thestream--2020-06-20--SCOTUS Props Up DACA For Now, But Leaves Much Open

In a 5-4 decision , the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that Trump ’ s decision terminating the Obama administration ’ s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was done improperly .
Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the four liberals on the court .
He wrote the opinion for Department of Homeland Security et al .
v Regents of the University of California et al .
He left it open , however , for the administration to try again .
The court did not rule on the merits of whether DACA was constitutional .
Implemented in 2012 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with amnesty that was renewable every two years .
Those illegally brought into the country as children qualified .
This , even if they were brought into the country at age 17 .
And had spent their entire lives in Mexico , Central America , or somewhere else .
Nearly 800,000 “ Dreamers ” qualified .
They were allowed to work legally in the U.S. and obtain healthcare and driver ’ s licenses .
They merely weren ’ t given a path to citizenship .
While running for president , Trump vowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2017 , then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that DACA would end in March 2018 .
Trump called DACA an unconstitutional overreach by the executive branch , which should be struck down by the courts .
He set the ending date several months out in order to give Congress time to fix it by passing legislation implementing the program .
Three different lawsuits were filed against the administration over the decision .
They were filed in jurisdictions where left-leaning judges would rule in their favor — California , the District of Columbia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which left DACA in place .
Trump appealed the decisions to the Supreme Court .
Roberts said in the majority opinion that the termination violated the Administrative Procedure Act .
He claimed it was taken “ arbitrarily and capriciously.
” That federal law governs federal agencies .
However , Roberts admitted the courts should not substitute their own judgment for that of an agency .
The Trump administration argued that the court did not have the authority to review its decision .
It was taken within the executive branch ’ s realm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rule on whether the Trump administration was correct in concluding that DACA was illegal since it was done unilaterally without Congress .
Instead , he delved into touchy-feely rhetoric .
Roberts asserted that even if the benefits provided by DACA were illegal , deportations were still wrong .
DACA recipients were arranging their lives based on it being there for them .
He concluded that the Trump administration did not provide a reasoned explanation for its action .
However , most of the majority rejected the DACA recipients ’ claim that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Sonya Sotomayor agreed with most of the majority ’ s opinion .
But she would have allowed the plaintiffs an opportunity to flesh out their accusations of discrimination .
Roberts ended his opinion instructing the administration to send the issue back to the Department of Homeland Security or offer a better explanation if it tries to end the program again .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a dissent which Justices Samuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed out that rescinding DACA was a unilateral decision just like implementing it .
The majority ’ s ruling “ must be recognized for what it is : an effort to avoid a politically controversial but legally correct decision.
” The correct decision was that a government agency will be “ not only permitted , but required , to continue administering unlawful programs that it inherited from a previous administration.
” So the Trump administration was required to end the unlawful program .
He said it didn ’ t make any sense for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and planned on the program .
The DHS said all along that it could rescind the program at any time .
“ Dreamers ” knew that was a possibility .
Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote a separate dissenting opinion .
He chastised the majority for not even bothering to consider a June 2018 memorandum by DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen .
It “ expressly addressed ” the issue of DACA recipients relying on the program .
By ignoring it , the majority was just delaying .
The Trump administration will now just “ relabel and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” And the court ’ s decision “ can not eliminate the broader uncertainty over the status of the DACA recipients.
” It ’ s still Congress ’ s responsibility to deal with it .
David Harsanyi at National Review points out that Barack Obama admitted before he implemented DACA that he didn ’ t have the authority .
In September 2011 , he said , “ And I think there ’ s been a great disservice done to the cause of getting the DREAM Act passed and getting comprehensive immigration passed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself , I can go and do these things .
It ’ s just not true… .
We live in a democracy .
You have to pass bills through the legislature , and then I can sign it.
” Similarly , in March 2011 , he said , “ With respect to the notion that I can just suspend deportations through executive order , that ’ s just not the case .
.
.
for me to simply through executive order ignore those congressional mandates would not conform with my appropriate role as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Wesley J. Smith , observes that this isn ’ t the first time “ conservative ” justices have dredged up arcane administrative law jurisprudence to obtain a particular policy result .
Trump responded after the decision was issued , calling it a “ horrible and politically charged ” decision .
He said he wanted a legal solution , not a political one .
He wanted the court to address whether DACA is unconstitutional .
Angry at Roberts , he said he would be issuing a list of recommended Supreme Court judicial candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior editor of The Stream .
Follow her on Twitter at Rach_IC .
Follow The Stream at streamdotorg .
Send tips to rachel.alexander @ stream.org .

In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that Trump’s decision terminating the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was done improperly. Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the four liberals on the court. He wrote the opinion for Department of Homeland Security et al. v Regents of the University of California et al. He left it open, however, for the administration to try again. The court did not rule on the merits of whether DACA was constitutional.
Implemented in 2012 by Obama, DACA provided young illegal immigrants with amnesty that was renewable every two years. Those illegally brought into the country as children qualified. This, even if they were brought into the country at age 17. And had spent their entire lives in Mexico, Central America, or somewhere else. Nearly 800,000 “Dreamers” qualified. They were allowed to work legally in the U.S. and obtain healthcare and driver’s licenses. They merely weren’t given a path to citizenship.
While running for president, Trump vowed to eliminate the program. On September 5, 2017, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that DACA would end in March 2018. Trump called DACA an unconstitutional overreach by the executive branch, which should be struck down by the courts. He set the ending date several months out in order to give Congress time to fix it by passing legislation implementing the program.
Greasing the Skids
Three different lawsuits were filed against the administration over the decision. They were filed in jurisdictions where left-leaning judges would rule in their favor — California, the District of Columbia and New York. And the judges did, which left DACA in place. Trump appealed the decisions to the Supreme Court.
Roberts admitted the courts should not substitute their own judgment for that of an agency.
Roberts said in the majority opinion that the termination violated the Administrative Procedure Act. He claimed it was taken “arbitrarily and capriciously.” That federal law governs federal agencies. However, Roberts admitted the courts should not substitute their own judgment for that of an agency. The Trump administration argued that the court did not have the authority to review its decision. It was taken within the executive branch’s realm of discretion.
Notably, Roberts declined to rule on whether the Trump administration was correct in concluding that DACA was illegal since it was done unilaterally without Congress. Instead, he delved into touchy-feely rhetoric. Roberts asserted that even if the benefits provided by DACA were illegal, deportations were still wrong. DACA recipients were arranging their lives based on it being there for them. He concluded that the Trump administration did not provide a reasoned explanation for its action.
Discriminatory Intent?
However, most of the majority rejected the DACA recipients’ claim that the Trump administration was motivated by discrimination. Justice Sonya Sotomayor agreed with most of the majority’s opinion. But she would have allowed the plaintiffs an opportunity to flesh out their accusations of discrimination.
Roberts ended his opinion instructing the administration to send the issue back to the Department of Homeland Security or offer a better explanation if it tries to end the program again.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a dissent which Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch joined. He pointed out that rescinding DACA was a unilateral decision just like implementing it. The majority’s ruling “must be recognized for what it is: an effort to avoid a politically controversial but legally correct decision.” The correct decision was that a government agency will be “not only permitted, but required, to continue administering unlawful programs that it inherited from a previous administration.” So the Trump administration was required to end the unlawful program.
He said it didn’t make any sense for Roberts to say that DACA recipients relied and planned on the program. The DHS said all along that it could rescind the program at any time. “Dreamers” knew that was a possibility.
Justice Kavanaugh’s Cynical Dissent
Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote a separate dissenting opinion. He chastised the majority for not even bothering to consider a June 2018 memorandum by DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. It “expressly addressed” the issue of DACA recipients relying on the program. By ignoring it, the majority was just delaying. The Trump administration will now just “relabel and reiterate the substance of the Nielsen Memorandum.” And the court’s decision “cannot eliminate the broader uncertainty over the status of the DACA recipients.” It’s still Congress’s responsibility to deal with it.
Barack Obama admitted before he implemented DACA that he didn’t have the authority to do it without Congress.
David Harsanyi at National Review points out that Barack Obama admitted before he implemented DACA that he didn’t have the authority. In September 2011, he said, “And I think there’s been a great disservice done to the cause of getting the DREAM Act passed and getting comprehensive immigration passed by perpetrating the notion that somehow, by myself, I can go and do these things. It’s just not true… . We live in a democracy. You have to pass bills through the legislature, and then I can sign it.”
Similarly, in March 2011, he said, “With respect to the notion that I can just suspend deportations through executive order, that’s just not the case . . . for me to simply through executive order ignore those congressional mandates would not conform with my appropriate role as president.”
Another writer at National Review, Wesley J. Smith, observes that this isn’t the first time “conservative” justices have dredged up arcane administrative law jurisprudence to obtain a particular policy result.
Trump’s Response
Trump responded after the decision was issued, calling it a “horrible and politically charged” decision. He said he wanted a legal solution, not a political one. He wanted the court to address whether DACA is unconstitutional. Angry at Roberts, he said he would be issuing a list of recommended Supreme Court judicial candidates in September.
The DACA decision, while a highly political one, and seemingly not based on the law, gives the President of the United States far more power than EVER anticipated. Nevertheless, I will only act in the best interests of the United States of America! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2020
Rachel Alexander is a senior editor of The Stream. Follow her on Twitter at Rach_IC. Follow The Stream at streamdotorg. Send tips to [email protected].


thestream--2020-06-20--Martin Luther Writes Against the Robbing and Murdering Hordes of Antifa

I write to you once again , offering such advice as may be accepted almost five centuries after my death .
And in a nation that is very unlike the Germany of my time on earth .
In my previous missive , I advised you on the threat of Islam .
Today I , with the help of God , will undertake to provide counsel on a different , but no less dangerous risk .
I write against your robbing and murdering hordes of peasants .
What are called in your time and place Antifa and Black Lives Matter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in my time , rose up in rebellion , I at first told our princes to refrain from violence .
I suggested that they “ choose from among the nobles certain counts and lords , and from the cities certain councilmen , and have these matters dealt with in a friendly way.
” And “ that the peasants … let themselves be instructed , and give over and let go some of the articles that grasp too far and too high.
” If both sides were to do this , then the issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law and agreement ” — if not “ in a Christian way.
” Rebels with a Partially Just Cause I wrote thusly because among the 12 demands of the Swabian peasants were some “ so fair and just ” as to “ fulfill the Psalm about pouring contempt upon princes.
” Preventing their rulers from demanding extra work without pay .
Or allowing them to fish or hunt for food in the nobles ’ streams and forests .
By such injustices the German lords did naught but “ flay and rob ” their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ splendor and pride.
” I called upon both peasants and princes to “ become different men and yield to God ’ s word.
” This was because all were Christian .
And indeed the first several of the churls ’ articles concerned their wish to appoint , remove and determine pay for preachers of the Gospel .
Since both sides were arguing from the same context , I cautioned our nobility that just as “ a cart-load of hay must give way to a drunken man ” they should “ try kindness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But I also warned the peasants they ran the risk that “ any man might become judge over another.
” Then “ there would remain in the world neither authority nor government nor order ” but “ only murder and bloodshed.
” Why ?
Because “ as soon as anyone saw that someone was wronging him , he would turn to and judge him and punish him.
” And “ if that is unjust and intolerable when done by an individual , neither can it be endured when done by a band or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against following any “ prophet of turbulence ” that might arise .
Too Far — into Bloody Rebellion Alas , my warnings were not heeded .
Before I could even replace my pen in its inkwell and hurl it at Satan , the villains began robbing and murdering “ like mad dogs.
” I condemned them for sparking a rebellion , violating St. Paul ’ s teachings in Romans 13 , and “ calling themselves ‘ Christian brethren.
’ ” I know that in your 21st century nation the latter two points are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you and the vicious mob will focus on the first .
How Antifa and BLM Resemble the German Revolutionaries In 1525 the peasants plundered castles and monasteries .
In your time they loot and steal from some businesses , burn others to the ground and tear down or deface statues of famous men .
They have killed their fellow men .
Just like the ones I railed against , they “ smite , slay and stab , secretly or openly.
” Also , though I wrote then before Karl Marx had unleashed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16th and 21st century highwaymen ( and highwaywomen ) “ pretend that … all things were created free and common.
” In both times “ peasants … would have other men ’ s goods common , and keep their own goods for themselves.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Since such as these , then and now , “ have brought both God and man down upon them ” and “ since they submit to no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I must instruct the worldly governors on how they are to act in the matter with a clear conscience.
” Perhaps worst of all , Antifa and BLM “ are not content to be themselves the devil ’ s own , but they force and compel many good people against their wills to join their devilish league.
” This has taken place especially in your city of Seattle , in that stronghold of Satan , CHOP or CHAZ .
How should you respond ?
Like your Senator Tom Cotton , “ I will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smite and punish ” such brigands .
They “ have become faithless , perjured , disobedient , rebellious murderers , robbers and blasphemers , whom even heathen rulers have the right and power to punish.
” Indeed , it is your “ duty to punish them , for it is just for this purpose that [ you ] bear the sword.
” Any ruler who “ can punish and does not — even though the punishment consist in the taking of life and the shedding of blood — then he is guilty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which these fellows commit.
” “ It is the time of the sword , not the day of grace.
” I will end with a final warning .
Not to the renegades , however .
But to you American Princes .
“ Look at all the kingdoms that have come to their end by the sword — Assyria , Persia , Greece , Rome .
They have all been destroyed at last in the same way that they destroyed others .
Thus God shows that He is judge upon earth , and leaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more certain than that this judgment is close to you , whether it come now or later .
Unless you repent and reform.
” In any event , I have provided you Christian and brotherly advice .
God grant that it may help .
Amen .
Timothy Furnish holds a Ph.D. in Islamic , World and African history .
He is a former U.S. Army Arabic linguist and , later , civilian consultant to U.S. Special Operations Command .
He ’ s the author of books on the Middle East and Middle-earth ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opiner ( as , for example , on Fox News Channel ’ s War Stories : Fighting ISIS ) .

Most Noble Rulers of America,
I write to you once again, offering such advice as may be accepted almost five centuries after my death. And in a nation that is very unlike the Germany of my time on earth. In my previous missive, I advised you on the threat of Islam. Today I, with the help of God, will undertake to provide counsel on a different, but no less dangerous risk. I write against your robbing and murdering hordes of peasants. What are called in your time and place Antifa and Black Lives Matter.
Rebellion in Luther’s Time
When the peasants of southwestern Germany, in my time, rose up in rebellion, I at first told our princes to refrain from violence. I suggested that they “choose from among the nobles certain counts and lords, and from the cities certain councilmen, and have these matters dealt with in a friendly way.” And “that the peasants … let themselves be instructed, and give over and let go some of the articles that grasp too far and too high.” If both sides were to do this, then the issues might have been “settled by human law and agreement” — if not “in a Christian way.”
Rebels with a Partially Just Cause
I wrote thusly because among the 12 demands of the Swabian peasants were some “so fair and just” as to “fulfill the Psalm about pouring contempt upon princes.” Preventing their rulers from demanding extra work without pay. Or allowing them to fish or hunt for food in the nobles’ streams and forests. By such injustices the German lords did naught but “flay and rob” their subjects, while they led lives of “splendor and pride.”
I called upon both peasants and princes to “become different men and yield to God’s word.” This was because all were Christian. And indeed the first several of the churls’ articles concerned their wish to appoint, remove and determine pay for preachers of the Gospel. Since both sides were arguing from the same context, I cautioned our nobility that just as “a cart-load of hay must give way to a drunken man” they should “try kindness first.”
Dangers of Going Too Far
But I also warned the peasants they ran the risk that “any man might become judge over another.” Then “there would remain in the world neither authority nor government nor order” but “only murder and bloodshed.” Why? Because “as soon as anyone saw that someone was wronging him, he would turn to and judge him and punish him.” And “if that is unjust and intolerable when done by an individual, neither can it be endured when done by a band or a crowd.” They should guard themselves against following any “prophet of turbulence” that might arise.
Too Far — into Bloody Rebellion
Alas, my warnings were not heeded. Before I could even replace my pen in its inkwell and hurl it at Satan, the villains began robbing and murdering “like mad dogs.” I condemned them for sparking a rebellion, violating St. Paul’s teachings in Romans 13, and “calling themselves ‘Christian brethren.’” I know that in your 21st century nation the latter two points are largely irrelevant. So my advice to you and the vicious mob will focus on the first.
How Antifa and BLM Resemble the German Revolutionaries
In 1525 the peasants plundered castles and monasteries. In your time they loot and steal from some businesses, burn others to the ground and tear down or deface statues of famous men. They have killed their fellow men. Just like the ones I railed against, they “smite, slay and stab, secretly or openly.” Also, though I wrote then before Karl Marx had unleashed his devilish ideas upon the world, both 16th and 21st century highwaymen (and highwaywomen) “pretend that … all things were created free and common.” In both times “peasants … would have other men’s goods common, and keep their own goods for themselves.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Since such as these, then and now, “have brought both God and man down upon them” and “since they submit to no court … but only rage on, I must instruct the worldly governors on how they are to act in the matter with a clear conscience.” Perhaps worst of all, Antifa and BLM “are not content to be themselves the devil’s own, but they force and compel many good people against their wills to join their devilish league.” This has taken place especially in your city of Seattle, in that stronghold of Satan, CHOP or CHAZ.
How Should American Leaders Respond?
How should you respond? Like your Senator Tom Cotton, “I will not oppose a ruler who … will smite and punish” such brigands. They “have become faithless, perjured, disobedient, rebellious murderers, robbers and blasphemers, whom even heathen rulers have the right and power to punish.” Indeed, it is your “duty to punish them, for it is just for this purpose that [you] bear the sword.” Any ruler who “can punish and does not — even though the punishment consist in the taking of life and the shedding of blood — then he is guilty of all the murder and all the evil which these fellows commit.” “It is the time of the sword, not the day of grace.”
A Final Warning
I will end with a final warning. Not to the renegades, however. But to you American Princes. “Look at all the kingdoms that have come to their end by the sword — Assyria, Persia, Greece, Rome. They have all been destroyed at last in the same way that they destroyed others. Thus God shows that He is judge upon earth, and leaves no wrong unpunished. Therefore nothing is more certain than that this judgment is close to you, whether it come now or later. Unless you repent and reform.” In any event, I have provided you Christian and brotherly advice. God grant that it may help. Amen.
Timothy Furnish holds a Ph.D. in Islamic, World and African history. He is a former U.S. Army Arabic linguist and, later, civilian consultant to U.S. Special Operations Command. He’s the author of books on the Middle East and Middle-earth; a history professor; and sometime media opiner (as, for example, on Fox News Channel’s War Stories: Fighting ISIS).


thestream--2020-06-20--Antifa, Communism, Socialism — Same Playbook, Same Lust for Power

“ We believe that working people should run both the economy and society democratically to meet human needs , not to make profits for a few.
” The neo-Marxist youth movement today is more confused than ever .
Antifa and its comrades have an ugly influence .
They seek our college kids and those susceptible to radical ideas .
Believing their ideology can give an angry and confused person meaning in life .
They ’ re among the most disturbed young socialists .
They claim they ’ re anti-fascist , but use fascist tactics and violence .
Their benefactors ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re communists violently attacking and defending the country from “ fascists.
” They seem to want the Spanish Civil War , but right here in America .
For the most part , they aren ’ t assaulting fascists , but traditional Americans .
We love freedom .
The news media makes a huge hype of when they attack a usually much smaller group of neo-Nazis .
They call them counter-protesters against a hate group .
The truth is that both groups consist of socialist punks .
Looking for trouble is Antifa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re a much more prevalent and openly violent problem today than other radical groups .
There isn ’ t an American flag that they don ’ t want to tear down or burn up .
Why do the mainstream media cover for them ?
It seems that those behind the scenes , pulling the kids ’ strings , want agitation .
It leads to the anarchy that destabilizes the system .
They organize amazingly well , then turn up the heat .
How do protests pop up in many cities across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold the same signs and chant the same slogans .
Do you think kids who can ’ t even explain what they believe or why they ’ re protesting organized it all so well by themselves ?
These “ useful idiots ” are susceptible to these nasty specious beliefs .
What ’ s the cure ?
Knowledge , strength , and understanding .
Skillful persuasion and perseverance in the face of it .
Better parenting is vital first .
We must lead by example .
From early on , our youth must learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ productivity , growth , and how we create value and exchange with each other .
These movements always use redistribution of wealth schemes , whether they ’ re openly violent or claim they ’ re peaceful .
Today , revolutionary socialism is rearing its ugly head in the fringe , but long ago , “ progressives ” embedded Keynesianism into our system .
Keynes came on the scene when many academics still hoped for a Marxist future .
He visited the Soviet Union just a few years after its inception .
In those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model society .
Although Keynes was a quintessential progressive , progress toward justice and prosperity in an enlightened society was not possible with Soviet brutality .
Keynes then openly ridiculed Marxism .
He supported the Labour Party in Great Britain , but many of his closest friends were Fabian Socialists .
Their goal still today is Democratic Socialism .
How similar is today ’ s Labour Party in England to America ’ s Democratic Party ?
How far removed philosophically are either from Democratic Socialism ?
The Democratic Socialists of America now openly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this statement , they work alongside those other groups to pull the Democratic Party to the left .
Their attack is from within .
How radically left wing are those other groups ?
Very .
How successful are they ?
Today , moderate Democrats seem nearly extinct .
In this recent election , several Democratic Socialists won election to Congress as Democrats .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
An exception is traditional religious institutions , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them wherever possible .
They undermine and destroy them by attacking their foundational moral beliefs .
They may even believe they ’ re changing them for the better .
If the corroding trend doesn ’ t stop , they ’ ll become a hollow shell .
Soon they ’ ll become culturally irrelevant .
Next , the church sells off its buildings .
The Fabian Socialist Society , still active in England , doesn ’ t officially call for immediate violent overthrow .
Instead , it promotes Democratic Socialism through incremental societal re-formation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right moment .
They want to mold the world with collectivist ideas .
Preparing themselves and the world—to hammer it into the proper formation .
Their website shows this in their traditional motto : They claim they ’ re peaceful , but the anticipation of war before they “ strike hard ” is their motto .
Even before any active assault , “ progress ” is always toward more control and bureaucracy .
The philosophy is collective , by committee , typically led by a dictator .
They miss the individual ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successfully .
How many historical examples are there of one inspired free businessman changing the world ?
They would demonize a greedy Steve Jobs for building an empire .
They may accuse him of stealing resources from the community to make computers for so many people .
Or they might call him a thief , as Karl Marx would .
The Democratic Socialists of America ’ s website introductory video called “ Thanks Capitalism ” says as much : Here ’ s a choice quote from the video : It sounds like Marx @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be more sophisticated than his starkly driving prose .
Underneath their softer words , they disregard entrepreneurship .
They describe social evolution beyond capitalism and champion collectivism .
You don ’ t need to scratch the surface to see Marxist economic theory .
But there is something else .
Look at the words in those last two lines !
“ capitalism profoundly alienating ” and “ everyone and everything seems so distant , so hopeless , so odd.
” They are psychologically preying on the potentially depressed .
Our emotionally vulnerable youth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want your kids falling into these peoples ’ hands ?
Do you know any Bernie Bros ?
In reality , the market isn ’ t “ a man-made economic system.
” It ’ s quite natural .
We produce and trade , or we don ’ t eat or improve our lives .
We ’ ve done it farther back than all ancient records show .
People become wealthy because they produce valuable things for others and trade with them .
We can think freely , imagine , and create , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside societal structures , including our schools .
Just like Marx wrote in The Communist Manifesto , they have replaced traditional education with “ social.
” They attack by accusing their targeted opponents of racism , sexism , and discrimination against LGBTQ and whatever other letters they can add .
They complain of “ capitalist ” alienation , but this creates strategic wedges between people .
They appeal to young peoples ’ emotional pain , talking about “ safe spaces ” and “ triggers.
” They are at war with free speech .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ opponents personally .
Destroying individual lives is all part of the ends justifying the means .
In the short term , it ’ s a design for instability .
Shake things up and break down traditional society .
In the long run , they take control .
What does “ wait ” to “ strike hard ” mean ?
Our leftist politicians use softer precursor buzzwords .
They say the government must “ right wrongs ” and “ level the playing field.
” Don ’ t you see the underlying philosophy emerging in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news daily ?
Who are these youths donning black masks and attacking older folks while blocking the street ?
They smash their car windows and derisively mock their white skin .
They look like middle-class white kids .
Is this crazy ?
During the Supreme Court Senate approval inquest , did you see the various images on the news showing kids chanting slogans robotically ?
Older leaders had schooled them in what appears to have been like brainwashing sessions .
These “ heroes ” then went out violently “ protesting ” Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t look like peaceful public dissent but threats and violence .
Are these the first stages of domestic terrorism ?
Now we see them driving into our cities just before curfew , handing out bricks , and instructing young inner-city kids .
Throw them at cops !
Smash small business windows and loot !
Isn ’ t arson evil ?
What kind of people spray paint graffiti on the Lincoln Memorial ?
Those who want justice for a black man murdered by an agent of the state ?
No , but people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Any grace present becomes overwhelmed by confusion .
The mob .
What We Can Do There ’ s a short-term solution and a long-term solution .
In the short term , we must listen to those like former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani who know what they ’ re doing .
Stop the mobs quickly before they grow with smart , aggressive policing .
Tell them they ’ ll spend at least a night in Riker ’ s Island before their parents find out .
Warn them , and then arrest the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They then disperse in fear .
In the long run , we must teach our kids about natural liberty and free enterprise at home .
We must only send them to schools that give them a traditional education .
We must lead by example .
The moral values that brought Western Civilization will keep it going .
It requires generations to follow with productive adults .
Put our flaws , evils , and historical mistakes in a broader context .
An honest and reasonable view reveals America ’ s goodness .

“We believe that working people should run both the economy and society democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few.”
— Democratic Socialists of America
The neo-Marxist youth movement today is more confused than ever. Antifa and its comrades have an ugly influence. They seek our college kids and those susceptible to radical ideas. Believing their ideology can give an angry and confused person meaning in life. They’re among the most disturbed young socialists.
They claim they’re anti-fascist, but use fascist tactics and violence. Their benefactors’ Marxist rhetoric exposes their cartoonish fraud. They’re communists violently attacking and defending the country from “fascists.” They seem to want the Spanish Civil War, but right here in America.
The Media’s Pet Terrorists
For the most part, they aren’t assaulting fascists, but traditional Americans. We love freedom. The news media makes a huge hype of when they attack a usually much smaller group of neo-Nazis. They call them counter-protesters against a hate group. The truth is that both groups consist of socialist punks.
Looking for trouble is Antifa’s modus operandi. They’re a much more prevalent and openly violent problem today than other radical groups. There isn’t an American flag that they don’t want to tear down or burn up. Why do the mainstream media cover for them?
It seems that those behind the scenes, pulling the kids’ strings, want agitation. It leads to the anarchy that destabilizes the system. They organize amazingly well, then turn up the heat. How do protests pop up in many cities across the country on the same day? The kids hold the same signs and chant the same slogans. Do you think kids who can’t even explain what they believe or why they’re protesting organized it all so well by themselves?
These “useful idiots” are susceptible to these nasty specious beliefs. What’s the cure? Knowledge, strength, and understanding. Skillful persuasion and perseverance in the face of it.
Teach Your Kids Real Economics
Better parenting is vital first. We must lead by example. From early on, our youth must learn about real economics. Teach them about productivity, growth, and how we create value and exchange with each other. These movements always use redistribution of wealth schemes, whether they’re openly violent or claim they’re peaceful. Today, revolutionary socialism is rearing its ugly head in the fringe, but long ago, “progressives” embedded Keynesianism into our system.
Keynes came on the scene when many academics still hoped for a Marxist future. He visited the Soviet Union just a few years after its inception. In those days, many called it the new model society. Although Keynes was a quintessential progressive, progress toward justice and prosperity in an enlightened society was not possible with Soviet brutality.
Infiltrating the Democrats
Keynes then openly ridiculed Marxism. He supported the Labour Party in Great Britain, but many of his closest friends were Fabian Socialists. Their goal still today is Democratic Socialism. How similar is today’s Labour Party in England to America’s Democratic Party? How far removed philosophically are either from Democratic Socialism? The Democratic Socialists of America now openly infiltrates the Democratic Party.
Like our friends and allies in the feminist, labor, civil rights, religious, and community organizing movements, many of us have been active in the Democratic Party. We work with those movements to strengthen the party’s left-wing, represented by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. (Democratic Socialists of America, 2009.)
According to this statement, they work alongside those other groups to pull the Democratic Party to the left. Their attack is from within. How radically left wing are those other groups? Very. How successful are they? Today, moderate Democrats seem nearly extinct. In this recent election, several Democratic Socialists won election to Congress as Democrats.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
An exception is traditional religious institutions, but socialists are on the inside working on them wherever possible. They undermine and destroy them by attacking their foundational moral beliefs. They may even believe they’re changing them for the better. If the corroding trend doesn’t stop, they’ll become a hollow shell. Soon they’ll become culturally irrelevant. Next, the church sells off its buildings.
Hungry for Power
The Fabian Socialist Society, still active in England, doesn’t officially call for immediate violent overthrow. Instead, it promotes Democratic Socialism through incremental societal re-formation. They preach patience, waiting for the right moment. They want to mold the world with collectivist ideas. Preparing themselves and the world—to hammer it into the proper formation. Their website shows this in their traditional motto:
For the right moment you must wait, as Fabius did most patiently when warring against Hannibal, though many censured his delays; but when the time comes you must strike hard, as Fabius did, or your waiting will be in vain, and fruitless.
They claim they’re peaceful, but the anticipation of war before they “strike hard” is their motto. Even before any active assault, “progress” is always toward more control and bureaucracy. The philosophy is collective, by committee, typically led by a dictator.
Smearing Businessmen as Thieves
They miss the individual’s drive to create and stand out successfully. How many historical examples are there of one inspired free businessman changing the world? They would demonize a greedy Steve Jobs for building an empire. They may accuse him of stealing resources from the community to make computers for so many people. Or they might call him a thief, as Karl Marx would.
The Democratic Socialists of America’s website introductory video called “Thanks Capitalism” says as much:
Here’s a choice quote from the video:
Capitalism is a man-made economic system based on profit. It takes wealth and resources away from the public and puts it in the hands of private capitalists. A few become enormously wealthy on the backs of the many. This consolidated control of profit and political power leads to extreme inequality. These factors all make capitalism profoundly alienating. Which is why everyone and everything seems so distant, so hopeless, so odd.
It sounds like Marx wrote it for them, except it might be more sophisticated than his starkly driving prose. Underneath their softer words, they disregard entrepreneurship. They describe social evolution beyond capitalism and champion collectivism. You don’t need to scratch the surface to see Marxist economic theory.
Preying on Troubled Youth
But there is something else. Look at the words in those last two lines! “capitalism profoundly alienating” and “everyone and everything seems so distant, so hopeless, so odd.” They are psychologically preying on the potentially depressed. Our emotionally vulnerable youth! It’s chilling. Do you want your kids falling into these peoples’ hands? Do you know any Bernie Bros?
In reality, the market isn’t “a man-made economic system.” It’s quite natural. We produce and trade, or we don’t eat or improve our lives. We’ve done it farther back than all ancient records show. People become wealthy because they produce valuable things for others and trade with them. We can think freely, imagine, and create, so resources are unlimited.
Tactically they work inside societal structures, including our schools. Just like Marx wrote in The Communist Manifesto, they have replaced traditional education with “social.” They attack by accusing their targeted opponents of racism, sexism, and discrimination against LGBTQ and whatever other letters they can add. They complain of “capitalist” alienation, but this creates strategic wedges between people. They appeal to young peoples’ emotional pain, talking about “safe spaces” and “triggers.” They are at war with free speech. But they think nothing of demonizing political opponents personally. Destroying individual lives is all part of the ends justifying the means.
The Same Marxist Playbook
In the short term, it’s a design for instability. Shake things up and break down traditional society. In the long run, they take control. What does “wait” to “strike hard” mean? Our leftist politicians use softer precursor buzzwords. They say the government must “right wrongs” and “level the playing field.” Don’t you see the underlying philosophy emerging in violent radical kids we see on the news daily?
Who are these youths donning black masks and attacking older folks while blocking the street? They smash their car windows and derisively mock their white skin. They look like middle-class white kids. Is this crazy? During the Supreme Court Senate approval inquest, did you see the various images on the news showing kids chanting slogans robotically? Older leaders had schooled them in what appears to have been like brainwashing sessions. These “heroes” then went out violently “protesting” Supreme Court nominee, Judge Kavanaugh. It didn’t look like peaceful public dissent but threats and violence. Are these the first stages of domestic terrorism?
Now we see them driving into our cities just before curfew, handing out bricks, and instructing young inner-city kids. Throw them at cops! Smash small business windows and loot! Isn’t arson evil? What kind of people spray paint graffiti on the Lincoln Memorial? Those who want justice for a black man murdered by an agent of the state? No, but people with no operational grace in their hearts. Any grace present becomes overwhelmed by confusion. The mob.
What We Can Do
There’s a short-term solution and a long-term solution. In the short term, we must listen to those like former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani who know what they’re doing. Stop the mobs quickly before they grow with smart, aggressive policing. Tell them they’ll spend at least a night in Riker’s Island before their parents find out. Warn them, and then arrest the first, second, and third who misbehave. They then disperse in fear.
In the long run, we must teach our kids about natural liberty and free enterprise at home. We must only send them to schools that give them a traditional education. We must lead by example. The moral values that brought Western Civilization will keep it going. It requires generations to follow with productive adults. Put our flaws, evils, and historical mistakes in a broader context. An honest and reasonable view reveals America’s goodness.
James Malloy is the author of Economic Clarity or Political Confusion.


thestream--2020-06-21--I Got It From My Father

I Got It From My Father

I ’ m a maker .
I like to make things .
I got it from my dad .
See me : see my dad .
What do I like to make ?
A melody .
A meal .
A sentence .
A carefully conveyed idea .
An article-illustrating image .
A tub of remineralizing toothpaste .
A garden .
Our house is beautified by creations that have my dad ’ s fingerprints on them .
A playhouse/shed combo built from the ground up .
A remodeled kitchen , bathroom and children ’ s bedrooms .
A garden .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ability to create .
He blesses us with what he can build and fix .
I needed him recently when I had an idea for how to optimize our overflowing spice cabinet that hides what I need and rains spice bottles down on me when I stand on tiptoe and push them around in my search .
Yeah , not fun .
I told my mom I hate her spice cabinet after it rained on me again and she said , “ My birthday is coming up.
” I said I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But after I came up with an idea I realized I needed my dad ’ s help .
Amazon wasn ’ t going to cut it , and neither were my nonexistent building skills .
An air vent goes through the small cabinet , making it an irregular shape .
My dad built a custom shelf that fits around the air vent .
He made it out of two bamboo cutting boards — so it would look nicer than if he ’ d used plywood .
How clever .
How creative .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ containers on me anymore .
How nice .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
My parents and I agreed we were very pleased with how it turned out .
So much , in fact , that for the first few days we kept the cabinet doors open .
That way we could enjoy looking at the order from chaos my dad had created through his handiwork .
It ’ s like what God did at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God saw that it was good.
” Just as we did .
The first three days God created space for inhabitants through acts of separation .
And the second three days God filled the spaces with inhabitants .
Before the first day the world was formless and void , wild and waste .
Not a good place to live and with no one living in it .
But God created order from chaos .
And then on the seventh day he rested .
Not as in he was tired .
As in he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all been for .
His work had been to make a place where people made in His image could live and He could meet with us and reveal Himself to us .
For this purpose He even made a garden .
In the creation story we meet a loving creator God who creates a beautiful world with a beautiful purpose in mind .
And we meet humans , made to look like God and to reveal Him to the world .
I am a maker .
I like to make things .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me : see my Father .
Aliya Kuykendall is a staff writer and proofreader for The Stream .
You can follow Aliya on Twitter @ AliyaKuykendall and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

I’m a maker. I like to make things. I got it from my dad. See me: see my dad.
What do I like to make? A melody. A meal. A sentence. A carefully conveyed idea. An article-illustrating image. A tub of remineralizing toothpaste. A garden.
My dad likes to make things.
Our house is beautified by creations that have my dad’s fingerprints on them. A playhouse/shed combo built from the ground up. A remodeled kitchen, bathroom and children’s bedrooms. A garden. I’m continually amazed by my dad’s ability to create. He blesses us with what he can build and fix.
I needed him recently when I had an idea for how to optimize our overflowing spice cabinet that hides what I need and rains spice bottles down on me when I stand on tiptoe and push them around in my search. Yeah, not fun.
I told my mom I hate her spice cabinet after it rained on me again and she said, “My birthday is coming up.” I said I’d take care of it.
But after I came up with an idea I realized I needed my dad’s help. Amazon wasn’t going to cut it, and neither were my nonexistent building skills.
An air vent goes through the small cabinet, making it an irregular shape. My dad built a custom shelf that fits around the air vent. He made it out of two bamboo cutting boards — so it would look nicer than if he’d used plywood. How clever. How creative. And now it doesn’t rain spice containers on me anymore. How nice.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
My parents and I agreed we were very pleased with how it turned out. So much, in fact, that for the first few days we kept the cabinet doors open. That way we could enjoy looking at the order from chaos my dad had created through his handiwork.
It’s like what God did at the end of a creation day. “And God saw that it was good.” Just as we did.
The first three days God created space for inhabitants through acts of separation. And the second three days God filled the spaces with inhabitants. Before the first day the world was formless and void, wild and waste. Not a good place to live and with no one living in it. But God created order from chaos.
And then on the seventh day he rested. Not as in he was tired. As in he stopped working and enjoyed what it had all been for. His work had been to make a place where people made in His image could live and He could meet with us and reveal Himself to us. For this purpose He even made a garden.
In the creation story we meet a loving creator God who creates a beautiful world with a beautiful purpose in mind. And we meet humans, made to look like God and to reveal Him to the world.
I am a maker. I like to make things. I got it from my Father. See me: see my Father.
Aliya Kuykendall is a staff writer and proofreader for The Stream. You can follow Aliya on Twitter @AliyaKuykendall and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-06-22--Some Honest Questions About Racial Issues From a White American Messianic Jew

If we are to work through today ’ s deep divisions in America and truly confront racism where it exists , there must be a two-way conversation .
Otherwise , there can be no real understanding and no lasting solutions .
To be sure , I ’ m all for listening before speaking .
And when it comes to the question of racism , I ’ ve been listening and learning for years .
I plan to continue to do so .
But there are some questions that need to be asked as well .
So , at the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some label , let me put the questions on the table .
First , how do we know which black voices to listen to ?
The messages of people like Thomas Sowell or Walter Williams or Larry Elder or Candace Owens or Alveda King or Diamond and Silk or Taleeb Starkes are very different than the messages of the Black Lives Matters movement or liberal African Americans .
Why is it that only the liberal voices are to be heeded ?
Why do only those voices truly represent black Americans ?
One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American bishop .
He has been told for years that he is not black enough because of his political ideology .
Skin color is somehow associated with a political position , which genuinely confuses me .
Could someone explain this to me ?
These are honest questions , meant to solicit honest responses rather than to antagonize .
Politico reported about a gathering of young black leaders at the White House on October 6 , 2019 : “ In attendance were some of the hundreds of young black conservatives who came to Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberal America that African Americans can be conservative and support Trump — that the conservative movement is not just for old white men.
” What should I make of their perspective ?
Second , should I ignore the many African American callers to my radio show who urge their fellow African Americans to overcome the victim mentality ?
I absolutely believe that , generally speaking , it is harder to be a black American than a white American .
And with slavery and segregation and Jim Crow laws dominating so much of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are still wounds and inequities that remain from the past .
But has all this resulted in a victimhood mentality , which hurts people more than it helps them ?
According to Starkes , “ This is how too many blacks see themselves — as victims .
So much so that their victim status becomes their primary identity and their ruling ideology .
I call it victimology .
Unfortunately , many black churches preach this ‘ victimology , ’ many black parents pass it on to their children , inner-city schools teach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media reinforce it .
Meanwhile , the NAACP and other black grievance groups fundraise on it.
” Is there any truth to this observation ?
If there is , and if I am to love my neighbor as myself as a follower of Jesus , am I allowed to raise this issue ?
( Again , these are honest questions , not facetious ones .
To doubt me is to judge me wrongly . )
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do we do when the best research that we see presents a very different perspective than the one we hear on TV day and night ?
When it comes to the death of George Floyd , there was instantaneous , national outrage , from the streets to the White House .
And as a result of that tragedy , there has been an increased awareness of police brutality and unequal treatment .
Even in the halls of Congress , Senator Lindsey Graham was able to contrast his experience with the police with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself noted , “ Every black man in America ‘ feels threatened ’ when stopped by cops.
” I also understand that black Americans are not downplaying black on black violence .
But there is special outrage is when someone who is supposed to be enforcing the law breaks the law .
This outrage is compounded when the legal system doesn ’ t do its job .
Already in 2014 , Ta-Nehisi Coates penned an article in The Atlantic titled , “ Black People Are Not Ignoring ‘ Black on Black ’ Crime.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s almost as if Stop The Violence never happened , or The Interruptors never happened , or Kendrick Lamar never happened .
The call issued by Erica Ford at the end of this Do The Right Thing retrospective is so common as to be ritual .
It is not ‘ black on black crime ’ that is background noise in America , but the pleas of black people.
” So , again , I ’ m not downplaying the testimonies of countless black Americans .
I ’ m just asking what to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respected researcher like Heather Mac Donald .
How should we process this information ?
And , since every life is precious , what can we do to address these troubling statistics ?
Fourth , what is the root cause of fatherlessness in the black community ?
According to African American leader Jack Brewer ( and with reference to fatherless homes ) , “ If you wonder why black crime rates are so high , go spend some time in our inner cities to learn about the real issues facing young black men .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism and oppression.
” He added , “ It ’ s time for us all to put an end to the divisive narratives and open our hearts to do something about the issues at hand.
” What are some of the things that we can do ?
Fifth , do you understand how the concept of “ collective guilt ” can be off-putting to many white Americans , not because it is painful but because it is without ethical foundation ?
I intentionally mentioned my Jewish heritage in the title of this article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jews are frequently victims of racial hatred and have suffered an endless stream of atrocities in nation after nation for millennia .
Some of the recent riots even targeted synagogues for vandalism and attack .
One headline announced that , “ Rioting in Los Angeles was an anti-Jewish pogrom.
” So , Jews in America have their own stories to tell .
The other reason for bringing up my Jewishness is to note that my father ’ s parents were immigrants from Russia , with many social and financial obstacles to overcome .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ here from England at a young age as a virtual orphan to be raised by relatives .
I ’ ve also shared before that my second organ teacher was a black man married to a white woman , and they would eat dinner at our home .
They had lost friends and family members over their interracial marriage , which shocked and grieved my father .
( This was in New York in the early to mid-1960s . )
So , my upbringing was anything but racist , and my life has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For what , then , am I supposed to feel guilty ?
I ’ ve also traveled outside of America about 200 times ( including 27 times to India alone ) , working in multicultural settings on a regular basis .
And I ’ ve worked with black Christian colleagues in America to address the massive loss of black lives in the womb .
( Oh wait .
Am I virtue signaling here ? )
Can we , then , sit down as friends and colleagues and co-workers without using super-charged , unhelpful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me , no better how painful it might be , you will not offend me .
But if we can avoid offending each other unnecessarily , we can work together for a better future .
I look forward to hearing your thoughts .
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 .

If we are to work through today’s deep divisions in America and truly confront racism where it exists, there must be a two-way conversation. Otherwise, there can be no real understanding and no lasting solutions.
To be sure, I’m all for listening before speaking. And when it comes to the question of racism, I’ve been listening and learning for years. I plan to continue to do so.
Questions on the Table
But there are some questions that need to be asked as well. So, at the risk of being misunderstood or being saddled with some label, let me put the questions on the table.
First, how do we know which black voices to listen to? The messages of people like Thomas Sowell or Walter Williams or Larry Elder or Candace Owens or Alveda King or Diamond and Silk or Taleeb Starkes are very different than the messages of the Black Lives Matters movement or liberal African Americans.
Why is it that only the liberal voices are to be heeded? Why do only those voices truly represent black Americans?
One of my friends is a conservative, African American bishop. He has been told for years that he is not black enough because of his political ideology. Skin color is somehow associated with a political position, which genuinely confuses me. Could someone explain this to me?
These are honest questions, meant to solicit honest responses rather than to antagonize.
Politico reported about a gathering of young black leaders at the White House on October 6, 2019: “In attendance were some of the hundreds of young black conservatives who came to Washington this past week as a show to liberal America that African Americans can be conservative and support Trump — that the conservative movement is not just for old white men.”
What should I make of their perspective?
Overcoming a Victim Mentality?
Second, should I ignore the many African American callers to my radio show who urge their fellow African Americans to overcome the victim mentality?
I absolutely believe that, generally speaking, it is harder to be a black American than a white American. And with slavery and segregation and Jim Crow laws dominating so much of our history, it makes perfect sense that there are still wounds and inequities that remain from the past.
But has all this resulted in a victimhood mentality, which hurts people more than it helps them?
According to Starkes, “This is how too many blacks see themselves — as victims. So much so that their victim status becomes their primary identity and their ruling ideology. I call it victimology. Unfortunately, many black churches preach this ‘victimology,’ many black parents pass it on to their children, inner-city schools teach it to their students and the black media reinforce it. Meanwhile, the NAACP and other black grievance groups fundraise on it.”
Is there any truth to this observation? If there is, and if I am to love my neighbor as myself as a follower of Jesus, am I allowed to raise this issue? (Again, these are honest questions, not facetious ones. To doubt me is to judge me wrongly.)
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Third, what do we do when the best research that we see presents a very different perspective than the one we hear on TV day and night?
When it comes to the death of George Floyd, there was instantaneous, national outrage, from the streets to the White House. And as a result of that tragedy, there has been an increased awareness of police brutality and unequal treatment.
Even in the halls of Congress, Senator Lindsey Graham was able to contrast his experience with the police with that of Senator Tim Scott. As Graham himself noted, “Every black man in America ‘feels threatened’ when stopped by cops.”
Pain Versus Statistics
I also understand that black Americans are not downplaying black on black violence. But there is special outrage is when someone who is supposed to be enforcing the law breaks the law. This outrage is compounded when the legal system doesn’t do its job.
Already in 2014, Ta-Nehisi Coates penned an article in The Atlantic titled, “Black People Are Not Ignoring ‘Black on Black’ Crime.”
He wrote, “It’s almost as if Stop The Violence never happened, or The Interruptors never happened, or Kendrick Lamar never happened. The call issued by Erica Ford at the end of this Do The Right Thing retrospective is so common as to be ritual. It is not ‘black on black crime’ that is background noise in America, but the pleas of black people.”
So, again, I’m not downplaying the testimonies of countless black Americans. I’m just asking what to do with information like this, from a respected researcher like Heather Mac Donald.
She wrote,
The police fatally shot nine unarmed blacks and 19 unarmed whites in 2019, according to a Washington Post database, down from 38 and 32, respectively, in 2015. The Post defines ‘unarmed’ broadly to include such cases as a suspect in Newark, N.J., who had a loaded handgun in his car during a police chase. In 2018 there were 7,407 black homicide victims. Assuming a comparable number of victims last year, those nine unarmed black victims of police shootings represent 0.1% of all African-Americans killed in 2019. By contrast, a police officer is 18½ times more likely to be killed by a black male than an unarmed black male is to be killed by a police officer.”
How should we process this information? And, since every life is precious, what can we do to address these troubling statistics?
Fatherlessness
Fourth, what is the root cause of fatherlessness in the black community? According to African American leader Jack Brewer (and with reference to fatherless homes), “If you wonder why black crime rates are so high, go spend some time in our inner cities to learn about the real issues facing young black men. This is the very definition of systematic racism and oppression.”
He added, “It’s time for us all to put an end to the divisive narratives and open our hearts to do something about the issues at hand.”
What are some of the things that we can do?
The Sin of Collective Guilt
Fifth, do you understand how the concept of “collective guilt” can be off-putting to many white Americans, not because it is painful but because it is without ethical foundation?
I intentionally mentioned my Jewish heritage in the title of this article for two reasons. One is that Jews are frequently victims of racial hatred and have suffered an endless stream of atrocities in nation after nation for millennia. Some of the recent riots even targeted synagogues for vandalism and attack. One headline announced that, “Rioting in Los Angeles was an anti-Jewish pogrom.” So, Jews in America have their own stories to tell.
The other reason for bringing up my Jewishness is to note that my father’s parents were immigrants from Russia, with many social and financial obstacles to overcome. As for my mother, she arrived here from England at a young age as a virtual orphan to be raised by relatives.
I’ve also shared before that my second organ teacher was a black man married to a white woman, and they would eat dinner at our home. They had lost friends and family members over their interracial marriage, which shocked and grieved my father. (This was in New York in the early to mid-1960s.) So, my upbringing was anything but racist, and my life has been anything but racist over the decades. For what, then, am I supposed to feel guilty?
I’ve also traveled outside of America about 200 times (including 27 times to India alone), working in multicultural settings on a regular basis. And I’ve worked with black Christian colleagues in America to address the massive loss of black lives in the womb. (Oh wait. Am I virtue signaling here?)
Can we, then, sit down as friends and colleagues and co-workers without using super-charged, unhelpful concepts?
If you speak the truth to me, no matter how painful it might be, you will not offend me. But if we can avoid offending each other unnecessarily, we can work together for a better future.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
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--2020-06-21--‘Stunning’: AG Barr Slams Media for ‘Bovine Silence’ on Collapse of Russiagate

Attorney General William Barr hit the establishment media in an interview aired Sunday for what he called its “ bovine silence ” regarding the debunked narrative of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian government .
In an interview on “ Fox Sunday Futures , ” Barr also asserted that the various government investigations into the Trump campaign ’ s possible ties to Kremlin were the “ closest we have come to an organized effort to push a president out of office ” since the assassination of Abraham Lincoln .
Barr has long questioned the FBI ’ s decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign in July 2016 .
He appointed John Durham , the U.S. attorney for Connecticut , to conduct a review of the investigation and other surveillance conducted against Trump campaign associates .
He said in the Fox News interview that Durham ’ s probe will yield some results “ hopefully before the end of the summer.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Barr leveled his most pointed critique against the establishment media , which he accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign conspired with the Kremlin .
“ It ’ s like not even a ‘ Whoops , ’ and they ’ re just on to the next false scandal , ” Barr said in the interview .
“ It ’ s been stunning that all we ’ ve gotten from the mainstream media is sort of bovine silence in the face of the complete collapse of the so-called Russiagate scandal , which they did all they could to sensationalize and drive , ” he said .
“ So that has been surprising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t concerned about civil liberties and in the integrity of our governmental process.
” The special counsel ’ s office and Justice Department inspector general ( IG ) poured cold water on the collusion theory in reports released in 2019 .
The special counsel said investigators could not establish that Trump associates conspired with the Russian government .
The IG said that the FBI made a series of “ significant ” errors and omissions in applications to conduct surveillance against Carter Page , a former campaign aide .
Barr also said that Durham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump-Russia probe has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
He said that there has been a “ distinct slowing down ” of Durham ’ s efforts to interview witnesses as part of the probe .
He declined to say whether a grand jury has heard testimony as part of the probe , but he said that grand juries have not met at all in jurisdictions across the country because of the virus .

Attorney General William Barr hit the establishment media in an interview aired Sunday for what he called its “bovine silence” regarding the debunked narrative of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian government.
In an interview on “Fox Sunday Futures,” Barr also asserted that the various government investigations into the Trump campaign’s possible ties to Kremlin were the “closest we have come to an organized effort to push a president out of office” since the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
Barr has long questioned the FBI’s decision to open a counterintelligence investigation against the Trump campaign in July 2016. He appointed John Durham, the U.S. attorney for Connecticut, to conduct a review of the investigation and other surveillance conducted against Trump campaign associates.
He said in the Fox News interview that Durham’s probe will yield some results “hopefully before the end of the summer.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Barr leveled his most pointed critique against the establishment media, which he accused of pushing the conspiracy theory that the Trump campaign conspired with the Kremlin.
“It’s like not even a ‘Whoops,’ and they’re just on to the next false scandal,” Barr said in the interview.
“It’s been stunning that all we’ve gotten from the mainstream media is sort of bovine silence in the face of the complete collapse of the so-called Russiagate scandal, which they did all they could to sensationalize and drive,” he said.
“So that has been surprising to me, that people aren’t concerned about civil liberties and in the integrity of our governmental process.”
The special counsel’s office and Justice Department inspector general (IG) poured cold water on the collusion theory in reports released in 2019. The special counsel said investigators could not establish that Trump associates conspired with the Russian government. The IG said that the FBI made a series of “significant” errors and omissions in applications to conduct surveillance against Carter Page, a former campaign aide.
Barr also said that Durham’s investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said that there has been a “distinct slowing down” of Durham’s efforts to interview witnesses as part of the probe. He declined to say whether a grand jury has heard testimony as part of the probe, but he said that grand juries have not met at all in jurisdictions across the country because of the virus.
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thestream--2020-06-21--With Bolton Bombshells, Civil Strife and Marxists on the March, Can We Still Support Donald Trump?

Now is not the time for hand-wringing and second-guessing ourselves .
Despite the pandemic and leftist pandemonium , many things that we ’ ve been praying for to happen in our nation are finally happening .
So , at this stage , many of us will not apologize for backing the president , nor will we be intimidated .
Unless millions of Americans and I , who are praying and truly seeking the will of the Father , are missing it , we will keep contending : “ If the foundations are destroyed , what can the righteous do ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge of being a hypocrite if you support the president is often thrown at many Bible believing Americans .
I quickly found this out when we released my message last week titled , The Destabilization of America .
But hypocrisy means to intentionally deceive someone — who I am on Sunday is not who I am on Monday .
We are not dealing with hypocrisy here .
So what are we dealing with ?
We have two primary issues playing out .
Number one , Politics .
Pure politics .
We embrace the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wrath of those who don ’ t .
We acknowledge Trump ’ s an imperfect man working hard to create a more perfect union .
His critics either look for a sinless man ( which , short of Jesus , does not exist ) or support policies guaranteed to lead to a less perfect union .
As for former National Security Adviser John Bolton .
It ’ s political reality that many opposed Trump even as they joined the Administration and cashed that big government paycheck .
( You want to talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or General Mattis were dead set against Trump from the get-go .
Why be surprised when they run from the White House straight to the media to trash him ?
Mr. President , know that there are millions who support many of your policies .
Hold the line .
Mr. Bolton , is your wrath at being forced out worth the criminal prosecution and fines you now may face ?
“ For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
” ( James 1:20 ) Secondly , this truly is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big push toward globalism , abortion on demand , sexual perversion , socialism , open borders , and so on .
Calling Christians hypocrites is really just a defense mechanism for those who don ’ t want to see the truth .
Anytime you stand for truth , you will be labeled .
For example , when I talk about ungodly entertainment , I ’ m labeled a fundamentalist .
When I talk about purity and abstinence , I ’ m labeled legalistic .
When I talk about defending babies , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When I talk about marriage being between a man and a woman , I ’ m labeled a homophobe .
And when I support the current president , I ’ m labeled a hypocrite .
On and on it goes .
Granted , the truth must come from a loving , gentle heart .
The truth will offend , but our attitude should not .
Many people on the conservative side also need to pray before posting something derogatory on social media .
We are dropping the ball on both sides .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ op-ed about distorted facts , a lot of people thought that I was writing something against the president ( click here to read it ) .
The mean emails I received from “ conservatives ” were just as nasty as ones from liberals .
Folks , we can all use a lot more grace and humility , including me .
The more concerning issue is that many claiming to be Christians , while denouncing Trump , embrace liberal theology .
This group typically has a problem with the inerrancy of Scripture as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , judgment , and sin .
So it ’ s no surprise why they don ’ t like op-eds , social media posts , or anything grounded in truth .
They also welcome anti-scriptural agendas ( the LGBTQ onslaught comes to mind ) , and they mock those who aren ’ t willing to throw their Bibles away and follow the crowd .
Need more proof ?
It was liberals calling themselves “ Christians ” who primarily came against my article regarding what the Bible says about homosexuality .
Please Support The Stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
So , one must ask the question regarding political hot buttons : When Hollywood and most of the media is on your side , are you sure you ’ re on the right side ?
The Bible encourages us to be peacemakers but not religious negotiators .
In our zeal to reach others , we can not compromise the message just because we want to be liked .
We must speak the truth .
Another question goes something like this : Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To me , this is a no-brainer .
The Bible says don ’ t murder innocent children ( abortion ) .
It also says that we should work hard if we can ( no socialism ) .
It also says that the government is to guard the nation , securing borders and fighting terrorism ( see Romans 13 ) .
The Bible adds that we should have judges who are honest and that we should bring God ’ s Word into all areas of life .
And on and on it goes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are doing all this and more .
How a person , let alone a Christian , can overlook these things is a mystery to me .
No , I don ’ t believe that all ungodly means are good if they lead to godly ends .
It depends on the situation and what the means are .
There are many variables , and a blanket statement — like so many of those who speak against the president are trying to make — will not suffice .
We have an interesting dynamic working here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he would do .
His past is not perfect , but he is guiding America in the right direction ( in fact , many governmental agencies are now hosting Bible studies ) .
He still sins — as do we all — but it appears that he wants to point our nation back to God .
His mode of communication is not always Christlike , but he is honoring God in many areas of legislation .
I see a man who is flawed like the rest of us .
I see a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the things that he has done .
We ’ re not looking for perfection ; we ’ re looking for direction — direction back to God .
Throughout biblical history , God has used broken , flawed leaders .
Aside from Christ , is there another kind ?
I ’ m pretty sure that if unborn babies could talk , they would tell us they are not too concerned about the president ’ s character .
They would be far more concerned about the character of the physician with an abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just the other day , I ran into a woman who was speaking Aramaic to her daughter .
Her English was pretty good , so I asked her what she thought about our president .
After explaining that she was a Christian from a persecuted area in Iraq , she said , “ I love what he is doing .
America is blessed to have him.
” Let that sink in .
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lost Ground , points us back to God and reminds us that although times change , truth does not .
His books , blogs , and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com .

Now is not the time for hand-wringing and second-guessing ourselves. Despite the pandemic and leftist pandemonium, many things that we’ve been praying for to happen in our nation are finally happening. So, at this stage, many of us will not apologize for backing the president, nor will we be intimidated.
Unless millions of Americans and I, who are praying and truly seeking the will of the Father, are missing it, we will keep contending: “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3).
The charge of being a hypocrite if you support the president is often thrown at many Bible believing Americans. I quickly found this out when we released my message last week titled, The Destabilization of America. But hypocrisy means to intentionally deceive someone — who I am on Sunday is not who I am on Monday. We are not dealing with hypocrisy here. So what are we dealing with?
The Political Battle
We have two primary issues playing out. Number one, Politics. Pure politics. We embrace the president’s agenda, and face the wrath of those who don’t. We acknowledge Trump’s an imperfect man working hard to create a more perfect union. His critics either look for a sinless man (which, short of Jesus, does not exist) or support policies guaranteed to lead to a less perfect union.
As for former National Security Adviser John Bolton. It’s political reality that many opposed Trump even as they joined the Administration and cashed that big government paycheck. (You want to talk about hypocrisy?) People like Bolton or General Mattis were dead set against Trump from the get-go. Why be surprised when they run from the White House straight to the media to trash him?
Mr. President, know that there are millions who support many of your policies. Hold the line.
Mr. Bolton, is your wrath at being forced out worth the criminal prosecution and fines you now may face? “For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20)
The True Battle is Spiritual
Secondly, this truly is a spiritual battle. There’s a big push toward globalism, abortion on demand, sexual perversion, socialism, open borders, and so on. Calling Christians hypocrites is really just a defense mechanism for those who don’t want to see the truth. Anytime you stand for truth, you will be labeled.
For example, when I talk about ungodly entertainment, I’m labeled a fundamentalist. When I talk about purity and abstinence, I’m labeled legalistic. When I talk about defending babies, I’m labeled as being against women. When I talk about marriage being between a man and a woman, I’m labeled a homophobe. And when I support the current president, I’m labeled a hypocrite. On and on it goes.
Granted, the truth must come from a loving, gentle heart. The truth will offend, but our attitude should not. Many people on the conservative side also need to pray before posting something derogatory on social media. We are dropping the ball on both sides. For example, when I released an op-ed about distorted facts, a lot of people thought that I was writing something against the president (click here to read it). The mean emails I received from “conservatives” were just as nasty as ones from liberals. Folks, we can all use a lot more grace and humility, including me.
The Battle Over Truth
The more concerning issue is that many claiming to be Christians, while denouncing Trump, embrace liberal theology. This group typically has a problem with the inerrancy of Scripture as well as difficult truths, such as repentance, judgment, and sin. So it’s no surprise why they don’t like op-eds, social media posts, or anything grounded in truth. They also welcome anti-scriptural agendas (the LGBTQ onslaught comes to mind), and they mock those who aren’t willing to throw their Bibles away and follow the crowd.
Need more proof? It was liberals calling themselves “Christians” who primarily came against my article regarding what the Bible says about homosexuality.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
So, one must ask the question regarding political hot buttons: When Hollywood and most of the media is on your side, are you sure you’re on the right side? The Bible encourages us to be peacemakers but not religious negotiators. In our zeal to reach others, we cannot compromise the message just because we want to be liked. We must speak the truth.
Do Ungodly Means Justify a Godly End?
Another question goes something like this: Do ungodly means justify a godly end? To me, this is a no-brainer. The Bible says don’t murder innocent children (abortion). It also says that we should work hard if we can (no socialism). It also says that the government is to guard the nation, securing borders and fighting terrorism (see Romans 13). The Bible adds that we should have judges who are honest and that we should bring God’s Word into all areas of life. And on and on it goes. Many of President Trump’s staff are doing all this and more. How a person, let alone a Christian, can overlook these things is a mystery to me.
No, I don’t believe that all ungodly means are good if they lead to godly ends. It depends on the situation and what the means are. There are many variables, and a blanket statement — like so many of those who speak against the president are trying to make — will not suffice.
We have an interesting dynamic working here: a politician actually doing what he said he would do. His past is not perfect, but he is guiding America in the right direction (in fact, many governmental agencies are now hosting Bible studies). He still sins — as do we all — but it appears that he wants to point our nation back to God. His mode of communication is not always Christlike, but he is honoring God in many areas of legislation.
I see a man who is flawed like the rest of us. I see a man who is probably not proud of some of the things that he has done. We’re not looking for perfection; we’re looking for direction — direction back to God. Throughout biblical history, God has used broken, flawed leaders. Aside from Christ, is there another kind?
I’m pretty sure that if unborn babies could talk, they would tell us they are not too concerned about the president’s character. They would be far more concerned about the character of the physician with an abortion tool in his or her hand.
Just the other day, I ran into a woman who was speaking Aramaic to her daughter. Her English was pretty good, so I asked her what she thought about our president. After explaining that she was a Christian from a persecuted area in Iraq, she said, “I love what he is doing. America is blessed to have him.” Let that sink in.
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network. His program, Regaining Lost Ground, points us back to God and reminds us that although times change, truth does not. His books, blogs, and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com.