Category: Constitution

An open letter to Congress and the Supreme Court

I will be mailing this letter, with only the salutation changed to personalize it, to all Reps and Senators from TX, on any relevant committee, and to all SCOTUS Justices.

Dear Sir/Ma’am,

We have seen tragedy in this country for decades, from Waco and Ruby Ridge, to Oklahoma City, to most recently, Las Vegas, and all of these tragedies share a few common threads. First, and almost instantly, there is a clarion call to “enact common sense gun control,” regardless of the fact that Waco with the Branch Davidians was the Government storming their compound, or OKC was a van filled with fertilizer, or the Boston Marathon bomb was a pressure cooker, it’s always “we need gun control.” What is ignored in all of these events, is that the weapons used were either perverted from their intended use (the van, fertilizer, pressure cooker) or illegally obtained, as those bent on committing murder will not let something like a law stop them.
Looking as the Sutherland Springs, TX shooting, the assailant was dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force and had a domestic violence charge in his past that was not expunged or otherwise done away with, so he was a prohibited possessor in the State of Texas. The reason he was able to purchase his weapon was not due to the law being inadequate, but rather, the U.S. Air Force not filing the records properly and/or in good time. Had any background check in the State of Texas been run on his and shown his dishonorable discharge, the sale of any firearm would have been denied instantly, and this would not have stopped him finding a way to murder those he hated. Had it not been for a man with an AR style rifle and another with a weapon of his own, the TX shooter may not have stopped until all in that church were dead, yet we have a former Vice President, on record about that very shooting and the man’s actions to stop a murderer, saying the man should not have had that weapon that day, indicating he would prefer more people die waiting on police than a law abiding citizen step in to protect people.

Looking to Maryland now, however, we see far more than negligence in the mindset that banning weapons will keep them away from criminals, we see poorly thought out and poorly worded legislation, just as we saw in the wake of Las Vegas with attempts to regulate or ban bump stocks, using the verbiage “any device capable of increasing the standard rate of fire” of a semi-automatic weapon. The current rush to ban “military style” weapons, or “weapons of war” is as ill-advised and ill thought out as the rush to ban “devices that increase the standard rate of fire” of a semi-automatic weapon.

When looking at the first example, you need only speak to anyone who has used semi-automatic firearms for any significant length of time, and they will tell you that all humans are born with 10 such devices, they’re called fingers. For any weapon that does not automatically cycle and fire the next round (which are currently not available to civilians without extensive licensing and fees) there is no “standard rate of fire.” That term in and of itself refers only to automatic weapons, the term semi-automatic means that one round is fired every time the trigger is pulled, no more. The move after Las Vegas was to ban Bump Stocks, which rock the weapon and have a bit of plastic that prevents you from fully depressing the trigger, so the trigger is “pulled” very rapidly. This, however, is not the only way to do this, and two require nothing more than clothing and your body. You see, if the shooter does not properly seat the rifle against his or her shoulder, the weapon could rock in their arm, causing a bump fire situation until they react to remove their finger. Likewise, you can fire from the hip, with a finger or thumb through a belt loop and the trigger guard, also allowing the recoil to rock the weapon, firing very rapidly, so the above legislation would, in effect, ban fingers and belt loops in addition to bump stocks. Not to mention, it bans inexperienced shooters from ever learning lesson one on the range. Again, I am not averse to regulating bump stocks, and in fact fully support such regulations, but as a college educated American, who studied History and Political Science specifically, I see warnings of government overreach, due to poorly worded legislation, and I don’t like it.

Moving to the new situation in Maryland, where “military style” weapons are being banned, or others are saying the Second Amendment does not include “weapons of war,” I could not disagree more on both parts. First, if you visit any Military installation, the hip of every Military Police Officer will have something I own on it, a semi-automatic pistol, either in 9MM or .45ACP caliber. Simply by those men and women using them in their day to day duties, that is now a “military style” weapon, and a “weapon of war” as it’s also carried overseas by infantry, special forces, MP and other Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen both in and out of theaters of war. Aside from the make and barrel type, my 12GA shotgun is the same, as it’s the most common gauge shotgun on the planet, it’s just that the Military and Law Enforcement use Bull Barrels and I have a Bird Barrel currently. In point of fact, the only weapon I own that is not a “military style” weapon is my AR-15, it simply mimics the look of a Military weapon, that being the M-16, but that’s where it ends. Other than a few specific jobs in the military, the vast majority of rifles used as Select Fire, meaning you have 3 or 4 options, those being Safe (firing disabled,) single shot, 3 shot burst, full automatic. I know very few positions in the Military today where I would want a rifle that cannot fire at least a 3 shot burst, and every rifle I’ve owned does only that.

Moving on with respect to my AR-15, the only thing that is actually the same with regards to weapon function (this ignores the look or the rail system allowing additions to the weapon) is the caliber of ammunition, that being 223 Remington or 556, oddly enough, many widely available rifles today, which are not banned, are more powerful than either of those calibers. With no more than gravity and resistance by air, a 223 or 556 round will travel roughly 1650 feet, just about a third of a mile, before it hits the ground. Other rifles, such as the 308, 7 Mag, or 300 Winchester will travel further, and do more damage at further distances, as they were designed for hunting larger game, yet these are not banned as they aren’t “military style” or “weapons of war,” although again, as with my pistol and shotgun, many weapons designed for hunters are used by the Military today, as they are trained to find and use the best tool for their job.

Now, why have I chosen to reach out only now? I was only four when John Hinckley Jr attempted to assassinate President Reagan, but I have studied that event as it began the snowball of “common sense gun control” almost 40 years ago. From the Brady Bill and other waiting period laws, to the background checks of today, nothing has worked to curtail the violence in the hearts of evil men and women. One need only look to Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, or any other major city to find gang violence, and no weapon used by the thugs who seek to intimidate and control others is legally owned. Yet, in some of these places, citizens who just want to live their lives are disarmed, and even later told that unless the criminal is in the building with them, police will not respond until at the earliest, the next day. Worse still, some who defend themselves and either harm or kill their assailant are later charged with a crime, or the family of said attempted murderer are allowed to sue the person attacked for monetary damages.

As recently as 2012, George Zimmerman was attacked by a young man who may have been under the influence of narcotics, and defended himself, ultimately taking the life of his attacker, and was then charged with murder and civilly sued for defending his life. While yes, there are particulars of the case where I disagree with choices made, or need more information, the simple fact that Martin was attacking Zimmerman, and inaction would lead to Zimmerman’s death, have not changed.

Only two years later, Officer Wilson was forced to choose to shoot Michael Brown in Ferguson Missouri, or he would have died. The mantra was quickly taken up by the media that Brown was running away, or had his hands up, or was kneeling, and all three have him shot in the back, while forensics show the rounds that struck him entered from the front, corroborating Wilson’s story that Brown was attacking him, yet a Police Officer who had responded to the scene of a crime, who was being either aggressively approached or attacked, lost his livelihood and had to move his family, because of a societal attitude that all boils down to “blame the tool, not the criminal.”

Sadly, this attitude is now so prevalent, that we see situations like Maryland, where legislation passes that is so poorly worded, anyone could point out what I have, and ban semi-automatic pistols, or shotguns, as if the Military uses them, they are now “weapons of war.” These same people often point out that “you don’t need an AR 15 to defend your home” or “the second amendment was about the military” and they are wrong on both counts. If someone enters my home illegally, and is carrying a weapon, seeing my pistol is likely to get me shot, while seeing me holding my AR 15 causes instant pause and often flight rather than fight. Were I restricted to my sidearm, I would most often be forced to use it to defend myself, but the mere sight of a rifle in my hands, the mere threat of force, often causes attackers to flee, allowing me to report the crime to the proper authorities and no one is harmed unless the criminals resist their later arrest.

The second argument, that the Second Amendment either only allows the use of weapons available at the time it was written, or that it applies only the Military, are both just as wrong as the assertion that “you don’t need (whatever weapon they hate at the time) to defend yourself” in that it seeks to impose rules where those rules have been specifically forbidden. The wording and timing of the Second Amendment are concrete facts, we know it was written just after a bloody war of independence from a government which sought to subjugate the colonies, and use them to make money, with no respect for the people who would be actually producing what the British would use or sell. That scenario showed our Founding Fathers that, if the government chooses tyranny over respect for the governed, the only viable option is for the people, the citizens and civilians, to stand up and say no more. Yes, our Military swear to uphold and defend the Constitution, but that does not prevent a tyrannical government from locking up all Military installations and only allowing those who will swear fealty and loyalty to the government out, thus ensuring they are well armed and the rest of us are left with what we personally own, the exact situation the colonists found themselves in just over 200 years ago. While this argument can be used to say that tanks, RPG’s, planes, and so on are legal for civilians to buy, there is valid reason to prevent a civilian from purchasing those as they have use only in a theater of war, and we all hope that the streets of small-town America never become such a theater. Saying, however, that a weapon that merely resembles another, and is the same caliber, but is actually less powerful and useful in battle, is a “weapon of war” or “military style” while other more useful and powerful weapons are allowed, shows an arrogance and ignorance that, in the halls of State of Federal government is very dangerous.

To show, using another Amendment, where this can go, we need only look at the potential ramifications of Net Neutrality being repealed. There are already allegations of Twitter and Facebook censoring certain viewpoints and not others, which from what I’ve seen amounts to stopping speech some find offensive and allowing calls for actual violence, based solely on political affiliation. Without Net Neutrality, all that needs be done is for Twitter, Facebook, or another to report to the ISP being used that someone is “engaging in hate speech or violent online behavior” and that person now either loses their internet connection, or must pay astronomical rates to keep it, all based only one a simple report. This, oddly enough, does exactly what I use as an example of how the Founding Fathers knew about and included advances in technology. The argument is often made that the Second Amendment only covers weapons that were available in the late 18th Century, but what is ignored is that the Puckle Gun was already available, was a rapid fire weapon, and was just too expensive for the Colonial Government to purchase. But, if your weapons can be taken because they aren’t covered by the Bill of Rights because they didn’t exist in the late 18th Century, so can your methods of speaking. Looking to the time of the Bill Of Rights, only the early printing press, quill and ink, and your voice were available. So, by the logic of “only the weapons available in colonial times” are covered, so too are methods of speech.

To close, and I do thank you for taking the time to read this letter, I will quote the Tenth Amendment.

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved for the States respectively, or to the people.”

In short, anything the Constitution does not specifically mention as a power of the Federal Government, or specifically prohibit the Federal Government from doing, is something only The People, or the individual States can do. We all know that the Bill of Rights does not grant us the right to free speech, peaceable assembly, petition, to bear arms, or any other right. Rather, the Constitution and Bill Of Rights simply enumerate the rights all of us have, and state that the Federal or State government must protect them. As the Third Amendment prevents quartering of Soldiers in citizens’ homes, the Federal Government cannot do that, and also must prevent States from doing so either. As there is no mention in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, or Bill of Rights of the word Marriage, let alone what that is, that is not a power delegated to the Federal Government or prohibited to the States, so it is up to each state to decide for themselves.

We must reclaim common sense in all aspects of governance, as we are moving toward a time when the Federal Government may say that as someone is unpopular, they may be jailed so others are not forced to hear them, or as a certain religion is unpopular, you may not hold public office if you don’t renounce your faith. Oddly enough we have sitting Representatives and Senators already disparaging those nominated for federal office due to their faith, while private citizens scream that a teacher joining a student led prayer is a violation of the First Amendment. For too long we have allowed the perversion of our way of life, the perversion of our founding principles, and if we don’t act soon to reclaim what those actually are, and protect them for all Americans, we will lose our country as we did in 1861, and I fear not even a four year war could repair it this time.

Is this the beginning of the end?

Some time ago, I posted about Oregon Senate Bill 719 and it’s repercussions. You see, this bill allows for the confiscation of ALL FIREARMS from anyone deemed “a threat” to themselves and/or others. That, however, isn’t the issue. If someone is a known psychotic, or otherwise mentally unstable, not only do I not want them to be armed, I want them in a mental institution, as they do represent a danger to themselves and others. The issue here, however, is that anyone can lodge a complaint that someone is a “danger to themselves and others” and the court then must act. Today, there are many who have already tried to have people arrested or worse for simple comments about policy or politics in other ways. These, however, were not comments that threatened anyone at all, but simply disagreed with someone’s desire to oust this politician or that, or do away with some law, or the like. We have the masked cowards, or antifa, demanding that we bow to their will or they will attack, while those who support these masked cowards demand we not even speak about our right to defend ourselves from them, and therefore, you simply saying as there is a threat of violence from antifa due to you not agreeing with and bowing to them, you will exercise your Second Amendment rights, that person could then say you are a threat to others because you want to defend yourself.

This is where it comes to such an out of focus point that it’s silly, you see, there is no court hearing, no police showing up to let you know you’ve been charged/accused, they just let one person decide if you are a threat, then you have 24 hours to turn over ALL of your firearms, or you’re a criminal. Oh sure, you can appeal, and IF the complaint is found to be simply someone who hates guns and wanted you forced to give yours up, they’re punished, but that’s more subjective than their complaint. They just say they “honestly felt threatened” and there is no way to legally prove anything else. Yes, you are supposed to get your weapons back, but again, that person keeps filing that they “honestly feel threatened” and you are forcibly disarmed, for good.

Moving on from there, there are lawmakers in Oregon fighting to repeal this bill, for one of several possible reasons I’m sure. First, we have the Second Amendment, which of course liberals argue was written because we didn’t have an army, and now that we do, only the army should be armed. This could not be further from the truth, as the official government in control of the American Colonies did have an army, and that army was called on to disarm and take control of the colonies. The Second Amendment was put in place because the Founders know there could come a day when this new government they were forming would decide the people were little more than subjects to be controlled, and move to tyranny, so the right of The People to be armed and able to fight for their right to freedom is protected (not granted, but only protected) by the Constitution. Of course, this brings up the next argument that it only applies to muskets, but again, this is not true. Not only did the Founders use the word “arms,” they did it deliberately, as they knew that those fighting the new tyranny would need access to the same weapons being used against them, and look up the Puckle Gun if you don’t believe it, as muskets were far less advanced, and the Puckle Gun is far older than the Constitution.

My next move on this would be the Fourth Amendment, which without quoting it, protects all U.S. Citizens from Unreasonable Search and Seizure. This is a major point in this argument, as the only thing needed for police to bang on your door and demand all weapons, which we know will include a “we need to make sure, so we’re going to search your home” moment, is one person complaining that they “honestly feel you are a threat to yourself and others,” which is totally unreasonable as there is no burden of proof put on anyone but the person now forced to prove a negative, which is not possible. Under the Fourth Amendment, police must not only show a warrant or probable cause, they must show it to both the person being searched and the court. Yes, they can say they saw you threatening to shoot someone, so they burst in to stop that, then searched the area to ensure all was safe, etc, which is probable cause, but if my neighbor or a relative says they “feel” I’m a threat to myself or others, and they aren’t required to show concrete proof, the police then have no probable cause or other reason to search the home. And no, your refusal to allow a warrantless or baseless search of your home is not reason enough to them search the home. Technically as well, the Seventh Amendment comes in, as you have a right to a jury trial, as the value at stake (even one firearm) is over twenty dollars, but that’s an argument for another time.

The last Constitutional argument I can make against this law invokes the Sixth Amendment and the Tenth Amendment, as both are completely ignored by this law. The Sixth Amendment states that you have the right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against you, and to be confronted with witnesses against you. You also have the right to obtain witnesses in your favor, and right to counsel. All of these are ignored, as you aren’t informed of the complaint or the hearing until after the fact, and then simply told you must surrender all weapons. Yes, you can appeal, but that will not be happening within 24 hours, so you are disarmed and then told you must prove you are not a threat. This, again, is forcing you to prove a negative, which is impossible. But, beyond that, it is never the defendant that must prove their innocence (although many do end up doing that) it’s the State that must prove guilt, “beyond the shadow of a reasonable doubt.” This law flips the burden of proof, and does it after imposing the penalty. In a normal criminal complaint, the State must prove their assertions before sentence is carried out, but under SB 719, there is only one sentence, being totally disarmed, which is carried out before you have the chance to even face your accuser. To be Constitutional, the State must allow you to be notified of the complaint, to face your accuser, and then to counter their attempts to prove you are a danger, forcing the onus of proof onto the State, but they ignore all that in the name of “if one person feels unsafe, we must act” which tramples not only the Second, but also the Tenth Amendments. You see, the Tenth Amendment is the best in my opinion, as it specifically states that all powers not specifically delegated to The State (federal government) are reserved for The People (individual states,) and in this case, the Second Amendment specifically states that “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” No mention of what types of “arms,” or that one person not liking guns and thus “feeling unsafe” allows you to disarm me, just that as The People have a right to be free from tyranny, they shall always have the right to keep and bear Arms.

So, Oregon, in this move, has taken the first step toward tyranny, and it will be telling to see where they go from here. Will politicians “feel unsafe” that those who didn’t vote for them are possibly armed and demand their constituents be disarmed? Will the Governor decide that people not liking her new law “threatens her” and file complaints against all citizens of the state? This is the penultimate “slippery slope” as it allows for anyone to “feel threatened” and remove all responsibility for proof from the government and place it all on the citizen after sentence is carried out. As for myself, I’m glad to live in Texas, where our Governor wouldn’t support, let alone sign this, and would if over ruled, take it to the State Supreme Court to have it nullified, but I also call on all Oregonians to abandon ship now. Liberal run cities and states are raising minimum wage, which will mean higher taxes to pay it, they’re working to disarm you, I won’t be surprised if and when there is either a tax to move out of state, or a ban on all people moving out of state to “ensure the burden of tax income is met.”

We aren’t far from a state of governance where states will demand other states be taxed higher than them to offset their spending, California has already been shown to spend billions on illegal immigrants and they also disarm their citizens as much as they can (while exempting themselves from all of those laws,) so how long until they demand Texas “pay our fair share?” Or how long until they demand we obey their laws? We’ve already had states that “legalized” gay marriage demand all other states honor, but they refuse to honor laws from states that allow citizens to carry their weapons, or certain weapons. We are approaching the beginnings of what can cause civil war. California demands we honor their laws, that we pay for criminals to stay free, and Oregon demands that no one complain when disarmed on a complaint by someone you aren’t allowed to face, how long until someone sues CA or OR over these situations and those states decide they “have a right” to do as they please?

I know it’s not a pretty picture, but unless we demand logic and respect for all, as the laws on the books state must be done, we will see it get worse. From liberals rioting and destroying public universities over a speaker, then demanding they be allowed to riot over anything, to states demanding you disarm because someone “feels threatened” without telling you who or why, it’s only a matter of time before you even speaking out against un-Constitutional acts warrants life in prison. Remember, first they came for the Communists, and I said nothing. Next they came for the nationalists, and I did nothing. Then they came for me, and no one was left to do anything. We must stand together for the actual rights all of us enjoy, and quash the notions that this group or that has “rights” that only they enjoy, or this country will fall.

The 1st Amendment for liberals (dummies)

It seems that we have an entire segment of the U.S. adult population who needs to go back to High School Government class, as they keep suing everyone and anyone but the U.S. Government for “violating the First Amendment.” Well, once again, I’m going to try to explain this in as succinct a way as I can so you might understand the point of the First Amendment is not to protect you from witnessing others exercising their faith, but to protect all Americans from the Government ruling that you can’t do that at all.

The full text reads as follow.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Looking only at the first two clauses, Congress is prohibited from passing any law which elevates one faith over others, and also prohibited from passing any law that restricts the right of every American to openly practice their faith. This does not mean that a school teacher cannot choose to join already praying students, or that a school must tell a Bible study they can’t meet on school grounds, it means two very concrete things. First, CONGRESS cannot pass a law that respects one faith over others, and second, that CONGRESS cannot pass a law that restricts the rights of all Americans to exercise their faith. Period!

While Congress is now busy arguing over which party gets to lie about Trump next time, however, we have high prices attorneys threatening small town schools where a Coach decided to join his students in prayer, not force them to, not even suggest it, he wants to join them! They pray before a game, and he wants to as well! This must stop, and sadly, at this point, litigation may be the only way. We need to counter all attempts to silence Christians with counter-suits using the same Amendment they are to attack us. They claim that praying is respecting an establishment of religion, we need to counter with two simple questions. First, which LAW did CONGRESS pass requiring that prayer be spoken? Second, are you trying to prohibit the free exercise thereof?

These cowards are well aware that they are wrong, and are censoring and silencing those they don’t agree with, but they’ve had free reign for decades, and two Presidencies where the White House was behind them. They ignore Muslims blocking traffic and the streets of NYC to pray, forcing New Yorkers to watch and hear Muslim prayers. They ignore companies and schools being forced to stop everything to allow Muslim prayer, or teachers forced to lead classes in those same prayers, all in the name of diversity.

We, at least those of us who have studied the book of Revelation, know that these are signs of the end of days, and while we can’t stop that, we are to never stop working to further His kingdom. We don’t know if the end of days is days, weeks, months, years or even centuries away, but we know it’s coming. Now more than ever we should be fighting for our God given human freedom to worship who and as we choose, if for nothing more than our call to spread the Gospel to the world.

Will you be cowed and silent, or will you brave the lions’ den? How do you wish to be able to answer what you’ve done for His Kingdom when you finally meet him? I know my answer, to all the above questions, and to what I will do when told I must hide my faith. I would rather die for Christ than dishonor all He has done for me, what about you?

Smokey

Is it really still morning in America?

For many years, we’ve heard the loud protests from “gun control” advocates that they aren’t pushing for confiscation and forcibly disarming the American public, but Oregon’s Governor just signed bill which allows the confiscation of weapons from those “deemed to be an imminent threat to themselves or others. Here’s the problem, who decides that simply owning a weapon isn’t an “imminent threat?” Say you’re an outspoken critic of this Governor, and she just decides that since you constantly post about her in “less than complimentary terms,” that she “feels threatened” by you, so now you’re disarmed. What about people who are very public figures? Dana Loesch has had to move, again, because of threats to her and her family, because she is a very outspoken supporter of the Second Amendment and the NRA. She’s quick to let you know how she feels, but has never been a friend to the liberals crying over every death after someone who has a weapon on them, illegally, is killed. Say this law was federal, what’s to stop some liberal judge from declaring that anyone who supports the NRA is an “imminent threat” to themselves or those around them? This is the slippery slope that conservatives have talked about every time “common sense gun control” is brought up.

Another example of the idiocy we’re expected to ignore from our elected officials, this bill that supposedly would ban bump stocks/automatic weapons, but if you read it, it bans EVERYTHING that can “increase the rate of fire” of a semi-automatic weapon. Now, I made more than my fair share of jokes and comments about Shannon Watts saying that no rifle should fire 10 rounds a minute (yes, 1 every six seconds, which I can beat with a bolt action rifle where I have to load every shell,) but this bill is just moronic and why is very simple. Every human is born with a “rate increaser,” it’s your finger! The faster you pull the trigger, or if you don’t seat the rifle against your shoulder tightly enough, it will bump fire without a bump stock. Here’s the idiocy about this though, faster fire is actually far less accurate than slower fire. Notice in the movies though, the weapon doesn’t move much when the “machine gun” fires. This is false, the barrel is going to rise and move, so you’re not going to be able to just “mow down” your target. I’ve fired in competition for a few years, and I tend to use every second I’m given, ensuring my accuracy is the best it can be. But, as always, the “scary thing” is so evil it must be possessed by Beelzebub himself, so must be taken by force from all who have it.

With the Oregon law, and the low chance that any judge on the bench now other than those now being appointed by President Trump, would side with the Constitution, we must act and act fast. We have the 2018 mid-term elections in just over a year, and the primaries in half that time. Read your Constitution, and only vote for those who will honor their oath of office and stand up to bullies like Oregon who would declare anyone an “imminent threat” and disarm the with no hearing or charges. That’s a violation of not only the 2nd, but also the 4th Amendment, as it’s definitely unreasonable search and seizure. Stand up to idiots who would say they want to ban “machine guns” but then say that ANYTHING that can increase the rate of fire is illegal, as they know perfectly well that simply being semi-automatic means the simple trigger can do that, as they are working to disarm all Americans.

Make no mistake, they know that if they ever disarm the citizenry, the criminals will still be armed, and they want that, as they want a police state. They want total control over ALL ASPECTS of your daily life. First they’ll disarm and declare Martial Law “to protect us.” Next certain cars aren’t “environmentally sound” so they’re taken, then certain speech is “hateful” so banned. I’ve studied End Times Prophecy for over 25 years, and this is the world that will come to pass when Satan installs his puppet, and then rules. Which side are you on? Do you stand up for your own rights, or will you bow when told you have no rights?

Shifting the blame

A running theme in movies for decades has been where the villain will tell the hero that all of the people who’ve died are because of the hero. Yes, they pull the trigger, throw them off a building, run over them, or otherwise commit the murder, but they almost always tell the hero that the death is actually the hero’s fault. Sadly, this plot line has moved into real life. We’ve seen thugs attack police, and after the police office defends their life, it’s the PD’s fault or the Jury’s fault that the town is destroyed by riots. Students at UC Berkeley have rioted more than once, over invitations to a speaker and when anyone asks them, we’re told that they are “just protesting hate speech.” At one point, someone was struck in the head with a bike lock, which could have killed that person, but these people maintain that it’s because a conservative group invited a speaker, so if that person had died, they’d lay all the blame on students who invited someone to campus, not the person who swung the lock, and this is what must change.

Sadly, with how pervasive the attitude of “it’s all your fault, I’m innocent in everything” is, this is a change that will take decades, but it is possible, if we’re willing to work for it, and can live with the whining. We start with the children, recently a group of middle school students refused to be in a photo with Paul Ryan. On the surface, this seems like nothing at all, as the photo was not required, but simply because Ryan doesn’t blindly support Obamacare and isn’t fighting to expand it, they call him evil, say they hate him, and worse. This leads to what we saw with VP Pence giving the commencement speech where a group of college students walked out of Commencement when he took the podium. While I wouldn’t advocate expulsion for the middle school students, I would hand out detentions or suspensions for anyone who did more than simply say “no thanks, no photo,” for the disrespect. For those who walked out on the sitting Vice President, no degree until you issue a public and sincere apology, meaning a video either tweeted, posted to Facebook or another public site. For eight years, conservatives were told “we won, get over it,” or from Valerie Jarret “it’s our turn now” and that Republicans had to go to “the back of the bus.” If anyone had even objected to Biden speaking at a college graduation (not walked out, just said they didn’t want to hear him,) or a DNC Senator came to a middle school and someone refused a photo, there would be screaming about “stop forcing your politics on others” but not now, and that’s what has to stop.

Parents will tell you it’s Ryan’s fault, the disrespectful students will say it’s Pence’s fault, and so on, just as the evil mastermind tells the hero that the deaths are on his hands because he didn’t give in, or wasn’t fast enough. Rather than just “not my fault” any more, the left actively blames the right for all of their actions. UCB students riot, it’s the conservative students’ fault for inviting such hateful people! People destroy a city rioting because a police officer wasn’t put in jail after defending his life? It’s because America is a horrible racist country! Only when we force responsible behavior from a young age, only when we hold people accountable for their own actions, and when we don’t give in when they cry about it not being fair that we expect them to be responsible for their actions, will we even stand a chance of turning this around. Yes, states like NY or CA will be last, and we’ll see them crying and hear the wailing about the “oppressive state of America,” where people who do bad things are punished for those bad things, but we’ll also have to listen to them crying about how their votes are suppressed by the rest of the country, because by that point, only NY and CA will likely be electing Democrats, which of course means that the GOP President is #nottheirpresident since the other 48 states “stole the election.” Although, we could also hope for a giant meteor to hit before then, and just make it so we don’t worry about anything any more, right?

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

It seems that, as unlikely as I would have said it was, Trump Derangement Syndrome is so much worse than Bush Derangement Syndrome as to make 2001 to 2009 look like the left loved life and Bush was the second coming of any deity you can imagine. President Donald Trump has, in the last 4 months or so, fulfilled a good number of his promises, and has been insulted and accused of everything up to and including treason for it.

Looking at this administrations first days, there are three items that pop into my mind as to the height of TDS, the temporary halt on issuing Visas, the wall, and the latest accusation, that President Trump shared “highly classified” information with “the Russians.”

Starting with the immigration issue, this is not a “muslim ban,” or is it a “ban” of any kind, rather, it’s a temporary freeze on any immigration from a handful of countries where terrorist attacks are so high, that we cannot currently weed out anyone bent on hurting Americans should they pose as a refugee. We’ve heard, for years now, that the refugees are women and children, but if you look at France, the Netherlands, Germany and any other European country taking refugees as fast as they show up, you see a huge difference, the “refugees” are almost all men between 18 and 45, the perfect age to be used as troops. Where are the “women and children who just want to escape a horrible situation?” The answer is simple, they’re still there, left behind by those who already have them subjugated, and wouldn’t let them go no matter what. This leads to one end, the stories we see coming out of Europe daily, rape epidemics, attacks on people who aren’t muslim, entire swaths of European cities declared muslim only zones, and more. The latest news from France, the election of Macron as President, will only spell the end of our once greatest ally, France will fall.

Keeping with immigration as a topic, President Trump also promised to build a wall on the US/Mexican border, and was immediately attacked as being racist. For this to be true, though, it would have to mean that no other race has or will enter the U.S. illegally via the Mexican border and we already know that a great number of middle eastern men have done just that. Add to this the demands from Mexican citizens in the south of that country for a wall to block illegal immigration from Guatemala, and the question I’ve asked for years is only made more poignant, why is the U.S. the only country on the planet that is racist for wanting our immigration laws to be enforced? U.S. citizens going to Mexico on vacation (meaning to spend a good deal of money) are harassed and worse on a daily basis. One man was in the wrong lane and begged to be allowed to turn around as he tried to explain he could not legally cross the border into Mexico, but was made to do so and jailed immediately, while a woman was jailed over simple OTC medication, which she was offered back at her release. It’s abundantly clear that Mexico not only hates the U.S. for our prosperity, but also covets that very thing, and is doing all they can to send as many citizens north as possible, or they were until January when that number started to drop, simply due to the possibility of a wall. Cute commercials of a man getting building materials to make a door in the wall (destruction of federal property) or lying about the heritage of a man responsible for starting a major U.S. business (Anheiser Busch,) we need to stop the hype and screaming, and go back to where we were only 40 years ago, when our border laws were enforced and our people were so much safer.

Finally, the recent story about President Trump sharing “highly classified” information with “the Russians.” Just a few years ago, Barack Obama told Putin “I’ll have a lot more leeway after the election,” such an ambiguous statement that we never found out what leeway he gained, but when President Trump does what he is legally allowed to do, the world goes insane. The Washington Post has named only one source, and that person has called them liars for their story, but no one seems to care. WaPo runs with a story based on anonymous sources, the three men in the room all deny the story has any truth to it, but no one cares. President Trump has said on more than one occasion, that we need to work with Russia on many things, and stopping the spread of terror groups is something that everyone should agree on, but the left screams about “Russian collusion” and “hacking” as if that makes it true. A Lt. General who wrote the book on standing up to civilian leadership, who knows how to stand up for his own worth, has stated the WaPo story is false, and the media just twists his words to say “he’s saying this tiny bit is false, so he must mean the rest is true.” When someone says “it did not happen” that means “it” as in the whole thing!

The solution to this entire mess is both simple and so complex that I wonder if we’ll ever see it even attempted. The media needs to find the medium between 2009 to 2017, where they praised Obama as the world’s only hope, and now, where they vilify President Trump as someone Satan would run in fear from, and just report fairly and honestly. The left needs to grow up and do what they demanded the right do for 8 years, accept the loss from November. Conservatives have been targeted by the IRS under Obama, told to go to the “back of the bus” by his officials, and screamed at for being racist for everything said about wanting criminals to be punished for assaulting Police officers and the like. Much like 2009, the election from the previous year is over, Hillary is not President, and no amount of screaming will change that. For eight years, liberals have demanded “tolerance” from conservatives, so it’s time to practice what you preach. If a student group invites a speaker you don’t agree with to speak to them, you do not have any right to assault them or damage school property in response. More than one hundred people are learning that due to their actions on Inauguration Day, as they destroyed property and committed assault, and are now being charged with those crimes. Only when the people who resort to these methods are held accountable for their actions, and no screaming of “I have a right to protest” or “you’re censoring me” stops the arrest for the crime committed, will we even have a chance of moving in the right direction.

Changing the Narrative

Over the last 40 years, the U.S. has seen a lot of change. The last three years of the 1970’s saw gasoline rationing, hostage crises in the middle east, and in general, the world seemed to be gearing up for something big. The 1980 election, however, saw a change, with the election of Ronald Reagan. His “Are you better off than you were four years ago,” resonated with the American people, and ushered in eight years of low taxes, smaller government, and in general, a country that had happy and prosperous citizens. As is the norm with any political environment, the pendulum swings back ever few years, and we saw that happen in 1992 with the election of Bill Clinton. For eight years, taxes went up, the Military was scaled down, haunted by scandal, and in general, not allowed to easily do its job. The attacks on September 11th 2001 saw a swing back, only to have a reversal eight years later, and another eight years after that, bringing us to the current administration.

All of this, taken as a broad picture, doesn’t seem too out of place for any other era of American history, but the smaller moves happening over this time frame set the stage for what we have today. The movement in the 1970’s, protesting against any form of Military Engagement, or the “Make love, not war” era, saw the beginning of our troops being branded murderers or worse. This, naturally, started small, with just those coming home feeling the brunt of the movement’s ire, but over time, this has branched out. The Military was just one arm of Big Brother, out to oppress those it was told to. President Reagan was shot, the first President since J.F.K. to be attacked, but survived, starting the debate on Gun Control, which continues to the present day, and naturally, is one that stays heated to the boiling point regardless of who is doing the “debating.”

Other aspects of the country’s culture have also changed as well, from how taxation is seen, how those less fortunate should be helped, and how those who are different from the norm should be treated. Forty years ago, if you were to claim to be different, the world mostly said “good for you” and expected that you be a productive member of society, and that was it. Today, special accommodations are demanded, protests are held, and the country is all but held hostage to a minority of the population. This, sadly, stems from another product of a changing America, education. The 1970’s saw a diversion in teaching from certain topics. English and math, naturally, were left as they were, as how to write a paper or solve an equation would be hard to change, but history and other topics, well, they not only involve facts, but emotion.

The movie Dazed and Confused tells the story of students in 1977 getting out of school for the summer, and shows a history teacher telling “Okay guys, one more thing, this summer when you’re being inundated with all this American bicentennial Fourth Of July brouhaha, don’t forget what you’re celebrating, and that’s the fact that a bunch of slave-owning, aristocratic, white males didn’t want to pay their taxes.” (Dazed and Confused – 1993) Having gone to college to study history, this is a blatantly biased thing to say, as those who “didn’t want to pay their taxes” were being taxed by a government that didn’t have anyone in the Colonies to see what was happening, and those taxes did very little for those paying them. (Stamp Act, Library of Congress) The British government, after the Seven Years’ War, was buried in debt, and so, levied a tax solely on the American Colonies in an attempt to alleviate their debt. The Colonists, naturally, didn’t like paying taxes and getting little to nothing in return, does this sound familiar?

In hindsight, yes, the Stamp Act was a minimal tax, but seeing a government willing to tax only one group of their citizenry, with said tax being largely just to recoup losses from war, sat very sourly with those being taxed. While it was mocked in the TV show Sleepy Hollow, with Ichabod Crane being shocked that while the Colonies had a revolution over the Stamp Act, the sales tax in modern times is accepted, the difference is still clear. In 1765, the British Government in London levied a tax on only the Colonies, and used a majority of that revenue to recoup losses from a war that did not involve those being taxed. Sales tax today is levied by a government duly elected by those being taxed. Yes, I personally think it’s a bit high, and would like to see it go down, but rather than a revolution, every two years, Americans are able to either keep those who are in power in power, or replace them, which is what the American Revolution was about, representation, not just taxes.

Having won the War of Independence, the new country sought to lay out laws that would not only benefit the people, but also show that one group would not be unduly burdened for any other to flourish, giving us not only the Constitution, but the Bill of Rights. In the first Ten Amendments, we see that all Americans have the same basic rights, and for almost 200 years, this served the country well. Many will point to slavery or women’s suffrage as examples that the document was flawed, but one needs only look at the social mores of the time, and to how changes came to see that the American model has much to offer to other forms of governance. Yes, slavery happened and it wasn’t until the mid-1800’s that the American people came to blows over it. After a bloody war, where people often fought those they loved, slavery was done away with, those freed from their bonds were helped to assimilate, and the road to true equality began.

Women were not allowed to vote until the early 1900’s, (19th Amendment) and yet again, the mores of the time are the reason. Yes, women were, are, and will forever be an integral part of society. However, the world at the time of U.S. independence from Britain was a vastly different one than we have today. The jobs were far more demanding physically, far more dangerous in many cases, and thus, women weren’t able to perform at the same level as men. Add to this, those now running this fledgling country were all raised under an almost feudal system, and it falls to reason that, at least at the beginning, they would be governing both in a way similar to what they saw early in their lives, and in a way so as to make the system better. From a system where only men who owned land were citizens allowed to vote, to one where every male could vote, to what we have today, the growth shows a country dedicated to the ideals set forth in the Constitution, but also one that had to have a starting point, so they could not only govern themselves, but also grow in how they govern.

Sadly, this growth has empowered those who feel they are slighted to feel that anything they are “denied” is a “right” they should have. Free speech, for example, does mean you are free to say what you wish to, but you are not free from the repercussions of said speech. Freedom of religion means you may practice your religion how you feel is right, but you are not free from seeing others do the same, and religious icons are not “government sponsored religion,” but rather often honor a group that should be honored. The world has come from a time when people were oppressed by a government to follow the official religion of the state, to one where you may follow your heart, be that in going to Church, or not having any religion at all. Today, however, that is perverted into telling students they cannot wear certain things, cannot pray over their meal, or must learn the ways of a “culture” that simultaneously claims to be a culture and a faith.

The world we live in today, while more dangerous than the world the Founders lived in, is seeing a change in how the dangers are addressed. For over two centuries, the right to keep and bear arms was just that, the right to own weapons. Many point to it being so that a militia could be formed quickly in times of need, as the Colonies didn’t have a standing army, nor could they quickly arm one, contrary to the world of today, but the verbiage is very clear when it states “the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” (2nd Amendment) Many today make the claim that this means only those who could be drafted should have them, that the amendment means muskets, or that because we don’t need to form a militia any more, it’s no longer valid. Cases of mass shootings are brought out to show that guns are the problem, and blatant lies are told to try to disarm the public.

For over two centuries, firearms were seen for what they are, tools with the power to harm and kill, and so, the use of one to harm or kill was prosecuted, not for using a gun, but for harming or killing another. Those screaming for everyone to give up their guns forget or ignore that mankind has been fighting and killing each other since the dawn of our history. Cain killed his brother with a stone, David killed Goliath with a pebble. In recent history, we’ve seen an attack in Europe where a man used a truck to kill, or on an American campus where the attacker only had a knife. Every day we hear stories of battered women, where their attackers used their bare hands. The issue here isn’t the tool used for violence, it’s the heart of the person committing said violence. Watching social media, those calling for women to be armed, to lessen restrictions on firearm sales that are useless, and for people in general to educate themselves with regard to this issue are attacked. Claims that they want to “put weapons into the hands of those who beat their wives” are made, ignoring that if these women had a firearm, they could either ward off an attack with the threat of force, or if needed, fight back from a much stronger position, but that doesn’t sell papers.

Crime in general is also reported on from an emotional standpoint, such as in the case of how to handle “hate crimes” or cases of rape. In early 2017, four black teens kidnapped a special needs white student, kept him bound, beat him, and tortured him for more than a day in many other ways, yet when it came time to charge, them, there were cries that it wasn’t a hate crime, simply because the criminals were black. On the other side of the issue, any crime committed against any minority group is instantly a hate crime, no matter what, in essence, telling the world that white Americans have fewer rights than non-white Americans. Rape, a horrible crime on its own, for a time had people on the fringe trying to defend rapists by accusing the victim of dressing so as to invite it, or worse. Sadly, those who spoke out against that argument, but who also wanted to teach women to defend themselves, were accused of trying to protect the rapists of the world. “Just teach men not to rape” was a mantra for many, as if you can teach those who are violent criminals not to be that, rather than locking them away for life.

We, as a society, have been told for many years what “the problem” is, from racism, to guns, to “rape culture,” to equal rights, and every time, those telling the world are completely wrong in their stance. If you want equality, don’t demand special treatment. If you want safety, don’t demand everyone else disarm, and if you want tolerance, practice what you preach. As long as parents of small children who don’t want someone who is biologically male in the women’s restroom are called bigots, as long as those who point out that the minority applicants were not qualified, as long as all white people are called racist simply because they’re white, the problems we are facing today will persist, and get worse. The question therefore stands, how many will recognize the first step, and take it?

At the core of this fight is a system of beliefs that are so diametrically opposed as to make one question how they could even exist in the same country. On the left, the core belief is that in order to provide any service, the Government must take money in the form of taxes, and then subsidize said program. On the right, the belief is that worthy programs will be funded by the people directly, allowing the programs most favored to flourish, while those seen as unneeded or detrimental to society will fall away. Naturally, this breeds discontent and anger on both sides, as one group will remind the world that “a needed program is being cut” while the other will repeat that programs which the people do not approve of should not be funded by force.

The image above shows the normal narrative used by those on the left, attempting to portray that cutting a program, or pursuing a goal will harm others. What this does not show is that programs which the world supports, when not funded by taxes, will be funded by donations. Looking at the image, the artist would have the viewer believe that the Christian voters of America are so bent on overturning Roe V Wade that they are trampling orphans, widows, and strangers. In the early days of the Trump administration, many Democrats took to quoting scripture, such as where Christ speaks about feeding the poor, or the “Insomuch as you do unto these” reference. What is left out, however, is that these are commands to his followers. He is not speaking as to say we should surrender all we have to the Government, allowing them to choose who will benefit from funding, but rather, is telling is directly to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless and so on.

This is the core of the struggle for America’s future, two groups bent on control, one totally unwilling to compromise, the other only willing to compromise minimally. There are many symptoms of this fight, some used by the media for ratings and to attack certain people or groups, others harped on incessantly to fight for “rights” for some groups, and others ignored or marginalized so as to marginalize those fighting for them. Until there is open conversation, without the infighting and attacks, we will continue to see civility degrade, government fail, and our country grow weaker by the day.
Equal Rights

From Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009 through the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017, the media has been flooded with stories from one group or another about their rights being trampled, or completely denied. From the right to have a cake made by whomever you want, to the right to choose which restroom you wish to use, anything that is desired becomes a right, and is fought for as if not having it will end in death. Some moves were made, such as a directive to all fifty States from the White House, instructing them that refusal to allow students to use the restroom or locker room for the gender they identify as could result in penalties, which was quickly rescinded in the early days of Donald Trump’s administration. When this happened, the media began to report on how transgender students are being outed and required to brave dangerous environments, as if rescinding a directive, which has no power to be enforced, would suddenly turn public schools into 1939 Poland and Germany, with arm patches and concentration camps. Celebrity social media was filled with tearful and angry posts, and the truth was ignored. This was not about outing anyone, or forcing anyone into danger, it was about what the Constitution, at its core, stands for, the right for States to decide when the Federal Government is not explicitly given that power.

Prior to this, corporations came down on both sides of the isle, with some opening up their restrooms and changing rooms based on identity, and others falling to the right, enforcing the Men’s and Women’s rooms were for those who biologically were Men or Women. One example is Target, arguably a giant in the retail world, issuing a statement that they would allow people to choose, only to have another statement not long after that, announcing expansion plans being cancelled. To most people, this shows the heart of the free market, capitalist society that America has been for years is working. If a company acts counter to your beliefs, you are free to choose if you wish to spend money with them. Unfortunately, this is counter to the agenda for the left, which is to say, it’s allowing people to choose not to follow their orders.

The same time period, 2009 to 2017, also saw more than one example of a business forced to close, and in some cases, the owners forced to move, simply because they chose not to do business with someone. Too many, this is the core of a capitalist society, the “we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone” sign that used to adorn so many businesses, but this is no longer kosher for the left. As a child, I saw businesses rise and fall based on this very principle, simply because customers talked to each other, and either started or continued patronizing a business due to good service, or avoided a business due to unfavorable practices. Today, however, if a business makes this choice, the left react by suing and demanding their right to be served. The opposite is not true though, as when a man called on thirteen bakeries owned by a gay man or woman, he was refused, and nothing was done.

This is due to two factors, first that the man did not sue, but rather chose only to post the results of his calls to be viewed by those who wanted to, and second, as many believe, he would not have been successful. As this story states, you can state that bestiality is wrong, or that polygamy is wrong, and no one will bat an eye, but to say that gay marriage is wrong means you are a hateful bigot who attacks others and you must be destroyed. Questions such as if the gay couple went to a bakery owned by a Muslim were asked, and shrugged off with mere repetition of the party line that the baker the couple did go to is evil being the only thing heard. I have actually posted that I would never be a wedding photographer for a gay wedding, as an experiment, and was met with almost total rage and hatred. Even with my instant comment, which was pinned under the post, as to ensure it remained at the top, stating that my statement was due to the fact that I am not qualified to be a wedding photographer for anyone, I was accused of bigotry, called every name under the sun, and in some cases threatened with violence. I wonder what the reaction to someone posting they would never be a photographer for a traditional wedding would be? With or without the addition that they aren’t a photographer, it can almost be guaranteed that the reaction would be what the author intended, humor. This, therefore, shows that society has come to a point where not providing a service that must be paid for is seen as wrong, while the government subsidizing able bodied adults’ desire not to work is defended as a needed social service. The willful ignorance, sadly, leads to far more, and will only be solved, at this point, by swift action, and the strength to stand by that action until it’s shown to be the right choice.

In the same arena of conversation, the opposite side of the coin is getting worse by the year. While a private baker refusing to bake a cake is a national court case, many are being denied their rights on a daily basis. At the heart of the 2016 Presidential race, among many issues, was the dependence on government “benefits” that has taken over as income for so many. Stories abound about fraud, from people collecting benefits owed to the dead, to having multiple accounts, to using said benefits for unauthorized purchases. March of 2017 saw the screaming escalate, as programs such as PBS, Meals on Wheels and Planned Parenthood saw their federal funding either drop dramatically, or totally. Naturally, the media begins the preaching that these are needed programs, people will die without them, or another emotional approach, ignoring the facts to the contrary. PBS, while they would see a decline initially in their funding, would not be broke and forced to go off the air. Private donations would increase if their donors suddenly have more disposable income, not to mention the millions of dollars a year in revenue from merchandise just using Sesame Street, which is not a new idea. Yes, initially they would see a drop in the money coming in, which might mean shows that aren’t popular are moved to a new time, or cancelled. Perhaps they won’t be 24/7/365 for a while, but none of this is “killing public broadcasting.”

Continuing with this train of thought, one needs only look to Houston, Texas in the latter years of the Obama administration to see actual rights being trampled, and a silent media. In October of 2014, the city of Houston became the center of a major debate on religious freedom, as Pastors were served a subpoena to surrender copies of upcoming sermons for review, to ensure that no “hate speech” was included. This is also a part of the movie God’s Not Dead 2, released in the spring of 2016, where a Pastor is jailed after he refuses to surrender his. Houston didn’t see things go that far, as the Pastors sued the city for violating the First Amendment, and the issue was later just dropped. While a gay couple screams that their right to choose any baker was denied, Texas Pastors were threatened in an attempt to censor what they could preach. Sadly, both of these incidents, along with the bathroom debate, have set precedents. On the issue of Pastors being made to have sermons approved, the precedent is on their side, but on the other issues, it’s squarely against the vast majority of people in the country.

At the heart of all of these issues, though, is the same thing, religious liberty. The right to worship and believe as we are led to. As a Christian, this right is fundamental to so many in the world, and only a very few countries recognize it as a right. This, naturally, means that non-Christians are also free to worship and believe as they see fit, including those who choose to not worship, and for decades, even centuries, all of these groups live in relative peace. Growing up in the 1980’s, I can remember asking why Fort Worth seemed to have a Church everywhere I looked, and even the small town where my family was had more than a dozen, and it struck me as something I wanted to know more about. My parents explained that not everyone was the same, and so, some Churches weren’t like ours, as well as everyone who believed the same not being able to attend the same Church, just due to size. Naturally, as I grew and learned, I found more and more about the differences, and sadly, saw those who believed differently than me grew in their vehemence that everything was an affront to their right to religious freedom.

To read the news or watch any commentary on television, you would hear so many stories about minorities oppressed by “alt-right” groups. Stories of homosexuals who feel they aren’t safe because of Christians, or other bigotry, but the image above is more indicative of society today. Christians are told they can’t say certain things, while the opposite is not true for those “oppressed” by Christians. Step onto almost any university campus today, and you will see signs up for every club imaginable, just not many, if any, for conservative groups. Stories abound from universities like UC Berkley about conservatives hounded until they leave, or events cancelled after a speaker was invited, yet these are never called what they are, censorship.

Counter to the image above, showing just how violent some on the left can be, others stick with the preemptive model, hounding those hosting an event until a speaker is uninvited or the event is cancelled. After The Triggering, an event where speakers such as Milo Yiannopoulos took political correctness to the woodshed, however, the country saw just what students want, which is to be pandered to and protected. The aftermath, with the world having seen the very students demanding tolerance showing obscenities at the speakers, Amherst College Republicans were accused of being a “hate group,” and others demanded that the University Administration apologize to students for hosting the event.

Having attended University in Texas, much of this was not present, and what was, well, it was as minimal as to not even need much ignoring. Yes, there were calls for something not to be said because it was “hateful,” but the professors quickly shot those demands down, enforcing that in order to learn, you must be exposed to many things, not all of which you will find pleasing. Education isn’t about learning only what you find appealing, and shunning what you find bad, you must learn about what you dislike if you are to either fight it or avoid it. With students given “safe spaces” where they can color pictures or play with toys at every “triggering” they will enter the work force and not be ready for the first performance review that isn’t someone just lavishing praise on them. Those seen in the videos of The Triggering, you could almost bet, will be the first to go to their H.R. rep about a “hostile work environment” when counselled about attendance or performance, something anyone else should know is part of adult life. Unfortunately, those about to enter the adult world are woefully under prepared for this, to the point that the North Bend Public Library, in Oregon, has begun offering classes in Adulting 101, teaching skills such as cooking, changing your own oil, and other tasks that previous generations often learned from their parents before high school. Until common sense is returned to society, sadly, this trend will only get worse, until there is an entire workforce of people who demand that customers not be mean, by asking them to do their job, and far more.

The heart of this issue, sadly, is simple common sense and education. During the 1980’s, students were taught that they must be responsible for their actions, true, but also that they could not force others to do what they want. A recent comic depicting then and now, where the parents for Then, shown a failing grade on a test, asked the student to explain, while the parents for Now demanded the teacher explain. Not only does this show children that they aren’t responsible, but that they can make others change to suit their desires. This, naturally, leads to bigger problems as these students grow, enter University, and eventually the workforce. During the 2016 election, students at more than one University demanded that they be given “safe spaces” where they wouldn’t be “assaulted” by speech they disagreed with, as shown when a simple chalk inscription of the word Trump on a sidewalk was decried as a hate crime. When President Trump was declared the winner, other students demanded that their exams be postponed to allow them to “deal with the tragedy.” While not in school at the time, no one should remember anyone even asking for time off from class after the September 11, 2001 attacks. When Princess Diana was killed in the 1990’s, British students didn’t demand that school be put on hold, just as students in 1963 didn’t even suggest time off after President Kennedy was shot.

Counter to this attitude of demanding everyone stop when they’re offended, of needing a “safe space” where even ideas they aren’t fond of are banned, when confronted with the world not bowing to them, these same students lash out with violence and hate. An event at the University of California at Berkley, where Milo Yiannopoulos was to speak, sparked a riot where an employee attacked a man, Milo was forced to leave due to threats against him, and parts of the University were set on fire. The Inauguration of President Trump in January of 2017 saw much of the same in Washington D.C., with attendees blocked from entering an event on public property by people who opposed the new President, businesses damaged, and cars and more set on fire. While those in D.C. have been indicted, as of March 2017, little to nothing has been done at UC Berkley. Where the world goes from here, having watched “pranks” like the knock-out “game” or those in New York involving masks and apparent weapons, and now this, is a very scary question in deed.

The 1950’s and 1960’s saw the Civil Rights Movement, protesting laws where people of color couldn’t use certain water fountains or restrooms, had to ride at the back of the bus if they were let on at all, or had “separate but equal” schools, today sees students and adults crying racism at the drop of a hat, such as when someone is arrested, resists, and the police react, or when they aren’t hired for a job they feel they deserve, yet aren’t qualified for. When asked why so few in their demographic attend higher education, the answer that “colleges are racist” is given in some form or another, either decrying testing, financial aid, or another aspect of the admissions process. That, however, has now evolved into Cultural Appropriation, where students are attacked for having dreadlocks or an afro, women are asked to remove braids from their hair, or worse, because “they appropriated the style from another culture.” Some counter these claims with questions of why those screaming about this wear clothing that was designed originally by Caucasians, or eat food that was developed in Europe, thus, “appropriating white culture,” and while a witty rejoinder to their claims, this normally just evokes more hate and violence. In early 2017, a female athlete was approached by a black woman, who demanded the athlete remove braids from her hair, only to then physically assault the woman when she didn’t follow these orders given to her by a stranger. She later claimed she didn’t do anything to the athlete, although witnesses support the victim.

When did it become OK to jump to physically assault someone over a hair style? The simple answer, sadly, is that it became OK due to others defending these attackers because of “systemic racism” being so bad they feel as if they’re already under attack, so they’re “defending themselves.” This claim would make it sound like simply wearing a hair style they feel is part of their culture is the same as assaulting them. As long as this isn’t immediately shot down, the attacks will only get worse, until the inevitable end is reached, and someone is killed because of clothing or their hair. The hard truth is, though, that it will be extremely hard to do, as it will mean jail, community service, harsh fines, and more, when these attacks happen, as well as not charging the victim with anything when they defend themselves. Much like some states will charge you with murder for shooting someone who would have killed you otherwise, there needs to be common sense reintroduced to the system, punishing those who act wrongly, and defending those they hurt.

Another example of the arrogance in today’s young adults and teens, are the “pranks” and “games” that emerged in large urban areas such as Manhattan. In one instance, someone will be punched in the back of the head in an attempt to knock them unconscious, and this is called a game. As it went viral, others began to “play,” and in some instances, choosing the wrong mark, leading to their “game” turned on them, only to have them start whining that “it’s just a game” and trying to press charges against the person they tried to assault. Others, with just a modicum of common sense, choose “pranks” in the form of masks designed to frighten and (mostly) fake weapons. They then hide in an area and wait, ultimately charging at or chasing someone. While most of the marks just run, some fight back, either hand to hand, with pepper spray or stun guns, while others who are licensed, have detained the “pranksters” at gunpoint until the police arrive. In virtually every instance of this happening, they instantly can be heard yelling “it’s just a prank” and clinging to that defense like it’s a get out of jail free card.

In the end, their arrogance is used as a defense, with some only given a slap on the wrist, because they “don’t know any better,” although if the roles were reversed they’d do the same thing and defend themselves. As this arrogance seeps through society, we also see truly horrifying extensions of this, with examples of “affluenza” actually being cited in court, and working! The most well-known of this is Ethan Couch of Burleson, TX, who while driving under the influence at only 16, caused an accident that took multiple lives. He was, however, only sentenced to 10 years probation, then later found in Mexico, having fled the country. This incident isn’t the only one though, as in California saw the Brock Turner case, where a promising college swimmer sexually assaulted an unconscious woman, but only served 3 months in jail, while in 1969, Senator Edward Kennedy drove his car into a pond, leaving Mary Jo Kopechne to die in the water. While Couch and Turner were sentence, Kennedy never served a day, and was able to retain his seat in the U.S. Senate, despite being responsible for another person’s death.

The attitude that “they don’t know better” because they were raised never having to say they were sorry, well, it’s an excuse that has been used time and time again for all manners of infraction. Kennedy and Couch took lives, Turner is guilty of sexual assault, and nothing was done to them, or nothing near what should have been done. In these cases, and this is one of very few examples, were the assailant/driver not white, or not extremely wealthy, no one can honestly say that the sentence would have been the same. Sadly, it’s true that someone from a middle class family, white or not, would have had the book thrown at them, because they know right from wrong, so the question is how do we stop the trend. The simple answer is to not give special treatment to those with “affluenza,” but there is little chance of that happening. Another idea would be forced counseling with confinement in a rehabilitation center, as in virtually every case of this happening, drugs and alcohol are involved. Perhaps if Mr. Couch had lost his freedom for a year, where he was not only forced to dry out and sober up, but also learn about why he can’t do anything he wants, if and when he’s a father, his wealthy children won’t end up like him, but that is almost just a pipe dream today.

The root for all of these issues is the same, selfishness and upbringing. The very people demanding tolerance are the most intolerant of all, because for years they’ve been told they’re special, they’re right, they should be in charge, and now they’re entering the adult world. There have been cynical posts about when telling someone no will become a crime, or when simply breathing in their presence will lead to them killing someone, but those aren’t really too far-fetched when it comes to possibilities. With women decrying “rape culture” where some even contend that “reverse rape,” or not having sex with them when they want to, is possible, is it any wonder that the world is seeing more and more attacks, poverty and worse? Until those demanding special treatment are forced to accept the very treatment that they have a right to, and nothing more, the cries about patriarchy, sexism, racism and more will continue.

Another side of the issue is the push for acceptance, or to end “shaming,” in any form they say it exists in. Young girls are wearing clothing that few would have worn in private only 30 years ago, yet it should be accepted as a form of expression. Few would agree that the victim of a crime is the reason for said crime, but in a world where girls are taught, daily, that “all men want to rape you,” why would the same people push for allowing them to wear what amounts to lingerie? Others call for “fat acceptance,” decrying Doctors for “shaming them” when it’s pointed out a woman who stands only five foot six inches tall shouldn’t weigh over 300 pounds, as that could easily lead to heart failure. While there are examples of women who are large being healthy and attractive, those screaming for acceptance are those who want to walk around in little to nothing, or who want the “right” to not be “shamed” for being morbidly obese.

Thus is born the idea of privilege, or more simply that “I’m just as good as you, but you got the job/guy/raise/etc. because you’re thin, or male, or what have you.” This argument would see the requirements that you prove you can lift sixty pounds from the ground to a shelf over your head, as that’s “health privilege” and just “shames those who aren’t the same kind of healthy.” The confirmation hearings for Neil Gorsuch show another side to this as well. A law student came forward, accusing the Judge of sexism as he put forth an example where a company might ask female applicants if they have plans to get pregnant, and if so, when. To this student, the Judge was suggesting companies have a right to discriminate, while he was pointing out that women would get a job, then once insured, get pregnant, have the child and take maternity leave, then quit, so as to use the system. Others argued against the student, suggesting simply that knowing if an applicant has plans to have a child helps with staffing plans, scheduling, training, and so on, and were all accused of being just as sexist as the Judge. So far, the only argument that is being left alone is the one where the same company asks all applicants if they have plans where they will need significant time off in the next eighteen to twenty four months for any reason. Some tried to say this was “hiding sexism” until it was suggested a man may be going in for surgery and need a month or more off to recover, at which point the debate simply went quiet, as it became obvious that the other side wasn’t willing to accept that they weren’t right.

At this point, there is now almost an entire generation entering the adult world who have been taught for almost two decades that they have “rights” that others don’t, that they shouldn’t be “shamed” into anything, and that anyone who opposes them is just trying to keep them down. The world will soon see how they fair in the work force, those that enter it at least, as many have degrees that did not exist only 15 years ago, and which offer no qualification to work in the modern world, other than as a teacher for that very degree. There is a chance, however minimal, that when confronted with a company not accepting taking time off whenever they want, with or without explanation, and without adequate notice, or a company that doesn’t tolerate claims of racism or sexism that are nothing more than crying wolf, they may grow up, but that’s a long shot.

Sadly, the more likely outcome is that companies will be driven out of business, or will at least be forced to pay due to suits, when these new adults aren’t given the corner office on day one, or aren’t allowed 2 hours, paid, for lunch, because they need to “center themselves to handle the stress of doing their job.” There is some hope, as more and more companies are adopting a new hiring style, wherein the application is all online, and clearly states that stating race, gender, religion, or attaching a photo will be grounds for immediate disqualification from the job. The first interview is completely automated, the next via phone but with a person, and only step four actually has face to face interaction. It will be deemed discriminatory, but a system where the company goes out of their way to not know race, gender or see you really shoots that down. These companies have a chance to survive, but for how long is unclear, as some in this new crop will enter public office, and while there will always be two sides of the aisle in Congress, which side has more people will determine the direction the country takes.

Where you come in is simple, stop standing by and watching, only voting every few years. Get involved with young people, even if it’s just to help them find a way to play in the park safely. You’ll be able to help them realize that just because they want to swing, doesn’t mean the others on the swing have to stop. Or that just because they want to play with the puppy does not give them the right to enter a stranger’s yard. Volunteer at the library to tutor, or with a local group to teach a skill. Not everyone needs to go to college, programmers, engineers, attorneys, teachers, sure, but we need mechanics, welders, ranchers, and more, few to none of which are college programs. A young person could easily hire on with an auto garage, learning as they go, gaining certifications, and ultimately own their own garage while still fairly young, making really good money, and having no student loans. This isn’t to say we should discourage students from higher education, but why encourage it, if you see the path they want doesn’t need it. Simply put, young people today need to be told no once in a while, helped to understand why they were told no, and educated as to what they can do, when told no, that doesn’t involve the equivalent of a toddler’s tantrum. Only time will tell if it was too late for any of this to work.

Once again the left shows their true colors

Last night, President Donald Trump addressed both houses of Congress, and as we had seen announced, the Democrats chose to act like children by inviting those they say he is targeting. Notice, however, that none were (likely) rapists, drug dealers, gang members, or likely even here illegally, who are those that the President has said need to be addressed. Also remember that President Clinton and President Obama both addressed the need for border security, although they did it only when it served their purpose, then changed as the political winds changed.

It’s a sad situation when the people in charge cannot, or worse, will not, acknowledge that the President is doing his job, and has the power to do just that, and that’s where we are today. President Obama blocked immigration from hot beds of terror more than a few times, yet no one said a word about it, nor did they say anything about his “I have a phone and a pen” style of working. Today, however, when President Trump enacted a temporary delay on immigration from seven countries identified by the Obama administration as hot beds of terror, a Circuit Court Judge decided he could step in and tell the President to stop. This has to stop, now!

For eight years we have been told by the Obama administration that we would need to tighten our belts, that we didn’t build that, or that things were now racist, and must stop. Yet, when a President takes office and states that he’s going to fix the broken immigration system (which the previous three Presidents all said they’d been elected to do) it’s “racist.” When he says he’s going to lower taxes, he’s “taking from the people who need,” and when he states he’s going to repeal and replaced a failed health care law, he’s “leaving people in the cold.”

No mention is made by the left of his words last night that pre-existing conditions would be covered, or that he’s going after those here illegally with more than that on their record. Just as it was twisted when President GW Bush said he was not expanding federal funding for Planned Parenthood (it was screamed he was making all abortion illegal, which was a lie,) President Trump’s words are being twisted and worse. Sadly, you could show video to these idiots and ask “where did he use the exact quote, using the the exact words you did, in that order, and without any others” and they’d point to a video of him saying something totally different.

We need to do more than fix the immigration system, we need to fix elementary, secondary, and higher education. We have a generation being taught that Christians are evil bigots who, by simply saying Merry Christmas, are “forcing conversion,” while Muslims attack and kill simply because their victim isn’t Muslim. We have teachers who gleefully tell their children that marriage or abortion is a “right,” while in the same breath say that only muskets are a right under the Constitution. Until we teach the younger generation properly, we will stay on track for a country that will tear it’s self apart, and it will be far more violent than anything seen thus far.

More from the “tolerant” left

For the last eight years there have been a few things we could count on the left to repeat, ad nauseum. First, Sascha and Malia were off limits and “attacking” Michelle for her looks or intelligence on a subject was “low.” Today, though, Barron is attacked left and right, Melania is attacked for not speaking perfect English, and if you bring up that Barron is a child or Melania is not the President, you’re then attacked for “defending them.” I have an acquaintance who blocked me when I pointed out they had, personally, told me that the Obama girls were off limits, after he went on a rant and attacked Barron. Well, today at least, the attacks aren’t aimed at a child or mother, but I don’t think that will last long.

Here we have a woman who has never served in the military, nor likely will, and I’d bet never worn a pair of military dress shoes or combat boots. Now, in the era when Trump would have been drafted (the mid 1960’s) the footwear was likely far less kind to someone with bone spurs, but as is the norm today, it doesn’t matter.

Speaking from experience, my Mother has bone spurs in both heels and has had surgeries to help, but still has them. She still played tennis after they were diagnosed, still walks fine, but with shoes meant to allow this. I know that the dress shoes in the military or combat boots would have her incapacitated in minutes, and I’m talking about the options today, not 50 years ago. But, once again, let’s ignore than a MEDICAL DOCTOR diagnosed the bone spurs, or that Clinton literally dodged the draft, rather than getting a deferrment, and Obama never served either. This only comes up when the DNC is either running a Veteran against a non-veteran, or they’ve lost. John Kerry was held up as a paragon of virtue in 2004 for serving in the U.S. Navy while George W Bush “only” served in the National Guard.

This is the blatant hypocrisy that must stop, or we’re doomed to watching our country burn. For eight years, Obama refused to properly (or at all) return salutes given as ordered, ordered Marines to hold an umbrella when they were not allowed to, and attacked our military right and left, either in quotes or by denying funds, yet it’s all about how wonderful the DNC was and how evil the GOP is today. President Trump is attacked as you see above for this story

I’ve read the article, and while I would have urged different phrasing, he is NOT attacking the troops or suggesting they are personally not fighting to win, but that 8 years of being hamstrung means WE aren’t winning wars today, and that needs to stop. If anything, this is a direct blow at the Obama legacy, yet rather than read it and understand it, we get more of the same, just attack the man because you didn’t vote for him.

Yet another attack, although on a different topic, came in the form of this image.

I would love to ask how they feel about a President who presided over the loss of a U.S. Embassy because his Secretary of State ordered troops to stop when they were headed to give aid. I wonder what he’d call a President who has crippled our military financially and logistically? Oh, wait, he voted for the man, so Benghazi was Hillary and Obama knew nothing, and of course, cutting spending was the right way to go, because he said so. I’m not sorry Hillary lost, and I called it when she “won” the DNC nomination. I’m not sorry the country once again had the electoral college do exactly what it was designed to do, that being keeping a handful of states from dragging the entire country into their choice. This is the system we have, and unless an amendment is passed, then ratified by enough states, it’s the system we’ll have for a long time. If you want to see the Democrats win again, start from within. You ran a candidate that has blatantly ignored her responsibility for the death of a U.S. Ambassador, who has told American parents that they’re not going to be the only ones raising their kids, and who said almost verbatim she would continue everything Obama started. She’s adamant that every citizen be disarmed, but will still have an army around her, and she’s just not able to accept that she lost. Start from within, learn and accept that the DNC is not the only party, nor will it ever be. Accept that just because someone doesn’t agree with you, they aren’t attacking you, or censoring you. Learn how to debate and disagree without attacking and belittling someone. Until this happens, until the left is once again a group of civil and logical adults, I see loss after loss after loss. Even more sad is the fact that Congress could be 100% GOP, the POTUS a Republican, and SCOTUS 100% conservative, leading to low taxes, a fully funded military and other departments, a balanced budget, and so many other wonderful things, and the left will still be screaming about something. It’s like the jokes have said, if Trump cures cancer he’ll be trying to put the grim reaper out of a job, and if he shat a gold brick, they’d complain it came from him.
As for those who sent these Tweets, I used screenshots as I don’t want to give them any hassle or unwanted traffic. I don’t retweet or reply to them because I don’t agree, and I also know I’d not get a debate, but hate in return. You? Well, you can make your own choice.

A dangerous path

It seems that officials in California are now being open about wanting to silence all dissenting opinions. At present, they’re introducing a bill to require non-profit organizations to name all donors. We’ve seen TV stations bow to pressure to cancel TV shows because the stars are Christian, businesses sued out of business for holding to their beliefs, but now it’s everyone who simply gives money to a charity organization at risk. Suppose someone who supports abortion finds out you gave to a Pro-Life group? They’d have all of your information, and mark my words, if this is passed, we WILL see attacks and possibly murders, based only on someone donating to a charity.

The left has been losing their minds slowly since the 1970’s, but it’s been kicked into overdrive in the last few years. While accusing the right of being evil, violent, and wanting to silence everyone, they’re only describing themselves. The “protests” at airports have seen people attacked and knocked unconscious, and it’s only getting worse. The question though, is how do we turn around? How do we fix this?

Simply put, we can’t just fix it, but we can slow it down. If this passes and you’re in California, mail money orders and don’t give your name, or give cash and give a false name. You don’t have to give ID when donating, and the charities know it. Next, get the list of who’s donating to groups that incite violence, or otherwise spread hate. Don’t use them, but let it be known that you have a list of all donors to “Group XXX” and it wasn’t hard to get. For those not in California, don’t visit or otherwise spend any money that goes into the state. Maybe, if the state government sees tourism dollars going down, they’ll realize they aren’t the only people in the world. Hollywood has already threatened to cancel the Oscars, and some celebs are calling for a full strike (no movies at all) until Trump gives them everything they want. I say we make the choice for them, stop going to any movies with those people in them. They seem dead set on ordering the world around, then threatening to hold us at gunpoint by threatening to not perform, so let’s tell them it’s no longer their choice. None of them will be financially hurt if they stopped today, and trust me, there are 4 actors trying to get into the business for every celeb in Hollywood, we won’t be hurting for movies to watch or TV shows.

The people screaming for secession or a strike need to be forcibly reminded that they are not in charge, they are not the only people that matter, and that they cannot bully others into doing what they want. If that means I read and listen to CD’s for a while, so be it.

More hypocrisy and such to start your week

Imgur Link

So, I got sent this today, and as I expected before I even opened it, I knew the comments would be nothing but attacks and arguments. Well, I wasn’t disappointed, as naturally, there were the “Those who thought Obama was muslim think Trump is Christian” comments, there were comments about how since “Jesus was from the middle east, he’s not allowed in” and more. One person did bring up that Christ was born in Israel, which is not on the list of countries listed in the Executive Order which was signed regarding visas and refugees. Outside of the idiots screaming that this is a “ban on muslims” while it’s not, when did we get to this point? When did the world officially accept that it’s completely OK to denigrate only one group, while forcing everyone to tell that very group they aren’t allowed to say anything deemed offensive? I’ve been told I’m racist, a bigot, a sexist, and so much more simply for disagreeing with someone over the last eight years, only to watch as those same people are losing their minds that Trump not only won in November, that the screaming about the Electoral College didn’t work, the recounts didn’t work, the moves in the House to block the confirmation didn’t work, and that he was finally inaugurated on the 20th of January. For eight years anyone who questioned Obama’s citizenship was berated, anyone who suggested the man was not a Christian was shouted down, and anyone who dared suggest that Obamacare wasn’t going to work other than to take money from people wanted to see the poor kicked into the streets so they die slowly for the GOP’s entertainment. Now, those people who demanded not only silence, but praise for their “tolerance” and “forward thinking” for eight years, have completely reversed course, and demand that we not speak out in support of a President we voted for, that we not speak for any policy, and of course, still demanding praise for their “tolerance of such hateful bigots” as they haven’t killed anyone yet.

Think back, if anyone who voted for McCain or Romney had blocked a highway after they lost, how long would it have been before either they were arrested or worse, were dead from a liberal running them over? Today, though, police actually said that protesters at some airports could block the roads for 15 of every 30 minutes. Yes, they were ALLOWED to BLOCK ALL TRAFFIC, which is completely ILLEGAL because they didn’t get their way, yet even if an Ambulance was screaming THIS MAN WILL DIE IF YOU DON’T MOVE, they’d stand their and “embrace their right to protest” until arrested for causing the man’s death, and then scream and whine in court that they have a “right” to protest.

So now my customary statement on how we got here, and simply put it’s due to an entire generation being told they get a trophy for showing up, they make the team because they want to, never having been told no, never having been told something is wrong, and now a generation of young adults believes it’s “wrong” to not hand them money because they want it, or to not give them any salary they demand, or to do everything they want. Thankfully the vast majority of them will not run for office, so while the House and Senate will have a very few of them, I hope for a day when it’s mostly people just there to do the job. When one runs for President, the meltdown when a major party won’t nominate them will be glorious, and the nuclear explosion when they aren’t elected will put the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to shame.

Sadly, Thanks to eight years of Bill, only an eight year break and much of that with a DNC Congress, then eight years of Obama and his “I have a pen and a phone” mentality when Congress didn’t bow and do everything he demanded, we’re many years from even being close to raising children who will learn math, science, english, history and so on, but not that Christians are bad, Muslims are just misunderstood, and the government is God and should be obeyed without question. I just hope we survive to see that day.

Terror attack, multiple victims die, but let’s attack those who don’t vote for our ideas

Before the rubble is clear or the victims buried, CNN “journalist” David Andelman took to his keyboard to blame the politically “far right” for “using the Berlin truck attack” for their own ends. What’s funny is I only see Merkel and the left leaning publications putting anything out about this so as to attack the other party. It’s no secret that the left wants unfettered access to every country, at least every country with something they can say is a “right” and thus, demand be given to them for free. We’ve seen attacks in France, the U.S., and now Germany, carried out by “refugees” who were allowed entry with very little vetting, only to vanish until they attack. Quickly after the attack, we see three things. We see a solidarity movement, the “Je Suis Charlie” hashtag after Charlie Hebdo was attacked, the countless people trying to get some publicity by “standing with” those at OSU, although those there, who were almost killed, were criticizing the Police for shooting the attacker, rather than trying to “subdue him.” How long until we see someone claim that German Police shouldn’t have been so quick to kill the murderous idiot behind the wheel? Next, we see a call not to blame all muslims for this one person’s actions, despite ZERO condemnation from the muslim community who claims to be “moderate” or not support terrorism, while groups like ISIS or another claiming they were responsible. Finally, we see the ultimate politics, the “this is just fueling the fires of fear, we must not let this happen, we must not abandon our values” despite the “values” letting people into a country, just to see those people start destroying it. Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and the other leaders who have allowed these animals free access via being “refugees” have blood on their hands, and will never admit it, or face any consequences for it.

Thankfully, people are waking up. I’ve seen comments about the Berlin attack along the lines of “America has spoken with their election of Donald Trump,” and that is true. Americans are tired of being told they’re horrible for not “tolerating” certain “lifestyle choices” although we’re told they’re not choices. We’re tired of being told that we must give trigger warnings, or that there is “rape culture,” and that students need “safe spaces” where they aren’t “assaulted” by conflicting points of view. We’re tired of being told that to be good, we must give up rights, and more and more each day. Hillary Clinton promised more of the same, and the country said no. Yes, people cried and moaned about the electoral college being out dated, and how she won the popular vote, and on and on, but that is precisely why the Electoral College was created as it was. Without it, a handful of cities (NYC, Chicago, LA, San Fransisco) could swing an election, but with the Electoral college, it doesn’t matter if all of Cali, NY and IL go blue, they’re limited to their E.C. votes, so that the other 47 states aren’t ignored. Despite the tears and tantrums, the left also face the obstacle that Barack Obama has moaned about since he took office. He’s on record that the Founders set up a system that’s hard to work around, for which those who don’t like him are grateful. I’m not familiar with the German setup, but the people there are getting fed up too, so I’d be surprised to see Merkel still in office after the next election.

Simply put, just because you want something doesn’t mean you’ll get it, nor should you. I know that there are women and children who are not terrorists, and never will be terrorists willingly, in the countries refugees are coming from, but sadly, they’re not the only ones coming. With them are hidden agents, sent as refugees to carry out attacks. They can’t bring in bombs or guns, so we see knife attacks and trucks running through markets, but those are just as bad, as people still die. The world watched in shock as the American people elected Trump just over 6 weeks ago, then again yesterday as the Electoral College did their job and made it official. Many are crying that he’ll send the U.S. back in time, China is hopping mad that he answered a call from the President of Taiwan, simply because China wants Taiwan, but can’t get them, so they tell the world it’s theirs anyway, and no to legitimize them, only for Trump to refuse to bow to pressure. Yes, there will be more screaming as the southern U.S. border will get a barrier in some places if not all, and there will be changes to immigration, stopping the deluge of “refugees” who aren’t being vetted well enough (if at all.) There will be deportations and imprisonments, and just as Trump said, it won’t be mothers and children, but rapists, murderers, drug dealers and the like. Trust me, as I see only one to two years before this country is well on it’s way to being, once again, a true leader in the international community.

But enough from me, what do you think?

Society today in a nutshell


We’ve all heard this joke or one like it, as well as seen the meme about one group or another shoving a spike in their bike wheel then blaming who they hate. Sadly, this is all too common today, and it’s getting worse. I’ve been harangued by women for “daring” to hold a door as if they’re too weak, or for “sexism” when I am just polite. Women have gotten to the point where their first reaction is the “I have a boyfriend” to everything, as if literally every male on the planet is about to rape them, and it’s thanks in no small amount to the media harping on “rape culture.” The big question I have is not only how we got to a point where it’s now almost genetic to instantly try to vilify everyone around you, but also how we stop the trend. When a uniformed officer has the Police called on him for being in uniform in a class he’s taking, we’ve officially reached the tipping point. The very people who scream about rape culture or how all cops just want to kill people are the very ones who then scream that the Police don’t care as they didn’t get to them fast enough when they’re robbed, or that the Police (whom they called) “acted rashly” when the KNIFE WIELDING TERRORIST was shot and killed. They bemoan the “poor misunderstood refugee” who was “forced into this course of action by islamophobia running rampant.” Had Police waited, tried to talk him down, and more people been killed, I can guarantee that there would be calls for Officers to be fired, if not hanged at dawn.

These same people, who claim to be educated and intelligent, are also calling on the Electoral College Electors to vote against the will of their states. I’ve pointed out to many people that the Electoral College was put in places so that a handful of cities/counties doesn’t decide the election. Trump won almost ALL counties in NY, but due to NYC, the margin was close. He won many counties in California, but due to LA and San Fransisco (almost solely due to them) the state went to Hillary Clinton. The same people who would be calling for me to be shot had the situation been flipped are calling for me to be all but shot for standing up for the system in place. Had Trump lost the Electoral vote but won the popular vote, he said he might not accept it, and Clinton called that a “threat to democracy” only for her supporters to do that very thing. Had the roles been reversed and Electors pressured to vote for him instead of Clinton, you can bet there would be demands that the Electors be fired, no matter if that was legal, but the reason for that is the very people now screaming to be handed what they want no matter what, are the very people who’ve been given just that since childhood.

For more than 15 years, and likely more than 20, children have not been told a grade failed, or that they didn’t win the race, so as to “not hurt their feelings.” Academics are a joke, as teachers are so heavily leaned on to ensure their students do well on standardized tests, that all they teach (almost) is that very test. I started elementary school in 1984, and I don’t remember being traumatized when I was told my answers weren’t right, so I didn’t get a high grade. Nor was my life ruined when I competed and didn’t win. The problem, is that the high school students of the late 1970’s, who cared more about Woodstock, drugs and “doing their own thing” are now parents of mid to late teens, and those children have been raised “free to find their own path.” This has ruined a generation, and I can only hope not the world forever. Children need discipline in their lives, and being spanked, sent to bed without dinner, or just having toys or technology denied them will not traumatize them. The reason these special snowflakes aren’t disciplined is simple though, they’ve learned very well that by simply threatening to tell someone their parents abuse them, they get their way. Personally, were it my child threatening that after I take their phone or game away, I’d hand them the phone. Before they dialed though, I’d ensure they know that they’ll be taken away, likely put in a state home where there is no PS4 or Xbox, no cell phones, and certainly no life anywhere near what they have. Unfortunately, some of these little twits need to be allowed to report the “abuse” and be taken away and put in state homes, so they realize that being made to clean up or do their homework isn’t abuse. Maybe, just maybe, if one or two had their lives upended for “reporting abuse” they’d learn, and then be able to tell others what happened, but, sadly, they’d just blame their parents for “not stopping it” (by giving them whatever they want) and continue to cry and whine.

Unfortunately, the only way they’re going to learn is the hard way. They need to be arrested and jailed for the false hate crimes reported since Trump’s win. They need to be told to grow up when they tell their professor they don’t like having a uniformed Officer in class, and they need to be told that just because they studied 19th century women’s art done only in pink, they aren’t better than anyone else, and thus, they don’t get to dictate how the country is run. Only when they’re firmly told to grow up and then made to do so, will we even have a hope of starting the road back to where we were only 30 years ago.

Friday thoughts

In just over two weeks, it will be Christmas. That wonderful time of year when we see tantrums in stores over toys, fights over the hot item, and a general de-evolution of the human species, as they return to primates fighting over the sharp stick or last bit of food. I’ve been out shopping at midnight on Thanksgiving night twice, and will never do it again, as the first time I watched someone almost attack a Police Officer for not letting them break in line, then a year later, watching as people were almost trampled over kitchen gadgets. This year, I did take a day off (November 11th) to be up early and in line for my NES Classic, although that was just a bonus as I took the day off initially to be able to attend a basketball tournament my nephew was playing in. Even more than two weeks before Black Friday I was hard pressed to not think it was, as people were more concerned about a game than with anything else. In my first example, WalMart had a BluRay player on for $9.99 or $14.99 (I forget, it’s been a good while) and had stated well before that night, anyone who didn’t get one that night, would still get one at that price, it would just need to be when the next shipment arrived. On November 11th, I got to Target at 5:30 and they didn’t open until 8. For the first hour or so, it was me and 6 other people, one of which was there to get something else launching that day. By about 7:00, the manager came out to check the line, and found only the 7 of us, and told us the store only got six units. We were all happy, as the 7th guy only wanted the new Garth Brooks CD set. As more people showed up, we told them that they wouldn’t get one there, and that the last we heard, other stores opening later had no lines, and they thanked us and left. But, by 7:30 or so, they just stuck around, and when the manager told them the same thing we had, most started to complain, one even accusing her of hiding others so she and the other employees would get them. To me, this shows the same attitude we saw just after Super Tuesday and continue seeing today, the “I want my way, give me my way, or I’ll throw a tantrum and make life miserable for everyone” mindset.

For years we’ve heard from the more liberal people in the country that we need to be more tolerant, and more accepting of everyone’s differences, but they seem to not need to do that very thing. I’ve been told to kill myself, that someone “knows where I live and is coming” and more, for nothing more than posting an opinion. The “I know where you live” was, incredibly enough, on a very conservative site, where I and others were going back and forth about hypothetical laws. Naturally, as a Texan, I’m well armed almost all the time, and not frightened of some wacko coming over, as (like I said) I’m in Texas, and should some idiot show up intending harm, the law is on my side. But, why is it OK to scream at me I must be tolerant, then threaten my life? The simple answer, it is not! In 2000 and 2004, the left bemoaned Bush’s cabinet choices, with some even suggesting he should be required to appoint Democrats or their picks, so someone can keep an eye on him. Funny enough, that was never even mentioned in 2008 or 2012, but with a GOP House and Senate coming in, and an upcoming transition to a Trump White House, the moaning about the cabinet is back. People have called for the Democrats still in office to filibuster all appointees, which is to say, stop all work being done and just stall so there won’t be a cabinet. Thankfully, Senator Reid ended that possibility not long ago when a DNC item was filibustered.

When they aren’t bemoaning the horror that is someone actually thinking for themselves, or blocking highways in protest, they’re crying about the Electoral College. I’ve commented on several posts, explaining the E.C. as it does serve a purpose, only to be called names and insulted. Simply put, without the E.C. the cities of LA, NYC, San Fransisco and Chicaco could almost decide every election for POTUS. If you look at a map of election results by county, you’ll see a far greater amount of Red than Blue, but now that the E.C. went to Trump and the popular vote didn’t, suddenly we are told to just do away with it.

There’s a problem there though Skippy, you can’t just do away with the Electoral College. You see, it was created in the U.S. Constitution, so must be changed or done away with by a Constitutional Amendment. So, first you need to have someone call a Constitutional Convention, have enough states say OK and attend, have enough agree to the amendment and put it to the states, then enough states must ratify it. So, unfortunately for our special snowflakes, the Electoral College won’t just be going away, even if they manager to retake Congress.

So far, the world hasn’t ended, no one’s been nuked, and as far as I can tell, a high percentage of the stories about people being verbally abused or worse by Trump supporters are false, although I see more of the stories about Trump supporters being attacked being true far more often. Yes, Trump said he’s going to drain the swamp and protect our borders, which surprisingly, the vast majority of people living on the border want done. He did not, however, say he’s going to find and deport all illegal immigrants in a day. What he said is he would start by focusing on those with criminal records being being in the country illegally, those who we know are raping, assaulting, robbing and killing. Personally, after those are gone, go after the citizens doing the same and put them away for good. Send them to Sheriff Joe in AZ and put them to work. I know there are good people who came here illegally, so why not help them gain citizenship, so they earn more? Oh, can’t do that, or you’d be taking away their culture. After all, they fought to escape a horrid life, only to protest to make America just like the country they fled. America is the only, or one of a very few, country on this planet that doesn’t have an official language, or as open a border as ours. If you even try to enter Mexico illegally, and you’re lucky enough to avoid being shot, you’ll spend a LONG time in jail, but we can’t even send them back to their home country, or we’re “oppressing them.”

For those who are screaming for Sanctuary Cities or Campuses, go for it, but don’t come crying to me when the government pulls funding from your city or college. You see, it’s the law, and if you publicly help people break the law, you become an accomplice, and thus, are guilty of a crime. The University of Texas was the first to publicly start the Sanctuary Campus movement, pressuring the University PD to not help I.C.E. or other law enforcement, and if the PD does, they’ll find the Texas Rangers authority doesn’t stop at the border of the campus. Sanctuary only does one thing, embolden those that claim it. The UK has, for years, not fought the tide of Muslim immigration, and now there are signs being put up that tell citizens not to walk their dogs, because it’s not clean for Muslims. Yes, people are ordering British citizens to not use public places, and it’s not being fought. The OSU madman who used a car and a knife to attempt the murder of other students was a “refugee,” but all we’re hearing now from those at OSU is how the Police were too quick to shoot, should have listened to the idiot, or how it’s our fault because he felt he had no option due to the “Islamophobia” today. I’m sorry, but if you are attacking and trying to kill people, I’m not going to buy you a latte and ask you about your feelings, I’m going take you down as quickly as I can, and in a manner that best protects those around you. The only good in this, is that it shows that the “hands up don’t shoot” idiocy was just a line for TV, as this idiot was actively attacking people when shot, so it’s not about “innocent people of color” being killed, it’s just about attacking police. I wonder, what would happen were the police to start telling people “why don’t you try talking to them, try to understand why they’re doing this?” Or, if they said “sorry, but we can’t come out, since we’d have to kill the attacker, and you don’t want us rushing to judgement do you?” Naturally, the narrative would flip and become “Police don’t care about those they are paid to protect” from the current one.

The simple truth is this. The world isn’t fair, and won’t be as long as we wait on the second coming of Christ. Trump won’t end the world, nor will the GOP controlled Congress and Senate. In fact, you’ll likely see taxes go down, the economy get better, and in general, life will just go on as it always has. Personally, I’m waiting to see how the news spins it when the country is either better off, or at least, not in the sewer, in four years. We hear nothing but how Trump is going to destroy the country, but in 4 years, when we’re better off, what will they say? But that’s enough ranting from me, what do you say?

The truth is much stranger than fiction

It’s been said that art imitates society and that the truth is stranger than fiction, but today those are being taken to the extreme. Four and eight years ago, when Barack Obama won the election for President of the United States, a large percentage of the country was upset, as they did not vote for him. Yet, did we see riots in the streets, people attacked and killed over their vote for him, or other threats made? No, we did not. By and large, those who voted for McCain and Romney went about their lives, going to work, paying their bills, and just hoping for a candidate that could eventually represent them. Just a few weeks ago, that happened, yet those who voted for Hillary Clinton won’t accept that. I recently saw a post that said the Cubs were being forced to give up their World Series win, as the Indians had scored just as many points over the series, so they felt they should be co-winners. This, naturally, is a joke, but it is very close to the claims being made by the Clinton camp. In 2000, when Gore was defeated, there were calls to end the Electoral College, and those are being made again this year. What no one seems to understand, or care about, is that you can’t just do that.

The Electoral College is part of what the 12th Amendment encompasses and thus, cannot be changed or removed without another amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Contrary to what those who are now screaming would have you believe, this cannot be done by Congress, but must happen at a Constitutional Convention. If any of them can get their representative to call for a Convention, and if enough states agree to it, and if the amendment is passed, and then if enough states ratify it, GREAT! That’s the legal and proper way to do it, but demanding that it “just be done,” well, that’s nothing more than a toddler having a fit that they didn’t get their way.

Much like those above, there are also celebrities promising to leave the country forever if Trump was elected. Now that he has been, and their attempts to scare or threaten people into changing that have failed, they’re still here. So far, of all of them, only a very young star, Miley Cyrus, has said anything about it. In her tearful video, she admits she’s very upset, but at the end, says she accepts the election, and accepts Trump as President. I’ll be the first to admit, that if Sam Jackson leaves the country, it will be very hard to continue with many Marvel Studios properties, as he virtually is Nick Fury, but to have someone tell the country “do what I want or I’ll take my ball and leave” is not how things work here. That’s a playground tactic from elementary school, for a child not picked for a game.

But, that’s enough from me, what do you think?