newsweek--2020-12-24--China, the 'Victor Power,' Is Both Arrogant and Insecure | Opinion

The most dangerous thing in the world today is Chinese arrogance .
The second most dangerous is Chinese insecurity .
China 's arrogant and insecure leader is now going on a nationalist bender .
Members of the country 's elite take their cue from Xi Jinping and believe that they , the inheritors of `` more than 5,000 years of history , '' are destined to rule the world .
The entire world ?
Xi , using the language of two millennia of emperors , suggests he has the Mandate of Heaven to rule tianxia , meaning `` All Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a community of shared future for mankind , '' as he often does , he is surely thinking that everyone else has the common obligation to submit to him .
Everyone including Scott Morrison .
`` Morrison should kneel down on the ground , slap himself in the face , and kowtow to apologize to Afghans—all these should be done in a live telecast , '' the Global Times , the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) tabloid , demanded on November 30 .
This punishment was one that Chinese emperors often employed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and concubines .
Morrison , Australia 's prime minister , had demanded that China apologize because the foreign ministry tweeted out a doctored image purporting to show a grinning Australian soldier about to slit the throat of an Afghan child .
The ministry had to know the photograph in question had been faked by a Chinese artist , Fu Yu , who had boasted about the fabrication .
The Chinese view of worldwide sovereignty is audacious , but those at the center of power in Beijing believe the `` Chinese dream '' will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terminal decline .
Therefore , China 's dominance is , to borrow one of the CCP 's favored words , `` inevitable . ''
Chinese elitists see the divisions in American society and rejoice at the apparent unity of China .
They look at COVID-19 infections in other countries and believe their semi-totalitarian system is superior .
`` In this fight against the pandemic , there will be victorious powers and defeated ones , '' said Wang Xiangsui , a retired senior colonel teaching at a Beijing university , as quoted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're a victor power while the United States is still mired and , I think , may well become a defeated power . ''
The Chinese people are indoctrinated from a young age and relentlessly molded by propaganda , so they fundamentally misunderstand just about everything .
They can be forgiven for failing to realize that resilient democracies publicize their problems , while brittle regimes like China 's hide theirs .
As a result , China now has an epidemic of haughtiness .
The widely publicized November 28 comments of Di Dongsheng , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , demonstrate the hubris of the Chinese elite , which has no hesitation expressing in public its belief that China can dictate outcomes at the highest levels in Washington— '' the core circle inside America 's real power , '' as Di put it .
The belief in their own supremacy makes the Chinese difficult geopolitical actors to deter .
The People 's Liberation Army invaded India this year in three separate locations in the Himalayas .
China has built or occupied settlements inside both Nepal and Bhutan , effectively grabbing land from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressured Taiwan , Japan and , most recently , South Korea .
China 's leaders , adopting the outlook of two millennia of imperial rule , believe they have a divine right to do whatever they want , including changing their borders by force and intimidation .
Yet CCP leaders are , paradoxically , also insecure , as rulers with totalitarian pretensions always are .
In a society where the supremo is supposed to be in total control and infallible , every problem , however small , is magnified in significance .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese society still has not recovered from the COVID-19 epidemic , which is especially evident from weak consumer spending and rising bond default rates .
COVID-19 is reappearing , and the country 's vaccine , though already being administered , is still not fully tested .
There are electricity shortages across China—the `` worst power blackouts in a decade , '' as Hong Kong 's South China Morning Post described them .
In the long term , the country is entering a period of rapid demographic decline—China 's population will almost certainly fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the end of the century .
Within a few years , India will overtake China as the world 's most populous state , if that has not occurred already .
The environment is showing even more signs of exhaustion .
Clean water , for instance , remains scarce .
China 's leaders , as a result , could believe they are strong now but will not be later , therefore seeing a closing window of opportunity .
In late January , People 's Daily , the most authoritative publication in China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Racing Against Time to Reach Chinese Dream . ''
Nonetheless , Xi Jinping faithfully adheres to a core tenet of communism that communists can manage anything and everything .
So it is unlikely that any of these serious problems troubles him greatly .
Yet Xi betrays insecurity nonetheless .
His demand for absolute control over the CCP , now numbering about 92 million members , is impossible to satisfy , and there are signs of splits at the top of the organization with respect to important matters .
Xinhua News Agency , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece entitled , `` The 'Worshipping of America ' and 'Kneeling to America ' Soft-Boned Disease Must Be Cured !
, '' which railed against `` surrenderists '' in the Party .
At the moment , only belligerent policies are politically acceptable .
Why ?
The legitimacy of the CCP had , for decades , depended on the continual delivery of prosperity .
So with a fragile economy , the only sure basis of legitimacy is nationalism .
Nationalism , as a practical matter , means military misadventure abroad .
Because Xi has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now has almost unprecedented accountability .
There is , unfortunately for him , no one else to blame .
Furthermore , Xi has , with merciless persecution of political enemies since taking power in late 2012 , raised the costs of political failure .
So Xi knows that he could lose everything—power , assets , freedom and life—should he fail .
China 's ruler , therefore , has a very low threshold of risk .
We may think he should be cautious , but Xi Jinping now has incentives to lash out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At this moment , free societies do not appreciate the danger posed by an incredibly arrogant and deeply insecure China .
Gordon G. Chang is the author of The Coming Collapse of China .
Follow him on Twitterand Parler : @ GordonGChang .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

The most dangerous thing in the world today is Chinese arrogance. The second most dangerous is Chinese insecurity.
China's arrogant and insecure leader is now going on a nationalist bender. Members of the country's elite take their cue from Xi Jinping and believe that they, the inheritors of "more than 5,000 years of history," are destined to rule the world.
The entire world? Xi, using the language of two millennia of emperors, suggests he has the Mandate of Heaven to rule tianxia, meaning "All Under Heaven." When speaking of "a community of shared future for mankind," as he often does, he is surely thinking that everyone else has the common obligation to submit to him.
Everyone including Scott Morrison. "Morrison should kneel down on the ground, slap himself in the face, and kowtow to apologize to Afghans—all these should be done in a live telecast," the Global Times, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) tabloid, demanded on November 30. This punishment was one that Chinese emperors often employed to humiliate, among others, slaves and concubines.
Morrison, Australia's prime minister, had demanded that China apologize because the foreign ministry tweeted out a doctored image purporting to show a grinning Australian soldier about to slit the throat of an Afghan child. The ministry had to know the photograph in question had been faked by a Chinese artist, Fu Yu, who had boasted about the fabrication.
The Chinese view of worldwide sovereignty is audacious, but those at the center of power in Beijing believe the "Chinese dream" will be attained because the United States is in terminal decline. Therefore, China's dominance is, to borrow one of the CCP's favored words, "inevitable."
Chinese elitists see the divisions in American society and rejoice at the apparent unity of China. They look at COVID-19 infections in other countries and believe their semi-totalitarian system is superior. "In this fight against the pandemic, there will be victorious powers and defeated ones," said Wang Xiangsui, a retired senior colonel teaching at a Beijing university, as quoted in The New York Times. "We're a victor power while the United States is still mired and, I think, may well become a defeated power."
The Chinese people are indoctrinated from a young age and relentlessly molded by propaganda, so they fundamentally misunderstand just about everything. They can be forgiven for failing to realize that resilient democracies publicize their problems, while brittle regimes like China's hide theirs.
As a result, China now has an epidemic of haughtiness. The widely publicized November 28 comments of Di Dongsheng, an academic at Beijing's Renmin University, demonstrate the hubris of the Chinese elite, which has no hesitation expressing in public its belief that China can dictate outcomes at the highest levels in Washington—"the core circle inside America's real power," as Di put it.
The belief in their own supremacy makes the Chinese difficult geopolitical actors to deter. The People's Liberation Army invaded India this year in three separate locations in the Himalayas. China has built or occupied settlements inside both Nepal and Bhutan, effectively grabbing land from them. Its planes and vessels have pressured Taiwan, Japan and, most recently, South Korea. China's leaders, adopting the outlook of two millennia of imperial rule, believe they have a divine right to do whatever they want, including changing their borders by force and intimidation.
Yet CCP leaders are, paradoxically, also insecure, as rulers with totalitarian pretensions always are. In a society where the supremo is supposed to be in total control and infallible, every problem, however small, is magnified in significance.
President Xi Jinping and other members of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images
And China has no shortage of problems. Chinese society still has not recovered from the COVID-19 epidemic, which is especially evident from weak consumer spending and rising bond default rates. COVID-19 is reappearing, and the country's vaccine, though already being administered, is still not fully tested. There are electricity shortages across China—the "worst power blackouts in a decade," as Hong Kong's South China Morning Post described them.
In the long term, the country is entering a period of rapid demographic decline—China's population will almost certainly fall by about a billion people between now and the end of the century. Within a few years, India will overtake China as the world's most populous state, if that has not occurred already.
The environment is showing even more signs of exhaustion. Clean water, for instance, remains scarce.
China's leaders, as a result, could believe they are strong now but will not be later, therefore seeing a closing window of opportunity. In late January, People's Daily, the most authoritative publication in China, carried a piece titled "Xi Stresses Racing Against Time to Reach Chinese Dream."
Nonetheless, Xi Jinping faithfully adheres to a core tenet of communism that communists can manage anything and everything. So it is unlikely that any of these serious problems troubles him greatly.
Yet Xi betrays insecurity nonetheless. His demand for absolute control over the CCP, now numbering about 92 million members, is impossible to satisfy, and there are signs of splits at the top of the organization with respect to important matters. Xinhua News Agency, an official media outlet, just ran a piece entitled, "The 'Worshipping of America' and 'Kneeling to America' Soft-Boned Disease Must Be Cured!," which railed against "surrenderists" in the Party. At the moment, only belligerent policies are politically acceptable.
Why? The legitimacy of the CCP had, for decades, depended on the continual delivery of prosperity. So with a fragile economy, the only sure basis of legitimacy is nationalism. Nationalism, as a practical matter, means military misadventure abroad.
Because Xi has accumulated almost unprecedented political power, he now has almost unprecedented accountability. There is, unfortunately for him, no one else to blame. Furthermore, Xi has, with merciless persecution of political enemies since taking power in late 2012, raised the costs of political failure. So Xi knows that he could lose everything—power, assets, freedom and life—should he fail.
China's ruler, therefore, has a very low threshold of risk. We may think he should be cautious, but Xi Jinping now has incentives to lash out and start a crisis that is unimaginable.
At this moment, free societies do not appreciate the danger posed by an incredibly arrogant and deeply insecure China.
Gordon G. Chang is the author of The Coming Collapse of China. Follow him on Twitterand Parler: @GordonGChang.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-12-24--Tucker Carlson Mocks Dr. Fauci, Says People in DC 'Consider Him Holy'

Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson has poked fun at the decision to honor Dr. Anthony Fauci on his 80th birthday—Christmas Eve .
The mayor of Washington , DC , Muriel Bowser , paid tribute to the country 's top infectious diseases expert for his guidance about the coronavirus pandemic this year .
Bowser announced that this year 's Christmas Eve would be proclaimed `` Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Day '' in the district to mark his birthday on Thursday .
Describing him as a `` hero to our nation , '' Bowser said in a statement : `` We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many DC residents who are sacrificing so much to keep our communities healthy and safe . ''
She tweeted an image of Fauci holding the proclamation , adding the message : `` I issue this honor on behalf of all Washingtonians in gratitude and recognition of Dr. Fauci 's service to our nation and our city . ''
But the accolade did not impress the host of Tucker Carlson Tonight .
He said the honor exemplified how religious fervor in the U.S. was divided among those who `` worship God '' and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out DC as the `` capital of the latter sect . ''
`` DC is the Rome of spiritual narcissism , '' Carlson said , `` In Washington , human power is worshipped as the living God .
You 'll see temples to human power throughout the city as well smaller shrines to its saints .
`` The latest holy man to be beatified there if there is a diminutive federal bureaucrat called Tony Fauci .
Fauci is the high priest of the COVID cult .
A paper mask is his sacred garment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Carlson added .
`` The people of Washington bow before Father Fauci ... they consider him holy , '' Carlson added in front of a mocked-up image of Fauci in religious garb above a caption that read : `` Patron Saint of Wuhan . ''
He then threw to general views of chanting and flag-wielding crowds from other unspecified events , before concluding , `` A holy day indeed and they tell you the secular world is n't reverent . ''
Despite enjoying trust among most Americans , Fauci has not swayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Carlson said that Fauci should `` never work in public policy again '' after it emerged that he said in January China had been `` transparent '' about COVID-19 .
He has also repeatedly questioned Fauci 's advice to limit gatherings and wear masks .
Fauci this week actually offered measured praise of President Donald Trump 's team and its federal push for a coronavirus vaccine .
`` I think the current administration deserves a lot of credit for Operation Warp Speed , for sure , '' he told FiveThirtyEight 's podcast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some bumps in the road .
But , in general , particularly when you look at the science and the vaccine success , that is huge .
I mean , that 's something that 's really quite unprecedented , '' he said .
The graphic below by Statista shows the levels of hesitancy in the U.S. with regards to getting the COVID vaccine .

Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson has poked fun at the decision to honor Dr. Anthony Fauci on his 80th birthday—Christmas Eve.
The mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser, paid tribute to the country's top infectious diseases expert for his guidance about the coronavirus pandemic this year.
Bowser announced that this year's Christmas Eve would be proclaimed "Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Day" in the district to mark his birthday on Thursday.
Describing him as a "hero to our nation," Bowser said in a statement: "We are incredibly proud to count him among the many DC residents who are sacrificing so much to keep our communities healthy and safe."
She tweeted an image of Fauci holding the proclamation, adding the message: "I issue this honor on behalf of all Washingtonians in gratitude and recognition of Dr. Fauci's service to our nation and our city."
Anthony Fauci is pictured on December 22, 2020, in Bethesda, Maryland. Fox host Tucker Carlson has mocked the Washington DC mayor's decision to mark Christmas Eve in his honor. PATRICK SEMANSKY/Getty Images
But the accolade did not impress the host of Tucker Carlson Tonight. He said the honor exemplified how religious fervor in the U.S. was divided among those who "worship God" and those who "worship yourself," singling out DC as the "capital of the latter sect."
"DC is the Rome of spiritual narcissism," Carlson said, "In Washington, human power is worshipped as the living God. You'll see temples to human power throughout the city as well smaller shrines to its saints.
In honor of Dr. Fauci's 80th birthday tomorrow, I proclaim Thursday, December 24, 2020, “Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Day” in Washington, DC.
We are incredibly proud to count Dr. Fauci among the many DC residents who are sacrificing so much to keep our communities healthy and safe. pic.twitter.com/UqvS4sebMf — Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) December 23, 2020
"The latest holy man to be beatified there if there is a diminutive federal bureaucrat called Tony Fauci. Fauci is the high priest of the COVID cult. A paper mask is his sacred garment, cable television is his pulpit," Carlson added.
"The people of Washington bow before Father Fauci... they consider him holy," Carlson added in front of a mocked-up image of Fauci in religious garb above a caption that read: "Patron Saint of Wuhan." He then threw to general views of chanting and flag-wielding crowds from other unspecified events, before concluding, "A holy day indeed and they tell you the secular world isn't reverent."
Despite enjoying trust among most Americans, Fauci has not swayed the Fox anchor. Earlier this month, Carlson said that Fauci should "never work in public policy again" after it emerged that he said in January China had been "transparent" about COVID-19. He has also repeatedly questioned Fauci's advice to limit gatherings and wear masks.
Fauci this week actually offered measured praise of President Donald Trump's team and its federal push for a coronavirus vaccine. "I think the current administration deserves a lot of credit for Operation Warp Speed, for sure," he told FiveThirtyEight's podcast.
"Obviously, there have been some bumps in the road. But, in general, particularly when you look at the science and the vaccine success, that is huge. I mean, that's something that's really quite unprecedented," he said.
The graphic below by Statista shows the levels of hesitancy in the U.S. with regards to getting the COVID vaccine.


newsweek--2020-12-24--Jupiter, Saturn and the Benjamin Franklin Conjunction | Opinion

When we see structures like the great pyramids in Egypt or the temples of ancient Greece , we marvel at the technological and engineering genius of ancient peoples .
When we look at paintings by Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo , we realize that some who were born hundreds of years ago displayed genius most modern artists could only pray for .
Yet for many reasons , when it comes to the life of the psyche , we arrogantly cling to the delusion that nobody understood much until the 19th or 20th centuries .
Modern psychology was devised in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one paid much attention to the inner workings of the mind until then .
In truth , we understand less today about the mysteries of the mind than ever .
And we live in a less enlightened , rather than a more enlightened , age when it comes to humanity 's understanding of our place in the cosmos .
Within the context of the arc of human history , what we call `` sophisticated '' today is n't always so sophisticated .
Many so-called serious people fail to recognize the psychological significance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll respect astronomy but deride astrology .
They 'll gaze at a Saturn-Jupiter conjunction , considering themselves advanced enough to understand the science but too intelligent to respect the mystery .
Yet hundreds of years ago , truly serious people respected both .
Astrology was simply psychology before there was psychology .
Today 's `` mental health experts '' have nothing on the astrologers who warned Antony and Cleopatra to stay the hell away from Octavius .
A few of those serious people were founders of the United States of America , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they aligned the Cancerian birthday of the United States with a Scorpio election day and what was originally a March 4—Piscean—presidential Inauguration Day to form an astrological Grand Trine .
They were also the ones , by the way , who made a picture of the Great Pyramid at Giza with the eye of Horus shining from its capstone the centerpiece of the Great Seal of the United States .
Do we think that they , of all people , lacked intellectual depth ?
Now is not the time to lock any doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should certainly not be discounting ancient sources of knowledge out of hand .
One thing that should be clear to everyone by now is that modern humanity is not doing so well at navigating the ship of our fate through turbulent waters .
That is not for lack of scientific achievement .
Our problem is not on the outside , but on the inside .
As humanity 's material prowess has expanded , inwardly we have shrunk .
In 1948 these words were spoken by our first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would love to hear an American general speak that way today ; if one tried , would he or she not be laughed off the set ?
The idea that we have everything all figured out is preposterous , and anything which offers deeper wisdom into the nature of the universe and humanity 's relationship to it should earn our respect—not mockery .
Brute force is n't the only source of strength , and spiritual devotion is n't a sign of diminished intellectual perspicacity .
But one says such things today at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ square .
The narrow-mindedness of today 's intellectual hall monitors represents a fundamentalism as dangerous to free thinking as was the Christian Church during the Middle Ages .
Today 's dogmas and doctrines may be new , but they are still dogmatic and doctrinaire .
They ca n't put people under house arrest or burn them at the stake anymore , but they can still ruin people 's careers .
Our intellectual gatekeepers have very narrow ideas about what 's `` scientific , '' though quantum physics today is sounding more like an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The more I know about physics , the more I want to know about metaphysics , '' said Einstein .
Some have absurd notions of who is and who is not a `` mental health expert , '' dismissing prayer and meditation as serious influences on the psyche .
And they smugly dismiss ancient systems of philosophical or metaphysical thought as belonging to the intellectual immaturity of dangerous clowns and fools .
Such gatekeepers should perhaps step aside now and let the human mind do what the human mind does best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unobstructed by orthodoxies of any kind .
The prevailing Western worldview of the last 150 years has exalted us materially but devastated us spiritually , leaving humanity on the precipice of global ruin .
The narrow box of intellectual modernity needs now to be opened up to whatever truths , old or new , that humanity in its inherent and eternal wisdom comes up with .
Prepackaged conversation lacks life force just as much as prepackaged food does , and open-mindedness is a prerequisite for progress in any system .
America is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk about whatever we want to talk about .
But there are invisible walls that keep a fairly tight control on who and what gets to be taken seriously .
Even worse , the self-appointed guardians of all things serious hold on tenaciously to their power .
And we must call them on it .
Modern politicians , mainstream media and the pseudo-intellectual wardens of the mental prison that dominates our culture—those who presume to determine what is and is not acceptable , what is and is not smart , and what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race—are not appropriate gatekeepers , but rather the witch doctors of our day .
Humanity will continue to escape all forms of mental tyranny , however subtle or insidious might be its appearance at a particular time .
Despite all resistance , people will continue to dream , new civilizations will continue to flower and we will continue to gaze at the stars .
Marianne Williamson is a Newsweek columnist , best-selling author , political activist and spiritual thought leader .
She is founder of Project Angel Food and co-founder of the Peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2020 presidential primary to make reparations a pillar of her campaign .
She is the author of 13 books , among them Healing the Soul of America and A Politics of Love .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

When we see structures like the great pyramids in Egypt or the temples of ancient Greece, we marvel at the technological and engineering genius of ancient peoples. When we look at paintings by Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo, we realize that some who were born hundreds of years ago displayed genius most modern artists could only pray for.
Yet for many reasons, when it comes to the life of the psyche, we arrogantly cling to the delusion that nobody understood much until the 19th or 20th centuries. Modern psychology was devised in the 1880s; we seem to think no one paid much attention to the inner workings of the mind until then. In truth, we understand less today about the mysteries of the mind than ever. And we live in a less enlightened, rather than a more enlightened, age when it comes to humanity's understanding of our place in the cosmos.
Within the context of the arc of human history, what we call "sophisticated" today isn't always so sophisticated. Many so-called serious people fail to recognize the psychological significance of Greek gods and goddesses, or they'll respect astronomy but deride astrology. They'll gaze at a Saturn-Jupiter conjunction, considering themselves advanced enough to understand the science but too intelligent to respect the mystery.
Yet hundreds of years ago, truly serious people respected both. Astrology was simply psychology before there was psychology. Today's "mental health experts" have nothing on the astrologers who warned Antony and Cleopatra to stay the hell away from Octavius.
A few of those serious people were founders of the United States of America, who knew exactly what they were doing when they aligned the Cancerian birthday of the United States with a Scorpio election day and what was originally a March 4—Piscean—presidential Inauguration Day to form an astrological Grand Trine. They were also the ones, by the way, who made a picture of the Great Pyramid at Giza with the eye of Horus shining from its capstone the centerpiece of the Great Seal of the United States.
Do we think that they, of all people, lacked intellectual depth?
Now is not the time to lock any doors to either perception or understanding; we should certainly not be discounting ancient sources of knowledge out of hand. One thing that should be clear to everyone by now is that modern humanity is not doing so well at navigating the ship of our fate through turbulent waters. That is not for lack of scientific achievement. Our problem is not on the outside, but on the inside. As humanity's material prowess has expanded, inwardly we have shrunk.
Saturn and Jupiter approach conjunction behind Statue of Liberty Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
In 1948 these words were spoken by our first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Omar Bradley:
Man is stumbling blindly through a spiritual darkness while toying with the precarious secrets of life and death. The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living. This is our century's claim to distinction and progress!
How I would love to hear an American general speak that way today; if one tried, would he or she not be laughed off the set?
The idea that we have everything all figured out is preposterous, and anything which offers deeper wisdom into the nature of the universe and humanity's relationship to it should earn our respect—not mockery. Brute force isn't the only source of strength, and spiritual devotion isn't a sign of diminished intellectual perspicacity. But one says such things today at the risk of nullification in the public square. The narrow-mindedness of today's intellectual hall monitors represents a fundamentalism as dangerous to free thinking as was the Christian Church during the Middle Ages. Today's dogmas and doctrines may be new, but they are still dogmatic and doctrinaire. They can't put people under house arrest or burn them at the stake anymore, but they can still ruin people's careers.
Our intellectual gatekeepers have very narrow ideas about what's "scientific," though quantum physics today is sounding more like an ancient metaphysical tome than a Newtonian treatise. "The more I know about physics, the more I want to know about metaphysics," said Einstein. Some have absurd notions of who is and who is not a "mental health expert," dismissing prayer and meditation as serious influences on the psyche. And they smugly dismiss ancient systems of philosophical or metaphysical thought as belonging to the intellectual immaturity of dangerous clowns and fools.
Such gatekeepers should perhaps step aside now and let the human mind do what the human mind does best: figure things out for itself, unobstructed by orthodoxies of any kind. The prevailing Western worldview of the last 150 years has exalted us materially but devastated us spiritually, leaving humanity on the precipice of global ruin. The narrow box of intellectual modernity needs now to be opened up to whatever truths, old or new, that humanity in its inherent and eternal wisdom comes up with. Prepackaged conversation lacks life force just as much as prepackaged food does, and open-mindedness is a prerequisite for progress in any system.
America is still a free society, and we can talk about whatever we want to talk about. But there are invisible walls that keep a fairly tight control on who and what gets to be taken seriously. Even worse, the self-appointed guardians of all things serious hold on tenaciously to their power. And we must call them on it. Modern politicians, mainstream media and the pseudo-intellectual wardens of the mental prison that dominates our culture—those who presume to determine what is and is not acceptable, what is and is not smart, and what is and is not achievable for the human race—are not appropriate gatekeepers, but rather the witch doctors of our day.
Humanity will continue to escape all forms of mental tyranny, however subtle or insidious might be its appearance at a particular time. Despite all resistance, people will continue to dream, new civilizations will continue to flower and we will continue to gaze at the stars.
Marianne Williamson is a Newsweek columnist, best-selling author, political activist and spiritual thought leader. She is founder of Project Angel Food and co-founder of the Peace Alliance, and was the first candidate in the 2020 presidential primary to make reparations a pillar of her campaign. She is the author of 13 books, among them Healing the Soul of America and A Politics of Love.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-12-24--'Soul': How to Watch The New Pixar Movie Online

Soul was one of the major movies to get its release date pushed back multiple times in 2020 , with its release date first pushed from June to November .
Then , it was pushed back to its current release date , but with a twist—like Mulan before it , Soul would skip cinemas and head straight to Disney+ .
However , unlike with Mulan , Disney+ subscribers will not have to pay an additional premium to watch Soul .
On Friday , December 25 , the Pixar animation starring Jamie Foxx will be available to all Disney+ subscribers across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disney+ this year will mean that viewers will be unable to watch Soul ( legally ) online for free .
Shortly before the release of Hamilton earlier this year , Disney+ dropped its seven-day free trial , meaning that watching the Pixar movie will cost at least $ 6.99—the cost of one month of subscription to the service .
In March 2021 , around the first anniversary of the streamer 's rollout to countries like the U.K. , the price of Disney+ will rise to $ 7.99 a month .
For viewers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer period , the service currently costs $ 69.99 , though this is also expected to rise in 2021 .
The service also offers a bundle whereby subscribers can get Disney+ , basic Hulu with ads and Disney+ together for $ 12.99 a month .
Disney+ is currently available in the following countries and territories : Canada , Netherland , the U.S. and its territories , Australia , New Zealand , Austria , Germany , Ireland , Italy , Spain , Switzerland , the U.K. and its territories , India , France ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Indonesia , Belgium , Denmark , Finland , Greenland , Iceland , Luxembourg , Norway , Portugal , Sweden , plus all of the Caribbean , Central and South America .
The service is coming to Singapore , meanwhile , in February 2021 , with a rollout to Eastern Europe , Hong Kong and South Korea also confirmed .
The release time for Soul where you are will depend on your time zone and its time difference from Pacific Time ( PT ) .
The movie is expected to be released at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Soul reads : `` What is it that makes you ... YOU ?
Pixar Animation Studios ' all-new feature film Soul introduces Joe Gardner ( voice of Jamie Foxx ) —a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town .
`` But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before—a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities , quirks and interests before they go to Earth .
`` Determined to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a precocious soul , 22 ( voice of Tina Fey ) , who has never understood the appeal of the human experience .
As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what 's great about living , he may just discover the answers to some of life 's most important questions . ''
Soul is released on Friday , December 25 on Disney+ .

Soul was one of the major movies to get its release date pushed back multiple times in 2020, with its release date first pushed from June to November. Then, it was pushed back to its current release date, but with a twist—like Mulan before it, Soul would skip cinemas and head straight to Disney+.
How to watch Soul online
However, unlike with Mulan, Disney+ subscribers will not have to pay an additional premium to watch Soul. On Friday, December 25, the Pixar animation starring Jamie Foxx will be available to all Disney+ subscribers across the world.
One big change with Disney+ this year will mean that viewers will be unable to watch Soul (legally) online for free. Shortly before the release of Hamilton earlier this year, Disney+ dropped its seven-day free trial, meaning that watching the Pixar movie will cost at least $6.99—the cost of one month of subscription to the service.
In March 2021, around the first anniversary of the streamer's rollout to countries like the U.K., the price of Disney+ will rise to $7.99 a month.
'Soul' is coming to Disney+ this Christmas. Disney
For viewers who want to subscribe to Disney+ for a longer period, the service currently costs $69.99, though this is also expected to rise in 2021. The service also offers a bundle whereby subscribers can get Disney+, basic Hulu with ads and Disney+ together for $12.99 a month.
Disney+ is currently available in the following countries and territories: Canada, Netherland, the U.S. and its territories, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the U.K. and its territories, India, France (and territories), Monaco, Japan, Indonesia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, plus all of the Caribbean, Central and South America.
The service is coming to Singapore, meanwhile, in February 2021, with a rollout to Eastern Europe, Hong Kong and South Korea also confirmed.
The release time for Soul where you are will depend on your time zone and its time difference from Pacific Time (PT). The movie is expected to be released at 00:01 a.m. PT.
The official synopsis for Soul reads: "What is it that makes you...YOU? Pixar Animation Studios' all-new feature film Soul introduces Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx)—a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town.
"But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before—a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth.
"Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what's great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life's most important questions."
Soul is released on Friday, December 25 on Disney+.


newsweek--2020-12-24--It Can't Get Any Worse Than 2020. Here's a 2021 Political Wish List | Opinion

At long last , 2020 is about to end .
This year , one unlike any other in my lifetime , was uniquely terrible .
We faced a once-a-lifetime global pandemic , which brought to heel our entire economy and put an abrupt halt to hundreds of millions of law-abiding Americans ' very way of life .
We endured a once-a-generation national `` dialogue '' about race , which was unfortunately characterized , in part , by months of intermittent anarchic mayhem the likes of which no first-world country should ever experience .
We had a national reckoning about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foe , the Chinese Communist Party .
And in perhaps the most important presidential election since 1860 , in which the American regime was itself seemingly on the ballot , the American regime lost .
Next year surely can not be worse than 2020 .
So , with the expectation that Joe Biden is our next president and Republicans win at least one of January 's two Georgia runoff elections to retain control of the Senate , here is a political wish list for 2021 .
1 .
End COVID-19 totalitarianism .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by COVID-19 's onset , and their stubborn perdurance despite the March-era plea of a mere `` 15 days to slow the spread , '' now collectively amount to our most pressing domestic issue .
Without our most rudimentary lifestyle liberties , such as the ability of children to socialize with their peers at school and the ability of religious adults to pray at church or synagogue , little else matters .
It is unclear whether the Founders would have even bothered to fight a bloody independence war against the British Crown if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , centuries later , so docilely submit like lemmings .
Our anticipated vaccination rollout simply must end this insanity .
2 .
Confront the rise of Communist China .
Just as ending debilitating COVID-19 lockdowns is the most pressing issue on the homefront , confronting China 's rise is the most pressing issue on the geopolitical front .
China all but assuredly poses a greater threat—militarily , diplomatically , economically , culturally , technologically—to America this century than the Soviet Union posed to the U.S. at the height of the Cold War .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoroughly determined , in every conceivable way , to subdue and subjugate us .
The early stages of COVID-19 , with our shortages in personal protective equipment , shined a spotlight upon the pitfalls of our decades-long strategy in neoliberal outsourcing to get the cheapest labor and lowest consumer prices possible—no matter the non-economic costs .
Here 's hoping populists and nationalists of both parties unite around a comprehensive China containment strategy affecting every issue from U.S. Navy build-up to pro-manufacturing industrial policy to cybersecurity to intellectual property fortification .
3 .
Continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump became one of the more unlikely champions of Middle East diplomacy , helping to usher in unprecedented Israeli rapprochement with the broader Islamic world and bolstering the security positions of our Sunni Arab allies against the region 's nonpareil threat , Iran .
Trump did so by ditching the outmoded consensus of `` inside-out '' diplomacy , centered upon coercing Israel to give up precious land for an elusive peace with the Palestinian-Arabs , in favor of an innovative `` outside-in '' diplomacy that centered upon finding areas of overlapping concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies .
The temptation will be strong for a Biden administration to reverse Trump 's gains and return to the Obama-era status quo ante of pro-Iran , pro-Palestinian , pro-Muslim Brotherhood appeasement .
Such an impetuous move might be enticing for Biden , but it would also be calamitous .
4 .
Push for solutions that defy the stale neoliberal consensus .
We are in the midst of a rare political realignment , in which Democrats are emerging as the party of the college-educated elite and Republicans are emerging as the party of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realignment remains in flux , neoliberal elites of both parties , for now , have more in common with one another than they do with the core voters of their respective parties .
The upshot is that there is at least some potential for bipartisan initiatives on any number of working-class prerogatives that could push back upon the economically and culturally deregulatory excesses that have characterized most of post-World War II neoliberalism .
Conservatives should not be content to merely play the role of dedicated opposition ; when possible , we should seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ends .
Thank God the year 2020 is about to end .
Maybe , just maybe , 2021 wo n't be as utterly terrible .
Josh Hammer is Newsweek opinion editor , a syndicated columnist and a research fellow with the Edmund Burke Foundation .
Twitter : @ josh_hammer .
The views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

At long last, 2020 is about to end.
This year, one unlike any other in my lifetime, was uniquely terrible. We faced a once-a-lifetime global pandemic, which brought to heel our entire economy and put an abrupt halt to hundreds of millions of law-abiding Americans' very way of life. We endured a once-a-generation national "dialogue" about race, which was unfortunately characterized, in part, by months of intermittent anarchic mayhem the likes of which no first-world country should ever experience. We had a national reckoning about the maturation and rise of an arch geopolitical foe, the Chinese Communist Party. And in perhaps the most important presidential election since 1860, in which the American regime was itself seemingly on the ballot, the American regime lost.
Next year surely cannot be worse than 2020. So, with the expectation that Joe Biden is our next president and Republicans win at least one of January's two Georgia runoff elections to retain control of the Senate, here is a political wish list for 2021.
1. End COVID-19 totalitarianism. The draconian lockdowns and lifestyle restrictions ushered in by COVID-19's onset, and their stubborn perdurance despite the March-era plea of a mere "15 days to slow the spread," now collectively amount to our most pressing domestic issue. Without our most rudimentary lifestyle liberties, such as the ability of children to socialize with their peers at school and the ability of religious adults to pray at church or synagogue, little else matters. It is unclear whether the Founders would have even bothered to fight a bloody independence war against the British Crown if they had known that their progeny would, centuries later, so docilely submit like lemmings. Our anticipated vaccination rollout simply must end this insanity.
2. Confront the rise of Communist China. Just as ending debilitating COVID-19 lockdowns is the most pressing issue on the homefront, confronting China's rise is the most pressing issue on the geopolitical front. China all but assuredly poses a greater threat—militarily, diplomatically, economically, culturally, technologically—to America this century than the Soviet Union posed to the U.S. at the height of the Cold War. We have never faced a foe so thoroughly determined, in every conceivable way, to subdue and subjugate us. The early stages of COVID-19, with our shortages in personal protective equipment, shined a spotlight upon the pitfalls of our decades-long strategy in neoliberal outsourcing to get the cheapest labor and lowest consumer prices possible—no matter the non-economic costs. Here's hoping populists and nationalists of both parties unite around a comprehensive China containment strategy affecting every issue from U.S. Navy build-up to pro-manufacturing industrial policy to cybersecurity to intellectual property fortification.
Outdoor dining in Los Angeles during COVID-19 Mario Tama/Getty Images
3. Continue President Donald Trump's Middle East breakthrough. Trump became one of the more unlikely champions of Middle East diplomacy, helping to usher in unprecedented Israeli rapprochement with the broader Islamic world and bolstering the security positions of our Sunni Arab allies against the region's nonpareil threat, Iran. Trump did so by ditching the outmoded consensus of "inside-out" diplomacy, centered upon coercing Israel to give up precious land for an elusive peace with the Palestinian-Arabs, in favor of an innovative "outside-in" diplomacy that centered upon finding areas of overlapping concern shared by Israel and America's Arab allies. The temptation will be strong for a Biden administration to reverse Trump's gains and return to the Obama-era status quo ante of pro-Iran, pro-Palestinian, pro-Muslim Brotherhood appeasement. Such an impetuous move might be enticing for Biden, but it would also be calamitous.
4. Push for solutions that defy the stale neoliberal consensus. We are in the midst of a rare political realignment, in which Democrats are emerging as the party of the college-educated elite and Republicans are emerging as the party of the working class. But while this realignment remains in flux, neoliberal elites of both parties, for now, have more in common with one another than they do with the core voters of their respective parties. The upshot is that there is at least some potential for bipartisan initiatives on any number of working-class prerogatives that could push back upon the economically and culturally deregulatory excesses that have characterized most of post-World War II neoliberalism. Conservatives should not be content to merely play the role of dedicated opposition; when possible, we should seek to be constructive in attaining mutually desirable ends.
Thank God the year 2020 is about to end. Maybe, just maybe, 2021 won't be as utterly terrible.
Josh Hammer is Newsweek opinion editor, a syndicated columnist and a research fellow with the Edmund Burke Foundation. Twitter: @josh_hammer.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


newsweek--2020-12-24--Kelly Loeffler Falls Behind Raphael Warnock in Georgia Senate Runoff Poll

Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler has slipped behind Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock in the latest poll for next month 's runoff election , while the race between Sen. David Perdue and Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff for the second seat remains on a knife-edge .
A joint poll from InsiderAdvantage and FOX 5 Atlanta released Wednesday shows that incumbent Loeffler is now trailing Warnock by two points , though four percent of respondents say they remain undecided .
Loeffler has the support of 47 percent of those surveyed , while Warnock has the support of 49 percent .
In the state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead on Ossoff in the InsiderAdvantage/FOX 5 Atlanta poll .
Perdue has the backing of 49 percent of those polled versus Ossoff on 48 percent .
Four percent of respondents said they remain undecided .
Both Warnock and Perdue 's leads are within the poll 's 4.4-percent margin of error .
Both races look like they will be extremely close , with just 13 days until election day on January 5 .
The eyes of the country , and the world , are on Georgia .
The two runoffs will decide which party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
If the Democrats flip both seats , they would control a 50-50 Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking ties .
The party would control both chambers and the White House , handing President-Elect Joe Biden power to deliver his platform with minimal Republican interference .
But if the GOP holds one or both Georgia seats , the party will likely frustrate many of Biden 's efforts and force a more cooperative approach .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will have the option of stonewalling the new administration and blocking progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointments , as he did under President Barack Obama .
InsiderAdvantage chairman Matt Towery said both Democratic candidates are currently winning among independent voters , with Perdue and Loeffler winning over voters 65 and older .
`` Both Perdue and Loeffler saw a decline in their level of African-American support over the last week , '' Towery said .
`` This is something I would fully anticipate as Republican support among African-Americans usually begins to level off in the last few weeks of a political contest . ''
Loeffler 's attack ads have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black pastor Warnock as a far-left extremist who wants to defund the police .
Warnock is supported by groups who wish to defund the police , but he has been consistently against the controversial idea .
The pastor has instead advocated reform to address concerns about racism and the militarization of police .
Towery said this strategy may backfire on Loeffler in the vital Atlanta suburbs , which dominate the state 's vote .
`` Perdue 's support among white voters increased slightly since our last survey , while Loeffler 's support declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Ads supporting Loeffler that have centered on past statements by Warnock appear to have diminishing returns and may not be having the intended impact on suburban Atlanta swing voters . ''
Regardless , both races are expected to be extremely tight .
Warnock topped the November poll with 33 percent of the vote , ahead of Loeffler on 26 percent .
If the votes for the other 18 Democratic and Republican candidates go along party lines , both Warnock and Loeffler will end up with around 49 percent .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Green and independent voters up in the air .
Ossoff came close to unseating Perdue in November .
The incumbent won 49.7 percent of the vote—just short of the threshold for an outright victory .
Ossoff took 40 percent of the vote , with the rest going to a Libertarian party candidate who will not be on the ballot next month .

Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler has slipped behind Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock in the latest poll for next month's runoff election, while the race between Sen. David Perdue and Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff for the second seat remains on a knife-edge.
A joint poll from InsiderAdvantage and FOX 5 Atlanta released Wednesday shows that incumbent Loeffler is now trailing Warnock by two points, though four percent of respondents say they remain undecided.
Loeffler has the support of 47 percent of those surveyed, while Warnock has the support of 49 percent.
In the state's other runoff, Perdue had a one-percent lead on Ossoff in the InsiderAdvantage/FOX 5 Atlanta poll. Perdue has the backing of 49 percent of those polled versus Ossoff on 48 percent. Four percent of respondents said they remain undecided.
Both Warnock and Perdue's leads are within the poll's 4.4-percent margin of error. Both races look like they will be extremely close, with just 13 days until election day on January 5.
The eyes of the country, and the world, are on Georgia. The two runoffs will decide which party controls the Senate for the next four years. If the Democrats flip both seats, they would control a 50-50 Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking ties.
The party would control both chambers and the White House, handing President-Elect Joe Biden power to deliver his platform with minimal Republican interference.
But if the GOP holds one or both Georgia seats, the party will likely frustrate many of Biden's efforts and force a more cooperative approach. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will have the option of stonewalling the new administration and blocking progress on policy, cabinet picks and judicial appointments, as he did under President Barack Obama.
InsiderAdvantage chairman Matt Towery said both Democratic candidates are currently winning among independent voters, with Perdue and Loeffler winning over voters 65 and older.
"Both Perdue and Loeffler saw a decline in their level of African-American support over the last week," Towery said. "This is something I would fully anticipate as Republican support among African-Americans usually begins to level off in the last few weeks of a political contest."
Loeffler's attack ads have recently veered to the right, depicting Black pastor Warnock as a far-left extremist who wants to defund the police. Warnock is supported by groups who wish to defund the police, but he has been consistently against the controversial idea. The pastor has instead advocated reform to address concerns about racism and the militarization of police.
Towery said this strategy may backfire on Loeffler in the vital Atlanta suburbs, which dominate the state's vote.
"Perdue's support among white voters increased slightly since our last survey, while Loeffler's support declined over the same period," Towery said. "Ads supporting Loeffler that have centered on past statements by Warnock appear to have diminishing returns and may not be having the intended impact on suburban Atlanta swing voters."
Regardless, both races are expected to be extremely tight. Warnock topped the November poll with 33 percent of the vote, ahead of Loeffler on 26 percent. If the votes for the other 18 Democratic and Republican candidates go along party lines, both Warnock and Loeffler will end up with around 49 percent. The remaining votes were split between the Libertarian, Green and independent voters up in the air.
Ossoff came close to unseating Perdue in November. The incumbent won 49.7 percent of the vote—just short of the threshold for an outright victory. Ossoff took 40 percent of the vote, with the rest going to a Libertarian party candidate who will not be on the ballot next month.


newsweek--2020-12-24--'Trump Has Pardoned a Child Murderer' Says Lawyer for Iraq Blackwater Massacre Victims

A lawyer who represented the family of a child killed by U.S. government contractors during the Iraq War has described the decision by President Donald Trump to grant pardons to four of the men involved as `` unconscionable . ''
Nine-year-old Ali Kinani was among at least 14 people killed in and around Nisour Square , Baghdad , on 16 September , 2007 , by Blackwater private security contractors who had been assigned to guard a U.S. diplomatic convoy .
Military veterans Paul Slough , Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard were convicted in 2014 by a U.S. federal court of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges and given sentences of between 12 and 15 years .
Nicholas Slatten , who was the first to start shooting , was sentenced to life in prison .
But on Tuesday , the White House announced in a statement that Trump had pardoned the four in a move it said was `` broadly supported by the public , '' adding that the men `` have a long history of service to the nation . ''
Paul Dickinson , a civil litigation attorney in Charlotte , North Carolina , for the law firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ali , as well as four other victims ' families , in a civil lawsuit .
Dickinson said that following years of legal proceedings , trials , appeals , dropped charges and re-trials , when the convictions were secured , the victims ' families he represented `` were pleased that they had felt they had got some justice beyond the financial recovery that I was able to obtain for them—some criminal justice .
`` I am very confident that they are disappointed in the United States today , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the company Blackwater , which has been renamed as Academi , had launched an unprovoked attack on an unarmed crowd using sniper fire , machine-guns and grenade launchers .
The dead included 10 men , two women and another boy aged 11 .
Iraqi authorities put the total death toll at 17 , the BBC reported .
Defence lawyers claimed the group had returned fire after being ambushed by Iraqi insurgents .
However , in the indictment issued by a federal grand jury in 2008 , the U.S. attorney for the District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the victims of this shooting were armed , '' and that `` none of them was an insurgent , '' The Washington Post reported .
Dickinson told Newsweek : `` When the White House statement says the situation turned violent , the situation turned violent because of what those men did—not because of anything that happened around them .
While they may have served honorably , they committed heinous crimes that day . ''
`` President Trump talks repeatedly about law and order and holding people accountable for crimes they commit and yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of murder , manslaughter and weapons charges , and killing a nine-year-old boy , he allows them to be free . ''
`` I think it 's unconscionable that they are pardoned , '' he added .
The pardons of the men were also condemned by Human Rights Watch and the UN Human Rights Office ( OHCHR ) , which said it would embolden others to commit similar crimes .
Senator Chris Murphy ( D-CT ) tweeted : `` Pardoning these murderers is a disgrace .
They shot women and kids who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Iraqi foreign ministry urged the U.S. government to reconsider the decision , tweeting that it `` did not take into account the seriousness of the crime committed and was inconsistent with the U.S. administration 's declared commitment to the values of human rights , justice and the rule of law . ''
It added that it also `` regrettably ignores the dignity of the victims and the feelings and rights of their relatives . ''
Ali Kinani 's father , Mohammed , who moved to the U.S. to bring the group to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he learned of the pardons : `` No one is above the law is what we learned in America , but now there 's someone above the law . ''
`` I do n't know how this is allowed .
I do n't think that America is built on such principles , '' he told the outlet , `` but there must be a way .
If not in the earthly courts , then with God .
God will not let them go . ''
Trump has faced criticism over his use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he pardoned numerous allies , including his former advisers Roger Stone and Paul Manafort .
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment .

A lawyer who represented the family of a child killed by U.S. government contractors during the Iraq War has described the decision by President Donald Trump to grant pardons to four of the men involved as "unconscionable."
Nine-year-old Ali Kinani was among at least 14 people killed in and around Nisour Square, Baghdad, on 16 September, 2007, by Blackwater private security contractors who had been assigned to guard a U.S. diplomatic convoy.
Military veterans Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard were convicted in 2014 by a U.S. federal court of voluntary manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and other charges and given sentences of between 12 and 15 years. Nicholas Slatten, who was the first to start shooting, was sentenced to life in prison.
But on Tuesday, the White House announced in a statement that Trump had pardoned the four in a move it said was "broadly supported by the public," adding that the men "have a long history of service to the nation."
Ali Kinani was 9 years old when he was shot in the head by Blackwater guards on September 16, 2007 in Baghdad Iraq. @realDonaldTrump just pardoned his killers. I represented Ali’s and five other families in a civil lawsuit against Blackwater and Erik Prince for the killings. pic.twitter.com/B2dwbjU4Ub — A Damn Lawyer (@adamnlawyer) December 23, 2020
Paul Dickinson, a civil litigation attorney in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the law firm James Scott Farrin, represented the family of Ali, as well as four other victims' families, in a civil lawsuit.
"President Trump has pardoned a child murderer," Dickinson told Newsweek.
Dickinson said that following years of legal proceedings, trials, appeals, dropped charges and re-trials, when the convictions were secured, the victims' families he represented "were pleased that they had felt they had got some justice beyond the financial recovery that I was able to obtain for them—some criminal justice.
Read more Trump Won't Pardon Family Because They May Testify Against Him: Ex-lawyer Trump Won't Pardon Family Because They May Testify Against Him: Ex-lawyer
"I am very confident that they are disappointed in the United States today," he said.
Prosecutors had said the Raven 23 convoy from the company Blackwater, which has been renamed as Academi, had launched an unprovoked attack on an unarmed crowd using sniper fire, machine-guns and grenade launchers.
The dead included 10 men, two women and another boy aged 11. Iraqi authorities put the total death toll at 17, the BBC reported.
Defence lawyers claimed the group had returned fire after being ambushed by Iraqi insurgents. However, in the indictment issued by a federal grand jury in 2008, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia said that "none of the victims of this shooting were armed," and that "none of them was an insurgent," The Washington Post reported.
Dickinson told Newsweek: "When the White House statement says the situation turned violent, the situation turned violent because of what those men did—not because of anything that happened around them. While they may have served honorably, they committed heinous crimes that day."
"President Trump talks repeatedly about law and order and holding people accountable for crimes they commit and yet when these four men are fairly convicted of murder, manslaughter and weapons charges, and killing a nine-year-old boy, he allows them to be free."
"I think it's unconscionable that they are pardoned," he added.
The pardons of the men were also condemned by Human Rights Watch and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), which said it would embolden others to commit similar crimes. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) tweeted: "Pardoning these murderers is a disgrace. They shot women and kids who had their hands in the air."
The Iraqi foreign ministry urged the U.S. government to reconsider the decision, tweeting that it "did not take into account the seriousness of the crime committed and was inconsistent with the U.S. administration's declared commitment to the values of human rights, justice and the rule of law."
Press Statement
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has followed up on the decision issued by the President of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump to pardon a number of those convicted of killing fourteen Iraqis and wounding others in 2007, pic.twitter.com/21gGWArJUl — وزارة الخارجية العراقية (@Iraqimofa) December 23, 2020
It added that it also "regrettably ignores the dignity of the victims and the feelings and rights of their relatives."
Ali Kinani's father, Mohammed, who moved to the U.S. to bring the group to justice, told Middle East Eye after he learned of the pardons: "No one is above the law is what we learned in America, but now there's someone above the law."
"I don't know how this is allowed. I don't think that America is built on such principles," he told the outlet, "but there must be a way. If not in the earthly courts, then with God. God will not let them go."
Trump has faced criticism over his use of his clemency powers. On Wednesday, he pardoned numerous allies, including his former advisers Roger Stone and Paul Manafort.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.


newsweek--2020-12-24--Georgia Voters Have the Chance to Shape National Decisions | Opinion

Someone struggled for your right to vote .
Use it . ''
Nineteenth century suffragist Susan B. Anthony spoke these words long ago , but her message is incredibly relevant as Georgia voters face a runoff election for two U.S. Senate seats .
Like few before , this election will determine the political direction of the Senate and likely the direction of the entire U.S. government .
Given the stakes , Georgians should consider the bold plans New York senator Chuck Schumer has for Georgia and the rest of the nation if he gets his way .
One should ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his constituents , `` Now we take Georgia , then we change America ! ''
Given his record , I have a pretty good idea—and it 's not the kind of change that helps families , promotes genuine diversity or fosters human flourishing .
If Senator Schumer has the opportunity to lead the Senate , he and his allies in the White House will `` change America '' in at least three ways .
One is by pursuing a radical pro-abortion agenda .
Pro-abortion activists hope a Senate controlled by the far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand the `` choice '' to end the lives of unborn babies .
Yet Americans remain deeply divided on abortion , showing broad support for state laws that protect mothers and limit abortions .
Georgians will have the power to protect babies in the womb or they will empower those who say that unborn babies have no value and women need abortion to live productive lives .
Second , far-left activists have demanded , and their political allies have promised , the speedy passage of the so-called Equality Act .
Georgia voters should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate to do it .
The deceptively named bill would discriminate against people of faith and harm women and girls .
The bill would use civil rights legislation to punish citizens ( whether cake artists , floral artists , T-shirt designers or adoption providers ) who hold to a traditional understanding of marriage and sexuality .
By adding `` sexual orientation '' and `` gender identity '' to the list of protected classes in federal law , it promotes fluid notions of gender identity over the God-designed and immutable reality of being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could force women and girls to share intimate spaces with and compete athletically against males who present themselves as female .
Third , Joe Biden expressed his intent to select judicial nominees not primarily based on their record , but on the color of their skin and commitment to protecting Roe v. Wade .
Since Biden has opposed nominees who apply the law as written , U.S .
Senators are in a unique position to prevent the confirmation of judges with a history of judicial policymaking .
As progressives call to pack the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Senate serves as an important check against the politicization of the highest court in the land .
Georgia voters are in an extraordinary position to shape national decisions on life , liberty and judges .
It all comes down to whom they will select as their senators .
And on these questions , their choice will help define America .
It 's difficult to imagine much higher stakes .
Let 's hope they choose well .
Kristen K. Waggoner serves as General Counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom .
She can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views expressed in this article are the writer 's own .

Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it." Nineteenth century suffragist Susan B. Anthony spoke these words long ago, but her message is incredibly relevant as Georgia voters face a runoff election for two U.S. Senate seats. Like few before, this election will determine the political direction of the Senate and likely the direction of the entire U.S. government.
Given the stakes, Georgians should consider the bold plans New York senator Chuck Schumer has for Georgia and the rest of the nation if he gets his way. One should ask what exactly he meant when he proclaimed to his constituents, "Now we take Georgia, then we change America!" Given his record, I have a pretty good idea—and it's not the kind of change that helps families, promotes genuine diversity or fosters human flourishing.
If Senator Schumer has the opportunity to lead the Senate, he and his allies in the White House will "change America" in at least three ways. One is by pursuing a radical pro-abortion agenda. Pro-abortion activists hope a Senate controlled by the far left will help fund, export and expand the "choice" to end the lives of unborn babies. Yet Americans remain deeply divided on abortion, showing broad support for state laws that protect mothers and limit abortions. Georgians will have the power to protect babies in the womb or they will empower those who say that unborn babies have no value and women need abortion to live productive lives.
Second, far-left activists have demanded, and their political allies have promised, the speedy passage of the so-called Equality Act. Georgia voters should know the far left needs support from the Senate to do it. The deceptively named bill would discriminate against people of faith and harm women and girls.
Georgia Republican Senate candidates David Perdue (R-GA) and Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) listen to former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speak during a rally on December 20, 2020 in Cumming, Georgia. Jessica McGowan/Getty
The bill would use civil rights legislation to punish citizens (whether cake artists, floral artists, T-shirt designers or adoption providers) who hold to a traditional understanding of marriage and sexuality. By adding "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the list of protected classes in federal law, it promotes fluid notions of gender identity over the God-designed and immutable reality of being made female or male. The bill could force women and girls to share intimate spaces with and compete athletically against males who present themselves as female.
Third, Joe Biden expressed his intent to select judicial nominees not primarily based on their record, but on the color of their skin and commitment to protecting Roe v. Wade. Since Biden has opposed nominees who apply the law as written, U.S. Senators are in a unique position to prevent the confirmation of judges with a history of judicial policymaking. As progressives call to pack the Supreme Court with their own policy allies, the Senate serves as an important check against the politicization of the highest court in the land.
Georgia voters are in an extraordinary position to shape national decisions on life, liberty and judges. It all comes down to whom they will select as their senators. And on these questions, their choice will help define America. It's difficult to imagine much higher stakes. Let's hope they choose well.
Kristen K. Waggoner serves as General Counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom. She can be followed on Twitter @KWaggonerADF.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.


newsweek--2020-12-24--'Twas the Night Before Christmas' 2020 Poems and Parodies for a Truly Unique Year

`` 'T was the night before Christmas , and all through the house , not a creature was stirring , not even a mouse , '' starts perhaps the one of the most well-known poems ever .
Clement Clarke Moore 's poem `` A Visit From Saint Nicholas , '' more commonly known as `` 'T was the Night Before Christmas '' was originally published anonymously in 1823 in the Troy , New York newspaper The Sentinel .
Fourteen years later , he took credit for the poem , which is considered the main source for our modern day perspective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attributes .
`` A Visit from Saint Nicholas '' has been satirically reimagined and updated many , many times throughout its history , and the turbulent 2020 is loaded with fodder—from the coronavirus pandemic to a contentious election—for enterprising parodists .
From Jimmy Fallon to NPR , here are some of the funniest parodies for the timeless holiday poem .
`` Not a creature was stirring , because they were in lockdown , '' Fulwiler quips at the start of her hilarious retelling .
This version sets the scene with hand sanitizer at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a Christmas celebration on Zoom ( mentioning technical difficulties , of course ) .
`` It 's Christmas , my friends , so try to have fun , '' she concludes .
`` For in a few more days , 2020 is done ! ''
The poem was rewritten and shared on NPR with a modern spin .
Here , Santa Claus acknowledges the stressors many faced throughout 2020 from job loss and the coronavirus pandemic to the social justice movements .
Santa says : '' Santa 's whole workshop is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IT help , they ask , 'Safari or Chrome ? '
I tell them of toys , and they say , 'You 're on mute ! '
I 've got grey sweatpants on 'neath the top of my suit . ''
( You 're not alone there , Santa ) .
The poem also thanks first responders , essential workers , and even gives Dr. Fauci a nod .
The comedian 's monologue on Friday featured a 2020-themed retelling of the story , peppered with sound bytes , including President Trump downplaying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miracle , it will disappear '' ) , CNN journalist Steve Kornacki being dubbed `` the sexiest man alive '' and Giuliani speaking to reporters at Four Seasons Total Landscaping .
Just because there was no White House press room basement holiday party does n't mean that there would n't be a special Christmas poem written about the past year .
Longtime White House correspondent Greg Clugston wrote this year 's parody of the poem .
Published on the Austin American- Statesman , this poem mentioned the Black Lives Matter movement , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Well , for the first time in more than two decades there was no holiday party in the WH press basement , '' Clugston said via Austin American Statesman .
`` Since 1998 , you 've allowed me to read my annual poem at the party , recapping the year 's presidential and political headlines .
COVID may have cancelled our party , but it did n't cancel the poem ! ''
`` 'T was the night before Christmas and in the White House / One creature was stirring , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poem began .
`` There in the Oval , at the desk , in his chair / Sat President Trump with a menacing glare . ''
The Chicago Tribune wrote their take on the famous poem , imagining a version read by Trump , with an emphasis on his denial of the 2020 presidential election results .
The poem keeps up the rhyme scheme of `` 'T was The Night Before Christmas , '' but is packed with Trump 's typical asides and interruptions .
`` 'T was the night before Christmas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the parody begins .
`` That 's the truth , kids , I won the presidential election SO big .
It was a landslide like nobody has ever seen .
I won , not Sleepy Joe .
He totally lost , everyone knows it . ''
The `` president '' then loses interest , and skips ahead .
`` OK , I 'm skipping some dull stuff .
You know what this poem needs is a little more me .
They should rewrite it to include Trump .
I 'm way more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 'lustre of midday ' crap .
What 's lustre , anyway ? ''
( Fair question—it means a soft glow . )
As Santa said best : `` Happy Christmas to all , and to all a good night ! ''

"'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse," starts perhaps the one of the most well-known poems ever. Clement Clarke Moore's poem "A Visit From Saint Nicholas," more commonly known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" was originally published anonymously in 1823 in the Troy, New York newspaper The Sentinel. Fourteen years later, he took credit for the poem, which is considered the main source for our modern day perspective of Santa Claus, especially his physical attributes.
"A Visit from Saint Nicholas" has been satirically reimagined and updated many, many times throughout its history, and the turbulent 2020 is loaded with fodder—from the coronavirus pandemic to a contentious election—for enterprising parodists. From Jimmy Fallon to NPR, here are some of the funniest parodies for the timeless holiday poem.
Jen Fulwiler's "'Twas The Night Before Christmas"
"Not a creature was stirring, because they were in lockdown," Fulwiler quips at the start of her hilarious retelling. This version sets the scene with hand sanitizer at each chimney for Santa Claus, along with a Christmas celebration on Zoom (mentioning technical difficulties, of course).
"It's Christmas, my friends, so try to have fun," she concludes. "For in a few more days, 2020 is done!"
NPR's Night Before Christmas in 2020 Parody
The poem was rewritten and shared on NPR with a modern spin. Here, Santa Claus acknowledges the stressors many faced throughout 2020 from job loss and the coronavirus pandemic to the social justice movements. Santa says:
"Santa's whole workshop is now Work from Home
I call elves for IT help, they ask, 'Safari or Chrome?'
I tell them of toys, and they say, 'You're on mute!'
I've got grey sweatpants on 'neath the top of my suit."
(You're not alone there, Santa). The poem also thanks first responders, essential workers, and even gives Dr. Fauci a nod.
Jimmy Fallon's 2020 Night Before Christmas Parody
The comedian's monologue on Friday featured a 2020-themed retelling of the story, peppered with sound bytes, including President Trump downplaying the coronavirus ("it's like a miracle, it will disappear"), CNN journalist Steve Kornacki being dubbed "the sexiest man alive" and Giuliani speaking to reporters at Four Seasons Total Landscaping.
A small decorated Christmas Tree stands in the Red Room at the White House December 2, 2019 in Washington, DC. Mark Wilson/Getty Images
DC Press Corps' Night Before Christmas Parody
Just because there was no White House press room basement holiday party doesn't mean that there wouldn't be a special Christmas poem written about the past year. Longtime White House correspondent Greg Clugston wrote this year's parody of the poem. Published on the Austin American- Statesman, this poem mentioned the Black Lives Matter movement, Trump's October COVID-19 diagnosis and Dr. Fauci.
"Well, for the first time in more than two decades there was no holiday party in the WH press basement," Clugston said via Austin American Statesman. "Since 1998, you've allowed me to read my annual poem at the party, recapping the year's presidential and political headlines. COVID may have cancelled our party, but it didn't cancel the poem!"
"'Twas the night before Christmas and in the White House / One creature was stirring, but it wasn't a mouse," the poem began. "There in the Oval, at the desk, in his chair / Sat President Trump with a menacing glare."
The Chicago Tribune's Night Before Christmas Parody
The Chicago Tribune wrote their take on the famous poem, imagining a version read by Trump, with an emphasis on his denial of the 2020 presidential election results. The poem keeps up the rhyme scheme of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas," but is packed with Trump's typical asides and interruptions.
"'Twas the night before Christmas, and I won the election," the parody begins. "That's the truth, kids, I won the presidential election SO big. It was a landslide like nobody has ever seen. I won, not Sleepy Joe. He totally lost, everyone knows it."
The "president" then loses interest, and skips ahead.
"OK, I'm skipping some dull stuff. You know what this poem needs is a little more me. They should rewrite it to include Trump. I'm way more interesting than this 'eight tiny reindeer' and 'lustre of midday' crap. What's lustre, anyway?" (Fair question—it means a soft glow.)
As Santa said best: "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"


newsweek--2020-12-24--20 Christmas Quotes to Make You Warm and Merry in 2020

Despite COVID restrictions and many people likely spending it apart from family in the interest of safety , people across the world will still celebrate Christmas day .
While it will likely be a yuletide like no other , it 's still nice to get into the holiday spirit and celebrate loved ones during a difficult year .
Newsweek has compiled 20 Christmas quotes from Wikiquote , BrainyQuote and Country Living to help you get in the holiday spirit .
`` Like snowflakes , my Christmas memories gather and dance—each beautiful , unique , and gone too soon .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time nor a season , but a state of mind .
To cherish peace and goodwill , to be plenteous in mercy , is to have the real spirit of Christmas .
`` —Calvin Coolidge '' Bloody Christmas , here again , let us raise a loving cup , peace on Earth , goodwill to men , and make them do the washing up .
`` —Wendy Cope '' I heard the bells on Christmas Day/Their old , familiar carols play , /And wild and sweet/The words repeat/Of peace on Earth , good-will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' I love Christmas , not just because of the presents but because of all the decorations and lights and the warmth of the season .
`` —Ashley Tisdale '' Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings , all the snow in Alaska wo n't make it white .
`` —Bing Crosby '' God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving .
If he gives us the gift of Christmas , it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that it almost does n't matter what mood you 're in or what kind of a year you 've had—it 's a fresh start .
`` —Kelly Clarkson '' That 's the true spirit of Christmas : people being helped by people other than me .
`` —Jerry Seinfeld '' It 's true , Christmas can feel like a lot of work , particularly for mothers .
But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life , you 'll find you 've created family traditions and lasting memories .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are really what help to keep a family together over the long haul .
`` —Caroline Kennedy '' Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall , the genial flame of charity in the heart .
`` —Washington Irving '' Faith is salted and peppered through everything at Christmas .
And I love at least one night by the Christmas tree to sing and feel the quiet holiness of that time that 's set apart to celebrate love , friendship , and God 's gift of the Christ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live .
`` —George Carlin '' Seeing is believing , but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we ca n't see .
`` —The Train Conductor in Chris Van Allsburg 's The Polar Express '' Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand. ''
—Dr .
Seuss , in How the Grinch Stole Christmas '' Christmas has a special meaning for those of us who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe in Christ , those of us who know that almost 2,000 years ago , the Son of Peace was born to give us a vision of perfection , a vision of humility , a vision of unselfishness , a vision of compassion , a vision of love .
`` —Jimmy Carter '' Christmas for me is all about spending time with my family .
I cherish any chance we have to spend all day together making gingerbread houses , baking cookies , or sitting around and watching movies .
`` —Blake Lively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my house .
It 's not really a Christmas party , because I do n't want to call it a Christmas party .
But let 's just say I put a lot of Christmas trees around the house , so it smells good .
`` —Bill Murray '' I was lucky enough to grow up in a home where I woke up Christmas morning and had toys .
I know that 's not the case with all people and I do n't think kids should go without experiencing that sort of joy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas in my heart , and try to keep it all the year .
`` —Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens ' A Christmas Carol

Despite COVID restrictions and many people likely spending it apart from family in the interest of safety, people across the world will still celebrate Christmas day.
While it will likely be a yuletide like no other, it's still nice to get into the holiday spirit and celebrate loved ones during a difficult year.
Newsweek has compiled 20 Christmas quotes from Wikiquote, BrainyQuote and Country Living to help you get in the holiday spirit.
"Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance—each beautiful, unique, and gone too soon."—Deborah Whipp
"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."—Calvin Coolidge
"Bloody Christmas, here again, let us raise a loving cup, peace on Earth, goodwill to men, and make them do the washing up."—Wendy Cope
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day/Their old, familiar carols play,/And wild and sweet/The words repeat/Of peace on Earth, good-will to men!"—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"I love Christmas, not just because of the presents but because of all the decorations and lights and the warmth of the season."—Ashley Tisdale
"Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it white."—Bing Crosby
"God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. If he gives us the gift of Christmas, it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it."—Pope Francis
"The thing about Christmas is that it almost doesn't matter what mood you're in or what kind of a year you've had—it's a fresh start."—Kelly Clarkson
"That's the true spirit of Christmas: people being helped by people other than me."—Jerry Seinfeld
"It's true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work, particularly for mothers. But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life, you'll find you've created family traditions and lasting memories. Those memories, good and bad, are really what help to keep a family together over the long haul."—Caroline Kennedy
"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart."—Washington Irving
"Faith is salted and peppered through everything at Christmas. And I love at least one night by the Christmas tree to sing and feel the quiet holiness of that time that's set apart to celebrate love, friendship, and God's gift of the Christ child."—Amy Grant
"The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live."—George Carlin
"Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."—The Train Conductor in Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express
"Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand."—Dr. Seuss, in How the Grinch Stole Christmas
"Christmas has a special meaning for those of us who are Christians, those of us who believe in Christ, those of us who know that almost 2,000 years ago, the Son of Peace was born to give us a vision of perfection, a vision of humility, a vision of unselfishness, a vision of compassion, a vision of love."—Jimmy Carter
"Christmas for me is all about spending time with my family. I cherish any chance we have to spend all day together making gingerbread houses, baking cookies, or sitting around and watching movies."—Blake Lively
"I throw a Christmas party at my house. It's not really a Christmas party, because I don't want to call it a Christmas party. But let's just say I put a lot of Christmas trees around the house, so it smells good."—Bill Murray
"I was lucky enough to grow up in a home where I woke up Christmas morning and had toys. I know that's not the case with all people and I don't think kids should go without experiencing that sort of joy."—Lucy Hale
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."—Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol


newsweek--2020-12-24--'Wonder Woman 1984': How to Watch Online

Wonder Woman 1984 may have been delayed multiple times , but the movie will soon be available to watch online and in theaters in the U.S. , in a radical new release strategy that has angered many in the cinema industry .
It does mean , however , that fans can finally see the next set of adventures from Wonder Woman ( played by Gal Gadot ) as she heads into the 1980s and battles Kristen Wiig 's Cheetah , Pedro Pascal 's Max Lord and the decade 's many bad fashions .
How to watch Wonder Woman 1984 online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Woman 1984 is an HBO Max exclusive , meaning that the streaming service is the only way to watch the movie ( legally ) in the U.S .
Subscribers to that streamer will be able to watch it online for no additional cost from Friday , December 25 , the same day it comes to theaters .
The release time for Wonder Woman 1984 is expected to be midnight Pacific Time , meaning the film should also be available in different time zones at 3 a.m. Eastern and 2 a.m. Central .
Fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1984 online for free , however , are sure to be disappointed .
Soon after Warner Bros. announced that they would be releasing all of their next year of movie onto HBO Max on the same day that they came to theater , HBO Max also stopped offering it 's seven-day free trial .
This means that it will cost at least $ 14.99 to watch the movie on the streaming service , as that is the cost of a month 's HBO Max .
In fact , the streaming free trial is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streaming wars .
Disney+ removed theirs slightly before the release of Hamilton , while Netflix got rid of theirs in the fall .
The free trial may be gone , but HBO Max has launched a new deal aimed at getting fans to stay on the service after they have watched WW84 .
Fans can pay for a six-month subscription for $ 69.99 , which works out at around $ 11.66 a month .
This offer is available from now until January 15 , 2021 .
The release of WW84 also comes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , meaning the streamer is now available on all major devices in the U.S. As HBO Max is a U.S.-only service right now , the film will not be available to watch online in other countries .
In the U.K. , for example , Wonder Woman came to cinemas on December 16 , but will not be streaming until spring 2021 .
As for what fans can expect from the latest installment from the DC universe , the official synopsis reads : `` Wonder Woman squares off against Maxwell Lord and the Cheetah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and agility . ''
So far , reviews of the movie have been fairly positive , with the film currently holding an 88 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes .
Wonder Woman 1984 is released in cinemas and on HBO Max on Friday , December 25 .

Wonder Woman 1984 may have been delayed multiple times, but the movie will soon be available to watch online and in theaters in the U.S., in a radical new release strategy that has angered many in the cinema industry. It does mean, however, that fans can finally see the next set of adventures from Wonder Woman (played by Gal Gadot) as she heads into the 1980s and battles Kristen Wiig's Cheetah, Pedro Pascal's Max Lord and the decade's many bad fashions.
How to watch Wonder Woman 1984 online
Aside from its cinema release, Wonder Woman 1984 is an HBO Max exclusive, meaning that the streaming service is the only way to watch the movie (legally) in the U.S. Subscribers to that streamer will be able to watch it online for no additional cost from Friday, December 25, the same day it comes to theaters.
The release time for Wonder Woman 1984 is expected to be midnight Pacific Time, meaning the film should also be available in different time zones at 3 a.m. Eastern and 2 a.m. Central.
Fans who were hoping to watch Wonder Woman 1984 online for free, however, are sure to be disappointed. Soon after Warner Bros. announced that they would be releasing all of their next year of movie onto HBO Max on the same day that they came to theater, HBO Max also stopped offering it's seven-day free trial. This means that it will cost at least $14.99 to watch the movie on the streaming service, as that is the cost of a month's HBO Max.
Still from 'Wonder Woman 1984'. Warner Bros
In fact, the streaming free trial is one of the early casualties of the streaming wars. Disney+ removed theirs slightly before the release of Hamilton, while Netflix got rid of theirs in the fall.
The free trial may be gone, but HBO Max has launched a new deal aimed at getting fans to stay on the service after they have watched WW84. Fans can pay for a six-month subscription for $69.99, which works out at around $11.66 a month. This offer is available from now until January 15, 2021.
The release of WW84 also comes as HBO Max makes a deal with Roku, meaning the streamer is now available on all major devices in the U.S.
As HBO Max is a U.S.-only service right now, the film will not be available to watch online in other countries. In the U.K., for example, Wonder Woman came to cinemas on December 16, but will not be streaming until spring 2021.
As for what fans can expect from the latest installment from the DC universe, the official synopsis reads: "Wonder Woman squares off against Maxwell Lord and the Cheetah, a villainess who possesses superhuman strength and agility."
So far, reviews of the movie have been fairly positive, with the film currently holding an 88 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Wonder Woman 1984 is released in cinemas and on HBO Max on Friday, December 25.