Getting Onboard

Upon reflection, I've decided my last post was, as my mother might have described it, "entirely too" negative. I listed all the "have nots" and "do nots" with no nods to the positive courses of action open to all of us. More specifically, I never mentioned all the proactive steps I have taken to do something about the societal rot chewing out our national foundations.

No doubt each of you has your own thoughts on how to get onboard in fighting back against the totalitarian tides flooding our country. I encourage all of us to keep thinking of new ways to continue battling our way out of the mess we're in.

Two years ago, I joined PragerU as a supporting member. I look forward to his half-hour "Fireside Chat" each week. The Prager website is loaded with quality content of all kinds, from 5-minute videos, to lectures, to children's shows. One can view all of it for free, but Dennis makes so much sense that I'm putting my dollars where his mouth is. Membership in PragerU is monthly money well spent.

After Elon Musk purchased Twitter, I reactivated my account; it had been dormant for many years. Supporting a free speech advocate and a social warrior for our nation's foundational values is an easy, positive move every civic-minded American can make.

For at least ten years, I've been checking the RealClearPolitics website daily. There aren't enough hours in the day to read all of its content. But there are enough high-traffic articles from various publications and interviews to provide an overview from both left and right perspectives. It's still important--perhaps now more than ever--to know what those people who disagree with me are thinking and doing.

In place of the Fox News app, I've added NewsMax to my phone's home screen. NewsMax is growing in its reach and popularity. I've always been an occasional visitor to the NewsMax site, but after the Tucker Carlson debacle at Fox, I'm there far more often. Since last year, I follow Jordan Peterson on Instagram.

Podcasts are another medium we can support to further the reach and influence of free speech. The past few years I've been a dedicated listener to Victor Davis Hanson (my favorite), various Salem News Channel hosts, Byron York, and Townhall Review. I've recently added Megyn Kelly to my regular roster, with occasional visits to Dave Rubin and Glenn Beck's podcasts depending on the topics. There are so many others that are worthwhile, but there is only so much time available in a day. Each of us can find our own cache of podcasters to tune in to find reliable news commentary and analysis.

If you're a Netflix subscriber, you know that there are a lot of trash offerings on the site. One can spend almost as much time searching for a decent Netflix show to watch as it takes to actually view it. On a few recent weekends, I've given up on Netflix and rewatched one of my own DVDs (yes, I still have them and won't give them up).

Then I remembered the recommendations of several friends that I should watch The Chosen, a dramatized story of Jesus Christ and his ministry. Last week, after a fruitless Netflix search for a Friday night movie, I searched The Chosen online and learned that it was crowd funded by Angel Studios.com and is free to watch. I downloaded the Angel Studios site just to check out the first episode; I have been binge watching The Chosen ever since. When I'm done with Season 3, (probably tonight), I'll have more to report on this remarkable series. Suffice for now to say that all the rave reviews I've heard are well deserved. It's a quality production that is as far from trash as one can get in this depraved moment in time. I believe that any show promoting our traditional values should be supported--especially if it's excellent, as The Chosen is.

Those are some examples of how I'm trying to hold my own against the current authoritarian tide. Each of us who is concerned for our country will find our own ways to get onboard. It's just good to know that we're not alone in the struggle.

Checking Out

The FBI is denying any retaliation against whistleblower agents. A spokesperson for the Bureau has asserted, "The FBI has not and will not retaliate against individuals who make protected whistleblower disclosures.”

Right. Just like the southern border is secure. Does anyone with a functioning brain cell believe these people? I use the word "people" loosely. They are disgusting creatures. Why are we tolerating these lies and travesties? I, for one, can't listen to or watch them. I have fairly well checked out.

What do I mean by "checked out"? I'll provide you with a few random examples.

I haven't watched network news--ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR--since 2015. Ever. Not only will I not view them, I avoid their links online. Speaking of links, I will never click any link posted by Rolling Stone. Ever since they glamorized the Boston Marathon bomber on their cover, I'm done with them. Forever.

I haven't bought or read a newspaper in more than ten years. I don't have cable television since 2018; I watch my news online, usually on Rumble. When Fox News pulled Tucker Carlson off the air last month, I retaliated in my own small way. I pulled their news app off my phone. It won't be coming back.

There are other institutions I have left behind. For example, the Academy Awards. For decades, I would plan my calendar around "Oscar night." Now? I don't think I've watched the Oscars in at least a dozen years. Furthermore, I don't miss it. To be brutally honest, when the headlines about it start hitting the homepages I visit, I'm relieved to have missed it.

I haven't watched pro sports on TV since the kneeling began. Sorry, no can do. (Well, maybe the occasional hockey game. But that's all.) While I used to go to the movies regularly, I haven't paid to see a theatrical release since before Covid. I deactivated my Facebook account years ago.

I'm sure I'm not the "Lone Ranger" in my personal rebellion. Victor Davis Hanson, to whose podcasts I am thoroughly addicted, encourages all of us to protest the vicious totalitarian grip on our society "each according to their station." As much as Big Media/Tech/Gov't would like to, they can't cancel/destroy/arrest all of us.

This used to be a free country. It should be still. If enough of us dig in our heels and push back against the relentless onslaught of blatant lies and nonsense, we can be free again. This is the only country we've got, fellow Americans--let's do this. Find your own ways to check out and just say "NO."

Growing into Mother's Day

Ever since my mother died three years ago, I tend to view Mother’s Day differently. When I was a daughter, the holiday has a different feel to it. It was not so much my own holiday, but rather about acknowledging and honoring my mother and her enormous impact on my life.

After she left me behind, I’ve graduated to become the matriarch of my own family. With all due respect to my late mother, and with gratitude for fond memories and important lessons, I now see Mother’s Day as an occasion to celebrate being the mom of my own children and grandchildren.

My children are the best thing that ever happened to me and my life's most significant achievement. They are now old enough to be solidly middle-aged, although I still see them as youngsters in my mind’s eye. Caring, kind, thoughtful, disciplined, ambitious, humorous, and devoted to their families are only a few of the positive qualities that describe them both. They are good spouses and parents and high achievers in their chosen careers; they have accomplished far more professionally than have I. As their mother, all these are gratifying facts that make me very proud.

Grandchildren are what I call “life’s payday.” They are the delightful reward for all the work, effort, worry, and sacrifice that went into raising my children. If you aren’t there yet, wait until you arrive. You’ll immediately understand how much sheer fun it is to be a grandparent.

So, with thanks to my mother for giving me such a good start, Happy Mother’s Day to me. To any mother reading, celebrate your special day to the skies. Moms have earned it.

Thank you, Mom

Viewing History

If you're watching coverage of a major British event, I have learned that BBC's homepage is the place to be.

I watched Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee coverage on that website last summer, followed sadly by her funeral events a short time later. I also watched Prince Philip's funeral on BBC. They have live, uninterrupted coverage, and it goes without saying that their anchors and commentators are far superior to, and more interesting and knowledgeable than, American talking heads.

So, I watched King Charles III's Coronation events on BBC and was not disappointed. Much to my satisfaction, there was barely a whisper of Princes Andrew or Harry. I think there was one brief mention of both as the cameras panned the pews of Westminster Abbey prior to the ceremony, and the narrators identified prominent guests. From what I saw and heard, there were--thankfully--no further remarks about either of them.

I'm drawn to British events of state for a number of reasons. England is the USA's direct ancestor. Our rights and liberties, as defined in our US Constitution, are rooted in the Magna Carta, signed in 1215 by King John. Having been an English major and History minor in college, I haven't much resistance to such formal occasions.

It was especially refreshing to see such huge throngs of joyful people celebrating, cheering, and proud of their country. I long for a day when Americans can return to such an attitude of gratitude.

Flyover at Buckingham Palace

Return to Ruin

While channel-jumping during my morning commute recently, I chanced upon an interview segment that intrigued me so much I was driven to track down the podcast and listen to the entire show.

Radio host Glenn Beck interviewed Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, author of The Return of the Gods. In addition to several other U.S. Supreme Court decisions, Cahn links the collapse of American morals and values to a specific date in 1962. That is when the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed prayer in public schools.

Although I was very young, I do remember that time. Most of my playmates were public school pupils, while I was attending Catholic school. I would learn new prayers and songs of praise from my friends.

Below is a prayer public school students said together as a class:

“Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country.”

That prayer is not from the Bible or any religious denomination. It was drafted by the New York State Board of Regents. Yes, truth is stranger than fiction.

One song I learned from my friends I liked so much that I’ve taught the chorus to my grandchildren:

Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory

Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory

Rise and shine and (CLAP!) give God the glory, glory

Children of the Lord.

Think of it—that song was taught and sung in New York City public schools little more than 60 years ago.

But back to The Return of the Gods, which I’ve already purchased. “The gods” refer to the false pagan gods of Baal, Ishtar,and Molech, who lie in wait for a nation or civilization to banish God; then they weave their way into the society to inflict ruin. As the first book of Kings shows, it happened in ancient Israel. The old Soviet Union and the current Chinese Communist Party are perfect examples. After the 1962 removal of public school prayer in the United States, the sexual revolution followed almost immediately, along with the escalation of the Vietnam War and the first state legalizations of abortion. Little more than one decade later, the Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court enshrined abortion nationwide. The many same-sex, and now transgender, issues that we grapple with today quickly rose in public consciousness, gaining power as they grew. “The gods” have been busy.

Our moment in history is replicating may past ages, including biblical times. There is “nothing new under the sun,” as Ecclesiastes tells us. “Nothing new” includes sexual depravity and decadence, child sacrifice, wars, idolatry, and even transgenderism. These have all infiltrated societies many times throughout history.

Consequently, there is nothing remarkable about “woke-ism” except human pride and arrogance. Human beings are hardwired to believe in something greater than themselves; when God is missing, there is a huge gap to fill. Look around at the secular ideologies of our modern world and their impassioned devotees. If we’re honest with ourselves, it is easy to see how far—and how fast--we have fallen. "The gods" are thrilled by our decline.

The Return of the Gods author Jonathan Cahn interview

Horse Pucky

Many decades ago, I remember reading that the Roman Emperor Caligula wanted to make his horse a consul. Caligula was depraved, cruel, and arguably insane. Although reliable sources aver that it never actually happened, I thought the Caligula horse story was the craziest in all recorded history.

Yet today we are told, with great seriousness, that men can not only menstruate--but they can also get pregnant and give birth. Today many parents are powerless to prevent their children from having their sexual organs mutilated. Nowadays it is mandatory to accept that there are dozens of different genders, even though there are still only two human chromosomes--X and Y. Okay, the X and Y may get a little confused in some instances, but really, 68 genders? As the current occupant of the White House would say, "Come on, man" ("man?" How sexist!).

Whatever happened to "follow the science" or better yet, "the science is settled." Evidently, it's not when the "authorities" say it isn't.

In the grip of this madness, today there are many crazier stories than Caligula's horse. A horse as a Roman consul sounds more reasonable, and less damaging, than the destructive insanities our modern society is grappling with now. One theory about the planned promotion of Caligula's horse was that the emperor wanted to put Roman politicians in their place. He wanted to demonstrate to them that even his horse could do their job.

Not to be a "neigh" sayer, but when it comes to our current sorry crop of politicians, I'll bet that even crazy Caligula would hesitate to insult his horse with a government position.

Emperor Caligula and Incitatus ~ British Museum

A Closer Perspective

Today I had my annual vision exam. I've been visiting the same eye doctor since she opened her practice 20 years ago. So, although I don't know her well, I've known her for a long time. She is professional, intelligent, polite, and soft-spoken. A note of particular interest to me at this moment in time is that the doctor is originally from Shanghai, China.

After my eye exam concluded, the doctor asked (as she always does) if I had any questions. I said I did, but it wasn't about eyes, and could I ask? She agreed, so I asked her what she thought about China's recent actions in the world.

This calm, quiet woman's face grew fierce with disgust. In an impassioned torrent of words, my doctor detailed her criticisms of Chinese President Xi. To sum up, she described him as "stupid" and "uneducated" and punctuated her understated tirade with expressions of her personal hatred for Xi and for what he has done to both China and the Chinese people.

I expressed regret if my question had upset her, but the doctor seemed relieved to be able to speak about it to me. She told me that she has been a US citizen for 30 years, as if to reassure me that she's an American. This pained me, because I hadn't wanted to put her in any way on defense. Her parents, now deceased, used to help in the office when she was establishing her practice. Other young family members work there now, so I knew her family had all immigrated safely from China many years ago. Had I not known that comforting fact, I would not have asked her the question.

I was simply curious to know her opinion, since China was her native home. The doctor has a closer perspective on, and a deeper understanding of, what is transpiring in China today. It is no consolation that she is more outraged than I am.

Easter in Days Gone By

Manhattan Skyline ~ Easter weekend, 1956

 

 There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, 

The earth, and every common sight,

                          To me did seem

                      Apparelled in celestial light,

            The glory and the freshness of a dream.

It is not now as it hath been of yore;—

                      Turn wheresoe'er I may,

                          By night or day.

The things which I have seen I now can see no more.

~ William Wordsworth 

The Unasked Question

In the wake of every tragic mass shooting, we Americans watch the eruption of the same fight over gun control. It's a lazy response to a heinous and urgent problem, and it solves nothing.

The impassioned debates and protests after a mass shooting play out on an endless loop. There are arguments about the need for guns, the types of guns, how the laws should change, what should be done to protect the public. Sadly, the victims themselves are quickly overlooked as the political players shift the focus to their entrenched positions. It's a sickening spectacle, and it never changes--except to grow more enraged and less effective.

In all the ideological jousting, there is one question that doesn't get asked. Or, if by chance it does get asked, it is swept aside with shocking rapidity as the shouting voices press their favored agendas.

The question that needs to be answered is: "What made the shooter pick up that gun?"

Until we as a society insist on an answer to that question, we will relive this repetitive horror show throughout the duration of our country's demise.

Lincoln Called It

As all the lost civilizations of ages past demonstrate, it is very difficult to reverse a great nation's downward spiral into destruction. The study of history, now an ignored endeavor, would teach us this stark fact. The concept of critical thinking, a largely lost activity in our modern world of emotional reactionary thinking, would assist us in concluding that the United States today is in mortal danger. 

Without knowledge of the past, wisdom in the present, and application of reason, our country will most certainly be lost. In 1838, Abraham Lincoln--remember him?--gave a speech called the Lyceum Address. I've quoted it before, but it has never seemed so relevant as it is today. Nearly two centuries ago, Lincoln put his finger on the enemy within as the killer of our society. 

Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!--All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.

At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide. 

~ Abraham Lincoln

Take a good look at our unraveling society and decide for yourself. Death by suicide. I think Lincoln nailed it.