thestream--2020-08-19--Military Photo of the Day: At Work at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center

U.S .
Naval Special Warfare Command sailors execute a joint visit , board , search and seizure exercise with their @ @ @ @ @ Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center in Greece .
Thank you to these sailors for defending @ @ @ @

U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command sailors execute a joint visit, board, search and seizure exercise with their Greek counterparts at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center in Greece.
Thank you to these sailors for defending our nation overseas.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.


thestream--2020-08-19--Save Pakistani Pastor Sohail, Imprisoned Without Charges Since May 22

In the middle of the wasteland of virus and social upheaval , you can act for one man .
It won ’ t cost you anything and it will be a righteous act , because he is a righteous man .
You can be part of efforts to save Pastor Sohail Latif Landhu of Karachi , Pakistan .
Pastor Sohail , a Pakistani citizen , is the founder and chairman of River of Life Christian Church ( Anglican ) .
Imprisoned without charges since May 22 , Sohail was taken from his home by local Pakistani authorities .
They burst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the night while he , his wife , and their five children were asleep .
Nearly three months later , Aug. 20 will be the first time authorities allow a bond hearing for the pastor .
The multi-faith South Asia Minority Alliance Foundation ( SAMAF ) was alerted to his unjust imprisonment and is championing his cause .
SAMAF ’ s Executive Director , Puneet Ahluwalia , is working on Sohail ’ s behalf along with the New Wineskins Missionary Network , the Anglican Church in North America , and Fresh Expressions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches .
The three organizations are sponsoring a letter that will be sent to the government of Pakistan in Islamabad through Pakistan ’ s Ambassador to the United States , His Excellency Majeed Khan .
Currently , SAMAF and the other two organizations are circulating the letter among civil society and church groups for more support .
If you want to be counted as part of the efforts to save this righteous man , Pastor Sohail , you may add your name through the link on the SAMAF website .
The letter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • What charges are filed against him ?
• What evidence exists that would indicate that these charges are more likely true than fabricated ?
• What justifies having denied this man a bond hearing for so long , and why was he taken without warning , under the cover of darkness , in front of his devastated wife and children ?
• What medical assistance has been provided to him while in prison ?
Time Is of the Essence Time is of the essence to save Pastor Sohail .
He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , but has not been released under humanitarian parole , in contrast to so many dangerous felons around the world .
This is not surprising , because Christians are treated miserably , as second class citizens , in Pakistan .
The letter continues , “ What makes this worse is that the charges against Sohail appear to stem only from his efforts to help his neighbors , the poor and dispossessed , suffering under conditions that most of us could hardly imagine.
” The fact is that Christians and other religious minorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poorest and neediest people in Pakistan , were largely left out of the economic aid given to sustain people during the pandemic — aid provided to the country through the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank .
Pakistani Christians took enormous risks to offer this assistance , as the government had forbid this type of interaction .
But survival for some people was only possible because of the Christ-like compassion and aid of the Christians .
In conclusion , the letter says , “ We humbly pray that our efforts towards liberty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that the suffering of Pastor Sohail and his family can be used for a greater good , and have every faith that this can occur consistent with God ’ s supreme power.
” At a time when the world , and even our own cities , seem to be hostile and full of despair — it is a blessing to be able to come together , as SAMAF says , for “ liberty and justice ” that “ will be pleasing to God.
” Pakistan will take note of the interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pastor Sohail .
And we , by our actions together , may by God ’ s grace be able to save a life .
Faith J.H .
McDonnell directs the Institute on Religion and Democracy ’ s Religious Liberty Program and Church Alliance for a New Sudan .
She is the author of Girl Soldier : A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda ’ s Children ( Chosen Books , 2007 ) .

In the middle of the wasteland of virus and social upheaval, you can act for one man. It won’t cost you anything and it will be a righteous act, because he is a righteous man. You can be part of efforts to save Pastor Sohail Latif Landhu of Karachi, Pakistan.
Pastor Sohail, a Pakistani citizen, is the founder and chairman of River of Life Christian Church (Anglican). Imprisoned without charges since May 22, Sohail was taken from his home by local Pakistani authorities. They burst into the house in the middle of the night while he, his wife, and their five children were asleep. Nearly three months later, Aug. 20 will be the first time authorities allow a bond hearing for the pastor.
A Letter to the Pakistani Government
The multi-faith South Asia Minority Alliance Foundation (SAMAF) was alerted to his unjust imprisonment and is championing his cause. SAMAF’s Executive Director, Puneet Ahluwalia, is working on Sohail’s behalf along with the New Wineskins Missionary Network, the Anglican Church in North America, and Fresh Expressions, an international movement cultivating new kinds of churches.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The three organizations are sponsoring a letter that will be sent to the government of Pakistan in Islamabad through Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Majeed Khan. Currently, SAMAF and the other two organizations are circulating the letter among civil society and church groups for more support. If you want to be counted as part of the efforts to save this righteous man, Pastor Sohail, you may add your name through the link on the SAMAF website.
The letter to the Pakistani government includes such questions as:
Why was Pastor Sohail Latif arrested?
What charges are filed against him?
What evidence exists that would indicate that these charges are more likely true than fabricated?
What justifies having denied this man a bond hearing for so long, and why was he taken without warning, under the cover of darkness, in front of his devastated wife and children?
What medical assistance has been provided to him while in prison?
Time Is of the Essence
Time is of the essence to save Pastor Sohail. He is reportedly ill, now, possibly with COVID-19, but has not been released under humanitarian parole, in contrast to so many dangerous felons around the world. This is not surprising, because Christians are treated miserably, as second class citizens, in Pakistan.
In fact, the letter reveals,
A life of fear is nothing new for religious minorities in the South Asia region. … Pastor Sohail is just one in a series of religious and ethnic minorities in South Asia to suffer injustice based on their faith or birth. Whether it be Sikhs, Ahmadi, Christians, Baloch, Muhajir, Pashtun, or others, the absence of news coverage due to Covid-19 has emboldened these oppressors, who weaponize the media blackout just as the authorities who abducted Sohail weaponized the cover of darkness.
The letter continues, “What makes this worse is that the charges against Sohail appear to stem only from his efforts to help his neighbors, the poor and dispossessed, suffering under conditions that most of us could hardly imagine.”
The fact is that Christians and other religious minorities, as well as others of the poorest and neediest people in Pakistan, were largely left out of the economic aid given to sustain people during the pandemic — aid provided to the country through the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Pakistani Christians took enormous risks to offer this assistance, as the government had forbid this type of interaction. But survival for some people was only possible because of the Christ-like compassion and aid of the Christians.
Liberty and Justice Pleasing to God
In conclusion, the letter says, “We humbly pray that our efforts towards liberty and justice will be pleasing to God, and that the suffering of Pastor Sohail and his family can be used for a greater good, and have every faith that this can occur consistent with God’s supreme power.”
At a time when the world, and even our own cities, seem to be hostile and full of despair — it is a blessing to be able to come together, as SAMAF says, for “liberty and justice” that “will be pleasing to God.” Pakistan will take note of the interest that we show to the plight of Pastor Sohail. And we, by our actions together, may by God’s grace be able to save a life.
Faith J.H. McDonnell directs the Institute on Religion and Democracy’s Religious Liberty Program and Church Alliance for a New Sudan. She is the author of Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda’s Children (Chosen Books, 2007).


thestream--2020-08-19--A Star is Born: House Candidate Kim Klacik Walks All Over Dems in Viral Video

At the 2004 Democratic National Convention , a young , black , relatively unknown legislator from Illinois delivered the keynote address .
His soaring rhetoric dazzled the national audience .
“ Who is this guy ?
” America wondered , collectively spotting the birth of a political star .
“ That guy is going to be president , ” I told my wife .
Four years later , he was elected .
His name was Barack Obama .
This week , during the DNC convention , the same phenomenon is happening .
Two days ago , a video dropped .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dress and red high heels , marches through the decrepit neighborhoods of Baltimore , demolishing the case for Democratic rule .
Her message is simple .
Direct .
Powerful .
Sassy .
In just 2:50 , the video declares a new political star has arrived on the scene , and she means business .
“ Who is this woman ?
” Her name is Kimberly Klacik .
She is running for Elijah Cummings ’ old seat in Congress .
And she is a Republican .
And if you are a Democrat strategist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true .
Nearly 8 million people have now seen Klasik ’ s video , and the number will no doubt climb .
Klacik opens with a bold statement .
“ Do you care about black lives ?
The people that run Baltimore don ’ t .
I can prove it.
” And so she does , walking on desolate streets , past eyesore properties , boarded up , tag-covered buildings .
Klasik moves with “ Girl on Fire ” strut .
Think Katniss Everdeen into the Capitol City in Mockingjay , Part Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic party for 53 years .
What is the result of their decades of leadership ?
” she demands , then lays out the city ’ s sad statistics of death and ruin .
An indictment no honest jury could throw out .
Klacik did not limit her aim to Democrats in Baltimore either .
She offered a dare .
“ It ’ s 2020 , name a blue city where black people ’ s lives have gotten better .
Try .
I ’ ll wait.
” Devastating .
Mic Drop .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first major names to pick up on the video , tweeting “ I am tempted to move to Baltimore just to campaign with you.
” Eric Trump and Don , Jr. retweeted it .
Rep. Dan Crenshaw ’ s reaction was typical .
“ Wow .
Just Wow.
” In the past 24 hours , Klasik has appeared on both Laura Ingraham ‘ s show and Fox & Friends .
Ingraham said she hoped the RNC was watching and would give her a spot at next week ’ s RNC convention .
Klasik @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from RNC offering support , but no offer to speak yet .
If she ’ s not featured next week , somebody should be fired .
For two days the DNC has trotted out tired and bitter Republican relics : John Kasich , Christine Todd Whitman , Cindy McCain , Colin Powell , on and on .
The RNC must respond with the new faces of the Republican party , and that means Klasik .
A young , strong , black woman sickened by what ’ s been done to her beloved city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , when she started documenting the rot in Baltimore she said “ I never wanted this to become a political mess .
I wanted Baltimore officials to see these conditions and to do something about it.
” She then decided to run for office herself .
You know , the ol ’ fashioned American way .
Will she get to deliver her message at the RNC convention ?
Good money says yes .
Especially now her video has been retweeted by President Trump .
( He ’ d retweeted her earlier videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Baltimore .
So she is already on Trump ’ s radar . )
Does an amazing viral video mean she is going to win her election ?
No .
In fact , she lost a special election in April against Kweisi Mfume to replace Cummings after he died .
She squares off against the longtime Maryland politician again .
Plus , according to political scientist Matthew Crenson , no Republican has earned higher than 27 percent of the vote in that 7th District in the past 18 years.
” Then again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Baltimore Sun editorial board ran a hit piece against her this morning .
They argue she is “ not an earnest 38-year old ” trying to save her dying city .
Instead , she ’ s a “ political stalking horse ” for Trump to weaken Biden nationally .
( Imagine if Fox News painted a black female candidate as a work animal for a white man . )
Yet , The Sun has a point .
Klacik could lose the congressional battle , but win the war .
Al Perrotta is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

At the 2004 Democratic National Convention, a young, black, relatively unknown legislator from Illinois delivered the keynote address. His soaring rhetoric dazzled the national audience. “Who is this guy?” America wondered, collectively spotting the birth of a political star. “That guy is going to be president,” I told my wife. Four years later, he was elected. His name was Barack Obama.
This week, during the DNC convention, the same phenomenon is happening. Two days ago, a video dropped. A young black woman, in red dress and red high heels, marches through the decrepit neighborhoods of Baltimore, demolishing the case for Democratic rule. Her message is simple. Direct. Powerful. Sassy.
In just 2:50, the video declares a new political star has arrived on the scene, and she means business. “Who is this woman?” Her name is Kimberly Klacik. She is running for Elijah Cummings’ old seat in Congress. And she is a Republican.
And if you are a Democrat strategist, she’s your worst nightmare come true.
The Viral Video
Democrats don’t want you to see this. They’re scared that I’m exposing what life is like in Democrat run cities. That’s why I’m running for Congress
Because All Black Lives Matter
Baltimore Matters
And black people don’t have to vote Democrat
Help us win https://t.co/CSOjc9aQlS pic.twitter.com/XnEDTaDDIG — Kimberly Klacik (@kimKBaltimore) August 17, 2020
Nearly 8 million people have now seen Klasik’s video, and the number will no doubt climb. Klacik opens with a bold statement. “Do you care about black lives? The people that run Baltimore don’t. I can prove it.”
And so she does, walking on desolate streets, past eyesore properties, boarded up, tag-covered buildings. Klasik moves with “Girl on Fire” strut. Think Katniss Everdeen into the Capitol City in Mockingjay, Part Two.
“Baltimore has been run by the Democratic party for 53 years. What is the result of their decades of leadership?” she demands, then lays out the city’s sad statistics of death and ruin. An indictment no honest jury could throw out.
Klacik did not limit her aim to Democrats in Baltimore either. She offered a dare. “It’s 2020, name a blue city where black people’s lives have gotten better. Try. I’ll wait.” Devastating. Mic Drop.
The Reaction
Actor James Woods was one of the first major names to pick up on the video, tweeting “I am tempted to move to Baltimore just to campaign with you.” Eric Trump and Don, Jr. retweeted it. Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s reaction was typical. “Wow. Just Wow.”
In the past 24 hours, Klasik has appeared on both Laura Ingraham’s show and Fox & Friends. Ingraham said she hoped the RNC was watching and would give her a spot at next week’s RNC convention. Klasik said she’d gotten a call from RNC offering support, but no offer to speak yet. If she’s not featured next week, somebody should be fired.
For two days the DNC has trotted out tired and bitter Republican relics: John Kasich, Christine Todd Whitman, Cindy McCain, Colin Powell, on and on. The RNC must respond with the new faces of the Republican party, and that means Klasik. A young, strong, black woman sickened by what’s been done to her beloved city. Sickened, but hopeful.
Last year, when she started documenting the rot in Baltimore she said “I never wanted this to become a political mess. I wanted Baltimore officials to see these conditions and to do something about it.” She then decided to run for office herself. You know, the ol’ fashioned American way.
Will she get to deliver her message at the RNC convention? Good money says yes. Especially now her video has been retweeted by President Trump. (He’d retweeted her earlier videos last year, when he blasted conditions in Baltimore. So she is already on Trump’s radar.)
Kimberly will work with the Trump Administration and we will bring Baltimore back, and fast. Don’t blow it Baltimore, the Democrats have destroyed your city! https://t.co/PDdjgxbIHu — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2020
Does an amazing viral video mean she is going to win her election? No. In fact, she lost a special election in April against Kweisi Mfume to replace Cummings after he died. She squares off against the longtime Maryland politician again. Plus, according to political scientist Matthew Crenson, no Republican has earned higher than 27 percent of the vote in that 7th District in the past 18 years.”
Then again, she’s got them sweating. The Baltimore Sun editorial board ran a hit piece against her this morning. They argue she is “not an earnest 38-year old” trying to save her dying city. Instead, she’s a “political stalking horse” for Trump to weaken Biden nationally. (Imagine if Fox News painted a black female candidate as a work animal for a white man.)
Yet, The Sun has a point. Klacik could lose the congressional battle, but win the war.
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--2020-08-19--Gov. Gavin Newsom Declares State of Emergency as Wildfires Char California, Gives Evacuation Orders

California Gov .
Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Tuesday as wildfires continue torching parts of Northern California amid blackouts and a severe heatwave .
“ We are deploying every resource available to keep communities safe as California battles fires across the state during these extreme conditions , ” the Democrat said in a press statement .
The declaration comes as many citizens are subject to rotating power outages due to heavy strain on the energy grid amid the wildfires , media reports show .
The LNU Lightning Complex fires , all of which started Monday and Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Napa , Sonoma and Solano , state officials said .
Evacuations were ordered early Wednesday for citizens in Vacaville , a city of 100,000 residents between San Francisco and Sacramento , CNN reported Wednesday .
More than two dozen wildfires are burning their way across the state , torching tens of thousands of acres as of Wednesday .
Evacuations were issued for the Carmel Fire in Monterey County , CNN affiliate KSBW reported Tuesday .
The Carmel Fire has burned about 1,200 acres , Cal Fire reported , and has not yet been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also dealing with rolling blackouts .
More than 37,000 people are without power across the state , the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Pacific Gas & Electric told CNN Tuesday .
California ’ s energy system operator — California Independent System Operator ( CAISO ) — issued a Stage 3 emergency for the first time in 20 years , per a press statement CAISO posted Friday .
CAISO attributed the blackouts to the unexpected loss of a 470 megawatt power plant , as well as a loss of nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debilitating heatwave is compounding the problem .
High temperatures , gusty winds and low humidity will likely contribute to the spread of both new and existing wildfires , as well as continued blackouts as people struggle to stay cool .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Tuesday as wildfires continue torching parts of Northern California amid blackouts and a severe heatwave.
“We are deploying every resource available to keep communities safe as California battles fires across the state during these extreme conditions,” the Democrat said in a press statement. The declaration comes as many citizens are subject to rotating power outages due to heavy strain on the energy grid amid the wildfires, media reports show.
Hairy conditions as the #LNULightningComplex fire burns along both sides of Berryessa Knoxville Road near Lake Berryessa. @GettyImagesNews @CAL_FIRE pic.twitter.com/EVWKsgsump — Justin Sullivan (@sullyfoto) August 19, 2020
The LNU Lightning Complex fires, all of which started Monday and Tuesday, have burned more than 32,000 acres in Napa, Sonoma and Solano, state officials said. Evacuations were ordered early Wednesday for citizens in Vacaville, a city of 100,000 residents between San Francisco and Sacramento, CNN reported Wednesday.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
More than two dozen wildfires are burning their way across the state, torching tens of thousands of acres as of Wednesday.
Evacuations were issued for the Carmel Fire in Monterey County, CNN affiliate KSBW reported Tuesday. The Carmel Fire has burned about 1,200 acres, Cal Fire reported, and has not yet been contained.
Along with wildfires, Californians are also dealing with rolling blackouts. More than 37,000 people are without power across the state, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Pacific Gas & Electric told CNN Tuesday.
California’s energy system operator — California Independent System Operator (CAISO) — issued a Stage 3 emergency for the first time in 20 years, per a press statement CAISO posted Friday. CAISO attributed the blackouts to the unexpected loss of a 470 megawatt power plant, as well as a loss of nearly 1,000 megawatts from wind power.
A debilitating heatwave is compounding the problem. High temperatures, gusty winds and low humidity will likely contribute to the spread of both new and existing wildfires, as well as continued blackouts as people struggle to stay cool.
“These are record high temperatures in what is typically one of the hottest times of the year,” the National Weather Service wrote in a tweet Tuesday. “These are dangerous conditions that should be taken seriously to avoid heat-related illness.”
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-08-19--My Mother, the TV Warrior

My Mother, the TV Warrior

Our family was weird .
We were not normal , and as far as my school friends were concerned , the weirdest thing about us was that we did not have a TV .
I grew up in the 1960s and ’ 70s and one of the main talking points at school was what show you watched the night before .
Was it Mister Ed the talking horse ?
Bonanza ?
Laugh In or Bewitched ?
My buddies would gasp with disbelief when I told them I hadn ’ t watched any TV shows the night before because we didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could afford a TV .
Dad had a good job running his own men ’ s clothing store .
We had a comfortable middle class home life , but when they decided to build a house in the country , Mom decided we didn ’ t need to have a TV .
The great thing about my mom ’ s decision was that it was not taken out of a strict , negative , religious attitude .
She simply considered most of the stuff on TV to be either stupid or a waste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the idiot box ” but when we went to grandma ’ s house or the homes of our relatives and friends Mom did not bear down like an Old Testament prophet telling us to get away from the sinful sewer of Satan .
It was okay .
We were allowed to watch TV .
It ’ s just that we didn ’ t have one in our house .
At the time we were embarrassed and chafed a bit at not having a TV , but Mom emphasized how many better things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot and made regular visits to the library , excited by the armfuls of books we had borrowed .
We played outside , built a tree house , sailed toy boats down the creek to the river , swam in the lake and hiked in the woods .
We fell off our bikes , were stung by wasps and covered with poison ivy .
We got lost in the woods and found our way home .
We slept out in the summer and went sledding and ice skating in the winter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ better things to do than watch I Dream of Jeannie or The Munsters .
Once when we were staying at Grandma ’ s for an overnight my sister and I watched Alfred Hitchcock ’ s The Birds after Grammy fell asleep in her chair .
I still remember the saucer size of my eyes when the heroine went up the stairs , opened the attic door and was attacked by the horrible birds .
Because we didn ’ t have a TV the horror was more vivid and I would have screamed along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t already covered my face with a pillow .
Did we miss anything for not having a TV ?
Was our childhood poorer for not having horror shows , banal sitcoms with canned laughter , Western shootouts and the nightly news ?
I doubt it .
In those days we ’ d see pictures of huge billboards with the Russian leaders , military parades with soldiers and missiles and books and booklets obviously written to hammer home the party line , the cultural revolution and the communist message .
The propaganda was everywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV screens are now not only in our living rooms , they are everywhere .
In bars and restaurants , airports and virtually every public place the television blares away and glares away and people sit goggle eyed in front of it .
In our homes the big screens are turned on 24/7 and now we not only have the big screen TVs , we have the small screens of our phone , our tablets and our laptops .
We ’ re glued to the screens and seem oblivious to the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Whether it is the news , the entertainment channels , social media or the commercials , the screens dish out the underlying American message .
That message is that materialism is great , pleasure is the ultimate good and entertainment is everlasting .
Our screens are a far more powerful means of state and cultural propaganda than the Soviet billboards and communist parades ever were .
The subtle power of the screen is such that if we see it on the screen we believe it must be true .
Even when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biased propaganda , commercial exaggeration or just a plain and open lie , we find it hard to be critical .
So the American cultural monster of the ever-present screen brainwashes us to accept a false reality .
Our eyes and our minds are being held hostage by the media masters .
What to do about it ?
Re-claim the custody of our eyes .
We need to have the self discipline to stop channel hopping , use the “ off ” switch and find something better to do .
When we turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brains .
We begin to be more aware of the natural world and the people around us .
If we are people of faith , when we turn off the TV we have more time for prayer , meditation and reading the great books .
When I lived in Pennsylvania the Amish folk would open their homes to busloads of New Yorkers who would come and gawk and buy Pennsylvania Dutch craft work , shoo fly pie and other delicacies .
The Amish were happy for the business , but they also considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share their deeply held faith .
I can ’ t forget the reply of an old Amish man when a woman from New York shrieked , “ You mean you really don ’ t have a TV !
?
!
” He smiled and said , “ When was the last time you watched something on television that helped you be a better person ?
I ’ m on the side of the old Amish man , and still thank my mother on a regular basis for her weird , but wise decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book Immortal Combat-Confronting the Heart of Darkness examines the root causes of unrest and uncertainty in our world today .
dwightlongenecker.com

Our family was weird. We were not normal, and as far as my school friends were concerned, the weirdest thing about us was that we did not have a TV.
I grew up in the 1960s and ’70s and one of the main talking points at school was what show you watched the night before. Was it Mister Ed the talking horse? Bonanza? Laugh In or Bewitched? My buddies would gasp with disbelief when I told them I hadn’t watched any TV shows the night before because we didn’t have a TV.
We could afford a TV. Dad had a good job running his own men’s clothing store. We had a comfortable middle class home life, but when they decided to build a house in the country, Mom decided we didn’t need to have a TV.
The great thing about my mom’s decision was that it was not taken out of a strict, negative, religious attitude. She simply considered most of the stuff on TV to be either stupid or a waste of time. She called the TV “the idiot box” but when we went to grandma’s house or the homes of our relatives and friends Mom did not bear down like an Old Testament prophet telling us to get away from the sinful sewer of Satan. It was okay. We were allowed to watch TV. It’s just that we didn’t have one in our house.
Screens and Screams
At the time we were embarrassed and chafed a bit at not having a TV, but Mom emphasized how many better things there were to do. We read a lot and made regular visits to the library, excited by the armfuls of books we had borrowed. We played outside, built a tree house, sailed toy boats down the creek to the river, swam in the lake and hiked in the woods. We fell off our bikes, were stung by wasps and covered with poison ivy. We got lost in the woods and found our way home. We slept out in the summer and went sledding and ice skating in the winter.
Mom was right. There were much better things to do than watch I Dream of Jeannie or The Munsters.
Our eyes and our minds are being held hostage by the media masters. What to do about it? Re-claim the custody of our eyes.
Once when we were staying at Grandma’s for an overnight my sister and I watched Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds after Grammy fell asleep in her chair. I still remember the saucer size of my eyes when the heroine went up the stairs, opened the attic door and was attacked by the horrible birds. Because we didn’t have a TV the horror was more vivid and I would have screamed along with my sister if I hadn’t already covered my face with a pillow.
Did we miss anything for not having a TV? Was our childhood poorer for not having horror shows, banal sitcoms with canned laughter, Western shootouts and the nightly news? I doubt it.
America’s Propaganda
In those days we’d see pictures of huge billboards with the Russian leaders, military parades with soldiers and missiles and books and booklets obviously written to hammer home the party line, the cultural revolution and the communist message.
The propaganda was everywhere.
What is our propaganda? The TV screens are now not only in our living rooms, they are everywhere. In bars and restaurants, airports and virtually every public place the television blares away and glares away and people sit goggle eyed in front of it.
In our homes the big screens are turned on 24/7 and now we not only have the big screen TVs, we have the small screens of our phone, our tablets and our laptops. We’re glued to the screens and seem oblivious to the fact that they are the channels of American propaganda.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Whether it is the news, the entertainment channels, social media or the commercials, the screens dish out the underlying American message. That message is that materialism is great, pleasure is the ultimate good and entertainment is everlasting. Our screens are a far more powerful means of state and cultural propaganda than the Soviet billboards and communist parades ever were.
The subtle power of the screen is such that if we see it on the screen we believe it must be true. Even when we know what we’re seeing is biased propaganda, commercial exaggeration or just a plain and open lie, we find it hard to be critical. So the American cultural monster of the ever-present screen brainwashes us to accept a false reality.
Custody of the Eyes
Our eyes and our minds are being held hostage by the media masters. What to do about it? Re-claim the custody of our eyes. We need to have the self discipline to stop channel hopping, use the “off” switch and find something better to do.
When we turn off the screen we turn on our brains. We begin to be more aware of the natural world and the people around us. If we are people of faith, when we turn off the TV we have more time for prayer, meditation and reading the great books.
When I lived in Pennsylvania the Amish folk would open their homes to busloads of New Yorkers who would come and gawk and buy Pennsylvania Dutch craft work, shoo fly pie and other delicacies. The Amish were happy for the business, but they also considered their hospitality to be a way to share their deeply held faith. I can’t forget the reply of an old Amish man when a woman from New York shrieked, “You mean you really don’t have a TV!?!”
He smiled and said, “When was the last time you watched something on television that helped you be a better person?
Ouch!
I’m on the side of the old Amish man, and still thank my mother on a regular basis for her weird, but wise decision.
Fr Dwight Longenecker’s latest book Immortal Combat-Confronting the Heart of Darkness examines the root causes of unrest and uncertainty in our world today. dwightlongenecker.com


thestream--2020-08-19--The Democrats Are Seceding From the Union. Again.

It ’ s tempting to wave off the extremist plans and open violence of today ’ s Democratic Party .
To pretend that Antifa and Black Lives Matter aren ’ t its street-fighting wings , as the IRA is Sinn Fein ’ s .
Of course , you ’ d have to ignore the fact that Democrat senators won ’ t denounce Antifa crimes , and Democrat mayors won ’ t prosecute them .
And that Black Lives Matter funnels donations to the DNC .
But those facts are so ugly we ’ re motivated to ignore them .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mainstream , patriotic party .
It helps us sleep at night .
This is America .
We ’ re immune .
But are we ?
Take a look at this video of midtown Manhattan .
I bet in February 2020 , you wouldn ’ t have thought this was possible in six short months .
Imagine what your city might look like six months after a Biden inauguration .
Remember the old Democratic line , that only the cops should have guns , so the State should take away ours ?
That was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way past that now .
Now Democrats hobnob with street thugs who chant that cops are “ pigs , ” and want to dissolve or defund local police .
Who will replace them , and exercise a monopoly of violence over disarmed , helpless citizens ?
The fine young men in masks and body armor , talking via costly , Secret Service-style earpieces and curb-stomping their enemies on the streets of Seattle and Portland .
These thugs answer to no one .
They don ’ t wear body cams .
They don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” which they ’ ll wave off as “ white privilege ” while knocking down your front door .
If someone had told me eight years ago that Barack Obama ’ s party would favor turning our cities over to revolutionary cadres of hooded thugs , I ’ d have told him to take off his tinfoil hat .
But here we are .
The Democrats are openly grabbing for something like absolute power .
They speak of abolishing the Senate filibuster .
Of packing the U.S. Supreme Court with six more justices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , to gain more Senators .
And abolishing the Electoral College .
Amnestying millions of new Democratic voters , and opening our borders to all comers .
They ’ ve figured out that if you Mau-Mau Americans with the fake charge of racism , you can get away with … anything .
And they plan to try .
They can ’ t be serious , right ?
The elites controlling that party , and the Woke corporations and media operations backing it , have too much to lose .
I mean , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haves ” in a society aren ’ t those we expect to take crackpot risks , to unleash wild forces that could spill their own apple cart .
But as a student of history , let me correct that .
Elites sometimes do take crazy , desperate risks .
That happens at very specific times and under a narrow set of circumstances .
But happen it has .
At several key points in history , the “ haves ” in a society put all their chips on a single roulette number .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desperate , addicted gamblers .
When a group of people whose power has been increasing steadily hits a sudden obstacle , that can enrage them .
Frustrate their smooth progress to ever greater domination ?
They feel as if you ’ ve wronged them , swindled them , cheated them .
If the resistance they encounter is powerful and persistent , then they feel threatened .
Strong , rich and cocky as they habitually are , they ’ ve made part of their identity the illusion that they ’ re infallible and unbeatable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of History .
Running through their heads is their factional anthem , “ We Are the Champions.
” Especially these lines : If You Beat Them , You Cheated , and Must Be Destroyed What would someone who lives by such words do when you beat him , as we beat the left in the 2016 election ?
He would do … pretty much anything to restore a sense of normalcy .
He ’ d lie , cheat , and steal to take a world turned upside down and set it right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI to gin up fake treason charges against the president .
Then he ’ d double down for years , drumming that Big Lie through every medium he controlled .
He ’ d ruin the lives of anyone who got in his way , like Mike Flynn or Carter Page .
He ’ d invent fake rape charges against respected federal judges .
He ’ d credit crackpot racism hoaxes like Jussie Smollett ’ s .
He ’ d overlook actual crimes by his friends and allies , for instance blue state governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes via COVID .
By Any Means Necessary Why do all these things ?
Because he ’ d invested his whole identity in one premise : He ’ s a winner , and he goes on winning , goes on shoving aside and bulldozing the “ losers , ” who cling to their guns and religion as their country shuts them out .
He feels entitled to win , and any other outcome means that he was cheated , so he must reverse it .
By Any Means Necessary .
Elites have acted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic party was dominated by slaveowners .
White plantation owners were the richest citizens in the world .
There was no realistic prospect of abolishing slavery .
Only a small faction in the newly formed Republican party even favored doing that wholesale .
There was no good reason for those elite Democrats to secede from the Union , and they knew that in trying they were risking absolutely everything .
But that arrogant class had hit their own Waterloo , every bit as shocking as the 2016 upset .
When Abraham Lincoln @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern elite wasn ’ t just disappointed .
It was outraged .
For forty years , the slaveholding interest had had its way , thrown its weight around .
The evil institution its vast wealth rested on , meant by our Founders to gradually disappear , had grown and metastasized .
Now the election of Lincoln might put a hold on that .
It might prevent the slave party ’ s power from continuing to grow .
It might , in the very long run , mean that slavery became more … inconvenient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest threw a tantrum .
It goaded its supporters into a frenzy .
It duped common people into demanding we break up this nation .
It provoked the federal government into actions that outraged public opinion .
And in doing so it brought on an apocalyptic conflict that destroyed everything it held dear , killing one in four Southern young men of military age .
Leaving their precious plantations , and indeed entire cities like Atlanta , in smoldering ruins .
The politicized panic over COVID has already ruined my beloved hometown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The weaponized riots over George Floyd have wrecked Minneapolis , Seattle , Portland , and other cities .
How much worse will things get if the same Democrats presiding over such chaos get control of the federal government ?
Pray that we don ’ t find out .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .
He is co-author with Jason Jones of “ God , Guns @ @ @ @ @ @

It’s tempting to wave off the extremist plans and open violence of today’s Democratic Party. To pretend that Antifa and Black Lives Matter aren’t its street-fighting wings, as the IRA is Sinn Fein’s.
Of course, you’d have to ignore the fact that Democrat senators won’t denounce Antifa crimes, and Democrat mayors won’t prosecute them. And that Black Lives Matter funnels donations to the DNC. But those facts are so ugly we’re motivated to ignore them. To pretend that the Democrats are still a mainstream, patriotic party. It helps us sleep at night. This is America. We’re immune.
But are we? Take a look at this video of midtown Manhattan. I bet in February 2020, you wouldn’t have thought this was possible in six short months. Imagine what your city might look like six months after a Biden inauguration.
Antifa Thugs Will Replace the Police
Remember the old Democratic line, that only the cops should have guns, so the State should take away ours? That was bad enough, but we’re way past that now. Now Democrats hobnob with street thugs who chant that cops are “pigs,” and want to dissolve or defund local police. Who will replace them, and exercise a monopoly of violence over disarmed, helpless citizens?
The fine young men in masks and body armor, talking via costly, Secret Service-style earpieces and curb-stomping their enemies on the streets of Seattle and Portland. These thugs answer to no one. They don’t wear body cams. They don’t care about your “rights,” which they’ll wave off as “white privilege” while knocking down your front door.
A Grab for a One-Party State
If someone had told me eight years ago that Barack Obama’s party would favor turning our cities over to revolutionary cadres of hooded thugs, I’d have told him to take off his tinfoil hat. But here we are.
The Democrats are openly grabbing for something like absolute power. They speak of abolishing the Senate filibuster. Of packing the U.S. Supreme Court with six more justices. Of admitting two or three new states, to gain more Senators. And abolishing the Electoral College. Amnestying millions of new Democratic voters, and opening our borders to all comers. They’ve figured out that if you Mau-Mau Americans with the fake charge of racism, you can get away with … anything. And they plan to try.
They can’t be serious, right? The elites controlling that party, and the Woke corporations and media operations backing it, have too much to lose. I mean, don’t they? The “haves” in a society aren’t those we expect to take crackpot risks, to unleash wild forces that could spill their own apple cart.
When Elites Risk Everything
But as a student of history, let me correct that. Elites sometimes do take crazy, desperate risks. That happens at very specific times and under a narrow set of circumstances. But happen it has. At several key points in history, the “haves” in a society put all their chips on a single roulette number. Those with the most to lose acted like desperate, addicted gamblers.
When a group of people whose power has been increasing steadily hits a sudden obstacle, that can enrage them. Frustrate their smooth progress to ever greater domination? They feel as if you’ve wronged them, swindled them, cheated them. If the resistance they encounter is powerful and persistent, then they feel threatened. Strong, rich and cocky as they habitually are, they’ve made part of their identity the illusion that they’re infallible and unbeatable. They’re the “winners” of History. Running through their heads is their factional anthem, “We Are the Champions.” Especially these lines:
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race And I ain’t gonna lose. And I need to just go on and on, and on, and on … .
If You Beat Them, You Cheated, and Must Be Destroyed
What would someone who lives by such words do when you beat him, as we beat the left in the 2016 election? He would do … pretty much anything to restore a sense of normalcy. He’d lie, cheat, and steal to take a world turned upside down and set it right again. He’d pervert the FBI to gin up fake treason charges against the president. Then he’d double down for years, drumming that Big Lie through every medium he controlled. He’d ruin the lives of anyone who got in his way, like Mike Flynn or Carter Page.
He’d invent fake rape charges against respected federal judges. He’d credit crackpot racism hoaxes like Jussie Smollett’s. He’d overlook actual crimes by his friends and allies, for instance blue state governors’ massacres of the elderly in nursing homes via COVID.
By Any Means Necessary
Why do all these things? Because he’d invested his whole identity in one premise: He’s a winner, and he goes on winning, goes on shoving aside and bulldozing the “losers,” who cling to their guns and religion as their country shuts them out. He feels entitled to win, and any other outcome means that he was cheated, so he must reverse it. By Any Means Necessary.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Elites have acted this way before. In 1860, the Democratic party was dominated by slaveowners. White plantation owners were the richest citizens in the world. There was no realistic prospect of abolishing slavery. Only a small faction in the newly formed Republican party even favored doing that wholesale. There was no good reason for those elite Democrats to secede from the Union, and they knew that in trying they were risking absolutely everything.
But that arrogant class had hit their own Waterloo, every bit as shocking as the 2016 upset. When Abraham Lincoln narrowly won the White House, the Southern elite wasn’t just disappointed. It was outraged. For forty years, the slaveholding interest had had its way, thrown its weight around. The evil institution its vast wealth rested on, meant by our Founders to gradually disappear, had grown and metastasized. Now the election of Lincoln might put a hold on that. It might prevent the slave party’s power from continuing to grow. It might, in the very long run, mean that slavery became more … inconvenient. Even shameful.
Another Democrat Tantrum, Like 1861
So the slave interest threw a tantrum. It goaded its supporters into a frenzy. It duped common people into demanding we break up this nation. It provoked the federal government into actions that outraged public opinion. And in doing so it brought on an apocalyptic conflict that destroyed everything it held dear, killing one in four Southern young men of military age. Leaving their precious plantations, and indeed entire cities like Atlanta, in smoldering ruins.
The politicized panic over COVID has already ruined my beloved hometown, New York. It might never recover. The weaponized riots over George Floyd have wrecked Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, and other cities. How much worse will things get if the same Democrats presiding over such chaos get control of the federal government?
Pray that we don’t find out.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism. He is co-author with Jason Jones of “God, Guns, & the Government.”


thestream--2020-08-19--Here’s What You Missed From the Second Night of the Democratic Convention

Former Vice President Joe Biden was officially nominated as the Democratic party ’ s presidential candidate Tuesday night after delegates from 57 states and territories convened virtually to vote .
Democratic speakers on the second night of the Democratic National Convention included former President Bill Clinton , former second lady Jill Biden and 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry .
Multiple speakers touched on healthcare and criticized Trump before the roll-call vote started .
“ At a time like this , the Oval Office should be a command center , instead it ’ s a storm center , there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes : [ Trump ’ s ] determination to deny responsibility and shift the blame , ” Clinton said .
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the U.S. is divided and that Trump is “ doing everything in his power to make it that way and keep us that way.
” Referring to Biden , Powell said , “ what a difference it will make to have a president who unites us , who restores our strength and our soul.
” Kerry said that when Trump travels abroad it ends up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than advancing to foreign policy , adding that Trump “ breaks up with our allies and writes love letters to dictators.
” “ America deserves a president that is looked up to , not laughed at , ” Kerry said .
“ The only person he ’ s interested in defending is himself .
This is the bottom line , our interests , our ideals , and our brave men and women in uniform can ’ t afford four more years of Donald Trump.
” Kerry added that Trump “ pretends Russia didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ does nothing about Russia putting a bounty on our troops.
” Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates echoed Kerry ’ s message , and said that “ rather than standing up to Vladimir Putin , [ Trump ] fawns over a dictator who is still trying to interfere in our elections.
” “ He ’ s even trying to sabotage our postal service , to keep people from being able to vote , ” Yates added .
Democrats have advocated for large scale mail-in voting , though Coronavirus Task Force Adviser Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Geographic that “ there ’ s no reason ” voting in person can ’ t be done if guidelines are followed .
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former union president Bob King nominated Democratic Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders as a formality , the Daily Caller reported .
Democratic Sen. Tom Carper and Gov .
John Carney of Joe Biden ’ s home state of Delaware cast the final votes for his nomination , the Daily Caller News Foundation reported .
Jill Biden closed out the convention with an emotional message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared with Joe .
“ I know that if we entrust this nation to Joe , he will do for your family what he did for ours : bring us together and make us whole , ” she said .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Former Vice President Joe Biden was officially nominated as the Democratic party’s presidential candidate Tuesday night after delegates from 57 states and territories convened virtually to vote.
Democratic speakers on the second night of the Democratic National Convention included former President Bill Clinton, former second lady Jill Biden and 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry. Multiple speakers touched on healthcare and criticized Trump before the roll-call vote started.
“At a time like this, the Oval Office should be a command center, instead it’s a storm center, there’s only chaos. Just one thing never changes: [Trump’s] determination to deny responsibility and shift the blame,” Clinton said.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the U.S. is divided and that Trump is “doing everything in his power to make it that way and keep us that way.” Referring to Biden, Powell said, “what a difference it will make to have a president who unites us, who restores our strength and our soul.”
Kerry said that when Trump travels abroad it ends up being a “blooper reel” rather than advancing to foreign policy, adding that Trump “breaks up with our allies and writes love letters to dictators.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
“America deserves a president that is looked up to, not laughed at,” Kerry said. “The only person he’s interested in defending is himself. This is the bottom line, our interests, our ideals, and our brave men and women in uniform can’t afford four more years of Donald Trump.”
Kerry added that Trump “pretends Russia didn’t attack our elections” and “does nothing about Russia putting a bounty on our troops.”
Top DNC Speaker Susan Molinari Made Millions Lobbying For Russia, Federal Records Show https://t.co/LrBhl9jdEB — Mollie (@MZHemingway) August 18, 2020
Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates echoed Kerry’s message, and said that “rather than standing up to Vladimir Putin, [Trump] fawns over a dictator who is still trying to interfere in our elections.”
“He’s even trying to sabotage our postal service, to keep people from being able to vote,” Yates added. Democrats have advocated for large scale mail-in voting, though Coronavirus Task Force Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said in an interview with National Geographic that “there’s no reason” voting in person can’t be done if guidelines are followed.
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former union president Bob King nominated Democratic Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders as a formality, the Daily Caller reported.
Democratic Sen. Tom Carper and Gov. John Carney of Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware cast the final votes for his nomination, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.
Jill Biden closed out the convention with an emotional message about the tragic experiences she’s shared with Joe. “I know that if we entrust this nation to Joe, he will do for your family what he did for ours: bring us together and make us whole,” she said.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-08-20--Why the Left Still Hates the Movie 300

Why the Left Still Hates the Movie 300

The announcement that Zack Synder ’ s 2006 movie 300 was going to be released in a deluxe 4K edition was barely a few days old when a critical article appeared .
Margaret Lockyer huffed : Yes , well over a decade since it appeared , liberals still hate 300 .
The reason is clear .
300 tells the story of a brave but small group of soldiers who defy an overwhelming force .
They fight a invading army that represents tyranny , the occult , personal coercion , and promiscuity .
An army that holds that people and states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worshiped .
The Persians , led by the bejeweled and cruel Xerxes , are basically the 2020 Democratic party set in 480 B.C .
Check out the trailer and see .
300 offers a fictionalized account of the legendary Battle of Thermopylae .
That which took place during the second Persian invasion of Greece .
Some 300 Spartan soldiers , led by King Leonidas , bottled up the Persian army for three days in a narrow coastal pass called the Hot Gates .
The film ’ s visual style remains striking .
Its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story rousing .
300 may not be a masterpiece , but it is either a very good film or the best B-movie ever made .
Why All the Hate ?
Why does the left hate 300 so much ?
Because the movie still reveals truths that they are not comfortable with .
In fact , 300 is probably more relevant today than when it was released .
In 2020 , America is suffering at the hands of a violent , coercive elite .
One that insists the people bow in tribute to neo-Marxism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film , the Persians inform Leonidas that he must make an offering to Xerxes .
And a take a knee before him .
Such simple things .
In 2020 all the “ best ” people understand that .
Don ’ t they ?
Really , the the national anthem is just a few minutes long .
Black Live Matter is such a crucial movement .
Just ease down into a supplicant position .
It ’ s no big deal .
Just do it .
You don ’ t want the blowback if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something ?
Just make it easy on yourself .
Make sure it goes through the process to ensure compliance with those who know better .
Bake that gay wedding cake , to signal that you ’ re not a bigot .
These are things that all right-thinking people believe .
Believe them as well .
Make your life easy .
Just Say “ No ” to Tyrants 300 is about saying no to invading tyrants and their desire to dominate you .
For this the film was called fascist when it was first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town in Slate : This review is a great example of the left and the right just seeing the same thing differently .
The left is drunk on reductive critical race theory as the Persians were drunk in the orgy scene in 300 .
So it views people as defined by their sex and color .
Most fans of 300 are not seeing skin color or sexual preference in the film , but a fierce and timeless battle between freedom and totalitarianism .
Xerxes ’ making the defeated kneel before him is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act of force with powerful symbolism .
It says the kneeler submits to not only Xerxes but what he represents .
He kneels to slavery and occult religion based on the idea that a human being can be a god .
It is an idea that has caused more problems in human history than any other .
That is why Leonidas refusing to kneel is the most powerful ( and one of the least violent ) scenes in the movie .
His words are poetic , and magnificent : “ The world will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tyrant , that few stood against many , and before this battle was over , even a god-king can bleed.
” Come and Take It At its ten-year anniversary in 2017 , 300 elicited , as expected .
angry denouncements .
Critics scolded us that King Leonidas ’ helmet “ is now most often seen on T-shirts , flags , and bumper stickers above the Greek words ‘ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ.
’ ” Tom Breihan wrote in the AV Club : As we skulk in our masks in locked down cities , we know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it .
The 4K edition of 300 will be out October 6 , in time for election day .

The announcement that Zack Synder’s 2006 movie 300 was going to be released in a deluxe 4K edition was barely a few days old when a critical article appeared. Margaret Lockyer huffed:
Director Zack Snyder’s 2006 period epic 300, based on the comic series by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, is receiving a 4k release, which will no doubt reignite the controversies surrounding the film. Snyder employed green screen and staging to directly mirror the panels of the comic, resulting in stunning visuals, which were the primary focus for the positive reviews at the time. However, despite 300‘s technical and commercial success, reviews were overall mixed, with some critics singling out the film’s racist, homophobic and ableist elements.
Yes, well over a decade since it appeared, liberals still hate 300. The reason is clear. 300 tells the story of a brave but small group of soldiers who defy an overwhelming force. They fight a invading army that represents tyranny, the occult, personal coercion, and promiscuity. An army that holds that people and states are like gods who ought to be worshiped.
The Democrats of 480 B.C.
The Persians, led by the bejeweled and cruel Xerxes, are basically the 2020 Democratic party set in 480 B.C. Check out the trailer and see.
300 offers a fictionalized account of the legendary Battle of Thermopylae. That which took place during the second Persian invasion of Greece. Some 300 Spartan soldiers, led by King Leonidas, bottled up the Persian army for three days in a narrow coastal pass called the Hot Gates. The film’s visual style remains striking. Its dialogue’s still sharp, its story rousing. 300 may not be a masterpiece, but it is either a very good film or the best B-movie ever made.
Why All the Hate?
Why does the left hate 300 so much? Because the movie still reveals truths that they are not comfortable with. In fact, 300 is probably more relevant today than when it was released. In 2020, America is suffering at the hands of a violent, coercive elite. One that insists the people bow in tribute to neo-Marxism and critical race theory.
‘300’ is probably more relevant today than when it was released. In 2020, America is suffering at the hands of a violent, coercive elite. One that insists the people bow in tribute to neo-Marxism and critical race theory.
In the film, the Persians inform Leonidas that he must make an offering to Xerxes. And a take a knee before him. Such simple things. In 2020 all the “best” people understand that. Don’t they? Really, the the national anthem is just a few minutes long. Black Live Matter is such a crucial movement. Just ease down into a supplicant position. It’s no big deal.
Just do it. You don’t want the blowback if you don’t. Want to publish something? Just make it easy on yourself. Make sure it goes through the process to ensure compliance with those who know better. Bake that gay wedding cake, to signal that you’re not a bigot.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
These are things that all right-thinking people believe. Believe them as well. Make your life easy.
Just Say “No” to Tyrants
300 is about saying no to invading tyrants and their desire to dominate you. For this the film was called fascist when it was first released. See Dana Stevens going to town in Slate:
Here are just a few of the categories that are not-so-vaguely conflated with the ‘bad’ (i.e., Persian) side in the movie: black people. Brown people. Disfigured people. Gay men (not gay in the buff, homoerotic Spartan fashion, but in the effeminate Persian style). Lesbians. Disfigured lesbians. Ten-foot-tall giants with filed teeth and lobster claws. Elephants and rhinos (filthy creatures both). The Persian commander, the god-king Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) is a towering, bald club fag with facial piercings, kohl-rimmed eyes, and a disturbing predilection for making people kneel before him.
This review is a great example of the left and the right just seeing the same thing differently. The left is drunk on reductive critical race theory as the Persians were drunk in the orgy scene in 300. So it views people as defined by their sex and color.
Take a Knee to Xerxes?
Most fans of 300 are not seeing skin color or sexual preference in the film, but a fierce and timeless battle between freedom and totalitarianism. Xerxes’ making the defeated kneel before him is not a “predilection.” It is an act of force with powerful symbolism. It says the kneeler submits to not only Xerxes but what he represents. He kneels to slavery and occult religion based on the idea that a human being can be a god. It is an idea that has caused more problems in human history than any other. That is why Leonidas refusing to kneel is the most powerful (and one of the least violent) scenes in the movie. His words are poetic, and magnificent: “The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and before this battle was over, even a god-king can bleed.”
Come and Take It
At its ten-year anniversary in 2017, 300 elicited, as expected. angry denouncements. Critics scolded us that King Leonidas’ helmet “is now most often seen on T-shirts, flags, and bumper stickers above the Greek words ‘ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ.’” Tom Breihan wrote in the AV Club:
[That] translates to ‘come and take them,’ the Spartan king’s apocryphal, defiant response to Persian ruler Xerxes’s demand that the Greeks surrender their arms. For pro-gun advocates, molon labe has become a rallying cry of resistance to perceived government overreach.
As we skulk in our masks in locked down cities, we know there’s nothing “perceived” about it. The 4K edition of 300 will be out October 6, in time for election day.
Mark Judge is a writer and filmmaker in Washington, D.C.


thestream--2020-08-20--Military Photo of the Day: Pararescue Specialists Over Alpena

U.S. Air National Guard pararescue specialists conduct multi-component training in Alpena , Michigan , on July 21 , 2020 .

U.S. Air National Guard pararescue specialists conduct multi-component training in Alpena, Michigan, on July 21, 2020.
Have a safe weekend, everyone!
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thestream--2020-08-20--Should America Be Guided by ‘Narratives’ or Truth?

In a recent interview , Attorney General William Barr said of the dominant news media : They are projecting a narrative .
When the word ‘ narrative ’ came into currency , I knew we were in trouble , because the word narrative suggests that there ’ s no objective truth .
There ’ s no real story of what happened , it ’ s just everyone has their own narrative .
And you get to where the press can justify presenting a story that doesn ’ t really correspond to objective truth , but ‘ It ’ s our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have a narrative.
’ Although Barr ’ s commentary was related to one aspect of American culture , the media , in it we find a microcosm of the pestilence plaguing civil society at large .
For decades , so-called progressives in academia , politics , and religion have cast moral absolutes to the wind in favor of relativism , and now we watch in horror as the whirlwind has its day in cities across our country .
That Barr would point out the danger of our cultural abandonment of objective truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year at the University of Notre Dame , the attorney general delivered a speech on the role of religion in a free society , and thus the constitutional imperative to protect religious freedom .
The oration ’ s prescience and poignancy were matched only by the humility of the orator .
The attorney general isn ’ t breaking any new philosophical ground ; rather he is , as William F. Buckley Jr. once said , “ standing athwart history yelling ‘ Stop !
’ ” He is in good company .
Jefferson and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t claim that human equality and human rights share the same divine source to be theoretical ; he declared them to be self-evident truths .
Moreover , Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers did not claim their grievances with King George III to be a matter of differing opinions .
As the Declaration of Independence reads : If there were no truth , there could be no facts for a candid world to consider .
The Founders knew freedom without morality inevitably leads back to tyranny .
If each man is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sight of his own eyes , with no common , objective standard of right and wrong , good and evil , then what is to stop the strong from oppressing the weak ?
As stated in Federalist 51 : “ If men were angels , no government would be necessary .
If angels were to govern men , neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.
” So , in establishing the Constitution , the Founders sought to balance mankind ’ s competing interests in freedom and power by limiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on the idea that men could be good enough to be trusted with self-government , to respect the rights of others , to avoid cultural chaos from which tyranny emerges .
Where would this common notion of “ goodness ” come from ?
The answer is enshrined in the first words of the First Amendment to the Constitution .
Freedom of religion preserves the proper role of religion in a free society .
There is only one source of objective morality and truth : the same God who created all men equal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To be certain , this nation would not declare any official state-approved church , hence the Establishment Clause of the Constitution .
Nor would the nation stand in the way of any man living according to his deepest held convictions — the Free Exercise Clause .
But it placed the source of truth and morality higher than the state .
We , their posterity , have enjoyed the blessings of liberty ever since .
But as John Adams later noted : “ Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government of any other.
” So today we see the results of years and years of secularist attacks on religion , eternal truths , and the exclusion of religion and morality from public life .
You can ’ t have the freedom to peaceably assemble for a redress of grievances unless you have the morality not to destroy public property or loot and pillage fellow citizens ’ private property .
The line from chaos to tyranny is , we are learning , shorter than we could have hoped .
Without a shared conviction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is such a thing as objective “ truth , ” we are left fighting for individual , tribal , and the utterly subjective “ my truth.
” Or as Barr described , your narrative versus my narrative .
There is only one way to declare a winner under the latter scenario : power .
Therein lies the source of the ever-increasing vitriolic rancor of our elections .
Ideas aren ’ t judged objectively true or false .
Policies aren ’ t judged by results ; it has become the “ oppressed ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the objective being power .
Far from a competitive marketplace of ideas debated honestly by those who aspire to serve their fellow men , their America more closely resembles the Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth , in which “ a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and is heard no more .
It is a tale told by an idiot , full of sound and fury , signifying nothing.
” For over two centuries , America has been the exception to the rule of history .
We were founded on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inextricably linked .
It is the philosophical difference between the foundation and results of the American Revolution and the revolution in France .
If we are to keep this republic , we must remain exceptional .
Alexis de Tocqueville told Americans that we are great because we are good , and if we ever ceased to be good we would cease to be great .
Centuries before de Tocqueville , the source of that goodness put it plainly for all humanity , “ You shall know the truth and the truth shall set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of community relations for First Liberty Institute , a nationwide religious liberty law firm dedicated to protecting religious liberty for all .

In a recent interview, Attorney General William Barr said of the dominant news media:
They are projecting a narrative. When the word ‘narrative’ came into currency, I knew we were in trouble, because the word narrative suggests that there’s no objective truth. There’s no real story of what happened, it’s just everyone has their own narrative. And you get to where the press can justify presenting a story that doesn’t really correspond to objective truth, but ‘It’s our narrative, we have a narrative — you have a narrative.’
Although Barr’s commentary was related to one aspect of American culture, the media, in it we find a microcosm of the pestilence plaguing civil society at large.
For decades, so-called progressives in academia, politics, and religion have cast moral absolutes to the wind in favor of relativism, and now we watch in horror as the whirlwind has its day in cities across our country.
That Barr would point out the danger of our cultural abandonment of objective truth should come as no surprise. Last year at the University of Notre Dame, the attorney general delivered a speech on the role of religion in a free society, and thus the constitutional imperative to protect religious freedom. The oration’s prescience and poignancy were matched only by the humility of the orator.
The attorney general isn’t breaking any new philosophical ground; rather he is, as William F. Buckley Jr. once said, “standing athwart history yelling ‘Stop!’”
He is in good company.
Jefferson and the Founders Spoke of Truth
Thomas Jefferson didn’t claim that human equality and human rights share the same divine source to be theoretical; he declared them to be self-evident truths.
Moreover, Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers did not claim their grievances with King George III to be a matter of differing opinions. As the Declaration of Independence reads:
The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
If there were no truth, there could be no facts for a candid world to consider.
The Founders knew freedom without morality inevitably leads back to tyranny. If each man is free to do what is right in the sight of his own eyes, with no common, objective standard of right and wrong, good and evil, then what is to stop the strong from oppressing the weak?
As stated in Federalist 51: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”
So, in establishing the Constitution, the Founders sought to balance mankind’s competing interests in freedom and power by limiting government.
It was a grand experiment based on the idea that men could be good enough to be trusted with self-government, to respect the rights of others, to avoid cultural chaos from which tyranny emerges.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Where would this common notion of “goodness” come from? The answer is enshrined in the first words of the First Amendment to the Constitution. Freedom of religion preserves the proper role of religion in a free society. There is only one source of objective morality and truth: the same God who created all men equal. Religion points men to God.
To be certain, this nation would not declare any official state-approved church, hence the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. Nor would the nation stand in the way of any man living according to his deepest held convictions — the Free Exercise Clause. But it placed the source of truth and morality higher than the state.
We, their posterity, have enjoyed the blessings of liberty ever since.
When Eternal Truths are Abandoned
But as John Adams later noted: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
So today we see the results of years and years of secularist attacks on religion, eternal truths, and the exclusion of religion and morality from public life.
You can’t have the freedom to peaceably assemble for a redress of grievances unless you have the morality not to destroy public property or loot and pillage fellow citizens’ private property. The line from chaos to tyranny is, we are learning, shorter than we could have hoped.
Without a shared conviction among a nation’s people that there is such a thing as objective “truth,” we are left fighting for individual, tribal, and the utterly subjective “my truth.” Or as Barr described, your narrative versus my narrative.
There is only one way to declare a winner under the latter scenario: power. Therein lies the source of the ever-increasing vitriolic rancor of our elections. Ideas aren’t judged objectively true or false. Policies aren’t judged by results; it has become the “oppressed” versus the “oppressor,” with the objective being power.
Far from a competitive marketplace of ideas debated honestly by those who aspire to serve their fellow men, their America more closely resembles the Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth, in which “a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
For over two centuries, America has been the exception to the rule of history. We were founded on the truth that freedom and morality are inextricably linked. It is the philosophical difference between the foundation and results of the American Revolution and the revolution in France. If we are to keep this republic, we must remain exceptional.
Alexis de Tocqueville told Americans that we are great because we are good, and if we ever ceased to be good we would cease to be great. Centuries before de Tocqueville, the source of that goodness put it plainly for all humanity, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
Lathan Watts is director of community relations for First Liberty Institute, a nationwide religious liberty law firm dedicated to protecting religious liberty for all.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Signal


thestream--2020-08-20--40th Anniversary of the Historic National Affairs Briefing

Two elections separated by 40 years .
Two pivotal moments in American history .
Two times when the nation was faced with the choice between freedom ’ s blessings and the slavery of socialism .
In 1980 , America chose freedom by electing Ronald Reagan .
But Reagan likely would not have been elected had it not been for a history-changing prayer meeting called by Billy Graham and a miraculous night in Dallas 40 years ago this weekend : The National Affairs Briefing .
America in 1980 was in a sorry state .
We were not ill with a virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jimmy Carter called a “ malaise.
” The economy was as stagnant as a Texas summer .
The national spirit was as dreary as a Seattle winter .
A feeble U.S. was helpless as Iran held 52 of our diplomats and citizens hostage .
And the Soviet Union was spreading its communist poison in soil all over the world .
The United States was not prepared to stop it .
Freedom Only Had 1,000 Days to Live Reverend Billy Graham was in Red Square in Moscow when he heard a word from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founder James Robison .
“ I know I ’ ve heard God say without course correction we have only 1,000 days of freedom , ” Robison recalls Graham saying .
“ The Soviet threat is going to take freedom down in the United States and around the world.
” America basically had just three short years to turn the tide .
Graham called a prayer meeting with 8 to 10 faith leaders .
Among them : Robison , Pat Robertson , Charles Stanley , Adrian Rogers , Jimmy Draper and Bill Bright .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared a startling message .
He , too , had been in Red Square .
And he , too , had been given the exact same message from God that America had 1,000 days of freedom left , unless it changed course .
America , according to both Graham and Bright , needed strong , principled leadership that could communicate effectively necessary changes and direction .
Sparked by the prayer , and led by God , Robison received from the Lord the vision for the “ National Affairs Briefing.
” On the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 , 1980 , some 17,000 people gathered at the Dallas Reunion Arena .
17,000 people of faith who understood the importance of protecting freedom ’ s matchless blessings .
Robison had invited all three presidential candidates to appear : President Jimmy Carter , the Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher ; Independent John Anderson ; and a once-divorced Hollywood actor from California named Ronald Reagan .
Only Reagan accepted the invitation .
Reagan ’ s entire team was against him going , with the exception of Jerry Naylor , his National Director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s reluctance , Naylor told The Stream , Reagan insisted .
“ When he believed something was right , he would not waver.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Robison began his remarks thanking the former California governor for having the courage to come .
He quoted Proverbs 29:2 : “ When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice , but when the wicked beareth rule , the people mourn.
” As Gov .
Reagan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an arena-shaking message that is as timely today as it was in 1980 .
There is no possible way to separate God from government and have a successful government .
God is the ultimate authority .
I tire of the constant reference to Christians and religious people and the term ‘ separation of church and state , ’ implying that if you belong to a church or if you claim faith in God and believe in God you are to have no basic integral part in political activity or policy making .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moral , the biblical , the godly , the hardworking and the decent individuals in this country stay out of politics , who on earth does that leave to make the policies under which you and I live and struggle to survive ?
” He held up the Bible .
There is marvelous healing in this book , and it needs to be applied to the cancerous , visible sores that embarrass us before the whole world right now .
If you think our solution is political , you too have been deceived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to some political party or politician .
You commit yourself to the principles of God and demand those parties and politicians align themselves with the eternal values in this book .
And America will forever be the greatest nation on this earth .
Ronald Reagan joined the 17,000 in standing to their feet as Robison finished .
Then he spoke , offering a now-historic opening line suggested to him by Robison .
“ I know this is a non-partisan gathering , and so I know you can not endorse me .
But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you to know , I endorse you , and what you are doing.
” That opening line was front-page headlines nationwide the next day .
The pendulum swung toward Reagan almost immediately .
Both Robison and Naylor speak of the presence of God at that meeting .
The effect on Reagan was both personal and political , Naylor said .
The mutual embrace that night of evangelical Christians and Ronald Reagan paid immediate political dividends .
“ Not only was there an upswing in the polls after the briefing , ” Naylor recalls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a huge leap forward , both in major and , for the first time , many smaller donations.
” Come November , Ronald Reagan defeated incumbent Jimmy Carter in large part because evangelical voters had been ignited by the National Affairs Briefing .
They turned away from the Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher for the candidate willing to fight for our freedoms .
Willing to stand up to the Soviet threat .
The candidate who understood , as Robison said that momentous night , that “ government is not our provider .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Reagan ’ s victory ensured freedom in the United States of America would last far beyond 1,000 days .
Forty years ago this weekend , history was changed by the power of God , the power of prayer and Christians along with hard working , freedom-loving Americans taking a stand .
Today , Christians again must take a stand , must pray and must call on the power of God to heal our nation and extend freedom ’ s blessings .
This week at the Democratic National Convention we saw a socialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the Democrats have moved to his positions .
We saw socialist policies trumpeted loud enough to raise the Politburo dead .
We saw the governor of New York refer to a “ European ” virus , rather than concede COVID-19 came from Communist China .
We saw the Marxist Black Lives Matter rioters give a sidewinding kick to the head of an innocent citizen .
We saw more police and innocents injured by what the former First Lady called “ peaceful protesters.
” We saw , if only for a brief moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , whose political guru pushes a deadly mix of Marxism and Fascism .
With cities already burning , and socialism at the doorstep of the White House , we face , as we did in 1980 , a choice : America rising to be a shining city on a hill , or America falling to ashes .
However , unlike 1980 , we do not have 1,000 days left .
WATCH AND LISTEN to Gov .
Ronald Reagan ’ s message at the National Affairs Briefing , which helped him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Two elections separated by 40 years. Two pivotal moments in American history. Two times when the nation was faced with the choice between freedom’s blessings and the slavery of socialism. In 1980, America chose freedom by electing Ronald Reagan. But Reagan likely would not have been elected had it not been for a history-changing prayer meeting called by Billy Graham and a miraculous night in Dallas 40 years ago this weekend: The National Affairs Briefing.
America in 1980 was in a sorry state. We were not ill with a virus, we were suffering from what President Jimmy Carter called a “malaise.” The economy was as stagnant as a Texas summer. The national spirit was as dreary as a Seattle winter. A feeble U.S. was helpless as Iran held 52 of our diplomats and citizens hostage. And the Soviet Union was spreading its communist poison in soil all over the world. The United States was not prepared to stop it.
Freedom Only Had 1,000 Days to Live
Reverend Billy Graham was in Red Square in Moscow when he heard a word from the Lord. He shared it with Stream founder James Robison. “I know I’ve heard God say without course correction we have only 1,000 days of freedom,” Robison recalls Graham saying. “The Soviet threat is going to take freedom down in the United States and around the world.” America basically had just three short years to turn the tide.
Graham called a prayer meeting with 8 to 10 faith leaders. Among them: Robison, Pat Robertson, Charles Stanley, Adrian Rogers, Jimmy Draper and Bill Bright. Two days of fervent prayer. Bright shared a startling message. He, too, had been in Red Square. And he, too, had been given the exact same message from God that America had 1,000 days of freedom left, unless it changed course. America, according to both Graham and Bright, needed strong, principled leadership that could communicate effectively necessary changes and direction.
Sparked by the prayer, and led by God, Robison received from the Lord the vision for the “National Affairs Briefing.”
National Affairs Briefing
On the second day of the two-day event, August 22, 1980, some 17,000 people gathered at the Dallas Reunion Arena. 17,000 people of faith who understood the importance of protecting freedom’s matchless blessings. Robison had invited all three presidential candidates to appear: President Jimmy Carter, the Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher; Independent John Anderson; and a once-divorced Hollywood actor from California named Ronald Reagan. Only Reagan accepted the invitation.
Reagan’s entire team was against him going, with the exception of Jerry Naylor, his National Director of Special Events. Despite the campaign’s reluctance, Naylor told The Stream, Reagan insisted. “When he believed something was right, he would not waver.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Robison began his remarks thanking the former California governor for having the courage to come. He quoted Proverbs 29:2: “When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice, but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” As Gov. Reagan sat on the platform, Robison delivered an arena-shaking message that is as timely today as it was in 1980.
There is no possible way to separate God from government and have a successful government. God is the ultimate authority. I tire of the constant reference to Christians and religious people and the term ‘separation of church and state,’ implying that if you belong to a church or if you claim faith in God and believe in God you are to have no basic integral part in political activity or policy making. If the righteous, the pro-family, the moral, the biblical, the godly, the hardworking and the decent individuals in this country stay out of politics, who on earth does that leave to make the policies under which you and I live and struggle to survive?”
He held up the Bible.
There is marvelous healing in this book, and it needs to be applied to the cancerous, visible sores that embarrass us before the whole world right now. If you think our solution is political, you too have been deceived. Don’t you commit yourself to some political party or politician. You commit yourself to the principles of God and demand those parties and politicians align themselves with the eternal values in this book. And America will forever be the greatest nation on this earth.
Ronald Reagan joined the 17,000 in standing to their feet as Robison finished. Then he spoke, offering a now-historic opening line suggested to him by Robison.
“I know this is a non-partisan gathering, and so I know you cannot endorse me. But I only brought that up because I want you to know, I endorse you, and what you are doing.” That opening line was front-page headlines nationwide the next day. The pendulum swung toward Reagan almost immediately.
The Impact Personal and Political
Both Robison and Naylor speak of the presence of God at that meeting. The effect on Reagan was both personal and political, Naylor said.
I knew that Gov. Reagan and Nancy were a church-going couple, but we had never really discussed spiritual issues. After the briefing, I saw it. After so many years with him, I saw a new man! I saw a brightness in his eyes and in his heart. His life changed that night.
The mutual embrace that night of evangelical Christians and Ronald Reagan paid immediate political dividends. “Not only was there an upswing in the polls after the briefing,” Naylor recalls, “but our financial support took a huge leap forward, both in major and, for the first time, many smaller donations.”
Come November, Ronald Reagan defeated incumbent Jimmy Carter in large part because evangelical voters had been ignited by the National Affairs Briefing. They turned away from the Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher for the candidate willing to fight for our freedoms. Willing to stand up to the Soviet threat. The candidate who understood, as Robison said that momentous night, that “government is not our provider. It is a protector, not a producer.” Reagan’s victory ensured freedom in the United States of America would last far beyond 1,000 days.
And Now It’s 2020.
Forty years ago this weekend, history was changed by the power of God, the power of prayer and Christians along with hard working, freedom-loving Americans taking a stand. Today, Christians again must take a stand, must pray and must call on the power of God to heal our nation and extend freedom’s blessings.
This week at the Democratic National Convention we saw a socialist who honeymooned in the Soviet Union celebrate how the Democrats have moved to his positions. We saw socialist policies trumpeted loud enough to raise the Politburo dead. We saw the governor of New York refer to a “European” virus, rather than concede COVID-19 came from Communist China. We saw the Marxist Black Lives Matter rioters give a sidewinding kick to the head of an innocent citizen. We saw more police and innocents injured by what the former First Lady called “peaceful protesters.” We saw, if only for a brief moment, the face of the American left, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose political guru pushes a deadly mix of Marxism and Fascism.
With cities already burning, and socialism at the doorstep of the White House, we face, as we did in 1980, a choice: America rising to be a shining city on a hill, or America falling to ashes. However, unlike 1980, we do not have 1,000 days left.
WATCH AND LISTEN to Gov. Ronald Reagan’s message at the National Affairs Briefing, which helped him win the 1980 election.
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.