity in our nation .
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal , you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

As cancel culture continues to rise in the United States, it is inevitable that everything we enjoy will ultimately be deemed offensive by the radical left — even the progressive cultural icons it has previously praised.
A perfect example of this was highlighted with the cinematic release of “Hamilton” on Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+. Shortly after, the previously hallowed musical quickly became the latest target of oppression by the cancel culture mob.
In 2015, the release of “Hamilton” on Broadway stunned our nation, quickly becoming a phenomenon. The progressive recounting of our nation’s history through hip hop music with a racially diverse cast allowed Americans from all backgrounds to engage with the story of our Founding Fathers in a manner never before seen.
Praised by celebrities, journalists and politicians alike, the cutting-edge production was turning heads and exciting countless Americans to learn and understand more about our nation’s history. It received 11 Tony Awards (including Best Musical), a Grammy Award and even the Pulitzer Prize.
Speaking objectively, “Hamilton” was the hallmark of a culturally progressive lens through which to view the true events of American history.
Incredibly, in early 2020, the progressive cultural mentality had shifted so substantially that #CancelHamilton was a hashtag gaining significant traction on Twitter, with one user even tweeting, “Can we cancel Hamilton for glorifying our racist founding fathers and painting America as a good country?”
Numerous opinion pieces have been published by CNN, The New York Times, Oprah’s O magazine and more describing the musical as “problematic” and “[incompatible] with our current moment.”
So, what happened in the last five years?
When the musical debuted in early 2015, President Barack Obama’s second term in office was coming to a close. America had gone through a progressive and cultural transformation with the first black president, and the Black Lives Matter organization was formed following the death of Trayvon Martin.
Are you surprised that even "Hamilton" has become a target of cancel culture? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 16% (27 Votes) No: 84% (143 Votes)
To see a racially diverse cast performing as America’s Founding Fathers while rapping on a Broadway stage was a major cultural victory for the left. The musical quickly became beloved by lovers of the theater and history alike.
As President Donald Trump assumed office in early 2017, the progressive left had taken much deeper roots throughout American culture, particularly on college campuses, where students were encouraged to engage in cancel culture in a much more prominent and vocal way than ever before.
Allegedly “offensive” speakers were targeted on campus with extreme protests and violence, students were attacked by professors and even received failing grades for supporting the president or conservative thought and “free speech guides” were issued on hundreds of campuses to limit what students should and shouldn’t say at the risk of being offensive.
Today, the students who attended college during these days of extreme ideological indoctrination have graduated; now we are seeing the results through the growth of cancel culture.
Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, was targeted with calls to boycott the brand after its CEO publicly supported President Trump.
America’s most popular fast-food chain, Chick-fil-A, was constantly under attack for being a Christian-affiliated company and labeled “anti-LGBT” before ultimately caving to cancel culture.
And, of course, statues of many of the Founding Fathers have been torn down and vandalized for being associated with any time period which related to historical slavery. Even statues of President Abraham Lincoln, our first Republican president and the man credited with preserving the Union and ending slavery in the United States, has been canceled by the radical left. Wait, what?
With the emotionally driven, hungry mob leading the charge to cancel anything that could possibly be deemed offensive by someone, somewhere, it’s inevitable that everything will become a target of cancel culture at some point in time.
Apple Pie? Oh no, you’re next.
As the needle of the cultural acceptance gauge continues to change with time, eventually even the icons of progressivism like “Hamilton” will become the targets of the very culture it sought to uplift.
The radical left is an increasingly progressive entity with constantly changing standards for what is politically correct. The movement is eroding its own credibility and exposing itself for nothing more than a rogue attempt at anti-anything.
Sadly, as long as the silent majority remains silent, it is possible that unchecked cancel culture could eliminate any sense of independent identity in our nation.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-07-29--Federal Officers Headed to New Cities as DHS Sec. Sets the Record Straight on Portland

Federal officers are headed to three new cities — Cleveland , Detroit and Milwaukee — as acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf assured Portland , Oregon , that the officers are not leaving until federal properties no longer are under attack .
“ As I told the Governor yesterday , federal law enforcement will remain in Portland until the violent activity toward our federal facilities ends , ” Wolf tweeted Wednesday .
“ We are not removing any law enforcement while our facilities and law enforcement remain under attack.
” TRENDING : Barr Asks the One Question Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hearing Wolf ’ s tweets came after Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown announced the federal government had agreed to a “ phased withdrawal of federal officers ” from Portland .
“ After discussions with the Vice President and administration officials this week , the federal government has agreed to my demand and will withdraw these officers from Portland , ” Brown said Wednesday in a news release .
“ These federal officers have acted as an occupying force , refused accountability , and brought violence and strife to our community.
” The Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will leave downtown Portland .
A statement Wednesday from the Office of Homeland Security did not make it seem as if federal officers would be leaving as quickly as Brown said .
“ The Department will continue to maintain our current , augmented federal law enforcement personnel in Portland until we are assured that the Hatfield Federal Courthouse and other federal properties will no longer be attacked and that the seat of justice in Portland will remain secure , ” Wolf wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ objective since the violent , criminal activity began.
” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler tweeted Wednesday that the federal presence in Portland has brought “ a new kind of fear to our streets.
” RELATED : Trump Hails Restoration of Law and Order as Feds Pull Back in Portland The deployment of federal officers to Cleveland , Detroit and Milwaukee was part of the Department of Justice ’ s announcement Wednesday of the expansion of Operation Legend .
The operation was launched July 8 as a “ sustained , systematic and coordinated law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work with state and local law enforcement officials “ to fight violent crime.
” “ The most basic responsibility of government is to protect the safety of our citizens , ” Attorney General William Barr said in a statement .
“ The Department of Justice ’ s assets will supplement local law enforcement efforts , as we work together to take the shooters and chronic violent criminals off of our streets , ” he said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards @

Federal officers are headed to three new cities — Cleveland, Detroit and Milwaukee — as acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf assured Portland, Oregon, that the officers are not leaving until federal properties no longer are under attack.
“As I told the Governor yesterday, federal law enforcement will remain in Portland until the violent activity toward our federal facilities ends,” Wolf tweeted Wednesday.
“We are not removing any law enforcement while our facilities and law enforcement remain under attack.”
As I told the Governor yesterday, federal law enforcement will remain in Portland until the violent activity toward our federal facilities ends. We are not removing any law enforcement while our facilities and law enforcement remain under attack. — Acting Secretary Chad Wolf (@DHS_Wolf) July 29, 2020
Wolf’s tweets came after Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced the federal government had agreed to a “phased withdrawal of federal officers” from Portland.
“After discussions with the Vice President and administration officials this week, the federal government has agreed to my demand and will withdraw these officers from Portland,” Brown said Wednesday in a news release.
“These federal officers have acted as an occupying force, refused accountability, and brought violence and strife to our community.”
The Democratic governor added that starting Thursday, all Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will leave downtown Portland.
Should more federal officers be deployed to stop the violence across the country? Yes No
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A statement Wednesday from the Office of Homeland Security did not make it seem as if federal officers would be leaving as quickly as Brown said.
“The Department will continue to maintain our current, augmented federal law enforcement personnel in Portland until we are assured that the Hatfield Federal Courthouse and other federal properties will no longer be attacked and that the seat of justice in Portland will remain secure,” Wolf wrote.
“This has been our mission and objective since the violent, criminal activity began.”
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler tweeted Wednesday that the federal presence in Portland has brought “a new kind of fear to our streets.”
The federal occupation of our community has brought a new kind of fear to our streets. Federal agents nearly killed a demonstrator, and their presence has led to increased violence and vandalism in our downtown core. https://t.co/dImlr5o6jw — Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) July 29, 2020
The deployment of federal officers to Cleveland, Detroit and Milwaukee was part of the Department of Justice’s announcement Wednesday of the expansion of Operation Legend.
The operation was launched July 8 as a “sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative” for federal law enforcement to work with state and local law enforcement officials “to fight violent crime.”
“The most basic responsibility of government is to protect the safety of our citizens,” Attorney General William Barr said in a statement.
“The Department of Justice’s assets will supplement local law enforcement efforts, as we work together to take the shooters and chronic violent criminals off of our streets,” he said.
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westernjournal--2020-07-29--Exclusive: Jayapal Described Nazi, Lynching Nightmare at Reopen Michigan Rally, But Look What Video

Exclusive: Jayapal Described Nazi, Lynching Nightmare at Reopen Michigan Rally, But Look What Video Shows

During Attorney General William Barr ’ s House Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday , Rep. Pramila Jayapal omitted important information about a “ Reopen Michigan ” rally that took place in late April , but video provided exclusively to The Western Journal helped paint a more accurate picture of that event .
The Washington Democrat attempted to compare a reopen Michigan protest , which resulted in no violent riots or deaths , to Black Lives Matter protests , which have resulted in violence , riots , lootings and even multiple killings all across the country .
Jayapal claimed the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests while Barr turned a blind eye in Michigan as “ white men ” and “ protesters carry guns and confederate flags and swastikas and call for the governor of Michigan to be beheaded and shot and lynched.
” TRENDING : Barr Asks the One Question Democrats Do n't Want To Hear During Contentious Hearing Brandon Straka , a conservative influencer and founder of the # WalkAway campaign , took to Twitter to address Jayapal ’ s statement .
“ Emotionally unhinged @ RepJayapal describes Re-Open Michigan Rally as ‘ white men with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Gov .
Whitmer , ' ” Straka tweeted .
“ I was AT this rally .
I have footage of myself interviewing BLACK WOMEN there to support the cause .
Every word of this is a lie.
” Although Jayapal described the protesters as swastika-wearing , violent white men demanding the death of their governor , Straka ’ s video from the event tells a different story about the protesters in attendance .
One protester , a black female Trump supporter , explained to Straka why she joined the protest .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our state , ” the protester said .
She went on to explain that she had worked at a daycare , but due to shutdown orders , the daycare had closed and she was now out of a job .
RELATED : MI Swing Voters Say They Are Voting for Trump , Call Biden a 'Puppet' Straka shared the video exclusively with The Western Journal and provided his thoughts on Jayapal ’ s description of the Michigan rally .
“ I ’ m a big believer in using social media to our advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in addition to encouraging those leaving the left to make testimonials I also encouraged conservatives to make videos – reclaiming the false narratives about conservatives created by the liberal media , ” Straka told The Western Journal .
“ We all have the power to get the truth out – but conservative silence has allowed these leftist narratives to thrive .
I want conservatives to speak up and speak out whenever and where ever we can .
“ I want the Silent Majority to become unsilent.
” We are committed to truth and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Read our editorial standards .

During Attorney General William Barr’s House Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, Rep. Pramila Jayapal omitted important information about a “Reopen Michigan” rally that took place in late April, but video provided exclusively to The Western Journal helped paint a more accurate picture of that event.
Bill Barr is aggressive towards Black Lives Matter protests but not armed right-wing extremists threatening to lynch a Governor. Why? Because white men with swastikas storming a Capitol are part of Trump’s agenda while people of color protesting injustice are seen as terrorists. pic.twitter.com/hrpUuatIks — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) July 28, 2020
The Washington Democrat attempted to compare a reopen Michigan protest, which resulted in no violent riots or deaths, to Black Lives Matter protests, which have resulted in violence, riots, lootings and even multiple killings all across the country.
Jayapal claimed the federal government “violently dismantled” Black Lives Matter protests while Barr turned a blind eye in Michigan as “white men” and “protesters carry guns and confederate flags and swastikas and call for the governor of Michigan to be beheaded and shot and lynched.”
Brandon Straka, a conservative influencer and founder of the #WalkAway campaign, took to Twitter to address Jayapal’s statement.
Emotionally unhinged @RepJayapal describes Re-Open Michigan Rally as “white men with swasticas calling for the lynching and beheading of Gov. Whitmer”.
I was AT this rally. I have footage of myself interviewing BLACK WOMEN there to support the cause.
Every word of this is a lie. pic.twitter.com/nmT7sjsprs — Brandon Straka (@BrandonStraka) July 28, 2020
“Emotionally unhinged @RepJayapal describes Re-Open Michigan Rally as ‘white men with swasticas calling for the lynching and beheading of Gov. Whitmer,'” Straka tweeted.
Was the Reopen Michigan rally more peaceful than the majority of Black Lives Matter demonstrations? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 91% (2181 Votes) No: 9% (216 Votes)
“I was AT this rally. I have footage of myself interviewing BLACK WOMEN there to support the cause. Every word of this is a lie.”
Although Jayapal described the protesters as swastika-wearing, violent white men demanding the death of their governor, Straka’s video from the event tells a different story about the protesters in attendance.
One protester, a black female Trump supporter, explained to Straka why she joined the protest.
“Well, I want us to reopen our state,” the protester said.
She went on to explain that she had worked at a daycare, but due to shutdown orders, the daycare had closed and she was now out of a job.
[jwplayer G7hfXTyq]
Straka shared the video exclusively with The Western Journal and provided his thoughts on Jayapal’s description of the Michigan rally.
“I’m a big believer in using social media to our advantage. When I created #WalkAway, in addition to encouraging those leaving the left to make testimonials I also encouraged conservatives to make videos – reclaiming the false narratives about conservatives created by the liberal media,” Straka told The Western Journal.
“We all have the power to get the truth out – but conservative silence has allowed these leftist narratives to thrive. I want conservatives to speak up and speak out whenever and where ever we can.
“I want the Silent Majority to become unsilent.”
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-07-29--NYC’s Seal on Verge of Being Labeled ‘Problematic’: Shows Sailor Carrying Rope with Loop on the End

“ Raymond , why don ’ t you pass the time by playing a little solitaire ?
” That ’ s how Communists turn the brainwashed war veteran and politician ’ s son Raymond Shaw into a lethal assassin in the 1962 film version of “ The Manchurian Candidate.
” Shaw was conditioned to first comply with the suggestion , only fully activating for his sinister mission once he drew the Queen of Diamonds .
It seems a similar phenomenon is at play on the left whereby someone suggests something previously innocuous should be “ looked at ” for possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s conditioned rage response once it is officially deemed “ problematic.
” This week ’ s suggestion regarding newly identified racism comes courtesy of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio , who — when not busy targeting Jewish funerals or defacing public property — secretly contemplates the appropriateness of the city ’ s official seal ( a version of which also happens to be found on the mayor ’ s flag ) .
TRENDING : Barr Asks the One Question Democrats Don ’ t Want To Hear During Contentious Hearing During the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , with de Blasio awash in a sea of the seals emblazoned on the city flags behind him and even his coffee mug , WCBS Newsradio 880 reporter Rich Lamb asked de Blasio about it .
“ This is a little bit out of left field here , ” Lamb began , apparently unaware that this is exactly the kind of thing the mayor spends his time worrying about rather than the worrying wave of violent crime in his city .
“ So I was taking a look at the seal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
“ It ’ s a man in pantaloons holding a rope with a loop at the end of it , presumably a trap or something , and then on the other side of the windmill and a couple of barrels , you have a Native American who ’ s holding a bow .
“ I ’ m just wondering whether you or your commission or somebody is taking a look at that seal and wondering how relevant it is these days.
” “ From time to time , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blasio replied .
“ It ’ s a good question .
It ’ s something of an unclear image , what it ’ s saying to us , but I think that ’ s exactly right .
“ It ’ s the kind of thing a commission should look at carefully and decide if it still makes sense for the 21st century , ” he concluded .
Now that the suggestion has been thrown out there , it may be only a matter of time before the seal joins butter , pancakes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of otherwise harmless things in becoming “ problematic ” to the left .
But neither the reporter nor the mayor seemed to have any knowledge of what the symbols comprising the seal actually were .
RELATED : Leftist Protester Caught on Video Allegedly Trying To Cut NYPD Car Brake Lines Had they simply consulted the city ’ s official description of the seal , they would have learned that the “ man in pantaloons ” is a sailor named Dexter .
Dexter is not exactly holding a “ rope with a loop , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather a seafarer ’ s plummet used for checking ocean depth .
Even The Times properly identified the plummet in a piece about the mayor ’ s response , though the outlet did say that the rope has “ what appears to be a loop on its end.
” ( As the New York Post editorial board pointed out , the “ implication ” is “ that it just might be a noose.
” ) Moreover , a Times reporter parroted Lamb ’ s provocative suggestion when tweeting the story .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on NYC ’ s official seal , ” wrote Cliff Levy , The Times ’ associate managing editor and Metro editor .
“ So is an early American settler , holding a long rope with a loop on its end.
” The Native American man is identified as Sinister , who the city ’ s site describes as an “ Indian of Manhattan.
” He likely represents the people who sold the island of Manhattan to Dutch settlers for a paltry sum ( funny that the people who won ’ t venerate Christopher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparently have no problem inhabiting the land that settlers acquired by low-balling the natives ) .
But the suggestion that this may not be appropriate for today ’ s zeitgeist without any actual acknowledgment of facts or historical context is on par with the anti-American movement we ’ ve seen sweep the country , and could set in motion another mission to destroy history .
For now , the outrage mob has its initial cue with the NYC seal now open to examination , and could fully activate later on once the left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

“Raymond, why don’t you pass the time by playing a little solitaire?”
That’s how Communists turn the brainwashed war veteran and politician’s son Raymond Shaw into a lethal assassin in the 1962 film version of “The Manchurian Candidate.”
Shaw was conditioned to first comply with the suggestion, only fully activating for his sinister mission once he drew the Queen of Diamonds.
It seems a similar phenomenon is at play on the left whereby someone suggests something previously innocuous should be “looked at” for possible racism, completely triggering the left’s conditioned rage response once it is officially deemed “problematic.”
This week’s suggestion regarding newly identified racism comes courtesy of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who — when not busy targeting Jewish funerals or defacing public property — secretly contemplates the appropriateness of the city’s official seal (a version of which also happens to be found on the mayor’s flag).
During the Democratic mayor’s daily news briefing Monday, with de Blasio awash in a sea of the seals emblazoned on the city flags behind him and even his coffee mug, WCBS Newsradio 880 reporter Rich Lamb asked de Blasio about it.
“This is a little bit out of left field here,” Lamb began, apparently unaware that this is exactly the kind of thing the mayor spends his time worrying about rather than the worrying wave of violent crime in his city.
“So I was taking a look at the seal of the city of New York,” he added. “It’s a man in pantaloons holding a rope with a loop at the end of it, presumably a trap or something, and then on the other side of the windmill and a couple of barrels, you have a Native American who’s holding a bow.
“I’m just wondering whether you or your commission or somebody is taking a look at that seal and wondering how relevant it is these days.”
“From time to time, I’ve looked at it,” de Blasio replied. “It’s a good question. It’s something of an unclear image, what it’s saying to us, but I think that’s exactly right.
“It’s the kind of thing a commission should look at carefully and decide if it still makes sense for the 21st century,” he concluded.
Now that the suggestion has been thrown out there, it may be only a matter of time before the seal joins butter, pancakes and syrup, master bedrooms and a myriad of otherwise harmless things in becoming “problematic” to the left.
(To an extent, that’s already happened, with one Native American activist describing, in an interview with The New York Times, the depiction of the two men in the seal as “cartoonish.”)
But neither the reporter nor the mayor seemed to have any knowledge of what the symbols comprising the seal actually were.
Do you think the New York City seal will be the next thing to be deemed "problematic" by the left? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 96% (483 Votes) No: 4% (22 Votes)
Had they simply consulted the city’s official description of the seal, they would have learned that the “man in pantaloons” is a sailor.
The sailor stands on the dexter side of the seal.
He is not exactly holding a “rope with a loop,” as Lamb described it, but rather a seafarer’s plummet used for checking ocean depth.
Even The Times properly identified the plummet in a piece about the mayor’s response, though the outlet did say that the rope has “what appears to be a loop on its end.” (As the New York Post editorial board pointed out, the “implication” is “that it just might be a noose.”)
Moreover, a Times reporter parroted Lamb’s provocative suggestion when tweeting the story.
“A Native American man in a loincloth is on NYC’s official seal,” wrote Cliff Levy, The Times’ associate managing editor and Metro editor. “So is an early American settler, holding a long rope with a loop on its end.”
A Native American man in a loincloth is on NYC’s official seal.
So is an early American settler, holding a long rope with a loop on its end.https://t.co/IWDutR9bIk
By @danarubinstein — Cliff Levy (@cliffordlevy) July 27, 2020
The Native American man stands on the sinister side of the seal, and the city’s site describes him as an “Indian of Manhattan.”
He likely represents the people who sold the island of Manhattan to Dutch settlers for a paltry sum (funny that the people who won’t venerate Christopher Columbus for how he treated indigenous peoples apparently have no problem inhabiting the land that settlers acquired by low-balling the natives).
But the suggestion that this may not be appropriate for today’s zeitgeist without any actual acknowledgment of facts or historical context is on par with the anti-American movement we’ve seen sweep the country, and could set in motion another mission to destroy history.
For now, the outrage mob has its initial cue with the NYC seal now open to examination, and could fully activate later on once the left officially labels the seal “problematic.”
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westernjournal--2020-07-29--Behind-the-Scenes Video: Princess Anne Teaches Queen Elizabeth II How To Use Zoom

The British royal family is no stranger to the outdoors .
Despite their association with manners and castles , they have a history with dogs , horses and the countryside .
Princess Anne has fond memories of her childhood when she was encouraged to explore nature with the full support and enthusiasm of her parents .
“ I was equally fortunate that both my parents had a love and understanding of the natural world through their own experiences , ” she told Country Life , according to Metro .
“ Perhaps even more so for my father when , during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended up at school at Gordonstoun and was introduced to the wilds of Scotland , both land and sea.
” TRENDING : Barr Asks the One Question Democrats Don ’ t Want To Hear During Contentious Hearing According to a video from ITV , Anne also remembers pressing and identifying flowers when she was younger , and she even offered to do similar activities with her grandchildren — but so far , her children haven ’ t taken her up on her offer .
For as much as she loves the natural world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the digital one .
In fact , last month , she joined countless other children who have helped their parents navigate video conferencing .
The only difference , of course , is that Anne ’ s mother is Queen Elizabeth II .
On June 4 , the princess , the queen and four caregivers held a zoom conference in honor of National Carers Week and to hear from these caregivers about their current struggles .
After everyone else was settled , her majesty was introduced by Tom Laing-Baker , her assistant private secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the queen , with none of the muting issues or general flailing that often accompanies joining a video chat .
“ I ’ m very glad to have been able to join you.
” “ Can you see everybody ?
” the princess asked .
“ You should have six people on your screen.
” RELATED : Scientists Are One Step Closer To Detecting Alzheimer 's Disease Elizabeth said she could see only four , but without missing a beat , Anne quipped , “ Actually you don ’ t need me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” After the call , one of the caregivers , Alexandra Atkins from Swansea , said the meeting was amazing .
“ To have them both talking face to face to us was just unreal , ” she said , according to the Independent .
“ It hit me that I was sitting in my bedroom talking to the princess royal and the queen.
” While Anne seems to be able to navigate Zoom effortlessly , she prioritizes in-person communication and makes a point to avoid the more common forms of social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology … being in touch is one thing , but it ’ s not quite the same , ” she said .
“ The ability to meet people , that ’ s what makes the difference .
“ I mean , I know what Twitter is but I wouldn ’ t go anywhere near it if you paid me , frankly.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The British royal family is no stranger to the outdoors. Despite their association with manners and castles, they have a history with dogs, horses and the countryside.
Princess Anne has fond memories of her childhood when she was encouraged to explore nature with the full support and enthusiasm of her parents.
“I was equally fortunate that both my parents had a love and understanding of the natural world through their own experiences,” she told Country Life, according to Metro.
“Perhaps even more so for my father when, during his rather disjointed young life, he ended up at school at Gordonstoun and was introduced to the wilds of Scotland, both land and sea.”
According to a video from ITV, Anne also remembers pressing and identifying flowers when she was younger, and she even offered to do similar activities with her grandchildren — but so far, her children haven’t taken her up on her offer.
For as much as she loves the natural world, she’s no stranger to the digital one. In fact, last month, she joined countless other children who have helped their parents navigate video conferencing.
The only difference, of course, is that Anne’s mother is Queen Elizabeth II.
On June 4, the princess, the queen and four caregivers held a zoom conference in honor of National Carers Week and to hear from these caregivers about their current struggles.
After everyone else was settled, her majesty was introduced by Tom Laing-Baker, her assistant private secretary.
“Ah, good morning at Windsor,” Anne began.
“Good morning,” answered the queen, with none of the muting issues or general flailing that often accompanies joining a video chat. “I’m very glad to have been able to join you.”
“Can you see everybody?” the princess asked. “You should have six people on your screen.”
Elizabeth said she could see only four, but without missing a beat, Anne quipped, “Actually you don’t need me, you know what I look like!”
After the call, one of the caregivers, Alexandra Atkins from Swansea, said the meeting was amazing.
“To have them both talking face to face to us was just unreal,” she said, according to the Independent. “It hit me that I was sitting in my bedroom talking to the princess royal and the queen.”
While Anne seems to be able to navigate Zoom effortlessly, she prioritizes in-person communication and makes a point to avoid the more common forms of social media — especially Twitter.
“With online technology … being in touch is one thing, but it’s not quite the same,” she said. “The ability to meet people, that’s what makes the difference.
“I mean, I know what Twitter is but I wouldn’t go anywhere near it if you paid me, frankly.”
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-07-29--Op-Ed: Surprise! Same Principle That Denies Babies Personhood Was Also Used To Deny Women Personhood

The Supreme Court ’ s new term begins Oct. 5 .
The justices now in recess need to do some very serious thinking about cleaning up the mess that ’ s been made of abortion jurisprudence over the last fifty years .
The politicization of the court has led to the toleration of a judicial error that remains egregious .
It ’ s time to confront Roe v. Wade ’ s infamous legacy — the “ lawful ” prenatal killing of more than 61 million American children .
Not one of these lives was protected by due process , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Magna Carta in 1215 .
The Founders reaffirmed the Magna Carta principle in the U.S. Constitution ’ s Fifth Amendment , ratified in 1791 , as a founding principle of the republic : “ No person shall … be deprived of life … without due process of law.
” TRENDING : Barr Asks the One Question Democrats Don ’ t Want To Hear During Contentious Hearing The innocent are to be protected from arbitrary execution .
The Constitution affirms that all are created equal .
Each of us comes into being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the rule of law , each one of us has an “ unalienable ” right to go on being , to go on living .
Creating an Ambiguity in the 14th Amendment That Was Never There So on what grounds in 1973 ’ s Roe v. Wade did Justice HarryBlackmun initiate a denial of due-process protection to human beings targeted for abortion ?
On what grounds was the original inclusive constitutional meaning of “ persons ” rejected ?
It seems to have been based on the feeble grounds that in oral argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that is — “ no case could be cited that holds that a fetus is a person within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment.
” This was not , of course , the first time in Anglo-American legal history that the rights of a whole category of human beings had been denied on the discriminatory grounds that the term “ person ” did not include them .
In the United Kingdom , for instance , in Nairn v. University of St Andrews ( 1909 ) , the House of Lords questioned if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wide enough to comprise women.
” They decided , just as Blackmun was to do in Roe over six decades later , that the case turned mainly on the meaning of the word “ person.
” It is , they said , “ an ambiguous term , and it must be examined and construed in the light of surrounding circumstances and constitutional principle and practice.
” They concluded pontifically that , in the absence of “ plain language and express statement , ” there could be no doubt when examined that “ person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person ” in the law in question .
RELATED : Op-Ed : COVID-19 Has Given Abortion Providers a Terrifying Opportunity , And They 're Acting Fast Similarly , in 1973 , Blackmun read down the term “ person ” in the Fourteenth Amendment .
He narrowed the meaning of “ person ” to exclude any human being who had not achieved “ viability.
” Semantically Dexterous Antics To Narrow the Meaning of “ Person ” Blackmun , on concluding his Supreme Court career , reminisced about his uncertainties when he first started there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with which Solicitor General Erwin Griswold argued in the Pentagon Papers case that the words “ Congress shall make no law ” mean “ Congress may make some law.
” “ I wondered what I had gotten into down here when words that seemed so plain were interpreted with the opposite meaning.
” And yet ironically , in Roe , Blackmun himself , a remarkably quick learner apparently , went on to perform the same kind of semantically dexterous antics in regard to the Fifth Amendment .
The words “ Nor shall any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without due process of law , ” words that seemed so plain , were interpreted with the opposite meaning : Someone can be deprived of life without due process if we decide arbitrarily that a particular someone ( e.g.
, an unborn child ) is not “ a person in the whole sense.
” This Fifth Amendment prohibition surely warranted a more careful examination than Justice Blackmun accorded it in Roe .
Justice Benjamin Curtis , in his famous dissent from Dred Scott ( 1857 ) , appealed to the Fifth Amendment ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be remembered that this restriction on the legislative power is not peculiar to the Constitution of the United States ; it was borrowed from Magna Charta ; was brought to America by our ancestors , as part of their inherited liberties , and has existed in all the States , usually in the very words of the great charter.
” Adapting Curtis ’ argument , we can say that the requirement that no person be deprived of life without due process of law had existed in all the states when laws protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s womb ” were in place .
Accordingly , Justice William Rehnquist in his dissent from Roe was able to list 36 abortion-limiting laws enacted by state or territorial legislatures prior to the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868 .
Regrettably , an aberrant pro-abortion ideology , emerging just fifty years ago , has engineered an indefensible reversion to pre-Magna Carta autocracy where a single person ( the king ) was permitted to exercise the sole power to decide who was to be allowed to live and who was to die .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centuries later , the U.S. legal system has reneged on the Magna Carta principle that applies common law protections to the innocent “ per legem terræ , ” i.e.
, according to “ the law of the land ” — and not at the mere will of a single person wielding despotic power .
U.S. law has reverted to an unjust investiture in a single person of the power to order a death sentence to be lawfully imposed on a child in that person ’ s care .
It is “ the pregnant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death of an innocent human being .
It is the pregnant woman who has been awarded sole legislative , judicial and executive power to order the killing of “ her unborn child.
” The pregnant woman wills and commands that the “ child , who is in utero ” be executed .
To Kill an Unborn Child Requires Only “ The Consent of the Pregnant Woman ” There can be no place in a genuine rule of law for such a radical despotism that vests absolute power in a single person , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power over the life and death of her “ child , who is in utero.
” If the authority to have “ her unborn child ” killed is vested solely in the child ’ s mother , then the mother ’ s power is absolute .
Contrary to the Constitution ’ s promise , members of “ our Posterity ” are secured no “ Blessings of Liberty ” except such as we , their mothers , see fit to indulge them with .
The illogic of current abortion law is impenetrable .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the killing or attempted killing of a “ child who is in utero ” is a criminal offense [ 18 U.S. Code § 1841 ( a ) ( 1 ) ] .
For other purposes and for other people , viz.
, the mother and her abortionist , the killing or attempted killing of her unborn child is protected from prosecution .
At the mere will of the mother , a child in her womb becomes by law a disposable rightless “ member of the [ human ] species.
” Justice Neil Gorsuch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Services v. Russo , exposed the problematic reluctance to resolve glaring logical inconsistencies bedeviling abortion jurisprudence .
“ The real question we face , ” he wrote , “ concerns our willingness to follow the traditional constraints of the judicial process when a case touching on abortion enters the courtroom.
” Roe v. Wade did indeed trash the traditional constraints of the judicial process .
To make abortions appear “ lawful , ” Roe introduced the disparaging ideological constructs of childless pregnancies and victimless abortion .
It ’ s time for the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due process protection in every state and every jurisdiction for every one of these little ones targeted for professional killing while still in their mothers ’ wombs .
It ’ s time for Supreme Court justices of integrity and courage to reinstate Magna Carta precedent .
It ’ s time to restore justice for these newest smallest members of “ our Posterity ” to whom the Constitution promised “ to secure ” the same “ Blessings of Liberty ” as to “ ourselves.
” The views expressed in this opinion article are those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website .
If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal , you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The Supreme Court’s new term begins Oct. 5. The justices now in recess need to do some very serious thinking about cleaning up the mess that’s been made of abortion jurisprudence over the last fifty years.
The politicization of the court has led to the toleration of a judicial error that remains egregious.
It’s time to confront Roe v. Wade’s infamous legacy — the “lawful” prenatal killing of more than 61 million American children. Not one of these lives was protected by due process, a most fundamental legal precedent that goes back to the Magna Carta in 1215.
The Founders reaffirmed the Magna Carta principle in the U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment, ratified in 1791, as a founding principle of the republic:
“No person shall … be deprived of life … without due process of law.”
The innocent are to be protected from arbitrary execution. The Constitution affirms that all are created equal. Each of us comes into being in our mothers’ wombs, and under the rule of law, each one of us has an “unalienable” right to go on being, to go on living.
Creating an Ambiguity in the 14th Amendment That Was Never There
So on what grounds in 1973’s Roe v. Wade did Justice HarryBlackmun initiate a denial of due-process protection to human beings targeted for abortion? On what grounds was the original inclusive constitutional meaning of “persons” rejected?
It seems to have been based on the feeble grounds that in oral argument — on the spur of the moment, that is — “no case could be cited that holds that a fetus is a person within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment.”
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This was not, of course, the first time in Anglo-American legal history that the rights of a whole category of human beings had been denied on the discriminatory grounds that the term “person” did not include them.
In the United Kingdom, for instance, in Nairn v. University of St Andrews (1909), the House of Lords questioned if the word “person” is “wide enough to comprise women.”
They decided, just as Blackmun was to do in Roe over six decades later, that the case turned mainly on the meaning of the word “person.”
It is, they said, “an ambiguous term, and it must be examined and construed in the light of surrounding circumstances and constitutional principle and practice.”
They concluded pontifically that, in the absence of “plain language and express statement,” there could be no doubt when examined that “person” means [only] “male person” in the law in question.
Similarly, in 1973, Blackmun read down the term “person” in the Fourteenth Amendment. He narrowed the meaning of “person” to exclude any human being who had not achieved “viability.”
Semantically Dexterous Antics To Narrow the Meaning of “Person”
Blackmun, on concluding his Supreme Court career, reminisced about his uncertainties when he first started there.
He was struck by the ingenuity with which Solicitor General Erwin Griswold argued in the Pentagon Papers case that the words “Congress shall make no law” mean “Congress may make some law.”
“I wondered what I had gotten into down here when words that seemed so plain were interpreted with the opposite meaning.”
And yet ironically, in Roe, Blackmun himself, a remarkably quick learner apparently, went on to perform the same kind of semantically dexterous antics in regard to the Fifth Amendment.
The words “Nor shall any person … be deprived of life … without due process of law,” words that seemed so plain, were interpreted with the opposite meaning: Someone can be deprived of life without due process if we decide arbitrarily that a particular someone (e.g., an unborn child) is not “a person in the whole sense.”
Fifth Amendment Principle “Borrowed from Magna Charta”
This Fifth Amendment prohibition surely warranted a more careful examination than Justice Blackmun accorded it in Roe.
Justice Benjamin Curtis, in his famous dissent from Dred Scott (1857), appealed to the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause:
“It must be remembered that this restriction on the legislative power is not peculiar to the Constitution of the United States; it was borrowed from Magna Charta; was brought to America by our ancestors, as part of their inherited liberties, and has existed in all the States, usually in the very words of the great charter.”
Adapting Curtis’ argument, we can say that the requirement that no person be deprived of life without due process of law had existed in all the states when laws protecting “the infant in the mother’s womb” were in place.
Accordingly, Justice William Rehnquist in his dissent from Roe was able to list 36 abortion-limiting laws enacted by state or territorial legislatures prior to the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868.
Shameful Regression to Pre-Magna Carta Autocracy
Regrettably, an aberrant pro-abortion ideology, emerging just fifty years ago, has engineered an indefensible reversion to pre-Magna Carta autocracy where a single person (the king) was permitted to exercise the sole power to decide who was to be allowed to live and who was to die. “The King wills and commands…”
Centuries later, the U.S. legal system has reneged on the Magna Carta principle that applies common law protections to the innocent “per legem terræ,” i.e., according to “the law of the land” — and not at the mere will of a single person wielding despotic power.
U.S. law has reverted to an unjust investiture in a single person of the power to order a death sentence to be lawfully imposed on a child in that person’s care.
It is “the pregnant woman” now who wills and commands the death of an innocent human being. It is the pregnant woman who has been awarded sole legislative, judicial and executive power to order the killing of “her unborn child.”
The pregnant woman wills and commands that the “child, who is in utero” be executed.
To Kill an Unborn Child Requires Only “The Consent of the Pregnant Woman”
There can be no place in a genuine rule of law for such a radical despotism that vests absolute power in a single person, “the pregnant woman”— absolute power over the life and death of her “child, who is in utero.”
If the authority to have “her unborn child” killed is vested solely in the child’s mother, then the mother’s power is absolute.
Contrary to the Constitution’s promise, members of “our Posterity” are secured no “Blessings of Liberty” except such as we, their mothers, see fit to indulge them with.
The illogic of current abortion law is impenetrable.
For some purposes and some people only, the killing or attempted killing of a “child who is in utero” is a criminal offense [18 U.S. Code § 1841 (a)(1)]. For other purposes and for other people, viz., the mother and her abortionist, the killing or attempted killing of her unborn child is protected from prosecution.
At the mere will of the mother, a child in her womb becomes by law a disposable rightless “member of the [human] species.”
It’s Time To Discredit Pro-Abortion Ideology
Justice Neil Gorsuch, in his dissent from June Medical Services v. Russo, exposed the problematic reluctance to resolve glaring logical inconsistencies bedeviling abortion jurisprudence.
“The real question we face,” he wrote, “concerns our willingness to follow the traditional constraints of the judicial process when a case touching on abortion enters the courtroom.”
Roe v. Wade did indeed trash the traditional constraints of the judicial process. To make abortions appear “lawful,” Roe introduced the disparaging ideological constructs of childless pregnancies and victimless abortion.
It’s time for the Supreme Court to recognize once again laws providing due process protection in every state and every jurisdiction for every one of these little ones targeted for professional killing while still in their mothers’ wombs.
It’s time for Supreme Court justices of integrity and courage to reinstate Magna Carta precedent. It’s time to restore justice for these newest smallest members of “our Posterity” to whom the Constitution promised “to secure” the same “Blessings of Liberty” as to “ourselves.”
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
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westernjournal--2020-07-29--Dem Gov Turns on Omar as Anti-Semitism Accusations Pile Up

Colorado ’ s governor sent money to Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar ’ s primary challenger , campaign finance records show .
Democratic Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis sent a check for $ 1,000 to attorney Antone Melton-Meaux , who is vying for Omar ’ s 5th District seat , according to Federal Election Commission data .
Melton-Meaux ’ s total donations substantially outpace Omar ’ s for the upcoming August race , according to the Washington Examiner .
The Minnesota attorney was able to rake in over $ 3.2 million between March and April , while Omar ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a separate Examiner report revealed .
Omar came under fire last week when it was found that the Minnesota representative sent out campaign fliers slamming the source of Melton-Meaux ’ s contributions .
Omar named three donors in the mailer , all of whom were Jewish , according to Vice News .
TRENDING : Barr Asks the One Question Democrats Do n't Want To Hear During Contentious Hearing Polis himself is Jewish and has been an outspoken critic of anti-Semitism .
Omar was dubbed “ 2019 ’ s antisemite of the year ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparked controversy last year when she tweeted “ It ’ s all about the Benjamins baby ” in reference to Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ’ s threat to penalize her for being critical of Israel , according to NPR .
Critics alleged the reference to “ Benjamins ” reinforced a Jewish stereotype about financial gain , NPR reported .
Minnesota ’ s 5th District will vote in the Democratic primary on Aug. 11 , according to the Examiner .
A version of this article appeared on The Daily Caller News Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Colorado’s governor sent money to Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar’s primary challenger, campaign finance records show.
Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis sent a check for $1,000 to attorney Antone Melton-Meaux, who is vying for Omar’s 5th District seat, according to Federal Election Commission data.
Melton-Meaux’s total donations substantially outpace Omar’s for the upcoming August race, according to the Washington Examiner.
The Minnesota attorney was able to rake in over $3.2 million between March and April, while Omar’s contributions amounted to around $470,000, a separate Examiner report revealed.
Omar came under fire last week when it was found that the Minnesota representative sent out campaign fliers slamming the source of Melton-Meaux’s contributions. Omar named three donors in the mailer, all of whom were Jewish, according to Vice News.
Polis himself is Jewish and has been an outspoken critic of anti-Semitism.
Omar was dubbed “2019’s antisemite of the year” by the The Jerusalem Post.
Omar sparked controversy last year when she tweeted “It’s all about the Benjamins baby” in reference to Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s threat to penalize her for being critical of Israel, according to NPR.
Do you believe Omar will be re-elected? Yes No
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Critics alleged the reference to “Benjamins” reinforced a Jewish stereotype about financial gain, NPR reported.
Minnesota’s 5th District will vote in the Democratic primary on Aug. 11, according to the Examiner.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of their original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
A version of this article appeared on The Daily Caller News Foundation website.
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westernjournal--2020-07-29--Sickening: Google Translate Listed ‘Police Officer’ as Definition of ‘Demon’

Here ’ s something that Google should be able to do pretty easily : define a word .
Google is inarguably the most far-reaching interconnected software platform on earth .
It brings you search results , mail , word processing , spreadsheets , videos , video chat , video games , maps , music , notes , phone operating systems , computer operating systems , online advertising , cloud computing , news , payments and even a platform that allows you to control everything in your home .
They can open your garage door or , if you just want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can go on Google Street View and do that , too — as well as look at the garage doors of millions of other people in the United States alone .
This is pretty 21st century “ Jetsons ” stuff Google is capable of delivering .
Given the fact that Robert Cawdrey is credited with creating the first comprehensive English dictionary in 1604 and Samuel Johnson with what many scholars would consider the first modern dictionary in 1755 , we should therefore be able to safely expect our computer overlords in Mountain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty well under control , even if there ’ s translation involved .
Maybe not as much as you would like .
A glitch — or “ glitch , ” if you ’ d prefer — in Google ’ s Translate app defined “ demon , ” when you translated it from English to English , as “ a police officer.
” TRENDING : Barr Asks the One Question Democrats Do n't Want To Hear During Contentious Hearing According to Breitbart , this strange phenomenon was first noticed by users of Reddit ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t just that “ a police officer ” was a definition on Google Translate — there ’ s an explanation for that , but more in a bit — but that it was the first definition , and that it just so happened to come up during a period in which invective against police officers is considered perfectly acceptable .
Breitbart reached out to Google for comment but didn ’ t receive any , although the issue was rectified after the request for comment was sent .
For those of you who aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or can ’ t figure out what it does by the title alone , it translates either words or blocks of text — and does it very well .
This isn ’ t some beta app we ’ re talking about .
In fact , you can actually use your camera , point it at text , and if you hold it still enough it ’ ll graphically overlay the translation in your choice of language .
It does this well enough that , during a trip to Saint Petersburg last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask anyone where to find a single dead Romanov .
( They ’ re almost all buried in one surprisingly unimpressive cathedral — but rest assured if they ’ d been stashed around the city , Google Translate did a good enough job with the Russian language and Cyrillic alphabet that I would have still been able to find them , as well as the two other dead Romanovs the Russian Orthodox church won ’ t allow to be buried . )
Clearly , then , something ’ s gone terribly awry here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s been fixed ( here ’ s an archived version of what you would have seen before ) , but that still doesn ’ t exactly solve the mystery of why “ a police officer ” was the top definition of “ demon ” if you ran it through an English-to-English translation .
If you ’ re wondering why , the first potential explanation is that there ’ s a part of the world where “ demon ” is slang for certain policemen .
That ’ s in Australia and New Zealand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain language some users might find offensive ) have listed the word “ demon ” as argot for a detective .
If you do a Google search for the word “ demon , ” in fact , “ police ” will also come up as a definition .
( They also define “ demon ” as “ a police officer ” and not specifically a detective — being neither Australian nor possessed of the polymathic abilities of Dr. Johnson , I ’ ll let you be the judge . )
This , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ users : Given that “ detective ” seems to be a legitimate , if obscure , definition of the word “ demon , ” this isn ’ t exactly something to bring the red mist on .
That still doesn ’ t explain how “ a police officer ” became the primary definition of the word “ demon ” in a well-refined app .
There are three obvious explanations here .
The first is a glitch .
Yes , Google Translate is well-refined , but this isn ’ t a feature that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There aren ’ t too many people running English-to-English translations on common words because we either have jobs , families , hobbies , chores , friends , “ Animal Crossing ” or literally anything else to keep us busy .
Even the quality control people at Google can ’ t test every single word to see if issues like this pop up .
The second is how Google comes up with some of its search results .
For instance , in 2018 , the search engine got in trouble because it referenced Wikipedia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unfortunately , as anyone who ’ s hung around Wikipedia for long enough knows , an encyclopedia anyone can edit is prone to vandalism .
Thus , for a short window two years ago , if you asked what the ideology of the California Republican Party was , one of the answers was “ Nazism.
” The final possibility — and this is what really sticks in your craw given the events of the past two months — is a sick version of an “ Easter egg.
” For the uninitiated , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a secret software feature that ’ s hidden from users .
There are plenty of them on Google ; for instance , searching for “ askew ” will get you this : That ’ s cute .
Easter eggs , however , can also be decidedly uncute — especially considering the potential for an Easter egg that defines police officers as demons .
The thing with Google is that a ) the third explanation is entirely plausible and b ) it ’ s also entirely plausible that , were it true , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
No one is under any illusions about what the political environment is at Google , the same way no one is under any illusions what the political environment is anywhere else in Silicon Valley .
If there was anyone at Google who was troubled by this , they probably stayed quiet as a mouse .
If biggest tech firm in all of big tech can ’ t translate a word from English to English without it turning out this way , they owe an explanation to the people who trust them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal search histories to our garage door openers .
They may not care very much about this .
But a lot of us do .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Here’s something that Google should be able to do pretty easily: define a word.
Google is inarguably the most far-reaching interconnected software platform on earth. It brings you search results, mail, word processing, spreadsheets, videos, video chat, video games, maps, music, notes, phone operating systems, computer operating systems, online advertising, cloud computing, news, payments and even a platform that allows you to control everything in your home.
They can open your garage door or, if you just want to look at your garage door, you can go on Google Street View and do that, too — as well as look at the garage doors of millions of other people in the United States alone.
This is pretty 21st century “Jetsons” stuff Google is capable of delivering. Given the fact that Robert Cawdrey is credited with creating the first comprehensive English dictionary in 1604 and Samuel Johnson with what many scholars would consider the first modern dictionary in 1755, we should therefore be able to safely expect our computer overlords in Mountain View to have the whole word/definition thing pretty well under control, even if there’s translation involved.
Maybe not as much as you would like. A glitch — or “glitch,” if you’d prefer — in Google’s Translate app defined “demon,” when you translated it from English to English, as “a police officer.”
According to Breitbart, this strange phenomenon was first noticed by users of Reddit’s /r/Conspiracy group.
@dbongino @seanhannity @benshapiro go to google translate and put in “Demon”….the first definition it will give you “Police Officer”…. here’s my screenshot. pic.twitter.com/cp9OrKF1w5 — L. Stansell (@LStansell74) July 28, 2020
It wasn’t just that “a police officer” was a definition on Google Translate — there’s an explanation for that, but more in a bit — but that it was the first definition, and that it just so happened to come up during a period in which invective against police officers is considered perfectly acceptable.
Do you believe this was intentional on Google's part? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (380 Votes) No: 1% (2 Votes)
Breitbart reached out to Google for comment but didn’t receive any, although the issue was rectified after the request for comment was sent.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Translate app or can’t figure out what it does by the title alone, it translates either words or blocks of text — and does it very well.
This isn’t some beta app we’re talking about. In fact, you can actually use your camera, point it at text, and if you hold it still enough it’ll graphically overlay the translation in your choice of language.
It does this well enough that, during a trip to Saint Petersburg last year, I didn’t even have to ask anyone where to find a single dead Romanov. (They’re almost all buried in one surprisingly unimpressive cathedral — but rest assured if they’d been stashed around the city, Google Translate did a good enough job with the Russian language and Cyrillic alphabet that I would have still been able to find them, as well as the two other dead Romanovs the Russian Orthodox church won’t allow to be buried.)
Clearly, then, something’s gone terribly awry here. As previously stated, the problem’s been fixed (here’s an archived version of what you would have seen before), but that still doesn’t exactly solve the mystery of why “a police officer” was the top definition of “demon” if you ran it through an English-to-English translation.
If you’re wondering why, the first potential explanation is that there’s a part of the world where “demon” is slang for certain policemen. That’s in Australia and New Zealand; several sources (WARNING: Sources contain language some users might find offensive) have listed the word “demon” as argot for a detective.
If you do a Google search for the word “demon,” in fact, “police” will also come up as a definition. (They also define “demon” as “a police officer” and not specifically a detective — being neither Australian nor possessed of the polymathic abilities of Dr. Johnson, I’ll let you be the judge.)
This, too, seemed to annoy some conservative Twitter users:
?WATCH?
Good ol @google values at work: When you search “demon” in google search, Police Officer comes up under the definition. pic.twitter.com/yfTNd0q9Ej — Jonathan T Gilliam (@JGilliam_SEAL) July 29, 2020
Given that “detective” seems to be a legitimate, if obscure, definition of the word “demon,” this isn’t exactly something to bring the red mist on.
That still doesn’t explain how “a police officer” became the primary definition of the word “demon” in a well-refined app.
There are three obvious explanations here.
The first is a glitch. Yes, Google Translate is well-refined, but this isn’t a feature that I imagine is tried out too often. There aren’t too many people running English-to-English translations on common words because we either have jobs, families, hobbies, chores, friends, “Animal Crossing” or literally anything else to keep us busy. Even the quality control people at Google can’t test every single word to see if issues like this pop up.
The second is how Google comes up with some of its search results. For instance, in 2018, the search engine got in trouble because it referenced Wikipedia to get answers for certain questions.
Unfortunately, as anyone who’s hung around Wikipedia for long enough knows, an encyclopedia anyone can edit is prone to vandalism. Thus, for a short window two years ago, if you asked what the ideology of the California Republican Party was, one of the answers was “Nazism.”
This would have been fixed systematically once we processed the removal from Wikipedia, but when we noticed the vandalism we worked quickly to accelerate the removal of the erroneous information. — Google Communications (@Google_Comms) May 31, 2018
The final possibility — and this is what really sticks in your craw given the events of the past two months — is a sick version of an “Easter egg.”
For the uninitiated, “Easter egg” is a term given to a secret software feature that’s hidden from users. There are plenty of them on Google; for instance, searching for “askew” will get you this:
That’s cute. Easter eggs, however, can also be decidedly uncute — especially considering the potential for an Easter egg that defines police officers as demons.
The thing with Google is that a) the third explanation is entirely plausible and b) it’s also entirely plausible that, were it true, nobody would really get in trouble for it.
No one is under any illusions about what the political environment is at Google, the same way no one is under any illusions what the political environment is anywhere else in Silicon Valley. If there was anyone at Google who was troubled by this, they probably stayed quiet as a mouse.
If biggest tech firm in all of big tech can’t translate a word from English to English without it turning out this way, they owe an explanation to the people who trust them with everything from our email to our personal search histories to our garage door openers.
They may not care very much about this. But a lot of us do.
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