thestream--2020-06-28--Be Prepared for the Sifting

Be Prepared for the Sifting

When grain was harvested by hand , the stalks of wheat would be cut at ground level and bundled .
The bundles were then taken to the threshing floor .
This was an open space where the wheat would be beaten with flails — wooden rods with a shorter wooden rod attached with leather thongs .
By beating the wheat , the threshing process broke the heads of grain from the stalks and broke the hardened shell around the grains of wheat .
What was left on the threshing floor was a mixture of grain and chaff .
The chaff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the hard shells surrounding the grains of wheat .
The chaff was trash .
The grain was gold because it would be ground into flour to make bread .
The next stage in the process was sifting the grain from the chaff .
This was done one of two ways : the first was by using a large rake called the winnowing fan to lift the mixture and throw it up in the air allowing the heavier grain to fall to the floor while the wind carried away the lighter , useless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was to put the grain and chaff in a large sieve like basket and shaking it so the smaller grain fell through to the floor and the chaff remained in the basket to be discarded .
The study of history reminds us that during times of social unrest the population is sifted .
It unleashes the violence and hatred that simmers within the human heart .
When the violence breaks out society goes through a kind of grain harvest .
People are cut off and taken to the threshing floor where they receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times of unrest violence rumbles through society , destroying property , threatening lives , raising stress levels and making people aware of hidden streams of injustice , resentment and fear .
It ’ s like we ’ re taking a beating .
After the threshing comes the sifting .
The chaff and the grain — the good corn and the useless chaff are thrown up in the air or sifted through the sieve .
The grain remains while the chaff is gathered up and thrown on the fire .
When the sifting happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The grain and the chaff are separated .
The confusion ends .
The truth and the lies are clearly seen for what they are .
The people of the truth ( the grain ) and the people of the lie ( the chaff ) are winnowed out .
For some decades now Americans have lived in a time of confusion in which the people of the lie and the people of the truth have mingled .
Confusion and muddled thinking have prevailed .
Christians have heard a gospel in which the values of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gospel .
Politicians have sent messages in which the light of truth , beauty and goodness have been mixed with the shadows of depravity , lawlessness and a twisted morality .
The messengers in the mass media have also broadcasted a message that was contradictory , confusing and inconsistent .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Educators from kindergarten to college have also purveyed propaganda that was a confusing mixture of truths , half-truths and outright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and activist organizations have sent out contradictory messages — mixing up truth and lies with pure motives and secret agendas .
But the sifting is coming , and the sifting will eventually come through persecution .
The lies and the people of the lie will soon be seen for what they really are , and ordinary citizens will have to make a choice .
Will they compromise , go the easy way and accommodate the lies and the evil or will they stand up for the truth no matter what the cost ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were in a similar state of confusion .
Many good people supported Hitler and Mussolini because their governments seemed to be a bulwark against the atheistic communist revolutionaries in Russia .
At first the fascists seemed to stand for everything good .
They got the economy rolling .
They wanted to weed out the soft , spineless decadence that had swept their countries .
They presented a friendly face to the church .
They were patriotic , supported strong families and stood for self-discipline , law and order and clean living .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were revealed for who they really were all along .
Good people had to stand up and be counted , but by then for many it was too late .
They had already compromised .
It was easier to go with the flow .
They had already become the chaff not the grain , and if chaff , then they were only fit to be gathered up and thrown on the fire .
The heroes of history and the heroes of faith are the men and women who discern evil , even when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heroes are the ones who survive the sifting , stand strong and remain courageous even unto death .
We hope and pray that the present civil unrest in America will die down , that lessons will be learned and proper steps taken to continue to bring equality , justice , peace and prosperity for all Americans .
However , if the forces of unrest continue to grow , be prepared for the sifting .
Out of the chaos a powerful leader may arise .
Politicians will crumble and rush to appease the ominous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand of the oppressor and claim that the mass movement is blessed by God .
Neighbors , friends and family members will jump on the bandwagon and mock and blame you for standing apart .
When the time comes will you stand strong ?
If you are already weak and inclined to give in to peer pressure and the power of propaganda , if you are the sort of person who will do anything to “ keep the peace ” then you may already be taking the path of cowardice and compromise .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be like the worthless chaff which the wind blows away , but if you stand strong you will be the grain .
You will be immortal gold .
Dwight Longenecker ’ s latest book Immortal Combat-Confronting the Heart of Darkness examines the origins of evil in the human heart and in society .

When grain was harvested by hand, the stalks of wheat would be cut at ground level and bundled. The bundles were then taken to the threshing floor.
This was an open space where the wheat would be beaten with flails — wooden rods with a shorter wooden rod attached with leather thongs. By beating the wheat, the threshing process broke the heads of grain from the stalks and broke the hardened shell around the grains of wheat. What was left on the threshing floor was a mixture of grain and chaff. The chaff was made up of the broken stalks and the hard shells surrounding the grains of wheat.
The chaff was trash. The grain was gold because it would be ground into flour to make bread.
The Sifting
The next stage in the process was sifting the grain from the chaff. This was done one of two ways: the first was by using a large rake called the winnowing fan to lift the mixture and throw it up in the air allowing the heavier grain to fall to the floor while the wind carried away the lighter, useless chaff. The second method of sifting was to put the grain and chaff in a large sieve like basket and shaking it so the smaller grain fell through to the floor and the chaff remained in the basket to be discarded.
The study of history reminds us that during times of social unrest the population is sifted. It unleashes the violence and hatred that simmers within the human heart. When the violence breaks out society goes through a kind of grain harvest.
When the sifting happens in any society things become clear. The grain and the chaff are separated. The truth and the lies are clearly seen for what they are.
People are cut off and taken to the threshing floor where they receive a thrashing not a threshing. In times of unrest violence rumbles through society, destroying property, threatening lives, raising stress levels and making people aware of hidden streams of injustice, resentment and fear. It’s like we’re taking a beating.
After the threshing comes the sifting. The chaff and the grain — the good corn and the useless chaff are thrown up in the air or sifted through the sieve. The grain remains while the chaff is gathered up and thrown on the fire.
Persecution and Freedom
When the sifting happens in any society things become clear. The grain and the chaff are separated. The confusion ends. The truth and the lies are clearly seen for what they are. The people of the truth (the grain) and the people of the lie (the chaff) are winnowed out.
For some decades now Americans have lived in a time of confusion in which the people of the lie and the people of the truth have mingled. Confusion and muddled thinking have prevailed. Christians have heard a gospel in which the values of the world have infected the purity of the gospel.
Politicians have sent messages in which the light of truth, beauty and goodness have been mixed with the shadows of depravity, lawlessness and a twisted morality. The messengers in the mass media have also broadcasted a message that was contradictory, confusing and inconsistent.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Educators from kindergarten to college have also purveyed propaganda that was a confusing mixture of truths, half-truths and outright lies. International governmental bodies, charities and activist organizations have sent out contradictory messages — mixing up truth and lies with pure motives and secret agendas.
But the sifting is coming, and the sifting will eventually come through persecution. The lies and the people of the lie will soon be seen for what they really are, and ordinary citizens will have to make a choice. Will they compromise, go the easy way and accommodate the lies and the evil or will they stand up for the truth no matter what the cost?
Lessons From History
In the nineteen twenties and thirties Europeans were in a similar state of confusion. Many good people supported Hitler and Mussolini because their governments seemed to be a bulwark against the atheistic communist revolutionaries in Russia. At first the fascists seemed to stand for everything good. They got the economy rolling. They wanted to weed out the soft, spineless decadence that had swept their countries. They presented a friendly face to the church. They were patriotic, supported strong families and stood for self-discipline, law and order and clean living.
The heroes of history and the heroes of faith are the men and women who discern evil, even when it wears a charming mask.
But eventually the sifting happened. The fascists were revealed for who they really were all along. Good people had to stand up and be counted, but by then for many it was too late. They had already compromised. It was easier to go with the flow. They had already become the chaff not the grain, and if chaff, then they were only fit to be gathered up and thrown on the fire.
The heroes of history and the heroes of faith are the men and women who discern evil, even when it wears a charming mask. The heroes are the ones who survive the sifting, stand strong and remain courageous even unto death.
We hope and pray that the present civil unrest in America will die down, that lessons will be learned and proper steps taken to continue to bring equality, justice, peace and prosperity for all Americans.
However, if the forces of unrest continue to grow, be prepared for the sifting. Out of the chaos a powerful leader may arise. Politicians will crumble and rush to appease the ominous power. Church leaders will kiss the hand of the oppressor and claim that the mass movement is blessed by God. Neighbors, friends and family members will jump on the bandwagon and mock and blame you for standing apart.
When the time comes will you stand strong? If you are already weak and inclined to give in to peer pressure and the power of propaganda, if you are the sort of person who will do anything to “keep the peace” then you may already be taking the path of cowardice and compromise.
Then when the sifting comes you may be like the worthless chaff which the wind blows away, but if you stand strong you will be the grain. You will be immortal gold.
Dwight Longenecker’s latest book Immortal Combat-Confronting the Heart of Darkness examines the origins of evil in the human heart and in society.


thestream--2020-06-28--What if the Man Were Drowning?

What if the Man Were Drowning?

I ’ ve had this experience a few times and you feel like a target , a prize to be won , an it .
The other guy looks like a predator , a shark circling you in the water .
And yet .
He was walking to his car , wrote a Presbyterian minister named Leon Brown , intending to give someone he met the one tract he had in his pocket and keep walking .
The man who took asked him to explain what it was .
“ I felt like he was inconveniencing me , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , or so I thought , to explain the law and the gospel to him .
If he had just read the card , he would have received all the information he needed.
” He explained anyway .
The man responded , “ This is what I needed.
” He later began going to church with Brown .
Had I been the man on the street , I probably wouldn ’ t have taken it , because strangers giving you a tract in parking lots usually want to talk to you about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to avoid intimate conversations with strangers in parking lots , thank you very much .
I also know that hunter ’ s gleam in their eyes when they ’ ve got you in their sights .
And how difficult they can be to get away from .
They can hold you tighter than leeches or tarbabies .
I Really Have to Go Friends just turn around and leave , but I find myself trying to explain that I really have to go , very nice to talk to you , appreciate your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you should keep the tract for someone else ( they never take it back ) , well look at the time , got ta go .
And still don ’ t get away .
Had a strange man tried to give me a tract in a parking lot , I would not have asked “ What is this ?
” like Brown ’ s polite target .
I might have said something ruder .
If feeling more civil , something like “ I don ’ t know you.
” Please Support The Stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
When Catholics like myself think about evangelizing others , we like to think of what our Evangelical friends call “ relationship evangelism.
” We think of doing good works and making the church the kind of place that draws people in .
We want to build a friendship with others before we present them with the possibility of making a life-changing commitment .
You should like people for themselves and not as subjects for the sales pitch .
It ’ s partly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I want to speak of God to others the way I want them to speak of God to me .
I want them to want me saved because they really care that I — me , this guy , David — am saved .
Not as some random guy who might buy their sales pitch .
I want them to tell me about Jesus as a man they want to hang out with in Heaven .
Not as a name on a list .
There ’ s a big difference between those attitudes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are right off .
We need to be the first kind of witness , not the second .
People say it ’ s the easy way out , because you put off telling people about Jesus .
It isn ’ t .
You have to begin by loving them ( even when you don ’ t like them ) and that ’ s hard .
But What if We ’ re Failing ?
But : What if we ’ re failing in charity by insisting on friendship ?
What if other people find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need help right now .
You don ’ t save drowning people only after you ’ ve spent enough time with them to become friends , because by then they ’ ll be dead .
The evangelist handing out pamphlets on the way to his truck will annoy me and people like me .
Probably most people .
But he may see the people he passes better than I do .
He may see them merely as targets for this month ’ s sales report , because , let ’ s be honest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But he may see them as souls in peril , and as men and women in need right now of the mercy of God .
As people drowning without Jesus .
Some of them will find a tract from a passing stranger just what they need .
I wouldn ’ t do it myself , but God in His wisdom made some people who will .
Between us , if we do what He tells us , we can bring drowning people safely to shore .
David Mills is a senior editor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a seminary , he has been editor of Touchstone and the executive editor of First Things .
He edits the site Hour of Our Death and writes the monthly “ Last Things ” column for the New Oxford Review and a weekly column for the English Catholic Herald .
He is finishing a book on death and dying to be published by Sophia Institute Press .

I’ve had this experience a few times and you feel like a target, a prize to be won, an it. The other guy looks like a predator, a shark circling you in the water. And yet. He was walking to his car, wrote a Presbyterian minister named Leon Brown, intending to give someone he met the one tract he had in his pocket and keep walking. The man who took it asked him to explain what it was.
“I felt like he was inconveniencing me,” he wrote. “I did not have time, or so I thought, to explain the law and the gospel to him. If he had just read the card, he would have received all the information he needed.” He explained anyway. The man responded, “This is what I needed.” He later began going to church with Brown.
Had I been the man on the street, I probably wouldn’t have taken it, because strangers giving you a tract in parking lots usually want to talk to you about it and I’d very much like to avoid intimate conversations with strangers in parking lots, thank you very much. I also know that hunter’s gleam in their eyes when they’ve got you in their sights.
And how difficult they can be to get away from. They can hold you tighter than leeches or tarbabies.
I Really Have to Go
Friends just turn around and leave, but I find myself trying to explain that I really have to go, very nice to talk to you, appreciate your concern, go to church myself, you should keep the tract for someone else (they never take it back), well look at the time, gotta go. And still don’t get away.
Had a strange man tried to give me a tract in a parking lot, I would not have asked “What is this?” like Brown’s polite target. I might have said something ruder. If feeling more civil, something like “I don’t know you.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
When Catholics like myself think about evangelizing others, we like to think of what our Evangelical friends call “relationship evangelism.” We think of doing good works and making the church the kind of place that draws people in. We want to build a friendship with others before we present them with the possibility of making a life-changing commitment. You should like people for themselves and not as subjects for the sales pitch.
It’s partly an expression of the Golden Rule. I want to speak of God to others the way I want them to speak of God to me. I want them to want me saved because they really care that I — me, this guy, David — am saved. Not as some random guy who might buy their sales pitch. I want them to tell me about Jesus as a man they want to hang out with in Heaven. Not as a name on a list.
There’s a big difference between those attitudes, and people can see which you are right off. We need to be the first kind of witness, not the second. People say it’s the easy way out, because you put off telling people about Jesus. It isn’t. You have to begin by loving them (even when you don’t like them) and that’s hard.
But What if We’re Failing?
But: What if we’re failing in charity by insisting on friendship? What if other people find Jesus in other ways. Some people need help right now. You don’t save drowning people only after you’ve spent enough time with them to become friends, because by then they’ll be dead.
The evangelist handing out pamphlets on the way to his truck will annoy me and people like me. Probably most people. But he may see the people he passes better than I do. He may see them merely as targets for this month’s sales report, because, let’s be honest, a lot of people do.
But he may see them as souls in peril, and as men and women in need right now of the mercy of God. As people drowning without Jesus. Some of them will find a tract from a passing stranger just what they need. I wouldn’t do it myself, but God in His wisdom made some people who will. Between us, if we do what He tells us, we can bring drowning people safely to shore.
David Mills is a senior editor of The Stream. After teaching writing in a seminary, he has been editor of Touchstone and the executive editor of First Things. He edits the site Hour of Our Death and writes the monthly “Last Things” column for the New Oxford Review and a weekly column for the English Catholic Herald. He is finishing a book on death and dying to be published by Sophia Institute Press.


thestream--2020-06-28--The Last Time Democrats Embraced a Demonic Mass Movement: The Rev. Jim Jones’s

We ’ ve all watched the rise of Antifa and Black Lives Matter .
We ’ ve been shocked at their openly Marxist politics , and their close ties with Democratic politicians .
America has seen such partnerships before , especially in the alliance of Progressive California Democrats and the Rev .
Jim Jones .
His “ People ’ s Temple ” started out as a thriving left-wing Christian church .
The Stream interviewed Daniel Flynn , who wrote a book on what happened next .
John Zmirak : On June 23 , a member of the Wisconsin State Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a violent mob .
In the course of the evening ’ s violence in Madison , the City/County Building got firebombed .
Some observers recalled the murder of Rep. Leo Joseph Ryan by Rev .
Jim Jones ’ s thugs in 1978 .
Do you see resemblances between the post-Christian radicalism of Jim Jones , and the post-Christian political movement of Anti-Racism/Intersectionalism ?
Was Jones just ahead of his time ?
Daniel Flynn : Jim Jones expressed his anti-Americanism by emigrating from the United States to a Marxist-run country .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Soviet Union , which he referred to as the “ spiritual motherland ” of Peoples Temple .
He left the Soviets all the organization ’ s money , which they got after the mass suicide in Jonestown .
The anti-Americanism of the rioters in Wisconsin and elsewhere manifests itself indiscriminately .
For instance by destroying the symbols of this country , including an abolitionist killed fighting Confederates in battle .
So for both groups , the United States serves as the bogeyman .
State Senator Tim Carpenter and Congressman Leo Ryan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic party .
It contains many people who imagine that they speak the same language as the radicals .
They find out otherwise when a convincing rebuttal expressed in fists or bullets comes their way .
In your book , Cult City , you showed the intimate links between the Left of the California Democratic Party and Rev .
Jim Jones .
Which major figures in politics cooperated closely with Jones ?
How did they help him ?
Before the poor drank the Kool Aid in South America , the powerful did in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overarching message of Cult City .
San Francisco Mayor George Moscone appointed Jim Jones to the city ’ s housing commission .
Jones soon became chairman .
In other words , the mayor of one of America ’ s greatest cities essentially made Jones the largest landlord in the city .
Just two years later , he would murder almost all of his tenants in a commune bearing his name .
When Rosalynn Carter campaigned for her husband in San Francisco in 1976 , Jim Jones introduced her to speak .
Walter Mondale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a private meeting with Jim Jones immediately upon landing in San Francisco .
The Burton Brothers , Harvey Milk , Willie Brown , and other power players in the city essentially made Jim Jones bulletproof in San Francisco .
Many of the same people protected him in Guyana .
As people warned of what Jones was doing , prominent Democrats wrote letters to Guyanese officials .
They defended Jones against “ politicized smear campaigns.
” Mervyn Dymally , the lieutenant governor of California , wrote Burnham to defend him against mounting criticism : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained to Burnham : The Western half of the Bay Bridge now bears Brown ’ s name .
In fact , many monuments around San Francisco now honor Jim Jones ’ s lackeys — George Moscone , Harvey Milk , Herb Caen , etc .
The Taliban ’ s Bay Area auxiliary somehow overlooked them when toppling the statues of St. Junipero Serra , Ulysses Grant , and Francis Scott Key .
The urge to create a radically new , Utopian society seems to animate Antifa and Black Lives Matter much as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( BLM ’ s policy positions demand the abolition of property , the nuclear family , and the police . )
Do you see parallels between the violent CHAZ enclave in Seattle and the separatist leftist commune Jones ran in Guyana ?
Peoples Temple created its own police force called the Red Brigades .
It which involved itself in brutality far beyond any law enforcement agency in the United States .
The Brigades tortured people , beat others , and aided and abetted Jones ’ s various frauds .
They murdered congressman Leo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside of Jonestown .
Before the mass forced suicide , they held Temple members at gun- and arrow-point .
The images of self-appointed authorities beating up people in CHAZ and intimidating others with weapons were farcically ironic .
A community established on the abolition of police almost immediately established its own police .
And that force engaged in brutality far worse than what Seattle ’ s citizens experience from their beleaguered police force .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in several of my books .
None became so dystopian as Jonestown .
But they generally become unbearable to inhabit .
In A Conservative History of the American Left , I wrote about several .
For instance New Harmony , Brook Farm , the Oneida Community , and other attempts at creating heaven on earth .
Jonestown , minus its last day , fits neatly into this tradition .
CHAZ ?
Its most zealous inhabitants clearly think themselves capable of ordering society more effectively than the alternative outside its borders .
In this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the enthusiasts of past millennialist communities .
Which elements in Christianity do post-Christian radicals like Jones and BLM exploit ?
How can we best answer them ?
Help believers see through them ?
The group Religion in American Life named Jones one of America ’ s “ 100 Outstanding Clergymen.
” Jones forged a friendship of sorts with future president Carter ’ s wife Rosalynn .
Also with Carter ’ s sister , Ruth Carter Stapleton , herself a minister .
( We know this from correspondence and transcripts of recorded phone calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these relationships played in the Carter State Department .
Few remember that Carter ’ s administration refused to help Americans concerned about family members held against their will in Jonestown .
In fact , it actually fed information on the paranoid Jones ’ s “ enemies ” back to Peoples Temple .
In his memoirs , Jimmy Carter does not address the most disastrous event of his presidency : the death of 918 people in South America at the direction of Jim Jones .
A good way to avoid becoming a dupe ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ your political outlook he also shares your ethics .
Jim Jones turned Karl Marx ’ s “ religion is the opiate of the masses ” claim sideways .
He used religion to turn parishioners into socialists .
Jones did this primarily through the lure of faith healing , ESP , and other faked miracles .
He saw religion as means rather than end .
Jones used the “ opiate of the masses ” to bring the people in the pews to Marxism .
Before dropping any pretense to Christianity , Jones depicted Peoples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socialism.
” He highlighted seeming contradictions to his followers in a booklet called “ The Letter Killeth.
” He essentially taught his flock to follow the “ spirit ” rather than the word of God .
Jones explained in one sermon : “ Your conscience Socialism is God .
God is Socialism , and I am Principle Socialism , and that ’ s what makes me God.
” Of course , Jones did not issue such fantastic declarations right off the bat .
He boiled the frog slowly .
Most of his followers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They stayed even as he began stomping on Bibles , and denouncing the Christian God as a “ dirty old man that ought to be raped.
” Eventually , they would sit through far worse .
Does the rise of violent radicalism , enabled by local Democrat politicians , nationwide , remind you of the California liberal establishment enabling Jim Jones ?
Jim Jones helped elect George Moscone mayor of San Francisco in 1975 .
( For instance , by busing in voters from Los Angeles and Mendocino County . )
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Freitas , also elected with Jones ’ s help , enlisted his deputy to look into matters .
That deputy was also Jones ’ s number two in Peoples Temple .
He found no wrongdoing .
Case closed .
When you give politicians hundreds of volunteers , use of printing presses , and free publicity … they remember that .
In one-party towns , such as San Francisco in the 1970s or Seattle , Minneapolis , Atlanta , and Washington , D.C. , today , people can commit crimes with impunity if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right allies .
Are you afraid that we might see Jonestown-style nihilistic violence on a mass scale now ?
The circumstances of Jonestown were unique : a madman isolated in the jungle , backed by armed fanatics pressuring true believers to kill themselves .
Jonestown left an indelible mark on the psyches of any who witnessed the carnage , even on the news .
They remember the singular , bizarre nature of the mass suicide .
But chaos that catalyzed Peoples Temple ’ s popularity — Vietnam , urban unrest , crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely tracks what we see now .
That violence and nihilism causes the déjà vu , at least for me .
The news seems like a repeat of That ‘ 70s Show .
And as Cult City shows , none of that ends well .
Do you think President Trump is wise to let blue state officials reap the chaos they ’ ve sown ?
Or should he intervene using federal forces , if need be federalizing the national guards in those states ?
The president needed to act forcefully rather than speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the armed forces .
Herbert Hoover used the military to rid Washington , D.C. , of the Bonus Army .
John Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard to ensure admittance of two black students into their state ’ s flagship university .
George H.W .
Bush deployed the military in response to the Los Angeles Riots in 1992 .
Police brutality initially fueled the riots , the looting , and the desecration of public art .
Police passivity sustains all of this .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .

We’ve all watched the rise of Antifa and Black Lives Matter. We’ve been shocked at their openly Marxist politics, and their close ties with Democratic politicians. America has seen such partnerships before, especially in the alliance of Progressive California Democrats and the Rev. Jim Jones. His “People’s Temple” started out as a thriving left-wing Christian church. The Stream interviewed Daniel Flynn, who wrote a book on what happened next.
John Zmirak: On June 23, a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, Democrat Tim Carpenter, was assaulted by a violent mob. In the course of the evening’s violence in Madison, the City/County Building got firebombed. Some observers recalled the murder of Rep. Leo Joseph Ryan by Rev. Jim Jones’s thugs in 1978. Do you see resemblances between the post-Christian radicalism of Jim Jones, and the post-Christian political movement of Anti-Racism/Intersectionalism? Was Jones just ahead of his time?
Daniel Flynn: Jim Jones expressed his anti-Americanism by emigrating from the United States to a Marxist-run country. In the Cold War, he took the side of the Soviet Union, which he referred to as the “spiritual motherland” of Peoples Temple. He left the Soviets all the organization’s money, which they got after the mass suicide in Jonestown.
The anti-Americanism of the rioters in Wisconsin and elsewhere manifests itself indiscriminately. For instance by destroying the symbols of this country, including an abolitionist killed fighting Confederates in battle. So for both groups, the United States serves as the bogeyman. State Senator Tim Carpenter and Congressman Leo Ryan both stood on the left of the Democratic party. It contains many people who imagine that they speak the same language as the radicals. They find out otherwise when a convincing rebuttal expressed in fists or bullets comes their way.
Big Democrats and Cult Politics
In your book, Cult City, you showed the intimate links between the Left of the California Democratic Party and Rev. Jim Jones. Which major figures in politics cooperated closely with Jones? How did they help him?
Before the poor drank the Kool Aid in South America, the powerful did in San Francisco. That’s the overarching message of Cult City.
San Francisco Mayor George Moscone appointed Jim Jones to the city’s housing commission. Jones soon became chairman. In other words, the mayor of one of America’s greatest cities essentially made Jones the largest landlord in the city. Just two years later, he would murder almost all of his tenants in a commune bearing his name.
When Rosalynn Carter campaigned for her husband in San Francisco in 1976, Jim Jones introduced her to speak. Walter Mondale, campaigning for vice president, held a private meeting with Jim Jones immediately upon landing in San Francisco. The Burton Brothers, Harvey Milk, Willie Brown, and other power players in the city essentially made Jim Jones bulletproof in San Francisco. Many of the same people protected him in Guyana. As people warned of what Jones was doing, prominent Democrats wrote letters to Guyanese officials. They defended Jones against “politicized smear campaigns.”
In August 1977, Harvey Milk wrote to Guyanese Prime Minister Forbes Burnham:
Such greatness I have found at Jim Jones’ Peoples’ Temple. … If other church[es] believed in Christianity like People’s Temple does — if other people’s [sic] believed in democracy like People’s Temple does th[e]n mankind in this nation would not be in the everlasting struggle it finds itself engaged in. But we do struggle. People’s Temple eases that struggle.
Mervyn Dymally, the lieutenant governor of California, wrote Burnham to defend him against mounting criticism:
This attack is no different from attempts recently by the United States media to discredit Guyana and Jamaica. We are no[w] experiencing the same phenomena here with Peoples Temple. The reasons are obvious.
Willie Brown, then an assemblyman, explained to Burnham:
Rev. Jones is that person who can be helpful when all appears lost and hope is just about gone. Having him as a resident in your country can only be a plus no matter how short or long his stay.
The Western half of the Bay Bridge now bears Brown’s name. In fact, many monuments around San Francisco now honor Jim Jones’s lackeys — George Moscone, Harvey Milk, Herb Caen, etc. The Taliban’s Bay Area auxiliary somehow overlooked them when toppling the statues of St. Junipero Serra, Ulysses Grant, and Francis Scott Key.
Jonestown, CHAZ, and Other Utopian Enclaves
The urge to create a radically new, Utopian society seems to animate Antifa and Black Lives Matter much as it did the People’s Temple. (BLM’s policy positions demand the abolition of property, the nuclear family, and the police.) Do you see parallels between the violent CHAZ enclave in Seattle and the separatist leftist commune Jones ran in Guyana?
Peoples Temple created its own police force called the Red Brigades. It which involved itself in brutality far beyond any law enforcement agency in the United States. The Brigades tortured people, beat others, and aided and abetted Jones’s various frauds. They murdered congressman Leo Ryan and four others on the airstrip outside of Jonestown. Before the mass forced suicide, they held Temple members at gun- and arrow-point.
The images of self-appointed authorities beating up people in CHAZ and intimidating others with weapons were farcically ironic. A community established on the abolition of police almost immediately established its own police. And that force engaged in brutality far worse than what Seattle’s citizens experience from their beleaguered police force.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Utopian communities pop up in several of my books. None became so dystopian as Jonestown. But they generally become unbearable to inhabit. In A Conservative History of the American Left, I wrote about several. For instance New Harmony, Brook Farm, the Oneida Community, and other attempts at creating heaven on earth.
Jonestown, minus its last day, fits neatly into this tradition. CHAZ? Its most zealous inhabitants clearly think themselves capable of ordering society more effectively than the alternative outside its borders. In this they seem as delusional as many of the enthusiasts of past millennialist communities.
Post-Christianity and the Antichrist
Which elements in Christianity do post-Christian radicals like Jones and BLM exploit? How can we best answer them? Help believers see through them?
The group Religion in American Life named Jones one of America’s “100 Outstanding Clergymen.”Jones forged a friendship of sorts with future president Carter’s wife Rosalynn. Also with Carter’s sister, Ruth Carter Stapleton, herself a minister. (We know this from correspondence and transcripts of recorded phone calls.) One wonders what the role these relationships played in the Carter State Department.
Few remember that Carter’s administration refused to help Americans concerned about family members held against their will in Jonestown. In fact, it actually fed information on the paranoid Jones’s “enemies” back to Peoples Temple. In his memoirs, Jimmy Carter does not address the most disastrous event of his presidency: the death of 918 people in South America at the direction of Jim Jones.
A good way to avoid becoming a dupe? Do not assume that because someone shares your political outlook he also shares your ethics.
Jim Jones turned Karl Marx’s “religion is the opiate of the masses” claim sideways. He used religion to turn parishioners into socialists. Jones did this primarily through the lure of faith healing, ESP, and other faked miracles. He saw religion as means rather than end. Jones used the “opiate of the masses” to bring the people in the pews to Marxism.
Before dropping any pretense to Christianity, Jones depicted Peoples Temple’s theology as “apostolic socialism.” He highlighted seeming contradictions to his followers in a booklet called “The Letter Killeth.” He essentially taught his flock to follow the “spirit” rather than the word of God. Jones explained in one sermon: “Your conscience Socialism is God. God is Socialism, and I am Principle Socialism, and that’s what makes me God.”
Of course, Jones did not issue such fantastic declarations right off the bat. He boiled the frog slowly. Most of his followers, raised as churchgoers, stuck around. They stayed even as he began stomping on Bibles, and denouncing the Christian God as a “dirty old man that ought to be raped.” Eventually, they would sit through far worse.
Election Fraud and Coverups
Does the rise of violent radicalism, enabled by local Democrat politicians, nationwide, remind you of the California liberal establishment enabling Jim Jones?
Jim Jones helped elect George Moscone mayor of San Francisco in 1975. (For instance, by busing in voters from Los Angeles and Mendocino County.) Some called for investigations. So District Attorney Joe Freitas, also elected with Jones’s help, enlisted his deputy to look into matters. That deputy was also Jones’s number two in Peoples Temple. He found no wrongdoing. Case closed.
When you give politicians hundreds of volunteers, use of printing presses, and free publicity … they remember that. In one-party towns, such as San Francisco in the 1970s or Seattle, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C., today, people can commit crimes with impunity if they choose the right targets. And the right allies.
Nihilistic Violence
Are you afraid that we might see Jonestown-style nihilistic violence on a mass scale now?
The circumstances of Jonestown were unique: a madman isolated in the jungle, backed by armed fanatics pressuring true believers to kill themselves. Jonestown left an indelible mark on the psyches of any who witnessed the carnage, even on the news. They remember the singular, bizarre nature of the mass suicide. But chaos that catalyzed Peoples Temple’s popularity — Vietnam, urban unrest, crime, drugs, rapid change — more closely tracks what we see now. That violence and nihilism causes the déjà vu, at least for me. The news seems like a repeat of That ‘70s Show. And as Cult City shows, none of that ends well.
Do you think President Trump is wise to let blue state officials reap the chaos they’ve sown? Or should he intervene using federal forces, if need be federalizing the national guards in those states?
The president needed to act forcefully rather than speak forcefully. Abraham Lincoln obviously quelled insurrection with the armed forces. Herbert Hoover used the military to rid Washington, D.C., of the Bonus Army. John Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard to ensure admittance of two black students into their state’s flagship university. George H.W. Bush deployed the military in response to the Los Angeles Riots in 1992. Police brutality initially fueled the riots, the looting, and the desecration of public art. Police passivity sustains all of this.
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.


thestream--2020-06-28--Why Racial Justice Matters for the Pro-Life Movement

Despite African Americans making up just 13 percent of the U.S. population , they are overrepresented in abortion statistics .
Among black women , the abortion rate is 27.1 per 1,000 .
Among whites , it ’ s 10 per 1,000 .
Abortion facilities are frequently found in minority communities .
Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger was a eugenicist whose goal was to limit the reproduction of “ undesirables.
” These are facts well-known and well-cited in the pro-life community .
But there is often something missing from pro-lifers ’ conversations about race and abortion .
That is the acknowledgement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contribute to black abortion rates , says Cherilyn Holloway .
Founder of Pro-Black Pro-Life , Holloway works to combat abortion in the black community — as well as the factors that drive women to abortion clinics .
“ Nothing really matters if babies don ’ t make it out of the womb , ” the black pro-life activist told The Stream .
“ But what happens when they ’ re out ?
” The black lives matter movement is raising awareness of racial bias that persists in society today .
That awareness could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate .
( Note : the general BLM movement is not the same as the far-left political organization , which has as one of its goals the destruction of the traditional nuclear family . )
Ensuring that black women have access to quality healthcare will help decrease the black abortion rate .
Holloway told The Stream that in order for that to happen , we must address the implicit bias in healthcare .
As she pointed out , recognizing implicit bias is an internal process .
Every person must start by examining themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maternal mortality rate of any developed nation .
Nearly 700 women die of pregnancy- and delivery-related complications each year .
The number of black maternal deaths is , alarmingly , 3 to 4 times higher than that of white maternal deaths .
Why ?
Black women are more prone to certain health problems , like obesity and hypertension , NBC reported in January .
But that ’ s not the whole story .
They ’ re also less likely to have access to quality prenatal care and hospitals .
As NBC noted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more education offers no protection for black women .
That has led some to theorize that the disparity is at least partly caused by institutional racism in our society and health care system , conscious or unconscious.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
“ Studies have shown that black patients are often prescribed less pain medication than white patients who present the same complaints , ” NBC ’ s report goes on .
“ And black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referrals for advanced cardiovascular procedures less often than white patients with the same symptoms.
” One reason for this is a racist myth — with roots in slavery-era thinking — that black people feel pain less acutely than white people .
This myth still courses through aspects of the modern healthcare system .
A 2016 study found that a “ substantial number of white laypeople and medical students and residents hold false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites .
… [ T ] hese beliefs predict racial bias in pain perception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one place pro-lifers are quick to recognize racism , it ’ s at Planned Parenthood .
The abortion giant markets itself as a place of affordable and accessible healthcare , particularly for minority women .
Pro-lifers have repeatedly shown that the claim that abortion makes up just 3 percent of their services is misleading .
But there is more to Planned Parenthood ’ s strategy that pro-lifers must acknowledge in order to offer an alternative that works .
Abortion is indeed Planned Parenthood ’ s “ money generator , ” Holloway said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand that they are in the community doing multiple things that typically are free or low cost.
” Planned Parenthood ’ s strategy is to build trust with women likely to become pregnant .
The company strategically places abortion facilities in low-income , minority communities “ in the name of access , ” Holloway explained .
A pregnancy care center might exist four miles down the road .
But as she noted during a June 4 Facebook Live event with Students for Life of America ( SFLA ) , four miles “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mother who relies on city transportation .
That woman will go to the more accessible Planned Parenthood for screenings , contraception , and any other basic healthcare the facility may offer .
When she gets pregnant , she ’ ll return because they ’ ve been there for her .
The process ultimately drives her to abortion .
It ’ s “ marketing 101 , ” Holloway told The Stream .
That ’ s why it ’ s not enough for pro-life activists to discourage abortion in the black community , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the abortion movement .
First , they must be accessible .
They must care about current issues facing the community .
They must build trust .
In the Facebook Live event on June 4 , SFLA vice president Tina Whittington spoke with Holloway and Christina Bennett about how pro-lifers should address racism .
“ We have to build bridges , ” said Bennett , an African American member of the “ Pro-Life Voices for Trump ” coalition .
“ We have to truly invest in a way that they would say , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about this because it ’ s their agenda , but really they do care . '
” Holloway told Whittington pro-lifers need to “ acknowledge and listen to the other issues ” black women may be dealing with .
She elaborated : Why Fighting Racism and Fighting Abortion Go Hand-in-Hand Holloway founded Pro-Black Pro-Life to address a gap she saw in the pro-life community .
When she talked with fellow pro-lifers about the issues that lead black women to abortion , their eyes would “ glaze over.
” “ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area , ” she told The Stream .
Hosting SFLA ’ s Facebook Live conversation with Holloway and Bennett , Whittington admitted as much .
“ We purpose to focus on pro-life with laser focus , ” Whittington said of SFLA .
“ But current events have caused us to reexamine where the pro-life movement may need to dig a little deeper on the issue of racism.
” Bennett agreed .
Pro-lifers can ’ t expend energy on every single issue , she said .
But abortion and racism can ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t separated historically .
Bennett went on : For Holloway , a good starting point is to “ believe the stories you hear .
I really think part of the problem is that people don ’ t believe people.
” If you feel “ tension ” about believing stories and statistics about racial bias , ask yourself why .
“ We all want to sleep better at night , ” she said .
“ But sometimes we have to stay up and wrestle with things.
” Liberty McArtor , former staff writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writer in the great state of Texas , where she lives north of Dallas with her husband and son .
Follow Liberty on Twitter @ LibertyMcArtor , or learn more about her at LibertyMcArtor.com .

Despite African Americans making up just 13 percent of the U.S. population, they are overrepresented in abortion statistics. Among black women, the abortion rate is 27.1 per 1,000. Among whites, it’s 10 per 1,000. Abortion facilities are frequently found in minority communities. Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger was a eugenicist whose goal was to limit the reproduction of “undesirables.”
These are facts well-known and well-cited in the pro-life community. But there is often something missing from pro-lifers’ conversations about race and abortion. That is the acknowledgement of the many “layers” that contribute to black abortion rates, says Cherilyn Holloway. Founder of Pro-Black Pro-Life, Holloway works to combat abortion in the black community — as well as the factors that drive women to abortion clinics.
“Nothing really matters if babies don’t make it out of the womb,” the black pro-life activist told The Stream. “But what happens when they’re out?” The black lives matter movement is raising awareness of racial bias that persists in society today. That awareness could be key for lowering the black abortion rate. (Note: the general BLM movement is not the same as the far-left political organization, which has as one of its goals the destruction of the traditional nuclear family.)
Gaps in Black Maternal Healthcare
Ensuring that black women have access to quality healthcare will help decrease the black abortion rate. Holloway told The Stream that in order for that to happen, we must address the implicit bias in healthcare. As she pointed out, recognizing implicit bias is an internal process. Every person must start by examining themselves.
The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation. Nearly 700 women die of pregnancy- and delivery-related complications each year. The number of black maternal deaths is, alarmingly, 3 to 4 times higher than that of white maternal deaths.
Why? Black women are more prone to certain health problems, like obesity and hypertension, NBC reported in January. But that’s not the whole story. They’re also less likely to have access to quality prenatal care and hospitals. As NBC noted in 2018, “Having higher income and more education offers no protection for black women. That has led some to theorize that the disparity is at least partly caused by institutional racism in our society and health care system, conscious or unconscious.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
“Studies have shown that black patients are often prescribed less pain medication than white patients who present the same complaints,” NBC’s report goes on. “And black patients with signs of heart problems get referrals for advanced cardiovascular procedures less often than white patients with the same symptoms.”
One reason for this is a racist myth — with roots in slavery-era thinking — that black people feel pain less acutely than white people. This myth still courses through aspects of the modern healthcare system. A 2016 study found that a “substantial number of white laypeople and medical students and residents hold false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites. … [T]hese beliefs predict racial bias in pain perception and treatment recommendation accuracy.”
Layers of Trust
If there is one place pro-lifers are quick to recognize racism, it’s at Planned Parenthood. The abortion giant markets itself as a place of affordable and accessible healthcare, particularly for minority women. Pro-lifers have repeatedly shown that the claim that abortion makes up just 3 percent of their services is misleading. But there is more to Planned Parenthood’s strategy that pro-lifers must acknowledge in order to offer an alternative that works.
Abortion is indeed Planned Parenthood’s “money generator,” Holloway said. But “it’s important to understand that they are in the community doing multiple things that typically are free or low cost.” Planned Parenthood’s strategy is to build trust with women likely to become pregnant.
The company strategically places abortion facilities in low-income, minority communities “in the name of access,” Holloway explained. A pregnancy care center might exist four miles down the road. But as she noted during a June 4 Facebook Live event with Students for Life of America (SFLA), four miles “could be a big deal” to a mother who relies on city transportation.
“We all want to sleep better at night,” Holloway said. “But sometimes we have to stay up and wrestle with things.”
That woman will go to the more accessible Planned Parenthood for screenings, contraception, and any other basic healthcare the facility may offer. When she gets pregnant, she’ll return because they’ve been there for her. The process ultimately drives her to abortion. It’s “marketing 101,” Holloway told The Stream.
Caring About the Issues
That’s why it’s not enough for pro-life activists to discourage abortion in the black community, or even point out the racist origins of the abortion movement. First, they must be accessible. They must care about current issues facing the community. They must build trust.
In the Facebook Live event on June 4, SFLA vice president Tina Whittington spoke with Holloway and Christina Bennett about how pro-lifers should address racism. “We have to build bridges,” said Bennett, an African American member of the “Pro-Life Voices for Trump” coalition. “We have to truly invest in a way that they would say, ‘Okay, they’re not just talking about this because it’s their agenda, but really they do care.'”
Holloway told Whittington pro-lifers need to “acknowledge and listen to the other issues” black women may be dealing with. She elaborated:
When a woman says, “I don’t know if I can have another baby, because I’m on food stamps right now, I just started school again and I’m really trying to get myself together, and … we don’t have any food access in our community” – they have all these other layers. If I want her to hear me, I’ve got to care about what she cares about too.
Why Fighting Racism and Fighting Abortion Go Hand-in-Hand
Holloway founded Pro-Black Pro-Life to address a gap she saw in the pro-life community. When she talked with fellow pro-lifers about the issues that lead black women to abortion, their eyes would “glaze over.” “It’s hard to have enough passion for every area,” she told The Stream.
Hosting SFLA’s Facebook Live conversation with Holloway and Bennett, Whittington admitted as much. “We purpose to focus on pro-life with laser focus,” Whittington said of SFLA. “But current events have caused us to reexamine where the pro-life movement may need to dig a little deeper on the issue of racism.”
Bennett agreed. Pro-lifers can’t expend energy on every single issue, she said. But abortion and racism can’t be separated. After all, they weren’t separated historically. Bennett went on:
We need to show solidarity with [the black community] above other particular issues because this was the intent through the abortion industry, to wipe us out, to exterminate us, to bring about black genocide. So we need to go harder than Sanger did. We have to show more passion than she did. We have to pursue harder. Not out of a place of manipulation, but out of a place of love, out of a place of compassion and truth.
For Holloway, a good starting point is to “believe the stories you hear. I really think part of the problem is that people don’t believe people.” If you feel “tension” about believing stories and statistics about racial bias, ask yourself why. “We all want to sleep better at night,” she said. “But sometimes we have to stay up and wrestle with things.”
Liberty McArtor, former staff writer for The Stream, is a freelance writer in the great state of Texas, where she lives north of Dallas with her husband and son. Follow Liberty on Twitter @LibertyMcArtor, or learn more about her at LibertyMcArtor.com.


thestream--2020-06-28--Why the Riots Now?

Why the Riots Now?

There is no denying the national grief and outrage following the killing of George Floyd , captured in agonizing detail on video tape .
The image of a white police officer with a knee on the neck of a dying man left an indelible imprint on America .
But why did that killing lead to national protests and riots ?
On June 26 , BBC News ran an article titled , “ George Floyd : Timeline of black deaths caused by police.
” The timeline begins with the death of Eric Garner , July 17 , 2014 .
It continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August 9 , 2014 ; Tamir Rice , November 22 , 2014 ; Walter Scott , April 4 , 2015 ; Alton Sterling , July 5 , 2016 ; and Philando Castile , July 6 , 2016 .
Following the death of my namesake in Ferguson in 2014 , there were protests and riots in that city , as well as in other locations .
But there was nothing that compared with what has taken place since the death of George Floyd , even though the Black Lives Matter movement came to prominence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , there was no video footage of Brown ’ s death .
And official reports , even by the Department of Justice , dispute the famous words , “ Hands up , don ’ t shoot !
” Still , since the narrative was widely believed at the time ( and , in the larger culture , remains widely believed until this day ) , why didn ’ t those protests continue ?
Where were the national protests following the deaths of Rice or Scott or Sterling or Castile ?
Timing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let ’ s keep looking at the BBC timeline .
Things will become clear in a moment .
The next death listed is that of Stephon Clark , March 18 , 2018 , then Breonna Taylor , March 13 , 2020 , then George Floyd , May 25 , 2020 .
Now , it could be argued that there has been a cumulative effect with these killings , with the dam finally bursting following the killing of Floyd .
After all , the video evidence was beyond sickening .
We can also factor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hands of white vigilantes earlier this year , with graphic video footage as well .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Yet there are reasons to question whether the dam just burst at this particular time , especially since things were different with the killing of Floyd .
The president immediately called for the FBI and Department of Justice to investigate .
The officers were immediately fired , with the primary offending officer charged within days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking out .
And political leaders were raising concerns about systemic injustice .
Why protest and riot now ?
The answer is simple .
In the words of Patrisse Cullors , co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network , “ Trump not only needs to not be in office in November , but he should resign now .
Trump needs to be out of office .
He is not fit for office .
And so , what we are going to push for is a move to get Trump out.
” She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also going to continue to push and pressure Vice President Joe Biden around his policies and relationship to policing and criminalization .
That ’ s going to be important .
But our goal is to get Trump out now.
” The apparent reason , then , that there was a not a national protest movement when Brown , Rice , Scott , Sterling , and Castile were killed was that Barack Obama was president .
People were upset .
Some protests and riots did take place .
The BLM movement was birthed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidency of Obama .
The opposite is true with Trump , especially in an election year , and all the more when he is so vulnerable .
In short , “ our goal is to get Trump out now.
” It ’ s All About Trump , Regardless of What He ’ s Done for Black Community Ironically , it was Trump who passed a historic criminal reform bill , largely aiding black Americans .
He also passed historic legislation to support black colleges and universities .
And black unemployment rates reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been brought against him , claiming his policies were racist and arguing that he took needy people off the rolls of food stamps , it was undeniable that he also did much good for the black American community .
( All of this is documented in Evangelicals at the Crossroads . )
But Trump must go , and so the protests and riots and vandalism and attacks on our monuments must continue .
This doesn ’ t mean that everyone participating in the protests is a puppet .
Hardly .
It does mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a real and clear agenda ( see here and here for more ) .
If you don ’ t believe me , then believe Patrisse Cullors , speaking on behalf of the BLM Movement .
To repeat : “ Trump needs to be out of office .
He is not fit for office .
And so , what we are going to push for is a move to get Trump out.
” Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

There is no denying the national grief and outrage following the killing of George Floyd, captured in agonizing detail on video tape. The image of a white police officer with a knee on the neck of a dying man left an indelible imprint on America. But why did that killing lead to national protests and riots?
On June 26, BBC News ran an article titled, “George Floyd: Timeline of black deaths caused by police.”
The timeline begins with the death of Eric Garner, July 17, 2014.
It continues with the deaths of Michael Brown, August 9, 2014; Tamir Rice, November 22, 2014; Walter Scott, April 4, 2015; Alton Sterling, July 5, 2016; and Philando Castile, July 6, 2016.
Following the death of my namesake in Ferguson in 2014, there were protests and riots in that city, as well as in other locations. But there was nothing that compared with what has taken place since the death of George Floyd, even though the Black Lives Matter movement came to prominence as a result of Ferguson.
Of course, there was no video footage of Brown’s death. And official reports, even by the Department of Justice, dispute the famous words, “Hands up, don’t shoot!”
Still, since the narrative was widely believed at the time (and, in the larger culture, remains widely believed until this day), why didn’t those protests continue?
Where were the national protests following the deaths of Rice or Scott or Sterling or Castile?
Timing is Everything. Election Day is Coming.
Let’s keep looking at the BBC timeline. Things will become clear in a moment.
The next death listed is that of Stephon Clark, March 18, 2018, then Breonna Taylor, March 13, 2020, then George Floyd, May 25, 2020.
Now, it could be argued that there has been a cumulative effect with these killings, with the dam finally bursting following the killing of Floyd. After all, the video evidence was beyond sickening.
We can also factor in the shooting of Ahmaud Arberry at the hands of white vigilantes earlier this year, with graphic video footage as well.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Yet there are reasons to question whether the dam just burst at this particular time, especially since things were different with the killing of Floyd.
The president immediately called for the FBI and Department of Justice to investigate. The officers were immediately fired, with the primary offending officer charged within days. Christian leaders from all backgrounds were speaking out. And political leaders were raising concerns about systemic injustice. Why protest and riot now?
The answer is simple. In the words of Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, “Trump not only needs to not be in office in November, but he should resign now. Trump needs to be out of office. He is not fit for office. And so, what we are going to push for is a move to get Trump out.”
She continued, “While we’re also going to continue to push and pressure Vice President Joe Biden around his policies and relationship to policing and criminalization. That’s going to be important. But our goal is to get Trump out now.”
The apparent reason, then, that there was a not a national protest movement when Brown, Rice, Scott, Sterling, and Castile were killed was that Barack Obama was president.
People were upset. Some protests and riots did take place. The BLM movement was birthed. But there was no desire to hurt the presidency of Obama.
The opposite is true with Trump, especially in an election year, and all the more when he is so vulnerable. In short, “our goal is to get Trump out now.”
It’s All About Trump, Regardless of What He’s Done for Black Community
Ironically, it was Trump who passed a historic criminal reform bill, largely aiding black Americans. He also passed historic legislation to support black colleges and universities. And black unemployment rates reached all-time lows.
Whatever other charges have been brought against him, claiming his policies were racist and arguing that he took needy people off the rolls of food stamps, it was undeniable that he also did much good for the black American community. (All of this is documented in Evangelicals at the Crossroads.)
But Trump must go, and so the protests and riots and vandalism and attacks on our monuments must continue.
This doesn’t mean that everyone participating in the protests is a puppet. Hardly.
It does mean that the people pulling the strings have a real and clear agenda (see here and here for more). If you don’t believe me, then believe Patrisse Cullors, speaking on behalf of the BLM Movement.
To repeat: “Trump needs to be out of office. He is not fit for office. And so, what we are going to push for is a move to get Trump out.”
Clear enough?
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--2020-06-28--How to Live Like a Christian (and Be Happy, Not Miserable)

He calls this a “ law ” of the way our character develops : “ Good comes to better , and Bad to worse.
” Then the great English preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon offers his real insight : “ bad does not [ become ] good except by conversion.
” We don ’ t get gradually good .
People tend to think we just kind of get better over time , just by trying to be a little nicer .
We don ’ t .
We get worse .
If we want to get better , we must actually , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this in a book called Salt-cellars .
( We would say “ salt shakers.
” ) He published the book three years before he died in 1892 .
One of the giants of his age , he was a Baptist , but read widely by other English Protestants .
In the two big volumes of Salt-cellars , he collects hundreds of proverbs and gives his own take on them .
He ’ s usually insightful , often striking , and sometimes funny .
The text of the book can be found here if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and here if you want read the original .
See last week ’ s article for an explanation of why Spurgeon wrote this way .
And learn from the great preacher “ How to Speak Like a Christian ( and Not Like a Fool , a Bully , or a Buffoon ) .
” Here are a few of his insights on living life as a Christian , chosen almost at random .
The book offers many , many more .
Next week we ’ ll share some of his insights on living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a Christian .
The farmer ’ s care makes fields to bear Yet God we know makes harvests grow How the omnipotence of God works through the labour of man we know , for we see it before us every day .
We work as if we did all , but we trust in God , knowing that all power belongs to him .
Evil society is the death of piety He can not smell sweetly who sleeps in a bed of garlic .
Make your mark , but mind what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for mere notoriety ; but if we are not famous for goodness we are practically infamous .
That is vain which vanisheth Therefore fix thy heart on nothing but that which is eternal .
Make much of little By charitable judgments come to a favourable conclusion concerning those in whom you see even a little grace .
One can see the sky in a single drop of rain , and a work of grace in a tear of repentance .
Nature abhors a vacuum When a man ’ s head is empty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get in , and when his stomach is empty it will not be comfortable till it is filled .
Empty purses also are very restless things .
Mice must not pay with kittens Nor must men toy with temptations , for they are not able to resist them .
The best of men are but men at the best When trial comes it is seen to be so .
What fault one man commits another may commit .
Those are not the best of men who forget that they are only men .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or your field Let prayer be the preface to all your business .
First look up , and then look out Look to God first , and then watch for every honourable opportunity of getting on in business .
God helps those who help themselves God helps those who can not help themselves These two proverbs are equally true ; but the last is very sweet to the hopeless and helpless .
Our extremity is God ’ s opportunity ; and he is never slow to begin when we have reached the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Have no faith in a man who has no faith If he does not believe in God , do not believe in him .
God will grind to powder those who grind the poor Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Make much of little By grateful praise express your value of the least of God ’ s mercies .
The birds see the bait , but not the net So men see the present pleasure of sin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose their lives by accident but not their souls That you may be loved be lovable Else you can not expect people to love you nor should you even desire them to act in so unreasonable a way as to love that which is not worthy of love .
Love and be loved — being loved , love .
God gives thee six days ; steal not the seventh He does much who does a little well He doeth much who loveth much Love to God is the mainspring of activity , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the good work is apparently little , the abundance of love which is in it makes it .
much in the sight of God .
“ He doeth well who doeth good To those of his own brotherhood ; He doeth better who cloth bless The stranger in his wretchedness : Yet best , yea , best of all , doth he Who helps a fallen enemy !
” Frenzy , heresy , and jealousy , these three Seldom or never cured be They feed upon themselves , and grow most rapidly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is little hope of their abatement .
Fowls should roost where foxes can not reach It is wise to rise above the tempter ’ s grip by living on high with God .
You will not be loved yourself if you love none but yourself The base pretender , being short in weight , dreads the scales Testing is what he abhors .
He can not endure a creed for his faith , nor a law for his practice .
But the man who is sound at heart comes to the light and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more life , more love Worthy to be a common wish and to grow into a holy proverb .
Light without life is a candle in a tomb .
Life without love is a garden without bloom .
Follow the Master more than the pastor The pastor must only be followed while he follows his Pastor .
Happy is it for a people when their minister walks with God , for then they may follow him everywhere .
Many have gifts from God but not the gift of God They have the comforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zeal without knowledge is fire without light and knowledge without zeal is light without fire Zeal without knowledge soon becomes cold There is nothing to feed its fires and so it dies down and is very hard to rekindle .
Faith looks to precepts as well as to promises It takes the whole Word of God , and obeys commands as well as trusts promises .
Men can not practise unless they know , but they know in vain if they practice not .
That man is lost indeed who is lost to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon .
The creature ’ s hide is too thick for us to make him feel .
We shall have to let him run away , for he has become too hard in the mouth for our bit .
That fish will soon be caught which nibbles the bait The fish that nibbles at the bait , is very soon upon the plate .
Toying with temptation is extremely dangerous work .
Make a crutch of your cross Use it as a help on the road to Heaven .
God ’ s wrath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure God is no man ’ s debtor , but every man ’ s creditor You have only one soul — give it to your one Saviour David Mills is a senior editor of The Stream .
After teaching writing in a seminary , he has been editor of Touchstone and the executive editor of First Things .
He edits the site Hour of Our Death and writes the monthly “ Last Things ” column for the New Oxford Review and a weekly column for the English Catholic Herald .
He is finishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be published by Sophia Institute Press .

He calls this a “law” of the way our character develops: “Good comes to better, and Bad to worse.” Then the great English preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon offers his real insight: “bad does not [become] good except by conversion.” We don’t get gradually good. People tend to think we just kind of get better over time, just by trying to be a little nicer. We don’t. We get worse. If we want to get better, we must actually, actively turn to God.
Spurgeon wrote this in a book called Salt-cellars. (We would say “salt shakers.”) He published the book three years before he died in 1892. One of the giants of his age, he was a Baptist, but read widely by other English Protestants. In the two big volumes of Salt-cellars, he collects hundreds of proverbs and gives his own take on them. He’s usually insightful, often striking, and sometimes funny. The text of the book can be found here if you want to copy sections from it and here if you want read the original.
See last week’s article for an explanation of why Spurgeon wrote this way. And learn from the great preacher “How to Speak Like a Christian (and Not Like a Fool, a Bully, or a Buffoon).”
Here are a few of his insights on living life as a Christian, chosen almost at random. The book offers many, many more. Next week we’ll share some of his insights on living well, which also apply to living as a Christian.
For more from the wise men and women of the past, see #StreamChristianClassics.
The farmer’s care makes fields to bear
Yet God we know makes harvests grow
How the omnipotence of God works through the labour of man we know, for we see it before us every day. We work as if we did all, but we trust in God, knowing that all power belongs to him.
Evil society is the death of piety
He cannot smell sweetly who sleeps in a bed of garlic.
Make your mark, but mind what the mark is.
Too many seem eager for mere notoriety; but if we are not famous for goodness we are practically infamous.
That is vain which vanisheth
Therefore fix thy heart on nothing but that which is eternal.
Make much of little
By charitable judgments come to a favourable conclusion concerning those in whom you see even a little grace. One can see the sky in a single drop of rain, and a work of grace in a tear of repentance.
Nature abhors a vacuum
When a man’s head is empty, some nonsense or other is sure to get in, and when his stomach is empty it will not be comfortable till it is filled. Empty purses also are very restless things.
Mice must not pay with kittens
Nor must men toy with temptations, for they are not able to resist them.
The best of men are but men at the best
When trial comes it is seen to be so. What fault one man commits another may commit. Those are not the best of men who forget that they are only men.
Go through your closet to your shop or your field
Let prayer be the preface to all your business.
First look up, and then look out
Look to God first, and then watch for every honourable opportunity of getting on in business.
God helps those who help themselves
God helps those who cannot help themselves
These two proverbs are equally true; but the last is very sweet to the hopeless and helpless. Our extremity is God’s opportunity; and he is never slow to begin when we have reached the end of our own power and wisdom.
Have no faith in a man who has no faith
If he does not believe in God, do not believe in him.
God will grind to powder those who grind the poor
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Make much of little
By grateful praise express your value of the least of God’s mercies.
The birds see the bait, but not the net
So men see the present pleasure of sin but not its fatal result.
Men lose their lives by accident but not their souls
That you may be loved be lovable
Else you cannot expect people to love you nor should you even desire them to act in so unreasonable a way as to love that which is not worthy of love. Love and be loved — being loved, love.
God gives thee six days; steal not the seventh
He does much who does a little well
He doeth much who loveth much
Love to God is the mainspring of activity, and sets a man doing much. Even when the good work is apparently little, the abundance of love which is in it makes it. much in the sight of God.
“He doeth well who doeth good
To those of his own brotherhood;
He doeth better who cloth bless
The stranger in his wretchedness:
Yet best, yea, best of all, doth he
Who helps a fallen enemy!”
Frenzy, heresy, and jealousy, these three
Seldom or never cured be
They feed upon themselves, and grow most rapidly without other food, and hence there is little hope of their abatement.
Fowls should roost where foxes cannot reach
It is wise to rise above the tempter’s grip by living on high with God.
You will not be loved yourself if you love none but yourself
The base pretender, being short in weight, dreads the scales
Testing is what he abhors. He cannot endure a creed for his faith, nor a law for his practice. But the man who is sound at heart comes to the light and to the scale.
More light, more life, more love
Worthy to be a common wish and to grow into a holy proverb.
Light without life is a candle in a tomb.
Life without love is a garden without bloom.
Follow the Master more than the pastor
The pastor must only be followed while he follows his Pastor. Happy is it for a people when their minister walks with God, for then they may follow him everywhere.
Many have gifts from God but not the gift of God
They have the comforts of life but not eternal life.
Zeal without knowledge is fire without light and knowledge without zeal is light without fire
Zeal without knowledge soon becomes cold
There is nothing to feed its fires and so it dies down and is very hard to rekindle.
Faith looks to precepts as well as to promises
It takes the whole Word of God, and obeys commands as well as trusts promises.
Men cannot practise unless they know, but they know in vain if they practice not.
That man is lost indeed who is lost to shame
There is nothing left to work upon. The creature’s hide is too thick for us to make him feel. We shall have to let him run away, for he has become too hard in the mouth for our bit.
That fish will soon be caught which nibbles the bait
The fish that nibbles at the bait, is very soon upon the plate. Toying with temptation is extremely dangerous work.
Make a crutch of your cross
Use it as a help on the road to Heaven.
God’s wrath comes by measure; his mercy without measure
God is no man’s debtor, but every man’s creditor
You have only one soul — give it to your one Saviour
David Mills is a senior editor of The Stream. After teaching writing in a seminary, he has been editor of Touchstone and the executive editor of First Things. He edits the site Hour of Our Death and writes the monthly “Last Things” column for the New Oxford Review and a weekly column for the English Catholic Herald. He is finishing a book on death and dying to be published by Sophia Institute Press.


thestream--2020-06-29--Replacing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’

Replacing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’

A lot of people are talking about ( and I don ’ t know why ) a Yahoo music editor ’ s article calling for replacing “ The Star-Spangled Banner ” as America ’ s National Anthem , possibly with “ Imagine ” by John Lennon .
The excuse is that Francis Scott Key was a slaveholder .
( He also represented slaves trying to win their freedom in court , pro bono . )
, Also , that the never-sung third verse is “ blatantly racist ” ( although his use of the term “ slave ” has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into service by the British Navy .
Oh and by the way , did I mention that it ’ s never sung ? )
This is hardly the first time anyone ’ s wanted to replace “ The Star-Spangled Banner , ” although until now , it ’ s usually been because it ’ s so hard to sing .
( The tune was taken from a drinking song with a high note you practically have to be drunk to attempt to hit . )
The choice to replace it was usually Irving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” but we can ’ t have that now !
Referring to God is almost as un-PC as honoring a slaveholder .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
But what about “ Imagine ” ?
Look , I love the Beatles , but that has to be the most over-praised song of the past century .
Even Lennon admitted that it ’ s basically the Communist Manifesto set to music .
Radical leftists love it because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world without national borders , private property or religion .
Lennon often found himself having to correct their interpretations and reminding them that he wasn ’ t advocating for those things , he was just suggesting “ imagining ” that we didn ’ t have all those differences so we could work together globally .
But people DO have differences , and as experience has taught us , leftist prescriptions , like taking away religious freedom and property rights , do nothing but make them angrier and more likely for those differences to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ utopia ” requires an ironfisted oppressive government , which isn ’ t likely in a world without borders .
If the song has a dreamlike quality , that ’ s because it is a dream .
A pipe dream .
Separating the Creation from Its Creator Besides , if we had to do away with every song because the writer wasn ’ t a saint , we wouldn ’ t have much music left , and that includes John Lennon music .
Wonder what the cancel culture would do if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a feminist anthem that was called “ Woman is the ( N-word ) of the World ” ?
As with all art , we have to learn to separate the creation from the creator .
Francis Scott Key was a flawed human being , as are all human beings , but he gave us a great song that represents a great nation , and it stands for all our people .
Some of the most inspiring renditions of it were performed by black entertainers , from Mahalia Jackson to Jimi Hendrix to Whitney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About Destruction , Count Me Out !
If the statue-smashing radicals really want to learn from the wisdom of John Lennon , I ’ d recommend instead a far better song : “ Revolution.
” “ You say you want a revolution , well , you know , we all want to change the world… But when you talk about destruction , don ’ t you know that you can count me out… You say you got a real solution , well , you know , we ’ d all love to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a contribution , well , you know , we ’ re all doing what we can .
But if you want money for people with minds that hate , all I can tell is brother you have to wait… You say you ’ ll change the Constitution , well , you know , we all want to change your head .
You tell me it ’ s the institution , well , you know , you better free your mind instead .
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with anyone anyhow… ” Mike Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and longtime conservative commentator on issues in culture and current events .
A New York Times best-selling author , he hosts the weekly talk show Huckabee on TBN .

A lot of people are talking about (and I don’t know why) a Yahoo music editor’s article calling for replacing “The Star-Spangled Banner” as America’s National Anthem, possibly with “Imagine” by John Lennon. The excuse is that Francis Scott Key was a slaveholder. (He also represented slaves trying to win their freedom in court, pro bono.), Also, that the never-sung third verse is “blatantly racist” (although his use of the term “slave” has been hotly debated and might mean people pressed into service by the British Navy. Oh and by the way, did I mention that it’s never sung?)
This is hardly the first time anyone’s wanted to replace “The Star-Spangled Banner,” although until now, it’s usually been because it’s so hard to sing. (The tune was taken from a drinking song with a high note you practically have to be drunk to attempt to hit.) The choice to replace it was usually Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” but we can’t have that now! Referring to God is almost as un-PC as honoring a slaveholder.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
But what about “Imagine”? Look, I love the Beatles, but that has to be the most over-praised song of the past century. Even Lennon admitted that it’s basically the Communist Manifesto set to music. Radical leftists love it because it paints a picture of a utopian world without national borders, private property or religion. Lennon often found himself having to correct their interpretations and reminding them that he wasn’t advocating for those things, he was just suggesting “imagining” that we didn’t have all those differences so we could work together globally.
But people DO have differences, and as experience has taught us, leftist prescriptions, like taking away religious freedom and property rights, do nothing but make them angrier and more likely for those differences to flare into war. Besides, imposing that “utopia” requires an ironfisted oppressive government, which isn’t likely in a world without borders. If the song has a dreamlike quality, that’s because it is a dream. A pipe dream.
Separating the Creation from Its Creator
Besides, if we had to do away with every song because the writer wasn’t a saint, we wouldn’t have much music left, and that includes John Lennon music. Wonder what the cancel culture would do if they realized John wrote a song intended as a feminist anthem that was called “Woman is the (N-word) of the World”?
As with all art, we have to learn to separate the creation from the creator. Francis Scott Key was a flawed human being, as are all human beings, but he gave us a great song that represents a great nation, and it stands for all our people. Some of the most inspiring renditions of it were performed by black entertainers, from Mahalia Jackson to Jimi Hendrix to Whitney Houston.
If You’re Talking About Destruction, Count Me Out!
If the statue-smashing radicals really want to learn from the wisdom of John Lennon, I’d recommend instead a far better song: “Revolution.”
“You say you want a revolution, well, you know, we all want to change the world… But when you talk about destruction, don’t you know that you can count me out… You say you got a real solution, well, you know, we’d all love to see the plan. You ask me for a contribution, well, you know, we’re all doing what we can. But if you want money for people with minds that hate, all I can tell is brother you have to wait… You say you’ll change the Constitution, well, you know, we all want to change your head. You tell me it’s the institution, well, you know, you better free your mind instead. But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain’t gonna make it with anyone anyhow…”
Mike Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and longtime conservative commentator on issues in culture and current events. A New York Times best-selling author, he hosts the weekly talk show Huckabee on TBN.
Originally published at MikeHuckabee.com. Reprinted with permission.