thestream--2020-07-17--All These Major American Companies With Hong Kong Footprints Weighed in on George Floyd’s Death. The

All These Major American Companies With Hong Kong Footprints Weighed in on George Floyd’s Death. They Have Nothing to Say About China’s Hong Kong Takeover

Major American companies were quick to issue statements in support of Black Lives Matter or social justice causes in the aftermath of George Floyd ’ s death , but dozens of those same firms that have operations in Hong Kong have yet to weigh in on the Chinese Communist Party ’ s de facto takeover of the city .
Bank of America , Coca-Cola , Marriott , McDonalds , Nike and Scholastic are among the dozens of major American companies with footholds in Hong Kong that weighed in after Floyd ’ s death but have yet to weigh in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the city , which impacts its employees working in the city and which critics say is designed to crack down on dissent of the ruling Communist Party .
The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to 31 major American companies listed in the American Chamber of Commerce ( AmCham ) Hong Kong membership directory that haven ’ t issued public statements on the security law while issuing statements attesting to their commitment to social justice and racial equality in America , asking if they had any comment on the law .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have removed a statement from its website announcing it would be donating $ 1 million to the National Urban League and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund after the DCNF reached out for comment Tuesday morning .
American Express did not respond when asked why the statement was removed from its website or whether it was still planning to donate the funds to the organizations .
The People ’ s Bank of China granted approval to American Express on June 13 to process Chinese currency , making it the first foreign payments network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This approval represents an important step forward in our long-term growth strategy , ” American Express CEO Stephen Squeri said in a statement , Bloomberg News reported .
Dell Technologies was the only company that responded to the DCNF , saying in a statement through a spokesperson : “ The implications of China ’ s National Security Law are still evolving .
We are evaluating what the possible impact could be to our team members and operations in Hong Kong.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Issues of Our Day .
HP , whose CEO , Enrique Lores , quoted Martin Luther King , Jr. , saying , “ Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere , ” in a statement in late May following Floyd ’ s death , did not respond to the DCNF .
Nor did Walmart , whose CEO Doug McMillon said in June that the company ’ s goal was to “ help replace the structures of systemic racism , and build in their place frameworks of equity and justice that solidify our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question , Black Lives Matter.
” Most of the American companies that have commented on the Hong Kong security law are technology firms that manage user data such as Facebook , Google , Twitter , Microsoft , Zoom and Telegram , all of which announced last week that they would temporarily pause sharing data with Hong Kong following the implementation of the security law , Fortune reported .
The New York Times also announced on Tuesday it would relocate its Hong Kong-based digital news operation to South Korea , citing concern that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produce journalism .
The security law has the majority of American companies in Hong Kong on edge , according to a survey conducted by AmCham in Hong Kong in early July which found that 76 % of its members were “ extremely concerned ” or “ somewhat concerned ” about the law .
Despite those concerns , over 64 % of the survey respondents said their companies had no intention of leaving the city .
“ There is a small minority who feel much better because the streets … are quieter , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the majority … were concerned , or extremely concerned about the national security law , ” AmCham Hong Kong president Tara Joseph told CNBC .
The law applies to any person that engages in what Beijing defines as “ subversive ” activities in Hong Kong , including those who aren ’ t permanent residents , meaning employees working for American companies in the city could be impacted .
The Hong Kong security law , approved in secret in Beijing in late June , criminalizes successionist and subversive activities in the city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and enables the Chinese communist government to supervise and intervene in the policing of such activities in the city .
Violators of the law could face life in prison .
The law was implemented after months of widespread pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong against Beijing ’ s creeping influence in the city .
“ It ’ s meant to suppress and oppress , and to frighten and intimidate Hong Kongers , ” pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo told The New York Times .
“ And they just might succeed in that.
” Content created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Major American companies were quick to issue statements in support of Black Lives Matter or social justice causes in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, but dozens of those same firms that have operations in Hong Kong have yet to weigh in on the Chinese Communist Party’s de facto takeover of the city.
Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Marriott, McDonalds, Nike and Scholastic are among the dozens of major American companies with footholds in Hong Kong that weighed in after Floyd’s death but have yet to weigh in on the new security law Beijing recently imposed on the city, which impacts its employees working in the city and which critics say is designed to crack down on dissent of the ruling Communist Party.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to 31 major American companies listed in the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Hong Kong membership directory that haven’t issued public statements on the security law while issuing statements attesting to their commitment to social justice and racial equality in America, asking if they had any comment on the law.
One company — American Express — appears to have removed a statement from its website announcing it would be donating $1 million to the National Urban League and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund after the DCNF reached out for comment Tuesday morning. American Express did not respond when asked why the statement was removed from its website or whether it was still planning to donate the funds to the organizations.
The People’s Bank of China granted approval to American Express on June 13 to process Chinese currency, making it the first foreign payments network to receive such approval in the country.
“This approval represents an important step forward in our long-term growth strategy,” American Express CEO Stephen Squeri said in a statement, Bloomberg News reported.
Dell Technologies was the only company that responded to the DCNF, saying in a statement through a spokesperson: “The implications of China’s National Security Law are still evolving. We are evaluating what the possible impact could be to our team members and operations in Hong Kong.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
HP, whose CEO, Enrique Lores, quoted Martin Luther King, Jr., saying, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” in a statement in late May following Floyd’s death, did not respond to the DCNF. Nor did Walmart, whose CEO Doug McMillon said in June that the company’s goal was to “help replace the structures of systemic racism, and build in their place frameworks of equity and justice that solidify our commitment to the belief that, without question, Black Lives Matter.”
Most of the American companies that have commented on the Hong Kong security law are technology firms that manage user data such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, Microsoft, Zoom and Telegram, all of which announced last week that they would temporarily pause sharing data with Hong Kong following the implementation of the security law, Fortune reported.
The New York Times also announced on Tuesday it would relocate its Hong Kong-based digital news operation to South Korea, citing concern that the security law would impact its ability to produce journalism.
The security law has the majority of American companies in Hong Kong on edge, according to a survey conducted by AmCham in Hong Kong in early July which found that 76% of its members were “extremely concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about the law. Despite those concerns, over 64% of the survey respondents said their companies had no intention of leaving the city.
“There is a small minority who feel much better because the streets … are quieter, and they feel they are safer there. But the majority … were concerned, or extremely concerned about the national security law,” AmCham Hong Kong president Tara Joseph told CNBC.
The law applies to any person that engages in what Beijing defines as “subversive” activities in Hong Kong, including those who aren’t permanent residents, meaning employees working for American companies in the city could be impacted.
The Hong Kong security law, approved in secret in Beijing in late June, criminalizes successionist and subversive activities in the city, according to the Wall Street Journal, and enables the Chinese communist government to supervise and intervene in the policing of such activities in the city. Violators of the law could face life in prison.
The law was implemented after months of widespread pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong against Beijing’s creeping influence in the city.
“It’s meant to suppress and oppress, and to frighten and intimidate Hong Kongers,” pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo told The New York Times. “And they just might succeed in that.”
Fiona Murchake contributed to this report.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-07-17--The Stream is on Parler — the Booming Twitter Alternative

Conservatives rejoiced when Parler , the social media site marketed as a free-speech-loving alternative to Twitter , hit No .
1 on the AppleStore ’ s news section .
Republican congressman Devin Nunes tweeted a picture of Parler in the No .
1 spot above Twitter in the No .
2 spot and jokingly referred to Twitter as the once-popular social media site , MySpace .
The burst in downloads came after Fox News contributor Dan Bongino announced he had purchased an ownership stake in the company .
Also contributing to people rushing to Parler : Twitter ’ s permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The official reason given by Twitter is “ repeated copyright infringement.
” Not so , Carpe Donktum insisted in a statement : Donald Trump , Jr. called foul on the social media giant , believing the only reason Carpe Donktum was banned is because his viral memes and videos support President Trump and mock his critics .
Said Don Jr. , “ Twitter claiming he violated ‘ copyright infringement ’ on videos that are public domain or clearly parodies covered by fair use is beyond fraudulent.
” With Twitter ’ s banning of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a string of efforts to silence conservatives — other conservatives saw the writing on the wall and created Parler accounts .
So what is Parler like ?
On the booming social media site , a post is a “ parley , ” a like is a “ vote ” and a retweet is an “ echo.
” Instead of Twitter ’ s 280 character limit or Facebook ’ s 63,206 , Parler ’ s is 1,000 .
It ’ s a safe haven for conservatives who are tired of big-tech censorship , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more conservative Twitter .
“ We ’ re a community town square , an open town square , with no censorship , ” John Matze , Parler ’ s 27-year-old founder and CEO , told CNBC .
“ If you can say it on the street of New York , you can say it on Parler.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Several Republican politicians and conservative commentators have joined the app and encouraged others to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jr. , EricMetaxas , Rudy Giuliani , Rand Paul , Katie Hopkins , Jim Jordan , Mark Dice , Ted Cruz and Abby Johnson .
A number of people complained on Twitter , saying they had been banned on Parler .
Matz replied in a June 30 post explaining with examples that obscene language or images would not be tolerated .
Matze posted July 3 on Parler that the site had reached 2.7 million users , which he said was “ much higher then I thought earlier today.
” Twitter has 330 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to go to before users can hope to have as wide an audience .
Parler also markets itself as a platform to find news , much like Twitter .
And now , The Stream is on Parler too !
You can find The Stream on Parler @ TheStream .
Several Stream editors are on Parler : Please help celebrate and support free speech .
Join us on Parler and follow @ TheStream and The Stream team .
Aliya Kuykendall is a staff writer for The Stream .
You can follow Aliya on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Streamdotorg .

Conservatives rejoiced when Parler, the social media site marketed as a free-speech-loving alternative to Twitter, hit No. 1 on the AppleStore’s news section. Republican congressman Devin Nunes tweeted a picture of Parler in the No. 1 spot above Twitter in the No. 2 spot and jokingly referred to Twitter as the once-popular social media site, MySpace.
WELCOME TO MYSPACE 👉 PARLER AWAITS YOU pic.twitter.com/iYhkGt9A7g — Devin Nunes (@DevinNunes) June 27, 2020
The burst in downloads came after Fox News contributor Dan Bongino announced he had purchased an ownership stake in the company.
Also contributing to people rushing to Parler: Twitter’s permanent ban of merry meme-maker Carpe Donktum.
The official reason given by Twitter is “repeated copyright infringement.” Not so, Carpe Donktum insisted in a statement:
I have ALWAYS complied with DMCA takedown rules, and I have submitted counterclaims when necessary, but I have NEVER uploaded content that has been removed. I have abided by the community guidelines, and followed the rules. It doesn’t matter.
Donald Trump, Jr. called foul on the social media giant, believing the only reason Carpe Donktum was banned is because his viral memes and videos support President Trump and mock his critics. Said Don Jr., “Twitter claiming he violated ‘copyright infringement’ on videos that are public domain or clearly parodies covered by fair use is beyond fraudulent.”
With Twitter’s banning of a conservative humorist — the latest in a string of efforts to silence conservatives — other conservatives saw the writing on the wall and created Parler accounts.
Introducing Parler
So what is Parler like? On the booming social media site, a post is a “parley,” a like is a “vote” and a retweet is an “echo.” Instead of Twitter’s 280 character limit or Facebook’s 63,206, Parler’s is 1,000. It’s a safe haven for conservatives who are tired of big-tech censorship, but otherwise it feels like a smaller, more conservative Twitter.
“We’re a community town square, an open town square, with no censorship,” John Matze, Parler’s 27-year-old founder and CEO, told CNBC. “If you can say it on the street of New York, you can say it on Parler.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Several Republican politicians and conservative commentators have joined the app and encouraged others to come over. These include Donald Trump Jr., EricMetaxas, Rudy Giuliani, Rand Paul, Katie Hopkins, Jim Jordan, Mark Dice, Ted Cruz and Abby Johnson.
Anyone else on Parler? Just joined and thinking of ditching Twitter. — Abby Johnson (@AbbyJohnson) June 26, 2020
Join us on @parler_app at @Jim_Jordan! They don’t censor or shadow ban. — Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) June 26, 2020
It’s about time y’all joined me on @parler_app . What’s taking the rest of you so long?! — Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) June 24, 2020
I’m proud to join @parler_app — a platform gets what free speech is all about — and I’m excited to be a part of it. Let’s speak. Let’s speak freely. And let’s end the Silicon Valley censorship. Follow me there @tedcruz! pic.twitter.com/pzUFvhipBZ — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 25, 2020
A number of people complained on Twitter, saying they had been banned on Parler. Matz replied in a June 30 post explaining with examples that obscene language or images would not be tolerated.
Matze posted July 3 on Parler that the site had reached 2.7 million users, which he said was “much higher then I thought earlier today.” Twitter has 330 million users, so Parler has a long way to go to before users can hope to have as wide an audience.
Parler also markets itself as a platform to find news, much like Twitter. And now, The Stream is on Parler too!
The Stream Joins Parler
You can find The Stream on Parler @TheStream. Several Stream editors are on Parler:
Please help celebrate and support free speech. Join us on Parler and follow @TheStream and The Stream team.
Aliya Kuykendall is a staff writer for The Stream. You can follow Aliya on Twitter @AliyaKuykendall and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-07-18--Is Trump Using Christians? No, But God Is Using Him

If you can believe this , a group of Christian Republicans is warning other Christians and Republicans not to vote for President Trump in the 2020 election .
An ad entitled “ Trump is Using Us ” was released on Tuesday on the Republican Voters Against Trump YouTube channel .
Like many , I ’ m perplexed by the divide in the Christian community over President Trump — but I ’ m not surprised .
The media is fueling lies , and the world is listening .
And many of those coming against our President are what are commonly called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scripture out of context when it supports their narrative .
It makes one wonder what is truly leading them : worldly mandates or biblical principles .
They rail against supporters with questions like : “ How can you follow Jesus and Donald Trump ?
” What Direction is the Country Heading ?
Trump is not using us .
If anything , we are using him ( and I mean that in the right way ) .
We are not following a man .
We are in fact shaping his movement .
A better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What direction is the country heading ?
” If a leader lacks Christian character but is pointing the nation back to God , is that a bad thing ?
And if he opposes murdering babies and nods to godly values , is that a scandal ?
If he stands as a terror to terrorists and makes America secure , is that a danger ?
If he honors hard work and minimizes free handouts , should we reject that ?
If he respects law enforcement and punishes rioters , must we scorn him ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on the character of one man .
He judges it based on the spiritual health of her people .
Never forget that .
The Media is Using Us I ’ m equally alarmed at how many progressives and liberals who use Trump ’ s past against him .
Let ’ s thank God that He doesn ’ t hold our past against all of us .
Scoffers also look to the secular news media for information .
But the majority of news outlets spin everything ( yes , everything ) to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Their hatred for him trumps the truth .
Their agenda is simple and clear : remove him from office at any cost !
In actuality , our media are using many so-called “ Christians ” to fuel the flames .
And I hope you realize this : they are really coming after you , me , and our Christian values .
If the truth be told , the video title mentioned earlier should actually read , “ The Media is Using Us.
” It wields more power to do that than Trump does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the facts are .
Their hatred for the president overshadows their desperate need for humility .
Let this sink in : innocent children are being protected , godly counsel is surrounding President Trump , terror is being restrained , good judges are being selected , socialism is being resisted , families are being encouraged via employment ( black employment is at an all-time high ) , prayer is being brought back in schools , God ’ s wisdom is being sought , and on and on it goes .
So again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are revitalizing a movement — a movement back to God .
I ’ m more concerned with our nation ’ s character than I am with the president ’ s personal character .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
An analogy that I often use will bring this point home .
The head of a neighborhood watch program , who took the late-night watches , had previously had an affair .
He was occasionally gruff and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crass and offensive .
But he watched over the neighborhood diligently each night .
Each week he invited church leaders into his home to pray for him and his family and to seek their advice .
He often stood against others on the committee who wanted to enact policies harmful to the neighborhood and to the children .
For instance , an open-door policy where residents were required to allow anyone into their homes at all hours of the day for handouts .
Is this not the kind of person you would want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past or his demeanor matter more than the results he is accomplishing ?
If you are intellectually honest , the answer is not difficult .
In the same way , the answer is simple for America .
Again , we are not voting for people based on how godly they are .
We are choosing the future direction of America .
We ’ re choosing the right to life , the elevation of God ’ s Word back to its proper place , the appointment of conservative judges , securing America and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality of life for all Americans .
Granted , President Trump is far from perfect .
( Aren ’ t we ? )
But is he improving , learning , and growing ?
Is he looking out for the American people according to Romans 13 ?
Be careful : much of what we hear about Trump is actually designed to mislead us .
He has an incredible team around him offering spiritual advice on a daily basis .
Can you imagine having people like Jack Graham , Jim Garlow , James Robison , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your life or the life of our president ?
We should be extremely thankful .
I find it ironic that many of the never-Trumpers fail to take this into consideration .
We should be shouting with joy rather than having sour looks on our faces .
I ’ ve said the same thin numerous times from the pulpit and with the pen .
President Trump is growing and maturing as a leader .
God often uses broken and flawed vessels .
Based on their reasoning , my past just a few decades ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
I struggled with dyslexia and reading disabilities and graduated high school with a 1.8 GPA .
So I should not be writing op-eds on the national level or speaking to tens of thousands on the radio and other media outlets .
My critics will laugh at me , but many others will be encouraged ( i.e.
, if God can use Shane Idleman , He can use me , too , if I repent and turn to Him ) .
I am flawed , broken and utterly dependent on God , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
My strength actually comes from my weakness ( 2 Cor .
12:9-11 ) .
To reiterate , we are not supporting President Trump ’ s past lifestyle .
We are supporting a movement back to God .
God will use unlikely candidates to accomplish His purposes .
We can ’ t have our cake and eat it too — there is no middle ground for Christians today .
You can choose a president who will destroy the America we know and lead us down the primrose path of socialism — or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back President Trump .
There is no Plan B .
Find more at ShaneIdleman.com .
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network .
His program , Regaining Lost Ground , points us back to God and reminds us that although times change , truth does not .
His books , blogs , and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com .

If you can believe this, a group of Christian Republicans is warning other Christians and Republicans not to vote for President Trump in the 2020 election. An ad entitled “Trump is Using Us” was released on Tuesday on the Republican Voters Against Trump YouTube channel.
Like many, I’m perplexed by the divide in the Christian community over President Trump — but I’m not surprised. The media is fueling lies, and the world is listening. And many of those coming against our President are what are commonly called liberal Christians. They love to quote scripture out of context when it supports their narrative. It makes one wonder what is truly leading them: worldly mandates or biblical principles. They rail against supporters with questions like: “How can you follow Jesus and Donald Trump?”
What Direction is the Country Heading?
Trump is not using us. If anything, we are using him (and I mean that in the right way). We are not following a man. We are in fact shaping his movement.
A better question to be asking is: “What direction is the country heading?” If a leader lacks Christian character but is pointing the nation back to God, is that a bad thing? And if he opposes murdering babies and nods to godly values, is that a scandal? If he stands as a terror to terrorists and makes America secure, is that a danger? If he honors hard work and minimizes free handouts, should we reject that? If he respects law enforcement and punishes rioters, must we scorn him? God doesn’t judge a nation based on the character of one man. He judges it based on the spiritual health of her people. Never forget that.
The Media is Using Us
I’m equally alarmed at how many progressives and liberals who use Trump’s past against him. Let’s thank God that He doesn’t hold our past against all of us. Scoffers also look to the secular news media for information. But the majority of news outlets spin everything (yes, everything) to put President Trump in a bad light. Their hatred for him trumps the truth. Their agenda is simple and clear: remove him from office at any cost!
In actuality, our media are using many so-called “Christians” to fuel the flames. And I hope you realize this: they are really coming after you, me, and our Christian values. If the truth be told, the video title mentioned earlier should actually read, “The Media is Using Us.” It wields more power to do that than Trump does.
Movement Back to God
Most critics don’t care what the facts are. Their hatred for the president overshadows their desperate need for humility. Let this sink in: innocent children are being protected, godly counsel is surrounding President Trump, terror is being restrained, good judges are being selected, socialism is being resisted, families are being encouraged via employment (black employment is at an all-time high), prayer is being brought back in schools, God’s wisdom is being sought, and on and on it goes. So again, we are not following a man. We are revitalizing a movement — a movement back to God. I’m more concerned with our nation’s character than I am with the president’s personal character.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
An analogy that I often use will bring this point home. The head of a neighborhood watch program, who took the late-night watches, had previously had an affair. He was occasionally gruff and impulsive, and sometimes his words were crass and offensive.
But he watched over the neighborhood diligently each night. Each week he invited church leaders into his home to pray for him and his family and to seek their advice. He often stood against others on the committee who wanted to enact policies harmful to the neighborhood and to the children. For instance, an open-door policy where residents were required to allow anyone into their homes at all hours of the day for handouts.
Is this not the kind of person you would want leading your neighborhood watch? Does his past or his demeanor matter more than the results he is accomplishing? If you are intellectually honest, the answer is not difficult. In the same way, the answer is simple for America. Again, we are not voting for people based on how godly they are. We are choosing the future direction of America. We’re choosing the right to life, the elevation of God’s Word back to its proper place, the appointment of conservative judges, securing America and her borders, creating jobs and improving the quality of life for all Americans.
Is Trump Growing?
Granted, President Trump is far from perfect. (Aren’t we?) But is he improving, learning, and growing? Is he looking out for the American people according to Romans 13? Be careful: much of what we hear about Trump is actually designed to mislead us. He has an incredible team around him offering spiritual advice on a daily basis. Can you imagine having people like Jack Graham, Jim Garlow, James Robison, Jack Hibbs and countless others speaking into your life or the life of our president? We should be extremely thankful. I find it ironic that many of the never-Trumpers fail to take this into consideration. We should be shouting with joy rather than having sour looks on our faces.
I’ve said the same thin numerous times from the pulpit and with the pen. President Trump is growing and maturing as a leader. God often uses broken and flawed vessels. Based on their reasoning, my past just a few decades ago would disqualify me from becoming a pastor! I struggled with dyslexia and reading disabilities and graduated high school with a 1.8 GPA.
So I should not be writing op-eds on the national level or speaking to tens of thousands on the radio and other media outlets. My critics will laugh at me, but many others will be encouraged (i.e., if God can use Shane Idleman, He can use me, too, if I repent and turn to Him). I am flawed, broken and utterly dependent on God, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. My strength actually comes from my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-11).
No Middle Ground
To reiterate, we are not supporting President Trump’s past lifestyle. We are supporting a movement back to God. God will use unlikely candidates to accomplish His purposes. We can’t have our cake and eat it too — there is no middle ground for Christians today. You can choose a president who will destroy the America we know and lead us down the primrose path of socialism — or worse. Or you can choose to back President Trump. There is no Plan B. Find more at ShaneIdleman.com.
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network. His program, Regaining Lost Ground, points us back to God and reminds us that although times change, truth does not. His books, blogs, and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com.


thestream--2020-07-18--Jesus the Pig Killer?

Jesus the Pig Killer?

One of the weirdest stories in the Gospels is Jesus ’ encounter with the madman of Gadara .
Here you have a demonized man living in tombs , naked , and cutting himself with rocks .
Jesus cures the man but allows the evil spirits to enter into some nearby pigs , who end up drowning themselves immediately afterward .
Not only does this raise some moral red flags about Jesus ’ lack of concern for animals , but there are more problems with this story .
Mark and Luke report this event happened in the country of Gerasenes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ land of the Gadarenes .
So right off the bat , there ’ s a contradiction .
But it gets even worse .
Gadara is 5 miles away from the Sea of Galilee .
The city of Gerasa is 30 miles away from the coast .
That ’ s one heck of a long stampede for some pigs .
Critics have concluded that Mark was ignorant , and Matthew tried to fix it but still managed to bungle things .
And to top it off , Luke and Mark only report that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were two .
So what in the name of bacon is happening here ?
Let ’ s tackle the geographical issue first .
There are actually diverse , meaningful textual variants in the Greek of Mark 5:1 and the parallel passages of Matthew 8:28 and Luke 8:26-27 .
In Mark and Luke , the best-attested reading is Gerasenes , an attempt to represent the adjective corresponding to the place name .
Without the vowels , GRS or KRS is how the place name would be written in Aramaic .
In his book “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Roberts points out that these variants tell us that the demoniac should be called the ‘ Madman of Khersa ’ instead .
Khersa — or modern-day El Kursi — is on the east side of the sea .
And there happens to be a steep slope that ends less than 50 years from the Sea of Galilee .
Take a look for yourself : In their book , The Jesus Legend , Paul Rhodes Eddy and Greg Boyd point out that archaeologists have located cave tombs within 2 miles of the site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chapel there , which suggests the early church regarded it as spiritually significant .
But what about the phrase ‘ Gadarenes ’ ?
It ’ s feasible that some early scribe of Matthew ’ s Gospel either misspelled Gerasenes or mistook it for Gadarenes .
This is just like if someone might confuse or mistakenly correct Bertram for Bernard ( two small cities in my home state of Iowa ) .
Copyists of manuscripts aren ’ t immune to making spelling mistakes or fixing what they are copying if they think it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matthew Have Two Demoniacs ?
I mean , how serious of a problem is this really ?
If there were two of them , there was at least one , right ?
Mark and Luke focus on the one that was the more outspoken of the two , the one whose demoniac inhabitants called themselves Legion .
Leaving something out doesn ’ t equal denial .
There ’ s no account saying there was one and no other .
And we ’ ve all experienced something like this .
I ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present .
My focus was on the manager questioning me .
When manager Jennifer is asking questions while manager Steve is writing notes , my focus is on Jennifer , the vocal one .
If someone later asks me , “ how did it go ?
” and in my response , all I focus on is what Jennifer asked me , that doesn ’ t mean Steve wasn ’ t there .
So what about the pigs ?
The famous atheist Bertrand Russell wrote in Why I am Not a Christian that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because he ’ s a pig-killer : There is the instance of the Gadarene swine where it certainly was not very kind to the pigs to put the devils into them and make them rush down the hill to the sea .
You must remember that He was omnipotent , and He could have made the devils simply go away ; but He chooses to send them into the pigs .
… I can not myself feel that either in the matter of wisdom or in the matter of virtue Christ stands quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to history .
I think I should put Buddha and Socrates above Him in those respects .
If this incident happened today , I can just imagine the headlines : NAZARETH RABBI CAUSES DEATH OF 2000 PIGS , PETA LAUNCHES PROTEST .
Does this put Jesus in the same category as someone like Michael Vick ?
For starters , the demons asked if Jesus was going to torment them now , meaning that their time hadn ’ t yet come to be judged , so he couldn ’ t make them just go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jesus is omnipotent , he chose not to operate that way as a man .
For instance in Mark 6:1-6 , we read that Jesus could do no mighty work in Nazareth due to their unbelief .
So asking why Jesus didn ’ t just get rid of the demons is like saying , “ why didn ’ t Jesus get rid of all evil people , evil spirits and every disease and affliction while he was here ?
” Not only was Jesus not functioning in full omnipotence , but he also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either .
In the same chapter , he asks , “ who touched me ?
” when the woman with the issue of blood is healed .
( Mark 5:31 ) How can we be sure that Jesus knew what was going to happen to the pigs ?
That seems unclear .
There ’ s also nothing in these passages that show that Jesus drove the pigs into the sea and caused them to drown .
Satan is the killer , not Jesus .
( Jn 8:44 ) And it doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the demons caused the pigs to commit suicide since they just pleaded with Jesus to use them as their new hosts .
One answer that Greg Boyd offers is that the demons just drove the pigs crazy , just the same way that parasites can drive animals crazy and cause them to hurt themselves .
I mean , these demons already drove two men into living naked in tombs , screaming and cutting themselves , and they couldn ’ t be restrained by chains .
This is pretty freaky stuff .
If Jesus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we can see from his character elsewhere in the Gospels that he would ’ ve taken it .
People are More Important Than Pigs What stands out is that after seeing the destructive power of Satan and the delivering power of Jesus , the townspeople ask Jesus to leave .
They could see the man now clothed and in his right mind , but they seem to care more about the pigs than the people !
In Matthew 10:31 , Jesus says that human lives are worth more than many sparrows , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pigs .
While the man delivered begged to follow Jesus , the townspeople urged him to leave .
This shouldn ’ t need to be said but people are more important than swine .
You see this animals-first attitude in our day with groups like PETA , who ’ ve said tons of outrageously weird things .
This isn ’ t a case of Jesus acting carelessly .
The man went from cutting himself to testifying throughout the region about what Jesus had done for him .
This is an epic battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being fought for the souls of people in the city .
Don ’ t miss the deliverance for the pigs .

One of the weirdest stories in the Gospels is Jesus’ encounter with the madman of Gadara. Here you have a demonized man living in tombs, naked, and cutting himself with rocks. Jesus cures the man but allows the evil spirits to enter into some nearby pigs, who end up drowning themselves immediately afterward. Not only does this raise some moral red flags about Jesus’ lack of concern for animals, but there are more problems with this story.
Mark and Luke report this event happened in the country of Gerasenes. But Matthew says it was in the land of the Gadarenes. So right off the bat, there’s a contradiction. But it gets even worse.
Gadara is 5 miles away from the Sea of Galilee. The city of Gerasa is 30 miles away from the coast. That’s one heck of a long stampede for some pigs. Critics have concluded that Mark was ignorant, and Matthew tried to fix it but still managed to bungle things.
And to top it off, Luke and Mark only report that there was one demoniac. Matthew says there were two. So what in the name of bacon is happening here?
A Geographical Error?
Let’s tackle the geographical issue first. There are actually diverse, meaningful textual variants in the Greek of Mark 5:1 and the parallel passages of Matthew 8:28 and Luke 8:26-27. In Mark and Luke, the best-attested reading is Gerasenes, an attempt to represent the adjective corresponding to the place name. Without the vowels, GRS or KRS is how the place name would be written in Aramaic.
In his book “Can We Trust the Gospels?” Mark Roberts points out that these variants tell us that the demoniac should be called the ‘Madman of Khersa’ instead. Khersa — or modern-day El Kursi — is on the east side of the sea. And there happens to be a steep slope that ends less than 50 years from the Sea of Galilee. Take a look for yourself:
In their book, The Jesus Legend, Paul Rhodes Eddy and Greg Boyd point out that archaeologists have located cave tombs within 2 miles of the site. There’s also a 5th-century chapel there, which suggests the early church regarded it as spiritually significant.
But what about the phrase ‘Gadarenes’? It’s feasible that some early scribe of Matthew’s Gospel either misspelled Gerasenes or mistook it for Gadarenes. This is just like if someone might confuse or mistakenly correct Bertram for Bernard (two small cities in my home state of Iowa). Copyists of manuscripts aren’t immune to making spelling mistakes or fixing what they are copying if they think it’s a spelling error.
Why Does Matthew Have Two Demoniacs?
I mean, how serious of a problem is this really? If there were two of them, there was at least one, right? Mark and Luke focus on the one that was the more outspoken of the two, the one whose demoniac inhabitants called themselves Legion.
Leaving something out doesn’t equal denial. There’s no account saying there was one and no other. And we’ve all experienced something like this. I’ve been interviewed for promotions before with two managers present. My focus was on the manager questioning me. When manager Jennifer is asking questions while manager Steve is writing notes, my focus is on Jennifer, the vocal one.
If someone later asks me, “how did it go?” and in my response, all I focus on is what Jennifer asked me, that doesn’t mean Steve wasn’t there.
Was Jesus Pro-Animal Cruelty?
So what about the pigs? The famous atheist Bertrand Russell wrote in Why I am Not a Christian that Jesus isn’t worthy of worship because he’s a pig-killer:
There is the instance of the Gadarene swine where it certainly was not very kind to the pigs to put the devils into them and make them rush down the hill to the sea. You must remember that He was omnipotent, and He could have made the devils simply go away; but He chooses to send them into the pigs. … I cannot myself feel that either in the matter of wisdom or in the matter of virtue Christ stands quite as high as some other people known to history. I think I should put Buddha and Socrates above Him in those respects.
If this incident happened today, I can just imagine the headlines: NAZARETH RABBI CAUSES DEATH OF 2000 PIGS, PETA LAUNCHES PROTEST. Does this put Jesus in the same category as someone like Michael Vick?
For starters, the demons asked if Jesus was going to torment them now, meaning that their time hadn’t yet come to be judged, so he couldn’t make them just go away. (Mark 5:7) While Jesus is omnipotent, he chose not to operate that way as a man. For instance in Mark 6:1-6, we read that Jesus could do no mighty work in Nazareth due to their unbelief. So asking why Jesus didn’t just get rid of the demons is like saying, “why didn’t Jesus get rid of all evil people, evil spirits and every disease and affliction while he was here?”
Not only was Jesus not functioning in full omnipotence, but he also wasn’t operating in omniscience, either. In the same chapter, he asks, “who touched me?” when the woman with the issue of blood is healed. (Mark 5:31) How can we be sure that Jesus knew what was going to happen to the pigs? That seems unclear.
There’s also nothing in these passages that show that Jesus drove the pigs into the sea and caused them to drown. Satan is the killer, not Jesus. (Jn 8:44) And it doesn’t make a lot of sense to say the demons caused the pigs to commit suicide since they just pleaded with Jesus to use them as their new hosts. One answer that Greg Boyd offers is that the demons just drove the pigs crazy, just the same way that parasites can drive animals crazy and cause them to hurt themselves.
I mean, these demons already drove two men into living naked in tombs, screaming and cutting themselves, and they couldn’t be restrained by chains. This is pretty freaky stuff. If Jesus felt like he had a better option, we can see from his character elsewhere in the Gospels that he would’ve taken it.
People are More Important Than Pigs
What stands out is that after seeing the destructive power of Satan and the delivering power of Jesus, the townspeople ask Jesus to leave. They could see the man now clothed and in his right mind, but they seem to care more about the pigs than the people!
In Matthew 10:31, Jesus says that human lives are worth more than many sparrows, and the same can be said for the pigs. While the man delivered begged to follow Jesus, the townspeople urged him to leave.
This shouldn’t need to be said but people are more important than swine. You see this animals-first attitude in our day with groups like PETA, who’ve said tons of outrageously weird things.
This isn’t a case of Jesus acting carelessly. The man went from cutting himself to testifying throughout the region about what Jesus had done for him. This is an epic battle scene in the spiritual war that was being fought for the souls of people in the city. Don’t miss the deliverance for the pigs.
Originally published at IsJesusAlive.com. Reprinted with permission.


thestream--2020-07-18--Seven Ways the Biblical View of Freedom Impacts Our Lives

Freedom in the Bible begins as inner freedom from bondage to sin that leads us to desire outer freedom for ourselves and others .
Inner freedom bears outer implications .
I ’ ve written elsewhere about the details of freedom in both the Old Testament and the New Testament .
What I ’ m concerned with today is providing a summary of what the biblical view of freedom means for how we live our lives .
Redemption as a Basis for Our Freedom When thinking about freedom , it ’ s important to remember that redemption applies to all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are redeemed from sin .
On a corporate level , we are also brought into a new community , the body of Christ ( I Cor .
12:13 ) .
But redemption extends beyond the personal and the corporate to the whole cosmos .
Acts 3:21 says that God ’ s ultimate goal is the “ restoration of all things.
” Creation itself “ will also be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God ” ( Rom .
8:21 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Freedom can not be limited to inner transformation .
Of necessity , it must extend to all of life .
Jesus not only preached and taught ; he also healed peoples ’ bodies .
People were freed inwardly and outwardly .
Where Christ ’ s freedom is experienced , the natural outworking is towards political , religious and economic freedom ( read more about that here ) .
It ’ s no surprise , then , that believers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movements for the abolition of slavery both past ( e.g.
, William Wilberforce ) and present ( e.g.
, International Justice Mission ) .
Many believers have worked to fight for religious freedom nationally and internationally ( e.g.
, Barnabas Fund ) .
We are called to fight against injustice wherever we see it in personal and public life .
Seven Implications of the Biblical View of Freedom Freedom from the bondage to sin , the Law , death , and lies about reality will inevitably push further and further out until it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
Here are seven implications for our lives from this truth .
• Freedom is not autonomy or doing what you feel like doing without any constraints .
In fact , following Christ ’ s commands frees you to be more of the person God created you to be .
• Freedom is within the context of Law .
We are not under the obedience to the Law as a condition of salvation , but the moral Law and Christ ’ s commands give us a guide to know how to live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly free when we know the truth about ourselves and the world .
This means throwing off the lies and deceptions to which we are so often captive .
• Salvation is not primarily political liberation ( as in some theologies ) .
But God often intervened when his people were oppressed by unjust totalitarian leaders ( Exodus and Judges , for example ) .
• Inner renewal often leads to outer consequences and renewal of the land .
• The Bible doesn ’ t prescribe one type of government but freedom ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistent with ( not contradictory to ) the Bible .
• Inner freedom inevitably drives toward outer freedom .
You can have political , economic and religious freedom and still be in bondage to sin .
You can have inner freedom in an oppressed situation .
But inner and outer freedoms are the most ideal state for human beings ( Micah 4:4 ) .
Believers should be the freest to enjoy life and God ’ s creation , as long as it is within the structure of how God has made us .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we are free to live life as God intended it to be lived .
Editor ’ s Note : This post was first published on July 4 , 2016 .
Art Lindsley , Ph.D. , is Vice President of Theological Initiatives at the Institute for Faith , Work & Economics .
He served as co-editor and contributing author to IFWE ’ s Counting the Cost : Christian Perspectives on Capitalism and For the Least of These : A Biblical Answer to Poverty .
This article is republished with permission from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
IFWE is a Christian research organization committed to advancing biblical and economic principles that help individuals find fulfillment in their work and contribute to a free and flourishing society .
Click here to subscribe to the free IFWE Daily Blog .

Freedom in the Bible begins as inner freedom from bondage to sin that leads us to desire outer freedom for ourselves and others. Inner freedom bears outer implications.
I’ve written elsewhere about the details of freedom in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. What I’m concerned with today is providing a summary of what the biblical view of freedom means for how we live our lives.
Redemption as a Basis for Our Freedom
When thinking about freedom, it’s important to remember that redemption applies to all of life. On a personal level, we are redeemed from sin. On a corporate level, we are also brought into a new community, the body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13). But redemption extends beyond the personal and the corporate to the whole cosmos. Acts 3:21 says that God’s ultimate goal is the “restoration of all things.” Creation itself “will also be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21).
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Freedom cannot be limited to inner transformation. Of necessity, it must extend to all of life. Jesus not only preached and taught; he also healed peoples’ bodies. People were freed inwardly and outwardly. Where Christ’s freedom is experienced, the natural outworking is towards political, religious and economic freedom (read more about that here).
It’s no surprise, then, that believers have been on the forefront of freedom movements for the abolition of slavery both past (e.g., William Wilberforce) and present (e.g., International Justice Mission). Many believers have worked to fight for religious freedom nationally and internationally (e.g., Barnabas Fund). We are called to fight against injustice wherever we see it in personal and public life.
Seven Implications of the Biblical View of Freedom
Freedom from the bondage to sin, the Law, death, and lies about reality will inevitably push further and further out until it leads to freedom in all areas of life. Here are seven implications for our lives from this truth.
Freedom is not autonomy or doing what you feel like doing without any constraints. In fact, following Christ’s commands frees you to be more of the person God created you to be. Freedom is within the context of Law. We are not under the obedience to the Law as a condition of salvation, but the moral Law and Christ’s commands give us a guide to know how to live and to love. We are truly free when we know the truth about ourselves and the world. This means throwing off the lies and deceptions to which we are so often captive. Salvation is not primarily political liberation (as in some theologies). But God often intervened when his people were oppressed by unjust totalitarian leaders (Exodus and Judges, for example). Inner renewal often leads to outer consequences and renewal of the land. The Bible doesn’t prescribe one type of government but freedom (political, economic and religious) is consistent with (not contradictory to) the Bible. Inner freedom inevitably drives toward outer freedom. You can have political, economic and religious freedom and still be in bondage to sin. You can have inner freedom in an oppressed situation. But inner and outer freedoms are the most ideal state for human beings (Micah 4:4).
Believers should be the freest to enjoy life and God’s creation, as long as it is within the structure of how God has made us. We are not free from God-ordained obligations, but we are free to live life as God intended it to be lived.
Editor’s Note: This post was first published on July 4, 2016.
Art Lindsley, Ph.D., is Vice President of Theological Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. He served as co-editor and contributing author to IFWE’s Counting the Cost: Christian Perspectives on Capitalism and For the Least of These: A Biblical Answer to Poverty.
This article is republished with permission from the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. IFWE is a Christian research organization committed to advancing biblical and economic principles that help individuals find fulfillment in their work and contribute to a free and flourishing society. Click here to subscribe to the free IFWE Daily Blog.


thestream--2020-07-18--Life Must Not Be Devalued

Life Must Not Be Devalued

Michael Hickson should be a household name .
From best I can tell , he was a tender soul .
He was living in a residential home when he contracted COVID-19 .
He was transferred to a hospital and was , by all indications — including a recording of a conversation a doctor had with his wife — not cherished as a patient with rights and dignity .
His cognitive impairment and physical disability marked him , for at least that one doctor , below a quality of life worth fighting for .
It is a miserable story .
Due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mother of his children no longer had any say about how he was treated .
She had to be to be allowed to see him , had to plead for her seriously ill husband to be treated like a human being , deserving of love and care .
Hickson , a quadriplegic , died in the hospital after being withheld treatment for six days , in accordance with the decision of his court-appointed guardian .
And , oh , by the way , Michael Hickson was a black man .
He didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but in a hospital bed .
And if we ’ re concerned about the need for reform in law enforcement , we ought to be concerned about what ’ s happening to our medical culture , too .
Because there is a similar dehumanization that is taking place , and it ’ s increasingly systematic .
This is one of those stories that is easier not to know about , because by refusing to look away , action is required .
Acknowledging it forces a commitment to something better , to a change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it ’ s a difficult commitment to make , and it ’ s even more difficult to carry out .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
There ’ s a lot of unprocessed grief in the United States of America today .
Take my Empire State .
We don ’ t even know how many thousands died of coronavirus because of a decision made by Gov .
Andrew Cuomo to have patients with COVID-19 transferred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pandemic moment , we could drown in numbers and misery if we paid too much attention .
But how is this all going to change the way we operate in our own families ?
How is this going to change us ?
It ’ s been especially galling having to listen to Cuomo talk about the value of every human life , while knowing that he has celebrated expanding abortion in New York .
This is of a piece with a recent op-ed in the Los Angeles Times that applauded California ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extension for patients with dementia .
First , physician-assisted suicide was about terminal conditions .
But suicide is suicide , and the law is a teacher .
Once we make it legal and acceptable and even preferred in some circumstances , of course , not only does it encourage suicide across the board as it becomes a poison in our cultural bloodstream , but we may just go ahead and expand it , just as with abortion .
It ’ s impossible for us to know every person who has fallen victim to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a culture of death , which dehumanizes and makes us anesthetized to a casualty toll that is too much to take .
But when we become aware of a case like Michael Hickson ’ s , we can ’ t look away .
When we do , we align ourselves with the culture of death .
Do we value life ?
COVID-19 is a time for a cultural examination of conscience .
Let ’ s take the opportunity .
Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute , editor-at-large of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new book A Year With the Mystics : Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living .
She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan ’ s pro-life commission in New York .
She can be contacted at klopez @ nationalreview.com .

Michael Hickson should be a household name. From best I can tell, he was a tender soul. He was living in a residential home when he contracted COVID-19. He was transferred to a hospital and was, by all indications — including a recording of a conversation a doctor had with his wife — not cherished as a patient with rights and dignity. His cognitive impairment and physical disability marked him, for at least that one doctor, below a quality of life worth fighting for.
It is a miserable story. Due to family rifts, his wife and the mother of his children no longer had any say about how he was treated. She had to be to be allowed to see him, had to plead for her seriously ill husband to be treated like a human being, deserving of love and care.
Hickson, a quadriplegic, died in the hospital after being withheld treatment for six days, in accordance with the decision of his court-appointed guardian.
And, oh, by the way, Michael Hickson was a black man. He didn’t die on the streets, but in a hospital bed. And if we’re concerned about the need for reform in law enforcement, we ought to be concerned about what’s happening to our medical culture, too. Because there is a similar dehumanization that is taking place, and it’s increasingly systematic.
Action Is Required
This is one of those stories that is easier not to know about, because by refusing to look away, action is required. Acknowledging it forces a commitment to something better, to a change in how we value all human life. But it’s a difficult commitment to make, and it’s even more difficult to carry out.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
There’s a lot of unprocessed grief in the United States of America today. Take my Empire State. We don’t even know how many thousands died of coronavirus because of a decision made by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to have patients with COVID-19 transferred from hospitals to nursing homes. In this pandemic moment, we could drown in numbers and misery if we paid too much attention. But how is this all going to change the way we operate in our own families? How is this going to change us?
It’s been especially galling having to listen to Cuomo talk about the value of every human life, while knowing that he has celebrated expanding abortion in New York.
The Culture of Death
This is of a piece with a recent op-ed in the Los Angeles Times that applauded California’s assisted suicide practice, urging its extension for patients with dementia. First, physician-assisted suicide was about terminal conditions. But suicide is suicide, and the law is a teacher. Once we make it legal and acceptable and even preferred in some circumstances, of course, not only does it encourage suicide across the board as it becomes a poison in our cultural bloodstream, but we may just go ahead and expand it, just as with abortion.
It’s impossible for us to know every person who has fallen victim to what Pope John Paul II described as a culture of death, which dehumanizes and makes us anesthetized to a casualty toll that is too much to take. But when we become aware of a case like Michael Hickson’s, we can’t look away. When we do, we align ourselves with the culture of death.
Do we value life? COVID-19 is a time for a cultural examination of conscience. Let’s take the opportunity.
Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review magazine and author of the new book A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living. She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan’s pro-life commission in New York. She can be contacted at [email protected].


thestream--2020-07-18--How to Avoid Falling for Fake News

How to Avoid Falling for Fake News

It used to be a lot easier to tell truth from error — at least when it came to news media .
Tabloids — like Weekly World News and the National Enquirer — with sensational headlines and outlandish articles weren ’ t taken seriously .
“ Hillary Clinton Adopts Alien Baby ” wasn ’ t fooling anyone .
The line between fake news and real news was a lot clearer .
But something changed .
Over time , the primary objective of journalism subtly shifted from informing to entertaining .
News sources — like CNN , The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street Journal — rely on big audiences because big audiences bring in big advertising dollars .
In The Power of Critical Thinking , philosophers Chris MacDonald and Lewis Vaughn write : Consequently , news reports may be skewed — deliberately or not — to satisfy their advertisers , their audience , or their shareholders .
Reporters may put opinions before facts .
They may play up only one aspect of the story while downplaying the rest .
And news that might offend audiences may be ignored altogether .
Given the current state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth from falsehood ?
I think some critical thinking will help .
Here are three steps we can take to avoid being fooled by fake news .
Everyone comes to a news report with a set of prior beliefs or opinions .
Some of those beliefs are grounded in sufficient reasons ; others aren ’ t .
Incidentally , many of us hold beliefs we absorbed from the culture or inherited from our family without sufficient evidence .
These prior beliefs cause us to form judgments or opinions before looking at the facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ careful , these biases can create blind spots in our thinking .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Furthermore , we all have a particular view of the world — a worldview .
Our worldview shapes our beliefs about how the world is and how it ought to be .
This can also affect how we filter news reports — for good or for ill .
If our worldview is accurate — matching reality — then it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , if our worldview is mistaken , it may blind us to the truth .
So , how do we deal with our bias ?
The first step is acknowledging that you have one .
Here are some questions to help you better understand your own biases : • What are my prior beliefs before reading ( watching ) the news report ?
• Do I want this news report to be true ( or false ) so my prior beliefs will be vindicated ?
• How would I feel if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my prior beliefs ?
• Am I willing to change my prior beliefs if good evidence is provided ?
• Is the news report attempting to play toward a particular narrative ?
Our biases have the power to trick us into believing fake news .
For many people , it ’ s easier to shoehorn inconvenient facts into our preconceived ideas rather than change our beliefs .
But when we fail to account for our biases , we fool ourselves .
Most news reports go beyond merely giving an accurate assessment of events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rule : Read with reasonable skepticism .
There are two extremes to avoid : extreme gullibility and extreme skepticism .
On the one hand , when we read ( or watch ) something we agree with , we may uncritically accept it as true .
For instance , “ CNN says it .
I believe it .
That settles it.
” On the other hand , when we read ( or watch ) something we disagree with , we may universally reject it as false .
For instance , “ CNN is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trusted.
” Both approaches are bad .
Don ’ t uncritically believe everything you read .
But don ’ t uncritically doubt everything , either .
Rather , ask yourself what main claims ( or ideas ) are being presented , and then look for the evidence of those claims .
Here are some questions to help you think critically about the substance of a news report : • What specific claims are being presented ?
• What are the reasons ( or facts ) being used to support the claims ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only selected facts ?
• Does the news report contain emotional appeals or reporter opinions ?
• What are the sources ( e.g .
peer-reviewed studies , expert testimony ) ?
Remember , it ’ s only after you have identified the claims and the reasons for those claims that you can properly evaluate whether or not to believe the claims .
We ought to be concerned with truth — wherever it leads .
Sadly , many people are more concerned with being right than believing right things .
Sometimes the truth can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our tightly held beliefs .
Winston Churchill famously said , “ Men occasionally stumble over the truth , but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
” So , what can we do to avoid falling for fake news ?
Simply put , dig for truth .
This is easier said than done .
It may require reading multiple news sources — yes , even the ones you tend to disagree with .
You may need to verify a study being cited or fact-check an expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the payoff is worth it .
Proverbs 18:17 says , “ The one who states his case first seems right , until the other comes and examines him.
” If we care about truth , we need to begin closely examining news media .
It you want to avoid being taken in by fake news , follow these three steps .
First , don ’ t fool yourself .
Do your best to identify the beliefs and assumptions that influence how you filter news media .
Second , don ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news is no longer about merely presenting all the facts .
Misleading and unsubstantiated claims abound .
As a critical thinker , it ’ s your job to identify those claims so you ’ re not taken in by them .
Third , follow truth wherever it leads .
Be willing to change your mind .
Rather than bending reality to fit our beliefs , we must fight with all our strength to bend our beliefs to fit what is true .
Tim Barnett has worked as a speaker for Stand to Reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pastoral staff of Cedarview Community Church in Newmarket , Ontario .
Originally published at Stand to Reason .
Reprinted with permission .

It used to be a lot easier to tell truth from error — at least when it came to news media. Tabloids — like Weekly World News and the National Enquirer — with sensational headlines and outlandish articles weren’t taken seriously. “Hillary Clinton Adopts Alien Baby” wasn’t fooling anyone. The line between fake news and real news was a lot clearer. But something changed.
Over time, the primary objective of journalism subtly shifted from informing to entertaining. News sources — like CNN, The New York Times, Fox News, and The Wall Street Journal — rely on big audiences because big audiences bring in big advertising dollars. In The Power of Critical Thinking, philosophers Chris MacDonald and Lewis Vaughn write:
After all, news outlets — whether print, electronic, or online — are businesses with profit margins to maintain, salaries to pay, and shareholders to please. A news organization makes most of its money not from selling its product (news) through subscriptions or direct sales but from selling opportunities for other companies to advertise to the news outlet’s audience.
Consequently, news reports may be skewed — deliberately or not — to satisfy their advertisers, their audience, or their shareholders. Reporters may put opinions before facts. They may play up only one aspect of the story while downplaying the rest. And news that might offend audiences may be ignored altogether.
Given the current state of news reporting, how do we decipher truth from falsehood? I think some critical thinking will help.
Here are three steps we can take to avoid being fooled by fake news.
1. Beware of bias.
Everyone comes to a news report with a set of prior beliefs or opinions. Some of those beliefs are grounded in sufficient reasons; others aren’t. Incidentally, many of us hold beliefs we absorbed from the culture or inherited from our family without sufficient evidence. These prior beliefs cause us to form judgments or opinions before looking at the facts. And if we’re not careful, these biases can create blind spots in our thinking.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Furthermore, we all have a particular view of the world — a worldview. Our worldview shapes our beliefs about how the world is and how it ought to be. This can also affect how we filter news reports — for good or for ill. If our worldview is accurate — matching reality — then it may help us see with more clarity. However, if our worldview is mistaken, it may blind us to the truth.
So, how do we deal with our bias? The first step is acknowledging that you have one. Here are some questions to help you better understand your own biases:
What are my prior beliefs before reading (watching) the news report?
Do I want this news report to be true (or false) so my prior beliefs will be vindicated?
How would I feel if the facts of this news report contradicted my prior beliefs?
Am I willing to change my prior beliefs if good evidence is provided?
Is the news report attempting to play toward a particular narrative?
Our biases have the power to trick us into believing fake news. For many people, it’s easier to shoehorn inconvenient facts into our preconceived ideas rather than change our beliefs. But when we fail to account for our biases, we fool ourselves.
2. Read with reasonable skepticism.
Most news reports go beyond merely giving an accurate assessment of events. That’s why I have a rule: Read with reasonable skepticism.
There are two extremes to avoid: extreme gullibility and extreme skepticism. On the one hand, when we read (or watch) something we agree with, we may uncritically accept it as true. For instance, “CNN says it. I believe it. That settles it.” On the other hand, when we read (or watch) something we disagree with, we may universally reject it as false. For instance, “CNN is fake news and cannot ever be trusted.” Both approaches are bad.
Don’t uncritically believe everything you read. But don’t uncritically doubt everything, either. Rather, ask yourself what main claims (or ideas) are being presented, and then look for the evidence of those claims.
Here are some questions to help you think critically about the substance of a news report:
What specific claims are being presented?
What are the reasons (or facts) being used to support the claims?
Are they reporting all the facts or only selected facts?
Does the news report contain emotional appeals or reporter opinions?
What are the sources (e.g. peer-reviewed studies, expert testimony)?
Remember, it’s only after you have identified the claims and the reasons for those claims that you can properly evaluate whether or not to believe the claims.
3. Dig for truth.
We ought to be concerned with truth — wherever it leads. Sadly, many people are more concerned with being right than believing right things. Sometimes the truth can be uncomfortable because it bucks up against our tightly held beliefs. Winston Churchill famously said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.”
So, what can we do to avoid falling for fake news? Simply put, dig for truth.
This is easier said than done. It may require reading multiple news sources — yes, even the ones you tend to disagree with. You may need to verify a study being cited or fact-check an expert witness. This all takes work, but the payoff is worth it.
Proverbs 18:17 says, “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.” If we care about truth, we need to begin closely examining news media.
It you want to avoid being taken in by fake news, follow these three steps. First, don’t fool yourself. Do your best to identify the beliefs and assumptions that influence how you filter news media.
Second, don’t be fooled by news outlets. Unfortunately, news is no longer about merely presenting all the facts. Misleading and unsubstantiated claims abound. As a critical thinker, it’s your job to identify those claims so you’re not taken in by them.
Third, follow truth wherever it leads. Be willing to change your mind. Rather than bending reality to fit our beliefs, we must fight with all our strength to bend our beliefs to fit what is true.
Tim Barnett has worked as a speaker for Stand to Reason since 2015, and serves on the pastoral staff of Cedarview Community Church in Newmarket, Ontario.
Originally published at Stand to Reason. Reprinted with permission.


thestream--2020-07-18--A Legend is Lost: Civil Rights Icon and Longtime Georgia Congressman John Lewis Dies at Age 80

America lost one of its giants last night .
Rep. John Lewis ( D-Ga. ) , an icon of the civil rights movement , has died at the age of 80 .
He had been battling pancreatic cancer .
Lewis was one of the original Freedom Riders , and led the historic “ Bloody Sunday ” march in Selma in 1965 .
During that march for black voting rights , a baton-wielding white officer fractured his skull .
During one stop in Alabama as a Freedom Rider , Ku Klux Klan members deflated the tires of his bus and set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very dangerous time , ” he would later tell CNN , “ I thought I was going to die.
” Born a sharecropper ’ s son in the segregated south , Lewis was a teenager when he heard and was inspired by Martin Luther King , Jr. ’ s , Gospel-driven call for non-violent protest to achieve equality .
A far cry from what you are seeing on the streets today .
He immediately joined the battle against segregation .
In 1963 , he would join Dr. King at the nation-changing March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s youngest keynote speaker .
He would go on to be elected to Congress in 1987 , serving as a Georgia representative for 33 years .
He never stopped his life ’ s work : what he called “ the good trouble.
” Our nation ’ s first black president , Barack Obama led the international outpouring of tributes to Lewis .
“ When I was elected a U.S .
Senator , I told him that I stood on his shoulders , ” Obama wrote on Medium .
“ When I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I hugged him on the inauguration stand before I was sworn in and told him I was only there because of the sacrifices he made.
” “ We have lost a giant , ” said former President and First Lady Bill and Hillary Clinton .
Despite being a fierce partisan — for example , he refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of President Trump ’ s election or even to share a stage with him at the dedication of the Mississippi Museum of Civil Rights — Lewis was a beloved figure on both sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitch McConnell praised his “ gentle , respectful and friendly ” manner .
“ I will never forget holding hands with John as members of Congress sang ‘ We Shall Overcome ’ at a 2008 tribute to his friend Dr. Martin Luther King .
It could not have been more humbling considering what he suffered and sacrificed so those words could be sung in that place .
“ Our nation has only bent toward justice because great men like John Lewis took it upon themselves to help bend it.
” Republican Senator Tim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. Senate , remembered Lewis ’ s “ open arms ” when he arrived on Capital Hill .
Sen. Scott went on to say , “ He was a giant among men ; his life and legacy will continue to serve as an example for the generations to come .
I am encouraged by his courage , determination , and perseverance , characteristics that we can all try to emulate — especially in the wake of current events.
” Fellow Georgian Jimmy Carter wrote : “ John never shied away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lead our nation on the path toward human and civil rights .
Everything he did , he did in a spirit of love.
” In 2011 , Rep. John Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom , the nation ’ s highest civilian honor .
Although as of Saturday morning , funeral arrangements have not been announced , it can be expected the nation will pay full and fitting tribute as Lewis makes that last ride to eternal freedom .

America lost one of its giants last night. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), an icon of the civil rights movement, has died at the age of 80. He had been battling pancreatic cancer.
Lewis was one of the original Freedom Riders, and led the historic “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma in 1965. During that march for black voting rights, a baton-wielding white officer fractured his skull. During one stop in Alabama as a Freedom Rider, Ku Klux Klan members deflated the tires of his bus and set it on fire.
“It was a very dangerous time,” he would later tell CNN, “I thought I was going to die.”
Born a sharecropper’s son in the segregated south, Lewis was a teenager when he heard and was inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, Gospel-driven call for non-violent protest to achieve equality. A far cry from what you are seeing on the streets today. He immediately joined the battle against segregation. In 1963, he would join Dr. King at the nation-changing March on Washington, serving as the event’s youngest keynote speaker.
He would go on to be elected to Congress in 1987, serving as a Georgia representative for 33 years. He never stopped his life’s work: what he called “the good trouble.”
Tributes Pour In for Rep. Lewis
Our nation’s first black president, Barack Obama led the international outpouring of tributes to Lewis. “When I was elected a U.S. Senator, I told him that I stood on his shoulders,” Obama wrote on Medium. “When I was elected President of the United States, I hugged him on the inauguration stand before I was sworn in and told him I was only there because of the sacrifices he made.”
Not many of us get to live to see our own legacy play out in such a meaningful, remarkable way. John Lewis did:https://t.co/KbVfYt5CeQ — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 18, 2020
“We have lost a giant,” said former President and First Lady Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Despite being a fierce partisan — for example, he refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of President Trump’s election or even to share a stage with him at the dedication of the Mississippi Museum of Civil Rights — Lewis was a beloved figure on both sides of the aisle.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell praised his “gentle, respectful and friendly” manner. “I will never forget holding hands with John as members of Congress sang ‘We Shall Overcome’ at a 2008 tribute to his friend Dr. Martin Luther King. It could not have been more humbling considering what he suffered and sacrificed so those words could be sung in that place.
“Our nation has only bent toward justice because great men like John Lewis took it upon themselves to help bend it.”
Republican Senator Tim Scott, one of the few African-Americans in the U.S. Senate, remembered Lewis’s “open arms” when he arrived on Capital Hill. Sen. Scott went on to say, “He was a giant among men; his life and legacy will continue to serve as an example for the generations to come. I am encouraged by his courage, determination, and perseverance, characteristics that we can all try to emulate — especially in the wake of current events.”
Fellow Georgian Jimmy Carter wrote: “John never shied away from what he called ‘good trouble’ to lead our nation on the path toward human and civil rights. Everything he did, he did in a spirit of love.”
A Hero’s Farewell
In 2011, Rep. John Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Although as of Saturday morning, funeral arrangements have not been announced, it can be expected the nation will pay full and fitting tribute as Lewis makes that last ride to eternal freedom.


thestream--2020-07-19--What Jackie Robinson’s Heroism Says About White Fragility, and Friendship

Most Americans think Jackie Robinson was the first black player good enough to play with whites , says Robin DiAngelo in her huge bestseller White Fragility .
They don ’ t know that racist team owners kept black players out of the major leagues .
It ’ s all part of how racist we are .
We don ’ t even know the real story .
What a foolish claim .
Every baseball fan knows that .
It ’ s part of the lore of the game .
What that fan might not know about is the quality of Robinson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great man .
A good man , too , but his greatness shines out as an inspiration for what a Christian man should look like .
Branch Rickey , “ the Mahatma ” as he was called with some grouchy irony , had long wanted to smash the color line in baseball .
Blacks could play in the National Football League .
Blacks could compete for championships in boxing .
But baseball was segregated .
Everybody knew that blacks could more than hold their own if they got the chance .
There were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see those players for themselves .
Sometimes major league teams would play against Negro League teams in exhibitions .
Many people said that Josh Gibson was not just the best catcher they had ever seen : he was the best player they had ever seen , and they said so when a man named Babe Ruth was still around .
Ty Cobb , long tagged as baseball ’ s biggest racist , was one of those .
Others said the same of Oscar Charleston .
Pitcher Satchel Paige was legendary .
There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys were as good as the best of the major leaguers .
But Rickey did not want just baseball greatness .
He did not want his daring move to fail because of human surliness and grudge-holding and vindictiveness , or human exasperation and despair .
Rickey wanted moral greatness too .
He had to find just the right man , and he found him in Jackie Robinson .
Rickey was a devout Christian , and so was Robinson .
Rickey wanted a man who would , morally , turn the other cheek and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stupidity with ineffectual indignation .
He wanted a man who would bear the abuse and not respond in kind , but rather turn desire for vengeance into a determination to play harder , smarter , and more relentlessly on the field .
Robinson did all that , and more .
I have heard people say that Jackie Robinson ’ s place in the Hall of Fame is attributable more to his historical significance than to his play on the field .
That is nonsense .
He won the rookie of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voting for most valuable player .
He won that two years later , when he led the league in batting ( .342 ) and the majors in stolen bases ( 37 ) .
Robinson lost several prime years to racism .
His career was therefore a relatively short ten years ( 1948-1957 ) , so his statistical totals should be increased by half again .
But even at that , his lifetime batting average of .311 speaks for itself , with plenty of doubles and triples , some home runs , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base-running in the league .
As for the glove , James says that Jackie Robinson was brilliant wherever the Dodgers put him in the field : 1B , 2B ( his main position ) , 3B , and OF .
If that doesn ’ t sound impressive , very few players ever make the transition from 2B to 3B , without being marginal at the corner .
Now , Jackie Robinson was not like his African/Italian American teammate , Roy Campanella .
Campy dealt with racism by shrugging it cheerfully away .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking to drink , which shot down what looked as if it would be a Hall of Fame career .
Robinson never rolled over .
But he also never let anybody dictate to him what he had to say or do .
Robinson was a man ’ s man .
He spoke privately with both candidates for president in 1960 , and endorsed Richard Nixon .
He said that it would make all he had done meaningless if baseball were integrated but the national political parties were segregated .
Baseball has honored Jackie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall of Fame .
Every team retires certain uniform numbers , worn by the greatest of their players .
Only Jackie Robinson has had his number retired for every team .
With this wonderful exception : Every year , on April 15 , it is Jackie Robinson Day for the whole league , and on that day , every player on every team wears number 42 , in Jackie ’ s honor .
More to Say Of course there ’ s a lot more to say .
Integration in baseball did not go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to integrate , but they were the Yankees and could afford to do as they pleased , until it caught up with them in the mid 1960 ’ s , and they fell into one of their rare doldrums .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
My favorite team , the Saint Louis Cardinals , at that time the southernmost team in the league , had been dominant in the 1940 ’ s , but the Dodgers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not have a black player as a regular starter until 1958 – Curt Flood .
And they gave him a hard time at that .
The result was a lost decade .
The Cardinals thus punished themselves .
They wasted ten years of Stan Musial in his prime .
The Braves were signing Henry Aaron , the Giants were signing Willie Mays and Willie McCovey , the Dodgers had Robinson , Campanella , Newcombe , and Jim Gilliam , but the Cardinals dragged their feet .
Since 1920 , the Cardinals have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once , and two losing seasons in a row twice .
Two of those slumps were in the 1950 ’ s .
Jackie Robinson was also a man who made friends , as well as admirers and fans .
In what areas of life in America are a white man and a black man most likely to become close , lifelong friends ?
Sport comes immediately to mind , especially the big three , baseball , football , and basketball .
Yet baseball had long been one of the most retrograde of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question to ask : What about baseball made such friendships not only possible but entirely common ?
We might begin by saying this .
Baseball did none of what Robin DiAngelo recommends .
The prodigious linguist John McWhorter calls that “ white guilt and politesse , ” in a scathing article in The Atlantic .
How , he asks , can people change “ when they have been taught that pretty much anything they say or think is racist and thus antithetical to the good .
What end does all this self-mortification serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insists that ‘ wanting to jump over the hard , personal work and get to solutions is a foundation of white fragility .
In other words , for DiAngelo , the whole point is the suffering.
” How did baseball create such friendships ?
Mostly the reverse of what DiAngelo demands .
On the ball field , the troubles of the world are suspended or set aside for the sake of play .
The magic “ If ” of Shakespeare ’ s wise clown reigns — the “ if ” that can settle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretend this , then I will pretend that , and we can go on .
Each fresh game “ forgets ” everything past and everything off the field .
They may as well be in another world .
Your troubles do not matter to the umpire , the opposing pitcher , or your teammate on second base .
Therefore you can be free of them too .
You do not talk them to death .
You do not talk them back to life , as vampires .
You play .
Perhaps some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with how men win the respect of other men .
You get no credit for being a victim .
You get no credit for talk .
Players hate “ clubhouse lawyers.
” You get credit for what you do , and when you do it against the odds , against opposition , even your opponents come over to your side , and many men become fast friends after a fair and honest fight .
Friendship is the aim , after all , isn ’ t it ?
Anthony Esolen is professor and writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberal Arts , in Warner , New Hampshire .
Among his many books are Out of the Ashes : Rebuilding American Culture , and Nostalgia : Going Home in a Homeless World , and most recently The Hundredfold : Songs for the Lord .
He also serves on the editorial board of Touchstone magazine .

Most Americans think Jackie Robinson was the first black player good enough to play with whites, says Robin DiAngelo in her huge bestseller White Fragility. They don’t know that racist team owners kept black players out of the major leagues. It’s all part of how racist we are. We don’t even know the real story.
What a foolish claim. Every baseball fan knows that. It’s part of the lore of the game. What that fan might not know about is the quality of Robinson’s heroism. He was a great man. A good man, too, but his greatness shines out as an inspiration for what a Christian man should look like.
Moral Greatness Too
Branch Rickey, “the Mahatma” as he was called with some grouchy irony, had long wanted to smash the color line in baseball. Blacks could play in the National Football League. Blacks could compete for championships in boxing. But baseball was segregated.
For a related tribute to Henry Aaron, see David Mills’ His Hat Stayed On: To the Great But Under-Appreciated Hank Aaron, on His Birthday.
Everybody knew that blacks could more than hold their own if they got the chance. There were the Negro Leagues, and people could see those players for themselves. Sometimes major league teams would play against Negro League teams in exhibitions. Many people said that Josh Gibson was not just the best catcher they had ever seen: he was the best player they had ever seen, and they said so when a man named Babe Ruth was still around. Ty Cobb, long tagged as baseball’s biggest racist, was one of those. Others said the same of Oscar Charleston. Pitcher Satchel Paige was legendary.
There was no doubt that the best of these guys were as good as the best of the major leaguers. But Rickey did not want just baseball greatness. He did not want his daring move to fail because of human surliness and grudge-holding and vindictiveness, or human exasperation and despair.
Rickey wanted moral greatness too. He had to find just the right man, and he found him in Jackie Robinson. Rickey was a devout Christian, and so was Robinson. Rickey wanted a man who would, morally, turn the other cheek and not respond to anger with anger or to stupidity with ineffectual indignation. He wanted a man who would bear the abuse and not respond in kind, but rather turn desire for vengeance into a determination to play harder, smarter, and more relentlessly on the field. Robinson did all that, and more.
His Hall of Fame Career
I have heard people say that Jackie Robinson’s place in the Hall of Fame is attributable more to his historical significance than to his play on the field. That is nonsense. He won the rookie of the year award in 1947 and placed fifth in the voting for most valuable player. He won that two years later, when he led the league in batting (.342) and the majors in stolen bases (37).
Robinson lost several prime years to racism. His career was therefore a relatively short ten years (1948-1957), so his statistical totals should be increased by half again. But even at that, his lifetime batting average of .311 speaks for itself, with plenty of doubles and triples, some home runs, and (with Richie Ashburn) the best base-running in the league.
As for the glove, James says that Jackie Robinson was brilliant wherever the Dodgers put him in the field: 1B, 2B (his main position), 3B, and OF. If that doesn’t sound impressive, very few players ever make the transition from 2B to 3B, without being marginal at the corner.
Now, Jackie Robinson was not like his African/Italian American teammate, Roy Campanella. Campy dealt with racism by shrugging it cheerfully away. Their teammate Don Newcombe dealt with it by taking to drink, which shot down what looked as if it would be a Hall of Fame career.
Robinson never rolled over. But he also never let anybody dictate to him what he had to say or do. Robinson was a man’s man. He spoke privately with both candidates for president in 1960, and endorsed Richard Nixon. He said that it would make all he had done meaningless if baseball were integrated but the national political parties were segregated.
Baseball has honored Jackie in a way that goes beyond the Hall of Fame. Every team retires certain uniform numbers, worn by the greatest of their players. Only Jackie Robinson has had his number retired for every team. With this wonderful exception: Every year, on April 15, it is Jackie Robinson Day for the whole league, and on that day, every player on every team wears number 42, in Jackie’s honor.
More to Say
Of course there’s a lot more to say. Integration in baseball did not go smoothly. The Yankees were very slow to integrate, but they were the Yankees and could afford to do as they pleased, until it caught up with them in the mid 1960’s, and they fell into one of their rare doldrums.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
My favorite team, the Saint Louis Cardinals, at that time the southernmost team in the league, had been dominant in the 1940’s, but the Dodgers were right on their heels. They would not have a black player as a regular starter until 1958 – Curt Flood. And they gave him a hard time at that. The result was a lost decade. The Cardinals thus punished themselves. They wasted ten years of Stan Musial in his prime.
The Braves were signing Henry Aaron, the Giants were signing Willie Mays and Willie McCovey, the Dodgers had Robinson, Campanella, Newcombe, and Jim Gilliam, but the Cardinals dragged their feet. Since 1920, the Cardinals have had three losing seasons in a row once, and two losing seasons in a row twice. Two of those slumps were in the 1950’s.
Becoming Friends
Jackie Robinson was also a man who made friends, as well as admirers and fans. In what areas of life in America are a white man and a black man most likely to become close, lifelong friends? Sport comes immediately to mind, especially the big three, baseball, football, and basketball. Yet baseball had long been one of the most retrograde of American institutions. It’s an obvious question to ask: What about baseball made such friendships not only possible but entirely common?
We might begin by saying this. Baseball did none of what Robin DiAngelo recommends. The prodigious linguist John McWhorter calls that “white guilt and politesse,” in a scathing article in The Atlantic. How, he asks, can people change “when they have been taught that pretty much anything they say or think is racist and thus antithetical to the good. What end does all this self-mortification serve? Impatient with such questions, DiAngelo insists that ‘wanting to jump over the hard, personal work and get to solutions is a foundation of white fragility. In other words, for DiAngelo, the whole point is the suffering.”
How did baseball create such friendships? Mostly the reverse of what DiAngelo demands.
On the ball field, the troubles of the world are suspended or set aside for the sake of play. The magic “If” of Shakespeare’s wise clown reigns — the “if” that can settle the deadliest of quarrels: if you pretend this, then I will pretend that, and we can go on. Each fresh game “forgets” everything past and everything off the field. They may as well be in another world.
Your troubles do not matter to the umpire, the opposing pitcher, or your teammate on second base. Therefore you can be free of them too. You do not talk them to death. You do not talk them back to life, as vampires. You play.
Perhaps some of the virtue of sport has to do with how men win the respect of other men. You get no credit for being a victim. You get no credit for talk. Players hate “clubhouse lawyers.” You get credit for what you do, and when you do it against the odds, against opposition, even your opponents come over to your side, and many men become fast friends after a fair and honest fight. Friendship is the aim, after all, isn’t it?
Anthony Esolen is professor and writer in residence at Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts, in Warner, New Hampshire. Among his many books are Out of the Ashes: Rebuilding American Culture, and Nostalgia: Going Home in a Homeless World, and most recently The Hundredfold: Songs for the Lord. He also serves on the editorial board of Touchstone magazine.