westernjournal--2020-04-02--Texas Governor Designates Religious Services as ‘Essential’ Activities

In an executive order issued Tuesday , Texas Gov .
Gregg Abbott listed religious services among the essential services that should continue amid the coronavirus epidemic In the order , which addressed the “ statewide continuity of essential services ” during the pandemic , Abbott called for Texans “ except where necessary to provide or obtain essential services , minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household.
” The governor referenced the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce Version 2.0 as the authority Texas would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The work areas listed included utilities , health care , food services , transportation and emergency services , among others .
TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts However , Abbott added to the list “ religious services conducted in churches , congregations , and houses of worship.
” “ In providing or obtaining essential services , people and businesses should follow the Guidelines from the President and the [ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ] by practicing good hygiene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implementing social distancing , and working from home if possible , ” the governor wrote .
“ If religious services can not be conducted from home or through remote services , they should be conducted consistent with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC by practicing good hygiene , environmental cleanliness , and sanitation , and by implementing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , ” his order said .
Abbott Executive Order by The Western Journal on Scribd Most churches nationwide have not been gathering in person as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance to avoid meeting in groups of more than 10 people .
Fritz Hager , executive pastor of Bible Bethel Church in Tyler , Texas , told The Western Journal nearly all the churches in his city stopped meeting in their buildings by mid-March .
Hager said Abbott had encouraged churches to go online but had given them flexibility .
RELATED : Arrested Florida Pastor 's Legal Team Fires Back Against 'Discriminatory Application of the Law' “ We had thought we were going to be OK for services … but with local confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and close down , ” Hager said .
Some congregations , including Connection Christian Church in Odessa , Texas , have opted for drive-in services in their building ’ s parking lot .
“ Cars turned their radio dials to 100.5 F.M .
and then the service started just like it would inside of the walls of the church , ” KWES-TV in Midland reported .
The same thing is happening at other locations around the country .
John Leach — executive senior pastor of Life Center in Harrisburg , Pennsylvania — told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many larger congregations , has broadcast services online for years .
The congregation is using this time to grow its online presence .
To its regular online services , Life Center has added daily online devotionals and prayer focuses during the time of enforced physical separation .
“ We ’ re using this as a chance to expand , not pull back , ” Leach said .
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In an executive order issued Tuesday, Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott listed religious services among the essential services that should continue amid the coronavirus epidemic
In the order, which addressed the “statewide continuity of essential services” during the pandemic, Abbott called for Texans “except where necessary to provide or obtain essential services, minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household.”
The governor referenced the Department of Homeland Security’s Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce Version 2.0 as the authority Texas would follow as to what essential services include.
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The work areas listed included utilities, health care, food services, transportation and emergency services, among others.
However, Abbott added to the list “religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship.”
“In providing or obtaining essential services, people and businesses should follow the Guidelines from the President and the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] by practicing good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation, implementing social distancing, and working from home if possible,” the governor wrote.
Yesterday I issued an executive order that goes into effect at midnight tonight that requires all Texans to stay home unless you’re performing an essential service or activity. We must continue to respond to the challenge #COVID19 with strength and resolve. pic.twitter.com/xiCURPQZnf — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 1, 2020
“If religious services cannot be conducted from home or through remote services, they should be conducted consistent with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC by practicing good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation, and by implementing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” his order said.
Abbott Executive Order by The Western Journal on Scribd
Most churches nationwide have not been gathering in person as they comply with the Trump administration’s guidance to avoid meeting in groups of more than 10 people.
Fritz Hager, executive pastor of Bible Bethel Church in Tyler, Texas, told The Western Journal nearly all the churches in his city stopped meeting in their buildings by mid-March.
Hager said Abbott had encouraged churches to go online but had given them flexibility.
“We had thought we were going to be OK for services … but with local confirmed cases we decided we would go ahead and close down,” Hager said.
Some congregations, including Connection Christian Church in Odessa, Texas, have opted for drive-in services in their building’s parking lot.
“Cars turned their radio dials to 100.5 F.M. and then the service started just like it would inside of the walls of the church,” KWES-TV in Midland reported.
The same thing is happening at other locations around the country.
Went to a small town drive-in church service today. pic.twitter.com/BK5KD1uUxg — Nicolas Galindo (@ngalindophoto) March 22, 2020
John Leach — executive senior pastor of Life Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — told The Western Journal his church, like many larger congregations, has broadcast services online for years.
The congregation is using this time to grow its online presence.
To its regular online services, Life Center has added daily online devotionals and prayer focuses during the time of enforced physical separation.
“We’re using this as a chance to expand, not pull back,” Leach said.
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westernjournal--2020-04-02--Former Obama Adviser Expects ‘Historical’ Turnout for Trump, Says Biden Is in Trouble

Despite the prospects of a gloomy April as America hunkers down for its battle against the coronavirus , a former Obama adviser predicts that by November , voters will turn out in legendary numbers to re-elect President Donald Trump .
David Plouffe , who managed Barack Obama ’ s 2008 presidential campaign , said on Thursday ’ s “ Fox News Rundown ” podcast that there is little Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden can do about it , according to Fox News .
He said Trump ’ s likely victory turns logic on its head , given a superficial look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You look at the economic situation and say , ‘ How can an incumbent win in that ?
’ But , you know , no one ’ s blaming Trump for the damage , ” Plouffe said , suggesting a candidate might get traction against the president if the candidate could “ lay his crisis response at his feet and connect that to the economy.
” “ But almost no matter what happens , can Donald Trump win Wisconsin ?
Can he win Michigan ?
Can he win Pennsylvania ?
Can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because his base is so solid .
And I think he ’ s going to turn out voters almost at a historical level on his behalf , so that makes him very dangerous if you ’ re Joe Biden , ” Plouffe said .
TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts But mostly , he said , Biden is on the sidelines .
“ There ’ s nothing he can do about it .
He ’ s not in office .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not the president .
And truthfully , [ New York Gov . ]
Andrew Cuomo , [ California Gov . ]
Gavin Newsom … Donald Trump , citizens want to hear from those folks because they ’ re the folks making decisions , ” Plouffe said .
That leaves the former vice president trying to find ways to get attention .
“ So all Biden can do is leverage interviews … leverage social media every day … to communicate how you would handle this crisis , ” he said .
Conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in his column Tuesday that the virus has left Biden with few options .
“ If Biden begins to mimic a hostile media , baiting Trump at every turn , pointing out conflicts in his views , Joe will invite the same fate the media seem to have brought upon themselves , ” he wrote , referring to a recent survey in which Americans held the media in low esteem .
Buchanan said traditional political attacks could backfire in the current climate .
“ But if Biden can not gather crowds to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing , how does he get his message out ?
How does he attack Trump without appearing to undermine the president in his role as a wartime commander in chief , where America wants Trump to succeed ?
” he wrote .
Biden “ pops up infrequently in interviews out of the basement of his Delaware home where , sheltering in place , he reads short scripted speeches from a teleprompter , ” Buchanan wrote , while Trump assumes the role of a wartime commander-in-chief .
RELATED : Trump Campaign Warns 'Delusional ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President “ Moreover , when Biden appears on camera , he often seems confused and forgetful , loses his train of thought and doesn ’ t remember what he came to say .
The sense that Biden is losing it is taking hold , and not only on the Republican right , ” he wrote .
Buchanan said there is only one path to victory for Biden — and that would require a major blunder by the president .
“ For Biden to win this election , Trump must lose it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is the perception on the part of a majority of Americans that he has proven an ineffectual president in America ’ s worst pandemic since the Spanish flu of 1918 , ” Buchanan wrote .
“ If Trump is seen as the victor over the virus , Biden is toast , ” he said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Despite the prospects of a gloomy April as America hunkers down for its battle against the coronavirus, a former Obama adviser predicts that by November, voters will turn out in legendary numbers to re-elect President Donald Trump.
David Plouffe, who managed Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, said on Thursday’s “Fox News Rundown” podcast that there is little Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden can do about it, according to Fox News.
He said Trump’s likely victory turns logic on its head, given a superficial look at the current state of the nation.
“You look at the economic situation and say, ‘How can an incumbent win in that?’ But, you know, no one’s blaming Trump for the damage,” Plouffe said, suggesting a candidate might get traction against the president if the candidate could “lay his crisis response at his feet and connect that to the economy.”
“But almost no matter what happens, can Donald Trump win Wisconsin? Can he win Michigan? Can he win Pennsylvania? Can he win Florida?’ Sure, because his base is so solid. And I think he’s going to turn out voters almost at a historical level on his behalf, so that makes him very dangerous if you’re Joe Biden,” Plouffe said.
But mostly, he said, Biden is on the sidelines.
“There’s nothing he can do about it. He’s not in office. He’s not a governor. He’s not the president. And truthfully, [New York Gov.] Andrew Cuomo, [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom … Donald Trump, citizens want to hear from those folks because they’re the folks making decisions,” Plouffe said.
That leaves the former vice president trying to find ways to get attention.
“So all Biden can do is leverage interviews … leverage social media every day … to communicate how you would handle this crisis,” he said.
Conservative commentator and former presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan said in his column Tuesday that the virus has left Biden with few options.
“If Biden begins to mimic a hostile media, baiting Trump at every turn, pointing out conflicts in his views, Joe will invite the same fate the media seem to have brought upon themselves,” he wrote, referring to a recent survey in which Americans held the media in low esteem.
Buchanan said traditional political attacks could backfire in the current climate.
“But if Biden cannot gather crowds to hear him in a time of social distancing, how does he get his message out? How does he attack Trump without appearing to undermine the president in his role as a wartime commander in chief, where America wants Trump to succeed?” he wrote.
Biden “pops up infrequently in interviews out of the basement of his Delaware home where, sheltering in place, he reads short scripted speeches from a teleprompter,” Buchanan wrote, while Trump assumes the role of a wartime commander-in-chief.
“Moreover, when Biden appears on camera, he often seems confused and forgetful, loses his train of thought and doesn’t remember what he came to say. The sense that Biden is losing it is taking hold, and not only on the Republican right,” he wrote.
Buchanan said there is only one path to victory for Biden — and that would require a major blunder by the president.
Do you think President Donald Trump will be re-elected? Yes No
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“For Biden to win this election, Trump must lose it. And the one way Trump can lose it is the perception on the part of a majority of Americans that he has proven an ineffectual president in America’s worst pandemic since the Spanish flu of 1918,” Buchanan wrote.
“If Trump is seen as the victor over the virus, Biden is toast,” he said.
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westernjournal--2020-04-02--Prince Charles Breaks Silence While Battling Coronavirus, Encourages People To Live with Hope and Fa

Prince Charles Breaks Silence While Battling Coronavirus, Encourages People To Live with Hope and Faith

Part of the fear surrounding COVID-19 stems from the fact that its transmission is invisible to us .
Unless you take a test , it ’ s hard to know if you actually have it — and depending on where you are , a test might not be all that easy to procure .
That ’ s why people are being told to shelter in place .
We ’ re all acting as though we are infected ( practicing social distancing , avoiding unnecessary travel , going “ abroad ” only for necessities ) so that we limit the chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and spread it without knowing it .
The virus is no respecter of persons and can infect old and young , rich and poor , healthy and immunocompromised .
Even having a lot of money and prestige can ’ t keep you from getting it , though it can certainly help with care once it is contracted .
It came as a shock to some , then , when Prince Charles ’ office announced on March 25 that he had tested positive for COVID-19 .
TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Millions in Cuts Thankfully , his experience was self-described as “ mild , ” and his wife , Camilla , Duchess of Cornwall , tested negative for the virus ( though she went into — and remains in — self-isolation for the time being ) .
On Wednesday , Charles shared a message with the world about his experience , how vital health care workers are , and how though this is a difficult time , it , too , shall pass .
“ A message from The Prince of Wales , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As Patron of Age UK , The Prince of Wales shares a message on the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on the older members of the community.
” “ Having recently gone through the process of contracting this coronavirus , luckily with relatively mild symptoms , I now find myself on the other side of the illness but still in no less a state of social distance and general isolation , ” the prince said in the video shared on Instagram .
“ As we are all learning , this is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the presence of family and friends is no longer possible and the normal structures of life are suddenly removed , ” Charles said .
“ At such an unprecedented and anxious time in all our lives , my wife and I are thinking particularly of all those who have lost their loved ones in such very difficult and abnormal circumstances , and of those having to endure sickness , isolation and loneliness .
… Our hearts go out to all those older people throughout this country who are now experiencing great difficulty.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are truly wonderful neighbors , individuals and groups of volunteers who are providing ceaseless care and attention to those most at risk , and that all this network of selfless assistance is , in itself , helping to provide vital support and reassurance to the hard-pressed professional services.
” RELATED : Meghan and Harry Reportedly Relocated to Los Angeles Before Border Between US and Canada Closed “ As a nation , ” Charles said , “ we are faced by a profoundly challenging situation , which we are only too aware threatens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of our fellow citizens .
None of us can say when this will end , but end it will .
“ Until it does , let us try and live with hope and , with faith in ourselves and each other , look forward to better times to come.
” According to Fox News , “ Clarence House has confirmed today that , having consulted with his doctor , The Prince of Wales is now out of self-isolation , ” as conveyed by a representative ’ s emailed statement .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Part of the fear surrounding COVID-19 stems from the fact that its transmission is invisible to us. Unless you take a test, it’s hard to know if you actually have it — and depending on where you are, a test might not be all that easy to procure.
That’s why people are being told to shelter in place. We’re all acting as though we are infected (practicing social distancing, avoiding unnecessary travel, going “abroad” only for necessities) so that we limit the chances that we catch it from someone else and spread it without knowing it.
The virus is no respecter of persons and can infect old and young, rich and poor, healthy and immunocompromised. Even having a lot of money and prestige can’t keep you from getting it, though it can certainly help with care once it is contracted.
It came as a shock to some, then, when Prince Charles’ office announced on March 25 that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Thankfully, his experience was self-described as “mild,” and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, tested negative for the virus (though she went into — and remains in — self-isolation for the time being).
On Wednesday, Charles shared a message with the world about his experience, how vital health care workers are, and how though this is a difficult time, it, too, shall pass.
“A message from The Prince of Wales,” the Clarence House Instagram account shared. “As Patron of Age UK, The Prince of Wales shares a message on the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on the older members of the community.”
“Having recently gone through the process of contracting this coronavirus, luckily with relatively mild symptoms, I now find myself on the other side of the illness but still in no less a state of social distance and general isolation,” the prince said in the video shared on Instagram.
“As we are all learning, this is a strange, frustrating and often distressing experience when the presence of family and friends is no longer possible and the normal structures of life are suddenly removed,” Charles said.
“At such an unprecedented and anxious time in all our lives, my wife and I are thinking particularly of all those who have lost their loved ones in such very difficult and abnormal circumstances, and of those having to endure sickness, isolation and loneliness. … Our hearts go out to all those older people throughout this country who are now experiencing great difficulty.”
However, he noted that “there are truly wonderful neighbors, individuals and groups of volunteers who are providing ceaseless care and attention to those most at risk, and that all this network of selfless assistance is, in itself, helping to provide vital support and reassurance to the hard-pressed professional services.”
“As a nation,” Charles said, “we are faced by a profoundly challenging situation, which we are only too aware threatens the livelihoods, businesses and welfare of millions of our fellow citizens. None of us can say when this will end, but end it will.
“Until it does, let us try and live with hope and, with faith in ourselves and each other, look forward to better times to come.”
According to Fox News, “Clarence House has confirmed today that, having consulted with his doctor, The Prince of Wales is now out of self-isolation,” as conveyed by a representative’s emailed statement.
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westernjournal--2020-04-02--Scarborough Loses COVID Blame Game as Video Shows Own Guest Telling Us Not To Be Overly Concerned

If only Joe Scarborough had been president .
He was a representative once upon a time , after all .
And , he ’ s apparently omniscient .
That ’ s a pretty good qualification for the job , I must say .
I ’ m taking that part from Scarborough ’ s claim on Wednesday that not only did he know what was coming down the pike with the coronavirus back in January , we all knew it .
It came during a Scarborough interview with Obamacare architect Ezekiel Emmanuel .
“ We ’ ve heard , Zeke Emanuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming , ” the MSNBC host said regarding the COVID-19 crisis .
“ The fact is , everybody saw this coming .
Everybody saw this coming in early January.
” TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts This is either one prescient man or someone who is lying about what he knew and when he knew it .
The answer , unsurprisingly , is the latter .
In late January , medical contributor Dr. Dave Campbell appeared on “ Morning Joe.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about whether viewers should be panicking regarding the outbreak , then mostly thought to be confined to China .
“ No , Americans do not need to panic , ” Campbell said .
“ The Chinese are already panicking — as they should , because this virus is spreading all through the central parts of China , and it ’ s a new virus .
It has never been seen before , so its mechanism of spreading is not quite known yet .
“ What I would suggest , however , is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for seasonal flu .
We are not out of the flu season .
We ’ ve already had 15 million cases of the flu in the U.S. , 140,000 hospitalizations , 54 children have died .
Almost as many as have died from the novel coronavirus and everybody ’ s not vaccinated yet .
“ Even if you get vaccinated and get the flu , it lowers the complication rate from the flu , ” he continued .
“ So we don ’ t need to be overly concerned yet in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do need to keep our eyes open for the seasonal flu .
We ’ re right in the middle of the flu season still.
” RELATED : Retired Army Colonel Exposes Scarborough 's Constitutional Ignorance , Nails Him on 'Stay at Home ' Demand If Scarborough , an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump , was among the “ everybody ” who knew what was coming in early January , why would he have a medical contributor on talking about how the real culprit would be the seasonal flu ?
If Scarborough was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this would be disinformation .
And , as The Intercept ’ s Glenn Greenwald pointed out , it ’ s not as if Scarborough ’ s Twitter account evinces a man consumed with coronavirus fears , either .
In fact , he was much more preoccupied with a different set of topics .
So , 29 tweets about impeachment , 11 about the election , seven about sports and a whopping zero about coronavirus .
For a man who saw the country more or less being locked down from coast to coast and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just two months ’ time , this was a guy who had a different set of priorities to talk about .
This isn ’ t to excoriate Scarborough for not getting this right .
Most of us got this one wrong .
We still don ’ t have a particularly fantastic grasp on how coronavirus will turn out , what the policy prescriptions should be and how soon we ’ ll recover .
You ’ ll note , in fact , that no one was calling Scarborough out for not knowing the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the offensive and calling other people out .
Didn ’ t foresee the scope of this ?
Well , according to Scarborough , you should get on board with literally everybody who saw this coming .
Don ’ t you listen to scientists ?
Oh , wait , of course you don ’ t — you ’ re disagreeing with Joe Scarborough .
And everybody knows Joe Scarborough knows everything , right ?
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

If only Joe Scarborough had been president. He was a representative once upon a time, after all. And, he’s apparently omniscient. That’s a pretty good qualification for the job, I must say.
I’m taking that part from Scarborough’s claim on Wednesday that not only did he know what was coming down the pike with the coronavirus back in January, we all knew it.
It came during a Scarborough interview with Obamacare architect Ezekiel Emmanuel.
“We’ve heard, Zeke Emanuel, that nobody could have seen this coming,” the MSNBC host said regarding the COVID-19 crisis.
“The fact is, everybody saw this coming. Everybody saw this coming in early January.”
This is either one prescient man or someone who is lying about what he knew and when he knew it. The answer, unsurprisingly, is the latter.
In late January, medical contributor Dr. Dave Campbell appeared on “Morning Joe.” He was asked by co-host Mika Brzezinski about whether viewers should be panicking regarding the outbreak, then mostly thought to be confined to China.
“No, Americans do not need to panic,” Campbell said.
Was Joe Scarborough trying to score political points with COVID-19? Yes No
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“The Chinese are already panicking — as they should, because this virus is spreading all through the central parts of China, and it’s a new virus. It has never been seen before, so its mechanism of spreading is not quite known yet.
“What I would suggest, however, is that Americans take this as a wake-up call for seasonal flu. We are not out of the flu season. We’ve already had 15 million cases of the flu in the U.S., 140,000 hospitalizations, 54 children have died. Almost as many as have died from the novel coronavirus and everybody’s not vaccinated yet.
“Even if you get vaccinated and get the flu, it lowers the complication rate from the flu,” he continued.
“So we don’t need to be overly concerned yet in the United States about the novel coronavirus, we do need to keep our eyes open for the seasonal flu. We’re right in the middle of the flu season still.”
CORRECTION: That was the first mention on MSNBC. The first mention on Morning Joe was Jan. 24th, when an “expert” said Americans should worry about the flu, not the Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/aG0BjwHxKj — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) April 1, 2020
If Scarborough, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, was among the “everybody” who knew what was coming in early January, why would he have a medical contributor on talking about how the real culprit would be the seasonal flu? If Scarborough was so well informed, after all, this would be disinformation.
And, as The Intercept’s Glenn Greenwald pointed out, it’s not as if Scarborough’s Twitter account evinces a man consumed with coronavirus fears, either. In fact, he was much more preoccupied with a different set of topics.
Look what a pathological liar @JoeNBC is. Today he said about the coronavirus pandemic in the US: “Everybody saw this coming in early January.” Number of @JoeNBC tweets in January by topic: Impeachment – 29
Election – 11
Sports – 7
Coronavirus – 0pic.twitter.com/qjhX11wguH — Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 1, 2020
So, 29 tweets about impeachment, 11 about the election, seven about sports and a whopping zero about coronavirus. For a man who saw the country more or less being locked down from coast to coast and the economy being frozen in place in just two months’ time, this was a guy who had a different set of priorities to talk about.
This isn’t to excoriate Scarborough for not getting this right. Most of us got this one wrong. We still don’t have a particularly fantastic grasp on how coronavirus will turn out, what the policy prescriptions should be and how soon we’ll recover.
You’ll note, in fact, that no one was calling Scarborough out for not knowing the future. Instead, he’s going on the offensive and calling other people out.
Didn’t foresee the scope of this? Well, according to Scarborough, you should get on board with literally everybody who saw this coming.
Don’t you listen to scientists? Oh, wait, of course you don’t — you’re disagreeing with Joe Scarborough.
And everybody knows Joe Scarborough knows everything, right?
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westernjournal--2020-04-02--China Can No Longer Hide Resurging Virus, Places County on Lockdown

Despite China ’ s suppression of true COVID-19 numbers , the story coming out of the country was a hopeful one .
The world ’ s most populous nation was seemingly able to defeat an outbreak that crippled it , proving the novel coronavirus could be controlled .
Soon , life in China began to look similar to what it normally did , hinting that by the end of the year , much of the world would be back to normal .
But if there ’ s one thing China is good at , it ’ s lying .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s draconian quarantine measures , which forced around 700 million people into a lockdown , did not eliminate the Chinese virus from the mainland .
An outbreak in Jia County now has the Chinese government instituting another strict quarantine , a tactic that many likely thought was in the rear-view mirror .
TRENDING : House Republicans Push Bill To Take Back the $ 25 Million Kennedy Center Received in Coronavirus Bill According to Reuters , county officials announced the move over Chinese social media .
While the county is small by Chinese standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown proves the situation in the mainland is far from under control .
Of the three confirmed cases discovered there , two were asymptomatic .
The lockdown order comes on the heels of other ominous moves by the government that hint the outbreak isn ’ t confined to a single county .
Riots , reportedly stemming from Chinese police control over COVID-19 checkpoints , rocked some areas of China days ago .
The shocking amount of civil disobedience , something completely alien to modern Chinese society , underscores the tensions between the rulers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , China was celebrating every step away from the original outbreak .
Hundreds of movie theaters , closed during the quarantine , were reopened to much fanfare from Chinese media .
What failed to receive as much airtime was the quiet order to lock down more than 600 of the facilities a short time later .
RELATED : As COVID Fear Spreads , Dems Ramp Up Pressure on ICE To Release Illegals Considering the virus can live in the air for hours and on some surfaces for over two weeks , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was missed during the country ’ s mass disinfection .
With China ’ s less-than-stellar record of telling the truth about COVID-19 , this shouldn ’ t come as a surprise .
As far back as mid-January , experts calculated that the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus in China was around five times greater than the communist party ’ s official numbers .
Even now , the closing of theaters and a potential second round of quarantines hints that the country is far from ridding itself of COVID-19 .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Despite China’s suppression of true COVID-19 numbers, the story coming out of the country was a hopeful one.
The world’s most populous nation was seemingly able to defeat an outbreak that crippled it, proving the novel coronavirus could be controlled. Soon, life in China began to look similar to what it normally did, hinting that by the end of the year, much of the world would be back to normal.
But if there’s one thing China is good at, it’s lying.
It now appears that the communist regime’s draconian quarantine measures, which forced around 700 million people into a lockdown, did not eliminate the Chinese virus from the mainland.
An outbreak in Jia County now has the Chinese government instituting another strict quarantine, a tactic that many likely thought was in the rear-view mirror.
According to Reuters, county officials announced the move over Chinese social media. While the county is small by Chinese standards — only around 600,000 people — the lockdown proves the situation in the mainland is far from under control.
Of the three confirmed cases discovered there, two were asymptomatic.
The lockdown order comes on the heels of other ominous moves by the government that hint the outbreak isn’t confined to a single county.
Riots, reportedly stemming from Chinese police control over COVID-19 checkpoints, rocked some areas of China days ago.
The shocking amount of civil disobedience, something completely alien to modern Chinese society, underscores the tensions between the rulers and the ruled.
1/ Riot outbreaks on border bridge between Hubei and Jiangxi in China today.
the conflict starts due to police from different provinces fighting for jurisdiction on checking #COVID19
It escalates into mess riot which blocked whole bridge.
more vids comingpic.twitter.com/gjErDfgqVd — 巴丢草 Badiucao (@badiucao) March 27, 2020
All the while, China was celebrating every step away from the original outbreak. Hundreds of movie theaters, closed during the quarantine, were reopened to much fanfare from Chinese media.
What failed to receive as much airtime was the quiet order to lock down more than 600 of the facilities a short time later.
Considering the virus can live in the air for hours and on some surfaces for over two weeks, it’s clear that at least one germ was missed during the country’s mass disinfection.
With China’s less-than-stellar record of telling the truth about COVID-19, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
As far back as mid-January, experts calculated that the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus in China was around five times greater than the communist party’s official numbers.
Even now, the closing of theaters and a potential second round of quarantines hints that the country is far from ridding itself of COVID-19.
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westernjournal--2020-04-02--In One Quick Observation Shapiro Tears Apart the Media’s ‘COVID-19 Is Like Vietnam’ Narrative

Here was a sub-headline from an article in the Chicago Sun-Times last week about the potential coronavirus death toll in the United States : “ LBJ ’ s lies cost 58,000 American lives .
I assumed Donald Trump couldn ’ t inflict anything more harmful .
I was wrong.
” That was from a piece titled , “ The cost of lies ; coronavirus death toll could top Vietnam.
” Indeed , author Neil Steinberg deserves some credit for jumping on board the media ’ s new tragic obsession before it was hip .
I ’ m talking , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths from coronavirus in the United States to the number of American deaths during the Vietnam War .
If you haven ’ t witnessed this line of thinking yet , here ’ s a helpful takeaway produced by writer Kate Hyde : TRENDING : House Republicans Push Bill To Take Back the $ 25 Million Kennedy Center Received in Coronavirus Bill As you can see by clicking on a picture of each of the respective tweets , this is a pretty common refrain from the media — and there ’ s almost always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steinberg ’ s piece in the Sun-Times , which is pretty much of median intelligence as this thought process goes .
“ The Vietnam War raged for the first 15 years of my life .
I ’ d sprawl coloring as Uncle Walt read the death toll on TV .
When I was older , the war became my benchmark for presidential folly : sacrificing thousands of American lives to avoid admitting the obvious : We lost , ” he wrote .
“ During the first three years of the Trump administration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talisman .
Sure , things are bad , but look : They ’ ve been much worse .
We ’ re lucky .
“ When fellow Dems swooned , wailing that we ’ d reached rock bottom — America broken , democracy dead — I ’ d try to cheer them up by dangling my lucky token .
See this ?
Within our lifetime Lyndon B. Johnson — a Democratic president , for those unfamiliar — also lied , followed by Richard Nixon , a Republican , and their lies led to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is certainly affecting lives , he isn ’ t taking many .
There isn ’ t a growing body count to lay at his feet .
“ I didn ’ t think to add : ‘ Yet , ' ” he wrote .
You can kind of guess at the rest of the piece without even having to read it : He explains how Trump bungled the response , Republicans don ’ t really believe that life is sacred unless it involves “ religious fanatics … sticking their noses up into the business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how “ America took a gamble , allowing itself to be led by a charismatic fraud.
” We arrive at the endpoint of this being the same as the Vietnam War without really establishing a clear link between the two other than the fact that he says both crises were mismanaged and will have a significant body count .
Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief Ben Shapiro pointed out the problem with this parallel .
RELATED : As COVID Fear Spreads , Dems Ramp Up Pressure on ICE To Release Illegals “ Yes , covid-19 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also not like Vietnam or 9/11 , you idiots , ” the podcast host tweeted Wednesday .
“ Were disease like wars or terrorist attacks , more people would die from the actual flu in a bad year than Vietnam , and many more people would die every single year from the flu than 9/11.
” From Health : “ Flu season in the US , which runs from October through May , claims tens of thousands of lives every year .
This season CDC estimates that , as of mid-March , between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influenza illnesses .
Add to that the misery of hundreds of thousands of flu-related hospitalizations and millions of medical visits for flu symptoms this season.
” That means even the flu this year might kill more Americans than died in Vietnam if it ends up on the top end .
I think we ’ re all aware by this point that coronavirus , whatever it may turn out to be , isn ’ t the flu .
All that said , the subtext of the tweets like the ones Hyde took note of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Diseases aren ’ t wars , though .
You don ’ t choose to enter into a pandemic .
You choose your response to it .
As for Trump ’ s response — yes , he shouldn ’ t have publicly discounted the virus early on and said that it was under control .
However , he also implemented a clamp-down on travel from China and Europe when the media savaged him over both .
No matter how you feel about how President Trump dealt with the coronavirus threat , it can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was the Vietnam War .
Coronavirus will likely be Trump ’ s legacy , but he ’ s not responsible for the disease .
I freely admit that both sides are throwing around the war parallel too liberally , but that still isn ’ t a justification to put coronavirus in league with the biggest foreign-policy ball-drop in post-World War II American history .
That ’ s lazy politicking — something I ’ d hoped we would avoid in a time of tragedy .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editorial standards .

Here was a sub-headline from an article in the Chicago Sun-Times last week about the potential coronavirus death toll in the United States: “LBJ’s lies cost 58,000 American lives. I assumed Donald Trump couldn’t inflict anything more harmful. I was wrong.”
That was from a piece titled, “The cost of lies; coronavirus death toll could top Vietnam.” Indeed, author Neil Steinberg deserves some credit for jumping on board the media’s new tragic obsession before it was hip.
I’m talking, of course, about comparing the number of deaths from coronavirus in the United States to the number of American deaths during the Vietnam War.
If you haven’t witnessed this line of thinking yet, here’s a helpful takeaway produced by writer Kate Hyde:
It looks like they all got the memo. pic.twitter.com/pGwEmm9XbM — Kate Hyde (@KateHydeNY) March 31, 2020
As you can see by clicking on a picture of each of the respective tweets, this is a pretty common refrain from the media — and there’s almost always some politicization of COVID-19 involved.
Take Steinberg’s piece in the Sun-Times, which is pretty much of median intelligence as this thought process goes.
“The Vietnam War raged for the first 15 years of my life. I’d sprawl coloring as Uncle Walt read the death toll on TV. When I was older, the war became my benchmark for presidential folly: sacrificing thousands of American lives to avoid admitting the obvious: We lost,” he wrote.
Do you think COVID-19 similar to the Vietnam War? 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: 5% (10 Votes) No: 95% (184 Votes)
“During the first three years of the Trump administration, I kept pulling out Vietnam like a talisman. Sure, things are bad, but look: They’ve been much worse. We’re lucky.
“When fellow Dems swooned, wailing that we’d reached rock bottom — America broken, democracy dead — I’d try to cheer them up by dangling my lucky token. See this? Within our lifetime Lyndon B. Johnson — a Democratic president, for those unfamiliar — also lied, followed by Richard Nixon, a Republican, and their lies led to the deaths of 58,000 Americans. While Trump is certainly affecting lives, he isn’t taking many. There isn’t a growing body count to lay at his feet.
“I didn’t think to add: ‘Yet,'” he wrote.
You can kind of guess at the rest of the piece without even having to read it: He explains how Trump bungled the response, Republicans don’t really believe that life is sacred unless it involves “religious fanatics … sticking their noses up into the business of women they never met” and how “America took a gamble, allowing itself to be led by a charismatic fraud.” We arrive at the endpoint of this being the same as the Vietnam War without really establishing a clear link between the two other than the fact that he says both crises were mismanaged and will have a significant body count.
Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief Ben Shapiro pointed out the problem with this parallel.
“Yes, covid-19 is not like the flu. It is also not like Vietnam or 9/11, you idiots,” the podcast host tweeted Wednesday.
“Were disease like wars or terrorist attacks, more people would die from the actual flu in a bad year than Vietnam, and many more people would die every single year from the flu than 9/11.”
Yes, covid-19 is not like the flu. It is also not like Vietnam or 9/11, you idiots. Were disease like wars or terrorist attacks, more people would die from the actual flu in a bad year than Vietnam, and many more people would die every single year from the flu than 9/11. — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 1, 2020
From Health: “Flu season in the US, which runs from October through May, claims tens of thousands of lives every year. This season CDC estimates that, as of mid-March, between 29,000 and 59,000 have died due to influenza illnesses. Add to that the misery of hundreds of thousands of flu-related hospitalizations and millions of medical visits for flu symptoms this season.”
That means even the flu this year might kill more Americans than died in Vietnam if it ends up on the top end.
I think we’re all aware by this point that coronavirus, whatever it may turn out to be, isn’t the flu. All that said, the subtext of the tweets like the ones Hyde took note of is essentially what Steinberg put into text.
Diseases aren’t wars, though. You don’t choose to enter into a pandemic. You choose your response to it.
As for Trump’s response — yes, he shouldn’t have publicly discounted the virus early on and said that it was under control.
However, he also implemented a clamp-down on travel from China and Europe when the media savaged him over both.
No matter how you feel about how President Trump dealt with the coronavirus threat, it cannot be compared to the multi-decade debacle that was the Vietnam War. Coronavirus will likely be Trump’s legacy, but he’s not responsible for the disease.
I freely admit that both sides are throwing around the war parallel too liberally, but that still isn’t a justification to put coronavirus in league with the biggest foreign-policy ball-drop in post-World War II American history.
That’s lazy politicking — something I’d hoped we would avoid in a time of tragedy.
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westernjournal--2020-04-02--Weekly US Unemployment Claims Double Previous Record High

More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — doubling a record high set just one week earlier — a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus .
The stunning report Thursday from the Labor Department showed that job cuts are mounting against the backdrop of economies in the United States and abroad that have almost certainly sunk into a severe recession as businesses close across the world .
Applications for unemployment benefits generally reflect the pace of layoffs .
Combined with last week ’ s report that 3.3 million people sought unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy has now suffered nearly 10 million layoffs in just the past several weeks — far exceeding the figure for any corresponding period on record .
Some of last week ’ s jobless claims are likely delayed filings from the previous week , when state offices that handle unemployment benefits were overwhelmed by a surge of online and telephone claims .
The accelerating layoffs have led many economists to envision as many as 20 million lost jobs by the end of April .
That would be more than double the 8.7 million jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment rate could spike to as high as 15 percent this month , above the previous record of 10.8 percent set during a deep recession in 1982 .
TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts Many employers are slashing their payrolls to try to stay afloat because their revenue has collapsed , especially at restaurants , hotels , gyms , movie theaters and other venues that depend on face-to-face interaction .
Auto sales have sunk , and factories have closed .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under stay-at-home orders , imposed by most U.S. states .
That has intensified pressure on businesses , most of which face rent , loans and other bills that must be paid .
The White House and Congress expanded the unemployment benefits system in last week ’ s $ 2.2 trillion economic rescue package .
That legislation added $ 600 a week in jobless aid , on top of what recipients receive from their states .
This will enable many lower-income workers to manage their expenses and even increase their purchasing power and support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more people eligible for jobless aid , including the self-employed , contractors , and so-called “ gig economy ” workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers .
Kathryn Lickteig , a cook in Kansas City , signed up for unemployment compensation last week after the city shut down dine-in restaurants .
She is hopeful that the extra $ 600 will help her ride out the shutdown instead of having to look for an interim job .
“ It has eased my mind so much , ” she said .
“ I do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself to the public and possibly get sick .
I can stay home now and do my part in social distancing.
” The legislation will also help fund unemployment benefits for workers whose hours have been cut .
That would enable these people to replace some of their lost income with unemployment aid even as they keep their jobs .
About 26 states allow workers with reduced hours to claim benefits .
Most economists support doing so because it encourages companies to cut back on hours rather than lay off workers .
RELATED @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heartburn Drug Zantac from the Market , Warns of 'Impurities' Any program that encourages companies to maintain connections with their workers can help the economy rebound faster after the virus outbreak is contained .
Typically , people who receive jobless aid are required to actively look for a new job and to document their searches .
But Congress has passed other legislation that encourages states to drop that requirement , given that so many businesses are closed , and most Americans have been ordered to largely stay at home .
Mark Zandi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said this week that just 6 percent of companies surveyed by Moody ’ s say they ’ re hiring — down dramatically from 40 percent in the weeks preceding the coronavirus outbreak .
The plunge in hiring underscores the difficulty that anyone out of work would have in finding a new job .
On Friday , the government will issue the March jobs report , which economists forecast will show a loss of 145,000 jobs .
That report is based on data gathered mostly before the spike in layoffs began two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss would still end a record-long 113-month streak of job growth .
Numerous state unemployment agencies have struggled to keep up with the flood of applications for jobless benefits .
New York ’ s Labor Department asks people to file on different days depending on their last names .
Monday , for example , is reserved for those last names that start with A through F. The Associated Press contributed to this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — doubling a record high set just one week earlier — a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus.
The stunning report Thursday from the Labor Department showed that job cuts are mounting against the backdrop of economies in the United States and abroad that have almost certainly sunk into a severe recession as businesses close across the world.
Applications for unemployment benefits generally reflect the pace of layoffs. Combined with last week’s report that 3.3 million people sought unemployment aid two weeks ago, the U.S. economy has now suffered nearly 10 million layoffs in just the past several weeks — far exceeding the figure for any corresponding period on record.
Some of last week’s jobless claims are likely delayed filings from the previous week, when state offices that handle unemployment benefits were overwhelmed by a surge of online and telephone claims.
The accelerating layoffs have led many economists to envision as many as 20 million lost jobs by the end of April. That would be more than double the 8.7 million jobs lost during the Great Recession. The unemployment rate could spike to as high as 15 percent this month, above the previous record of 10.8 percent set during a deep recession in 1982.
Many employers are slashing their payrolls to try to stay afloat because their revenue has collapsed, especially at restaurants, hotels, gyms, movie theaters and other venues that depend on face-to-face interaction. Auto sales have sunk, and factories have closed.
More than two-thirds of the U.S. population are under stay-at-home orders, imposed by most U.S. states. That has intensified pressure on businesses, most of which face rent, loans and other bills that must be paid.
The White House and Congress expanded the unemployment benefits system in last week’s $2.2 trillion economic rescue package.
That legislation added $600 a week in jobless aid, on top of what recipients receive from their states. This will enable many lower-income workers to manage their expenses and even increase their purchasing power and support the economy.
Do you think the economy will roar back to its previous heights after this pandemic is over? 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: 90% (19 Votes) No: 10% (2 Votes)
It also makes many more people eligible for jobless aid, including the self-employed, contractors, and so-called “gig economy” workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers.
Kathryn Lickteig, a cook in Kansas City, signed up for unemployment compensation last week after the city shut down dine-in restaurants. She is hopeful that the extra $600 will help her ride out the shutdown instead of having to look for an interim job.
“It has eased my mind so much,” she said. “I do not have to actively go out and expose myself to the public and possibly get sick. I can stay home now and do my part in social distancing.”
The legislation will also help fund unemployment benefits for workers whose hours have been cut. That would enable these people to replace some of their lost income with unemployment aid even as they keep their jobs.
About 26 states allow workers with reduced hours to claim benefits. Most economists support doing so because it encourages companies to cut back on hours rather than lay off workers.
Any program that encourages companies to maintain connections with their workers can help the economy rebound faster after the virus outbreak is contained.
Typically, people who receive jobless aid are required to actively look for a new job and to document their searches. But Congress has passed other legislation that encourages states to drop that requirement, given that so many businesses are closed, and most Americans have been ordered to largely stay at home.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said this week that just 6 percent of companies surveyed by Moody’s say they’re hiring — down dramatically from 40 percent in the weeks preceding the coronavirus outbreak. The plunge in hiring underscores the difficulty that anyone out of work would have in finding a new job.
On Friday, the government will issue the March jobs report, which economists forecast will show a loss of 145,000 jobs. That report is based on data gathered mostly before the spike in layoffs began two weeks ago.
Though relatively small, that loss would still end a record-long 113-month streak of job growth.
Numerous state unemployment agencies have struggled to keep up with the flood of applications for jobless benefits.
New York’s Labor Department asks people to file on different days depending on their last names. Monday, for example, is reserved for those last names that start with A through F.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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westernjournal--2020-04-02--Legendary Jazz Patriarch Ellis Marsalis Dies of Coronavirus Complications

Ellis Marsalis Jr. , the jazz pianist , teacher and patriarch of a New Orleans musical clan , died late Wednesday after battling pneumonia brought on by the new coronavirus , leaving six sons and a deep legacy .
He was 85 .
“ Pneumonia was the actual thing that caused his demise .
But it was pneumonia brought on by COVID-19 , ” Ellis Marsalis III confirmed in an Associated Press phone interview .
He said he drove Sunday from Baltimore to be with his father , who was hospitalized Saturday in Louisiana , which has been hit hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family spent time with him , too .
Four of the jazz patriarch ’ s six sons are musicians : • Wynton , a trumpeter , is America ’ s most prominent jazz spokesman as artistic director of jazz at New York ’ s Lincoln Center .
TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts • Jason , a percussionist , has made a name for himself with his own band and as an accompanist .
Ellis III , who decided music wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photographer-poet in Baltimore .
“ He went out the way he lived : embracing reality , ” Wynton tweeted , alongside pictures of his father .
“ My dad was a giant of a musician and teacher , but an even greater father .
He poured everything he had into making us the best of what we could be , ” Branford said .
Branford ’ s statement included a text he said he got from Harvard Law Professor David Wilkins : “ We can all marvel at the sheer audacity of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black boys to be excellent in a world that denied that very possibility , and then watch them go on to redefine what excellence means for all time.
” In a statement , Mayor LaToya Cantrell said of the man who continued to perform regularly until December : “ Ellis Marsalis was a legend .
He was the prototype of what we mean when we talk about New Orleans jazz .
He was a teacher , a father , and an icon — and words aren ’ t sufficient to describe the art @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed the world.
” RELATED : Coronavirus Takes Life of Songwriter of ' I Love Rock and Roll ' Alan Merrill Because Marsalis opted to stay in New Orleans for most of his career , his reputation was limited until his sons became famous and brought him the spotlight , along with new recording contracts and headliner performances on television and tour .
“ He was like the coach of jazz .
He put on the sweatshirt , blew the whistle and made these guys work , ” said Nick Spitzer , host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a Tulane University anthropology professor .
The Marsalis “ family band ” seldom played together when the boys were younger but went on tour in 2003 in a spinoff of a family celebration , which became a PBS special when the elder Marsalis retired from teaching at the University of New Orleans .
Harry Connick Jr. , one of his students at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts , was a guest .
He ’ s one of many now-famous jazz musicians who passed through Marsalis ’ classrooms .
Others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saxophonists Donald Harrison and Victor Goines , and bassist Reginald Veal .
Marsalis was born in New Orleans , son of the operator of a hotel where he met touring black musicians who couldn ’ t stay at the segregated downtown hotels where they performed .
He played saxophone in high school ; he also played piano by the time he went to Dillard University .
Although New Orleans was steeped in traditional jazz and rock ‘ n ’ roll was the new sound in the 1950s , Marsalis preferred bebop and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ modernist in a town of traditionalists.
” “ His great love was jazz a la bebop — he was a lover of Thelonious Monk and the idea that bebop was a music of freedom .
But when he had to feed his family , he played R & B and soul and rock ‘ n ’ roll on Bourbon Street , ” Spitzer said .
Ornette Coleman was in town at the time .
In 1956 , when Coleman headed to California , Marsalis and the others went along , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He told the New Orleans Times-Picayune years later , when he and Coleman were old men , that he never figured out what a pianist could do behind the free form of Coleman ’ s jazz .
Back in New Orleans , Marsalis joined the Marine Corps and was assigned to accompany soloists on the service ’ s weekly TV programs on CBS in New York .
There , he said , he learned to handle all kinds of music styles .
Returning home , he worked at the Playboy Club and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which went bust .
In 1967 trumpeter Al Hirt hired him .
When not on Bourbon Street , Hirt ’ s band appeared on national TV — “ The Tonight Show ” and “ The Ed Sullivan Show , ” among others .
Marsalis got into education about the same time , teaching improvisation at Xavier University in New Orleans .
In the mid-1970s , he joined the faculty at the New Orleans magnet high school and influenced a new generation of jazz musicians .
When asked how he could teach something as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ We don ’ t teach jazz , we teach students.
” In 1986 , he moved to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond .
In 1989 , the University of New Orleans lured him back to set up a jazz studies program .
Marsalis retired from UNO in 2001 but continued performing , particularly at Snug Harbor , a small club that anchored the city ’ s contemporary jazz scene — frequently backing young promising musicians .
His melodic style , with running improvisations in the right hand , has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or simply “ Louisiana jazz.
” He was always on acoustic piano , never electric , and even in interpreting old standards , there ’ s a clear link to the driving bebop chords and rhythms of his early years .
He founded a record company , ELM , but his recording was limited until his sons became famous .
After that , he joined them and others on mainstream labels and headlined his own releases , many full of his own compositions .
He often played at the New Orleans Jazz and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three decades he played two 75-minute sets every Friday night at Snug Harbor until he decided it was exhausting .
Even then , he still performed on occasion as a special guest .
On Wednesday night , Ellis III recalled how his father taught him the meaning of integrity before he even knew the word .
He and Delfeayo , neither of them yet 10 , had gone to hear their father play at a club .
Only one man — sleeping and drunk — was in the audience for the second set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t leave .
“ He looked at us and said , ‘ I can ’ t leave .
I have a gig.
’ While he ’ s playing , he said , ‘ A gig is a deal .
I ’ m paid to play this set .
I ’ m going to play this set .
It doesn ’ t matter that nobody ’ s here . '
” He is survived by his sons Branford , Wynton , Ellis III , Delfeayo , Mboya and Jason .
The Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Ellis Marsalis Jr., the jazz pianist, teacher and patriarch of a New Orleans musical clan, died late Wednesday after battling pneumonia brought on by the new coronavirus, leaving six sons and a deep legacy. He was 85.
“Pneumonia was the actual thing that caused his demise. But it was pneumonia brought on by COVID-19,” Ellis Marsalis III confirmed in an Associated Press phone interview.
He said he drove Sunday from Baltimore to be with his father, who was hospitalized Saturday in Louisiana, which has been hit hard by the outbreak. Others in the family spent time with him, too.
Four of the jazz patriarch’s six sons are musicians:
• Wynton, a trumpeter, is America’s most prominent jazz spokesman as artistic director of jazz at New York’s Lincoln Center.
• Branford, a saxophonist, led “The Tonight Show” band and toured with Sting.
• Delfeayo, a trombonist, is a prominent recording producer and performer.
• Jason, a percussionist, has made a name for himself with his own band and as an accompanist.
Ellis III, who decided music wasn’t his gig, is a photographer-poet in Baltimore.
“He went out the way he lived: embracing reality,” Wynton tweeted, alongside pictures of his father.
Ellis Marsalis, 1934 – 2020 He went out the way he lived: embracing reality pic.twitter.com/sPyYUuBoIG — Wynton Marsalis (@wyntonmarsalis) April 2, 2020
“My dad was a giant of a musician and teacher, but an even greater father. He poured everything he had into making us the best of what we could be,” Branford said.
Branford’s statement included a text he said he got from Harvard Law Professor David Wilkins: “We can all marvel at the sheer audacity of a man who believed he could teach his black boys to be excellent in a world that denied that very possibility, and then watch them go on to redefine what excellence means for all time.”
In a statement, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said of the man who continued to perform regularly until December: “Ellis Marsalis was a legend. He was the prototype of what we mean when we talk about New Orleans jazz. He was a teacher, a father, and an icon — and words aren’t sufficient to describe the art, the joy and the wonder he showed the world.”
Because Marsalis opted to stay in New Orleans for most of his career, his reputation was limited until his sons became famous and brought him the spotlight, along with new recording contracts and headliner performances on television and tour.
“He was like the coach of jazz. He put on the sweatshirt, blew the whistle and made these guys work,” said Nick Spitzer, host of public radio’s American Routes and a Tulane University anthropology professor.
The Marsalis “family band” seldom played together when the boys were younger but went on tour in 2003 in a spinoff of a family celebration, which became a PBS special when the elder Marsalis retired from teaching at the University of New Orleans.
Harry Connick Jr., one of his students at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, was a guest. He’s one of many now-famous jazz musicians who passed through Marsalis’ classrooms.
Others include trumpeters Nicholas Payton and Terence Blanchard, saxophonists Donald Harrison and Victor Goines, and bassist Reginald Veal.
Marsalis was born in New Orleans, son of the operator of a hotel where he met touring black musicians who couldn’t stay at the segregated downtown hotels where they performed. He played saxophone in high school; he also played piano by the time he went to Dillard University.
Although New Orleans was steeped in traditional jazz and rock ‘n’ roll was the new sound in the 1950s, Marsalis preferred bebop and modern jazz.
Spitzer described Marsalis as a “modernist in a town of traditionalists.”
“His great love was jazz a la bebop — he was a lover of Thelonious Monk and the idea that bebop was a music of freedom. But when he had to feed his family, he played R&B and soul and rock ‘n’ roll on Bourbon Street,” Spitzer said.
The musician’s college quartet included drummer Ed Blackwell, clarinetist Alvin Batiste and saxophonist Harold Battiste, playing modern.
Ornette Coleman was in town at the time. In 1956, when Coleman headed to California, Marsalis and the others went along, but after a few months Marsalis returned home. He told the New Orleans Times-Picayune years later, when he and Coleman were old men, that he never figured out what a pianist could do behind the free form of Coleman’s jazz.
Back in New Orleans, Marsalis joined the Marine Corps and was assigned to accompany soloists on the service’s weekly TV programs on CBS in New York. There, he said, he learned to handle all kinds of music styles.
Returning home, he worked at the Playboy Club and ventured into running his own club, which went bust. In 1967 trumpeter Al Hirt hired him. When not on Bourbon Street, Hirt’s band appeared on national TV — “The Tonight Show” and “The Ed Sullivan Show,” among others.
Marsalis got into education about the same time, teaching improvisation at Xavier University in New Orleans. In the mid-1970s, he joined the faculty at the New Orleans magnet high school and influenced a new generation of jazz musicians.
When asked how he could teach something as free-wheeling as jazz improvisation, Marsalis once said, “We don’t teach jazz, we teach students.”
In 1986, he moved to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. In 1989, the University of New Orleans lured him back to set up a jazz studies program.
Marsalis retired from UNO in 2001 but continued performing, particularly at Snug Harbor, a small club that anchored the city’s contemporary jazz scene — frequently backing young promising musicians.
His melodic style, with running improvisations in the right hand, has been described variously as romantic, contemporary, or simply “Louisiana jazz.” He was always on acoustic piano, never electric, and even in interpreting old standards, there’s a clear link to the driving bebop chords and rhythms of his early years.
He founded a record company, ELM, but his recording was limited until his sons became famous. After that, he joined them and others on mainstream labels and headlined his own releases, many full of his own compositions.
He often played at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and for more than three decades he played two 75-minute sets every Friday night at Snug Harbor until he decided it was exhausting. Even then, he still performed on occasion as a special guest.
On Wednesday night, Ellis III recalled how his father taught him the meaning of integrity before he even knew the word.
He and Delfeayo, neither of them yet 10, had gone to hear their father play at a club. Only one man — sleeping and drunk — was in the audience for the second set. The boys asked why they couldn’t leave.
“He looked at us and said, ‘I can’t leave. I have a gig.’ While he’s playing, he said, ‘A gig is a deal. I’m paid to play this set. I’m going to play this set. It doesn’t matter that nobody’s here.'”
Marsalis’ wife, Dolores, died in 2017.
He is survived by his sons Branford, Wynton, Ellis III, Delfeayo, Mboya and Jason.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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westernjournal--2020-04-03--Trump Addresses Why Illegal Immigrants Not Eligible for Stimulus Checks: ‘They Came in Illegally’

President Donald Trump made clear on Wednesday the reason the millions of unauthorized immigrants residing in the United States will not be sent coronavirus payment checks : “ They came in illegally.
” “ Over five million immigrants in this country do pay taxes through their IT numbers , yet they will not receive any money in the stimulus package , ” one reporter told the president .
“ And no undocumented immigrant will receive any aid from the government during this crisis .
How do you suppose they survive during the COVID-19 [ outbreak ] ?
” “ Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying ‘ undocumented , ’ meaning they came in illegally , ” Trump answered .
“ A lot of people would say we have a lot of citizens right now that won ’ t be working , so what are you going to do ?
It ’ s a tough thing , ” the president said .
TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts Trump went on to acknowledge it is a sad and difficult situation that illegal immigrants are in .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ question , I must be honest with you , but they came in illegally and we have a lot of people that are citizens of our country that won ’ t be able to have jobs , ” he said .
Trump predicted a “ boom economy ” once the coronavirus outbreak is quelled , allowing jobs to come back .
“ It ’ s a really sad situation , and we are working on it , ” he reiterated regarding illegal immigrants .
“ I ’ m not going to give you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I just want to tell you it ’ s something I think about , and it ’ s something we ’ re working on.
” The Pew Research Center has estimated there were 7.6 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. labor force or looking for work in 2017 , making up 4.6 percent of the nation ’ s workers .
Legal immigrants — i.e .
those with green cards , as well as the hundreds of thousands of people in the country under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — will receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Miami Herald reported .
The United States allows over 1 million people to legally immigrate into the country per year .
RELATED : New England Patriots Send Team Plane to China To Pick Up a Massive Load of N95 Masks Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York accused Trump and GOP lawmakers of cutting checks to Americans off the backs of “ taxpaying immigrants , ” highlighting specifically illegal aliens .
“ To clarify , $ 1200 checks are ONLY going to some w/social sec numbers , NOT immigrants w/ tax IDs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 26 .
“ Thanks to GOP , these checks will be cut off the backs of *taxpaying immigrants , * who get nothing .
Many are essential workers who pay more taxes than Amazon .
Wall St gets $ 4T , ” she added .
In the legislation signed by Trump on Friday , $ 300 billion goes in direct payments to Americans .
An additional $ 260 billion goes to enhanced unemployment benefits , so workers — including those in the gig economy — get 100 percent of what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another $ 350 billion goes to small businesses employing 500 or fewer as loans they do not have to pay back if they keep their workers on the job at least until the end of June .
The payments were designed to help employers be able to make payroll so they do not need to lay people off .
Finally , $ 500 billion will go to large corporations like Boeing and others in the airline industry in the form of loans and grants to keep them afloat through these challenging economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must pay back the loans to the government with interest .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Donald Trump made clear on April 1 the reason the millions of unauthorized immigrants residing in the United States will not be sent coronavirus payment checks: “They came in illegally.”
“Over five million immigrants in this country do pay taxes through their IT numbers, yet they will not receive any money in the stimulus package,” one reporter told the president.
“And no undocumented immigrant will receive any aid from the government during this crisis. How do you suppose they survive during the COVID-19 [outbreak]?”
“Well, you know, you’re saying ‘undocumented,’ meaning they came in illegally,” Trump answered.
“A lot of people would say we have a lot of citizens right now that won’t be working, so what are you going to do? It’s a tough thing,” the president said.
Trump went on to acknowledge it is a sad and difficult situation that illegal immigrants are in.
“It’s a very sad question, I must be honest with you, but they came in illegally and we have a lot of people that are citizens of our country that won’t be able to have jobs,” he said.
Do you agree with the decision not to give illegal immigrants stimulus payments? 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% (8622 Votes) No: 1% (78 Votes)
Trump predicted a “boom economy” once the coronavirus outbreak is quelled, allowing jobs to come back.
“It’s a really sad situation, and we are working on it,” he reiterated regarding illegal immigrants. “I’m not going to give you a hard and fast answer, because I just want to tell you it’s something I think about, and it’s something we’re working on.”
The Pew Research Center has estimated there were 7.6 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. labor force or looking for work in 2017, making up 4.6 percent of the nation’s workers.
Legal immigrants — i.e. those with green cards, as well as the hundreds of thousands of people in the country under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — will receive the stimulus payments because their legal status, the Miami Herald reported.
The United States allows over 1 million people to legally immigrate into the country per year.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York accused Trump and GOP lawmakers of cutting checks to Americans off the backs of “taxpaying immigrants,” highlighting specifically illegal aliens.
“To clarify, $1200 checks are ONLY going to some w/social sec numbers, NOT immigrants w/ tax IDs (ITINs),” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on March 26.
To clarify, $1200 checks are ONLY going to some w/social sec numbers, NOT immigrants w/ tax IDs (ITINs). Thanks to GOP, these checks will be cut off the backs of *taxpaying immigrants,* who get nothing. Many are essential workers who pay more taxes than Amazon. Wall St gets $4T — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 26, 2020
“Thanks to GOP, these checks will be cut off the backs of *taxpaying immigrants,* who get nothing. Many are essential workers who pay more taxes than Amazon. Wall St gets $4T,” she added.
In the legislation signed by Trump on March 27, $300 billion goes in direct payments to Americans.
An additional $260 billion goes to enhanced unemployment benefits, so workers — including those in the gig economy — get 100 percent of what they were earning when they lost their jobs.
Another $350 billion goes to small businesses employing 500 or fewer as loans they do not have to pay back if they keep their workers on the job at least until the end of June.
The payments were designed to help employers be able to make payroll so they do not need to lay people off.
Finally, $500 billion will go to large corporations like Boeing and others in the airline industry in the form of loans and grants to keep them afloat through these challenging economic times.
Those corporations, however, must pay back the loans to the government with interest.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-04-03--Op-Ed: Did God Send the Coronavirus?

Op-Ed: Did God Send the Coronavirus?

Prophets at various times are raised up by God to warn us to turn from our evil ways .
When God issues a warning , he also explains outcomes : Repent and be blessed , but disobey and receive discipline , judgment , punishment .
Moses warned Pharaoh but he ignored Moses and suffered ten plagues : water turning to blood , frogs , lice , flies , livestock pestilence , boils , hail , locusts , darkness and the killing of firstborn children .
Ultimately , Pharaoh ’ s army was destroyed , allowing the Israelites to escape 400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10:31 ) .
Moses warned the children of Israel several times .
They disobeyed and sinned against the Lord and they were consequently disciplined in severe ways .
God issued the standards contained in the Ten Commandments , but the Jews disobeyed , just as we do , and suffered for their disobedience , even the captivity in Babylon .
Jonah grudgingly preached repentance to the vicious Ninevites .
They turned from their sins and were saved , but 120 years later they returned to sin and were destroyed .
More than any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hell , offering his own body as the perfect sacrifice to save us .
He volunteered to die in our place to fulfill perfect justice since our sin deserves death .
As we approach the end of the age , and the coming of the Lord , Jesus warned we will see more terrible judgments upon the earth ( Matthew 10:24 ) .
TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts The Scriptures teach us God is loving , merciful , slow to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We learn from the Scriptures that God does not want anyone to suffer .
He wants everyone to come to him in love .
God is described as exceedingly patient and forgiving , that it is not his will that anyone perish or go to hell ( 2 Peter 3:9 ) .
The Scriptures also teach that God is perfect , that his justice is perfect .
We are told he rules the universe ; his judgments are perfect .
Though it breaks his heart , there are times that judgment descends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He hates evil .
They kindle his wrath .
Is this virus a form of his judgment ?
Who can know for certain ?
We do know that God has warned us for decades , even centuries .
If we are honest we will admit we have increased in rebellion .
God appears often to move in the interests of the greatest good for the greatest number .
When a shepherd has a ewe that disobeys endlessly , putting the other sheep at risk , eventually the shepherd is forced to kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so she will not lead others off into dangerous places .
Sometimes for the sake of the flock the disobedient must be disciplined .
God ordered the ancient Jews to kill off entire cultures in the Promised Land because they were hopeless and filled with disease , sin and violence .
His justice played out for the greatest good for the greatest number .
And then we have the question of eternity .
Our limited human vision can not fully appreciate God ’ s offer of eternal bliss in paradise .
If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be so bound to this mortal coil .
With a greater appreciation for eternity we might see more clearly from God ’ s perspective that it is better to execute judgment to save the many rather than withhold justice and condemn even more .
For if I must be punished in order to see the truth , repent and gain heaven , then I would rather be punished than remain sinful and lost only to suffer eternal hell .
RELATED : KrisAnne Hall : Coronavirus or No Coronavirus , Feds Can not Shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question : Does God kill innocent people ?
Ultimately , the answer is an emphatic “ No !
” Humans en masse rejected God in the Garden , siding with Satan , throwing all creation into sin and death .
God warned us , but we rebelled and joined with the enemy .
From eternity past God had a plan to save us from Satan and from ourselves .
That plan depended on Jesus , his perfect sacrifice , and his intervention to fulfill perfect justice , at the same time providing our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was God , innocent and pure , took our punishment upon himself to accomplish our salvation .
He saves us and forgives us so long as we accept his gift of salvation by faith and repentance .
Meanwhile the creation remains under judgment .
No one is innocent , for “ all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God ” ( Romans 3:23 ) .
“ And the wages of sin is death ” ( Romans 6:23 ) .
So did God send this terrible pandemic ?
He may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirely within his right , for we have no standing to judge the ways of the Almighty .
On the other hand , he may have allowed us to do this to ourselves , to teach us he alone is God ; that our lives , here , and in the hereafter , are his , and not our own .
Finally , what about people , especially little children , who never hear the Gospel and die because of this virus , or any number of other causes resulting from our rebellion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice will treat every individual justly , we can be sure .
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 and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Prophets at various times are raised up by God to warn us to turn from our evil ways. When God issues a warning, he also explains outcomes: Repent and be blessed, but disobey and receive discipline, judgment, punishment.
Moses warned Pharaoh but he ignored Moses and suffered ten plagues: water turning to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and the killing of firstborn children. Ultimately, Pharaoh’s army was destroyed, allowing the Israelites to escape 400 years of slavery in Egypt (Hebrews 10:31).
Moses warned the children of Israel several times. They disobeyed and sinned against the Lord and they were consequently disciplined in severe ways. God issued the standards contained in the Ten Commandments, but the Jews disobeyed, just as we do, and suffered for their disobedience, even the captivity in Babylon.
Jonah grudgingly preached repentance to the vicious Ninevites. They turned from their sins and were saved, but 120 years later they returned to sin and were destroyed.
More than any prophet, Jesus warned of punishment and hell, offering his own body as the perfect sacrifice to save us. He volunteered to die in our place to fulfill perfect justice since our sin deserves death. As we approach the end of the age, and the coming of the Lord, Jesus warned we will see more terrible judgments upon the earth (Matthew 10:24).
The Scriptures teach us God is loving, merciful, slow to anger and righteous in all his ways. We learn from the Scriptures that God does not want anyone to suffer. He wants everyone to come to him in love. God is described as exceedingly patient and forgiving, that it is not his will that anyone perish or go to hell (2 Peter 3:9).
The Scriptures also teach that God is perfect, that his justice is perfect. We are told he rules the universe; his judgments are perfect. Though it breaks his heart, there are times that judgment descends upon the earth. God hates sin. He hates evil. They kindle his wrath.
Is this virus a form of his judgment? Who can know for certain? We do know that God has warned us for decades, even centuries. If we are honest we will admit we have increased in rebellion.
God appears often to move in the interests of the greatest good for the greatest number.
When a shepherd has a ewe that disobeys endlessly, putting the other sheep at risk, eventually the shepherd is forced to kill the disobedient ewe or break her leg so she will not lead others off into dangerous places. Sometimes for the sake of the flock the disobedient must be disciplined.
God ordered the ancient Jews to kill off entire cultures in the Promised Land because they were hopeless and filled with disease, sin and violence. His justice played out for the greatest good for the greatest number.
And then we have the question of eternity. Our limited human vision cannot fully appreciate God’s offer of eternal bliss in paradise.
If we could appreciate paradise, we would not be so bound to this mortal coil. With a greater appreciation for eternity we might see more clearly from God’s perspective that it is better to execute judgment to save the many rather than withhold justice and condemn even more.
For if I must be punished in order to see the truth, repent and gain heaven, then I would rather be punished than remain sinful and lost only to suffer eternal hell.
Finally, the most difficult question: Does God kill innocent people? Ultimately, the answer is an emphatic “No!”
Humans en masse rejected God in the Garden, siding with Satan, throwing all creation into sin and death. God warned us, but we rebelled and joined with the enemy. From eternity past God had a plan to save us from Satan and from ourselves.
That plan depended on Jesus, his perfect sacrifice, and his intervention to fulfill perfect justice, at the same time providing our complete pardon. The sinless man who was God, innocent and pure, took our punishment upon himself to accomplish our salvation.
He saves us and forgives us so long as we accept his gift of salvation by faith and repentance.
Meanwhile the creation remains under judgment. No one is innocent, for “all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“And the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
So did God send this terrible pandemic?
He may have, and if so, it is entirely within his right, for we have no standing to judge the ways of the Almighty.
On the other hand, he may have allowed us to do this to ourselves, to teach us he alone is God; that our lives, here, and in the hereafter, are his, and not our own.
Finally, what about people, especially little children, who never hear the Gospel and die because of this virus, or any number of other causes resulting from our rebellion?
The God of perfect love and justice will treat every individual justly, we can be sure.
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
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westernjournal--2020-04-03--Mike Weinberger: I’m Sick of Hearing About the Coronavirus

As of April 2 there were about 5,600 Americans who had died of the coronavirus , but some of them might have died while having the virus versus dying because of the virus , so it ’ s hard to know the exact figure .
Let ’ s assume , however , that the number , from Johns Hopkins , is correct .
Let ’ s also assume that things get much worse .
Let ’ s say the death toll gets five or 10 times worse — or even higher .
Now let ’ s look at the math @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are about 330 million people in the U.S .
If one out of a hundred were to succumb to the virus , that would be a total of 3.3 million — and if one out of a thousand were to die that would be 330,000 people .
Losing 330,000 people would be terrible , but as a nation we can survive that .
TRENDING : While Dems Lie About Trump 's CDC Budget , Turns Out Obama Requested Millions in Cuts Heck , Chicago seems to be surviving even though one out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
In 2018 , for example , Chicago had a population of about 2.7 million , and had 2,367 shootings .
If each shooting targeted a different person , that would be almost one out of every thousand people , but Chicago didn ’ t close down and the mayor didn ’ t order everyone to stay home .
So as a nation we can survive one out of every thousand people dying from the coronavirus , but the death toll is probably going to be much lower than that .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increases by sevenfold , that ’ s still only 39,000 , which would be roughly one out of every eight thousand Americans — and even if it reaches 70,000 that ’ s still less than one person out of every five thousand .
Do you know five thousand people ?
If not , the odds are you wouldn ’ t even know anyone who would have died from the virus .
Again , that ’ s not to say the death of 70,000 people is something to ignore , but it is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 330,000,000 .
And make no mistake , I am talking about really wrecking people ’ s lives .
That ’ s what we are doing right now : wrecking , destroying and shattering people ’ s lives .
Here ’ s one example : Imagine you were one of the many people who have put your life savings into a new business .
About 500,000 new businesses open each year .
You probably took out a second mortgage on your home and you gambled everything you had on this venture .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government tells you to shut down .
How do you survive that ?
How is that going to affect your life ?
What about your family and your children , and your mortgage and your loan payments ?
And what about your mental health and your self-esteem ?
How are those things affected ?
And that is just one example .
How about a worker who is laid off ?
Is a check from the government going to solve all of his problems ?
Certainly not , especially when the check is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself , and the worker ’ s children will have to pay that loan back , with interest , later on .
So shutting down businesses , laying people off and staying at home is a horrible way to respond to this disease — perhaps the worst .
It can cause more damage to the nation than muddling through .
The important thing , when confronted with a problem that can take the life of one out of every 10,000 , is to focus on the remaining 9,999 — not just the one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commit suicide if one member is taken by a pack of wolves , and we can not commit national suicide because one American out of five or ten thousand is taken by this disease .
Committing suicide is crazy , and I , for one , am sick and tired of hearing politicians and media personalities tell us we have to drink the Kool-Aid and commit suicide .
We must be adults .
We must understand that our health care system is not perfect and can not prevent every loss .
We must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternative — destroying tens of millions of lives and shutting down hundreds of thousands of companies and new businesses — is much worse than the coronavirus .
How do we know ?
Think about this : Traffic accidents kill tens of thousands of Americans every year , but we don ’ t tell people not to drive cars , do we ?
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

As of April 2 there were about 5,600 Americans who had died of the coronavirus, but some of them might have died while having the virus versus dying because of the virus, so it’s hard to know the exact figure.
Let’s assume, however, that the number, from Johns Hopkins, is correct.
Let’s also assume that things get much worse. Let’s say the death toll gets five or 10 times worse — or even higher. Now let’s look at the math and see what that really means.
There are about 330 million people in the U.S. If one out of a hundred were to succumb to the virus, that would be a total of 3.3 million — and if one out of a thousand were to die that would be 330,000 people.
Losing 330,000 people would be terrible, but as a nation we can survive that.
Heck, Chicago seems to be surviving even though one out of every thousand people gets shot every year. In 2018, for example, Chicago had a population of about 2.7 million, and had 2,367 shootings. If each shooting targeted a different person, that would be almost one out of every thousand people, but Chicago didn’t close down and the mayor didn’t order everyone to stay home.
So as a nation we can survive one out of every thousand people dying from the coronavirus, but the death toll is probably going to be much lower than that. Even if we assume the current death toll increases by sevenfold, that’s still only 39,000, which would be roughly one out of every eight thousand Americans — and even if it reaches 70,000 that’s still less than one person out of every five thousand.
Do you know five thousand people? If not, the odds are you wouldn’t even know anyone who would have died from the virus. Again, that’s not to say the death of 70,000 people is something to ignore, but it is also not something that justifies wrecking the lives of 330,000,000.
And make no mistake, I am talking about really wrecking people’s lives. That’s what we are doing right now: wrecking, destroying and shattering people’s lives. Here’s one example:
Do you think a nationwide shutdown of the economy would cause more harm than the pandemic itself? 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: 92% (308 Votes) No: 8% (28 Votes)
Imagine you were one of the many people who have put your life savings into a new business. About 500,000 new businesses open each year. You probably took out a second mortgage on your home and you gambled everything you had on this venture. And then, right after you open, the government tells you to shut down.
How do you survive that? How is that going to affect your life? What about your family and your children, and your mortgage and your loan payments? And what about your mental health and your self-esteem? How are those things affected?
And that is just one example. How about a worker who is laid off? Is a check from the government going to solve all of his problems? Certainly not, especially when the check is based on paper money the government loans itself, and the worker’s children will have to pay that loan back, with interest, later on.
So shutting down businesses, laying people off and staying at home is a horrible way to respond to this disease — perhaps the worst. It can cause more damage to the nation than muddling through.
The important thing, when confronted with a problem that can take the life of one out of every 10,000, is to focus on the remaining 9,999 — not just the one. A herd of buffalo does not commit suicide if one member is taken by a pack of wolves, and we cannot commit national suicide because one American out of five or ten thousand is taken by this disease.
Committing suicide is crazy, and I, for one, am sick and tired of hearing politicians and media personalities tell us we have to drink the Kool-Aid and commit suicide. We must be adults. We must understand that our health care system is not perfect and cannot prevent every loss. We must accept this and soldier on.
The alternative — destroying tens of millions of lives and shutting down hundreds of thousands of companies and new businesses — is much worse than the coronavirus.
How do we know? Think about this: Traffic accidents kill tens of thousands of Americans every year, but we don’t tell people not to drive cars, do we?
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
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