thestream--2020-07-07--Senior Living Facilities: All the Vote Fraud We Cannot See

Despite prosecutions and public stories identifying vote fraud activists targeting seniors , many in our media and political class continue to deny that our elderly population can be singled out for vote manipulation and suppression .
Vote fraudsters recognize the unique challenges of some seniors , and exploit these to achieve their own deceitful political ends .
The fraud is real , institutionalized — and must be stopped .
It is more efficient to target seniors in one facility than committing door to door vote fraud .
With approximately 2.5 million seniors in assisted living or nursing facilities and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greatest Generation is high risk for being targeted by dishonest political activists .
The elderly usually make the difficult decision to enter senior living due to the normal processes of aging .
Loss of vision , mobility and the onset of dementia make it challenging to safely live at home and difficult for many seniors to complete ballots without assistance .
In addition to needing help , their voting behavior is noteworthy in assessing why they might be targeted .
Seniors vote Republican by a large margin .
A 2016 Pew Research study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in 2016 , voters over 65 voted for Trump by nine points over Clinton .
So , who would have an interest in suppressing or manipulating senior votes ?
The answer is , of course , Democrats and their associated activist and organizational allies who want to defeat Republicans at the polls .
One group in particular already has a unique foothold in senior residence communities , and is one of the Democrat party ’ s strongest supporters .
The Service Employees International Union was founded in 1921 to organize building services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused on healthcare workers whose numbers are growing as Baby Boomers age .
The union boasts 1.1 million healthcare-associated members with nearly 50K nursing home members in six states and the District of Columbia alone .
It devotes much of its resources to unionizing employees in senior facilities and home health care .
The SEIU is also a powerful Democrat political machine .
In the 2018 midterms , 99 percent of its Congressional donations went to Democrats .
All of its outside group funding is identified as Democrat/liberal .
Please Support The Stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
In the 2016 presidential cycle , 99 percent of its $ 11.8 million in donations went to Democrat candidates or liberal groups .
In its efforts to unionize caregivers in Minnesota a few years ago , SEIU was accused of forging ballots , and made no secret of using its members as vote collection activists .
In senior residences , it has a potential group of built-in activists .
One 2018 case of nursing home vote theft videotaped in Texas showed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes for a Democrat candidate .
A Texas vote integrity activist recently collected solid evidence of nursing home vote fraud resulting in an official investigation .
There are many stories of institutional elderly vote theft made public by observant family members .
These are cases we can see , but how many voters in senior facilities that we don ’ t know about don ’ t get to vote , or have ballots discarded or manipulated ?
Vote suppression , in particular , is difficult to identify and prove .
Senior living management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no idea the seniors they care for can be victimized by the ballot assistance volunteer they just let in the front door .
They must confirm the legitimacy of anyone volunteering to help with senior voting .
At the American Constitutional Rights Union , we started our Protect Elderly Votes project to advocate for the protection of senior votes .
We understand visible and hidden fraud happens because residence staff are not aware of the activity of vote thieves .
By mid-July , ACRU will have mailed over 6,000 letters to executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states informing them of federal and state statutes that protect their residents from vote fraud , and encouraging their leadership to protect seniors under their care .
The best assistant for a senior needing any form of help with voting is a trusted family member or friend .
If one is not available , senior residence management must take steps to ensure no visitor or staff in their facility influences a vote or checks a box for an elderly resident that does not represent the political choice of that resident .
Each state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who try to assist them with their ballots dishonestly .
The management of each facility is responsible for ensuring those statutes are upheld to the letter of the law .
For most senior residence employees , their job is a labor of love .
It is not an easy job , either physically or emotionally .
These employees have a heart of protection , and they must add protection against vote activism and theft against their residents to their list of important responsibilities .
Please visit www.ProtectElderlyVotes.org to view the Senior Voter Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any suspicious vote activity involving seniors .
Amb .
Ken Blackwell is a member of the American Constitutional Rights Union Action Fund Board of Directors .

Despite prosecutions and public stories identifying vote fraud activists targeting seniors, many in our media and political class continue to deny that our elderly population can be singled out for vote manipulation and suppression.
Vote fraudsters recognize the unique challenges of some seniors, and exploit these to achieve their own deceitful political ends. The fraud is real, institutionalized — and must be stopped.
High Risk Targets
It is more efficient to target seniors in one facility than committing door to door vote fraud. With approximately 2.5 million seniors in assisted living or nursing facilities and even more in independent living, our trusting Greatest Generation is high risk for being targeted by dishonest political activists.
The elderly usually make the difficult decision to enter senior living due to the normal processes of aging. Loss of vision, mobility and the onset of dementia make it challenging to safely live at home and difficult for many seniors to complete ballots without assistance. In addition to needing help, their voting behavior is noteworthy in assessing why they might be targeted.
Seniors vote Republican by a large margin. A 2016 Pew Research study found 53 percent identify as Republican, and in 2016, voters over 65 voted for Trump by nine points over Clinton.
So, who would have an interest in suppressing or manipulating senior votes?
Senior Vote Manipulation
The answer is, of course, Democrats and their associated activist and organizational allies who want to defeat Republicans at the polls. One group in particular already has a unique foothold in senior residence communities, and is one of the Democrat party’s strongest supporters.
The Service Employees International Union was founded in 1921 to organize building services employees, but in recent years has focused on healthcare workers whose numbers are growing as Baby Boomers age.
The union boasts 1.1 million healthcare-associated members with nearly 50K nursing home members in six states and the District of Columbia alone. It devotes much of its resources to unionizing employees in senior facilities and home health care.
The SEIU is also a powerful Democrat political machine. In the 2018 midterms, 99 percent of its Congressional donations went to Democrats. All of its outside group funding is identified as Democrat/liberal.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In the 2016 presidential cycle, 99 percent of its $11.8 million in donations went to Democrat candidates or liberal groups.
In its efforts to unionize caregivers in Minnesota a few years ago, SEIU was accused of forging ballots, and made no secret of using its members as vote collection activists. In senior residences, it has a potential group of built-in activists.
One 2018 case of nursing home vote theft videotaped in Texas showed the ballot harvester bragging she collected 100 coerced votes for a Democrat candidate. A Texas vote integrity activist recently collected solid evidence of nursing home vote fraud resulting in an official investigation. There are many stories of institutional elderly vote theft made public by observant family members.
These are cases we can see, but how many voters in senior facilities that we don’t know about don’t get to vote, or have ballots discarded or manipulated? Vote suppression, in particular, is difficult to identify and prove.
Protecting Seniors
Senior living management are kind, caring people who likely have no idea the seniors they care for can be victimized by the ballot assistance volunteer they just let in the front door. They must confirm the legitimacy of anyone volunteering to help with senior voting.
At the American Constitutional Rights Union, we started our Protect Elderly Votes project to advocate for the protection of senior votes. We understand visible and hidden fraud happens because residence staff are not aware of the activity of vote thieves.
By mid-July, ACRU will have mailed over 6,000 letters to executive management of senior facilities in all 50 states informing them of federal and state statutes that protect their residents from vote fraud, and encouraging their leadership to protect seniors under their care.
The best assistant for a senior needing any form of help with voting is a trusted family member or friend. If one is not available, senior residence management must take steps to ensure no visitor or staff in their facility influences a vote or checks a box for an elderly resident that does not represent the political choice of that resident.
Each state has different laws protecting voters from those who try to assist them with their ballots dishonestly. The management of each facility is responsible for ensuring those statutes are upheld to the letter of the law.
For most senior residence employees, their job is a labor of love. It is not an easy job, either physically or emotionally. These employees have a heart of protection, and they must add protection against vote activism and theft against their residents to their list of important responsibilities.
Please visit www.ProtectElderlyVotes.org to view the Senior Voter Bill of Rights and a hotline to report any suspicious vote activity involving seniors.
Amb. Ken Blackwell is a member of the American Constitutional Rights Union Action Fund Board of Directors.


thestream--2020-07-07--Remembering Frederick Douglass’ Great Fourth of July Speech in Context

Note : On Independence Day , a statue of Fredrick Douglass was torn down in Rochester , New York .
Each Independence Day , my social media feed divides in two : half commemorates the declaration of our nation ’ s independence from Great Britain , while the other laments the hypocrisy that a nation founded on the idea of liberty would have simultaneously tolerated slavery .
In the last few years , I ’ ve been pleased that both sides seem to freely quote my favorite American , the great Frederick Douglass .
At first glance , his famous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fourth of July comes across as a bit of a downer : What , to the American slave , is your 4th of July ?
I answer : a day that reveals to him , more than all other days in the year , the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim .
To him , your celebration is a sham ; your boasted liberty , an unholy license ; your national greatness , swelling vanity ; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless ; your denunciations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouts of liberty and equality , hollow mockery ; your prayers and hymns , your sermons and thanksgivings , with all your religious parade , and solemnity , are , to him , mere bombast , fraud , deception , impiety , and hypocrisy — a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages .
There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices , more shocking and bloody , than are the people of these United States , at this very hour .
He goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in his trademark rhetorical flourishes , as biting as they were brilliant .
But it ’ s helpful to remember this incredible speech in context .
He gave it in Rochester , New York , before the Civil War , to a largely white audience .
This was certainly speaking the truth to power , and there ’ s no doubt he made some folks uncomfortable .
But these were whites who were largely sympathetic to the abolitionist cause , and so were likely to agree with many of his criticisms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Where Douglass may have raised a few eyebrows was in his conclusion where he challenged the common northern abolitionist belief that the U.S. Constitution itself was pro-slavery and should be discarded .
When Douglass initially escaped slavery , he had accepted this view , but upon reading and studying the Constitution for himself , he came to a different opinion .
In the very same speech , Douglass declared : [ I ] nterpreted as it ought to be interpreted , the Constitution is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT .
Read its preamble , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them ?
Is it at the gateway ?
Or is it in the temple ?
It is neither .
While I do not intend to argue this question on the present occasion , let me ask , if it be not somewhat singular that , if the Constitution were intended to be , by its framers and adopters , a slave-holding instrument , why neither slavery , slaveholding , nor slave can anywhere be found in it … Now , take the Constitution according to its plain reading , and I defy the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
On the other hand , it will be found to contain principles and purposes , entirely hostile to the existence of slavery .
Douglass was challenging not only the white racists of his day , but also the “ enlightened ” white abolitionists who thought America was irredeemable and wanted to throw away its founding documents .
Today , we have some people who declare that racism no longer exists in any meaningful form , and we have others who declare that America is more racist than it has ever been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false that it is hard to know how to answer either charge to the satisfaction of those blind enough to make them .
Douglass Presents the Way Forward , Even Today Yet Douglass ’ rebuke to both sides presents the way forward : Douglass does not pander to either , but is instead honest and challenges others to the same honesty .
He fought slavery and saw it defeated by the time he was in middle age .
He also challenged the anti-Constitution ideologues of his day to study the Constitution for themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d heard .
Today , we must fight injustices like police brutality , but we must also challenge those who want to indiscriminately tear down everything about America , including the right of all Americans , among them blacks , to buy , sell , and own property , own their own labor , and accumulate wealth for their children .
Douglass did not concern himself with trying to confiscate slaveholders ’ wealth , but instead built up a small fortune , which he used , along with his formidable talents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let us follow his example to apply ourselves with equal determination to the challenges that lie before us .
As James Weldon Johnson ’ s “ Lift Every Voice and Sing ” goes : Dean Nelson is the national outreach director for Human Coalition , a pro-life organization committed to ending the culture of death .

Note: On Independence Day, a statue of Fredrick Douglass was torn down in Rochester, New York.
Each Independence Day, my social media feed divides in two: half commemorates the declaration of our nation’s independence from Great Britain, while the other laments the hypocrisy that a nation founded on the idea of liberty would have simultaneously tolerated slavery.
In the last few years, I’ve been pleased that both sides seem to freely quote my favorite American, the great Frederick Douglass.
A Biting Critique, Remembered in Context
At first glance, his famous speech What to the Slave is the Fourth of July comes across as a bit of a downer:
What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy — a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.
For more on Frederick Douglass, see Josh Shepherd’s interview with Rev. Dean Nelson, director of the Douglass Leadership Institute, “America’s Abolitionist Prophet.”
He goes on like this for quite a while, in his trademark rhetorical flourishes, as biting as they were brilliant.
But it’s helpful to remember this incredible speech in context. He gave it in Rochester, New York, before the Civil War, to a largely white audience. This was certainly speaking the truth to power, and there’s no doubt he made some folks uncomfortable.
But these were whites who were largely sympathetic to the abolitionist cause, and so were likely to agree with many of his criticisms, harsh though they might have seemed.
A Brilliant Challenge, to Both Sides
Where Douglass may have raised a few eyebrows was in his conclusion where he challenged the common northern abolitionist belief that the U.S. Constitution itself was pro-slavery and should be discarded. When Douglass initially escaped slavery, he had accepted this view, but upon reading and studying the Constitution for himself, he came to a different opinion. In the very same speech, Douglass declared:
[I]nterpreted as it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider its purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? Or is it in the temple? It is neither. While I do not intend to argue this question on the present occasion, let me ask, if it be not somewhat singular that, if the Constitution were intended to be, by its framers and adopters, a slave-holding instrument, why neither slavery, slaveholding, nor slave can anywhere be found in it … Now, take the Constitution according to its plain reading, and I defy the presentation of a single pro-slavery clause in it. On the other hand, it will be found to contain principles and purposes, entirely hostile to the existence of slavery.
Douglass was challenging not only the white racists of his day, but also the “enlightened” white abolitionists who thought America was irredeemable and wanted to throw away its founding documents.
Today, we have some people who declare that racism no longer exists in any meaningful form, and we have others who declare that America is more racist than it has ever been. Both these statements are so self-evidently false that it is hard to know how to answer either charge to the satisfaction of those blind enough to make them.
Douglass Presents the Way Forward, Even Today
Yet Douglass’ rebuke to both sides presents the way forward: Douglass does not pander to either, but is instead honest and challenges others to the same honesty. He fought slavery and saw it defeated by the time he was in middle age. He also challenged the anti-Constitution ideologues of his day to study the Constitution for themselves, instead of mindlessly repeating what they’d heard.
Today, we must fight injustices like police brutality, but we must also challenge those who want to indiscriminately tear down everything about America, including the right of all Americans, among them blacks, to buy, sell, and own property, own their own labor, and accumulate wealth for their children.
Douglass did not concern himself with trying to confiscate slaveholders’ wealth, but instead built up a small fortune, which he used, along with his formidable talents, to liberate and educate countless others.
Let us follow his example to apply ourselves with equal determination to the challenges that lie before us. As James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing” goes:
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.
Dean Nelson is the national outreach director for Human Coalition, a pro-life organization committed to ending the culture of death.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Signal


thestream--2020-07-07--The Seamless Garment and Mindless ‘Anti-Racism’

This is the second in a series of fanciful political dialogues between a white female Democrat , “ Karen , ” from New York City , and a white male Republican from Texas , “ Obadiah.
” Since no one ’ s meeting in person , assume this takes place on Twitter .
OBADIAH : I loved Trump ’ s Mount Rushmore speech .
I ’ m watching it again tonight , with some friends , while we shoot off our leftover fireworks above anyone wearing masks outdoors .
KAREN : That speech was divisive and white supremacist .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans .
OBADIAH : You know what else was conquered from Native Americans ?
Every square inch of the country except maybe Alaska .
You live in Alaska ?
No ?
Then I guess you ’ re giving your property to the tribe that used to own it , right ?
It would be easy to find online .
I mean , to avoid any harmful accusations that you ’ re a ludicrous , virtue-signaling hypocrite ?
Just about every people on earth lives on conquered land , except maybe the Basques .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ conquered Indian land right now .
Maybe you should try to hover in the air instead .
Invest in a drone .
Or a broomstick .
KAREN : But Trump was weaponizing racist symbols as a dog whistle to encourage violence against peaceful protesters concerned about systematic violence against people of color .
OBADIAH : You say that like it ’ s a bad thing .
Or in fact , a thing , instead of a string of jargon you picked up off Twitter like Silly Putty pressed onto the comics page .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” reeks of white privilege , and is incredibly hurtful and triggering .
OBADIAH : That ’ s my hope .
I want to push hysterical leftists like you to some kind of psychological breaking point .
To dangle you over the edge of the slippery slope , so you see all the Gadarene swine drowning at the bottom .
Then maybe you ’ ll step way back from all this madness .
KAREN : I will not be diverted from working for Justice .
OBADIAH : Do you believe that God made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ image as moral equals ?
Or do you think we ’ re just a piece of cosmic happenstance , blindly evolved through the ruthless survival of the fittest ?
OBADIAH : I ’ m going to interpret that as if it were actually responsive to my question .
So you believe in Darwinian materialism .
In that case , why is racism wrong ?
Was it racist for the mammals to outlive the dinosaurs , because they were fitter ?
Should we say that Mt .
Rushmore was stolen from the brontosauruses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re just being flippant .
Systemic racism is real and serious .
OBADIAH : By your lights , even if it were real , it wouldn ’ t be serious .
It would just amount to intraspecies competitive behavior among some divergent sub-groups of Homo Sapiens .
It would have no more or less moral import than the fight for mates among male sea lions on some Antarctic beach .
OBADIAH : Why don ’ t you sail down there and protest that ?
Have you ever seen how sad those low-status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
It would break your heart .
KAREN : But you ’ re supposed to be a Christian .
You should care about this .
You have no choice .
OBADIAH : I can choose whether to let someone gaslight me .
Especially when she ’ s cherry-picking from Christian doctrines she considers superstitious mumbo-jumbo .
And doing so just to win a political fight , so she can grab more power and marginalize me and all other Christians , black and white .
Yeah , I can do that .
As for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ll talk to them directly .
They don ’ t need an agnostic white savior like you to speak for them .
Especially when she supports Planned Parenthood , which was founded and run for decades by real white supremacists .
And now cuts up black babies and sells them … kind of like slaves .
KAREN : You claim to be “ pro-life , ” but you ’ re really just pro-birth .
You don ’ t favor comprehensive social services for those same children to help them overcome systemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
OBADIAH : No , I don ’ t .
Some pro-lifers do .
We can argue about that among ourselves .
But I only want to talk to people who oppose killing babies for the sake of sexual convenience .
And who admit that the unborn are uniquely abandoned , unlike ethnic minorities that at least enjoy equal protection under law .
KAREN : If you were really , comprehensively pro-life , you ’ d be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigrants to dangerous countries , and inequalities in health care , and guns .
OBADIAH : Wait a minute , here ’ s something we might actually agree on .
You ’ re saying — I think … I might be projecting rationality onto you here , and that could be totally unfair … that if someone adopts a principle , he ought to be consistent about it .
Right ?
OBADIAH : So you ’ re saying All Lives Matter ?
KAREN : No !
Do not say that !
OBADIAH : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t say it .
As a Darwinist , you think that no lives matter .
But if black lives are supposed to matter , that would be thanks to their humanity .
So the lives of other humans , including white cops for instance , would matter .
OBADIAH : I think your reluctance to follow this very simple logical trip from A to B isn ’ t rational but religious .
KAREN : What ?
No , I ’ ll leave that to you .
Caesar ’ s New Cult Wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not Christian .
It ’ s post-Christian Wokeism , a religion all its own .
You ’ re part of that new religion .
It ’ s probably the first world religion to start with witch-trials and inquisitions , and impose crushing guilt without any hope of redemption .
Usually religions start off with something positive , then decay or degenerate into those abuses .
But the Woke cult adopted them right out of the gate .
Kind of strange , but there you are .
KAREN : Now who ’ s the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your new religion there are certain sacred phrases , or shibboleths .
You ’ re supposed to just repeat them , word for word , like a magic spell .
And one of them is “ black lives matter , ” which is also the registered trademark of a pro-abortion , anti-family , Marxist cult .
KAREN : Why won ’ t you just say it ?
Say “ black lives matter !
” Say the words .
Or else … OBADIAH : Or else what ?
Or else I ’ m a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that still means ?
The family is racist , capitalism is racist , America is racist .
Visible light , electromagnetism , and entropy are probably racist too .
So some affirmative action baby with tenure will soon announce , and everybody will timidly nod and agree .
OBADIAH : Again with the phrases that mean nothing at all .
Except that they ’ re threats .
“ We have cultural power , and CEOs in our pocket , and politicians afraid of us , and mobs we can send to march on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what you ’ re saying .
It is , in fact , a “ dog-whistle ” of the kind you people keep prating about .
But I ’ m not a dog , and I don ’ t play dead on command .
Keep using “ racism ” to describe anything and everything and pretty soon you ’ ll wear it out .
Nobody will care .
They ’ ll say , “ If hating myself and ripping up my whole society is the price of rejecting racism , I think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t that bad.
” KAREN : There is no future in America for views like yours .
OBADIAH : Again with the threats .
You people don ’ t have any actual arguments , just primal screams , grunts , and howls .
Maybe you do belong on the beach with the sea lions .
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 .

This is the second in a series of fanciful political dialogues between a white female Democrat, “Karen,” from New York City, and a white male Republican from Texas, “Obadiah.” Since no one’s meeting in person, assume this takes place on Twitter.
OBADIAH: I loved Trump’s Mount Rushmore speech. I’m watching it again tonight, with some friends, while we shoot off our leftover fireworks above anyone wearing masks outdoors.
KAREN: That speech was divisive and white supremacist. He delivered it on land stolen from Native Americans.
OBADIAH: You know what else was conquered from Native Americans? Every square inch of the country except maybe Alaska. You live in Alaska? No? Then I guess you’re giving your property to the tribe that used to own it, right? It would be easy to find online. I mean, to avoid any harmful accusations that you’re a ludicrous, virtue-signaling hypocrite? Just about every people on earth lives on conquered land, except maybe the Basques. I bet you’re standing on conquered Indian land right now. Maybe you should try to hover in the air instead. Invest in a drone. Or a broomstick.
KAREN: But Trump was weaponizing racist symbols as a dog whistle to encourage violence against peaceful protesters concerned about systematic violence against people of color.
White Gibberish
OBADIAH: You say that like it’s a bad thing. Or in fact, a thing, instead of a string of jargon you picked up off Twitter like Silly Putty pressed onto the comics page.
I bet you’re standing on conquered Indian land right now. Maybe you should try to hover in the air instead.
KAREN: Your attempt at “humor” reeks of white privilege, and is incredibly hurtful and triggering.
OBADIAH: That’s my hope. I want to push hysterical leftists like you to some kind of psychological breaking point. To dangle you over the edge of the slippery slope, so you see all the Gadarene swine drowning at the bottom. Then maybe you’ll step way back from all this madness.
KAREN: I will not be diverted from working for Justice.
OBADIAH: Do you believe that God made us all, so we bear His image as moral equals? Or do you think we’re just a piece of cosmic happenstance, blindly evolved through the ruthless survival of the fittest?
KAREN: I believe Science.
No Lives Matter
OBADIAH: I’m going to interpret that as if it were actually responsive to my question. So you believe in Darwinian materialism. In that case, why is racism wrong? Was it racist for the mammals to outlive the dinosaurs, because they were fitter? Should we say that Mt. Rushmore was stolen from the brontosauruses and the T-Rexes?
KAREN: Now you’re just being flippant. Systemic racism is real and serious.
OBADIAH: By your lights, even if it were real, it wouldn’t be serious. It would just amount to intraspecies competitive behavior among some divergent sub-groups of Homo Sapiens. It would have no more or less moral import than the fight for mates among male sea lions on some Antarctic beach.
OBADIAH: Why don’t you sail down there and protest that? Have you ever seen how sad those low-status, incel males look during mating season? It would break your heart.
KAREN: But you’re supposed to be a Christian. You should care about this. You have no choice.
Planned Parenthood: The KFC of Baby Parts
OBADIAH: I can choose whether to let someone gaslight me. Especially when she’s cherry-picking from Christian doctrines she considers superstitious mumbo-jumbo. And doing so just to win a political fight, so she can grab more power and marginalize me and all other Christians, black and white. Yeah, I can do that. As for my fellow Christians who are black, I’ll talk to them directly. They don’t need an agnostic white savior like you to speak for them. Especially when she supports Planned Parenthood, which was founded and run for decades by real white supremacists. And now cuts up black babies and sells them … kind of like slaves.
KAREN: You claim to be “pro-life,” but you’re really just pro-birth. You don’t favor comprehensive social services for those same children to help them overcome systemic inequality….
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
OBADIAH: No, I don’t. Some pro-lifers do. We can argue about that among ourselves. But I only want to talk to people who oppose killing babies for the sake of sexual convenience. And who admit that the unborn are uniquely abandoned, unlike ethnic minorities that at least enjoy equal protection under law.
KAREN: If you were really, comprehensively pro-life, you’d be against the death penalty, and returning immigrants to dangerous countries, and inequalities in health care, and guns.
The Mindless Garment
OBADIAH: Wait a minute, here’s something we might actually agree on. You’re saying — I think … I might be projecting rationality onto you here, and that could be totally unfair … that if someone adopts a principle, he ought to be consistent about it. Right?
KAREN: Uh, yes. Duh.
OBADIAH: So you’re saying All Lives Matter?
KAREN: No! Do not say that!
OBADIAH: Well, I know why you wouldn’t say it. As a Darwinist, you think that no lives matter. But if black lives are supposed to matter, that would be thanks to their humanity. So the lives of other humans, including white cops for instance, would matter.
KAREN: Don’t twist my words.
OBADIAH: I think your reluctance to follow this very simple logical trip from A to B isn’t rational but religious.
KAREN: What? No, I’ll leave that to you.
Caesar’s New Cult Wants You
OBADIAH: Oh it’s not Christian. It’s post-Christian Wokeism, a religion all its own. You’re part of that new religion. It’s probably the first world religion to start with witch-trials and inquisitions, and impose crushing guilt without any hope of redemption. Usually religions start off with something positive, then decay or degenerate into those abuses. But the Woke cult adopted them right out of the gate. Kind of strange, but there you are.
KAREN: Now who’s the one projecting?
OBADIAH: And in your new religion there are certain sacred phrases, or shibboleths. You’re supposed to just repeat them, word for word, like a magic spell. And one of them is “black lives matter,” which is also the registered trademark of a pro-abortion, anti-family, Marxist cult.
KAREN: Why won’t you just say it? Say “black lives matter!” Say the words. Or else …
OBADIAH: Or else what? Or else I’m a “racist,” whatever the heck that still means? The family is racist, capitalism is racist, America is racist. Visible light, electromagnetism, and entropy are probably racist too. So some affirmative action baby with tenure will soon announce, and everybody will timidly nod and agree.
KAREN: Your white fragility is showing.
Dogs That Whistle
OBADIAH: Again with the phrases that mean nothing at all. Except that they’re threats. “We have cultural power, and CEOs in our pocket, and politicians afraid of us, and mobs we can send to march on your homes and churches.” That’s what you’re saying. It is, in fact, a “dog-whistle” of the kind you people keep prating about. But I’m not a dog, and I don’t play dead on command. Keep using “racism” to describe anything and everything and pretty soon you’ll wear it out. Nobody will care. They’ll say, “If hating myself and ripping up my whole society is the price of rejecting racism, I think it’s too high. Maybe racism isn’t that bad.”
KAREN: There is no future in America for views like yours.
OBADIAH: Again with the threats. You people don’t have any actual arguments, just primal screams, grunts, and howls. Maybe you do belong on the beach with the sea lions.
KAREN: [Reports Obadiah to Twitter.]
OBADIAH: [Account permanently canceled. Moves to Parler.]
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--2020-07-07--Military Photo of the Day: Eyeing Targets Downrange

A U.S. Marine observes targets downrange during live-fire maneuver drills on Camp Schwab in Okinawa , Japan , in June @ @ @ @ @ this brave Marine for serving our country overseas .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping @ @ @ @ @ the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .

A U.S. Marine observes targets downrange during live-fire maneuver drills on Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, in June 2020.
Thank you to this brave Marine for serving our country overseas.
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thestream--2020-07-07--Freedom, Truth and Hope

Freedom, Truth and Hope

“ Who are we ?
” “ What are we here for ?
” These are some of the most fundamental questions of our lives .
The answers can be tough to discern even in normal times .
As statues are being torn down , the question of who we are as Americans is one that we have to consider .
What Americanism Seeks to Be There is a speech that the National Review ’ s founder , William F. Buckley Jr. , delivered in 1979 that I always find helpful to peruse when I ’ m worried about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Americanism and what it “ seeks to be.
” He noted that there were some who disputed whether such a thing could be defined , but would have no truck with that argument .
His position was that “ our country and its ideals survive in a sense which is both definable and normative.
” What Americanism is , contrasts to what , say , China , “ the most finished totalitarian society in the world , ” he said at the time , is .
That is a place where “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things which one is explicitly permitted to do.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
In the United States , however , we have the Constitution — “ and in particular the Bill of Rights ” — “ which is essentially a list of prohibitions : but it is a list of things that the government can not do to the people .
What a huge distinction : a majestic distinction .
It grew out of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spark of which , of course , traces to Bethlehem , to that star that magnified man beyond any power of the emperors and gold seekers and legions of soldiers and slaves : a star that implanted in each one of us that essence that separates us from the beasts , and tells us that we were made in the image of God and were meant to be free.
” Now , at the same time , Buckley made no claims that ours is or ever was a perfect country — “ America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in a frenzy of moral vanity , as the secular reflection of the Incarnation .
But Americans can say , as Lincoln did , that our country was founded on a proposition : that government of the people , by the people , and for the people is of the nature of Americanism .
That our ideals are proudly ours.
” There ’ s a new book called America on Trial : A Defense of the Founding by Robert Reilly that ends with something of a challenge to anyone who wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been called , survive and thrive .
Talking about the Founders ’ insistence that moral character was necessary to avoid decline , he writes about present things ( albeit written before coronavirus and everything that has followed after ) .
He cites Joseph Ratzinger , who would become Pope Benedict XVI , as warning that progressivism is a surrender of the concept of truth .
Progress becomes truth , replaces it , even abolishes it .
Barack Obama in his The Audacity of Hope talked about ordered liberty being a “ rejection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ truth does not set you free ; the truth enslaves you … ( that ) freedom requires the rejection of objective truth.
” Which can lead to utter confusion , madness , chaos , anger and despair , to name a few of our non-favorite things .
Reilly , though , looks at all of this with some hope .
He proposes that “ the loss of faith is a reason for hope .
It proved the downfall of the Soviet Empire , which imploded from its own hollowness.
” Virtue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other succeed in freedom according to some of the goals that were set out for us long ago , inspired , perhaps , by our creator , could go a long way to renew our politics .
It ’ s going to take a lot of prayer and work , as well as listening and courageous yet humble leadership , at all levels of American society .
I ’ d like to think we ’ re up for it .
I see glimpses daily that we may just be .
Let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior fellow at the National Review Institute , editor-at-large of National Review magazine and author of the new book A Year With the Mystics : Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living .
She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan ’ s pro-life commission in New York .
She can be contacted at klopez @ nationalreview.com .

“Who are we?” “What are we here for?” These are some of the most fundamental questions of our lives. The answers can be tough to discern even in normal times. As statues are being torn down, the question of who we are as Americans is one that we have to consider.
What Americanism Seeks to Be
There is a speech that the National Review’s founder, William F. Buckley Jr., delivered in 1979 that I always find helpful to peruse when I’m worried about the future of America. He was reflecting on Americanism and what it “seeks to be.” He noted that there were some who disputed whether such a thing could be defined, but would have no truck with that argument. His position was that “our country and its ideals survive in a sense which is both definable and normative.” What Americanism is, contrasts to what, say, China, “the most finished totalitarian society in the world,” he said at the time, is. That is a place where “One may do nothing — except those things which one is explicitly permitted to do.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In the United States, however, we have the Constitution — “and in particular the Bill of Rights” — “which is essentially a list of prohibitions: but it is a list of things that the government cannot do to the people. What a huge distinction: a majestic distinction. It grew out of a long, empirical journey, the eternal spark of which, of course, traces to Bethlehem, to that star that magnified man beyond any power of the emperors and gold seekers and legions of soldiers and slaves: a star that implanted in each one of us that essence that separates us from the beasts, and tells us that we were made in the image of God and were meant to be free.”
Now, at the same time, Buckley made no claims that ours is or ever was a perfect country — “America cannot presume to offer itself up, in a frenzy of moral vanity, as the secular reflection of the Incarnation. But Americans can say, as Lincoln did, that our country was founded on a proposition: that government of the people, by the people, and for the people is of the nature of Americanism. That our ideals are proudly ours.”
America on Trial
There’s a new book called America on Trial: A Defense of the Founding by Robert Reilly that ends with something of a challenge to anyone who wants to see the American experiment, as it has been called, survive and thrive. Talking about the Founders’ insistence that moral character was necessary to avoid decline, he writes about present things (albeit written before coronavirus and everything that has followed after). He cites Joseph Ratzinger, who would become Pope Benedict XVI, as warning that progressivism is a surrender of the concept of truth. Progress becomes truth, replaces it, even abolishes it.
Barack Obama in his The Audacity of Hope talked about ordered liberty being a “rejection of absolute truth.” Reilly interprets this as “truth does not set you free; the truth enslaves you … (that) freedom requires the rejection of objective truth.” Which can lead to utter confusion, madness, chaos, anger and despair, to name a few of our non-favorite things.
Reilly, though, looks at all of this with some hope. He proposes that “the loss of faith is a reason for hope. It proved the downfall of the Soviet Empire, which imploded from its own hollowness.” Virtue and a common desire to help each other succeed in freedom according to some of the goals that were set out for us long ago, inspired, perhaps, by our creator, could go a long way to renew our politics.
It’s going to take a lot of prayer and work, as well as listening and courageous yet humble leadership, at all levels of American society. I’d like to think we’re up for it. I see glimpses daily that we may just be. Let’s hope so.
Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review magazine and author of the new book A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living. She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan’s pro-life commission in New York. She can be contacted at [email protected].


thestream--2020-07-07--An Open Letter to the Radical Health ‘Experts,’ Leftists/Progressives/Dems and the Complicit Media

To you , we might be “ deplorables , ” but we are not ignorant .
We know the truth .
For the record , we lost trust in you some time ago .
We see through your hypocrisy and your feeble and failed attempts to justify your indefensible positions .
That is why you yell and scream so loudly or write as you do .
Your volume is in inverse proportion to your truth .
Your screeds lack rationality .
Senator Marco Rubio Said It for Us Senator Marco Rubio said it for us : Why would people trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to lose their job or their business , that their kids couldn ’ t have a graduation , that their grandmother couldn ’ t have a funeral , but are afraid to say anything about crowds of people setting fires and looting businesses ?
Why would people trust local leaders who will close your business for having too many customers or threaten to arrest you for going to a park or to a church , but who stand by and do nothing when a mob vandalizes a monument , tears down a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ section of a city ?
Rubio continued , “ Why would people trust a media that will shame them for going to the beach , for not wearing a mask in public , but portrays a mob of white anarchists attacking African-American police officers as just frustrated racial justice activists ?
” Get Out of Our Way That is the end of Senator Rubio ’ s quote , but allow me to continue my open letter to you Health “ Experts , ” Leftists/Progressives/Dems & Complicit Media .
One thousand of you health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us that COVID-19 would plague us if we would meet in stores or parks , gather to worship , go to work or share in recreation .
Yet you affirmed rioters , protesters , looters , defacers and thieves , claiming that their activities are not a health concern .
In my State of California , our tyrannical governor has informed us that we can not sing and worship in church .
In my County of San Diego , our Public Health Officer has informed us that we can not have gatherings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You Health “ Experts , ” Leftists/Progressives/Dems & Complicit Media — you will not destroy our families , our lives , our churches , our businesses , our schools , our communities and our nation .
Furthermore , you will not control our private medical decisions .
Your season of manipulation has come to an end .
Get out of our way — those of you who hate our love for God , hate our respect for life ( from conception to natural death ) , hate our love for ( real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , historic , orthodox , natural ) marriage , hate our love for our families , hate our love for the biblically-founded free market , choice-based economics ( yes — it is scriptural ) as opposed to your command-based economics , hate our love for liberty , freedom , the Declaration of Independence , the U.S. Constitution , the Bill of Rights , and hate our love for our less-than-perfect , yet truly remarkable America and her noble ideas which make her the most philanthropic nation on earth .
Our President Spoke for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President recently noted at Mt .
Rushmore on July 3 , 2020 : All historically engaged and spiritually alert Americans understand exactly what you are attempting to do .
President Trump summarized it well : Discerning Americans see right through your flawed thinking .
Our Trust is Not in Ourselves You have not yet felt our capacity to push back .
But you will .
Soon .
You mistake our silence for impotence .
You are so wrong .
You mistake our delay as having no strategy .
Again , you are so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fools .
One of your own belittled us for “ clinging ” to our God .
That is because you don ’ t understand true spiritual strength , nor do you recognize the subterranean principled convictions of true followers of our Lord , nor do you understand what makes patriots activate .
We value virtue and living free more than our very own lives .
We would rather die defeating the evil concepts you support , than to live under the despotic rule that you offer .
You burn , loot , steal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and private .
If you do not do it yourselves , you health “ experts , ” Leftists/Progressives/Dems & media speak encouragement for the anarchy and mayhem .
You stand with those who take what is not theirs .
In contrast , we lay down our lives to gain freedom for others .
We can outmatch you many times over .
You have assumed we were cowards and afraid .
In reality , we are calculating and poised , ready to strike .
The proverbial mama bear is rising to defend her cubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a Mighty God .
We don ’ t fear you .
We fear and reverence God .
Our trust is not in ourselves .
Our radical confidence is in Him .
“ His Truth is marching on.
” HIS truth .
Not ours .
You can not — long term — silence HIS truth .
Our Strength is in Truth We will push back with truth ( a foreign construct to you ) , tenacity , logic ( something you lack , which is why you try to silence us ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hate honest , open debate ) , intellect , wisdom ( a gift from God ) , sanity ( “ For God has not given us a spirit of fear , but of power , and of love , and of a sound mind.
” 2 Timothy 1:17 ) , even love ( but be assured , it will be a tough love ) , righteousness , holiness , prayer and fasting , spiritual warfare — Heaven will invade Earth and God will move you out of the way !
— and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the forcefulness of the strong arm of law ( that “ Rule of Law ” from the U.S. Constitution which you so disdain ) and — in a language you will understand better in November — votes .
We are not battling you .
We are battling that which controls you , that which you do not even know controls you .
Burning , looting , defacing , destroying , lying , deceiving and manipulating is not of God .
It has another source .
Jesus comes to give life and give it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , kill and destroy .
We know the source of your vandalous and barbaric activity .
And , media and elected officials , if you do not stand up against this destruction , abhor it and denounce it , you are complicit in it .
You scream to stop bona fide , legitimate law enforcement .
You block the very purpose of government : to protect its citizenry .
You either participate directly in or you condone the debauchery , mayhem and murder in our cities .
All those killings each weekend ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can not yell “ defund ” and “ dismantle ” and “ ( obscenity ) the police , ” and then act like you care when babies and children are killed in the streets each weekend .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Just to be clear , we are not talking about Republican vs. Democrat .
We are not even talking about Right vs. Left .
What we are talking about is something so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Let Me Cut to the Chase Let me cut to the chase : You are Wrong .
We don ’ t claim to be Right in and of ourselves .
Thus , we choose to side with God ’ s Right .
HIS Right .
You have chosen Wrong .
We have chosen Right .
Right always wins — ultimately — over Wrong .
We might appear weak .
And perhaps we are .
But God is not .
He is strong .
We submit to him .
We walk in humility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God .
He will defend us .
He will defend our nation from your incessant , malevolent and viscous attacks .
Know this , all of you who are trying to destroy this land : There are tens of millions who will NEVER , NEVER , NEVER EVER give up .
Never .
Dr. Jim Garlow is Founder & CEO of Well Versed .

Dear Health “Experts,” Leftists/Progressives/Dems & Complicit Media,
To you, we might be “deplorables,” but we are not ignorant. We know the truth. For the record, we lost trust in you some time ago. We see through your hypocrisy and your feeble and failed attempts to justify your indefensible positions. That is why you yell and scream so loudly or write as you do. Your volume is in inverse proportion to your truth. Your screeds lack rationality.
Senator Marco Rubio Said It for Us
Senator Marco Rubio said it for us:
Why would people trust public health experts who told them they had to lose their job or their business, that their kids couldn’t have a graduation, that their grandmother couldn’t have a funeral, but are afraid to say anything about crowds of people setting fires and looting businesses? Why would people trust local leaders who will close your business for having too many customers or threaten to arrest you for going to a park or to a church, but who stand by and do nothing when a mob vandalizes a monument, tears down a statue, or takes over an entire section of a city?
Rubio continued, “Why would people trust a media that will shame them for going to the beach, for not wearing a mask in public, but portrays a mob of white anarchists attacking African-American police officers as just frustrated racial justice activists?”
Get Out of Our Way
That is the end of Senator Rubio’s quote, but allow me to continue my open letter to you Health “Experts,” Leftists/Progressives/Dems & Complicit Media.
One thousand of you health “experts” signed a letter telling us that COVID-19 would plague us if we would meet in stores or parks, gather to worship, go to work or share in recreation. Yet you affirmed rioters, protesters, looters, defacers and thieves, claiming that their activities are not a health concern.
In my State of California, our tyrannical governor has informed us that we cannot sing and worship in church. In my County of San Diego, our Public Health Officer has informed us that we cannot have gatherings in our homes for the rest of 2020.
We see through your hypocrisy and your feeble and failed attempts to justify your indefensible positions.
You Health “Experts,” Leftists/Progressives/Dems & Complicit Media — you will not destroy our families, our lives, our churches, our businesses, our schools, our communities and our nation. Furthermore, you will not control our private medical decisions. Your season of manipulation has come to an end.
Get out of our way — those of you who hate our love for God, hate our respect for life (from conception to natural death), hate our love for (real, bona fide, authentic, biblical, historic, orthodox, natural) marriage, hate our love for our families, hate our love for the biblically-founded free market, choice-based economics (yes — it is scriptural) as opposed to your command-based economics, hate our love for liberty, freedom, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and hate our love for our less-than-perfect, yet truly remarkable America and her noble ideas which make her the most philanthropic nation on earth.
Our President Spoke for Us from Mt. Rushmore
As our President recently noted at Mt. Rushmore on July 3, 2020:
No nation has done more to advance the human condition than the United States of America. And no people have done more to promote human progress than the citizens of our great nation.
All historically engaged and spiritually alert Americans understand exactly what you are attempting to do. President Trump summarized it well:
The radical view of American history is a web of lies — all perspective is removed, every virtue is obscured, every motive is twisted, every fact is distorted, and every flaw is magnified until the history is purged and the record is disfigured beyond all recognition.
Discerning Americans see right through your flawed thinking.
Our Trust is Not in Ourselves
You have not yet felt our capacity to push back. But you will. Soon.
You mistake our silence for impotence. You are so wrong. You mistake our delay as having no strategy. Again, you are so wrong.
Know this, all of you who are trying to destroy this land:
There are tens of millions who will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER EVER give up.
Never.
You have played us for fools. One of your own belittled us for “clinging” to our God. That is because you don’t understand true spiritual strength, nor do you recognize the subterranean principled convictions of true followers of our Lord, nor do you understand what makes patriots activate.
We value virtue and living free more than our very own lives. We would rather die defeating the evil concepts you support, than to live under the despotic rule that you offer.
You burn, loot, steal, deface and destroy property — public and private. If you do not do it yourselves, you health “experts,” Leftists/Progressives/Dems & media speak encouragement for the anarchy and mayhem. You stand with those who take what is not theirs. In contrast, we lay down our lives to gain freedom for others. We can outmatch you many times over.
You have assumed we were cowards and afraid. In reality, we are calculating and poised, ready to strike. The proverbial mama bear is rising to defend her cubs. Why? Because we align ourselves with a Mighty God.
We don’t fear you. We fear and reverence God. Our trust is not in ourselves. Our radical confidence is in Him. “His Truth is marching on.” HIS truth. Not ours. You cannot — long term — silence HIS truth.
Our Strength is in Truth
We will push back with truth (a foreign construct to you), tenacity, logic (something you lack, which is why you try to silence us), superior ideas (which is why you hate honest, open debate), intellect, wisdom (a gift from God), sanity (“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:17), even love (but be assured, it will be a tough love), righteousness, holiness, prayer and fasting, spiritual warfare — Heaven will invade Earth and God will move you out of the way! — and, as needed in the temporal realm — the forcefulness of the strong arm of law (that “Rule of Law” from the U.S. Constitution which you so disdain) and — in a language you will understand better in November — votes.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. (Paul to people in Corinth, 2 Corinthians 10:4-6) We battle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers (Editorial note: lowest demonic strength), against the authorities (Editorial note: next-to-the-lowest demonic strength), against the powers of this dark world (Editorial note: next-to-the-top demonic strength) and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Editorial note: highest levels of demonic activity). (Paul to people in Ephesus, Ephesians 6:12)
Right vs. Wrong
We are not battling you. We are battling that which controls you, that which you do not even know controls you. Burning, looting, defacing, destroying, lying, deceiving and manipulating is not of God. It has another source.
We are not battling you. We are battling that which controls you, that which you do not even know controls you.
Jesus comes to give life and give it abundantly. Another source comes to steal, kill and destroy. We know the source of your vandalous and barbaric activity. And, media and elected officials, if you do not stand up against this destruction, abhor it and denounce it, you are complicit in it.
You scream to stop bona fide, legitimate law enforcement. You block the very purpose of government: to protect its citizenry. You either participate directly in or you condone the debauchery, mayhem and murder in our cities. All those killings each weekend? The blood is on your hands. You cannot yell “defund” and “dismantle” and “(obscenity) the police,” and then act like you care when babies and children are killed in the streets each weekend.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Just to be clear, we are not talking about Republican vs. Democrat. We are not even talking about Right vs. Left.
What we are talking about is something so much bigger. It is Right vs. Wrong.
Let Me Cut to the Chase
Let me cut to the chase: You are Wrong. We don’t claim to be Right in and of ourselves. Thus, we choose to side with God’s Right. HIS Right. You have chosen Wrong. We have chosen Right. Right always wins — ultimately — over Wrong.
We might appear weak. And perhaps we are. But God is not. He is strong. We submit to him. We walk in humility before a great, mighty and powerful God. He will defend us. He will defend our nation from your incessant, malevolent and vicious attacks.
Know this, all of you who are trying to destroy this land: There are tens of millions who will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER EVER give up. Never.
Signed,
Jim Garlow
(only one of tens of millions of God-loving, God-honoring, Bible-believing, unabashed American patriots in the land)
Dr. Jim Garlow is Founder & CEO of Well Versed.
Originally published at wellversedworld.org. Reprinted with permission.


thestream--2020-07-07--These are Perilous Times. But Not Serious Times

These are perilous times .
But they are not serious times .
The New York Times expends tons of ink telling America how racist it is , and lecturing us about white privilege , and how guilty we are of perpetuating racially insensitive language .
Then they blast President Trump ’ s Mount Rushmore speech as “ dark.
” Perpetuating the racially insensitive idea that dark is inherently negative .
Meanwhile , the mainstream media attacked Trump for speaking on what had been Native American lands .
From news headquarters built on what had been Native American lands .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not serious times .
At a White House briefing , Politico ‘ s Ryan Lizza asked , “ Does President Trump believe that it was a good thing that the South lost the Civil War ?
” No serious person asks that question .
Especially amid a powder keg of ginned up racial tensions , a serious person does not slander the U.S. president by implying he ’ s bummed about the end of slavery .
These are perilous times .
Dangerous times .
Revolutionary times .
But they are not serious times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ peaceful protesters ” in Washington , MSNBC ’ s Andrea Mitchell was nearly attacked by a male protester in a pink bikini .
We could stop right there .
But we go on .
She was standing with DC congressional delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton .
Norton yelled , “ Where are the police when you need them ?
!
” The ladies were standing on a Defund the Police mural DC ’ s mayor allowed to be painted on a city street .
In Black Lives Matter Plaza .
Please Support The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Seattle ’ s Mayor Jenny Durkan was a cheerleader for the militants taking over downtown Seattle and creating a violent Marxist enclave called CHOP ( as in the guillotine . )
This occupied zone was going to be a “ summer of love.
” That is , until those same militants came marching to her front door .
Suddenly , CHOP was a danger .
She ordered CHOP dismantled .
So much for her “ summer of love.
” If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco or any Democrat-controlled major city , be sure to wear a flower in your hair .
And body armor .
These are perilous times .
These are not serious times .
Democrats raged President Trump didn ’ t take immediately taken action against Russia on the basis of unconfirmed reports Russian intelligence officers had offered a bounty to the Taliban to kill Americans .
When the Taliban was happy killing Americans for free .
( These are the same Democrats who were silent when Iran did put a bounty on American heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1.8 billion in cash , access to billions of dollars and a path to a nuclear bomb .
The same Democrats who raised a fit when Trump took out the Iranian general who was actively leading the effort to kill Americans . )
After spending a week hitting the President for supposedly not protecting American troops in Afghanistan , these same House Democrats passed a bill attempting to stop Trump from removing those same troops out of Afghanistan .
Out of harm ’ s way .
And , suddenly , the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was revealed Rep. Adam Schiff had been briefed on the allegation back in February , and didn ’ t think it worthy of telling any other members of House Intelligence Committee .
These are perilous times .
These are not serious times .
In many Democrat controlled areas , you could not gather to celebrate America ’ s Independence Day .
But you could march with those aiming to destroy America .
Walk in a parade dressed as George Washington ?
Sorry .
Go chop cherry wood .
But March with a mob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington ?
Go with Gaia .
California Governor Gavin Newsome shut down bars and restaurants across his state .
But you can still go to tastings at his winery .
( Thanks James Woods ) With antics like this , no wonder liquor sales are through the roof .
One , Two Three , What are We Marching For ?
( Borrowing from Country Joe McDonald ) “ One , two , three , what are we marching for ?
Don ’ t ask me , I don ’ t give a d*** @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a month now , hundreds of thousands have been waving the “ Black Lives Matter ” banner .
Pouring millions into the organization .
Hollywood ’ s been paying the bail of rioters jailed .
They ’ ve been insisting it ’ s about the lives of blacks .
Time to climb down off the high horse and give a listen to CNN ’ s Don Lemon .
Last night Lemon was interviewing the great actor Terry Crews .
Crews was trying to talk about black-on-black crime .
Because , well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lemon cut him off , and let slip the sinister bloody secret .
The Black Lives Matter movement is “ not about what ’ s happening in black neighborhoods.
” Not about black-on-black crime .
Not about black lives .
If that ’ s what you want , Lemon told Crews , “ Start a movement with that name.
” Get that ?
Black Lives Matter .
Only the lives impacted by harmful acts by white police officers matter .
Only the acts that can be used by this Marxist outfit to divide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter .
This Fourth of July weekend alone : 11-year-old Davon McNeal was killed by a stray bullet on his way to a community cookout in Washington , DC .
8-year-0ld Royta Giles , Jr. was shot in the head while at mall in Hoover , Alabama .
6-year-old Jace Young was killed at a birthday party in San Francisco .
7-year-old Natalia Wallace was shot in the head while standing on her grandma ’ s sidewalk in Austin .
And 8-year-0ld Secoriea Turner was murdered by protesters in Atlanta near the Wendy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protesters supposedly protesting police brutality .
Secoriea was in a car attempting to drive around illegal barricades set up by those protesters , just trying to reach a parking area .
Fox News reports , “ Armed individuals blocking the entrance opened fire on the vehicle , striking it multiple times , striking the child.
” These are precarious times .
They are heartbreaking times .
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

These are perilous times. But they are not serious times.
The New York Times expends tons of ink telling America how racist it is, and lecturing us about white privilege, and how guilty we are of perpetuating racially insensitive language. Then they blast President Trump’s Mount Rushmore speech as “dark.” Perpetuating the racially insensitive idea that dark is inherently negative.
Meanwhile, the mainstream media attacked Trump for speaking on what had been Native American lands. From news headquarters built on what had been Native American lands.
These are perilous times. But they are not serious times.
At a White House briefing, Politico‘s Ryan Lizza asked, “Does President Trump believe that it was a good thing that the South lost the Civil War?”
No serious person asks that question. Especially amid a powder keg of ginned up racial tensions, a serious person does not slander the U.S. president by implying he’s bummed about the end of slavery.
Standing on a Platform Made of Hypocrisy
These are perilous times. Dangerous times. Revolutionary times. But they are not serious times.
While working on a story about “peaceful protesters” in Washington, MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell was nearly attacked by a male protester in a pink bikini. We could stop right there. But we go on.
She was standing with DC congressional delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. Norton yelled, “Where are the police when you need them?!” The ladies were standing on a Defund the Police mural DC’s mayor allowed to be painted on a city street. In Black Lives Matter Plaza.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Seattle’s Mayor Jenny Durkan was a cheerleader for the militants taking over downtown Seattle and creating a violent Marxist enclave called CHOP (as in the guillotine.) This occupied zone was going to be a “summer of love.” That is, until those same militants came marching to her front door. Suddenly, CHOP was a danger. She ordered CHOP dismantled.
So much for her “summer of love.” If you’re going to Seattle, San Francisco or any Democrat-controlled major city, be sure to wear a flower in your hair. And body armor.
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
Russia, Russia, Russia
These are perilous times. These are not serious times.
Democrats raged President Trump didn’t take immediate action against Russia on the basis of unconfirmed reports Russian intelligence officers had offered a bounty to the Taliban to kill Americans. When the Taliban was happy killing Americans for free. (These are the same Democrats who were silent when Iran did put a bounty on American heads, and Obama punished them by providing Iran $1.8 billion in cash, access to billions of dollars and a path to a nuclear bomb. The same Democrats who raised a fit when Trump took out the Iranian general who was actively leading the effort to kill Americans.)
After spending a week hitting the President for supposedly not protecting American troops in Afghanistan, these same House Democrats passed a bill attempting to stop Trump from removing those same troops out of Afghanistan. Out of harm’s way.
And, suddenly, the Russian bounty story disappeared. Right after it was revealed Rep. Adam Schiff had been briefed on the allegation back in February, and didn’t think it worthy of telling any other members of House Intelligence Committee.
Governors Say the Darndest Things
These are perilous times. These are not serious times.
In many Democrat controlled areas, you could not gather to celebrate America’s Independence Day. But you could march with those aiming to destroy America. Walk in a parade dressed as George Washington? Sorry. Go chop cherry wood. But March with a mob to tear down a statue of George Washington? Go with Gaia.
California Governor Gavin Newsom shut down bars and restaurants across his state. But you can still go to tastings at his winery. (Thanks James Woods)
https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods/status/1278743753390387200
With antics like this, no wonder liquor sales are through the roof.
One, Two Three, What are We Marching For?
(Borrowing from Country Joe McDonald) “One, two, three, what are we marching for? Don’t ask me, I don’t give a d***. Next stop is CNN.”
For over a month now, hundreds of thousands have been waving the “Black Lives Matter” banner. Pouring millions into the organization. Hollywood’s been paying the bail of rioters jailed. They’ve been insisting it’s about the lives of blacks. Time to climb down off the high horse and give a listen to CNN’s Don Lemon.
Last night Lemon was interviewing the great actor Terry Crews. Crews was trying to talk about black-on-black crime. Because, well, the lives of all blacks matter. Lemon cut him off, and let slip the sinister bloody secret. The Black Lives Matter movement is “not about what’s happening in black neighborhoods.” Not about black-on-black crime. Not about black lives. If that’s what you want, Lemon told Crews, “Start a movement with that name.”
Get that? Black Lives Matter. Only the lives impacted by harmful acts by white police officers matter. Only the acts that can be used by this Marxist outfit to divide and inflame and undermine the United States matter.
As precious lives fall.
This Fourth of July weekend alone:
11-year-old Davon McNeal was killed by a stray bullet on his way to a community cookout in Washington, DC.
8-year-0ld Royta Giles, Jr. was shot in the head while at mall in Hoover, Alabama.
6-year-old Jace Young was killed at a birthday party in San Francisco.
7-year-old Natalia Wallace was shot in the head while standing on her grandma’s sidewalk in Austin.
And 8-year-0ld Secoriea Turner was murdered by protesters in Atlanta near the Wendy’s were Rayshard Brooks died. Protesters supposedly protesting police brutality. Secoriea was in a car attempting to drive around illegal barricades set up by those protesters, just trying to reach a parking area. Fox News reports, “Armed individuals blocking the entrance opened fire on the vehicle, striking it multiple times, striking the child.”
These are precarious times. They are heartbreaking times.
And it matters.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-07-07--We Must Decide Whether We Want to Save America

America is in crisis .
Her destiny is on the line , and she will survive only if we still love her .
A battle rages in the streets , in academia , in the culture , and in the hearts and minds of the American people over whether America was and remains a good and great nation .
I have always believed that America is the greatest and most benevolent nation in history , that its Constitution is , in the words of former British Prime Minister William Gladstone , “ The most wonderful work ever struck off at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose of man.
” That ’ s primarily because the Constitution was crafted to maximize man ’ s liberty — not just by paying flowery lip service to the concept on hallowed parchment but by containing concrete limitations on government to ensure its realization .
Over time , anti-libertarian forces have chipped away at the document ’ s integrity and its guaranteed freedoms .
Today , those destructive forces are ascendant and emboldened .
Years ago , I was invited to give talks on the Constitution .
On one such occasion , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing my glowing endorsement of the document , asked how she could be expected to revere a government charter that condoned slavery .
I admit to providing an inadequate answer for my good-faith questioner , but I have given much thought to this important and increasingly relevant question since .
The immorality of slavery is undebatable , but the constitutional provisions dealing with it are more complex and deserve more than a short column .
For now , let me say that the American people ’ s better angels fought a devastating Civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially in the last half-century , to ensure equal opportunity for all people under law .
Going forward , we must decide whether we want to heal or persist in endless conflict and racial acrimony .
We can ’ t legislatively purge evil from men ’ s hearts — but we can and must pray to the God of all creation and of all precious human beings to expunge racial conflict and distrust from our souls , and to heal this land .
I believe we ’ ve made enormous strides on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow the naysayers to take that away from us .
Some continually call for a national conversation on race .
Others maintain we ’ ve been having that conversation for decades .
We have , in a sense , but it has been more a shouting match than a dialogue and has been riddled with sinister partisan motives rather than harmonious longings .
If we ’ re going to converse , let ’ s allow all views to be aired instead of censoring certain opinions with false charges of bigotry .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question of whether we believe now — not in 1776 or 1791 — that the American dream applies to all Americans .
We will waste our time unless we still believe that America is exceptional and has the greatest system of government ever devised by man .
Do we still embrace the American dream ?
That is , could we all agree that America ’ s federalist structure , its scheme of checks and balances , its separation of powers , its express guarantees of God-given rights are far superior to any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ socialism , Marxism , totalitarianism and monarchy ?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Should we foster a spirit of forgiveness among all Americans and all races , or do we seek to incite conflict for political gain ?
Do we support policies that improve the lives of all people including minorities , or would we prefer to remain mired in hate and bitterness ?
Will we encourage colorblindness and loving one another as God ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or yield to those who would revert to color consciousness and segregation ?
Will we repudiate or honor Martin Luther King Jr. ’ s legacy ?
We can debate whether the framers built obsolescence for slavery in the Constitution or whether the Civil War and civil rights laws were enough to atone for this brutal institution , but shouldn ’ t we get about the business of living in harmony and striving to ensure the American dream is available for all ?
Do we want to advance an agenda that treats all people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone up , or would we rather be perpetually angry and paralyzed by guilt ?
We must shed the poisonous notion that the stain of slavery permanently taints our system of government , which still offers the last best hope for all Americans to be free , to pursue happiness and to succeed .
We must fervently resist societal pressure to tear down all remnants of our history , because eliminating the bad will also eliminate the good — and increase the likelihood of repeating the bad .
Don ’ t believe for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hijacked peaceful protests are conflicted on this issue .
They want to tear down the entire system , which they say can not be fixed .
Understand that if you buy into that lie , you are joining forces with those who will uproot all that is good and sabotage the system in exchange for the inevitable unfolding of totalitarianism in which only a very limited few will be free and thrive .
History amply demonstrates the corruptive folly of the road we are traveling .
Conservatives must confront the pernicious narrative that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intent on preserving it are racist .
Precisely the opposite is true .
We want the best for all people , and if we lack the moral courage to fight for our principles , America as founded will disappear .
Only if we save this nation will the people for whom the destructive forces claim to be fighting prosper .
I pray God will heal and unite us , and that we will work together to preserve and reinvigorate this still-wonderful nation .
David Limbaugh is a writer , author and attorney .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Insanity : Why the Democrats Must Not Win .
Follow him on Twitter @ davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com .

America is in crisis. Her destiny is on the line, and she will survive only if we still love her.
A battle rages in the streets, in academia, in the culture, and in the hearts and minds of the American people over whether America was and remains a good and great nation.
I have always believed that America is the greatest and most benevolent nation in history, that its Constitution is, in the words of former British Prime Minister William Gladstone, “The most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.”
That’s primarily because the Constitution was crafted to maximize man’s liberty — not just by paying flowery lip service to the concept on hallowed parchment but by containing concrete limitations on government to ensure its realization.
Over time, anti-libertarian forces have chipped away at the document’s integrity and its guaranteed freedoms. Today, those destructive forces are ascendant and emboldened.
The Immorality of Slavery
Years ago, I was invited to give talks on the Constitution. On one such occasion, a female African American law student, after hearing my glowing endorsement of the document, asked how she could be expected to revere a government charter that condoned slavery.
I admit to providing an inadequate answer for my good-faith questioner, but I have given much thought to this important and increasingly relevant question since.
The immorality of slavery is undebatable, but the constitutional provisions dealing with it are more complex and deserve more than a short column. For now, let me say that the American people’s better angels fought a devastating Civil War largely over the issue and worked, especially in the last half-century, to ensure equal opportunity for all people under law.
Going forward, we must decide whether we want to heal or persist in endless conflict and racial acrimony. We can’t legislatively purge evil from men’s hearts — but we can and must pray to the God of all creation and of all precious human beings to expunge racial conflict and distrust from our souls, and to heal this land. I believe we’ve made enormous strides on racism, and let’s not allow the naysayers to take that away from us.
Some continually call for a national conversation on race. Others maintain we’ve been having that conversation for decades. We have, in a sense, but it has been more a shouting match than a dialogue and has been riddled with sinister partisan motives rather than harmonious longings.
If we’re going to converse, let’s allow all views to be aired instead of censoring certain opinions with false charges of bigotry.
The American Dream
At the center of this discussion should be the question of whether we believe now — not in 1776 or 1791 — that the American dream applies to all Americans. We will waste our time unless we still believe that America is exceptional and has the greatest system of government ever devised by man. Do we still embrace the American dream?
That is, could we all agree that America’s federalist structure, its scheme of checks and balances, its separation of powers, its express guarantees of God-given rights are far superior to any other conceivable government system including all strains of socialism, Marxism, totalitarianism and monarchy?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Should we foster a spirit of forgiveness among all Americans and all races, or do we seek to incite conflict for political gain? Do we support policies that improve the lives of all people including minorities, or would we prefer to remain mired in hate and bitterness? Will we encourage colorblindness and loving one another as God’s creatures in a truly integrated society, or yield to those who would revert to color consciousness and segregation? Will we repudiate or honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy?
We can debate whether the framers built obsolescence for slavery in the Constitution or whether the Civil War and civil rights laws were enough to atone for this brutal institution, but shouldn’t we get about the business of living in harmony and striving to ensure the American dream is available for all?
Do we want to advance an agenda that treats all people equally and is better suited to lift everyone up, or would we rather be perpetually angry and paralyzed by guilt?
The American System of Government
We must shed the poisonous notion that the stain of slavery permanently taints our system of government, which still offers the last best hope for all Americans to be free, to pursue happiness and to succeed. We must fervently resist societal pressure to tear down all remnants of our history, because eliminating the bad will also eliminate the good — and increase the likelihood of repeating the bad.
Don’t believe for a second that the anarchists who have hijacked peaceful protests are conflicted on this issue. They want to tear down the entire system, which they say cannot be fixed.
Understand that if you buy into that lie, you are joining forces with those who will uproot all that is good and sabotage the system in exchange for the inevitable unfolding of totalitarianism in which only a very limited few will be free and thrive. History amply demonstrates the corruptive folly of the road we are traveling.
Conservatives must confront the pernicious narrative that America is evil and patriots who are intent on preserving it are racist. Precisely the opposite is true. We want the best for all people, and if we lack the moral courage to fight for our principles, America as founded will disappear. Only if we save this nation will the people for whom the destructive forces claim to be fighting prosper.
I pray God will heal and unite us, and that we will work together to preserve and reinvigorate this still-wonderful nation.
David Limbaugh is a writer, author and attorney. His latest book is Guilty by Reason of Insanity: Why the Democrats Must Not Win. Follow him on Twitter @davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com.
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