thestream--2020-12-04--Why Candace Owens Is Grossed Out by Harry Styles

The best way to understand the stakes here is to look back at a classic movie from 1982 , Blade Runner .
One of its last lines is delivered by a cop named Gaff ( Edward James Olmos ) to Rick Deckard ( Harrison Ford ) .
Deckard is a “ blade runner , ” a rough , intelligent and brave man who hunts down and kills rogue androids , called replicants .
Throughout the course of the film Deckard endures extreme emotional and physical violence , plays the piano , and falls in love .
He also gets his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , charismatic replicant Roy after a prolonged rooftop battle .
This is what elicits the praise from Gaff : You ’ ve done a man ’ s job .
The irony of this conclusion is that Deckard is himself a replicant .
Some critics dispute this .
But Deckard as a replicant is crucial to a full understanding of Blade Runner .
At its heart the film is about technology robbing men of their grit and passion .
Then making us passive consumers and indolent nerds in a dystopian world of corporate control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , traditional masculine traits are no longer welcome .
Harry Styles blew up the internet ( and grossed out Candace Owens ) by posing on the cover of Vogue in a “ a custom-made , lace-trimmed Gucci ballgown dressed with a tuxedo jacket.
” That gets him praised as a groundbreaker .
In 2020 , men who are strong , passionate , decisive , own guns and are comfortable in their own muscled bodies get increasingly treated as outsiders .
In fact , they seem almost like the replicants in Blade Runner .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some “ more human than human.
” Companies built them for slave labor , military operations and pleasure .
After a group of them revolted , replicants were outlawed .
Bounty hunter Rick Deckard , the character played by Harrison Ford , has the job of “ retiring ” the few remaining replicants .
That is , killing them with quick and extreme force .
Replicants only have a four-year lifespan , which sends some desperately searching for ways to extend their lives , while their time runs out .
Deckard has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s biggest challenge is Roy Batty ( Rutger Hauer ) , a blonde , blue-eyed , powerhouse replicant with an intimidating presence and near-superhero abilities .
At the end of the film Batty only has minutes left .
High above the city he defeats Deckard in a fight , but then spares his life .
As Batty lives out his final minutes , he gives a speech .
It is one of the most beautiful scenes in the history of film : Rutger Hauer won high praise for his delivery of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steals Blade Runner from Harrison Ford in those few moments .
In the Blade Runner future , it was so difficult to find a real man to take down Batty that the society had to create one , Harrison Ford ’ s Deckard .
In Blade Runner the replicants are more fully alive than the humans , who seem anonymous in the dark future world of Los Angeles .
The female replicants are artistic , while the male ones express anger , sarcasm , and wit .
Their faces convey more emotion than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the reasons why they must be retired .
As Michael Newton noted recently in The Guardian , Blade Runner is a starkly empty film , preoccupied as it is with the thought that people themselves might be hollow .
The plot depends on the notion that the replicants must be allowed to live no longer than four years , because as time passes they begin to develop raw emotions .
Why emotion should be a capital offense is never sufficiently explained ; but it is of a piece with the film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeling – what psychologist Ian D Suttie once named the ‘ taboo on tenderness.
’ Intimacy here is frightful ( everyone appears to live alone ) , especially that closeness that suggests that the replicants might be indistinguishable from us .
Re-watching Blade Runner , it ’ s easy to see a prediction of the digital and corporate world that is now shuffling a lot of men into “ retirement.
” And putting male pop stars like Harry Styles into dresses .
Dr. Eldon Tyrrell , the genius in Blade Runner who created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cold demeanor .
He looks like the kind of guy who would be sitting in the front row at a new Apple product unveiling .
Maybe doing PR for Facebook ’ s Mark Zuckerberg , who is far more lifeless and robotic than any replicant .
Tyrrell is more of a robot than the robots he has created .
Replicants dress in a mishmash of flashy punk and New Wave styles , proclaiming a freedom that is suspect .
Pris Stratton ( Daryl Hannah ) , a female replicant , paints a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is only one curse word in the film , an f-bomb dropped by Roy , who comes across not only as witty and brilliant but savagely , physically masculine .
Seen today , the replicants seem like the people left behind by iPhones , texting , transgenderism and the end of passion in the age of COVID .
In a world run by genetic manipulation and godlike corporations , Roy Batty is raw and primal .
He ’ s a white tiger loose in the Google corporate offices .
His evolving emotion threatens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sad anonymity to the dynamism of a real man .
In Batty ’ s character , and perhaps unintentionally , Blade Runner becomes a paean to a 21st century demographic : the strong and street-smart men willing to defend their tribes to the death .
While real humans have lost the ability to feel , Roy Batty is “ more human than human.
” And that is why , after Roy Batty has died , Gaff , with a mix of admiration and sadness , tells Deckard , “ You ’ ve done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He had to .
No one else could .
Mark Judge is a writer and filmmaker in Washington , D.C .

Conservative activist Candace Owens picked a fight with pop star Harry Styles recently:
There is no society that can survive without strong men. The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence.
It is an outright attack. Bring back manly men. https://t.co/sY4IJF7VkK — Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) November 14, 2020
The best way to understand the stakes here is to look back at a classic movie from 1982, Blade Runner. One of its last lines is delivered by a cop named Gaff (Edward James Olmos) to Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford). Deckard is a “blade runner,” a rough, intelligent and brave man who hunts down and kills rogue androids, called replicants. Throughout the course of the film Deckard endures extreme emotional and physical violence, plays the piano, and falls in love. He also gets his job done, shutting down the dangerous, charismatic replicant Roy after a prolonged rooftop battle. This is what elicits the praise from Gaff: “You’ve done a man’s job.”
Technology Robs Men of Passion and Purpose
The irony of this conclusion is that Deckard is himself a replicant. Some critics dispute this. But Deckard as a replicant is crucial to a full understanding of Blade Runner. At its heart the film is about technology robbing men of their grit and passion. Then making us passive consumers and indolent nerds in a dystopian world of corporate control and digital slavery. In that world, traditional masculine traits are no longer welcome.
Harry Styles blew up the internet (and grossed out Candace Owens) by posing on the cover of Vogue in a “a custom-made, lace-trimmed Gucci ballgown dressed with a tuxedo jacket.” That gets him praised as a groundbreaker.
Manly Men Are Dangerous Outsiders
In 2020, men who are strong, passionate, decisive, own guns and are comfortable in their own muscled bodies get increasingly treated as outsiders. In fact, they seem almost like the replicants in Blade Runner. Genetically engineered androids, replicants seem to some “more human than human.” Companies built them for slave labor, military operations and pleasure. After a group of them revolted, replicants were outlawed. Bounty hunter Rick Deckard, the character played by Harrison Ford, has the job of “retiring” the few remaining replicants. That is, killing them with quick and extreme force.
Replicants only have a four-year lifespan, which sends some desperately searching for ways to extend their lives, while their time runs out. Deckard has the job of hunting them down. Deckard’s biggest challenge is Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer), a blonde, blue-eyed, powerhouse replicant with an intimidating presence and near-superhero abilities.
“Tears in Rain”
At the end of the film Batty only has minutes left. High above the city he defeats Deckard in a fight, but then spares his life. As Batty lives out his final minutes, he gives a speech. It is one of the most beautiful scenes in the history of film:
Rutger Hauer won high praise for his delivery of these lines. Some even claim that he steals Blade Runner from Harrison Ford in those few moments.
No Real Men Around
In the Blade Runner future, it was so difficult to find a real man to take down Batty that the society had to create one, Harrison Ford’s Deckard. In Blade Runner the replicants are more fully alive than the humans, who seem anonymous in the dark future world of Los Angeles. The female replicants are artistic, while the male ones express anger, sarcasm, and wit. Their faces convey more emotion than their creators’.
And this is one of the reasons why they must be retired. As Michael Newton noted recently in The Guardian, Blade Runner
is a starkly empty film, preoccupied as it is with the thought that people themselves might be hollow. The plot depends on the notion that the replicants must be allowed to live no longer than four years, because as time passes they begin to develop raw emotions. Why emotion should be a capital offense is never sufficiently explained; but it is of a piece with the film’s investigation of a flight from feeling – what psychologist Ian D Suttie once named the ‘taboo on tenderness.’ Intimacy here is frightful (everyone appears to live alone), especially that closeness that suggests that the replicants might be indistinguishable from us.
Re-watching Blade Runner, it’s easy to see a prediction of the digital and corporate world that is now shuffling a lot of men into “retirement.” And putting male pop stars like Harry Styles into dresses.
Tech Geeks Rule
Dr. Eldon Tyrrell, the genius in Blade Runner who created the replicants, has thick classes and a cold demeanor. He looks like the kind of guy who would be sitting in the front row at a new Apple product unveiling. Maybe doing PR for Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, who is far more lifeless and robotic than any replicant.
Tyrrell is more of a robot than the robots he has created. Replicants dress in a mishmash of flashy punk and New Wave styles, proclaiming a freedom that is suspect. Pris Stratton (Daryl Hannah), a female replicant, paints a black stripe across her face. There is only one curse word in the film, an f-bomb dropped by Roy, who comes across not only as witty and brilliant but savagely, physically masculine.
A White Tiger Loose at Google, Inc.
Seen today, the replicants seem like the people left behind by iPhones, texting, transgenderism and the end of passion in the age of COVID. In a world run by genetic manipulation and godlike corporations, Roy Batty is raw and primal. He’s a white tiger loose in the Google corporate offices. His evolving emotion threatens the modern world, which prefers its sad anonymity to the dynamism of a real man.
In Batty’s character, and perhaps unintentionally, Blade Runner becomes a paean to a 21st century demographic: the strong and street-smart men willing to defend their tribes to the death. While real humans have lost the ability to feel, Roy Batty is “more human than human.”
And that is why, after Roy Batty has died, Gaff, with a mix of admiration and sadness, tells Deckard, “You’ve done a man’s job, sir.”
He had to. No one else could.
Mark Judge is a writer and filmmaker in Washington, D.C.


thestream--2020-12-04--American History Down the Memory Hole?

American History Down the Memory Hole?

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving , but is this holiday becoming so politically incorrect that one day it will be doomed to be sent down the “ memory hole ” ?
There is a war on American history .
Over the Thanksgiving weekend , Antifa and other leftwing groups toppled more historical statues .
Tyler O ’ Neil of PJ Media describes the extent of this vandalism , which included the spray-painting of anti-Thanksgiving messages and statues torn down in Chicago , Minneapolis , Portland and Spokane .
Statues that were toppled or defaced included George Washington , Abraham Lincoln @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to note , during these anti-Thanksgiving melees , that George Washington was the first president to declare Thanksgiving as a holiday — a time for the nation to thank God for us having been able to create the Constitution .
And Lincoln was the first president to make Thanksgiving an annual holiday .
This weekend ’ s vandalism , of course , comes a few months after the toppling of all sorts of American historical statues , including Washington , Thomas Jefferson , Ulysses S. Grant and even abolitionist Frederick Douglass .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of the emphases in last week ’ s new spate of American history-bashing seemed to focus on a grievance of some Native Americans .
There was a push for what they called “ a national decolonial day of action ” and what they called “ land back.
” O ’ Neil explains : “ ‘ Land back ’ seemingly refers to The LANDBACK campaign , a Native American movement supposedly fighting ‘ white supremacy.
’ The campaign calls for the dismantling of the ‘ white supremacy structures ’ supposedly responsible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America has never been perfect .
Injustices have been done .
On the other hand , we have made great strides to address many of these past sins .
Meanwhile , notes O ’ Neil , “ the nefarious message of Marxist critical race theory suggests we should upend society in order to satisfy historical grievances in the name of racial justice .
This toxic vision undermines the very real progress America has made in terms of establishing civil rights regardless of race and in terms of securing broad prosperity through a free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God for the European Christians Who Brought the Gospel Recently , I spoke with a Native American pastor to get his thoughts on the Pilgrims and American history for a television documentary .
Rev .
Billy Falling , author of My Cherokee Roots , does not agree with those who denigrate the founding of America for all the bad things that did indeed happen — later ( long after the Pilgrims ) — to Native Americans .
For example , Rev .
Falling said of the Pilgrims , in whose honor we celebrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good relations with the Indians .
The Pilgrims were kind to the Indians .
They showed them love .
They showed them compassion .
They showed them the godly way to live.
” Falling added , “ As a Native American , I thank God for the Europeans that brought us the Gospel and brought us Western Civilization.
” He said that the Indians need the Gospel as much as any group of people : We owe everything to those who brought us civilization and brought us out of the cannibalism and out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flesh that were practiced in the day just like the heathen of the world .
It ’ s hard today to find a ‘ sweat ’ where you can go as a Native American and go inside and ‘ smoke out your sins , ’ but it ’ s easy to find Native Americans in any congregation in the United States , worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ because of the Europeans .
And I thank God for that .
The war on American history does not bode well for our future .
Tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into thinking America is evil and always was evil .
Can We Convince the Next Generation that Our History is Worth Preserving ?
In his nightmare vision of a totalitarian future , “ 1984 , ” novelist George Orwell speaks of history constantly being rewritten by the state in order to satisfy those in charge .
That history which was no longer acceptable to the Party was sent down the “ memory holes ” where it was to be burned away in “ the enormous furnaces which were hidden somewhere in the recesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed — if all records told the same tale — then the lie passed into history and became truth .
‘ Who controls the past , ’ ran the Party slogan , ‘ controls the future : who controls the present controls the past.
’ ” Golda Meir , former prime minister of Israel , once noted , “ One can not and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.
” Those of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the creation of America have a lot of work on our hands to try and convince a lot of young Americans who have been brainwashed by Marxist assaults on American history in our schools that our history , flawed as it is , is worth preserving .
Abolish Thanksgiving ?
No thanks .
Jerry Newcombe , D.Min.
, is a senior producer and an on-air host for D. James Kennedy Ministries .
He has written or co-written 32 books , such as The Unstoppable Jesus Christ , American Amnesia : Is American Paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What If Jesus Had Never Been Born ?
( with D. James Kennedy ) and the bestseller , George Washington ’ s Sacred Fire ( with Peter Lillback ) .
Learn more at www.jerrynewcombe.com and follow him on Twitter @ newcombejerry .

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving, but is this holiday becoming so politically incorrect that one day it will be doomed to be sent down the “memory hole”?
There is a war on American history. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Antifa and other leftwing groups toppled more historical statues. Tyler O’Neil of PJ Media describes the extent of this vandalism, which included the spray-painting of anti-Thanksgiving messages and statues torn down in Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland and Spokane.
Statues that were toppled or defaced included George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley.
It is interesting to note, during these anti-Thanksgiving melees, that George Washington was the first president to declare Thanksgiving as a holiday — a time for the nation to thank God for us having been able to create the Constitution. And Lincoln was the first president to make Thanksgiving an annual holiday.
This weekend’s vandalism, of course, comes a few months after the toppling of all sorts of American historical statues, including Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ulysses S. Grant and even abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The war on America as founded continues unabated.
Critical Race Theory Comes for Thanksgiving
One of the emphases in last week’s new spate of American history-bashing seemed to focus on a grievance of some Native Americans. There was a push for what they called “a national decolonial day of action” and what they called “land back.”
O’Neil explains: “‘Land back’ seemingly refers to The LANDBACK campaign, a Native American movement supposedly fighting ‘white supremacy.’ The campaign calls for the dismantling of the ‘white supremacy structures’ supposedly responsible for removing Native Americans from their lands.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
America has never been perfect. Injustices have been done. On the other hand, we have made great strides to address many of these past sins. Meanwhile, notes O’Neil, “the nefarious message of Marxist critical race theory suggests we should upend society in order to satisfy historical grievances in the name of racial justice. This toxic vision undermines the very real progress America has made in terms of establishing civil rights regardless of race and in terms of securing broad prosperity through a free market economy.”
Native American Pastor Thanks God for the European Christians Who Brought the Gospel
Recently, I spoke with a Native American pastor to get his thoughts on the Pilgrims and American history for a television documentary. Rev. Billy Falling, author of My Cherokee Roots, does not agree with those who denigrate the founding of America for all the bad things that did indeed happen — later (long after the Pilgrims) — to Native Americans.
For example, Rev. Falling said of the Pilgrims, in whose honor we celebrate Thanksgiving: “The Pilgrims did have good relations with the Indians. The Pilgrims were kind to the Indians. They showed them love. They showed them compassion. They showed them the godly way to live.”
Falling added, “As a Native American, I thank God for the Europeans that brought us the Gospel and brought us Western Civilization.” He said that the Indians need the Gospel as much as any group of people:
We owe everything to those who brought us civilization and brought us out of the cannibalism and out of all of the sins of the flesh that were practiced in the day just like the heathen of the world. It’s hard today to find a ‘sweat’ where you can go as a Native American and go inside and ‘smoke out your sins,’ but it’s easy to find Native Americans in any congregation in the United States, worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ because of the Europeans. And I thank God for that.
The war on American history does not bode well for our future. Tens of millions of young Americans are brainwashed into thinking America is evil and always was evil.
Can We Convince the Next Generation that Our History is Worth Preserving?
In his nightmare vision of a totalitarian future, “1984,” novelist George Orwell speaks of history constantly being rewritten by the state in order to satisfy those in charge. That history which was no longer acceptable to the Party was sent down the “memory holes” where it was to be burned away in “the enormous furnaces which were hidden somewhere in the recesses of the building.”
Those of us who appreciate what God has done in the creation of America have a lot of work on our hands to try and convince a lot of young Americans who have been brainwashed by Marxist assaults on American history in our schools that our history, flawed as it is, is worth preserving.
Orwell adds, “And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed — if all records told the same tale — then the lie passed into history and became truth. ‘Who controls the past,’ ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.’”
Golda Meir, former prime minister of Israel, once noted, “One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.”
Those of us who appreciate what God has done in the creation of America have a lot of work on our hands to try and convince a lot of young Americans who have been brainwashed by Marxist assaults on American history in our schools that our history, flawed as it is, is worth preserving. Abolish Thanksgiving? No thanks.
Jerry Newcombe, D.Min., is a senior producer and an on-air host for D. James Kennedy Ministries. He has written or co-written 32 books, such as The Unstoppable Jesus Christ, American Amnesia: Is American Paying the Price for Forgetting God?, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (with D. James Kennedy) and the bestseller, George Washington’s Sacred Fire (with Peter Lillback). Learn more at www.jerrynewcombe.com and follow him on Twitter @newcombejerry.


thestream--2020-12-04--This Week at War: It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over

While most Americans ate Thanksgiving dinner , thousands of brave U.S. troops were busy fighting a war .
As the above image shows , American warriors are still on patrol in Syria .
They are also risking their lives in Iraq , Afghanistan and other hotspots around the world .
In addition to fighting terrorist groups like ISIS and al Qaeda , U.S. military and intelligence officials are also watching for potential violence by Iran after one of the rogue regime ’ s top nuclear scientists was taken out by Israel last week .
“ Definitely Iran will retaliate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
“ When and how depends on our national interests .
It might happen in the coming days or weeks , but it will happen.
” In neighboring Iraq and Afghanistan , Stars and Stripes reports that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley , said this week that American forces would continue to “ train , advise and assist missions and the separate counterterrorism operations ” in both countries next year .
General Milley ’ s comments come in the wake of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combined U.S. service members would be withdrawn from Afghanistan and Iraq by January 15 .
“ We believe now that after 20 years , two decades of consistent effort , that we have achieved a modicum of success , ” said Milley , as quoted by Stars and Stripes .
All Americans should rejoice as thousands of valiant men and women in uniform come home from war .
At the same time , it ’ s crucial for us to recognize that these conflicts are not over .
Until every single soldier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of harm ’ s way , The Stream will continue to report on their sacrifices and humbly ask God to watch over these heroes and their loved ones .
Another dedicated American service member has died during the military ’ s nine-month war on coronavirus .
Military.com reports that Master Sgt .
Robert Lawson died on November 24 .
The 48-year-old North Dakota National Guard soldier is 12th American service member to pass away from complications related to COVID-19 , according to Pentagon statistics .
As of Thursday , there had been 80,592 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside U.S. military ranks .
Master Sgt .
Lawson was a married father of nine children , according to his obituary .
He also earned a Bronze Star while serving during one of the most dangerous chapters of the Iraq war from 2003-2005 .
Overall , Lawson honorably served in the military for 32 years .
“ We are deeply saddened to share with you the loss of one of our National Guard soldiers , ” North Dakota state officials said in a statement , as quoted by Military.com .
“ We ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawson ’ s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
” We will most certainly pray for the wife and nine children of Master Sgt .
Robert Lawson , who was laid to rest on Wednesday in Velva , North Dakota .
We honor this fallen warrior ’ s service and his many years of sacrifices for our country .
Just in time for the holidays , a group of Michigan National Guard soldiers has finally returned from war .
The soldiers , who had been serving in the Middle East , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lansing , Michigan , on the day before Thanksgiving .
Welcome home , heroes !
Thank you for your service and Merry Christmas to you and your families .
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream .
He is co-author of Three Wise Men , Brothers Forever , 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes .
Follow Tom on Twitter @ TSileo and The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

Middle East
While most Americans ate Thanksgiving dinner, thousands of brave U.S. troops were busy fighting a war.
As the above image shows, American warriors are still on patrol in Syria. They are also risking their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hotspots around the world.
In addition to fighting terrorist groups like ISIS and al Qaeda, U.S. military and intelligence officials are also watching for potential violence by Iran after one of the rogue regime’s top nuclear scientists was taken out by Israel last week.
“Definitely Iran will retaliate,” an Iranian senior official told Reuters this week. “When and how depends on our national interests. It might happen in the coming days or weeks, but it will happen.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In neighboring Iraq and Afghanistan, Stars and Stripes reports that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, said this week that American forces would continue to “train, advise and assist missions and the separate counterterrorism operations” in both countries next year. General Milley’s comments come in the wake of the Trump administration recently announcing that approximately 2,500 combined U.S. service members would be withdrawn from Afghanistan and Iraq by January 15.
“We believe now that after 20 years, two decades of consistent effort, that we have achieved a modicum of success,” said Milley, as quoted by Stars and Stripes.
All Americans should rejoice as thousands of valiant men and women in uniform come home from war. At the same time, it’s crucial for us to recognize that these conflicts are not over. Until every single soldier, sailor, airman and Marine is out of harm’s way, The Stream will continue to report on their sacrifices and humbly ask God to watch over these heroes and their loved ones.
COVID-19
Another dedicated American service member has died during the military’s nine-month war on coronavirus.
Military.com reports that Master Sgt. Robert Lawson died on November 24. The 48-year-old North Dakota National Guard soldier is 12th American service member to pass away from complications related to COVID-19, according to Pentagon statistics. As of Thursday, there had been 80,592 cases, 49,472 recoveries and 834 hospitalizations inside U.S. military ranks.
Master Sgt. Lawson was a married father of nine children, according to his obituary. He also earned a Bronze Star while serving during one of the most dangerous chapters of the Iraq war from 2003-2005. Overall, Lawson honorably served in the military for 32 years.
North Dakota Guardsman Who Died of Coronavirus Was Father of 9 https://t.co/mtzWSgvcQi — Military.com (@Militarydotcom) December 2, 2020
“We are deeply saddened to share with you the loss of one of our National Guard soldiers,” North Dakota state officials said in a statement, as quoted by Military.com. “We ask that you please keep Master Sgt. Lawson’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”
We will most certainly pray for the wife and nine children of Master Sgt. Robert Lawson, who was laid to rest on Wednesday in Velva, North Dakota. We honor this fallen warrior’s service and his many years of sacrifices for our country.
Update: After this story was published, a 13th U.S. service member was confirmed to have passed away from coronavirus complications. Military.com reports that Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan D. Huff Bishop, 33, died on Tuesday. The U.S. Navy reservist served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. We mourn this brave sailor’s tragic passing and pray for his family.
Coming Home
Just in time for the holidays, a group of Michigan National Guard soldiers has finally returned from war.
The soldiers, who had been serving in the Middle East, were greeted by their overjoyed families in Lansing, Michigan, on the day before Thanksgiving.
Welcome home, heroes! Thank you for your service and Merry Christmas to you and your families.
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is co-author of Three Wise Men, Brothers Forever, 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-12-04--Military Photo of the Day: Under the Northern Lights

A U.S. Marine recently stands watch under the northern lights in Norway .

A U.S. Marine recently stands watch under the northern lights in Norway.
Have a safe weekend, everyone!
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thestream--2020-12-04--Durham Seeks Jail Time for Ex-FBI Lawyer Who Altered CIA Email About Carter Page

U.S. Attorney John Durham is seeking a prison sentence of up to six months for Kevin Clinesmith , the former FBI lawyer who pleaded guilty to altering an email from the CIA regarding former Trump campaign aide Carter Page ’ s past relationship with the spy agency .
Durham asked a federal judge in a court filing on Thursday to sentence Clinesmith to a jail term “ between the middle and upper end ” of what federal sentencing guidelines recommend for the crime of making false statements in writing .
Clinesmith pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a ‘ source ’ ” to a June 2017 email from a CIA employee who had provided information about Page ’ s relationship with the agency .
Page served as an “ operational contact ” for the CIA from 2008 to 2013 .
Clinesmith , who worked in the FBI ’ s National Cyber Law Branch , assisted the bureau ’ s Crossfire Hurricane team in its investigation into the Trump campaign ’ s possible ties to the Russian government .
As part of his legal work , Clinesmith contacted the CIA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spy agency .
Clinesmith , who also worked on the special counsel ’ s team , forwarded his altered email to an FBI analyst who was putting together an application to renew a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) warrant against Page .
Clinesmith ’ s email edit was discovered by the Justice Department office of the inspector general , which investigated the FBI ’ s FISA warrants against Page , as well as the validity of the Crossfire Hurricane probe .
A report from the IG said that the FBI made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in FISA warrants against Page .
The IG report said that the CIA had initially told the Crossfire Hurricane team in August 2016 about Page ’ s work as an “ operational contact.
” The agents who received that information failed to include it in the initial FISA application against Page , which was approved on Oct. 21 , 2016 .
Clinesmith told the IG that the FBI finding out that Page was a source for the CIA would have “ drastically ” changed how the bureau handled the FISA applications .
Durham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was aware of the significance of Page ’ s relationship with the CIA .
Clinesmith told the IG that the FBI and Justice Department ’ s office of intelligence had a “ big , big concern ” that investigators may have targeted a CIA source .
“ That should never happen without us knowing about it.
” Clinesmith is seeking a sentence of probation with no jail time , according to a filing his lawyers submitted on Thursday .
His attorneys said that Clinesmith “ made a grievous mistake ” in altering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” for his actions .
They maintain that Clinesmith “ did not knowingly lie ” about Page ’ s relationship with the CIA .
Durham asserts that Clinesmith may have been motivated to alter the email due to “ political or personal bias ” against Donald Trump and his campaign .
Durham pointed to a Justice Department inspector general ’ s report on the FBI ’ s investigation of Hillary Clinton ’ s use of a private server which flagged texts messages that Clinesmith sent criticizing Trump after his election win .
Clinesmith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one message that seemingly referenced the so-called Trump Resistance that formed after his election win .
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 licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

U.S. Attorney John Durham is seeking a prison sentence of up to six months for Kevin Clinesmith, the former FBI lawyer who pleaded guilty to altering an email from the CIA regarding former Trump campaign aide Carter Page’s past relationship with the spy agency.
Durham asked a federal judge in a court filing on Thursday to sentence Clinesmith to a jail term “between the middle and upper end” of what federal sentencing guidelines recommend for the crime of making false statements in writing.
Clinesmith pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 19. He admitted to adding the phrase “not a ‘source’” to a June 2017 email from a CIA employee who had provided information about Page’s relationship with the agency.
Page served as an “operational contact” for the CIA from 2008 to 2013.
Clinesmith, who worked in the FBI’s National Cyber Law Branch, assisted the bureau’s Crossfire Hurricane team in its investigation into the Trump campaign’s possible ties to the Russian government. As part of his legal work, Clinesmith contacted the CIA regarding Page’s association with the spy agency.
Clinesmith, who also worked on the special counsel’s team, forwarded his altered email to an FBI analyst who was putting together an application to renew a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant against Page.
Clinesmith’s email edit was discovered by the Justice Department office of the inspector general, which investigated the FBI’s FISA warrants against Page, as well as the validity of the Crossfire Hurricane probe.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
A report from the IG said that the FBI made 17 “significant” errors and omissions in FISA warrants against Page.
The IG report said that the CIA had initially told the Crossfire Hurricane team in August 2016 about Page’s work as an “operational contact.” The agents who received that information failed to include it in the initial FISA application against Page, which was approved on Oct. 21, 2016.
Clinesmith told the IG that the FBI finding out that Page was a source for the CIA would have “drastically” changed how the bureau handled the FISA applications.
Durham asserted in his court filing that Clinesmith was aware of the significance of Page’s relationship with the CIA.
Clinesmith told the IG that the FBI and Justice Department’s office of intelligence had a “big, big concern” that investigators may have targeted a CIA source.
“That should never happen without us knowing about it.”
Clinesmith is seeking a sentence of probation with no jail time, according to a filing his lawyers submitted on Thursday. His attorneys said that Clinesmith “made a grievous mistake” in altering the email, and “accepts full responsibility” for his actions.
They maintain that Clinesmith “did not knowingly lie” about Page’s relationship with the CIA. Durham asserts that Clinesmith may have been motivated to alter the email due to “political or personal bias” against Donald Trump and his campaign.
Durham pointed to a Justice Department inspector general’s report on the FBI’s investigation of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server which flagged texts messages that Clinesmith sent criticizing Trump after his election win.
Clinesmith wrote “Viva le Resistance” in one message that seemingly referenced the so-called Trump Resistance that formed after his election win.
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--2020-12-04--Project Veritas Strips CNN Naked

Project Veritas Strips CNN Naked

Project Veritas ’ exposé of CNN ’ s behind-the-scenes conference calls shows that the network ’ s slogan should be “ We won ’ t fully report so you can ’ t knowledgeably decide.
” James O ’ Keefe of Project Veritas , in the ultimate trolling coup of the year , monitored and recorded CNN ’ s morning conference call with CNN President Jeff Zucker and other company executives and reporters for some two months .
O ’ Keefe has released the first batch of audiotapes from those calls , which confirm the network ’ s anti-Donald Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s liberal bias is no bombshell , as it is self-evident to any objective viewer , but it is deliciously affirming to hear these legacy media frauds betray their corruption in their own words .
There ’ s no explaining away their admissions of news doctoring in these tapes .
The recordings prove that the executives not only dictate the network ’ s editorial slant but also manipulate its news side in deciding what stories will be reported and how they will be presented — to ensure that Trump is portrayed in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all costs .
It would be less objectionable if the network would admit that it has a liberal bias , but it does the opposite : The anchors and reporters hold themselves out as consummate journalists , exemplary professionals committed to giving their viewers information without a partisan filter .
Through these tapes , they ’ ve vindicated our long-standing charge that their mission is to tailor the news to fit their liberal narrative , rather than to fairly report it .
These are the same people who sermonize on air and on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalism and political integrity , and who denigrate so-called conservative networks as hopelessly biased .
You ’ ve seen how CNN and other liberal outlets have insulated Biden from any serious questions before and after the election .
Throughout the campaign , in what I believe is one of the greatest journalistic scandals of our time , the media persistently shielded Biden from press scrutiny and ignored his obvious cognitive decline .
At a rare post-election Biden press conference , they asked him no policy questions , only softballs concerning Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s transition .
In the same vein , during an unscheduled appearance a few days ago , the press asked Biden only one question : “ Mr .
President-elect , how does your foot feel ?
” This is in stark contrast to how the press has harassed and bullied Trump , and how Zucker directed his minions to treat Trump while Trump was recovering from the coronavirus .
On one of the recorded calls , Zucker appears to say : “ OK , I just want to re-emphasize that , you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what has happened here in the last week with Trump and his behavior .
And I go back to what … David Chalian ” — CNN vice president and political director — “ said , that this is a president who knows he ’ s losing it , who knows he ’ s in trouble , is sick , maybe is on the after-effects of steroids or not .
I don ’ t know , but he is acting erratically and desperately , and we need to — we need to not normalize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the place and acting erratically .
And I think we need to lean into that.
” So Zucker basically told his people , without any medical proof , that Trump is possibly compromised in a way that could affect his judgment and that they should go out of their way to showcase that and depict Trump as unstable .
This wasn ’ t news or journalism but an outright , baseless smear to impact the upcoming election .
In another call , Zucker opines that , while Breitbart , the New York Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden corruption story , he put more stock in the Wall Street Journal ’ s take that Joe Biden had no role in any of Hunter Biden ’ s transactions with China .
“ And , yes , ” Zucker apparently says , “ I do put more credibility in the Wall Street Journal than I do in the New York Post.
” Here again , we hear Zucker pressuring his team ( it ’ s doubtful the team needed any prodding ) to report only one side of the story — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ omit the serious factual reporting that would substantiate the allegations .
An honest network would have presented both sides and let its viewers make their own assessment .
But for CNN , it was imperative not to give the Biden corruption story any credence .
This type of news spinning has an impact .
A post-election study by the Media Research Center showed that some 17 % of Biden voters said they wouldn ’ t have voted for him had they known about some of these news stories .
Forty-five percent of Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about allegations concerning Hunter Biden ’ s shady business deals , and 9.4 % said they wouldn ’ t have voted for him had they known .
Liberal politicians and media figures constantly rail against threats to “ our democracy , ” but there is no greater threat to democracy than a corrupt news media , because it emasculates free speech , which is the single greatest constitutional safeguard for the integrity of our representative republic .
David Limbaugh is a writer , author and attorney .
His latest book is Guilty by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Must Not Win .
Follow him on Twitter @ davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com .

Project Veritas’ exposé of CNN’s behind-the-scenes conference calls shows that the network’s slogan should be “We won’t fully report so you can’t knowledgeably decide.”
James O’Keefe of Project Veritas, in the ultimate trolling coup of the year, monitored and recorded CNN’s morning conference call with CNN President Jeff Zucker and other company executives and reporters for some two months. O’Keefe has released the first batch of audiotapes from those calls, which confirm the network’s anti-Donald Trump, pro-Joe Biden bias.
Exposing CNN’s liberal bias is no bombshell, as it is self-evident to any objective viewer, but it is deliciously affirming to hear these legacy media frauds betray their corruption in their own words. There’s no explaining away their admissions of news doctoring in these tapes.
CNN’s Editorial Slant
The recordings prove that the executives not only dictate the network’s editorial slant but also manipulate its news side in deciding what stories will be reported and how they will be presented — to ensure that Trump is portrayed in a negative light and Biden is protected at all costs.
It would be less objectionable if the network would admit that it has a liberal bias, but it does the opposite: The anchors and reporters hold themselves out as consummate journalists, exemplary professionals committed to giving their viewers information without a partisan filter. Through these tapes, they’ve vindicated our long-standing charge that their mission is to tailor the news to fit their liberal narrative, rather than to fairly report it. These are the same people who sermonize on air and on Twitter daily about the importance of honest journalism and political integrity, and who denigrate so-called conservative networks as hopelessly biased.
Insulating Biden During the Election
You’ve seen how CNN and other liberal outlets have insulated Biden from any serious questions before and after the election. Throughout the campaign, in what I believe is one of the greatest journalistic scandals of our time, the media persistently shielded Biden from press scrutiny and ignored his obvious cognitive decline. At a rare post-election Biden press conference, they asked him no policy questions, only softballs concerning Trump’s “continued stonewalling” of Biden’s transition. In the same vein, during an unscheduled appearance a few days ago, the press asked Biden only one question: “Mr. President-elect, how does your foot feel?”
How They Treated Trump
This is in stark contrast to how the press has harassed and bullied Trump, and how Zucker directed his minions to treat Trump while Trump was recovering from the coronavirus. On one of the recorded calls, Zucker appears to say: “OK, I just want to re-emphasize that, you know, I think we cannot normalize what has happened here in the last week with Trump and his behavior. And I go back to what … David Chalian” — CNN vice president and political director — “said, that this is a president who knows he’s losing it, who knows he’s in trouble, is sick, maybe is on the after-effects of steroids or not. I don’t know, but he is acting erratically and desperately, and we need to — we need to not normalize that. … He is all over the place and acting erratically. And I think we need to lean into that.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
So Zucker basically told his people, without any medical proof, that Trump is possibly compromised in a way that could affect his judgment and that they should go out of their way to showcase that and depict Trump as unstable. This wasn’t news or journalism but an outright, baseless smear to impact the upcoming election.
The Biden Corruption Story
In another call, Zucker opines that, while Breitbart, the New York Post and Fox News were pursuing the Hunter Biden corruption story, he put more stock in the Wall Street Journal’s take that Joe Biden had no role in any of Hunter Biden’s transactions with China. “And, yes,” Zucker apparently says, “I do put more credibility in the Wall Street Journal than I do in the New York Post.”
Here again, we hear Zucker pressuring his team (it’s doubtful the team needed any prodding) to report only one side of the story — the side debunking the corruption claims — and omit the serious factual reporting that would substantiate the allegations. An honest network would have presented both sides and let its viewers make their own assessment. But for CNN, it was imperative not to give the Biden corruption story any credence.
News Spinning
This type of news spinning has an impact. A post-election study by the Media Research Center showed that some 17% of Biden voters said they wouldn’t have voted for him had they known about some of these news stories. Forty-five percent of Biden voters said they didn’t know about allegations concerning Hunter Biden’s shady business deals, and 9.4% said they wouldn’t have voted for him had they known.
Liberal politicians and media figures constantly rail against threats to “our democracy,” but there is no greater threat to democracy than a corrupt news media, because it emasculates free speech, which is the single greatest constitutional safeguard for the integrity of our representative republic.
David Limbaugh is a writer, author and attorney. His latest book is Guilty by Reason of Insanity: Why the Democrats Must Not Win. Follow him on Twitter @davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


thestream--2020-12-04--Sasse Demands Investigation Into Pornhub Following Report That Pornhub ‘Is Infested With Rape Videos

Sasse Demands Investigation Into Pornhub Following Report That Pornhub ‘Is Infested With Rape Videos’

Editor ’ s note : This article discusses disturbing pornographic content and sexual crimes on Pornhub .
Pornhub is “ infested with rape videos ” and profits off this exploitative content , a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist said in a Friday New York Times op-ed .
The massively popular pornography website has been listed the 10th-most-visited website in the world , with 3.5 billion visits a month , and profits from almost three billion ad impressions every day , opinion columnist Nicholas Kristof said .
“ It monetizes child rapes , revenge pornography , spy cam videos of women showering , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of women being asphyxiated in plastic bags , ” Kristof wrote .
“ A search for ‘ girls under18 ’ ( no space ) or ‘ 14yo ’ leads in each case to more than 100,000 videos .
Most aren ’ t of children being assaulted , but too many are.
” Kristof ’ s work echoes the accusations of many anti-pornography and anti-sexual exploitation activists : that Pornhub profits from exploitative material and does little to remove violent sexual crimes , sometimes against minors , from its website .
“ The Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the scumbags who run Mindgeek , ” Republican Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse told the Daily Caller News Foundation Friday .
“ Sexual exploitation and human trafficking are abhorrent , period .
A decent society should be working to end this.
” “ It is completely unacceptable that Pornhub and its parent company Mindgeek make money from rape , sexual abuse , and the exploitation of minors , ” the senator , who also called on the DOJ to investigate Pornhub in March , added .
“ They need to be investigated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building cases against creeps.
” Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley also called for consequences for the pornography giant in a Friday morning tweet , calling Kristof ’ s story “ tremendous reporting ” on “ the exploitation that occurs on sites like Pornhub.
” “ It ’ s time for it to end , ” Hawley tweeted .
“ I will introduce legislation to create a federal right to sue for every person coerced or trafficked or exploited by sites like Pornhub.
” Activist Laila Mickelwait has accused Pornhub repeatedly of failing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the videos .
Her Change.org petition , which calls for the government to “ Shut Down Pornhub and Hold Its Executives Accountable for Aiding Trafficking , ” has gained over 1.2 million signatures since it was published in February .
“ My research took me to discover what anybody could discover if they go on Pornhub , ” Mickelwait told the DCNF in March .
“ And that is the fact that Pornub does not require verification of the age or consent of millions of people who are uploading hardcore pornographic content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied these accusations and said it is committed to combating child sexual abuse material .
In a statement to Kristof , the pornography website said it “ has instituted a comprehensive , industry-leading trust and safety policy to identify and eradicate illegal material from our community ” and emphasized that any suggestion that Pornhub allows child videos on its website is “ irresponsible and flagrantly untrue.
” Pornhub gave a similar statement to the DCNF in March on its “ state-of-the-art , comprehensive safeguards ” that “ combat and remove all unauthorized content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ This includes a robust system for flagging , reviewing and removing all illegal material , age-verification tools , and employing an extensive team of human moderators dedicated to manually reviewing all uploads to the site , ” Pornhub said in the March statement .
Neither Pornhub nor its parent company Mindgeek responded to multiple requests for comment from the DCNF .
Kristof lists a number of incidents wherein young girls were allegedly exploited by Pornhub : in one example , a mother found her missing 15-year-old daughter in 58 sex videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos of sexual assaults on a 14-year-old California girl were posted on Pornhub and were not removed by the website until a classmate reported them to authorities , Kristof reported .
Pornhub “ escaped responsibility for sharing the videos and profiting from them ” in both these cases though the offenders were arrested for the assaults , according to Kristof .
The columnist also shared a story about a young woman named Cali who was reportedly adopted from China and trafficked by her adopted family .
From the age of 9 , Kristof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced her to appear in pornographic videos , some of which ended up on Pornhub .
“ Pornhub became my trafficker , ” 23-year-old Cali said , according to Kristof .
“ I ’ m still getting sold , even though I ’ m five years out of that life.
” “ I may never be able to get away from this , ” she said .
“ I may be 40 with eight kids , and people are still masturbating to my photos .
You type ‘ Young Asian ’ and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is like YouTube in that it allows members of the public to post their own videos , ” Kristof wrote .
“ A great majority of the 6.8 million new videos posted on the site each year probably involve consenting adults , but many depict child abuse and nonconsensual violence .
Because it ’ s impossible to be sure whether a youth in a video is 14 or 18 , neither Pornhub nor anyone else has a clear idea of how much content is illegal.
” Content created by The Daily Caller News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Editor’s note: This article discusses disturbing pornographic content and sexual crimes on Pornhub.
Pornhub is “infested with rape videos” and profits off this exploitative content, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist said in a Friday New York Times op-ed.
The massively popular pornography website has been listed the 10th-most-visited website in the world, with 3.5 billion visits a month, and profits from almost three billion ad impressions every day, opinion columnist Nicholas Kristof said.
“It monetizes child rapes, revenge pornography, spy cam videos of women showering, racist and misogynist content, and footage of women being asphyxiated in plastic bags,” Kristof wrote. “A search for ‘girls under18’ (no space) or ‘14yo’ leads in each case to more than 100,000 videos. Most aren’t of children being assaulted, but too many are.”
Kristof’s work echoes the accusations of many anti-pornography and anti-sexual exploitation activists: that Pornhub profits from exploitative material and does little to remove violent sexual crimes, sometimes against minors, from its website.
“The Department of Justice needs to open an investigation into the scumbags who run Mindgeek,” Republican Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse told the Daily Caller News Foundation Friday. “Sexual exploitation and human trafficking are abhorrent, period. A decent society should be working to end this.”
“It is completely unacceptable that Pornhub and its parent company Mindgeek make money from rape, sexual abuse, and the exploitation of minors,” the senator, who also called on the DOJ to investigate Pornhub in March, added. “They need to be investigated, and the DOJ needs more urgency about building cases against creeps.”
Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley also called for consequences for the pornography giant in a Friday morning tweet, calling Kristof’s story “tremendous reporting” on “the exploitation that occurs on sites like Pornhub.”
“It’s time for it to end,” Hawley tweeted. “I will introduce legislation to create a federal right to sue for every person coerced or trafficked or exploited by sites like Pornhub.”
Tremendous reporting by @NickKristof on the exploitation that occurs on sites like Pornhub. It’s time for it to end. I will introduce legislation to create a federal right to sue for every person coerced or trafficked or exploited by sites like Pornhub https://t.co/tOynnIILOx — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 4, 2020
Activist Laila Mickelwait has accused Pornhub repeatedly of failing to verify the age and consent of those in the videos. Her Change.org petition, which calls for the government to “Shut Down Pornhub and Hold Its Executives Accountable for Aiding Trafficking,” has gained over 1.2 million signatures since it was published in February.
“My research took me to discover what anybody could discover if they go on Pornhub,” Mickelwait told the DCNF in March. “And that is the fact that Pornub does not require verification of the age or consent of millions of people who are uploading hardcore pornographic content to their website.”
Pornhub has repeatedly denied these accusations and said it is committed to combating child sexual abuse material.
In a statement to Kristof, the pornography website said it “has instituted a comprehensive, industry-leading trust and safety policy to identify and eradicate illegal material from our community” and emphasized that any suggestion that Pornhub allows child videos on its website is “irresponsible and flagrantly untrue.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Pornhub gave a similar statement to the DCNF in March on its “state-of-the-art, comprehensive safeguards” that “combat and remove all unauthorized content that breaches the platform’s policies.”
“This includes a robust system for flagging, reviewing and removing all illegal material, age-verification tools, and employing an extensive team of human moderators dedicated to manually reviewing all uploads to the site,” Pornhub said in the March statement.
Neither Pornhub nor its parent company Mindgeek responded to multiple requests for comment from the DCNF.
Kristof lists a number of incidents wherein young girls were allegedly exploited by Pornhub: in one example, a mother found her missing 15-year-old daughter in 58 sex videos on Pornhub. In another example, videos of sexual assaults on a 14-year-old California girl were posted on Pornhub and were not removed by the website until a classmate reported them to authorities, Kristof reported.
Pornhub “escaped responsibility for sharing the videos and profiting from them” in both these cases though the offenders were arrested for the assaults, according to Kristof.
The columnist also shared a story about a young woman named Cali who was reportedly adopted from China and trafficked by her adopted family. From the age of 9, Kristof wrote, Cali’s adopted family forced her to appear in pornographic videos, some of which ended up on Pornhub.
“Pornhub became my trafficker,” 23-year-old Cali said, according to Kristof. “I’m still getting sold, even though I’m five years out of that life.”
“I may never be able to get away from this,” she said. “I may be 40 with eight kids, and people are still masturbating to my photos. You type ‘Young Asian’ and you can probably find me.”
“Pornhub is like YouTube in that it allows members of the public to post their own videos,” Kristof wrote. “A great majority of the 6.8 million new videos posted on the site each year probably involve consenting adults, but many depict child abuse and nonconsensual violence. Because it’s impossible to be sure whether a youth in a video is 14 or 18, neither Pornhub nor anyone else has a clear idea of how much content is illegal.”
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--2020-12-04--Religious Freedom Index Underscores Importance of Faith in American Life

Americans cherish religious freedom .
And the COVID-19 crisis has reminded people of faith , especially how much they value this critical First Amendment right .
For me , a Christian , the past eight months of lockdowns have underscored the importance of in-person worship or , rather , the importance of fellowship in nurturing one ’ s spiritual life .
As David Mathis , a pastor and executive editor of Desiring God , says , “ Worshipping Jesus together may be the single most important thing we do .
It plays an indispensable role in rekindling our spiritual fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brings together God ’ s word , prayer , and fellowship , and so makes for the greatest of God ’ s ongoing grace in the Christian life.
” Pastor Mathis and I aren ’ t the only ones who feel this way about religious freedom .
According to the findings of the Becket Fund ’ s second annual Religious Freedom Index , Americans in general believe religious faith is an inherent , key part of public life and that faith or religion is an important factor for navigating the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , agree religion isn ’ t simply a weekend diversion recreational but a necessary , fundamental part of a person ’ s identity that should be protected .
Indeed , a majority of Americans believe safely reopening places of worship should be treated with the same urgency as safely reopening businesses .
Americans have rightly been frustrated with leaders who , during parts of the pandemic , haven ’ t given the same deference to places of worship they give to businesses .
Catholic political commentator Timothy P. Carney perhaps captured it best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfair way churches and places of worship were treated compared to retail stores .
“ This past weekend , amid the broad coronavirus shutdown , you could buy your Mad Dog 20/20 at your liquor store .
You could pick up your shiplap and wood stain at Home Depot .
Dozens of people could congregate under one roof , as long as it was a Big Box store , ” he said .
“ But you couldn ’ t go to church for Easter service.
” When churches across the country were finally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ robust social-distancing and sanitizing measures in place , Americans were overjoyed to worship together again in person instead of via YouTube , Zoom , or Facebook Live .
Not the Same Feeling Over Zoom After Republican Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott at the end of April issued guidelines for Lone Star State churches to begin reopening , Pastor Randy Phillips prepared to return to the pulpit .
This time , however , his congregation listened to his sermon from the church ’ s 1,500-seat outdoor amphitheater , where attendance was limited to 350 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me , ” Phillips told his congregation .
“ I will never take it for granted again — the beautiful fellowship we have together as believers , ” he said .
Congregant Molly Lintz shared similar feelings .
“ It ’ s nice to be back with the community , ” she said .
“ You just don ’ t get the same feeling over Zoom.
” An overwhelming majority of Americans , moreover , believe religion is an important , stabilizing influence on society during times of social upheaval .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close , unrest is amplified as young adults have fewer outlets through which to productively channel their energy .
Americans made it loud and clear that religion isn ’ t a tertiary sphere of life where they occasionally dip their feet .
No , religion is a central part of American life , and voters will support candidates who defend Americans ’ First Amendment right to religious freedom .
Christians , specifically , know that “ where two or three are gathered , ” as the book of Matthew says , God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a comforting truth to rest in during lockdown when one is isolated from the church family .
But , the importance and gift of in-person fellowship , and worship , for people of faith remains critically important .
Americans need and deserve leaders who will be as quick to defend believers ’ right to worship publicly as they are to defend the right of business owners to operate and make payroll .
Leaders would do well to take notice of this now and in future elections .
Ken Blackwell was mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state for Ohio , and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission .
He is a Senior Fellow at the Family Research Council , in Washington , D.C .

Americans cherish religious freedom. And the COVID-19 crisis has reminded people of faith, especially how much they value this critical First Amendment right. For me, a Christian, the past eight months of lockdowns have underscored the importance of in-person worship or, rather, the importance of fellowship in nurturing one’s spiritual life.
As David Mathis, a pastor and executive editor of Desiring God, says, “Worshipping Jesus together may be the single most important thing we do. It plays an indispensable role in rekindling our spiritual fire and keeping it burning. Corporate worship brings together God’s word, prayer, and fellowship, and so makes for the greatest of God’s ongoing grace in the Christian life.”
Faith is a Fundamental Part of Life
Pastor Mathis and I aren’t the only ones who feel this way about religious freedom. According to the findings of the Becket Fund’s second annual Religious Freedom Index, Americans in general believe religious faith is an inherent, key part of public life and that faith or religion is an important factor for navigating the coronavirus pandemic.
Sixty percent of Americans, for example, agree religion isn’t simply a weekend diversion recreational but a necessary, fundamental part of a person’s identity that should be protected. Indeed, a majority of Americans believe safely reopening places of worship should be treated with the same urgency as safely reopening businesses.
Churches Treated Unfairly
Americans have rightly been frustrated with leaders who, during parts of the pandemic, haven’t given the same deference to places of worship they give to businesses. Catholic political commentator Timothy P. Carney perhaps captured it best when in April he pointed out the unfair way churches and places of worship were treated compared to retail stores.
“This past weekend, amid the broad coronavirus shutdown, you could buy your Mad Dog 20/20 at your liquor store. You could pick up your shiplap and wood stain at Home Depot. Dozens of people could congregate under one roof, as long as it was a Big Box store,” he said. “But you couldn’t go to church for Easter service.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
When churches across the country were finally allowed to reopen at partial capacity with robust social-distancing and sanitizing measures in place, Americans were overjoyed to worship together again in person instead of via YouTube, Zoom, or Facebook Live.
Not the Same Feeling Over Zoom
After Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at the end of April issued guidelines for Lone Star State churches to begin reopening, Pastor Randy Phillips prepared to return to the pulpit. This time, however, his congregation listened to his sermon from the church’s 1,500-seat outdoor amphitheater, where attendance was limited to 350 people.
“You mean so much to me,” Phillips told his congregation. “I will never take it for granted again — the beautiful fellowship we have together as believers,” he said. Congregant Molly Lintz shared similar feelings. “It’s nice to be back with the community,” she said. “You just don’t get the same feeling over Zoom.”
A Stabilizing Influence
An overwhelming majority of Americans, moreover, believe religion is an important, stabilizing influence on society during times of social upheaval. When churches and after-school religious programming is forced to close, unrest is amplified as young adults have fewer outlets through which to productively channel their energy.
Americans made it loud and clear that religion isn’t a tertiary sphere of life where they occasionally dip their feet. No, religion is a central part of American life, and voters will support candidates who defend Americans’ First Amendment right to religious freedom.
Christians, specifically, know that “where two or three are gathered,” as the book of Matthew says, God is in the midst of them. This is a comforting truth to rest in during lockdown when one is isolated from the church family. But, the importance and gift of in-person fellowship, and worship, for people of faith remains critically important.
Americans need and deserve leaders who will be as quick to defend believers’ right to worship publicly as they are to defend the right of business owners to operate and make payroll. Leaders would do well to take notice of this now and in future elections.
Ken Blackwell was mayor of Cincinnati, treasurer, and secretary of state for Ohio, and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. He is a Senior Fellow at the Family Research Council, in Washington, D.C.


thestream--2020-12-04--My Official Position on Election Fraud

My Official Position on Election Fraud

I am not writing this article because my opinion here carries special weight .
And I am certainly not writing because I have expertise in the matter .
Instead , I am writing this article simply because I am constantly asked where I stand on the contested presidential election .
One group asks me regularly , “ Why haven ’ t you taken a more public and aggressive stand denouncing the fraud ?
” Another group asks , “ Why are you giving any credence to conspiracy theories and myths ?
” Allow me to explain my agnostic stand to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem considering the possibility that the election was stolen from Trump .
That seems thoroughly plausible to me .
There are enough people who loathe Donald Trump and who believe he is destroying America that they could have sufficient motivation to bring him down .
Plus , many on the left have never accepted the legitimacy of his presidency , and there is ample evidence of resistance to him right within our own government .
The idea of electoral fraud is hardly outside the realm of possibility , and we do know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened before .
Second , there are a lot of things that simply do not add up , either logically or statistically .
And there is more than enough room for suspicion , be it in the large number of mail-in ballots due to COVID or the sudden stops in vote counting in key swing states , only to resume hours later with dramatic voter shifts .
That ’ s why , with typical bombast , Dr. Sebastian Gorka could write , “ The evidence is overwhelming .
… Biden and the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election , and more than 30 % of Democrats themselves believe the election was rigged .
And everyone knows it .
“ How ?
Because we have brains .
Because Americans are defined by common sense.
” Others at The Stream Have Made the Case Here on The Stream , several of my colleagues have laid out the arguments for voter fraud , and quite a few of the articles have gone viral .
For some of Al Perrotta ’ s masterful contributions , laying out the illogical nature of the Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here and here and here .
( For a relevant website , see here . )
For John Zmirak ’ s forceful defense of Sydney Powell , see here .
From a statistical perspective , there are important articles by contributors like William Briggs ( who holds a Ph.D. in Statistics and who devoted an article to the situation in Pennsylvania ) and Michael Del Rosso ( who heads up a think tank dedicated to understanding the strategic threats to the United States , see here ; for his broader argument , see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s relevant articles , always thoughtful and clearheaded , see here .
Many articles on other websites have raised serious and thoughtful concerns ; see here and here for just two examples .
There is also what appears to be strong evidence of acts of fraud being caught on camera , as presented on Thursday by Trump ’ s legal team in Georgia .
Then there are the sworn affidavits attesting to fraud , allegedly numbering in the multiplied hundreds ( or thousands ) .
Why , then , haven ’ t I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud ?
It is simply due to my background and my burden .
When it comes to my background , I am a debater and an apologist , and by nature and training , I do my best to reserve final judgment until I have heard both sides of an argument .
Proverbs 18:17 is always in my head : “ The first to plead his case seems right until the other party examines him.
” With reference to the elections , there are articles that tackle the main charges of fraud and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factual data .
( See here for one example . )
Which side is right ?
And is there another , plausible explanation for what appears to be damning video evidence ?
One document , signed more than two weeks ago by 59 mathematicians , statisticians , computer scientists , and others , all of whom claim to be experts in election security , states that there is no credible evidence of computer fraud .
Are all of them ignorant or biased or misled ?
Given the fact that my Ph.D. is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a field relevant to detecting electoral fraud , I can not speak with any authority in the matter .
In addition , the reason for all my years of language study was so that I could analyze texts in their original languages ( in other words , read the primary sources ) and not have to rely on what others said ( in other words , the secondary sources ) .
In the case of the elections , I have no access to the primary data .
And the fact that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most part thus far , fared poorly in the courts raises another set of questions which I am unable to analyze in depth .
When it comes to my burden , those who have read my columns over the years know that I tend to write on a limited number of subjects .
That ’ s because I feel burdened , even called , to do so , and it is to those subjects I can give my attention .
When it comes to the subject at hand , because I can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because my colleagues here have done such an excellent job of presenting the evidence , I have not felt led to make this a major focus of my writing ( or radio shows ) .
What I have done , though , is urged my constituents to pray fervently for a righteous outcome , asking God to expose all corruption and dishonesty , wherever it may .
James Robison , founder of The Stream and a man whom I respect as much as anyone on the planet , has said that , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom hangs in the balance .
This is about much more than an election .
If the American people can not trust our national institutions — from the executive branch to the legislative and judicial — we have scrapped far more than the Constitution .
We have cast aside the greatness of our founders ’ desires , courage , sacrifice , and unquestionable wisdom , leading to the fruition of the greatest nation in the history of the world.
” The stakes are high , indeed .
Very , very high .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not weighed in more specifically , since I didn ’ t feel I had much of substance to add .
On matters this grave , why should anyone care about my non-expert opinion ?
What I have been saying , and what I continue to say , is this : 1 ) We can be assured that God will hear the cries of His people .
Never in my lifetime have I seen this level of prayer for an election , both before and after .
2 ) If massive fraud really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hidden for long .
3 ) We should look at the bigger picture involved , knowing that God is the ultimate 4-D ( really , more like 4 Trillion-D ) chess player .
See here and here and here and here for some words of confidence , hope , and courage .
The bottom line is that if we will be faithful to our role as God ’ s people , walking in faith , praying with fervor , refusing to capitulate to culture , swimming against the tide , preaching the gospel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works — and more — His kingdom will advance powerfully here on earth , regardless of who is in the White House .
That is something I can say with certainty , and it is on such subjects that I can be of real help .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

I am not writing this article because my opinion here carries special weight. And I am certainly not writing because I have expertise in the matter. Instead, I am writing this article simply because I am constantly asked where I stand on the contested presidential election.
One group asks me regularly, “Why haven’t you taken a more public and aggressive stand denouncing the fraud?” Another group asks, “Why are you giving any credence to conspiracy theories and myths?”
Allow me to explain my agnostic stand to date.
Yes, Things Don’t Add Up
First, I have no problem considering the possibility that the election was stolen from Trump. That seems thoroughly plausible to me.
There are enough people who loathe Donald Trump and who believe he is destroying America that they could have sufficient motivation to bring him down.
Plus, many on the left have never accepted the legitimacy of his presidency, and there is ample evidence of resistance to him right within our own government. The idea of electoral fraud is hardly outside the realm of possibility, and we do know that, on some level, it has happened before.
Second, there are a lot of things that simply do not add up, either logically or statistically. And there is more than enough room for suspicion, be it in the large number of mail-in ballots due to COVID or the sudden stops in vote counting in key swing states, only to resume hours later with dramatic voter shifts.
That’s why, with typical bombast, Dr. Sebastian Gorka could write, “The evidence is overwhelming. … Biden and the Democratic National Committee are clearly attempting to steal the election, and more than 30% of Democrats themselves believe the election was rigged. And everyone knows it.
“How? Because we have brains. Because Americans are defined by common sense.”
Others at The Stream Have Made the Case
Here on The Stream, several of my colleagues have laid out the arguments for voter fraud, and quite a few of the articles have gone viral.
For some of Al Perrotta’s masterful contributions, laying out the illogical nature of the Biden victory, see here and here and here and here and here. (For a relevant website, see here.)
For John Zmirak’s forceful defense of Sydney Powell, see here.
From a statistical perspective, there are important articles by contributors like William Briggs (who holds a Ph.D. in Statistics and who devoted an article to the situation in Pennsylvania) and Michael Del Rosso (who heads up a think tank dedicated to understanding the strategic threats to the United States, see here; for his broader argument, see here). For Tom Gilson’s relevant articles, always thoughtful and clearheaded, see here.
Many articles on other websites have raised serious and thoughtful concerns; see here and here for just two examples.
There is also what appears to be strong evidence of acts of fraud being caught on camera, as presented on Thursday by Trump’s legal team in Georgia.
Then there are the sworn affidavits attesting to fraud, allegedly numbering in the multiplied hundreds (or thousands).
My Background and Burden
Why, then, haven’t I helped lead the charge to expose voter fraud?
It is simply due to my background and my burden.
When it comes to my background, I am a debater and an apologist, and by nature and training, I do my best to reserve final judgment until I have heard both sides of an argument. Proverbs 18:17 is always in my head: “The first to plead his case seems right until the other party examines him.”
With reference to the elections, there are articles that tackle the main charges of fraud and seek to answer them with logic and factual data. (See here for one example.) Which side is right? And is there another, plausible explanation for what appears to be damning video evidence?
One document, signed more than two weeks ago by 59 mathematicians, statisticians, computer scientists, and others, all of whom claim to be experts in election security, states that there is no credible evidence of computer fraud. Are all of them ignorant or biased or misled?
Given the fact that my Ph.D. is in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures rather than in a field relevant to detecting electoral fraud, I cannot speak with any authority in the matter. In addition, the reason for all my years of language study was so that I could analyze texts in their original languages (in other words, read the primary sources) and not have to rely on what others said (in other words, the secondary sources).
In the case of the elections, I have no access to the primary data. And the fact that the Trump legal team has, for the most part thus far, fared poorly in the courts raises another set of questions which I am unable to analyze in depth.
Pray Fervently for a Righteous Outcome
When it comes to my burden, those who have read my columns over the years know that I tend to write on a limited number of subjects. That’s because I feel burdened, even called, to do so, and it is to those subjects I can give my attention.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
When it comes to the subject at hand, because I cannot analyze the data to my satisfaction and because my colleagues here have done such an excellent job of presenting the evidence, I have not felt led to make this a major focus of my writing (or radio shows). What I have done, though, is urged my constituents to pray fervently for a righteous outcome, asking God to expose all corruption and dishonesty, wherever it may.
James Robison, founder of The Stream and a man whom I respect as much as anyone on the planet, has said that, “The future of our nation’s freedom hangs in the balance. This is about much more than an election. If the American people cannot trust our national institutions — from the executive branch to the legislative and judicial — we have scrapped far more than the Constitution. We have cast aside the greatness of our founders’ desires, courage, sacrifice, and unquestionable wisdom, leading to the fruition of the greatest nation in the history of the world.”
The stakes are high, indeed. Very, very high.
But it is for those very reasons I have not weighed in more specifically, since I didn’t feel I had much of substance to add. On matters this grave, why should anyone care about my non-expert opinion?
What I have been saying, and what I continue to say, is this:
1) We can be assured that God will hear the cries of His people. Never in my lifetime have I seen this level of prayer for an election, both before and after.
2) If massive fraud really was committed, it cannot be hidden for long.
3) We should look at the bigger picture involved, knowing that God is the ultimate 4-D (really, more like 4 Trillion-D) chess player. See here and here and here and here for some words of confidence, hope, and courage.
The bottom line is that if we will be faithful to our role as God’s people, walking in faith, praying with fervor, refusing to capitulate to culture, swimming against the tide, preaching the gospel, living godly lives, doing good works — and more — His kingdom will advance powerfully here on earth, regardless of who is in the White House.
That is something I can say with certainty, and it is on such subjects that I can be of real help.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-12-04--Does ‘Transgenderism’ Even Mean Anything? Or Is It Just Incoherent Madness?

Actress Ellen Page has made a momentous decision .
She now identifies as male , and calls herself “ Elliot.
” And wants us to use male pronouns for her .
( In some countries , her wish is in fact a matter of law — as it soon might be in America . )
Just by showing up , the chronically dysthymic Ms./Mr./Mx .
Page has managed to make the whole transgender tragedy even more depressing than it was .
Thanks , ma ’ am/man !
I generally think it ’ s polite to call people what they prefer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rhubarb ” or “ Throatwobblermangrove.
” But I have some questions first .
A lot of questions , actually .
For instance , what should we say to people like Becket Cook here ?
The Stream ’ s own Joseph Sciambra explored this question at length : Why should “ science ” and the law consider sexual temptations as fixed and unchangeable , but one ’ s gender absolutely fluid ?
I have more questions , however .
Is Ellen saying she has ceased to be a “ woman ” ?
And become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d like to know how this works .
In fact , I insist on knowing precisely what our new Woke religion ’ s dogma concerning “ gender ” teaches .
If you ’ re going to have an inquisition punishing folks for heresy , it only seems like common courtesy to explain what orthodoxy is .
But that implies that the Woke position is in fact coherent , that the words used in explaining it have any meaning at all .
Which I ’ m not so sure about .
In Woke circles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to refer to someone ’ s biological makeup , physical structure , or capacity to become pregnant .
All that grossly mammalian business is somehow icky , beneath us .
Why should we as spirits with infinite potential ( or something ) be defined by our toilet functions , or the oozing , smelly business of mere reproduction ?
Gnosticism , the ancient heresy that treated bodily existence as of the devil , and offered salvation by secret knowledge to a certain “ awakened ” ( i.e.
, Woke ) elite , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s true that on Mondays , Wednesdays and Fridays , these same people insist that we are merely trousered apes , the fruit of cosmic happenstance and the ruthless struggle of animals to survive and reproduce .
But on Tuesdays , Thursdays , Saturdays and Sundays we are transcendent cosmic magical creatures free to choose among 47 genders .
Unlike every other animal on earth .
But remember , we ’ re nothing special , because God didn ’ t make us .
Have you got all that clear , kids ?
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so write it down .
Are Vulvas Still Manufactured in Sweden ?
That ’ s why we now see writers who internalized the memo using formulations like “ vulva owners ” and “ menstruating people.
” I for one would like to know if all Vulvas are still manufactured in Sweden , and if they still have the best heaters but the worst air conditioning .
But I don ’ t know who to ask .
Nobody seems to be in charge of this 47-ring circus .
We just get new rulings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ether , and all we ’ re supposed to say when they tell us to jump is “ How high , Xir ?
” Let me violate good Gnostic manners and ask a few vulgar questions .
Is Page going to have her perfectly healthy breasts removed ?
Will Page use some crude simulacrum of male genitalia to render her lesbian “ marriage ” now suddenly heterosexual ?
Will Page dose herself with male steroids , and undergo all the health risks ?
I hope none of the three , for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pipes But we know that none of these things are necessary for greedy , shameless biological males who wish to scoop up all the prizes in women ’ s sports .
Or lurk in their locker rooms .
Or leave a male prison where they ’ re locked up for raping women , and move to a prison full of women whom they can rape .
No , precisely because biology is irrelevant , you need do none of these things to be a “ trans.
” You just need to … declare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that choice .
But what are you choosing , exactly ?
If you ’ re not making dangerous , destructive efforts to mutilate your body , what are you doing ?
What are you identifying with , or as , and how ?
If the capacity for real motherhood or fatherhood is not part of “ gender ” then what is ?
Lipstick , high heels , and a high-pitched voice on the one hand — and lumberjack shirts , work boots , and unashamed farts on the other ?
By “ identifying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your genitals , are you simply indulging a stereotype ?
If so , must strangers honor that ?
Must we blow up women ’ s sports , strip women of privacy , and subject some to physical danger ( like the fellow prisoners of a suddenly “ female ” rapist , or girls on a rugby field mowed down by a 6 ’ 3 ” “ girl ” ) ?
Freedom is the Freedom to Say “ Bruce Jenner ” All so that a few mentally ill people can LARP ?
And we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with them and agree to pretend to believe them ?
At this point I insist on saying two things : “ No , ” and “ Hell , no !
” A society that can force us to say that Bruce Jenner is a woman and Ellen Page is a man can force us to say anything at all .
Including that 2+2=5 .
And I think that ’ s really the point .
Our elites are forcing us to repeat such blatant nonsense for only one reason : to flex their muscles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they can .
As most of us experience life , there are only two sexes , male and female .
If there ’ s a third , it ’ s one we silently think of as “ Ewwwww !
” People who through no fault of their own look very androgynous are unfortunate , and carry a cross .
They suffer one of the after-effects of the Fall of man , as do people born without eyes , or afflicted with mental illness .
We have no right to treat them cruelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ textbook madness to remake our words for the whole human species to cater to sad delusions .
I won ’ t do it , no Xir , and neither should you .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .
He is co-author with Jason Jones of “ God , Guns , & the Government .
”

Actress Ellen Page has made a momentous decision. She now identifies as male, and calls herself “Elliot.” And wants us to use male pronouns for her. (In some countries, her wish is in fact a matter of law — as it soon might be in America.) Just by showing up, the chronically dysthymic Ms./Mr./Mx. Page has managed to make the whole transgender tragedy even more depressing than it was. Thanks, ma’am/man!
I generally think it’s polite to call people what they prefer, even if it’s “Rhubarb” or “Throatwobblermangrove.” But I have some questions first. A lot of questions, actually.
For instance, what should we say to people like Becket Cook here?
So, Ellen Page can suddenly become “Elliot Page,” but my choice to no longer identify as gay because I follow Christ is anathema. 🤔 — Becket Cook (@becketcook) December 3, 2020
The Stream’s own Joseph Sciambra explored this question at length: Why should “science” and the law consider sexual temptations as fixed and unchangeable, but one’s gender absolutely fluid?
I have more questions, however. Is Ellen saying she has ceased to be a “woman”? And become a “man”? I’d like to know how this works. In fact, I insist on knowing precisely what our new Woke religion’s dogma concerning “gender” teaches. If you’re going to have an inquisition punishing folks for heresy, it only seems like common courtesy to explain what orthodoxy is. But that implies that the Woke position is in fact coherent, that the words used in explaining it have any meaning at all.
Which I’m not so sure about.
Icky Mammalian Plumbing
In Woke circles you must not use “woman” to refer to someone’s biological makeup, physical structure, or capacity to become pregnant. All that grossly mammalian business is somehow icky, beneath us. Why should we as spirits with infinite potential (or something) be defined by our toilet functions, or the oozing, smelly business of mere reproduction? Gnosticism, the ancient heresy that treated bodily existence as of the devil, and offered salvation by secret knowledge to a certain “awakened” (i.e., Woke) elite, has risen from its grave.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
It’s true that on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, these same people insist that we are merely trousered apes, the fruit of cosmic happenstance and the ruthless struggle of animals to survive and reproduce. But on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays we are transcendent cosmic magical creatures free to choose among 47 genders. Unlike every other animal on earth. But remember, we’re nothing special, because God didn’t make us. Have you got all that clear, kids? It will be on the state-wide AP test, so write it down.
Are Vulvas Still Manufactured in Sweden?
That’s why we now see writers who internalized the memo using formulations like “vulva owners” and “menstruating people.” I for one would like to know if all Vulvas are still manufactured in Sweden, and if they still have the best heaters but the worst air conditioning. But I don’t know who to ask. Nobody seems to be in charge of this 47-ring circus. We just get new rulings, new demands, popping out of the ether, and all we’re supposed to say when they tell us to jump is “How high, Xir?”
Let me violate good Gnostic manners and ask a few vulgar questions. Is Page going to have her perfectly healthy breasts removed? Will Page use some crude simulacrum of male genitalia to render her lesbian “marriage” now suddenly heterosexual? Will Page dose herself with male steroids, and undergo all the health risks? I hope none of the three, for her sake.
No Need to Reroute the Pipes
But we know that none of these things are necessary for greedy, shameless biological males who wish to scoop up all the prizes in women’s sports. Or lurk in their locker rooms. Or leave a male prison where they’re locked up for raping women, and move to a prison full of women whom they can rape.
No, precisely because biology is irrelevant, you need do none of these things to be a “trans.” You just need to … declare it, and everyone else must honor that choice. But what are you choosing, exactly? If you’re not making dangerous, destructive efforts to mutilate your body, what are you doing? What are you identifying with, or as, and how?
If the capacity for real motherhood or fatherhood is not part of “gender” then what is? Lipstick, high heels, and a high-pitched voice on the one hand — and lumberjack shirts, work boots, and unashamed farts on the other? By “identifying” as some gender at odds with your genitals, are you simply indulging a stereotype? If so, must strangers honor that? Must we blow up women’s sports, strip women of privacy, and subject some to physical danger (like the fellow prisoners of a suddenly “female” rapist, or girls on a rugby field mowed down by a 6’ 3” “girl”)?
Freedom is the Freedom to Say “Bruce Jenner”
All so that a few mentally ill people can LARP? And we as a society have to nod along with them and agree to pretend to believe them? At this point I insist on saying two things: “No,” and “Hell, no!” A society that can force us to say that Bruce Jenner is a woman and Ellen Page is a man can force us to say anything at all. Including that 2+2=5. And I think that’s really the point. Our elites are forcing us to repeat such blatant nonsense for only one reason: to flex their muscles, test their power, and prove that they can.
As most of us experience life, there are only two sexes, male and female. If there’s a third, it’s one we silently think of as “Ewwwww!” People who through no fault of their own look very androgynous are unfortunate, and carry a cross. They suffer one of the after-effects of the Fall of man, as do people born without eyes, or afflicted with mental illness. We have no right to treat them cruelly. But it’s literal, textbook madness to remake our words for the whole human species to cater to sad delusions.
I won’t do it, no Xir, and neither should you.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism. He is co-author with Jason Jones of “God, Guns, & the Government.”