thestream--2020-08-11--Battle in Seattle: Sean Feucht’s Worship Band Confronts Anarchists, Satanists at Seattle’s CHAZ/CHOP

Battle in Seattle: Sean Feucht’s Worship Band Confronts Anarchists, Satanists at Seattle’s CHAZ/CHOP Site

When word came out that some praise band from California was going to do a worship set on the site of the six-block CHAZ/CHOP district that protestors took over in Seattle during much of June , I knew it could mean war .
Sean Feucht , a musician who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in California earlier this year , has been staging impromptu Christian worship concerts around the country in protest of coronavirus bans against singing in churches .
This past weekend , he performed in two cities better known recently for riots connected with Black Lives Matter : Portland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Portland ’ s Waterfront Park came with baptisms in the Willamette River and counter-protestors who tried to drown them out .
So it was clear that Sunday night ’ s performance in Seattle could be messy .
The day was as gorgeous as they come : Clear blue skies and golden sunlight slipping behind the buildings into Puget Sound when the music began shortly after 6 p.m. in Cal Anderson Park at the north end of the former CHOP .
CHOP stands for Capitol Hill Organized Protest .
Arrayed against Feucht was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a few Satanists who did what they could to stir things up .
Afterwards , Feucht summed up the evening on his Facebook page : It was absolutely bonkers in so many ways !
!
Violent protestors showed up flashing knives !
We had an entire satanic cult march through the worshippers the entire time yelling “ Hail Satan !
” They yelled obscenities and cursed at my wife and kids all night long !
At one point , I had about 30 stationed bodyguards around myself and the band as [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ band and tackle them .
They broke drums and guitar pedals !
They killed our generators at one point … yet through it all … SEATTLE NEVER STOPPED SINGING !
!
!
I was there too .
Here ’ s how it appeared from my end .
I ’ d been to the area in mid-June when tourists were pouring in to gawk at the place .
I eventually wrote a piece on the ( mostly mainline Protestant and Jewish ) chaplains who were offering spiritual counsel there .
A number of evangelical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CHOP during the three-week occupation .
Among them was a team from Bethel , a megachurch in Redding , Calif. , which is where Feucht is from .
There ’ s been no little resentment among Christians of all stripes that , while BLM and other protestors got a free pass to congregate , there ’ s been draconian restrictions on church gatherings .
After California Gov .
Gavin Newsome forbade singing inside of churches , three of them filed a federal lawsuit against him last month .
“ It is a double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday morning .
“ At best , it ’ s hypocrisy and at worst , it ’ s bigotry .
The problem is while street protests are allowed ( with plenty of shouting ) , singing not allowed in churches .
“ We have to rise up .
We need bold and courageous pastors .
… Are they going to stand against the insanity of our laws that target our churches ?
” The Portland and Seattle rallies , he said , were held to counteract the “ narrative of burning and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ change the atmosphere ” in their cities .
When I drove up to the former CHOP area , I was amazed to see the local East Precinct police building — which had been greatly defaced in June — was cleaned up , power-washed and surrounded by a huge fence .
Cal Anderson Park had been a sea of homeless tents last time I visited .
Heading into it , I saw lots of Seattleites — all with masks — relaxing on the grass .
Further on , I found a 20-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a black jacket from Burlington , Wash. , who identified himself as “ Elya.
” He was carrying a grey shofar at least two feet long .
“ I ’ m sounding the alarm , ” he said .
“ We got a message at our church that it ’ s time to wake up.
” Standing closer to the stage area , I found Cindy Black , 61 , from Bonney Lake , Wash. , waving a purple banner she called a “ royalty flag.
” “ I am here to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she told me , “ and bring in the light of Jesus.
” Next to her was a group of multi-racial women from Everett , a city north of Seattle .
( I ’ d guess that 10 percent of the worshippers at the rally were people of color . )
Ana Karen , 27 , said she follows Feucht on Instagram .
“ When I heard he was coming here , I knew we had to go praise God in this place , ” she said .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall and there will be a shift in the atmosphere.
” Next to her was Regina Lewis , 16 , a black teenager wearing a golden cross necklace .
“ A lot of people are looking to the wrong point of view and turning toward the negative , ” Lewis said , “ so I came out here to worship with all of God ’ s children.
” Meanwhile , Feucht and his band were doing endless rounds of sound checks .
Wearing a green , gold and white 1990s-era Seattle Sonics jersey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked like a California surfer dude dropped into a Pacific Northwest rainforest .
He had an enormous mane of curly blond hair .
“ Don ’ t try to sing pretty , ” he told the crowd , almost none of whom wore masks .
Neither did Feucht or his backup band .
“ Just be wild , ” he said .
“ You ’ re in CHOP , for heaven ’ s sakes.
” He then called up two pastors : One black and one white , to offer opening prayers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were ready to “ prophesy over Seattle.
” “ I am so tired of hearing Seattle has so much witchcraft and this and that , ” he said .
“ I believe He is stronger and when we worship , things will change.
” It wasn ’ t long before a black guy wearing some kind of white hood and carrying a staff charged the stage , yelling “ Hail Satan !
” The bodyguards spring into action .
They had the Satanist offstage in seconds .
Meanwhile , I had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so I walked to the southern portion of the park where I met a woman named Moon S , 21 , who was also waiting in line .
We began to talk , and I learned she was homeless and one month pregnant .
“ It ’ s dangerous , ” she said of the Christians singing a half block away .
“ People aren ’ t social distancing and they ’ re not wearing their masks .
I was told by them that Jesus and God will make sure they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in danger.
” Actually , there weren ’ t that many children at the rally , but I didn ’ t debate her .
We walked to her tent , where we met her husband , who declined to be interviewed , and Mikey B , 26 , a friend lounging outside the tent .
Arrayed in chains wrapped around his jeans , black leather boots and with what used to be a rosary around his left arm ( he ’ s a former Catholic ) , he was upset that Seattle police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re just trying to rile the Black Lives Matter movement , ” he said of the worshippers .
I didn ’ t hear Feucht say a word about BLM , but Mikey assured me that Feucht had casually mentioned the group .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Moon and I walked around a bit , talking with other homeless in the park .
Other than the “ Hail Satan ” guy , all these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were furious that the Christians were invading their space .
That ’ s where I learned about their unsuccessful effort to cut off the generator .
Some were also joking that the tub being used for baptisms had previously been used for Hazmat material but that the Christians had been too stupid to figure that out .
“ What do you think of this ?
” Moon asked me .
I tried to think up a neutral answer .
“ First Amendment , ” I replied .
“ They have a right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” After directing Moon toward a tent handing out free food and drink , I clambered up a wall to better survey the stage area .
The crowd had swelled to at least 1,000 people and I could see the security folks milling about keeping rioters away from the musicians .
By this time , the opposition was using bullhorns to try to drown out the music .
Apparently , park rules forbid any gatherings past 8 p.m. , so at 8:05 , Feucht called it a night .
“ This is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ You guys really pressed in tonight.
” A veteran journalist and writer , Julia Duin has written and worked for several major newspapers , including the Washington Post , the Wall Street Journal , and the Washington Times .
She blogs at GetReligion .
Her latest book is In the House of the Serpent Handler : A Story of Faith and Fleeting Fame in an Age of Social Media .
Read more about her and her writing at Julia Duin .

When word came out that some praise band from California was going to do a worship set on the site of the six-block CHAZ/CHOP district that protestors took over in Seattle during much of June, I knew it could mean war.
Sean Feucht, a musician who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in California earlier this year, has been staging impromptu Christian worship concerts around the country in protest of coronavirus bans against singing in churches. This past weekend, he performed in two cities better known recently for riots connected with Black Lives Matter: Portland and Seattle.
The Saturday night performance at Portland’s Waterfront Park came with baptisms in the Willamette River and counter-protestors who tried to drown them out. So it was clear that Sunday night’s performance in Seattle could be messy.
Absolutely Bonkers
The day was as gorgeous as they come: Clear blue skies and golden sunlight slipping behind the buildings into Puget Sound when the music began shortly after 6 p.m. in Cal Anderson Park at the north end of the former CHOP. CHOP stands for Capitol Hill Organized Protest.
Arrayed against Feucht was a loose coalition of homeless, anarchists and a few Satanists who did what they could to stir things up.
Afterwards, Feucht summed up the evening on his Facebook page:
It was absolutely bonkers in so many ways!!
Violent protestors showed up flashing knives! We had an entire satanic cult march through the worshippers the entire time yelling “Hail Satan!”
We had white Antifa yelling & threatening black local pastors!
They yelled obscenities and cursed at my wife and kids all night long!
At one point, I had about 30 stationed bodyguards around myself and the band as [protestors] kept trying to storm the band and tackle them. They broke drums and guitar pedals!
They killed our generators at one point … yet through it all … SEATTLE NEVER STOPPED SINGING!!!
I was there too. Here’s how it appeared from my end.
The Double Standard
I’d been to the area in mid-June when tourists were pouring in to gawk at the place. I eventually wrote a piece on the (mostly mainline Protestant and Jewish) chaplains who were offering spiritual counsel there. A number of evangelical Christian groups also made their way to CHOP during the three-week occupation. Among them was a team from Bethel, a megachurch in Redding, Calif., which is where Feucht is from.
There’s been no little resentment among Christians of all stripes that, while BLM and other protestors got a free pass to congregate, there’s been draconian restrictions on church gatherings. After California Gov. Gavin Newsome forbade singing inside of churches, three of them filed a federal lawsuit against him last month.
“It is a double standard,” Feucht told Fox News on Sunday morning. “At best, it’s hypocrisy and at worst, it’s bigotry. The problem is while street protests are allowed (with plenty of shouting), singing not allowed in churches.
“We have to rise up. We need bold and courageous pastors. … Are they going to stand against the insanity of our laws that target our churches?”
The Portland and Seattle rallies, he said, were held to counteract the “narrative of burning and destruction” on the nightly news and to “change the atmosphere” in their cities.
Sounding the Alarm
When I drove up to the former CHOP area, I was amazed to see the local East Precinct police building — which had been greatly defaced in June — was cleaned up, power-washed and surrounded by a huge fence. Cal Anderson Park had been a sea of homeless tents last time I visited. Heading into it, I saw lots of Seattleites — all with masks — relaxing on the grass.
Further on, I found a 20-year-old man with black rimmed glasses, jeans and a black jacket from Burlington, Wash., who identified himself as “Elya.” He was carrying a grey shofar at least two feet long. “I’m sounding the alarm,” he said. “We got a message at our church that it’s time to wake up.”
Standing closer to the stage area, I found Cindy Black, 61, from Bonney Lake, Wash., waving a purple banner she called a “royalty flag.” “I am here to break the darkness away from Seattle,” she told me, “and bring in the light of Jesus.”
Next to her was a group of multi-racial women from Everett, a city north of Seattle. (I’d guess that 10 percent of the worshippers at the rally were people of color.) Ana Karen, 27, said she follows Feucht on Instagram.
“When I heard he was coming here, I knew we had to go praise God in this place,” she said. “It’s much needed. Hopefully His presence will fall and there will be a shift in the atmosphere.”
Next to her was Regina Lewis, 16, a black teenager wearing a golden cross necklace. “A lot of people are looking to the wrong point of view and turning toward the negative,” Lewis said, “so I came out here to worship with all of God’s children.”
Singing Wild
Meanwhile, Feucht and his band were doing endless rounds of sound checks. Wearing a green, gold and white 1990s-era Seattle Sonics jersey over cutoffs and Birkenstock sandals, he looked like a California surfer dude dropped into a Pacific Northwest rainforest. He had an enormous mane of curly blond hair.
“Don’t try to sing pretty,” he told the crowd, almost none of whom wore masks. Neither did Feucht or his backup band. “Just be wild,” he said. “You’re in CHOP, for heaven’s sakes.”
He then called up two pastors: One black and one white, to offer opening prayers, then asked the rapidly growing crowd if they were ready to “prophesy over Seattle.”
“I am so tired of hearing Seattle has so much witchcraft and this and that,” he said. “I believe He is stronger and when we worship, things will change.”
It wasn’t long before a black guy wearing some kind of white hood and carrying a staff charged the stage, yelling “Hail Satan!” The bodyguards spring into action. They had the Satanist offstage in seconds.
Meanwhile, I had to find a lady’s room, so I walked to the southern portion of the park where I met a woman named Moon S, 21, who was also waiting in line. We began to talk, and I learned she was homeless and one month pregnant.
“It’s dangerous,” she said of the Christians singing a half block away. “People aren’t social distancing and they’re not wearing their masks. I was told by them that Jesus and God will make sure they’re safe. They’re putting kids in danger.”
Riling BLM
Actually, there weren’t that many children at the rally, but I didn’t debate her. We walked to her tent, where we met her husband, who declined to be interviewed, and Mikey B, 26, a friend lounging outside the tent. Arrayed in chains wrapped around his jeans, black leather boots and with what used to be a rosary around his left arm (he’s a former Catholic), he was upset that Seattle police had not disbanded the rally.
“They’re just trying to rile the Black Lives Matter movement,” he said of the worshippers. I didn’t hear Feucht say a word about BLM, but Mikey assured me that Feucht had casually mentioned the group.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Moon and I walked around a bit, talking with other homeless in the park. Other than the “Hail Satan” guy, all these folks appeared to be white millennials who were furious that the Christians were invading their space. That’s where I learned about their unsuccessful effort to cut off the generator. Some were also joking that the tub being used for baptisms had previously been used for Hazmat material but that the Christians had been too stupid to figure that out.
“What do you think of this?” Moon asked me. I tried to think up a neutral answer. “First Amendment,” I replied. “They have a right to be here just as everyone else does.”
Courageous Worshippers
After directing Moon toward a tent handing out free food and drink, I clambered up a wall to better survey the stage area. The crowd had swelled to at least 1,000 people and I could see the security folks milling about keeping rioters away from the musicians. By this time, the opposition was using bullhorns to try to drown out the music.
Apparently, park rules forbid any gatherings past 8 p.m., so at 8:05, Feucht called it a night.
“This is the most courageous group of worshippers,” he said. “You guys really pressed in tonight.”
A veteran journalist and writer, Julia Duin has written and worked for several major newspapers, including the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Times. She blogs at GetReligion. Her latest book is In the House of the Serpent Handler: A Story of Faith and Fleeting Fame in an Age of Social Media. Read more about her and her writing at Julia Duin.


thestream--2020-08-11--Military Photo of the Day: Live-Fire Training in Jordan

U.S. Marines change firing positions during a recent live-fire training exercise in Jordan .
Thank you to these Marines for @ @ @ @ @ Stay safe !
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the @ @ @ @ @ Issues of Our Day .

U.S. Marines change firing positions during a recent live-fire training exercise in Jordan.
Thank you to these Marines for serving our country overseas. Stay safe!
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thestream--2020-08-11--Trump Wastes No Time Going After ‘Nasty’ VP Pick Kamala Harris

The news that Democrats had selected Kamala Harris as Joe Biden ’ s running mate had no sooner hit the wires when the Trump campaign released a hard-hitting ad .
In it , the campaign blasts Harris for “ rushing to the radical left ” for political purposes , lays out some of her more radical proposals , and reminds viewers how she attacked Joe Biden ’ s “ racist policies.
” Democratic voters , “ smartly spotted a phony .
But not Joe Biden .
He ’ s not that smart.
” Trump himself in his afternoon presser repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kavanaugh .
“ She was extraordinarily nasty to Kavanaugh , ” he said .
“ She was nasty to a level that was just a horrible thing.
” If Donald Trump had a dime for every time he ’ ll be calling Harris nasty he ’ d be as rich as Donald Trump .
But it appears that “ nasty ” is what Democrats were looking for .
They just used different words .
Susan Rice , who was reportedly the runner-up for the gig , called Harris a “ tenacious and trailblazing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Karen Bass , also described Harris as “ tenacious.
” And a third , Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , said Biden and Harris “ will be a fierce team.
” Are we detecting a theme ?
Looking at the Record Meanwhile , National Review ’ s Jim Geraghty re-released a devastating 20-part Twitter thread laying out 20 troubling moments in Harris ’ public career .
It ’ s based on his “ 20 Things You Probably Didn ’ t Know About Kamala Harris ” .
With many talking heads , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was tested during the primary debates , folks were quick to tweet out how she failed that test .
More specifically , they reposted the video of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard destroying Harris ’ campaign in less than a minute .
( That ’ s why Harris is the nominee ’ s vice-presidential choice , not the nominee . )
And there was quick reminder that Harris compares our ICE officers enforcing immigration law to the KKK .
Also a reminder that Harris used to believe those who accused Joe Biden of unwanted touching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect them being able to tell their story and having the courage to do it.
” Former GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin offered some free non-partisan advice , the lessons she and former VP candidate Geraldine Ferraro learned .
Two big points : “ Don ’ t get muzzled ” and “ out of the chute trust no one new.
” Biden and Harris Will Appear Together Tomorrow At least the guy she ’ ll be debating kept it warm and fuzzy .
The ever-genial Mike Pence congratulated Harris and said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” site of the VP debate in October .
Joe Biden will see Harris tomorrow .
The Democratic ticket will appear together for the first time tomorrow in Delaware .

The news that Democrats had selected Kamala Harris as Joe Biden’s running mate had no sooner hit the wires when the Trump campaign released a hard-hitting ad.
In it, the campaign blasts Harris for “rushing to the radical left” for political purposes, lays out some of her more radical proposals, and reminds viewers how she attacked Joe Biden’s “racist policies.” Democratic voters, “smartly spotted a phony. But not Joe Biden. He’s not that smart.”
Trump himself in his afternoon presser repeatedly brought up Harris’ nastiness to Brett Kavanaugh. “She was extraordinarily nasty to Kavanaugh,” he said. “She was nasty to a level that was just a horrible thing.” If Donald Trump had a dime for every time he’ll be calling Harris nasty he’d be as rich as Donald Trump.
Her Rivals Applaud “Tenacious” Senator
But it appears that “nasty” is what Democrats were looking for. They just used different words.
Susan Rice, who was reportedly the runner-up for the gig, called Harris a “tenacious and trailblazing leader.”
My warmest congratulations to @KamalaHarris. I am confident Biden-Harris will prove to be a winning ticket. I will do my utmost to help them win and govern. 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/9pfJggZSV9 — Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) August 11, 2020
Another possible candidate, California Rep. Karen Bass, also described Harris as “tenacious.”
@KamalaHarris is a great choice for Vice President. Her tenacious pursuit of justice and relentless advocacy for the people is what is needed right now. 1/ pic.twitter.com/Fnv9SgWxDc — Karen Bass (@KarenBassTweets) August 11, 2020
And a third, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, said Biden and Harris “will be a fierce team.” Are we detecting a theme?
I am extraordinarily proud to support @KamalaHarris and @JoeBiden! They will be a fierce team to Build America Back Better. #WeHaveHerBack pic.twitter.com/pxNnv5bGD2 — Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) August 11, 2020
Looking at the Record
Meanwhile, National Review’s Jim Geraghty re-released a devastating 20-part Twitter thread laying out 20 troubling moments in Harris’ public career. It’s based on his “20 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Kamala Harris”.
With many talking heads, including those on Fox News, saying Harris was tested during the primary debates, folks were quick to tweet out how she failed that test. More specifically, they reposted the video of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard destroying Harris’ campaign in less than a minute. (That’s why Harris is the nominee’s vice-presidential choice, not the nominee.)
In light of recent news, let us remember the moment that Tulsi Gabbard completely destroyed Sen. Kamala Harris’ political career. pic.twitter.com/c8MzcSpQ8k — Hi, I Think I’m Real (@thinkimreal) August 11, 2020
And there was quick reminder that Harris compares our ICE officers enforcing immigration law to the KKK.
FLASHBACK: Joe Biden's running mate Kamala Harris compared ICE officers enforcing immigration law to the KKK.pic.twitter.com/mn5NcT3NZW — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) August 11, 2020
Also a reminder that Harris used to believe those who accused Joe Biden of unwanted touching. “I believe them and I respect them being able to tell their story and having the courage to do it.”
Activist Candace Owens burned Harris like a match.
All jokes aside— I respect @JoeBiden for finding a Vice Presidential mate that locked up *almost* as many black men as he did. #KamalaHarris — Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) August 11, 2020
Then there’s this gem:
FYI, #Kamala is not a Black American. She’s the biracial daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants. Even when they’re trying to pander, Democrats put Black Americans last. — Rob Smith 🇺🇸 (@robsmithonline) August 11, 2020
Sarah Palin Warns “Don’t Get Muzzled”
Former GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin offered some free non-partisan advice, the lessons she and former VP candidate Geraldine Ferraro learned. Two big points: “Don’t get muzzled” and “out of the chute trust no one new.”
Biden and Harris Will Appear Together Tomorrow
At least the guy she’ll be debating kept it warm and fuzzy. The ever-genial Mike Pence congratulated Harris and said, “See you in Salt Lake City,” site of the VP debate in October.
Joe Biden will see Harris tomorrow. The Democratic ticket will appear together for the first time tomorrow in Delaware.


thestream--2020-08-11--Religious Voters Should Be Encouraged by President Trump’s Pro-Life Achievements Abroad

An excerpt from Austin Ruse ’ s The Catholic Case for Trump .
Previous presidents who claimed the pro-life mantle often suffered from a lack of imagination .
They seemed reluctant to do anything pro-life or anything that would upset the pro-choice establishment .
Upon taking office , Republican presidents were content to do two things .
First , they would defund the U.N. Population Fund , the U.N. agency that is complicit in establishing the Chinese one-child policy .
Second , they would reestablish the so-called Mexico City policy , a Reagan-era policy that bans certain American money from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion .
I say “ certain American money ” because the Mexico City policy stopped money from flowing from the relatively small “ family planning ” budget only .
American dollars still flowed to these groups , but from other , larger parts of the federal budget .
These moves were often enough to satisfy the major pro-life groups .
Talk pro-life , promise good justices ( but never any who pledge to overturn Roe ) , defund UNFPA , reinstate the Mexico City policy : if a GOP president did these things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major pro-life advocacy groups .
Would he move against Planned Parenthood ?
Not a chance .
Would he aggressively fight a global right to abortion ?
Maybe on the margins , but he was more likely to take George W. Bush ’ s course of action and sacrifice all that to his other foreign policy initiatives .
President Trump Did What Pro-Life Presidents Do , But Didn ’ t Stop There Like his predecessors , Trump defunded UNFPA and reinstated the Mexico City policy .
He did so on his first day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning of his pro-life actions , not the end .
Although the Mexico City policy traditionally affected only the part of the federal budget that funded “ family planning , ” Trump expanded the ban to include the much larger health budget in foreign operations .
He increased the ban from roughly $ 600 million to nearly $ 9 billion .
Two years later , in March 2019 , Secretary of State Pompeo announced that the government would also block what he called “ backdoor funding schemes and end-runs ” around the ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to pass money through to subcontractors who supported or performed abortions .
On that same day , Pompeo announced the revocation of funding to the Human Rights Court of the Organization of American States because personnel from the court had been caught lobbying for legal abortion in South America .
Trump is even taking on the United Nations , which actively supports abortion overseas , by threatening to defund the most controversial parts of the U.N. apparatus .
The decades-long fight to prevent the U.N. from establishing a global right to abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s greatest battles .
Abortion advocates at the U.N. know they can not explicitly impose abortion on the world .
Instead they work to establish what is called a “ customary right ” to abortion .
A customary right is established when all countries agree to change their behavior without signing a document .
By abstaining from paper documents , member states don ’ t have to ratify treaties that might spark outrage at home .
For years , the Left has tried to turn the repeated , vocal agreement by U.N. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treaty obligation .
To do so , they ’ ve invented “ customary rights , ” hoping to give greater authority to the repeated references to “ reproductive health ” in U.N. documents .
This is a key argument of the abortion Left and must be fought vigorously if we are to prevent U.N. bureaucrats from establishing a global right to abortion .
Starting twenty-five years ago , “ reproductive health ” has been included in nearly everything the United Nations does .
If you read U.N. documents , you ’ ll find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from those dealing with housing and children to women and the environment .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
The move to include abortionist language in every nook and cranny of U.N. policy has gone on for decades .
The Clinton and Obama administrations joined the European Union and other member states in pushing hard for “ reproductive health ” in U.N. documents .
George W. Bush was lukewarm at best in fighting use of the term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the Bush administration fought against “ reproductive health care services , ” arguing that “ services ” alluded to abortion .
But even a casual follower knows that “ reproductive health ” always includes abortion , regardless of whether or not “ services ” follows in the text .
Fighting for minutiae doesn ’ t absolve the Bush administration ’ s catastrophic decision to allow a commitment to “ reproductive health ” to enter into the first and only hard-law treaty , the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sea change at the U.N. has been the Trump administration ’ s refusing to go along with the “ reproductive health ” consensus .
He has opposed reproductive health not only at the U.N. but also at the G7 and other international fora .
United States diplomats have been ordered to strike the term out of any agreements with foreign nations .
Should they fail , they are to replace it with something acceptable , such as “ maternal health , ” or if they are unable to do that , they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from “ reproductive health.
” By making “ reproductive health ” controversial again , Trump and his team have successfully stemmed the tide of those calling for a global right to abortion .
Fighting U.N. resolutions may seem small , but the U.N. offers vast sums of money to countries around the world .
Lots of that money comes from American taxpayers , meaning that if the United Nations starts supporting organizations promoting “ reproductive health , ” American citizens are ultimately on the hook .
Taking the fight to the United Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda and makes it more difficult for the war on the unborn to spread abroad .
Going Beyond the Bare Minimum Required to Win the Pro-Life Vote There are certainly more funding holes to plug , but the Trump administration has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to ending U.S. taxpayer–funded abortion abroad .
Pro-lifers who work on foreign policy are hopeful more cuts will come , despite the fact that Trump has already accomplished much more than any previous president on this score .
He seems dedicated to the cause and to continuing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win over the pro-life vote .
As we have discussed at length , not caring what the elite think is one of Donald Trump ’ s great strengths .
The global pushback on expanding the Mexico City policy and fighting “ reproductive health ” has been immense , incurring blowback from political leaders and the international press alike .
The elites considered abortion promotion settled policy , decided in the backrooms of the U.N. where hardly any American pays attention .
Ignoring the pro-abortion policies of international institutions would have been easy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has worked to do the right thing , and there is more to come .
Austin Ruse is the president of the Center for Family and Human Rights , a research institute based in New York and Washington , D.C. , focused exclusively on international social and legal policy .
He is the author of Fake Science : Exposing the Left ’ s Skewed Statistics , Fuzzy Facts , and Dodgy Data ( Regnery Publishing , 2017 ) and Littlest Suffering Souls : Children Whose Short Lives Point Us to Christ ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a Knight of Malta , a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and a Son of the American Revolution .

An excerpt from Austin Ruse’s The Catholic Case for Trump.
Previous presidents who claimed the pro-life mantle often suffered from a lack of imagination. They seemed reluctant to do anything pro-life or anything that would upset the pro-choice establishment. Upon taking office, Republican presidents were content to do two things. First, they would defund the U.N. Population Fund, the U.N. agency that is complicit in establishing the Chinese one-child policy. Second, they would reestablish the so-called Mexico City policy, a Reagan-era policy that bans certain American money from supporting organizations overseas that perform or promote abortion. I say “certain American money” because the Mexico City policy stopped money from flowing from the relatively small “family planning” budget only. American dollars still flowed to these groups, but from other, larger parts of the federal budget.
These moves were often enough to satisfy the major pro-life groups. Talk pro-life, promise good justices (but never any who pledge to overturn Roe), defund UNFPA, reinstate the Mexico City policy: if a GOP president did these things, he would get rubber-stamped by the major pro-life advocacy groups. Would he move against Planned Parenthood? Not a chance. Would he aggressively fight a global right to abortion? Maybe on the margins, but he was more likely to take George W. Bush’s course of action and sacrifice all that to his other foreign policy initiatives.
President Trump Did What Pro-Life Presidents Do, But Didn’t Stop There
Like his predecessors, Trump defunded UNFPA and reinstated the Mexico City policy. He did so on his first day in office, but that was just the beginning of his pro-life actions, not the end.
Although the Mexico City policy traditionally affected only the part of the federal budget that funded “family planning,” Trump expanded the ban to include the much larger health budget in foreign operations. He increased the ban from roughly $600 million to nearly $9 billion. Two years later, in March 2019, Secretary of State Pompeo announced that the government would also block what he called “backdoor funding schemes and end-runs” around the ban. Overseas groups would no longer be allowed to pass money through to subcontractors who supported or performed abortions. On that same day, Pompeo announced the revocation of funding to the Human Rights Court of the Organization of American States because personnel from the court had been caught lobbying for legal abortion in South America.
Fighting the U.N.’s “Customary Right” to Abortion
Trump is even taking on the United Nations, which actively supports abortion overseas, by threatening to defund the most controversial parts of the U.N. apparatus. The decades-long fight to prevent the U.N. from establishing a global right to abortion has been one of the pro-life movement’s greatest battles. Abortion advocates at the U.N. know they cannot explicitly impose abortion on the world. Instead they work to establish what is called a “customary right” to abortion. A customary right is established when all countries agree to change their behavior without signing a document. By abstaining from paper documents, member states don’t have to ratify treaties that might spark outrage at home.
For years, the Left has tried to turn the repeated, vocal agreement by U.N. member states into something akin to a treaty obligation. To do so, they’ve invented “customary rights,” hoping to give greater authority to the repeated references to “reproductive health” in U.N. documents. This is a key argument of the abortion Left and must be fought vigorously if we are to prevent U.N. bureaucrats from establishing a global right to abortion. Starting twenty-five years ago, “reproductive health” has been included in nearly everything the United Nations does. If you read U.N. documents, you’ll find the term in almost every proposal, from those dealing with housing and children to women and the environment.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The move to include abortionist language in every nook and cranny of U.N. policy has gone on for decades. The Clinton and Obama administrations joined the European Union and other member states in pushing hard for “reproductive health” in U.N. documents. George W. Bush was lukewarm at best in fighting use of the term. Instead of fighting “reproductive health,” the Bush administration fought against “reproductive health care services,” arguing that “services” alluded to abortion. But even a casual follower knows that “reproductive health” always includes abortion, regardless of whether or not “services” follows in the text. Fighting for minutiae doesn’t absolve the Bush administration’s catastrophic decision to allow a commitment to “reproductive health” to enter into the first and only hard-law treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in December 2006.
Making False Notions of “Reproductive Health” Controversial Again
The great sea change at the U.N. has been the Trump administration’s refusing to go along with the “reproductive health” consensus. He has opposed reproductive health not only at the U.N. but also at the G7 and other international fora. United States diplomats have been ordered to strike the term out of any agreements with foreign nations. Should they fail, they are to replace it with something acceptable, such as “maternal health,” or if they are unable to do that, they have to add a provision explicitly excluding abortion from “reproductive health.” By making “reproductive health” controversial again, Trump and his team have successfully stemmed the tide of those calling for a global right to abortion.
Lots of that money comes from American taxpayers, meaning that if the United Nations starts supporting organizations promoting “reproductive health,” American citizens are ultimately on the hook.
Fighting U.N. resolutions may seem small, but the U.N. offers vast sums of money to countries around the world. Lots of that money comes from American taxpayers, meaning that if the United Nations starts supporting organizations promoting “reproductive health,” American citizens are ultimately on the hook. Taking the fight to the United Nations is another attack on the liberal abortionist agenda and makes it more difficult for the war on the unborn to spread abroad.
Going Beyond the Bare Minimum Required to Win the Pro-Life Vote
There are certainly more funding holes to plug, but the Trump administration has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to ending U.S. taxpayer–funded abortion abroad. Pro-lifers who work on foreign policy are hopeful more cuts will come, despite the fact that Trump has already accomplished much more than any previous president on this score. He seems dedicated to the cause and to continuing to go beyond the bare minimum required to win over the pro-life vote.
As we have discussed at length, not caring what the elite think is one of Donald Trump’s great strengths. The global pushback on expanding the Mexico City policy and fighting “reproductive health” has been immense, incurring blowback from political leaders and the international press alike. The elites considered abortion promotion settled policy, decided in the backrooms of the U.N. where hardly any American pays attention. Ignoring the pro-abortion policies of international institutions would have been easy. But instead of taking the easy route Trump has worked to do the right thing, and there is more to come.
Austin Ruse is the president of the Center for Family and Human Rights, a research institute based in New York and Washington, D.C., focused exclusively on international social and legal policy. He is the author of Fake Science: Exposing the Left’s Skewed Statistics, Fuzzy Facts, and Dodgy Data (Regnery Publishing, 2017) and Littlest Suffering Souls: Children Whose Short Lives Point Us to Christ(Tan Books, 2017). He is a Knight of Malta, a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and a Son of the American Revolution.


thestream--2020-08-11--Biden VP Shortlist: Former National Security Adviser Susan Rice

Presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden has reportedly decided on his VP pick .
It may be announced as early as later today .
Biden ’ s long insisted he was going to pick a woman of color to be his running mate .
That ’ s not the whole truth of it .
The nation is filled with honorable and accomplished women of color .
Biden ’ s nominee needed two additional qualities for Democrats to let her on the ticket : • She needs to be a progressive eager to “ fundamentally transform ” the United States of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say or do anything to gain or keep power .
And on both counts , Susan Rice and Kamala Harris fit like a pair of bicycle shorts .
We ’ re taking a look at the two alleged finalists .
You can read our account of Sen. Kamala Harris here .
Today let ’ s examine former National Security Adviser Susan Rice .
Any discussion of Susan Rice can not begin , can not continue and can not conclude without this man ’ s stricken face burned in our minds .
That is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Sunday , September 11 , 2012 — on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks — al-Qaeda allied forces unleashed a coordinated military-style terrorist attack .
The target ?
Our diplomatic compound in Benghazi , Libya .
For 13 hours , a battle raged , with two waves of assaults on the compound and nearby CIA annex .
By the time it was over — with little help from the Obama Defense Department — four Americans were dead .
CIA operatives Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods , information officer Sean Smith and Ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed in an attack since 1979 .
He was dragged through the streets .
Unconfirmed reports suggested his body was violated , like the body of deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi months before .
U.S. officials knew very quickly the Benghazi was an organized terrorist attack .
• Sean Smith knew something dangerous was set to go down .
He learned that from the movements of the local Islamist group Hillary hired to help provide security .
He wrote to fellow gamers hours before the attack , “ Assuming we don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our ‘ police ’ that guard the compound taking pictures.
” He had told his mother as well about the picture-taking and had reported it .
• The CIA contractors involved in the battle knew they were facing a coordinated , sophisticated military operation .
That the supposedly secret CIA annex had been compromised .
• As the attack unfolded , “ DOD officials believed the Benghazi attacks to be terrorist-imposed , rather than a ‘ protest gone awry . '
” So says a House Armed Services Committee Report .
• Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the night of the Benghazi attack , pinning the attack on an “ Al Qaeda-like group.
” • Within 24 hours , FBI specialists had concluded Benghazi was a terrorist attack .
But the brass didn ’ t want to admit that .
As The Hill reported in 2017 , an FBI supervisor told then-congressman Ron DeSantis then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe gave marching orders .
Agents were not to report the Benghazi attack as an act of terrorism to other intelligence agencies .
The supervisor was concerned .
After all , “ his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major Al Qaeda figure had directed the attack and the information had already been briefed to President Obama.
” And yet , a full week after the fact — after being coached by the White House — then-UN Ambassador Susan Rice went on five national Sunday morning shows .
She told America that the incident was a spontaneous riot .
It was sparked by a video mocking Mohammed .
A crude , cheesy video hardly anybody had seen .
Rice flat out lied to the American people .
Told an unimaginably outrageous and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffers joked about in newly uncovered emails .
One that should still turn the stomach of every patriotic American .
One that should immediately disqualify her for public office .
Obama didn ’ t punish that lie .
He rewarded it , and her loyalty , promoting her to National Security Adviser .
And today Joe Biden is seriously considering promoting her as the next Vice President of the United States .
When considering Rice ’ s fitness for the Oval Office , we have to ask “ Why did she lie ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama .
Someone had to go out and pitch the fiction concocted by Obama strategist Ben Rhodes .
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , who should have been the one speaking the Sunday after an ambassador ’ s assassination , refused .
( Hillary ’ s no dummy . )
National Security Adviser Tom Donilon also refused .
But Rice ?
Rice was willing do what was necessary to protect Obama .
• It was two months before the 2012 election .
Obama had been running around the country crowing , “ Bin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s on the run.
” Having another al-Qaeda-connected attack on the 9/11 anniversary ?
Even Mitt Romney could have had a field day with that fact .
• Obama , Clinton and Rice had to pin Benghazi on an unruly spontaneous mob .
They could not draw attention to the people they were doing business with in Libya .
The very people they ’ d helped to overthrow Gadhafi .
The people they ’ d armed .
Al Qaeda .
The Obama Administration had teamed with radical Islamists in Libya to overthrow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Turkey and radical Islamists in Syria to overthrow President Assad .
( What was Stevens doing in Benghazi ?
The best evidence says he was trying to collect weapons Hillary had supplied the Libyans to smuggle over to Syria .
Interestingly , just weeks before the 2016 election , the federal government dropped charges against arms dealer Mark Turi .
Turi was threatening to reveal Clinton ’ s role in his sale of weapons to Libyan rebels .
But back to 2012 … . )
It is one thing if al-Qaeda or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans .
That ’ s bad before an election , but America voters are smart .
They understand stuff happens .
You can ’ t stop terrorists all the time .
However , if it was known two months before the 2012 election that Obama had been partnering with al-Qaeda connected jihadists ?
!
Hello , President Romney .
There ’ s one more point to consider .
Even if you still refuse to acknowledge the horror of Benghazi .
If you want to dismiss what I ’ ve written as “ conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary ’ s infamous , “ What difference , at this point , does it make ?
” Consider this : Susan Rice was part of the team that took part in and celebrated the overthrow of the Libyan government .
Libya has since been in chaos .
On policy grounds alone , it was a disaster .
So much for judgment .
But this gets worse .
We ’ ve been hearing a lot in recent months about the evils of slavery .
We are punishing people long dead for an evil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago .
Today , amid the chaos Rice helped unleash in Libya , human slavery has returned there .
Captured African migrants are bought and sold in the harsh heat after her Arab Spring .
Will there be any consequence for Rice ?
Or will we have to wait 150 years before changing the names of schools named after President Susan Rice ?
Note : There is so much more to say about Rice , including her role in Russiagate .
But that ’ s for another time .
Al Perrotta is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 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 .

Presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden has reportedly decided on his VP pick. It may be announced as early as later today. Biden’s long insisted he was going to pick a woman of color to be his running mate. That’s not the whole truth of it. The nation is filled with honorable and accomplished women of color. Biden’s nominee needed two additional qualities for Democrats to let her on the ticket:
She needs to be a progressive eager to “fundamentally transform” the United States of America She needs to be willing to say or do anything to gain or keep power.
And on both counts, Susan Rice and Kamala Harris fit like a pair of bicycle shorts. We’re taking a look at the two alleged finalists. You can read our account of Sen. Kamala Harris here. Today let’s examine former National Security Adviser Susan Rice.
An Indelible Image
Any discussion of Susan Rice cannot begin, cannot continue and cannot conclude without this man’s stricken face burned in our minds.
That is murdered U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens. On Sunday, September 11, 2012 — on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks — al-Qaeda allied forces unleashed a coordinated military-style terrorist attack. The target? Our diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. For 13 hours, a battle raged, with two waves of assaults on the compound and nearby CIA annex. By the time it was over — with little help from the Obama Defense Department — four Americans were dead. CIA operatives Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, information officer Sean Smith and Ambassador Stevens.
Stevens was the first ambassador killed in an attack since 1979. He was dragged through the streets. Unconfirmed reports suggested his body was violated, like the body of deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi months before.
U.S. officials knew very quickly the Benghazi was an organized terrorist attack.
Sean Smith knew something dangerous was set to go down. He learned that from the movements of the local Islamist group Hillary hired to help provide security. He wrote to fellow gamers hours before the attack, “Assuming we don’t die tonight. We saw one of our ‘police’ that guard the compound taking pictures.” He had told his mother as well about the picture-taking and had reported it. The CIA contractors involved in the battle knew they were facing a coordinated, sophisticated military operation. That the supposedly secret CIA annex had been compromised. As the attack unfolded, “DOD officials believed the Benghazi attacks to be terrorist-imposed, rather than a ‘protest gone awry.'” So says a House Armed Services Committee Report. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton emailed her daughter the night of the Benghazi attack, pinning the attack on an “Al Qaeda-like group.” Within 24 hours, FBI specialists had concluded Benghazi was a terrorist attack. But the brass didn’t want to admit that. As The Hill reported in 2017, an FBI supervisor told then-congressman Ron DeSantis then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe gave marching orders. Agents were not to report the Benghazi attack as an act of terrorism to other intelligence agencies. The supervisor was concerned. After all, “his unit had gathered incontrovertible evidence showing a major Al Qaeda figure had directed the attack and the information had already been briefed to President Obama.”
And yet, a full week after the fact — after being coached by the White House — then-UN Ambassador Susan Rice went on five national Sunday morning shows. She told America that the incident was a spontaneous riot. It was sparked by a video mocking Mohammed. A crude, cheesy video hardly anybody had seen.
Rice flat out lied to the American people. Told an unimaginably outrageous and grotesque lie. One that White House staffers joked about in newly uncovered emails. One that should still turn the stomach of every patriotic American. One that should immediately disqualify her for public office. Obama didn’t punish that lie. He rewarded it, and her loyalty, promoting her to National Security Adviser.
And today Joe Biden is seriously considering promoting her as the next Vice President of the United States.
Why Lie?
When considering Rice’s fitness for the Oval Office, we have to ask “Why did she lie?”
She was being obedient to Obama. Someone had to go out and pitch the fiction concocted by Obama strategist Ben Rhodes. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who should have been the one speaking the Sunday after an ambassador’s assassination, refused. (Hillary’s no dummy.) National Security Adviser Tom Donilon also refused. But Rice? Rice was willing do what was necessary to protect Obama. It was two months before the 2012 election. Obama had been running around the country crowing, “Bin Laden’s dead, Al-Qaeda’s on the run.” Having another al-Qaeda-connected attack on the 9/11 anniversary? Even Mitt Romney could have had a field day with that fact. Obama, Clinton and Rice had to pin Benghazi on an unruly spontaneous mob. They could not draw attention to the people they were doing business with in Libya. The very people they’d helped to overthrow Gadhafi. The people they’d armed. Al Qaeda.
The Obama Administration had teamed with radical Islamists in Libya to overthrow the longtime dictator. They were now teaming with Turkey and radical Islamists in Syria to overthrow President Assad. (What was Stevens doing in Benghazi? The best evidence says he was trying to collect weapons Hillary had supplied the Libyans to smuggle over to Syria. Interestingly, just weeks before the 2016 election, the federal government dropped charges against arms dealer Mark Turi. Turi was threatening to reveal Clinton’s role in his sale of weapons to Libyan rebels. But back to 2012 … . )
It is one thing if al-Qaeda or like-minded jihadists successfully conducted an attack against Americans. That’s bad before an election, but America voters are smart. They understand stuff happens. You can’t stop terrorists all the time. However, if it was known two months before the 2012 election that Obama had been partnering with al-Qaeda connected jihadists?! Hello, President Romney.
There’s one more point to consider. Even if you still refuse to acknowledge the horror of Benghazi. If you want to dismiss what I’ve written as “conspiracy theory.” Or you want to echo Hillary’s infamous, “What difference, at this point, does it make?” Consider this: Susan Rice was part of the team that took part in and celebrated the overthrow of the Libyan government. Libya has since been in chaos. On policy grounds alone, it was a disaster. So much for judgment. But this gets worse.
We’ve been hearing a lot in recent months about the evils of slavery. We are punishing people long dead for an evil we ended in this country 150 years ago. Today, amid the chaos Rice helped unleash in Libya, human slavery has returned there. Captured African migrants are bought and sold in the harsh heat after her Arab Spring. Will there be any consequence for Rice? Or will we have to wait 150 years before changing the names of schools named after President Susan Rice?
Note: There is so much more to say about Rice, including her role in Russiagate. But that’s for another time.
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--2020-08-11--When the GOP Defended the Alt-Right as ‘Peaceful Protesters’ (A Satire)

It was a dark time in America , 2017 .
We knew the nation had lost its center .
This despite the scrupulous civic-mindedness of the Democratic party and the Mainstream media .
The Democrats , as good Americans , gave President Trump a trouble-free first 100 days to set his agenda .
As parties have mostly done with other newly-elected presidents .
Mitch McConnell in the Senate and Paul Ryan in the House deferred to voters ’ decisions .
Neither of the men had backed Trump .
Neither liked him .
But they knew he ’ d earned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party .
So they moved quickly to fund the border wall which was his signature winning issue .
The nation gained control over its porous borders , suppressing crime and human trafficking .
That should have made the Right happy .
But it didn ’ t .
It only stoked violence .
The GOP Acted Swiftly to Back the President McConnell and Ryan knew it would be criminally stupid to fritter away two solid years of GOP control .
To do that , Republicans abolished the silent , phony “ filibuster ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all Republicans that the Democrats would do so at their next opportunity .
( They don ’ t feel bound by silly things like “ precedent.
” ) Now if a senator wanted to block a bill ?
He ’ d darned well have to give a very long speech .
That ’ s what they used to do up until the 1970s .
Aware that pro-life Americans had been swindled too many times , the GOP leaders acted to reward them for their support .
With the filibuster gone , President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of defunding Planned Parenthood .
Most Americans saw the logic of that , in the wake of its proven profiteering from human babies ’ organs .
The Democrats weren ’ t happy about all this , of course .
But they remembered Barack Obama ’ s famous phrase , “ Elections have consequences.
” So just as most Republicans did under previous new Democratic presidents , the Democrats in Congress stepped back and patriotically let Trump make his own “ mistakes , ” waiting for the next mid-term election .
The media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to rigorous standards , scrupulously avoided demonizing their nation ’ s elected leader .
Whatever their private sympathies , they valued their professional integrity too highly to turn their news shows into agitprop .
Despite all this , no matter how fair and professionally the left comported itself , President Trump just couldn ’ t control himself and his secret urges .
He wouldn ’ t rein in the dark , anarchic forces of reckless extremism that bubbled below the GOP veneer .
When white supremacists clashed with Antifa protesters in Charlottesville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He didn ’ t just distinguish between the large number of decent historic preservationists and a small band of white nationalists who engaged in violence .
No , he insisted on defending all of the demonstrators .
He even had the temerity to champion far-right rioters clad in body armor , wielding lasers to blind police officers , as “ peaceful protesters.
” A Dog Whistle for Far Right Violence That statement by the president gave the green-light to far-right riots across the country .
In one Republican-controlled city after another , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , abortion clinics , and even in their homes .
But Republican mayors and governors refused to use force to control them .
They followed Trump ’ s party line that these were “ mostly peaceful protesters .
And a cowed media complied .
Which network wanted its headquarters attacked by violent mobs , after all ?
Even GOP governors refused to use National Guard units to stop the widespread violence and looting .
They pointed to the “ protesters ’ ” grievances against urban crime , moral decline , and the almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In one city after another , abortion clinics burned , and police would do nothing .
In some cities , Republican mayors and legislators proposed abolishing the police altogether , which would leave those cities entirely in the hands of the right-wing zealots .
The GOP Consented by its Silence Donald Trump and his party looked on .
When Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii demanded of Texas Senator Ted Cruz that he denounce the “ Profa ” activists ’ pattern of public violence , Cruz was pointedly silent , just giving a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a track record of endorsing and enabling mass violence in cities across America , costing hundreds of millions of dollars , and imposing a reign of political terror on anyone who dissented , the Republicans have the sheer gall to ask Americans to return them to power this November .
They have offered no plan to stop the widespread violence .
They haven ’ t distanced themselves from the thuggish street toughs who swagger through major American cities .
Instead , they want to soak “ blue ” states with taxes to rebuild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red ” states , while GOP mayors fiddled .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
They ’ ve given us no reason to think that if their party controlled the White House and Congress in 2021 the chaos would get any better .
Though some have threatened darkly that if their candidate loses , still more severe street violence would erupt across the country .
Can any responsible American honestly vote for this man , this party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought experiment .
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming .
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 .
”

It was a dark time in America, 2017. We knew the nation had lost its center. This despite the scrupulous civic-mindedness of the Democratic party and the Mainstream media.
The Democrats, as good Americans, gave President Trump a trouble-free first 100 days to set his agenda. As parties have mostly done with other newly-elected presidents. Mitch McConnell in the Senate and Paul Ryan in the House deferred to voters’ decisions. Neither of the men had backed Trump. Neither liked him. But they knew he’d earned the right from GOP voters to reorient the party.
So they moved quickly to fund the border wall which was his signature winning issue. The nation gained control over its porous borders, suppressing crime and human trafficking. That should have made the Right happy. But it didn’t. It only stoked violence.
The GOP Acted Swiftly to Back the President
McConnell and Ryan knew it would be criminally stupid to fritter away two solid years of GOP control. To do that, Republicans abolished the silent, phony “filibuster” in the Senate. It was obvious to all Republicans that the Democrats would do so at their next opportunity. (They don’t feel bound by silly things like “precedent.”) Now if a senator wanted to block a bill? He’d darned well have to give a very long speech. That’s what they used to do up until the 1970s.
Aware that pro-life Americans had been swindled too many times, the GOP leaders acted to reward them for their support. With the filibuster gone, President Trump was able to keep his campaign promise of defunding Planned Parenthood. Most Americans saw the logic of that, in the wake of its proven profiteering from human babies’ organs.
Democrats Held Their Peace
The Democrats weren’t happy about all this, of course. But they remembered Barack Obama’s famous phrase, “Elections have consequences.” So just as most Republicans did under previous new Democratic presidents, the Democrats in Congress stepped back and patriotically let Trump make his own “mistakes,” waiting for the next mid-term election.
The media, while critical of Trump, and holding him to rigorous standards, scrupulously avoided demonizing their nation’s elected leader. Whatever their private sympathies, they valued their professional integrity too highly to turn their news shows into agitprop.
Trump Called Far-Right Rioters “Peaceful Protesters”
Despite all this, no matter how fair and professionally the left comported itself, President Trump just couldn’t control himself and his secret urges. He wouldn’t rein in the dark, anarchic forces of reckless extremism that bubbled below the GOP veneer. When white supremacists clashed with Antifa protesters in Charlottesville, the president showed his true colors.
Even GOP governors refused to use National Guard units to stop the widespread violence and looting. They pointed to the “protesters’” grievances against urban crime, moral decline, and the almost 1 million American babies aborted each year. In one city after another, abortion clinics burned.
He didn’t just distinguish between the large number of decent historic preservationists and a small band of white nationalists who engaged in violence. No, he insisted on defending all of the demonstrators. He even had the temerity to champion far-right rioters clad in body armor, wielding lasers to blind police officers, as “peaceful protesters.”
A Dog Whistle for Far Right Violence
That statement by the president gave the green-light to far-right riots across the country. In one Republican-controlled city after another, far-right thugs attacked citizens at gay bars, abortion clinics, and even in their homes. But Republican mayors and governors refused to use force to control them. They followed Trump’s party line that these were “mostly peaceful protesters.
And a cowed media complied. Which network wanted its headquarters attacked by violent mobs, after all?
Even GOP governors refused to use National Guard units to stop the widespread violence and looting. They pointed to the “protesters’” grievances against urban crime, moral decline, and the almost 1 million American babies aborted each year. In one city after another, abortion clinics burned, and police would do nothing. In some cities, Republican mayors and legislators proposed abolishing the police altogether, which would leave those cities entirely in the hands of the right-wing zealots.
The GOP Consented by its Silence
Donald Trump and his party looked on. When Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii demanded of Texas Senator Ted Cruz that he denounce the “Profa” activists’ pattern of public violence, Cruz was pointedly silent, just giving a creepy smile.
And now, with a track record of endorsing and enabling mass violence in cities across America, costing hundreds of millions of dollars, and imposing a reign of political terror on anyone who dissented, the Republicans have the sheer gall to ask Americans to return them to power this November. They have offered no plan to stop the widespread violence. They haven’t distanced themselves from the thuggish street toughs who swagger through major American cities. Instead, they want to soak “blue” states with taxes to rebuild the cities far-right activists burned in “red” states, while GOP mayors fiddled.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
They’ve given us no reason to think that if their party controlled the White House and Congress in 2021 the chaos would get any better. Though some have threatened darkly that if their candidate loses, still more severe street violence would erupt across the country.
Can any responsible American honestly vote for this man, this party?
Thank you for engaging in this thought experiment. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
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--2020-08-11--Why America is in Real Danger

Why America is in Real Danger

Americans have long been proud of the fact that , unlike European countries , America never went the route of totalitarianism as embodied in communism , fascism and Nazism .
This achievement may be coming to an end .
In order to understand why , it is first necessary to understand why European countries embraced — or fell victim to — totalitarian doctrines .
The End of Belief in God Until World War I , the primary beliefs that gave life meaning , both on a national and personal level , were Judeo-Christian religions and patriotism ( love of one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people moral guidance were Judeo-Christian values .
For most Europeans of the younger generation , World War I , with its seemingly senseless slaughter of millions , ended belief in Christianity and , in many cases , ended the people ’ s faith in their nations .
God was deemed absent ; religion was deemed unnecessary ; and national identity was widely seen as a cause of the war .
That left a void that was almost immediately filled by communism , fascism and Nazism .
In Russia , World War I led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the war ended , in 1917 , the czar was overthrown , and later that year , the Bolsheviks ( the Russian communists ) took over .
As awful as the czar was , there was far more freedom under him than there was in the Soviet Union until the fall of communism 72 years later , not to mention the murder of more people — 20 to 40 million — under the Soviet regime .
In Italy , the rise of fascism followed World War I .
And in Germany , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years after the end of the Great War .
Nazism conquered most of the European continent during WWII , and after Germany ’ s defeat in 1945 , the Soviets imposed communism over all of Eastern Europe .
Though there were communists , communist fellow travelers , Nazi sympathizers , racists and anti-Semites in the United States , neither communism nor fascism nor Nazism took root here .
The primary reason was that , unlike most Europeans , Americans did not lose their faith in Judeo-Christian religions and values or in America after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , in 1954 , the words “ under God ” were inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance recited daily in American schools .
However , by the 1950s , faith in America , Christianity and what we call bourgeois middle-class values was largely limited to older Americans .
The post-World War II baby-boomer generation was already being indoctrinated in secularism and anti-Americanism .
As early as 1962 , the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that school prayer was unconstitutional .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day .
By the late 1960s , vast numbers of baby boomers were attending demonstrations that were as much against America — routinely characterized as an imperialist and colonialist aggressor country with an evil military — as they were against the war in Vietnam .
It was not uncommon to see America spelled “ Amerikkka ” or “ Amerika ” at protests and in graffiti .
When I was in graduate school at Columbia University in the early 1970s , I was taught that men and women are not inherently different from one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between two superpowers ( equally at fault ) , not between freedom and tyranny .
Another generation has passed , and the post-Christian , left-wing baby boomers have come close to achieving complete success .
The mainstream print and electronic media , universities , high schools and elementary schools , the arts and now sports have all been conquered by the left .
Except for sports , from the beginning of the 20th century , they were almost all liberal , but now they are left .
Now We Know We now have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will happen to America if Americans lose faith in God and country as the Europeans did after World War I ?
What will happen to America when Christianity dies as it did in Europe after World War I ?
The way things now look , America may have its bout with some totalitarian doctrine — almost surely some form of leftism .
Liberty has never been a left-wing value .
From Lenin on , wherever the left has come to power , it has suppressed liberty , beginning with free speech .
Already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Senate , America has less free speech than at any time in its history .
Exactly one year ago , I testified before a Senate subcommittee and wrote an op-ed piece for The Wall Street Journal about YouTube ( owned by Google ) placing more than 100 Prager University , or PragerU , videos on its restricted list .
And things have gotten much worse .
Last week , PragerU was locked out of its Twitter account for retweeting a press conference of eight physicians in Washington , D.C. , which had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook has just informed us that if we even cite studies that show possible benefits of hydroxychloroquine ( with zinc ) in the early stages of a patient with COVID-19 , we will lose our Facebook account .
And then there is the “ cancel culture ” — which is merely a euphemism for leftist suppression of dissent .
People are booted from internet platforms , fired from their jobs or have their reputations smeared and their businesses ruined for differing with the left — on anything .
We are also undergoing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mao Zedong ’ s Cultural Revolution , with individuals forced to issue humiliating public recantations of their beliefs and attend reeducation sessions ( we don ’ t yet have reeducation camps , but they should not be ruled out as a possibility if the left is in control ) .
Another communist norm taking root in America is the rewriting of the American past .
We are living a famous Soviet dissident joke : “ In the Soviet Union , the future is known ; it is the past that is always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and many economic ones , the American left is more radical than the left in Europe .
Europeans across the political spectrum are more wary of ideological fanaticism because of the vast scale of death and suffering that resulted from communism , fascism and Nazism .
One might say that Europe was inoculated against fanaticism .
Europeans are more preoccupied with working less , traveling more and being taken care of than with ideological movements .
But America , which has not suffered under fanatical , irrational , liberty-depriving ideologies , has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what replaced Christianity in Europe may well do the same in America .
Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist .
His latest book , published by Regnery in May 2019 , is The Rational Bible , a commentary on the book of Genesis .
His film , “ No Safe Spaces , ” will be released to home entertainment nationwide on September 15 , 2020 .
He is the founder of Prager University and may be contacted at dennisprager.com .

Americans have long been proud of the fact that, unlike European countries, America never went the route of totalitarianism as embodied in communism, fascism and Nazism.
This achievement may be coming to an end.
In order to understand why, it is first necessary to understand why European countries embraced — or fell victim to — totalitarian doctrines.
The End of Belief in God
Until World War I, the primary beliefs that gave life meaning, both on a national and personal level, were Judeo-Christian religions and patriotism (love of one’s nation). What gave people moral guidance were Judeo-Christian values.
For most Europeans of the younger generation, World War I, with its seemingly senseless slaughter of millions, ended belief in Christianity and, in many cases, ended the people’s faith in their nations. God was deemed absent; religion was deemed unnecessary; and national identity was widely seen as a cause of the war.
That left a void that was almost immediately filled by communism, fascism and Nazism.
The Russian Revolution, Fascism and Communism
In Russia, World War I led directly to the Russian Revolution. Even before the war ended, in 1917, the czar was overthrown, and later that year, the Bolsheviks (the Russian communists) took over. As awful as the czar was, there was far more freedom under him than there was in the Soviet Union until the fall of communism 72 years later, not to mention the murder of more people — 20 to 40 million — under the Soviet regime.
In Italy, the rise of fascism followed World War I. And in Germany, the Nazis came to power just 15 years after the end of the Great War. Nazism conquered most of the European continent during WWII, and after Germany’s defeat in 1945, the Soviets imposed communism over all of Eastern Europe.
America Was Different
Though there were communists, communist fellow travelers, Nazi sympathizers, racists and anti-Semites in the United States, neither communism nor fascism nor Nazism took root here. The primary reason was that, unlike most Europeans, Americans did not lose their faith in Judeo-Christian religions and values or in America after World War I. America remained so religious that, in 1954, the words “under God” were inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance recited daily in American schools.
Post-Christian America
However, by the 1950s, faith in America, Christianity and what we call bourgeois middle-class values was largely limited to older Americans. The post-World War II baby-boomer generation was already being indoctrinated in secularism and anti-Americanism. As early as 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that school prayer was unconstitutional.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
By the late 1960s, vast numbers of baby boomers were attending demonstrations that were as much against America — routinely characterized as an imperialist and colonialist aggressor country with an evil military — as they were against the war in Vietnam. It was not uncommon to see America spelled “Amerikkka” or “Amerika” at protests and in graffiti.
When I was in graduate school at Columbia University in the early 1970s, I was taught that men and women are not inherently different from one another and that the Cold War was between two superpowers (equally at fault), not between freedom and tyranny.
Another generation has passed, and the post-Christian, left-wing baby boomers have come close to achieving complete success. The mainstream print and electronic media, universities, high schools and elementary schools, the arts and now sports have all been conquered by the left. Except for sports, from the beginning of the 20th century, they were almost all liberal, but now they are left.
Now We Know
We now have the answer to the question: What will happen to America if Americans lose faith in God and country as the Europeans did after World War I? What will happen to America when Christianity dies as it did in Europe after World War I?
The way things now look, America may have its bout with some totalitarian doctrine — almost surely some form of leftism. Liberty has never been a left-wing value. From Lenin on, wherever the left has come to power, it has suppressed liberty, beginning with free speech. Already, despite a Republican president and a Republican Senate, America has less free speech than at any time in its history. Exactly one year ago, I testified before a Senate subcommittee and wrote an op-ed piece for The Wall Street Journal about YouTube (owned by Google) placing more than 100 Prager University, or PragerU, videos on its restricted list.
And things have gotten much worse. Last week, PragerU was locked out of its Twitter account for retweeting a press conference of eight physicians in Washington, D.C., which had already received 17 million views, and Facebook has just informed us that if we even cite studies that show possible benefits of hydroxychloroquine (with zinc) in the early stages of a patient with COVID-19, we will lose our Facebook account.
Leftist Suppression of Dissent
And then there is the “cancel culture” — which is merely a euphemism for leftist suppression of dissent. People are booted from internet platforms, fired from their jobs or have their reputations smeared and their businesses ruined for differing with the left — on anything.
We are also undergoing a nonviolent (as of now) version of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, with individuals forced to issue humiliating public recantations of their beliefs and attend reeducation sessions (we don’t yet have reeducation camps, but they should not be ruled out as a possibility if the left is in control).
Another communist norm taking root in America is the rewriting of the American past. We are living a famous Soviet dissident joke: “In the Soviet Union, the future is known; it is the past that is always changing.”
Leftist Americans More Radical Than Leftist Europeans
On almost all social issues and many economic ones, the American left is more radical than the left in Europe. Europeans across the political spectrum are more wary of ideological fanaticism because of the vast scale of death and suffering that resulted from communism, fascism and Nazism.
One might say that Europe was inoculated against fanaticism. Europeans are more preoccupied with working less, traveling more and being taken care of than with ideological movements. But America, which has not suffered under fanatical, irrational, liberty-depriving ideologies, has not been inoculated.
Without such a vaccination, what replaced Christianity in Europe may well do the same in America.
Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist. His latest book, published by Regnery in May 2019, is The Rational Bible, a commentary on the book of Genesis. His film, “No Safe Spaces,” will be released to home entertainment nationwide on September 15, 2020. He is the founder of Prager University and may be contacted at dennisprager.com.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


thestream--2020-08-11--Blue Wave Movement: Pro-Life on the Rise in Latin America

On July 29 , Mexico ’ s Supreme Court rejected an injunction on abortion rights that would have decriminalized abortion across the nation in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy .
Abortion activists , who had been hopeful , were crushed .
Mexico ’ s pro-life activists were ecstatic .
Disaster had been averted .
The decision wasn ’ t even close : Four of the five justices had voted to reject abortion .
For the last two years , a new movement has been exploding across South America and Latin America .
It is called the “ Light Blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color featured by massive crowds pouring into the streets from Chile to the Dominican Republic .
Pro-lifers wave blue handkerchiefs , hoist blue balloons , wear blue bandanas , set off blue smoke bombs .
The movement ’ s slogan ?
Save the Two Lives .
The Light Blue Wave movement began in Argentina in 2018 .
In August , the senate of Argentina rejected the legalization of abortion by only a handful of votes .
The vote , which was awaited by huge crowds fixated on jumbotron screens outside , was greeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went up the moment they saw they ’ d won sent chills down my spine .
The pro-lifers set off fireworks , sang and danced in the streets right through the night .
Abortion activists , dressed in their signature green , reacted with violence .
Some raged out of control , and the police met them with water cannons .
( Their green bandanas have always reminded me of the Green Lady in The Silver Chair by C.S .
Lewis : “ as green as poison.
” ) This victory had not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to the vote , pro-lifers had mobilized by the millions .
Pro-life groups had existed for decades , but began recruiting in earnest .
Massive meetings were held .
Everywhere , pro-lifers were identified by blue handkerchiefs .
One Argentinian pro-life activist told me that the blue was “ a sign of resistance.
” A million signatures opposing abortion were collected .
Abortion supporters managed only 70,000 .
And then there were the marches .
Pro-lifers flooded the streets , time and again .
They were old , young , rich , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leaders began connecting with pro-lifers in other nations .
The Blue Wave spread from Argentina and across the continent .
During one day of action , three million people marched in the streets across the nation .
The footage of these marches shows a sea of joyous blue .
Take a minute to watch this video .
It takes my breath away every time .
According to one activist I interviewed , 24-year-old Camilo Duro , a full 60 % of Argentinians are against abortion in all cases .
Millions are willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t slowed .
Every year , they take to the streets by the thousands .
They know that vigilance is essential .
The Blue Wave is here to stay .
In September of 2018 , it was Guatemala .
Activists had been pushing the government to loosen abortion laws .
Pro-lifers sporting blue poured into the capital .
They waved signs ; photos of babies in the womb ; balloons ; banners .
Over 20,000 marched to defend Guatemala ’ s pro-life laws .
The government backed down .
It abandoned the legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists ’ hopes .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Guatemala ’ s commitment to protecting life has teeth , too .
In 2017 , a Dutch ship showed up to distribute illegal abortion pills .
The military blocked them .
Guatemala , they announced , would defend “ human life and the laws of our country.
” The ship left .
That same month , politicians in the Dominican Republic were attempting to open the door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swept into the capital .
Thousands of pro-lifers gathered in front of the National Congress on September 9 .
The theme “ Let ’ s Save Both Lives ” was laid out by speakers at the march .
Abortion remains illegal in the Dominican Republic .
The Blue Wave reached Chile next .
In September 2018 , thousands rallied in front of the National Palace .
The pro-lifers were pushing back against an attempt to legalize abortion up until 14 weeks .
Coordinating with Argentina , leaders lobbied legislators .
Young pregnant women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amplifying the sound of their babies ’ heartbeats through bullhorns .
The demonstration was called “ Voice of the Heart.
” One Chilean pro-life activist told me the turnout was incredible .
Most Chileans still oppose abortion .
Only 14 % believe abortion is a right .
So far , the movement has pushed back attempts to expand legal abortion in Chile .
The president has even promised to do what he can to help .
On September 17 , 2019 , the National Assembly of Ecuador voted to retain protections for babies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have allowed abortion in cases of sexual assault and fetal abnormally .
Pro-lifers had been pushing back hard .
Many gathered outside the legislature for the vote .
Enraged abortion activists in green hurled rocks at police and threw burning torches at the parliament building in response to the vote .
The Blue Wave , with God ’ s help , prevailed .
In two short years , the Light Blue Wave flooded out of Argentina and across the country .
In nation after nation , pro-life people are proving that they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Huge numbers are willing to take to the streets from Buenos Aires to Guatemala City .
For decades , abortion activists have been pushing relentlessly for legalization .
Now , they are meeting resistance everywhere .
One Argentinian pro-life activist sent me a photo that symbolized the movement perfectly .
It was of a young woman , her fist thrust aloft , a blue bandana tied around her wrist .
The strong defending the weak .
The old protecting the young .
Mothers sheltering children .
Fathers defending mothers .
Countless children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker , writer and pro-life activist .
He is the author of The Culture War and Seeing Is Believing : Why Our Culture Must Face the Victims of Abortion , and co-author of A Guide to Discussing Assisted Suicide .

On July 29, Mexico’s Supreme Court rejected an injunction on abortion rights that would have decriminalized abortion across the nation in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion activists, who had been hopeful, were crushed. Mexico’s pro-life activists were ecstatic. Disaster had been averted. The decision wasn’t even close: Four of the five justices had voted to reject abortion.
The Blue Wave Movement
For the last two years, a new movement has been exploding across South America and Latin America. It is called the “Light Blue Wave,” named for the signature color featured by massive crowds pouring into the streets from Chile to the Dominican Republic. Pro-lifers wave blue handkerchiefs, hoist blue balloons, wear blue bandanas, set off blue smoke bombs. The movement’s slogan? Save the Two Lives.
The strong defending the weak. The old protecting the young. Mothers sheltering children. Fathers defending mothers.
The Light Blue Wave movement began in Argentina in 2018. In August, the senate of Argentina rejected the legalization of abortion by only a handful of votes. The vote, which was awaited by huge crowds fixated on jumbotron screens outside, was greeted with wild celebration. The roar that went up the moment they saw they’d won sent chills down my spine. The pro-lifers set off fireworks, sang and danced in the streets right through the night.
Abortion activists, dressed in their signature green, reacted with violence. Some raged out of control, and the police met them with water cannons. (Their green bandanas have always reminded me of the Green Lady in The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis: “as green as poison.”)
Argentina
This victory had not simply materialized. In the months leading up to the vote, pro-lifers had mobilized by the millions. Pro-life groups had existed for decades, but began recruiting in earnest. Massive meetings were held. Everywhere, pro-lifers were identified by blue handkerchiefs. One Argentinian pro-life activist told me that the blue was “a sign of resistance.” A million signatures opposing abortion were collected. Abortion supporters managed only 70,000.
And then there were the marches. Pro-lifers flooded the streets, time and again. They were old, young, rich, poor, from every imaginable background. Leaders began connecting with pro-lifers in other nations. The Blue Wave spread from Argentina and across the continent. During one day of action, three million people marched in the streets across the nation. The footage of these marches shows a sea of joyous blue. Take a minute to watch this video. It takes my breath away every time.
According to one activist I interviewed, 24-year-old Camilo Duro, a full 60% of Argentinians are against abortion in all cases. Millions are willing to fight back.
The pro-lifers haven’t slowed. Every year, they take to the streets by the thousands. They know that vigilance is essential. The Blue Wave is here to stay.
Guatemala
In September of 2018, it was Guatemala. Activists had been pushing the government to loosen abortion laws. Pro-lifers sporting blue poured into the capital. They waved signs; photos of babies in the womb; balloons; banners. Over 20,000 marched to defend Guatemala’s pro-life laws. The government backed down. It abandoned the legislation. The blue wave washed away abortion activists’ hopes.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Guatemala’s commitment to protecting life has teeth, too. In 2017, a Dutch ship showed up to distribute illegal abortion pills. The military blocked them. Guatemala, they announced, would defend “human life and the laws of our country.” The ship left.
Dominican Republic
That same month, politicians in the Dominican Republic were attempting to open the door to legal abortion. The Blue Wave swept into the capital. Thousands of pro-lifers gathered in front of the National Congress on September 9. The theme “Let’s Save Both Lives” was laid out by speakers at the march. Abortion remains illegal in the Dominican Republic.
Chile
The Blue Wave reached Chile next. In September 2018, thousands rallied in front of the National Palace. The pro-lifers were pushing back against an attempt to legalize abortion up until 14 weeks. Coordinating with Argentina, leaders lobbied legislators. Young pregnant women stood in front of the Palace, amplifying the sound of their babies’ heartbeats through bullhorns. The demonstration was called “Voice of the Heart.”
One Chilean pro-life activist told me the turnout was incredible. Most Chileans still oppose abortion. Only 14% believe abortion is a right. So far, the movement has pushed back attempts to expand legal abortion in Chile. The president has even promised to do what he can to help.
Ecuador
On September 17, 2019, the National Assembly of Ecuador voted to retain protections for babies in the womb. Proposed legislation would have allowed abortion in cases of sexual assault and fetal abnormally. Pro-lifers had been pushing back hard. Many gathered outside the legislature for the vote. Enraged abortion activists in green hurled rocks at police and threw burning torches at the parliament building in response to the vote.
The Blue Wave, with God’s help, prevailed.
An Inspiring Movement
In two short years, the Light Blue Wave flooded out of Argentina and across the country. In nation after nation, pro-life people are proving that they are willing to fight for pre-born human rights. Huge numbers are willing to take to the streets from Buenos Aires to Guatemala City. For decades, abortion activists have been pushing relentlessly for legalization. Now, they are meeting resistance everywhere.
One Argentinian pro-life activist sent me a photo that symbolized the movement perfectly. It was of a young woman, her fist thrust aloft, a blue bandana tied around her wrist. The strong defending the weak. The old protecting the young. Mothers sheltering children. Fathers defending mothers.
Countless children are safe today because of them.
Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer and pro-life activist. He is the author of The Culture War and Seeing Is Believing: Why Our Culture Must Face the Victims of Abortion, and co-author of A Guide to Discussing Assisted Suicide.