westernjournal--2020-04-29--CBS Attacks Red State for Reopening, Conveniently Ignores Blue State Doing Something Similar

As a number of states across the country are reopening their economies in tiered phases , that news is being reported with varying degrees of hostility by the establishment media , depending on the voting demographics of the states and the politics of state leaders .
NewBusters evaluated coverage of this issue on the network evening news shows Monday night , and found that CBS and NBC reported on the opening of red states with a particularly hostile tone .
Non-red states , meanwhile — particularly Colorado , which has a Democratic governor , and Iowa , which is generally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either covered in a more neutral manner or simply ignored .
“ CBS Evening News ” anchor Norah O ’ Donnell said during her opening monologue Monday that even as people in some states return to work , others in those same states are suffering and dying from the virus .
“ The new plan comes as more and more Americans are suffering for what ’ s being called ‘ quarantine fatigue , ’ a desire to return to a more normal life after weeks of staying home , ” O ’ Donnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Black Veteran GOP Challenger Has a Message for Democrats Who Voted for Maxine Waters “ That burnout combined with rising unemployment is leading 19 states to loosen restrictions and reopen some businesses and restaurants .
Even more plan to do so by May 1.
” O ’ Donnell reminded CBS viewers that “ in many of those states , the number of infections is still rising .
Tonight , there are more than 985,000 confirmed cases in the U.S. Nearly 56,000 people have died nationwide.
” CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a derisive tone , questioning the intelligence of Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp and people who are seeking to return to work .
“ Norah , riding out a pandemic in Georgia suddenly has options .
You can go out to dinner and a movie , you can get a haircut , a workout , a tattoo .
And if you ’ re wondering , does any of that sound smart , well , so are many Georgians , ” he said .
“ Governor Brian Kemp ’ s hungry to reverse Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one million new claims in four weeks .
But health experts worry impatience is the new pathogen , for governors and consumers.
” “ For any state to reopen , White House guidelines call for a two-week downward trend of documented COVID cases , ” Strassmann also said .
“ No states meet that standard.
” But in its effort to portray Georgia ’ s reopening of much of its economy as careless , CBS neglected to tell its viewers that the blue state of Colorado has also lifted lockdown restrictions to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are optimistic .
While Coloradoans can not yet enjoy limited dine-in eating or other perks enjoyed in Georgia , like being able to work out at a gym ( USA Today has more fully outlined Georgia ’ s reopening guidelines ) , the state is preparing to open back up .
The Denver Post reported Democratic Gov .
Jared Polis said Monday he believes his state is ready to end its stay-at-home order , citing a decline in new confirmed cases of COVID-19 , and the fact that the number of hospitalizations statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Watch Gushing MSNBC Host Tout Biden Ad as 'All True ' - But It 's Actually Misleading “ We no longer have the alarming exponential spread we had a month ago , ” Polis said Monday .
The newspaper reported “ restaurants , bars , gyms , movie theaters , concert halls , casinos and off-track betting facilities will remain closed , ” in Colorado , but “ Personal services , like hair salons and massage parlors , can open Friday , so long as the provider and the customer wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the business , and the location is not above 50 % of its total occupancy.
” While the policies implemented by each respective state ’ s leaders are different , both Georgia and Colorado are moving toward the same goal : normalcy .
Yet CBS chose to imply Georgia ’ s Republican governor is careless for wanting to reopen the state , while ignoring what ’ s going on in Democrat-dominated Colorado .
Likewise , “ NBC Nightly News ” anchor Lester Holt also opened his program Monday by reminding his viewers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people who are in danger of losing everything are getting back to business .
“ Ready or not , and with nearly a million confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. since the start of this outbreak , parts of America are moving on tonight , ” Holt said , pointing out that the coronavirus has “ claimed over 55,000 lives ” in the U.S .
According to NewsBusters : “ The following report by Blayne Alexander specifically called out Mississippi , Texas , Oklahoma , Tennessee , and Georgia ( in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Each of those states has a Republican governor .
“ [ Alexander ] briefly noted that ‘ Iowa and Colorado joining eight other states starting to reopen , ' ” NewsBusters added .
Again , Democrat-run Colorado ’ s governor is a Democrat .
Swing state Iowa ’ s governor , Kim Reynolds , is a Republican .
And NBC apparently felt the need to distinguish those two states as being somehow separate from the other , largely red states that it mentioned .
While hostility toward conservatives is nothing new from establishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NewBusters in evaluating the coverage demonstrates just how partisan this issue has become .
NBC News is telling us that people are dead or dying before mentioning red states that are eager to reopen , while barely mentioning that a liberal state ( Colorado ) or a swing state ( Iowa ) are also lifting restrictions on commerce in their own ways .
The reports are also transparent in their tone toward majority conservative states , which are being portrayed as reckless .
Establishment media reporters who still have their jobs and incomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses in red states equates to a suicide mission .
Colorado and Iowa fell into the honorable mention category for NBC in its inconsistent reporting , and were not mentioned by CBS at all in its gloomy reporting .
The only thing that is consistent about the reporting from the networks is their obvious disdain for conservatives .
Would you expect anything less from the country ’ s Democrat-friendly establishment media ?
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

As a number of states across the country are reopening their economies in tiered phases, that news is being reported with varying degrees of hostility by the establishment media, depending on the voting demographics of the states and the politics of state leaders.
NewBusters evaluated coverage of this issue on the network evening news shows Monday night, and found that CBS and NBC reported on the opening of red states with a particularly hostile tone.
Non-red states, meanwhile — particularly Colorado, which has a Democratic governor, and Iowa, which is generally seen as a swing state — were either covered in a more neutral manner or simply ignored.
“CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell said during her opening monologue Monday that even as people in some states return to work, others in those same states are suffering and dying from the virus.
“The new plan comes as more and more Americans are suffering for what’s being called ‘quarantine fatigue,’ a desire to return to a more normal life after weeks of staying home,” O’Donnell said, according to NewsBusters.
“That burnout combined with rising unemployment is leading 19 states to loosen restrictions and reopen some businesses and restaurants. Even more plan to do so by May 1.”
O’Donnell reminded CBS viewers that “in many of those states, the number of infections is still rising. Tonight, there are more than 985,000 confirmed cases in the U.S. Nearly 56,000 people have died nationwide.”
CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann then reported from Atalanta, Georgia, with a derisive tone, questioning the intelligence of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and people who are seeking to return to work.
“Norah, riding out a pandemic in Georgia suddenly has options. You can go out to dinner and a movie, you can get a haircut, a workout, a tattoo. And if you’re wondering, does any of that sound smart, well, so are many Georgians,” he said.
Do you think the media is purposefully criticizing Georgia because the state is run by Republicans? 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: 100% (385 Votes) No: 0% (1 Votes)
“Governor Brian Kemp’s hungry to reverse Georgia’s soaring unemployment, more than one million new claims in four weeks. But health experts worry impatience is the new pathogen, for governors and consumers.”
“For any state to reopen, White House guidelines call for a two-week downward trend of documented COVID cases,” Strassmann also said. “No states meet that standard.”
But in its effort to portray Georgia’s reopening of much of its economy as careless, CBS neglected to tell its viewers that the blue state of Colorado has also lifted lockdown restrictions to a large degree, and that state leaders are optimistic.
While Coloradoans can not yet enjoy limited dine-in eating or other perks enjoyed in Georgia, like being able to work out at a gym (USA Today has more fully outlined Georgia’s reopening guidelines), the state is preparing to open back up.
The Denver Post reported Democratic Gov. Jared Polis said Monday he believes his state is ready to end its stay-at-home order, citing a decline in new confirmed cases of COVID-19, and the fact that the number of hospitalizations statewide is on a downward trend.
“We no longer have the alarming exponential spread we had a month ago,” Polis said Monday.
The newspaper reported “restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, concert halls, casinos and off-track betting facilities will remain closed,” in Colorado, but “Personal services, like hair salons and massage parlors, can open Friday, so long as the provider and the customer wear masks, no more than 10 people are in the business, and the location is not above 50% of its total occupancy.”
While the policies implemented by each respective state’s leaders are different, both Georgia and Colorado are moving toward the same goal: normalcy.
Yet CBS chose to imply Georgia’s Republican governor is careless for wanting to reopen the state, while ignoring what’s going on in Democrat-dominated Colorado.
I wonder why.
Likewise, “NBC Nightly News” anchor Lester Holt also opened his program Monday by reminding his viewers of coronavirus cases and deaths when reporting that people who are in danger of losing everything are getting back to business.
“Ready or not, and with nearly a million confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. since the start of this outbreak, parts of America are moving on tonight,” Holt said, pointing out that the coronavirus has “claimed over 55,000 lives” in the U.S.
According to NewsBusters: “The following report by Blayne Alexander specifically called out Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Georgia (in that order) for reopening their economies.”
Each of those states has a Republican governor.
“[Alexander] briefly noted that ‘Iowa and Colorado joining eight other states starting to reopen,'” NewsBusters added.
Again, Democrat-run Colorado’s governor is a Democrat. Swing state Iowa’s governor, Kim Reynolds, is a Republican.
And NBC apparently felt the need to distinguish those two states as being somehow separate from the other, largely red states that it mentioned.
While hostility toward conservatives is nothing new from establishment media reporters, the work done by NewBusters in evaluating the coverage demonstrates just how partisan this issue has become.
NBC News is telling us that people are dead or dying before mentioning red states that are eager to reopen, while barely mentioning that a liberal state (Colorado) or a swing state (Iowa) are also lifting restrictions on commerce in their own ways.
The reports are also transparent in their tone toward majority conservative states, which are being portrayed as reckless.
Establishment media reporters who still have their jobs and incomes are essentially trying to argue that reopening businesses in red states equates to a suicide mission.
Colorado and Iowa fell into the honorable mention category for NBC in its inconsistent reporting, and were not mentioned by CBS at all in its gloomy reporting.
The only thing that is consistent about the reporting from the networks is their obvious disdain for conservatives. Would you expect anything less from the country’s Democrat-friendly establishment media?
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--2020-04-29--Op-Ed: Kavanaugh’s Road Map to Overturning Roe

There is little virtue in sticking stubbornly to any mistake that continues to harm others in our power and under our care .
Deep in the human heart is a thirst for what ’ s right and true , an ache for true justice , an irrepressible will to the good .
We try to right what we all know is wrong .
This month , Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , concurring in part with the court ’ s recent Ramos v. Louisiana decision , set out with brilliant clarity a “ road map ” for overruling an erroneous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invaluable in overturning the tragic errors of Roe v. Wade ( 1973 ) .
Justice Kavanaugh started with a concise history of stare decisis , the principle that courts should “ stand by ” decided cases and “ not disturb the calm.
” As Justice Neil Gorsuch warned in his majority opinion : “ Stare decisis isn ’ t supposed to be the art of methodically ignoring what everyone knows to be true.
” Indeed , to date , more than 200 Supreme Court decisions have been overturned , their grave errors corrected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these decisions .
He presented three broad questions used over the years as a “ stare decisis calculus ” to determine what constitutes a “ special justification ” or “ strong grounds ” to overrule a prior constitutional decision .
TRENDING : Black Veteran GOP Challenger Has a Message for Democrats Who Voted for Maxine Waters “ First , is the prior decision not just wrong , but grievously or egregiously wrong ?
” This question , Justice Kavanaugh wrote , seeks to assess “ how wrong the precedent is as a matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed the error of denying personhood to children in their mothers ’ wombs .
Roe removed from the rule of law rightful recognition of the constitutional duty to protect members of “ our Posterity ” targeted for prenatal killing .
Denying that children in their mothers ’ wombs are “ persons ” was never a justifiable legal basis for aborting the lives of “ the unwanted ” as argued in Roe .
Curiously enough , the possibility that this error might be overturned was presaged by its author , Supreme Court Justice Harry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writing the decision .
He admitted in the opinion itself : “ If this … personhood is established , the appellant ’ s case , of course , collapses , for the fetus ’ right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the [ Fourteenth ] Amendment.
” In the throes of the sexual revolution , Justice Blackmun failed to uphold the integrity of the American legal system which had since its inauguration provided legal protection for what the Founders and the Framers of the Constitution had recognized as infants “ stirring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So was Roe ’ s denial of personhood a grievously and egregiously wrong precedent ?
Certainly the sheer scale of the subsequent killings would say so — more than 61 million American children aborted in their mothers ’ wombs since Roe .
“ Second , has the prior decision caused significant negative jurisprudential or real-world consequences ?
” Here , the road map forks .
Along one path , the court may consider “ jurisprudential consequences … such as workability , as well as consistency and coherence with other decisions.
” Along another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the court “ may also scrutinize the precedent ’ s real-world effects on the citizenry , not just its effects on the law and the legal system.
” The workability of the Roe precedent was never realistically assessed at the time — very quickly abortion practice got out of hand .
Because abortion was misrepresented in Roe as a “ freedom ” for women , constraints based on the trimester system and legalization of abortion up until “ viability ” were soon loosened and then abandoned .
In some states now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been extended through the entire pregnancy — and even when the child is born , state law need no longer provide legal protection from “ completing ” a botched lethal treatment postnatally .
There can be few more negative jurisprudential consequences than that .
As for consistency and coherence , Roe v. Wade remains irreconcilable with the historical evidence of the Founders ’ understanding that there is a natural law duty to protect what James Wilson , one of the Framers of the Constitution , recognized as “ when the infant is first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roe does not respect historical facts that the unborn are recognized as persons protected for hereditary purposes by the Constitution ( McArthur v. Scott , 1885 ; Weber v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. , 1972 ) Why did Roe ignore the longstanding constitutional recognition of unborn children as ( separate ) legal persons to be protected from capital punishment “ in order to guard against the taking of the life of an unborn child for the crime of the mother ” ?
( Union Pacific Railway Co. v. Botsford , 1891 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the monumental inconsistency that when it comes to prenatal health care , in some rooms and in some wombs , medics strive valiantly to keep these smallest human beings alive and make them well , while in other rooms and other wombs , other little ones at their mothers ’ “ choice ” are being deliberately and efficiently killed .
Roe ’ s “ lawful ” killing precedent can not mesh with the advances in fetal care and surgery in saving the lives of these smallest human beings .
Through four-dimensional ultrasounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we now see , hear and recognize the lively targets of the abortionist all too clearly as the tiny vulnerable human beings they in fact are .
Objective , meticulous scientific examination of embryos and fetuses in situ has established beyond doubt that these tiny daughters and sons exist as unique and distinctly human beings , not as merely generic unidentifiable instances of “ the potentiality of human life.
” This feeble phrase — “ the potentiality of human life ” — was employed five times by Justice Blackmun in Roe to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new human life , of a daughter or son in her or his mother ’ s womb .
One of the most negative real-world consequences of Roe v. Wade is surely the emergence of large-scale eugenic abortion .
In a 2019 concurring opinion in Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky , Justice Clarence Thomas signaled the growing necessity for the Supreme Court to recognize each state ’ s compelling interest in preventing abortion from becoming a tool of modern-day eugenics .
Among Roe ’ s largely unforeseen negative real-world consequences are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abusive relationships , a disproportionate targeting of black American children for abortion , eugenic abortions of children with disabilities such as Down syndrome and sex-selective abortion of girls .
The court ’ s third task here is to focus on “ the legitimate expectations of those who have reasonably relied on the precedent.
” The blunt truth is that it was never “ reasonable ” to rely on Roe ’ s errors in discounting the victims of abortion as their mothers ’ property rather than as persons , as human beings like ourselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they may continue ad infinitum to commission the “ lawful ” killing of “ unwanted ” daughters and sons while in their mothers ’ wombs was never plausible .
It was no more plausible than slave owners ’ expectation in earlier times that “ lawful ” ownership rights over selected human beings in their power was an economic and social necessity and would never be overruled .
In Planned Parenthood v. Casey ( 1992 ) , the court claimed as a successful outcome of Roe that the “ ability of women to participate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Nation has been facilitated by their ability to control [ through abortion ] their reproductive lives.
” The progressive majority refused to overturn Roe v. Wade on the grounds that “ for two decades of economic and social developments , people have organized intimate relationships and made choices that define their views of themselves and their places in society , in reliance on the availability of abortion in the event that contraception should fail.
” On this line of reasoning , precedents set through pro-slavery laws could not have been overturned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more than a century of economic and social developments , people had organized relationships and made choices that defined their views of themselves and their places in society , in reliance on the availability of slaves .
It is indefensible to maintain unjust laws on the grounds that we have become reliant upon them .
As Thomas Aquinas wrote in his “ Summa Theologica , ” “ every human law has just so much of the nature of law , as it is derived from the law of nature .
But if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law of nature , it is no longer a law but a perversion of law.
” Justice Kavanaugh noted that the court typically does not overrule a precedent unless a party requests overruling , or at least unless the court receives briefing and argument on the stare decisis question .
Fortunately , the Supreme Court will have no shortage of requests for overruling Roe .
Pro-life states are rearing to go .
Neither is there any dearth of briefing and argument on the stare decisis question regarding abortion .
Indeed , the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sterling arguments against stare decisis as set out by Chief Justice William Rehnquist , together with Justices White , Scalia and Thomas , in their dissent in Planned Parenthood v. Casey .
These four eminent justices denounced Casey ’ s “ newly minted variation on stare decisis ” and argued cogently “ that Roe was wrongly decided , and that it can and should be overruled consistently with our traditional approach to stare decisis in constitutional cases.
” They saw the hollowness of the Roe decision and its faulty derivatives .
“ Roe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way a storefront on a western movie set exists : a mere facade to give the illusion of reality.
” Their condemnation of the Roe precedent was scathing : “ Roe v. Wade stands as a sort of judicial Potemkin Village , which may be pointed out to passers-by as a monument to the importance of adhering to precedent .
But behind the facade , an entirely new method of analysis , without any roots in constitutional law , is imported to decide the constitutionality of state laws regulating abortion .
Neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly served by such an effort.
” Self-Correction by the Supreme Court : The Honorable Option So the question must be asked : Quis custodiet ipsos custodes ?
Who guards the guards ?
Who is monitoring Supreme Court decisions like Roe v. Wade , decisions that themselves are contrary to original constitutional principles ?
Self-correction by the Supreme Court is the most honorable option for dealing with its erroneous decisions .
It is by far the best way to restore the people ’ s trust in the integrity of these appointed guardians of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roe ’ s errors must be set out one last time .
The current Supreme Court justices must find the courage and integrity to correct those errors .
There is no merit in putting off the necessary correction any longer .
Even a further 47 years of delay , obfuscation and malpractice can not turn erroneous law into settled law .
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 .
We are committed to truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Read our editorial standards .

There is little virtue in sticking stubbornly to any mistake that continues to harm others in our power and under our care. Deep in the human heart is a thirst for what’s right and true, an ache for true justice, an irrepressible will to the good. We try to right what we all know is wrong.
This month, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, concurring in part with the court’s recent Ramos v. Louisiana decision, set out with brilliant clarity a “road map” for overruling an erroneous constitutional precedent.
His directions may prove invaluable in overturning the tragic errors of Roe v. Wade (1973).
Justice Kavanaugh started with a concise history of stare decisis, the principle that courts should “stand by” decided cases and “not disturb the calm.” As Justice Neil Gorsuch warned in his majority opinion: “Stare decisis isn’t supposed to be the art of methodically ignoring what everyone knows to be true.”
Indeed, to date, more than 200 Supreme Court decisions have been overturned, their grave errors corrected. Justice Kavanaugh cited some 30 of these decisions. He presented three broad questions used over the years as a “stare decisis calculus” to determine what constitutes a “special justification” or “strong grounds” to overrule a prior constitutional decision.
“First, is the prior decision not just wrong, but grievously or egregiously wrong?”
This question, Justice Kavanaugh wrote, seeks to assess “how wrong the precedent is as a matter of law.”
The now-infamous Roe decision committed the error of denying personhood to children in their mothers’ wombs. Roe removed from the rule of law rightful recognition of the constitutional duty to protect members of “our Posterity” targeted for prenatal killing.
Denying that children in their mothers’ wombs are “persons” was never a justifiable legal basis for aborting the lives of “the unwanted” as argued in Roe.
Do you think Roe will eventually be overturned? 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% (66 Votes) No: 1% (1 Votes)
Curiously enough, the possibility that this error might be overturned was presaged by its author, Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, even at the time of writing the decision. He admitted in the opinion itself: “If this … personhood is established, the appellant’s case, of course, collapses, for the fetus’ right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the [Fourteenth] Amendment.”
In the throes of the sexual revolution, Justice Blackmun failed to uphold the integrity of the American legal system which had since its inauguration provided legal protection for what the Founders and the Framers of the Constitution had recognized as infants “stirring” in their mothers’ wombs.
So was Roe’s denial of personhood a grievously and egregiously wrong precedent? Certainly the sheer scale of the subsequent killings would say so — more than 61 million American children aborted in their mothers’ wombs since Roe.
“Second, has the prior decision caused significant negative jurisprudential or real-world consequences?”
Here, the road map forks. Along one path, the court may consider “jurisprudential consequences … such as workability, as well as consistency and coherence with other decisions.”
Along another path, importantly, Justice Kavanaugh wrote, the court “may also scrutinize the precedent’s real-world effects on the citizenry, not just its effects on the law and the legal system.”
The workability of the Roe precedent was never realistically assessed at the time — very quickly abortion practice got out of hand. Because abortion was misrepresented in Roe as a “freedom” for women, constraints based on the trimester system and legalization of abortion up until “viability” were soon loosened and then abandoned.
In some states now, the “right to abortion” has been extended through the entire pregnancy — and even when the child is born, state law need no longer provide legal protection from “completing” a botched lethal treatment postnatally.
There can be few more negative jurisprudential consequences than that.
As for consistency and coherence, Roe v. Wade remains irreconcilable with the historical evidence of the Founders’ understanding that there is a natural law duty to protect what James Wilson, one of the Framers of the Constitution, recognized as “when the infant is first able to stir in the womb.”
Roe does not respect historical facts that the unborn are recognized as persons protected for hereditary purposes by the Constitution (McArthur v. Scott, 1885; Weber v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 1972)
Why did Roe ignore the longstanding constitutional recognition of unborn children as (separate) legal persons to be protected from capital punishment “in order to guard against the taking of the life of an unborn child for the crime of the mother”? (Union Pacific Railway Co. v. Botsford, 1891)
Regarding the real-world effects, we live with the monumental inconsistency that when it comes to prenatal health care, in some rooms and in some wombs, medics strive valiantly to keep these smallest human beings alive and make them well, while in other rooms and other wombs, other little ones at their mothers’ “choice” are being deliberately and efficiently killed.
Roe’s “lawful” killing precedent cannot mesh with the advances in fetal care and surgery in saving the lives of these smallest human beings.
Through four-dimensional ultrasounds together with pain sensors and heartbeat monitors, we now see, hear and recognize the lively targets of the abortionist all too clearly as the tiny vulnerable human beings they in fact are.
Objective, meticulous scientific examination of embryos and fetuses in situ has established beyond doubt that these tiny daughters and sons exist as unique and distinctly human beings, not as merely generic unidentifiable instances of “the potentiality of human life.” This feeble phrase — “the potentiality of human life” — was employed five times by Justice Blackmun in Roe to obfuscate the biological reality of a vibrant new human life, of a daughter or son in her or his mother’s womb.
One of the most negative real-world consequences of Roe v. Wade is surely the emergence of large-scale eugenic abortion.
In a 2019 concurring opinion in Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, Justice Clarence Thomas signaled the growing necessity for the Supreme Court to recognize each state’s compelling interest in preventing abortion from becoming a tool of modern-day eugenics.
Among Roe’s largely unforeseen negative real-world consequences are coerced abortion for women and girls in abusive relationships, a disproportionate targeting of black American children for abortion, eugenic abortions of children with disabilities such as Down syndrome and sex-selective abortion of girls.
“Third, would overruling the prior decision unduly upset reliance interests?
The court’s third task here is to focus on “the legitimate expectations of those who have reasonably relied on the precedent.”
The blunt truth is that it was never “reasonable” to rely on Roe’s errors in discounting the victims of abortion as their mothers’ property rather than as persons, as human beings like ourselves.
The expectation of pregnant mothers that they may continue ad infinitum to commission the “lawful” killing of “unwanted” daughters and sons while in their mothers’ wombs was never plausible.
It was no more plausible than slave owners’ expectation in earlier times that “lawful” ownership rights over selected human beings in their power was an economic and social necessity and would never be overruled.
In Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), the court claimed as a successful outcome of Roe that the “ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the Nation has been facilitated by their ability to control [through abortion] their reproductive lives.”
The progressive majority refused to overturn Roe v. Wade on the grounds that “for two decades of economic and social developments, people have organized intimate relationships and made choices that define their views of themselves and their places in society, in reliance on the availability of abortion in the event that contraception should fail.”
On this line of reasoning, precedents set through pro-slavery laws could not have been overturned. Slave owners could have argued that for more than a century of economic and social developments, people had organized relationships and made choices that defined their views of themselves and their places in society, in reliance on the availability of slaves.
It is indefensible to maintain unjust laws on the grounds that we have become reliant upon them.
As Thomas Aquinas wrote in his “Summa Theologica,” “every human law has just so much of the nature of law, as it is derived from the law of nature. But if in any point it deflects from the law of nature, it is no longer a law but a perversion of law.”
The Way Forward
Justice Kavanaugh noted that the court typically does not overrule a precedent unless a party requests overruling, or at least unless the court receives briefing and argument on the stare decisis question.
Fortunately, the Supreme Court will have no shortage of requests for overruling Roe. Pro-life states are rearing to go.
Neither is there any dearth of briefing and argument on the stare decisis question regarding abortion.
Indeed, the Supreme Court needs only to return to the sterling arguments against stare decisis as set out by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, together with Justices White, Scalia and Thomas, in their dissent in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
These four eminent justices denounced Casey’s “newly minted variation on stare decisis” and argued cogently “that Roe was wrongly decided, and that it can and should be overruled consistently with our traditional approach to stare decisis in constitutional cases.” They saw the hollowness of the Roe decision and its faulty derivatives.
“Roe continues to exist, but only in the way a storefront on a western movie set exists: a mere facade to give the illusion of reality.”
Their condemnation of the Roe precedent was scathing:
“Roe v. Wade stands as a sort of judicial Potemkin Village, which may be pointed out to passers-by as a monument to the importance of adhering to precedent. But behind the facade, an entirely new method of analysis, without any roots in constitutional law, is imported to decide the constitutionality of state laws regulating abortion. Neither stare decisis nor ‘legitimacy’ are truly served by such an effort.”
Self-Correction by the Supreme Court: The Honorable Option
So the question must be asked: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who guards the guards? Who is monitoring Supreme Court decisions like Roe v. Wade, decisions that themselves are contrary to original constitutional principles?
Self-correction by the Supreme Court is the most honorable option for dealing with its erroneous decisions. It is by far the best way to restore the people’s trust in the integrity of these appointed guardians of constitutional law.
To this end, Roe’s errors must be set out one last time. The current Supreme Court justices must find the courage and integrity to correct those errors.
There is no merit in putting off the necessary correction any longer. Even a further 47 years of delay, obfuscation and malpractice cannot turn erroneous law into settled law.
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--2020-04-29--Ilhan Omar Earns Backlash After ‘Free America Now’ Post Triggers Her

The controversial congresswoman from Minnesota took to Twitter on Wednesday to blast Tesla CEO Elon Musk for an early-morning post that demanded an end to lockdowns caused by the coronavirus crisis .
But all the Democrat really showed was a fundamental misunderstanding of exactly how many in her adopted country really thinks .
“ Billionaires want to continue profiting off your labor even if it means risking millions of lives , ” Omar wrote in response to Musk ’ s tweet .
TRENDING : Black Veteran GOP Challenger Has a Message for Democrats Who Voted for Maxine Waters Naturally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – it ’ s a good bet it takes a person with a socialist-friendly mindset to be following Omar ’ s tweets in the first place .
But there were a fair number of sane people , too , with comments Omar and her comrades probably can ’ t comprehend .
As many social media users responded , most consider the life Americans were living prior to the appearance of the coronavirus in China in November what they call “ freedom ” — the liberty to travel and work as individuals see fit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their families .
RELATED : 'The Squad ' Proposes Bill Allowing Feds To Literally Cancel Property Rights During Pandemic They also understand that the “ billionaires ” the left despises are a major source of financial capital and employment opportunities in the country — and that their industries actually produce goods and services Americans want .
Individuals engaging in a free exchange of time and labor in return for money from individuals and businesses that can afford to pay it is pretty much how the nation was built ( The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notwithstanding ) .
Obviously , the coronavirus pandemic – courtesy of the communist Chinese government – has changed the world and the country in ways probably no one in the United States imagined back in the halcyon days when the biggest threat the country had to worry about was an insane attempt to impeach President Donald Trump on ginned-up charges that , three months removed , seem almost hallucinatory .
( Adam Schiff fabricating quotes from the president ?
An “ anonymous ” whistleblower ? )
But it ’ s important to point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America Now ” post was the last in a thread that started with his drawing attention to a commentary piece published by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday that raised serious questions about how effective lockdowns really are in affecting the spread of the coronavirus .
It ’ s also important to point out that , in a related tweet , Musk acknowledged the need to proceed with “ care and appropriate precaution.
” In short , Musk apparently didn ’ t just take to Twitter at 2 a.m. demanding his serfs be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the money he ’ s losing from the lockdowns – though CNBC has reported that Musk ’ s Tesla was forced to push back plans to reopen a Fremont , California , plant because Alameda County officials had extended coronavirus-related restrictions through the end of May .
There are many serious people questioning whether the lockdowns that have stifled the American economy are actually having the effect they ’ re intended to .
The number of protests around the country by Americans demanding to be free of government restrictions shows it isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life to return to normal – and to assume the risks that that return would entail .
That kind of individual responsibility might be anathema to Omar and her ilk , but not for the millions of Americans who ’ ve lost patience with life in limbo .
And Omar drew plenty of blowback from that quarter .
A member of the radical “ squad ” like Omar doesn ’ t have to like it , but the United States wasn ’ t built by a population that waited for government orders – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was built by men and women who were willing to work and fight and die for something called “ freedom.
” And unlike Omar , they knew and know what the word means .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

“Free America Now” are fighting words to Ilhan Omar.
The controversial congresswoman from Minnesota took to Twitter on Wednesday to blast Tesla CEO Elon Musk for an early-morning post that demanded an end to lockdowns caused by the coronavirus crisis.
But all the Democrat really showed was a fundamental misunderstanding of exactly how many in her adopted country really thinks.
“Billionaires want to continue profiting off your labor even if it means risking millions of lives,” Omar wrote in response to Musk’s tweet.
“They call this ‘freedom.’”
Billionaires want to continue profiting off your labor even if it means risking millions of lives. They call this “freedom.” pic.twitter.com/9rRKeHDh4m — Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) April 29, 2020
Naturally, Omar got plenty of love in response – it’s a good bet it takes a person with a socialist-friendly mindset to be following Omar’s tweets in the first place. But there were a fair number of sane people, too, with comments Omar and her comrades probably can’t comprehend.
Actually i want to profit off my labor to. Its call working and getting paid. — Black Stang. (@woody_61953) April 29, 2020
I want to work . So do all normal people — Brad (@Versastyles_) April 29, 2020
FAKE NEWS!!!! Billionaires want to put their workers back to work so their workers can make their mortgage payments and pay their bills! #OPENAMERICANOW — Andrea Chavez-Moore (@mamagrizly) April 29, 2020
As many social media users responded, most consider the life Americans were living prior to the appearance of the coronavirus in China in November what they call “freedom” — the liberty to travel and work as individuals see fit for their own needs and the needs of their families.
They also understand that the “billionaires” the left despises are a major source of financial capital and employment opportunities in the country — and that their industries actually produce goods and services Americans want.
Individuals engaging in a free exchange of time and labor in return for money from individuals and businesses that can afford to pay it is pretty much how the nation was built (The New York Times and its “1619 Project” notwithstanding).
Do you think the economy should be reopened immediately? 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% (587 Votes) No: 9% (59 Votes)
Obviously, the coronavirus pandemic – courtesy of the communist Chinese government – has changed the world and the country in ways probably no one in the United States imagined back in the halcyon days when the biggest threat the country had to worry about was an insane attempt to impeach President Donald Trump on ginned-up charges that, three months removed, seem almost hallucinatory. (Adam Schiff fabricating quotes from the president? An “anonymous” whistleblower?)
But it’s important to point out that Musk’s “Free America Now” post was the last in a thread that started with his drawing attention to a commentary piece published by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday that raised serious questions about how effective lockdowns really are in affecting the spread of the coronavirus.
It’s also important to point out that, in a related tweet, Musk acknowledged the need to proceed with “care and appropriate precaution.”
In short, Musk apparently didn’t just take to Twitter at 2 a.m. demanding his serfs be whipped back to their toil after bemoaning the money he’s losing from the lockdowns – though CNBC has reported that Musk’s Tesla was forced to push back plans to reopen a Fremont, California, plant because Alameda County officials had extended coronavirus-related restrictions through the end of May.
There are many serious people questioning whether the lockdowns that have stifled the American economy are actually having the effect they’re intended to.
The number of protests around the country by Americans demanding to be free of government restrictions shows it isn’t just billionaires who are ready for life to return to normal – and to assume the risks that that return would entail.
That kind of individual responsibility might be anathema to Omar and her ilk, but not for the millions of Americans who’ve lost patience with life in limbo.
And Omar drew plenty of blowback from that quarter.
I don’t being told by the government what I can and cannot do. I also don’t like being lectured by a congresswoman who’s STILL GETTING PAID while the rest of America is suffering. It’s not millions of lives. Your plan to destroy America won’t work democrats. People are waking up. — Jacob (@DarthShadow90) April 29, 2020
Elon Musk has done more in advancing the Human well being than you ever will. His company advances technological developments, and you do nothing but criticize people for doing so. #disgracefulpoliticians — Eric Lunn (@CincyELunn) April 29, 2020
Yet here you are receiving a taxpayer funded paycheck for the stellar work you’re doing in Congress…? — Moonz?? (@MOONER75) April 29, 2020
A member of the radical “squad” like Omar doesn’t have to like it, but the United States wasn’t built by a population that waited for government orders – or lived for government handouts.
It was built by men and women who were willing to work and fight and die for something called “freedom.”
And unlike Omar, they knew and know what the word means.
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westernjournal--2020-04-29--Dr. Birx Calls Out Reporter’s Incorrect Stats, Trump Snaps When He Hears the Real Numbers

A reporter is publicly apologizing after feuding with President Donald Trump over COVID-19 testing statistics , a row that was put to rest when Dr. Deborah Birx read the real numbers to the room .
Yahoo News White House correspondent Hunter Walker asked the botched question during a Tuesday Oval Office meeting between Trump and Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis .
“ Mr .
President , overall South Korea has done five times more tests than the U.S. per capita , ” Walker said .
“ Why is that ?
” “ I don ’ t think that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before asking Walker what news agency he represents .
Trump then turned to Birx , who explained that America ’ s outbreaks resemble those in Europe and not South Korea or other Asian countries .
Eventually , the doctor found the true numbers behind Walker ’ s claim .
TRENDING : Black Veteran GOP Challenger Has a Message for Democrats Who Voted for Maxine Waters “ To our Yahoo gentleman , I just want to make it clear that South Korea ’ s testing was 11 per 100,000 , ” Birx said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per 100,000.
” Trump was quick to jump on Walker for presenting incorrect information as fact .
“ Are you going to apologize , Yahoo ?
” Trump asked the reporter in front of the room .
“ That ’ s why you ’ re Yahoo and nobody knows who the hell you are.
” Watch a video of the confrontation and Birx ’ s fact check below .
Walker issued an apology shortly after , but not before slamming Birx and Trump for not addressing “ multiple questions about our higher infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a test-tracking website , but the United States surpassed South Korea in per capita testing on or before April 20 , a fact documented a full week before the reporter ’ s question .
RELATED : CNN 's Stelter Blasted Hydroxychloroquine for Virus , But Turns Out His Wife Uses It - Just Not for COVID The spat follows increasingly tense news briefings as Trump squares off against media groups that have misrepresented his comments .
Most recently , media outlets took comments Trump made about disinfectants and presented them as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put bleach and other chemicals into their bodies ; Trump later said he was being sarcastic .
The move left the president questioning if the regular coronavirus briefings were even worth his time , or if they just served as a chance for the media to produce new controversies about him .
If this Yahoo reporter ’ s embarrassing gaffe is any indication , Trump ’ s negative opinion of the establishment media won ’ t be swayed anytime soon .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism @ @ @ @ @ @

A reporter is publicly apologizing after feuding with President Donald Trump over COVID-19 testing statistics, a row that was put to rest when Dr. Deborah Birx read the real numbers to the room.
Yahoo News White House correspondent Hunter Walker asked the botched question during a Tuesday Oval Office meeting between Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Mr. President, overall South Korea has done five times more tests than the U.S. per capita,” Walker said. “Why is that?”
“I don’t think that’s true,” the president said, before asking Walker what news agency he represents.
Trump then turned to Birx, who explained that America’s outbreaks resemble those in Europe and not South Korea or other Asian countries. Eventually, the doctor found the true numbers behind Walker’s claim.
“To our Yahoo gentleman, I just want to make it clear that South Korea’s testing was 11 per 100,000,” Birx said, “and we’re at 17 per 100,000.”
Trump was quick to jump on Walker for presenting incorrect information as fact.
“Are you going to apologize, Yahoo?” Trump asked the reporter in front of the room. “That’s why you’re Yahoo and nobody knows who the hell you are.”
Watch a video of the confrontation and Birx’s fact check below.
Are you surprised that this reporter had his facts wrong? 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: 2% (222 Votes) No: 98% (8986 Votes)
Walker issued an apology shortly after, but not before slamming Birx and Trump for not addressing “multiple questions about our higher infection rate.”
We have passed South Korea in the number of tests conducted per capita. I misread the mobile version of this chart and am sorry about that @realDonaldTrump . Our infection rate is far higher though as I noted. — Hunter Walker (@hunterw) April 28, 2020
Walker claimed he misread data from a test-tracking website, but the United States surpassed South Korea in per capita testing on or before April 20, a fact documented a full week before the reporter’s question.
The spat follows increasingly tense news briefings as Trump squares off against media groups that have misrepresented his comments.
Most recently, media outlets took comments Trump made about disinfectants and presented them as if the president was seriously encouraging Americans to put bleach and other chemicals into their bodies; Trump later said he was being sarcastic.
The move left the president questioning if the regular coronavirus briefings were even worth his time, or if they just served as a chance for the media to produce new controversies about him.
If this Yahoo reporter’s embarrassing gaffe is any indication, Trump’s negative opinion of the establishment media won’t be swayed anytime soon.
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westernjournal--2020-04-29--Cuomo Uses Hundreds of Handmade Masks To Decorate Briefing Backdrop Instead of Distributing Them

Democratic Gov .
Andrew Cuomo of New York revealed a decorative display on Wednesday made from hundreds of hand-made protective masks sent to the state in hopes of preventing public health resource shortages .
Cautiously optimistic the hard-hit state may finally have seen the worst of the ongoing pandemic , Cuomo took a moment during his daily news conference to applaud citizens across the nation for coming together and donating whatever they could to aid New York ’ s coronavirus response effort .
“ America was when I said , ‘ We need help in our emergency rooms and hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from across the nation said , ‘ We will come to New York to help , ' ” Cuomo said .
“ That ’ s America .
That ’ s who we are and that ’ s who we have shown ourselves to be in the middle of this crisis.
” “ The crisis brings out the best and the worst ?
Yes !
And the best of America is beautiful , ” he said .
According to Cuomo , nothing better exemplified that than the display he was about to unveil : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the wall .
TRENDING : Black Veteran GOP Challenger Has a Message for Democrats Who Voted for Maxine Waters “ That ’ s a self-portrait of America , ” the governor said .
“ You know what it spells ?
It spells love .
That ’ s what it spells .
You have to have to look carefully , but that ’ s what the American people are saying.
” The governor followed up on Twitter shortly after his address , assuring the public “ good homes ” would be found for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was met with mixed responses on social media .
While some suggested the moment had been “ moving ” or even tear-inducing , others raised concerns that the now-punctured masks could have been distributed to those still in need of them , alongside the thousands of others Cuomo said had been donated .
“ Cuomo just unveiled a….canvas ?
…quilt ?
….wall hanging ?
made of cloth masks shipped to New York by good samaritans , ” Brooklyn-based reporter Amanda Ottaway said .
“ It ’ s not clear why they have not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : New York Cancels Presidential Primary Despite Objections from Sanders Campaign Video producer , podcast host and Brooklyn native Chris Wade also poked fun at the display , lofting similar criticisms .
“ [ D ] idn ’ t we joke on monday ’ s ep that Cuomo was putting the masks he got in the mail straight into the trash ?
Well , basically , ” Wade wrote .
As hospitalizations and confirmed coronavirus cases began to skyrocket when the pandemic first took root in the United States , Cuomo was quick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for personal protective equipment and ventilators , attacking President Donald Trump on occasion for allegedly not doing enough to aid in the state ’ s resource procurement .
In March , the governor scoffed at the federal provision of 400 ventilators .
“ Four hundred ventilators ?
I need 30,000 ventilators , ” Cuomo said at a news conference in March .
“ You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators ?
You ’ re missing the magnitude of the problem.
” He would later exercise more drastic rhetoric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would have to “ pick the 26,000 people who are going to die ” if more resources were not sent .
New York was hardest-hit despite strict social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home protocol , seeing 23,384 deaths and 299,691 confirmed cases as of Wednesday afternoon , according to Johns Hopkins .
It seems , however , that in spite of these staggering numbers , the state has more than fulfilled its need for public health resources , able earlier this month to provide 150 ventilators to Maryland and Michigan .
The Western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office for comment but did not immediately receive a response .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York revealed a decorative display on Wednesday made from hundreds of hand-made protective masks sent to the state in hopes of preventing public health resource shortages.
Cautiously optimistic the hard-hit state may finally have seen the worst of the ongoing pandemic, Cuomo took a moment during his daily news conference to applaud citizens across the nation for coming together and donating whatever they could to aid New York’s coronavirus response effort.
“America was when I said, ‘We need help in our emergency rooms and hospitals,’ and 95,000 nurses and doctors from across the nation said, ‘We will come to New York to help,'” Cuomo said. “That’s America. That’s who we are and that’s who we have shown ourselves to be in the middle of this crisis.”
“The crisis brings out the best and the worst? Yes! And the best of America is beautiful,” he said.
According to Cuomo, nothing better exemplified that than the display he was about to unveil: a collage of donated medical masks pinned to the wall.
“That’s a self-portrait of America,” the governor said. “You know what it spells? It spells love. That’s what it spells. You have to have to look carefully, but that’s what the American people are saying.”
The governor followed up on Twitter shortly after his address, assuring the public “good homes” would be found for the masks.
Thousands of masks have been sent to New York from around the country — made with love. This is a self-portrait of the goodness of Americans. Thank you. (And for those wondering, yes, we will find good homes for the masks.) pic.twitter.com/b41aWjSyXt — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 29, 2020
Still, the display was met with mixed responses on social media.
While some suggested the moment had been “moving” or even tear-inducing, others raised concerns that the now-punctured masks could have been distributed to those still in need of them, alongside the thousands of others Cuomo said had been donated.
“Cuomo just unveiled a….canvas?…quilt?….wall hanging? made of cloth masks shipped to New York by good samaritans,” Brooklyn-based reporter Amanda Ottaway said. “It’s not clear why they have not been distributed to people yet.”
Cuomo just unveiled a….canvas?…quilt?….wall hanging? made of cloth masks shipped to New York by good samaritans. It’s not clear why they have not been distributed to people yet pic.twitter.com/ig58kZbzfw — Amanda Ottaway (@amandaottaway) April 29, 2020
Video producer, podcast host and Brooklyn native Chris Wade also poked fun at the display, lofting similar criticisms.
“[D]idn’t we joke on monday’s ep that Cuomo was putting the masks he got in the mail straight into the trash? Well, basically,” Wade wrote.
Lol didn’t we joke on monday’s ep that Cuomo was putting the masks he got in the mail straight into the trash? Well, basically https://t.co/UqO3a3z21y — bad posts for bad people (@saywhatagain) April 29, 2020
As hospitalizations and confirmed coronavirus cases began to skyrocket when the pandemic first took root in the United States, Cuomo was quick to stress New York’s outsized need for personal protective equipment and ventilators, attacking President Donald Trump on occasion for allegedly not doing enough to aid in the state’s resource procurement.
In March, the governor scoffed at the federal provision of 400 ventilators.
“Four hundred ventilators? I need 30,000 ventilators,” Cuomo said at a news conference in March. “You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators? You’re missing the magnitude of the problem.”
Do you think this is a distasteful display considering some Americans are still in need of masks? 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: 97% (976 Votes) No: 3% (33 Votes)
He would later exercise more drastic rhetoric, Politico reported, telling federal officials they would have to “pick the 26,000 people who are going to die” if more resources were not sent.
New York was hardest-hit despite strict social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home protocol, seeing 23,384 deaths and 299,691 confirmed cases as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins.
It seems, however, that in spite of these staggering numbers, the state has more than fulfilled its need for public health resources, able earlier this month to provide 150 ventilators to Maryland and Michigan.
The Western Journal reached out to Cuomo’s office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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westernjournal--2020-04-29--As Left Idolizes China on COVID, Chinese Families Find Gov’t Cameras in Their Homes Monitoring Healt

As Left Idolizes China on COVID, Chinese Families Find Gov’t Cameras in Their Homes Monitoring Health

Remember how much we were praising China ’ s treatment of COVID-19 cases ?
So yes , about that .
If you ’ re an individual returning to China from abroad — or even from another area of China — you can expect a quarantine .
OK , fair enough , you might say .
China ’ s enforcement of that quarantine , however , may be a little more , um , aggressive than you would expect .
“ The morning after Ian Lahiffe returned to Beijing , he found a surveillance camera being mounted on the wall outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointing right at him , ” CNN reported on Tuesday .
TRENDING : Black Veteran GOP Challenger Has a Message for Democrats Who Voted for Maxine Waters “ After a trip to southern China , the 34-year-old Irish expat and his family were starting their two-week home quarantine , a mandatory measure enforced by the Beijing government to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus .
“ He said he opened the door as the camera was being installed , without warning.
” There ’ s no official edict , mind you , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside the homes of individuals returning from different areas of the world — or even different areas of China — after an individual returns from those areas .
However , as Lahiffe learned , no official edict doesn ’ t necessarily mean no official policy in China .
“ [ Having a camera outside your door is ] an incredible erosion of privacy , ” he said .
“ It just seems to be a massive data grab .
And I don ’ t know how much of it is actually legal.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to have six times as many surveillance cameras as the United States is going to have , and you can pretty much be assured they ’ re being used at the behest of the security state .
“ China currently has no specific national law to regulate the use of surveillance cameras , but the devices are already a regular part of public life : they ’ re often there watching when people cross the street , enter a shopping mall , dine in a restaurant , board a bus or even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN reported .
“ More than 20 million cameras had been installed across China as of 2017 , according to state broadcaster CCTV .
But other sources suggest a much higher number .
According to a report from IHS Markit Technology , now a part of Informa Tech , China had 349 million surveillance cameras installed as of 2018 , nearly five times the number of cameras in the United States.
” And we ’ re supposed to be shocked by this ?
That there ’ s some sort of massive state surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s being used to control the spread of the coronavirus ?
In fact , eight of the world ’ s 10 most surveilled cities are in China ( the other two are London and Atlanta ) .
London has far less than half the cameras per capita that the world ’ s leader , Chongqing , has .
Atlanta has less than a tenth .
In terms of the quarantining , it ’ s become clear that the cameras are part of the strategy — something many Chinese residents seem to be fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the authorities to pay you a visit and convince you that , yes , you were indeed fine with it .
“ [ I ] fully respect and understand the arrangement , ” a Beijing resident wrote on Chinese social media site Weibo after a camera and alarm were installed outside her apartment when she returned from Hubei province , the original virus epicenter .
Another Beijing resident said while he found the camera to be unnecessary , “ since it is a standard requirement , [ I ’ m ] happy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside of homes , though .
As you may have guessed , they ’ re not the only variety of technological intrusion in China .
“ Some people say cameras have even been placed inside their homes , ” CNN reported .
“ William Zhou , a public servant , returned to the city of Changzhou , in eastern Jiangsu province , from his native Anhui province in late February .
The next day , he said a community worker and a police officer came to his apartment and set up a camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cabinet wall inside his home .
“ Zhou was furious .
He asked why the camera couldn ’ t be placed outside instead , but the police officer told him it might get vandalized .
In the end , he said the camera stayed on the cabinet despite his strong protest .
“ On that evening , Zhou said he called the mayor ’ s hotline and the local epidemic control command center to complain .
Two days later , two local government officials turned up at his door , asking him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s epidemic control efforts .
They also told him the camera would only take still images when his door moved and wouldn ’ t record any video or audio.
” “ But Zhou remained unconvinced , ” CNN reported , proof that Zhou isn ’ t an idiot .
Also proof he isn ’ t : “ Zhou ” a pseudonym .
Remember , though ?
We ’ re supposed to praise how China is controlling the coronavirus pandemic .
And this is assuming their numbers are being accurately reported .
Or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , let me rephrase that : This is assuming their numbers are now being accurately reported .
As you may have remembered , the number of deaths in Hubei province was revised by upward of 50 percent .
But don ’ t worry , they swear they ’ re not lying this time .
And this time they ’ re super serious .
There ’ s roughly zero chance that ’ s actually true .
China has been lying about this since day one .
But , hey , it sounds like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , we can trust them now .
Really , they swear to us .
And why wouldn ’ t believe them this time , after all ?
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Remember how much we were praising China’s treatment of COVID-19 cases?
So yes, about that.
If you’re an individual returning to China from abroad — or even from another area of China — you can expect a quarantine. OK, fair enough, you might say.
China’s enforcement of that quarantine, however, may be a little more, um, aggressive than you would expect.
“The morning after Ian Lahiffe returned to Beijing, he found a surveillance camera being mounted on the wall outside his apartment door. Its lens was pointing right at him,” CNN reported on Tuesday.
“After a trip to southern China, the 34-year-old Irish expat and his family were starting their two-week home quarantine, a mandatory measure enforced by the Beijing government to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“He said he opened the door as the camera was being installed, without warning.”
There’s no official edict, mind you, that says cameras need to be affixed outside the homes of individuals returning from different areas of the world — or even different areas of China — after an individual returns from those areas.
However, as Lahiffe learned, no official edict doesn’t necessarily mean no official policy in China.
Do you think China should be held accountable for its actions? 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% (1144 Votes) No: 1% (6 Votes)
“[Having a camera outside your door is] an incredible erosion of privacy,” he said.
“It just seems to be a massive data grab. And I don’t know how much of it is actually legal.”
“Legal.” In China. Isn’t he cute?
As of next year, China is expected to have six times as many surveillance cameras as the United States is going to have, and you can pretty much be assured they’re being used at the behest of the security state.
“China currently has no specific national law to regulate the use of surveillance cameras, but the devices are already a regular part of public life: they’re often there watching when people cross the street, enter a shopping mall, dine in a restaurant, board a bus or even sit in a school classroom,” CNN reported.
“More than 20 million cameras had been installed across China as of 2017, according to state broadcaster CCTV. But other sources suggest a much higher number. According to a report from IHS Markit Technology, now a part of Informa Tech, China had 349 million surveillance cameras installed as of 2018, nearly five times the number of cameras in the United States.”
And we’re supposed to be shocked by this? That there’s some sort of massive state surveillance apparatus in China and that it’s being used to control the spread of the coronavirus?
In fact, eight of the world’s 10 most surveilled cities are in China (the other two are London and Atlanta).
London has far less than half the cameras per capita that the world’s leader, Chongqing, has. Atlanta has less than a tenth.
In terms of the quarantining, it’s become clear that the cameras are part of the strategy — something many Chinese residents seem to be fine with, although being not-fine might lead the authorities to pay you a visit and convince you that, yes, you were indeed fine with it.
“[I] fully respect and understand the arrangement,” a Beijing resident wrote on Chinese social media site Weibo after a camera and alarm were installed outside her apartment when she returned from Hubei province, the original virus epicenter.
Another Beijing resident said while he found the camera to be unnecessary, “since it is a standard requirement, [I’m] happy to accept it.”
Those are the cameras outside of homes, though. As you may have guessed, they’re not the only variety of technological intrusion in China.
“Some people say cameras have even been placed inside their homes,” CNN reported.
“William Zhou, a public servant, returned to the city of Changzhou, in eastern Jiangsu province, from his native Anhui province in late February. The next day, he said a community worker and a police officer came to his apartment and set up a camera pointing at his front door — from a cabinet wall inside his home.
“Zhou was furious. He asked why the camera couldn’t be placed outside instead, but the police officer told him it might get vandalized. In the end, he said the camera stayed on the cabinet despite his strong protest.
“On that evening, Zhou said he called the mayor’s hotline and the local epidemic control command center to complain. Two days later, two local government officials turned up at his door, asking him to understand and cooperate with the government’s epidemic control efforts. They also told him the camera would only take still images when his door moved and wouldn’t record any video or audio.”
“But Zhou remained unconvinced,” CNN reported, proof that Zhou isn’t an idiot. Also proof he isn’t: “Zhou” a pseudonym.
Remember, though? We’re supposed to praise how China is controlling the coronavirus pandemic.
And this is assuming their numbers are being accurately reported. Or, wait, I’m sorry, let me rephrase that: This is assuming their numbers are now being accurately reported. As you may have remembered, the number of deaths in Hubei province was revised by upward of 50 percent. But don’t worry, they swear they’re not lying this time. And this time they’re super serious.
There’s roughly zero chance that’s actually true. China has been lying about this since day one.
But, hey, it sounds like a pleasant fiction, right? And of course, we can trust them now. Really, they swear to us. And why wouldn’t believe them this time, after all?
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westernjournal--2020-04-29--Woman Whose Body Is Covered 80% in Birth Marks Was Called ‘Ugly Spotted Dog’

On one hand , it encourages us to be unique — but only in very particular ways .
When our differences don ’ t fall into a very narrow description , it can unfortunately lead to ostracism .
That ’ s most clear when those differences are physical and obvious .
One woman who knows that well is Ciera Swaringen from Rockwell , North Carolina , who believes that “ true beauty is being able to accept you for the way you were meant to be.
” Swaringen was born with a rare condition affecting about one in every 500,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevus .
Her particular variety is known as “ bathing trunk nevus , ” which means her body has what is basically a very large mole as well as lots of smaller , “ satellite ” moles .
TRENDING : Black Veteran GOP Challenger Has a Message for Democrats Who Voted for Maxine Waters In total , Swaringen estimates moles cover 80 percent of her body .
Now 23 , Swaringen has embraced her unique looks , but it wasn ’ t always so easy .
She submitted her story to Love What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encourage others who face similar hurdles .
“ This is the story of my life and my journey to loving myself , ” she began .
She was 8 years old when she realized that people were commenting on her looks and staring at her because of her condition , and by the time she was 12 , it started to lead her down a path of depression and anxiety .
Thankfully , since the town she was raised in was close-knit , she grew up with the same group of kids who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But during basketball games with other schools , some people treated her coolly .
“ We would line up after a game and high-five each other and compliment each other with ‘ good game , ' ” she wrote .
“ A few girls would remove their hand from the line because they didn ’ t want to touch my hand.
” That was painful through omission , but she also recalls a time when someone explicitly called her a horrible name .
“ There was also a time I was riding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the seat in front of me were picking on another kid , ” she continued .
“ I stepped in and said something about them needing to quit and as a result , I was called an ‘ ugly spotted dog ’ by one of the kids .
“ The school and his parents made him apologize later , but that doesn ’ t change the hurt I felt at the time.
” For some time , she tried to deal with the looks , comments and general feeling of other-ness by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she realized that burying her feelings was leading to a slow shutdown in other areas of life .
“ I didn ’ t enjoy going to new places , ” she wrote .
“ I would physically and mentally shut down if I tried to even go into a restaurant I had never been to.
” She credits a high school assignment with helping her open up about her conditions .
“ When I was in high school , I had to choose a topic for my graduation project .
I chose Neurocutaneous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have .
This is a secondary condition to GCMN , only this one is internal .
“ It is where pigmentation is present on the brain and central nervous system .
I had to write a 10-page paper about it and give a presentation on the information .
This is what helped me come to love who I was and the way I was born.
” Another step in not just accepting but embracing herself was when she posted a photo of herself in a swimsuit on Instagram .
“ I remember posting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hashtags so I could reach all kinds of people , ” she said .
“ The purpose of the post was to raise awareness about being different and being able to love yourself for the skin that you ’ re in .
And I did just that.
” She says that her experiences helped her grow , and now she wants others to learn to love themselves and others , too .
“ I was born with a skin condition for a reason .
It made me who I am .
Everyone has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and everyone should love themselves for who they are .
All the trials and battles we face make us who we are , ” she said .
“ The most important piece of advice I can give to anyone is to love yourself for who you are , ” Swaringen concluded .
“ Love yourself with everything that makes you different .
“ Everyone is born to stand out in their own way .
Everyone has insecurities , whether they are visible or not .
Be kind to everyone , even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best revenge is happiness , so stay strong and happy .
Love yourself and everyone around you.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Society is an interesting place.
On one hand, it encourages us to be unique — but only in very particular ways. When our differences don’t fall into a very narrow description, it can unfortunately lead to ostracism.
That’s most clear when those differences are physical and obvious. One woman who knows that well is Ciera Swaringen from Rockwell, North Carolina, who believes that “true beauty is being able to accept you for the way you were meant to be.”
Swaringen was born with a rare condition affecting about one in every 500,000 people, known as Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus.
Her particular variety is known as “bathing trunk nevus,” which means her body has what is basically a very large mole as well as lots of smaller, “satellite” moles.
In total, Swaringen estimates moles cover 80 percent of her body.
Now 23, Swaringen has embraced her unique looks, but it wasn’t always so easy. She submitted her story to Love What Matters to talk about her journey and encourage others who face similar hurdles.
“This is the story of my life and my journey to loving myself,” she began.
She was 8 years old when she realized that people were commenting on her looks and staring at her because of her condition, and by the time she was 12, it started to lead her down a path of depression and anxiety.
Thankfully, since the town she was raised in was close-knit, she grew up with the same group of kids who mostly accepted her for how she was. But during basketball games with other schools, some people treated her coolly.
“We would line up after a game and high-five each other and compliment each other with ‘good game,'” she wrote. “A few girls would remove their hand from the line because they didn’t want to touch my hand.”
That was painful through omission, but she also recalls a time when someone explicitly called her a horrible name.
“There was also a time I was riding the school bus home and the kids in the seat in front of me were picking on another kid,” she continued. “I stepped in and said something about them needing to quit and as a result, I was called an ‘ugly spotted dog’ by one of the kids.
“The school and his parents made him apologize later, but that doesn’t change the hurt I felt at the time.”
For some time, she tried to deal with the looks, comments and general feeling of other-ness by ignoring it. Soon, though, she realized that burying her feelings was leading to a slow shutdown in other areas of life.
“I didn’t enjoy going to new places,” she wrote. “I would physically and mentally shut down if I tried to even go into a restaurant I had never been to.”
She credits a high school assignment with helping her open up about her conditions.
“When I was in high school, I had to choose a topic for my graduation project. I chose Neurocutaneous Melanocytosis, which is another condition I have. This is a secondary condition to GCMN, only this one is internal.
“It is where pigmentation is present on the brain and central nervous system. I had to write a 10-page paper about it and give a presentation on the information. This is what helped me come to love who I was and the way I was born.”
Another step in not just accepting but embracing herself was when she posted a photo of herself in a swimsuit on Instagram.
“I remember posting it and using a whole bunch of hashtags so I could reach all kinds of people,” she said. “The purpose of the post was to raise awareness about being different and being able to love yourself for the skin that you’re in. And I did just that.”
She says that her experiences helped her grow, and now she wants others to learn to love themselves and others, too.
“I was born with a skin condition for a reason. It made me who I am. Everyone has a purpose, everyone has a reason, and everyone should love themselves for who they are. All the trials and battles we face make us who we are,” she said.
“The most important piece of advice I can give to anyone is to love yourself for who you are,” Swaringen concluded.
“Love yourself with everything that makes you different.
“Everyone is born to stand out in their own way. Everyone has insecurities, whether they are visible or not. Be kind to everyone, even if they are mean to you. The best revenge is happiness, so stay strong and happy. Love yourself and everyone around you.”
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-04-29--Local Officials Approve Loudspeaker Broadcast of Muslim Call to Prayer in Minneapolis Neighborhood

The Muslim call to prayer will be broadcast over a loudspeaker five times a day throughout Ramadan in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis .
This will be the first time the call to prayer , usually broadcast from mosques in Muslim countries , will be sounded in Minnesota , according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune .
The arrangement was approved by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on April 21 in collaboration with Minnesota ’ s Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque .
“ At a time when physical distancing requires we pray apart , it ’ s incumbent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ togetherness where we can , ” Frey said in a news release .
“ Adhan provides solidarity and comfort — both of which are essential during a time of crisis , ” the Democrat said .
“ As our Muslim community prepares for Ramadan , we hope the broadcast will offer a measure of stability and reassure or entire city that we are all very much in this together.
” TRENDING : Black Veteran GOP Challenger Has a Message for Democrats Who Voted for Maxine Waters The loudspeaker that the prayer will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mosque and will reach “ thousands of residents.
” CAIR-Minnesota Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said the Muslim community will “ welcome ” the mayor ’ s efforts .
“ This call to prayer will be especially meaningful to the many senior citizens in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood who have been isolated due to the pandemic , ” Hussein said in the news release .
“ It will help them feel more connected to their community and mosque in this sacred month.
” Imam Sharif Mohamed of Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque added , “ In this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muslim communities of Minnesota benefit from a city that honors and loves all of its diversity.
” Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar thanked Frey for his “ leadership and solidarity ” in an April 22 tweet .
The Cedar-Riverside neighborhood has one of Minnesota ’ s largest populations of Muslim Americans , with many people coming from Somalia and Ethiopia , the Star Tribune reported .
Minneapolis is not the first U.S. city to broadcast Muslim prayers .
Dearborn , Michigan , has done so for years , and the city of Paterson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request to broadcast prayers in March .
Minneapolis ’ broadcast will be different because the prayers will be broadcast from the center of the metropolitan area .
“ This is a unique opportunity .
It ’ s a reminder to everyone that we are all in this [ pandemic ] together , ” Hussein said .
“ Just as we have historically allowed churches to call out for prayers using a bell , this a continuation of the same freedom that other faiths have had.
” The call to prayer will run through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of Ramadan .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The Muslim call to prayer will be broadcast over a loudspeaker five times a day throughout Ramadan in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.
This will be the first time the call to prayer, usually broadcast from mosques in Muslim countries, will be sounded in Minnesota, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
The arrangement was approved by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on April 21 in collaboration with Minnesota’s Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque.
“At a time when physical distancing requires we pray apart, it’s incumbent on leaders to create a sense of togetherness where we can,” Frey said in a news release.
“Adhan provides solidarity and comfort — both of which are essential during a time of crisis,” the Democrat said. “As our Muslim community prepares for Ramadan, we hope the broadcast will offer a measure of stability and reassure or entire city that we are all very much in this together.”
The loudspeaker that the prayer will be broadcast from will be located outside a mosque and will reach “thousands of residents.”
CAIR-Minnesota Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said the Muslim community will “welcome” the mayor’s efforts.
“This call to prayer will be especially meaningful to the many senior citizens in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood who have been isolated due to the pandemic,” Hussein said in the news release.
Do you think the Muslim call to prayer should be broadcast? 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: 2% (9 Votes) No: 98% (542 Votes)
“It will help them feel more connected to their community and mosque in this sacred month.”
Imam Sharif Mohamed of Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque added, “In this time of fear and isolation, the Muslim communities of Minnesota benefit from a city that honors and loves all of its diversity.”
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar thanked Frey for his “leadership and solidarity” in an April 22 tweet.
Thank you Mayor for your leadership and solidarity on this ❤ https://t.co/MvTto1lbZX — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 22, 2020
The Cedar-Riverside neighborhood has one of Minnesota’s largest populations of Muslim Americans, with many people coming from Somalia and Ethiopia, the Star Tribune reported.
Minneapolis is not the first U.S. city to broadcast Muslim prayers. Dearborn, Michigan, has done so for years, and the city of Paterson, New Jersey, just approved a request to broadcast prayers in March.
Minneapolis’ broadcast will be different because the prayers will be broadcast from the center of the metropolitan area.
“This is a unique opportunity. It’s a reminder to everyone that we are all in this [pandemic] together,” Hussein said.
“Just as we have historically allowed churches to call out for prayers using a bell, this a continuation of the same freedom that other faiths have had.”
The call to prayer will run through the evening of May 23, the end of Ramadan.
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westernjournal--2020-04-29--Here Are the Incredible Christian Videos the Army Removed for Supposedly Violating the 1st Amendment

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has a curious definition of the First Amendment .
At the group ’ s behest , the Army opted to remove from Facebook four videos involving military chaplains who made explicit references to God and prayer in relation to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Four recent videos involving chaplains Cpt .
Amy Smith and Maj. Scott Ingram posted on the Facebook page of the Army ’ s 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade at Fort Drum , N.Y. , were taken down after MRFF founder and president Mikey Weinstein sent a demand letter claiming they violate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Fox News reported last week .
“ While many chaplains are doing a very good job of putting out videos that can benefit all of the service members who they serve , which are perfectly appropriate to the situation and the delivery medium of their unit ’ s Facebook page , and should be commended , others seem to be trying to capitalize on fears and anxieties , and the large audience of their units ’ Facebook pages , to push their religion , ” MRFF senior research director Chris Rodda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought-hovel Daily Kos .
TRENDING : Black Veteran GOP Challenger Has a Message for Democrats Who Voted for Maxine Waters “ These videos belong only on a chapel page , not on a base ’ s or unit ’ s main page.
” One of the “ violations ” consisted of Smith talking about the Fort Drum Spiritual Fitness Trail in an April 17 video .
“ This trail is designed to be used as a prayer walk , to walk around to all the different stations , ” she said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are invited to pray , to pray for the family , to pray for the sick and to pray for our leaders.
” “ In another video , Smith encouraged people to visit the Fort Drum Labyrinth as a great place to hear God ’ s voice , ” Fox News reported .
“ It ’ s going to feel like you are walking in circles .
But sometimes in life , that ’ s what it can feel like , ” she said in that video .
“ And if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outer edge of this labyrinth , and at times with our walk with God , we can almost be asking God , ‘ Where are you ?
Where are you in the midst of this COVID-19 ?
’ Or maybe you ’ ll be more toward the center , and you can hear God ’ s voice and you can hear him and you can sense him , even in the midst of all the craziness that is going on with all the worry , fear and anxiety.
” As for Ingram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted that “ are nothing short of Christian sermons.
” In the first video , originally posted March 25 , Ingram cited 1 Corinthians 13 , the chapter written by the Apostle Paul about love .
“ When we think of biblical faith , many think it is some kind of magical thinking or not rooted in reality , but I assure you it is not , ” he said .
Moreover , in an April 2 video , Ingram said , “ God encourages us not to be dismayed by what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not control .
We can , however , with the best intel in this moment , place our trust in him , walk forward in his strength and treat others with kindness.
” “ Change is never easy , but together we can walk forward in supernatural strength in the confidence that we are not forsaken , ” Ingram said .
So in other words , according to Rodda , while “ many chaplains are doing a very good job of putting out videos that can benefit all of the service members who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ trying to capitalize on fears and anxieties , and the large audience of their units ’ Facebook pages , to push their religion.
” What , pray tell — probably the wrong choice of words with the MRFF , but there you go — is Rodda under the impression that chaplains are supposed to be doing ?
How are they supposed to “ benefit all of the service members who they serve ?
” Just give them nondenominational pep talks ?
Oh well .
The whole affair gave the group an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MRFF ’ s 8 active duty Army client complainants in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum , New York , half of whom are practicing Christians , we at MRFF want to thank the Army ’ s senior leadership for so expeditiously pulling those illicit proselytizing videos off of the official command Facebook page of the 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade , ” Weinstein is quoted as saying in the Daily Kos piece .
Then again , are we supposed to be shocked by this ?
The MRFF is a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of late last year , claiming that the sale of Jesus-themed candies on an Air Force base was actually worth a legal threat .
That incident involved sugar apparently being used to proselytize .
This one involved spiritual succor being delivered on a unit Facebook page as opposed to a chapel one .
“ At a time when our nation is hurting and many feel hopeless , why on earth would Mikey Weinstein attack prayer ?
” Mike Berry , a lawyer for the First Liberty Institute , told Fox News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , but our brave service members are not immune to the havoc COVID-19 has wreaked.
” “ I can not believe the legendary U.S. Army ’ s 10th Mountain Division raised the white flag of surrender to an anti-religious freedom zealot .
Every president , from Washington to Trump , has publicly prayed for our military .
If the commander in chief can pray , then our soldiers can , too.
” But there wasn ’ t even actual praying in any of the videos , though .
You don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see is a chaplain doing what chaplains are often known to do .
That ’ s what the MRFF believes violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment .
Those Jesus candies are looking awfully outrageous in comparison , no ?
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has a curious definition of the First Amendment.
At the group’s behest, the Army opted to remove from Facebook four videos involving military chaplains who made explicit references to God and prayer in relation to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Four recent videos involving chaplains Cpt. Amy Smith and Maj. Scott Ingram posted on the Facebook page of the Army’s 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade at Fort Drum, N.Y., were taken down after MRFF founder and president Mikey Weinstein sent a demand letter claiming they violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment,” Fox News reported last week.
The MRFF called it “illicit proselytizing.”
“While many chaplains are doing a very good job of putting out videos that can benefit all of the service members who they serve, which are perfectly appropriate to the situation and the delivery medium of their unit’s Facebook page, and should be commended, others seem to be trying to capitalize on fears and anxieties, and the large audience of their units’ Facebook pages, to push their religion,” MRFF senior research director Chris Rodda wrote in a piece published on liberal thought-hovel Daily Kos.
“These videos belong only on a chapel page, not on a base’s or unit’s main page.”
One of the “violations” consisted of Smith talking about the Fort Drum Spiritual Fitness Trail in an April 17 video.
“This trail is designed to be used as a prayer walk, to walk around to all the different stations,” she said.
Shoud these videos have been taken down? 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: 1% (7 Votes) No: 99% (977 Votes)
“There are approximately nine different stations where you are invited to pray, to pray for the family, to pray for the sick and to pray for our leaders.”
“In another video, Smith encouraged people to visit the Fort Drum Labyrinth as a great place to hear God’s voice,” Fox News reported.
“It’s going to feel like you are walking in circles. But sometimes in life, that’s what it can feel like,” she said in that video.
“And if you notice, you’ll be on the outer edge of this labyrinth, and at times with our walk with God, we can almost be asking God, ‘Where are you? Where are you in the midst of this COVID-19?’ Or maybe you’ll be more toward the center, and you can hear God’s voice and you can hear him and you can sense him, even in the midst of all the craziness that is going on with all the worry, fear and anxiety.”
As for Ingram, Rodda complained about two videos he posted that “are nothing short of Christian sermons.”
In the first video, originally posted March 25, Ingram cited 1 Corinthians 13, the chapter written by the Apostle Paul about love.
“When we think of biblical faith, many think it is some kind of magical thinking or not rooted in reality, but I assure you it is not,” he said.
Moreover, in an April 2 video, Ingram said, “God encourages us not to be dismayed by what we see around us, things we cannot control. We can, however, with the best intel in this moment, place our trust in him, walk forward in his strength and treat others with kindness.”
“Change is never easy, but together we can walk forward in supernatural strength in the confidence that we are not forsaken,” Ingram said.
So in other words, according to Rodda, while “many chaplains are doing a very good job of putting out videos that can benefit all of the service members who they serve,” these chaplains are “trying to capitalize on fears and anxieties, and the large audience of their units’ Facebook pages, to push their religion.”
What, pray tell — probably the wrong choice of words with the MRFF, but there you go — is Rodda under the impression that chaplains are supposed to be doing?
How are they supposed to “benefit all of the service members who they serve?” Just give them nondenominational pep talks?
Oh well. The whole affair gave the group an opportunity to boast.
“On behalf of MRFF’s 8 active duty Army client complainants in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, half of whom are practicing Christians, we at MRFF want to thank the Army’s senior leadership for so expeditiously pulling those illicit proselytizing videos off of the official command Facebook page of the 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade,” Weinstein is quoted as saying in the Daily Kos piece.
Then again, are we supposed to be shocked by this?
The MRFF is a group of legal trolls that was recently seen, as of late last year, claiming that the sale of Jesus-themed candies on an Air Force base was actually worth a legal threat. That incident involved sugar apparently being used to proselytize. This one involved spiritual succor being delivered on a unit Facebook page as opposed to a chapel one.
“At a time when our nation is hurting and many feel hopeless, why on earth would Mikey Weinstein attack prayer?” Mike Berry, a lawyer for the First Liberty Institute, told Fox News.
“America has the strongest military in history, but our brave service members are not immune to the havoc COVID-19 has wreaked.”
“I cannot believe the legendary U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division raised the white flag of surrender to an anti-religious freedom zealot. Every president, from Washington to Trump, has publicly prayed for our military. If the commander in chief can pray, then our soldiers can, too.”
But there wasn’t even actual praying in any of the videos, though. You don’t hear the actual prayer. What you see is a chaplain doing what chaplains are often known to do.
That’s what the MRFF believes violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Those Jesus candies are looking awfully outrageous in comparison, no?
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.