Merry Christmas

 

“NOEL” by J.R.R. Tolkien

 Grim was the world and grey last night:

The moon and stars were fled,

The hall was dark without song or light,

The fires were fallen dead.

The wind in the trees was like to the sea,

And over the mountains’ teeth

It whistled bitter-cold and free,

As a sword leapt from its sheath.

 

The lord of snows upreared his head;

His mantle long and pale

Upon the bitter blast was spread

And hung o’er hill and dale.

The world was blind,

the boughs were bent,

All ways and paths were wild:

Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,

And here was born a Child.

 

The ancient dome of heaven sheer

Was pricked with distant light;

A star came shining white and clear

Alone above the night.

In the dale of dark in that hour of birth

One voice on a sudden sang:

Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth

Together at midnight rang.

 

Mary sang in this world below:

They heard her song arise

O’er mist and over mountain snow

To the walls of Paradise,

And the tongue of many bells was stirred

in Heaven’s towers to ring

When the voice of mortal maid was heard,

That was mother of Heaven’s King.

 

Glad is the world and fair this night

With stars about its head,

And the hall is filled with laughter and light,

And fires are burning red.

The bells of Paradise now ring

With bells of Christendom,

And Gloria, Gloria we will sing

That God on earth is come.

 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9.6

A Christmas Eve thought

Those are Christmas packages that were mailed to soldiers on the front lines in 1944.  They are the ones whose recipients were either MIA or KIA.  Now they sit in NYC, waiting for Return stickers, to be sent back to the grieving senders.  

I don't know who's to blame for the state of our society today.  Perhaps even the soldiers then played a part.  I don't know.  But it seems we could do better than we've been doing for the sake of those Christmases missed.

From the spectacular miniseries Band of Brothers.  The point:  The laundry not picked up largely belonged to men Sgt. Malarkey knows were killed in Normandy.  I think Christmas works best when we ditch our 'Nothing to kill or die for' mentality and go back to a 'Greater love hath no man than this' way of thinking.   It certainly makes more sense. 

Seems like old times

It was a cold, rainy spring day in 1977.  Most likely March, or possibly early April.  I lived about a mile away from our school, so I walked back and forth most days.  Since my mom was, like most moms back then, a stay at home mom, she would sometimes take me or get me if the weather was too bad.  

This particular afternoon, however, she was nowhere to be seen  after school let out.  There was heavy rain, it was cold, and a battalion of cars arrived as other parents showed up to pick up their kids who normally walked.  But no mom.  Finally, I saw a kid walking by who was in another homeroom class than mine.  It was fourth grade after all.  We each had our own home classrooms apart from the other ones. Even in a small town you didn't know everyone.  

But I recognized him because his mom and my neighbors' mom were friends, and he had been there a couple times when they visited.  I suppose they knew each other from being Catholic.  Catholics were not a majority group in our village by a long shot.  Plus his mom was Lithuanian, and our neighbor Dutch.  So there was probably a bit of the non-native bond, too. 

I didn't know him otherwise, except I was aware he went by my house on his way home.  It wasn't hard to notice.  His dad drove an old, black pre-60s pickup truck with wooden slats, and a big Donald Duck painted on the passenger door.  So noticing him walking to his truck that afternoon, I asked if he could give me a ride home.  Knowing little more about me than I knew of him, he nonetheless agreed and asked his dad if I could get a ride. 

And the rest, as they say, is history.  After a rocky start, he would end up being my all time best friend I've ever had.  More a surrogate brother actually.  He was an only child, and I had one surviving sibling, a sister almost nine  years my senior. Which is sort of like being an only child, but without the advantages. 

I've mentioned him many times over on the old blog. We had many grand adventures over the years, some when we were young and some when we were not so young.  My wife and I still raise a glass of beer as we undertake some annual traditions in memory of the times he and I had, even before I ever met my wife. 

As I said, we were more brothers, and brothers who often had little in common. He loved cars, I cared enough that they worked and got me where I was going.  I preferred to stay home and read and listen to my dad's classical, crooner and soft jazz records.  He loved to party with the popular set and was up on the latest MTV rock group and heavy metal tour.  He was also one of the premier football jocks in a setting that elevated football to Trinitarian levels.  I wasn't.  I ran some track and cross country, and played baseball for a few years in my younger days.  But athletics and I were always distant relatives.  

He, on the other hand, was competitive, athletic, and very cosmopolitan for our rural community.  Partly because his godfather worked in Hollywood and often helped them travel and gave him a heads up on coming trends, like Space Invaders, a host of video games, the latest music news, and of course the upcoming release of some new space movie we might like called Star Wars.  And he was very, very popular.  

Nonetheless, he never cut ties with me.  In fact, apart from 'members only' social gatherings for his various sports teams, he often invited me along with the rest of his team friends when they were out and about.  It would be them with their varsity jackets and me in my customary sports coat and jeans. But the gang and I got on well enough, and he and I would always be there for one another no matter what.  

In college if I needed him at 3:00 AM, he would be there.  Even if he belonged to a fraternity and I  didn't. As can be guessed, he was my best man when I married the love of my life.  And of course I paid back the favor of being there in my own ways over the years.  Even when he lived in California, working in third party companies that rent out to the music world, and we went decades not seeing each other, I knew if I needed him he would be there. 

Over those many years of adventures, we developed certain traditions and traditional pastimes together.  One was always going to each other's home on Christmas Day.  Another was visiting him at least once in the Fall in college when he lived on Columbus campus, before I began attending the main campus as well.  And yet another was, in keeping with the MTV spirit of the age, attending rock concerts. 

Like many things, I was a Johnny-come-lately in that department.  But in the 80s, almost everyone seemed to be attending concerts.  Contrary to some fears in the music world that MTV would cause a drop in desire to attend such events, it seemed to do the opposite.  But not for me.  Again, my tastes had been informed by listening to my dad's music, and I can assure you that did not - usually - include the latest on American Top 40 or MTV playlist.  

But in the summer of 84, several of the gang got tickets for a group that hit it big at that time called RATT. A throwaway group to be sure. And not to my preferences in the least.  But everyone in our cadre was going, and I didn't want to be left out.  So I went, too.  

Despite my low expectations, I was still disappointed.  I can see why they didn't last.  They seemed less invested in the concert than I was.  Though the opening act was impressive. I hadn't heard of that group, but after the concert I told the others that the opening act would probably go places.  They were energetic, enthusiastic, filled with an obvious love of what they were doing, and the lead singer possessed that important trait great entertainers have of making us think we were the only ones in the arena that they were performing for. That opening act's name was Bon Jovi. 

I ended up attending dozens and dozens of concerts over the years, usually with my friend.  The only one we didn't see was Van Halen in 1984, since those tickets were like gold.  But we did see the group and singer after the breakup a couple years later.  Despite it all, I was never a big fan of this, not only because a lot of the music wasn't my cup of tea, but I've never cared for large crowds or loud music.  

Nonetheless, my friend was all into it, and eventually would work in the industry - stage design and setup.  So I went and went again.  In later college and after, he worked for companies that the tours would hire in local areas to set up the bulk of the lighting and stage sets that you see.  It was working in such a setting, BTW, that my friend was able to get some choice goodies for me.  This included a stage hand T-Shirt for Paul McCartney's 1989 world tour and, the biggest of all, tickets for excellent seats for my parents and me to see none other than the legendary Frank Sinatra in one of his last concert tours.  We sat in the center in the first row behind the VIP limo section.  Not bad at all.  A memory I cherish. 

But that was long ago. This year has been a rough year for him.  His mother, who was like a second mom to me, died back in January.  And this November, his dad - the one who agreed to take me home on that cold, wet spring day all those years ago - passed away.  Because of their health concerns, he moved back a few years ago during the Covid lockdowns, living in the same house he lived in when we were kids. Having never married, and with most of his family gone or in distant countries far away, it's pretty much him at this point.  Still in that old house in which I spent many an evening playing games, watching movies, or just crashing after long weekends. 

I met with him after the passing of both parents a month ago.  We chit chatted as always.  Though it's amazing how talk runs dry when you have distant memories to recall, but decades apart otherwise. Still, shortly after our dinner he texted me.  He invited me to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra the day after Christmas when they play at Columbus. 

Now, the Day after Christmas (in some places, Boxing Day) has long been our real Big Day of the holidays.  First, in my ministry days, people sometimes invited us to a Christmas dinner or such things on Christmas Day proper.  Plus, Christmas Day is busy.  That's why, as a pastor, I always took my Christmas vacation starting on Christmas, not before (since unless Christmas fell on a Sunday, no church).

That was something I also did in the secular workplace.  In fact, most people oddly like to get the weeks leading up to Christmas off for vacation.  That left me, even when I had scant seniority, open to get the week after when I wanted it.  So for most of our lives, we usually had the whole week after Christmas off together - at least until the boys grew up and got jobs and their own schedules.

But the day after has always been our big 'kick back, relax, enjoy the fruits of the day before, and chill' day.  So much so that there have been times when the boys said they were prepared to work Christmas Day itself at long as they could get the day after off.  

Which is to say, it is on the precious Family Day of the Year, the day after Christmas, that the concert is taking place.  I wasn't sure about saying yes, and first checked it with the family.  But we concluded he probably could use a little bit of an outlet this year, and some company.  A concert with me, like the olden days, might be the ticket.  So breaking a thirty year plus tradition, I agreed to take our big Day After and go with him to the concert this year.  Christmastime, the two of us hanging together, going to a concert - it will be like old times.  Hopefully it will give him a bit of a boost after the year he's had.

Oh, and I'm still not a fan of loud music or big crowds.  But you do for family. 

Heh

 

And no, I'm not a fan. 

Where are all those New Prolife Seamless Garment Catholics?

Coming out against that not small number of individuals, often decidedly left of center, cheering the cold blooded murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson?   

Now, I'm the last person to defend insurance companies. I worked for them at one time, and like most people I've been shellacked by them over the years.  But the problems, like most problems, are complex and wide reaching and there are many things at play - including the media's general lack of being worth anything when it comes to zeroing in on such troubles today.  Really.  I told my sons, journalism is basically AWOL nowadays. I remember back when the press went after the Tobacco industry.  Whew.  

Where is that today, unless it is something to do with Republicans or Trump or someone challenging leftwing narratives? If you want to kick around a conspiracy theory, you could be forgiven for imagining that the press obsesses over Trump and company in order to deflect attention from things that might not be advantageous for the press's pet agendas.  But that's for another time.

Fact is, there are many problems intertwined today that are behind the legitimate issues people are pointing at.  But as is usual in the postmodern era, our most educated generation in history wants things reduced to a simplistic caveman level 'My group is too good for God, and group B is Hitler because of Issue X' framework. Thus: 

Helping more minorities vote GOP as 20% of black voters learn they are white nationalists

And if our esteemed institutions of information and learning have anything to do with it, we'll keep Issue X simple enough to fit on a lapel pin and no more. 

Nonetheless, what is shocking in all of this is the stunning silence from the bold and brash New Prolife Catholics out there. You know, the ones who condemn the use of any violence ever. When people celebrated the death of Osama bin Laden, the reaction across St. Blogs was swift and fierce.  That's what Seamless Garment Catholicism is all about Charlie Brown - it's comprehensive support for the dignity of all life with no exception.  Violence is wrong, full stop.  Any killing is to be condemned.  To celebrate or even justify death and violence is to sniff around the doorpost of the Antichrist. 

Yet during the 2020 protests and riots, most such Catholics were strangely silent.  Some even defended the violence, and even the killing.  That leftwing Catholic troll over on Mark Brumley's Facebook page, one of the few I've ever blocked, wrote a lengthy post explaining why, though we shed a tear for innocents killed in 2020, it was for the greater and just good. 

Same with the October 7th massacre.  Most NP Catholics did offer prayers and even decry the slaughter of a thousand Jews, but generally wrapped it up with some variation of 'however...'.  

And now we have this. Not only the cold blooded murder of a human being, but a large number of people (including one of the alleged shooter's professors) celebrating him as a hero and cheering for what he is said to have done. Some are even calling for more of the same, while bringing out the customary religious icons with the alleged killer's face on them.  

So where are those New Prolife Seamless Garment Catholics in all of this?  With the ones I know (and can access), I've not seen any mention of it at all.  Period.  I mean, it's only one of the biggest stories right now, so they can't possibly invoke 'never heard of it', since clearly they keep up with the news in other cases. Granted, I've been blocked by several such Catholics, so perhaps on those sites they're all over this. 

Fun note.  With the exception of the Huffington Post, the only people who have blocked or banned me over all these years are left leaning Catholics.  Secular, Orthodox and non-Catholic Christian leftwing sites might lock horns with me, but none have blocked me.  Even the ironically titled, and  hyper to the left, Friendly Atheist never blocked me or threated to do so (I voluntarily stopped going there it should be mentioned).  And on top of it, most leftist Catholics who have blocked me (or threatened) are Catholic converts.  Mostly former Protestants.  Go figure. It probably means something, but I'll kick it around somewhere down the road. 

Anyway, assuming not all of those sites are different from the ones I can access, why the silence - yet again?  When at the beginning of the year the Democrats said if there is no other reason to vote for them and Biden, vote because of abortion, abortion, abortion, those same NP individuals were silent as feathers.  And now, we have the latest example of those on the left saying, yet again, that what they once condemned is now just fine, and what they once condoned is a grave evil.  So you heard postwar liberalism say violence is never the answer?  Well the Left now says violence can be a damn good answer for a growing number of reasons. 

At some point we have to admit the obvious when it comes to our New Prolife Seamless Garment brethren.  As much as it pains us to do so.  Remember this. 

UPDATE:  To his credit, Shea has stepped into the mix and condemned the shooting - sort of (See Nate's comment below).  In a way that has come to define a common leftwing Christian tactic with the Left, he basically repeats why the shooter did what he did.  The Left's opponents are genocide Nazi Hitlers all.  Including Musk.  Fun exercise: go to leftwing Catholic sites and Google Elon Musk and see how few even mentioned him until the Press declared war on him for doing what he did.  Which was exposing their collusion with the White House to censor and oppress dissenting and politically opposed views.  It's like the press whipping a donkey and hearing those bloggers bray.  Anyhoo, so many leftwing Christians will do what Mark does, and basically accept the premises of the Left about such things as abortion or killing Israeli Jews or just about anything, and then add a technical caveat that it is still wrong, but everything else is spot on right.  Abortion is technically bad, but everything the pro-abortion movement says (oppressed women, economic injustice, misogyny, the patriarchy) is gospel truth.  And so we have Mark do the same thing here.  Every reason that boy murdered Brian Thompson is completely sensical (the same could be said about those who tried to murder Trump). But technically cold blooded murder is still wrong.  Count me as one who doesn't see that as more than a Vichy approach to morality.  Like I said, 'My Group is God's Group, Group B is Hitler, and all because of X'.  As long as Mark, other believers, the press, our educators and politicians push such simplistic templates, they might as well hand out guns at the next radicals' convention. 

An odd observation from Pope Francis

So apparently Pope Francis came out and warned against religion that stokes divisions.  Mr. Divisions himself.  But then, he is the postmodern pope.  And with postmodernity, our 'yes' is forever 'maybe', and our 'no' is 'it depends'. 

It's true.  Pope Francis seems to have no problem saying that it's a sin to apply adjectives to people - like those rigid types over there.  He condemns those who are too rigid while being about the most rigid person  I know when it comes to promoting his own views.  So it shouldn't be surprising that a pope who has more than once invoked the 'me vs. them' template is suddenly bothered by religious leaders who cause divisions.  

And as for those who have felt marginalized by Pope Francis and targeted by Pope Francis and villainized by Pope Francis, I have seen the following Bible verse quoted time and time and time again: 

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

Yep.  Because apparently our Faith is all about dividing the sheep from the greatest of all time, all about bringing a sword, all about speaking in parables for the expressed purpose of the inner circle enlightened Catholics who always get it.  Yet now, it turns out religion shouldn't do what his supporters have more than cheered him for doing, which he himself seems to have had no problems doing time and again.  

I fear Pope Francis, while having made some good points over the years, has nurtured two very, very bad developments in modern thinking: 

    1. That Christianity is entirely optional as opposed to the importance of fealty to worldly narratives and     agendas.  Oh it's nice to have and Jesus and all, but one can happily reject the Gospel as long as you are     in line with the proper activism and political advocacy.  And

    2. Words definitely speak louder than actions, which is why 'do as I say and not as I do' is a perfectly         appropriate approach to ministry in the postmodern global spotlight.  Something that almost defines, I      should add, those Catholics who proudly hang on every word of Pope Francis unless he criticizes             something left of center. 

The master of games

Or Gamemaster.  As in the Gamemaster Series.  In the mid-1980s, Milton Bradley, that Standard Oil of game companies, produced a series of games called the Gamemaster Series.  The flagship of this series was the game Axis & Allies.  Turns out, MB obtained the idea of Axis and Allies from an old, and rather crude, chit style wargame centered broadly around WW2.  I was happy when I discovered the game was purchased from one first published in the late 1970s.  In high school (c. 1981), I had the idea of a WW2 version of RISK, but never pursued it. When I discovered A&A, I was a bit bummed and wondered if I missed out.  Glad to see I didn't.  The idea was already there. 

Anyhoo, Axis & Allies is the main game, and I believe the most successful by far, spawning an endless stream of expansions, special editions, and micro-versions based on the original (my oldest recently received the latest, an A&A version of the North African Campaign from WWII).  Nonetheless, it wasn't the only one, as the name 'Series' suggests.   Over the years I managed to find all but one.  And even in the day, I managed to play all but one.  Several friends and acquaintances back then had at least one of the games.  Below are the games that made up the series.  Not in any order, just for fun and trivial things during these crazy, hazy days of the tale end of Bidenomics.  

Axis & Allies (1984)

I've written enough on this before, such as here.  Suffice to say it's still a favorite among the boys.  Naturally, we don't play it much now.  But in the day, it was a goto when game time was available but not so much as to stretch over endless days.  As I said, I believe it spawned the most variants, and we own several of those from back in the day.  

Conquest of the Empire  (1984)

This was the Ancient Rome variant.  I bought this some years ago, and our boardgame guru son warmed up to it nicely.  Unfortunately, the others didn't express much interest.  It's a shame, because just in our little tutorial session, it appeared fun, if not a bit predictable.  It was a game that seemed more interested in developing a skill for the game than sweating any thing close to a simulation of ancient Roman politics and military maneuvering.  Still, every game has to give and take. 

Fortress America (1986)

My best friend, who didn't mind D&D flavored video games but wouldn't be caught dead playing D&D, was the same way with board games.  He was like that with anything to be honest.  As a bona fide jock in high school, he was always sensitive about how any pastimes might appear to others around him.  He and I used to play RISK, but he kept it hush-hush.  Until a friend he knew, who was in some big local metal band in Columbus, came by one afternoon.  I was there and had brought the RISK game.  My friend was visibly aghast at me having a RISK game there and his cool big hair metal guitarist friend showing up.  Until his friend saw my game and brightened up immediately, singing the game's praises, and asked if we could play a round.  After that my friend practically had RISK tournaments in his house going late into the night with any and all friends available.  For some reason, piggybacking on this openness with RISK, he felt Fortress America was acceptable.  When I bought A&A a year or so into college, he purchased this on the same shopping trip.  I think it was an old Service Merchandise, but don't quote me on that.  The premise is basically Red Dawn in board game form, with a little sci-fi tech to add flavor.  Problem is, it seemed rather slanted toward America against its three invaders.  My friend chose the invaders. I simply hunkered down in Denver and let the super-lasers do their work.  After four rounds of trying to take Denver and losing everything, my friend took the game board with pieces still on it and heaved it out the door.  That was that.  But it was fun for those minutes we played.  Years later I got a copy and played it with our three older sons.  I was America, they were the invaders.  When it was over, they sympathized with my friend.    

Shogun (1986)

Perhaps the second favorite among my sons.  Shogun, as the name suggests, loosely (and I mean loosely) runs with the feudal period of Japanese history.  Truth be told, it's Axis & Allies, just scratch out 'Tank' and add 'Samurai.'  Or more honestly, it's really just RISK at the next level.  There is some secret investing in various items, and a ninja - because you have to have ninjas - you can hire for the odd assassination.  It has a little bit of a 'fog of war' mechanic, with entire armies peopled by so many of the plastic playing pieces, but only a single marker on the game board to show its location.  The idea being the others can't tell how large your armies are.  But they can.  All you do is count the pieces on the army board on the other side of the table.  But it adds flavor. And let's face it, any game that allows finely crafted miniature models of the celebrated Osaka castle is going to be pretty awesome. 

Broadsides and Boarding Parties (1984)

Never owned it.  Never saw it.  Never met a person who did.  You can almost see the desperate stretching of the concept to include the age of buccaneers into the series.  From what I've read, it didn't work.  Hence there's a reason I've never met a person who owned it.

Best billboard advertisement I ever saw

Here:

Heh. My son and I were traveling through a city in northcentral Ohio when we noticed this while stopped at a traffic light.  It took a second to sink in, then we both laughed out loud.  My son said whoever came up with that needs a raise.  The more you think on it, it does a great job making its point. 

Only sixteen left

That is the number of survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor who are left alive.  Sad to think, but thus is the passage of time.  There comes a time 

The last survivor of the USS Arizona passed away earlier this year.  In this story, we have a focus on a survivor from one of the many ships that saw action that day, but are often overshadowed by the more referenced targets on that most famous of all naval anchorages - Battleship Row.  

It was the the USS Curtiss, the first purpose built seaplane tender in the US Navy (that is, not another type ship converted to a seaplane tender).  A seaplane tender, as can be guessed, was used to support the use of seaplanes that played an important role in the war.  Like many things, most probably don't know of it unless WW2, or Pearl Harbor, are your subjects of preference. 

Nonetheless, like anything in history, there were more stories from that one event than people.  Now is the time to get their tales, since there are so few left to tell them. 

All things must pass - remains of the USS Arizona

Wo ist das blogging?

As is obvious, I'm just not blogging the way I used to.  Long and short, it's been a pivot year.  A tough one, but also a blessed one. Mixing lots of running ahead of the boulder with events and developments that have been pure joy.  But all of it means time just isn't what it has been in the past.  Sure, Social Media has changed, blogs aren't what they were, things have gone a million miles in different directions since I first stopped by St. Blogs almost two decades ago.  

And again, blogs have changed, and for some reason, Catholics left of center have made blocking and banning people who disagree with their politics their new favorite pastime.  Which means actual discourse over disagreements, especially over the troubling developments left of center, is left for people who agree that they are troubling.  Which does change the nature of blogs from what they were, if you think on it. 

But through it all, it's just tough to say 'I have a thought - quick, to the Bat Blog!'  I've even thought of doing what I suggested in the past, and making it more about reflections, faith things, fun things, hobby things, like blogs in the old days often did.  Leaving all but the occasional hefty topic for others to dissect.  But again, time.  That commodity more precious than gold and rarer than diamonds.  

I'll still put together things when I can.  Who knows, maybe I will post more frivolous things, the days of weighty commentary seeming to fade at this point.  To be honest, my thoughts tend to lean that way, preferring old days of blogs when various hobbies and interests or whimsical musings were as common to see as any take down of the latest political developments or church scandals.  We'll see.  But if it seems things have slowed down, they have. And I doubt they'll pick up again the way it used to be.  

An observation

So I've noticed several articles mention that Ben Stiller, when discussing his critically acclaimed comedy Tropic Thunder, says he doubts if it could be made today.  Owing to the character Robert Downy, Jr. played.  Even if at the time it was passed by and supported by various members of the African American community before production.  

This is hardly new.  In recent years it has become an almost regular topic of conversation - just what in the past couldn't be made today?  What comedians of the past wouldn't work today?  What television shows couldn't be produced today?  What cartoons of old wouldn't get off the drawing board today? 

The funny thing?  When I was young and growing up, 1970s and 1980s even into the 90s, it was just the opposite.  I remember entertainers and journalists and professors and English teachers and just folks in general often saying how the latest movie or television show couldn't have been made in the past.  Sometimes owing to technology.  But often owing to changes in morals and an emphasis on the sacredness of free speech and artistic expression; an open mindedness to differing views and beliefs and lifestyles and such.  The emergence of our truly diverse and inclusive society that post-war liberalism was building.  Not that they always liked the results, but they conceded the tidal surge of emphasis on complete openness to all views and expressions was having an effect.  

But today, it's how many things in the past - including from that age of endless tolerance and diversity and inclusion - would never be allowed today?  Often because of activism by the same ones who once cheered how we were so able to push the boundaries and produce the unproducible from days gone by.  Think real hard on that, and you begin to realize that, in the immortal words of Foghorn Leghorn, we've been flimflammed.  

Thanksgiving and why conservatives lose

So it was that time of year again.  Not the time when we're told how racist Thanksgiving is and how the holiday should be abolished while we put our emphasis on Indigenous Peoples Month. Nope.  Truth  be told, I heard and saw little of that this year.  The year 2021 seems to have been the high water mark of the Left's America hate, when that sort of thing was everywhere and around everything American.  This year it's been references to the strategically placed 'Native American Heritage and Indigenous Peoples Day', but not much else.  Which is like those atheists who post 'There is no God' around Christmas.  No clue if the election had anything to do with the dialed down level of such rhetoric this year.

No, I mean from the conservative side.  When I first became Catholic and was frequenting many a Catholic blog, most of which were right of center, I was rather taken by the posting around the first Thanksgiving.  As we went through RCIA, I remember one of the instructors saying that we Americans don't know the real first Thanksgiving, owing to our Protestant bias. Eh.  I though OK, fair call, but the holiday received is the one we received, and that's part of our shared heritage as Americans, so I don't feel I'll make any changes any time soon.  Plus, if most don't know the specifics, they are aware that Spain and Catholicism was here, it's just we became an Anglo-American society owing to the influence of Enlightenment era Protestant England and the victories and accomplishments thereof, so the traditional approach makes sense.

But that first year I realized this is not some off the cuff remark in an RCIA class.  That same approach was - everywhere on St. Blogs.  I lost track of how many blogs that year posted variations on 'The REAL First Thanksgiving' was Catholic.  And it still happens.  I don't think a year has passed that I haven't seen it on at least a couple Catholic blogs  Which, you know, is nothing other than a variant on 'It should really be Indigenous Peoples Day!'  If you think on it.

Oh, quibble all you want about leftwing agendas and the differences here, but ultimately what is being said is that the heritage we have in the Thanksgiving Holiday is flawed, and should be reframed, or rethought, or rebranded.  Which is all the Left is saying, just to other extremes.  

And that's why conservatives lose.  I've often said that at any time of the year, the Left can count on 1/3 of conservatives and those on the right jumping on board and siding with whatever the Left is pushing.  This goes way back.  One of my pet hypotheses is that America began its formal decline when we became convinced that America had no right to have a cultural and ethnic identity. That is, we could not be a WASP nation.  No matter how the nation attempted to allow others in and push equality and make sure everyone is given the same fair shake, we simply could not be a WASP nation by identity and culture and social majority.  

That was driven into me in elementary school, when I first hear the term WASP, and was taught how glorious is was that we were putting that identity behind us.  And first up on the list was not the Civil Rights legislation, or anything to do with Jim Crow.  It was Kennedy becoming the first Catholic president.  That was the wonderful chink in the WASP armor that signaled we were not longer merely a Protestant nation, we were a Christian one.  Much to the delight of Catholics then and now. 

Learning about that in fourth grade was, I'll admit, ironic, because by then we were already tossing not only our Christian ideals, but religious ideals in general, into the outer darkness and becoming a secularized, atheist state in all but church attendance.  Yet Catholics then as now cheered the idea of getting rid of that WASP, at least insofar as it meant Protestant, identity. The problem now is clear.  As I said, it didn't stop with erasing the Protestant. Nor did it stop with anything else.

Yet every year, on the Catholic internet, Catholics will join the Left in saying why Thanksgiving as we have it is at least flawed in our understanding. Most, of course, don't go so far as to say throw down the holiday and burn it in the turkey friers.  And there are those least those who are more conservative, who still celebrate and give credit to the traditional holiday and its more Protestant origins.    

But it's there nonetheless.  An 'us v. them' approach to the holiday that I've noticed the Left will always and forever condone and encourage and be grateful for, especially when done among those who otherwise oppose the Left.  Something you never see happen anywhere left of center I might add.  Which is why the Left wins.  Even amidst temporary setbacks.  Because whatever the Left doesn't learn, it will always know that in the future, conservatives will forever be bickering and dividing themselves, and if nothing else, the Left will be able to call that a win. 

Oh, and we won't even get into that odd 'the real lesson of Thanksgiving is that socialism never works.'  Not saying it does or doesn't, but the real lesson I grew up with until the rise of multi-cultural anti-Western dribble was that the Pilgrims put it all on the line and risked everything, even their lives, in this new land all because of their beliefs and convictions.  And when against hope they survived, they joined with the natives of the land and gave glory and thanks to God as the reason they survived.  Even in elementary school, we learned that.  So please stop with the 'enough of the God stuff Dave, it's about the economy stupid.'  Again, the first step in defeating an opponent is to stop helping the opponent.  Because anything that cuts through our side is always a boon for theirs.  

What we can expect to hear all day every day from the American news media for the next four years

 

My boys chuckled and said that in four days, they have heard more negative press coverage, more stories invoking scandal and controversy, more unfavorable analysis of what is actually happening with the incoming administration, than the total of the last four years combined.  

Not only that, but we caught a segment on one of the news shows pondering if Trump can live up to his campaigning and fix the economy as he promised.  We immediately asked fix what?  For three years the press insisted it's a mother beautiful economy.  Even on election night, on the ABC round table, they questioned why Americans just couldn't feel the awesomeness of our strong and robust economy.  Most likely something to do with many Americans not being able to afford shelter, fuel and groceries was our guess. 

But it's so nakedly obvious.  All pretense of not being ministries of lies and propaganda for leftwing globalism has long been tossed out the window by the media. Though it didn't work this time, just like it didn't work in 2016.   And my oldest son, no fan of Trump that he is, maintains that Trump's loss in 2020 was not some universal mandate for the Left.  He believes had Trump not told his supporters to sit on it and reject early voting, he might have won then.  

So the idea that the media and leftwing establishment has the power it had, even in 2014  - when BLM could change the appraisal of our history, leading to Talibanish purges of our historical monuments and memorials unhindered, and experts were trotted out to explain that Islamic terror attacks in America is the new normal, and that obviously boys should use girls bathrooms or the Fed will pull your funding - might even less true today than 2016.  

Though there is a positive, if you think on it.  Years and years ago, at the defunct Catholic and Enjoying It, Mark linked to another blogger who addressed the issue of Catholics voting.  At the time, Mark was moving toward his 'pox on both houses' position.  But the blogger stated that there was one unarguable reason to vote Republican.  Because as soon as Republicans are anywhere close to the majority, and certainly when they hold the White House, the press gets busy and begins telling us just how terrible things are in America and the world.  Mark agreed then, and I agree today, with the caveat that now the press isn't content with reporting the bad, but it will report that everything is bad whether true or not.

A couple old reflections for this Veteran's Day

Let's fight to keep what they served to protect

One here, remembering my family members who have gone before from an All Souls Day post, that includes some veterans on the list.  

And here, where I unpacked more my favorite veteran - my late dad, as well as others.  

Also here is a less pleasant one, a post dealing with Catholic BLM activist Gloria Purvis.  In it she claimed a celebrated war hero from WWII was never honored - I'll let you guess why she implies he was never honored.  Yet as readers of the comments section will note, and something I later verified myself, in a war that saw war heroes lifted up and celebrated for any reason possible, he was actually quite honored and celebrated in the day.  Far more than many heroes of the time. 

Whether partisan driven laziness or willful ignorance or whatever on Purvis's part, I don't know.  I'll take a charitable assumption and guess she just wasn't driven to find out the facts ahead of time (which was discoverable on none other than Wikipedia). And those who reposted her post back then with tears and sorrows for our racist nation assumed that she had done the required research.  

But given Veteran's Day as a day to remember those who served, and given that we saw such a repudiation of those like Purvis and their style of leftwing activism that seeks to tear down and besmirch what those veterans served for, it seems a fitting thing to link to on this day of remembrance. 

And just in case we need a reminder for those striving for goodness and virtue against the Left's alternatives:  

L to R: Not a Hero, Hero

Telling

That's deacon, teacher of theology and Catholic film critic Steven Greydanus. You catch that?  First, note the use of the euphemistic leftwing media endorsed term 'gender affirming care.'  That is, more honestly stated, sex change procedures, in the case of this discussion being used on minors. But you can't say that because the overwhelming majority of Americans don't approve of turning underage boys into girls and vice versa.  We won't even discuss how fringe the unpopular idea is that parents should be barred from being part of such life altering procedures.  

But note, he appears to have no problem with laws that would keep parents out of the loop as long as actual surgery isn't involved. That opens the door for all of those preliminary procedures involving puberty blockers and messing with their hormones and physical development in the name of transgender activism.  Which, from what I read, he is more than happy to support as well as keeping parents out of the loop in those cases.  That's hardcore left beyond what even some on the left will tolerate.  And, in a dose of irony, contrary to Pope Francis's opinions about the subject. 

Basically, Greydanus continues to demonstrate that he will completely follow the Left, embrace it entirely and defend it whenever possible.  If impossible to defend something, then briefly acknowledge it, downplay it, and attack anyone trying to make it an issue. I'm thinking of those who tried to get him to forcefully call out the leftists and non-white activists who were openly cheering Hamas and the worst single day slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. We tried, but it got us nowhere.  

This shows that the leftwing bubble our corporate oligarchy has formed continues to preach to itself in the mirror, despite a growing number of anyone under the sun questioning some of its agendas.  As my son said, the problem Democrats have is that they will never be radical leftwing enough to appease the zealotry of the coastal leftwing fringes.  In trying to do so, however, they are becoming far more leftwing radical than most Americans of any stripe will tolerate.  

And what of the Greydanuses of the world, who appear willing to follow the left wherever it goes?  Again, thralls of the leftwing bubble, but increasingly out of touch thralls who have sworn themselves to a movement a growing number of people are beginning to doubt, suspect and even fear.  

Now that's funny

 I have to give him credit, this made me laugh:

And if the Democrats lose to him, it more than serves them right. 

UPDATE:  On the other hand, the daily award for the most duplicitous headline about this story has to go here:

I didn't get to see all of the morning news outlets cover this, but the ones I did see mentioned only that Trump did this in response to some vague, unnamed statement by Biden.  No mention of what exactly Biden said.  Unlike the constant repeating of the comedian's statement about Puerto Rico, which was repeated endlessly for days.  One local network had on the ticker what Biden said, but the story itself wasn't covered. 

One of the great evils of our age is that we can't know what is going on in the world because the agencies with the ability to convey the information have long ago thrown integrity and truth out the window for the sake of their interests, no matter who or what is hurt as a result. 

Yes another Birthday post

And the last of the year.  As I said, we have to modify our approach to 'our half of the year', since our daughter-in-law and our granddaughter both have May birthdays.  But we typically end the big celebrations with our oldest, and last of the calendar.  After all, by my age birthdays aren't what they used to be, and for my mom (in January), every birthday is a celebration, albeit one in the middle of our Christmastide festivities.  

With divergent schedules and obligations, the boys moving on and getting older, and the changes in family dynamics and obligations, we obviously don't do everything we used to.  But goodness knows we still try.  Sometimes it's still a few old traditions, even if not everyone is available.  With planning, luck and some scheduling elbow-grease, we can get together.

This year, owing to this year, it was confined to mostly the gang coming over with their daughter and picking out pumpkins (one day), and carving them (the next week).  Some of us did manage to get up to my old stomping grounds and get some fresh pressed cider (nothing better).  

We had a fine birthday dinner for our oldest, at his request.  We went to a 'Der Dutchman' (I call it McAmish), which is a chain restaurant based on those Amish eating houses that are plentiful in the northwestern parts of the state.  In those, if you've not experienced them, the popular approach is called 'Family Style.'  That is, they bring out platters of meats and sides and breads and such and you help yourself, as they replenish the empty platters until everyone is full.  Or, in this case, they have a buffet option, which is more economical for our size family.  It's not easy getting out with my mom at this point, but with effort and teamwork it's still possible.  

Then our oldest asked to break from the current pastime of World in Flames and dive into the old Flames of War game.  We dusted off those old containers of miniatures.  Really.  They were dusty, it's been so long.  We then spent some time setting things up.  We haven't played yet, again owing to time and such.  But when we can and everyone is in proper place, then we'll have a go at it, and I may unpack that and how we tie it into that larger, hobby game of World in Flames.

Otherwise, it's been a season.  Things have been more sedated, but then we notice that seems to be the trend.  I can't imagine why there are so few Halloween decorations this year.  The economy is as strong as ever, thus says the American news media.  Why people aren't spending more on Halloween decor is, therefore, beyond me.  But we seem hardly alone in playing it simple.  We'll see.  That will be for a later post.   For now, the birthday.  

Before the whole family gathered, three of the boys went to a local park and farmstead.  Only to discover you couldn't get to the farmstead from the park.  Heh. 

As if mom is a queen entering the court, the kids and grandchild part ways for her at the local farm market and pumpkin patch. 

Her first trip to a pumpkin patch. She seemed to enjoy it, at least if we translate baby correctly.

Birthday boy with a rather large pumpkin for himself.  Each has their own, but my wife and I double up with one pumpkin, to save a little cash. 

The gang.  Mom is looking at something, but the rest were actually looking forward and smiling at the same time, which is a rarity where pictures are concerned!

Up at the orchard, the location of my very first field trip in kindergarten, you can smell the apples before you enter the shop. Plus local maple syrup, and local honey.  Which we can also get where we get the pumpkins. 

The first eating out with our granddaughter.  She seems pleased with the possibility of starting to eat solid foods in the not too distant. 

Waiting for the gifts to be opened and the cake to be had.  Just a fun candid picture.

Flames of War to the fore!  It won't be these forces, they were only used to gauge distances during the setup.  But if it was the game, it looks like that British Cromwell has the advantage on the Panther, with US infantry standing back.

Her oldest uncle and his niece.

Some old reflections on Columbus Day

Here, here, here and here.  It's barely mentioned now.  In fact, here in Buckeye land, this is the time when different outlets point out the effort by some to change the name of our state's capital.  One network - our local CBS affiliate - now refers to the city and city news as 'C-Bus.'  In fact its morning news magazine that was Wake up Columbus is now Wake Up C-Bus.  That's long been an informal nickname in these parts, but usually not for official use.  

Today Columbus is all but gone, and increasingly if the day is mentioned at all, it's Indigenous Peoples Day, or similar.  Of course now we're seeing challenges against everything from Washington and Jefferson, to the Constitution itself (earlier editorial from the New Yorker).

Things are happening fast.  Vichy Conservatives have long hidden behind the idea that bellyaching about such trivial things is just sissy stuff.  They'll wait until the gulags or the gas chambers are in full swing, then they'll start to worry.  Never a great strategy.  And looking at where things are and where they are going, and how quickly they are getting there, should be all the evidence you need for that appraisal. 

As for the Left venerating cultures who did what Columbus is accused of doing or worse?  Need I prattle on about that?  I think by now the reasons for that strange hypocrisy should be clear. 

Friday Frivolity: Once more unto the breach

Don't weep for France yet, the game favors defenders
We'll see how things look in a turn or two.

So I wrote about the string of ill fortune to hit us over the last year. True, as the dust has settled and clouds have passed, we consider ourselves quite blessed.  In some cases, things ended up better than they were (my wife's promotion).  In the health department, for all that happened, we've emerged relatively unscathed - all things considered.  For the economic hits and problems and urgent needs, we've been able to address them.  Given what we've seen around the world and in the south, we'll take the win and call ourselves more than blessed.

That doesn't mean when these things were happening it was easy.  And as often happens in life, when one trouble or two happens, it seemed to cause a domino effect with things big and small tripping us up along the way.  So even the most trivial annoyance could add to the stress.

I'll put into that trivial category the game World in Flames that we were playing.  We play most of our games in the basement, where several tables are spread about allowing a variety of matches for different people and contests.  This was done during the Covid years, and we've kept it - since there isn't much else for our basement other than our library and a little media space back when the boys wanted a 'Bro Cave' back in the day.  

World in Flames was on our ping pong table, which we've used for everything but ping pong over the years.  It needs that large of a table (9' x 5') to hold even the basic game boards and materials.  For some stupid, annoying reason, a water pipe over the table leaked.  This was when things were pretty intense in the family, and the last thing we cared about was playing boardgames. We had set that aside and hadn't gotten to it for some time. 

When we finally went down to try our hand at a game my 'boardgame afficionado' son got for his birthday, I looked over at the old World in Flames game and noticed something.  The game boards (which are mounted boards, not just paper), seemed to have hills and valleys.  And some of the other materials appeared the same.  I went over, and realized the leak had gotten into them and warped them, ruining two of the four map boards.  

Fortunately none of the playing pieces (those famous 'chits' of strategy wargame fame) were damaged or ruined. The boards appeared to soak up all the water.  As I always keep a spare of most things like that, once things began to settle and slow down, I went through, picked things up, and got the new boards out.  With things slowing for the time being, and a lull before the next round of crazy in their lives and vocations, the boys and I thought we would try again. 

This time, our oldest asked if we could go back and play the early tutorials, particularly the very first one.  For some strange reason, he understood the more convoluted parts of the game but struggled with the 'land' aspects.  Which is weird, because that is the most straightforward and simplest part, at least IMO.  That part is just Axis and Allies on steroids.  Nothing too complicated and pretty straight forward.  But he struggled with it when he jumped into the big campaign game.  So we're pausing from going back to the biggie to breeze through the first scenario, which is only a few turns long.

Times being what they are, this will be a once a week event - if that.  Their schedules and obligations are always such that time isn't what it used to be.  Which is fine.  But as long as they're around, we will spend a little time playing out what might have been in history.  If things go well enough, we might even be able to get another game going for our second oldest to join - when he needs a dose of fiction after being in the real world of fatherhood.   We will have to see.  But otherwise, the hobby is afoot.  Tune in next time for, well, not sure but I'm sure it will be interesting no matter what! 

Oh yeah, that happened

Today is the one year anniversary of the worst single day slaughter of Jews since World War II.  It's easy to forget, since that thing we used to call the news media has done yeoman's work hiding that story under a bushel over the last year. 

Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and others have the West's number of course.  For various reasons, we in the West have for generations gone out of our way to tear down, criticize, and condemn the heroes and good guys, while bending over backwards to make excuses for the bad guys.  This tendency has fed into the dreams of those Arabic and Muslim factions who desire the eradication of Israel and, if need be, the slaughter of any Jews who get in the way.

They know full well that they can attack Israel, then sit back and wait for the condemnation of Israel as soon as it retaliates.  True, because of the initial shock and horror of October 7th and its scope, that response took a few days.  But it wasn't more than a few days before the West/UN began noting Israel's atrocities, whether accused or verified, and letting that be the emphasis.   

This makes the Hamas tendency of using civilians as human shields a brilliant maneuver.  Because no matter how flagrantly it does this, or - super unspoken secret - however many Palestinians and others willingly allow themselves to be so used in order to topple Israel - they know the West/UN will simply condemn Israel.  If we in the West acknowledge this tactic, that is about all we do.  Then it's back to full condemnation of Israel as our only response. And everyone knows it. 

This isn't to say Israel has done nothing wrong.  It is war.  Horrible things happen in every war ever fought.  And the innocent are often the biggest victims.  But for most of human history - including the Christian world - it was understood that the greater good of fighting evil and protecting the overall wellbeing of the innocent necessitated the risk, and sometimes the sorry tragedies.  

Not today.  Today we will gladly let evil reign as long as it doesn't impact us.  Anything less than perfection, and we'll rip those fallible good guys and give all but a blank check to the baddies.  It's almost like condemning the heroes for failing to win perfectly has become an excuse for not bothering to be one.  That what passes for the virtuous demands for nothing less than perfection in executing the righteous cause is simply cowardice with a Jesus mask.  

This doesn't count the motives of trashing Israel because it is seen as an extension of the West, and therefore the oppressor, and therefore it deserves to go, along with the whole of the Western Tradition.  That's a different ballgame.  This is merely observing that cultural tendency we've developed of having an almost Pavlovian aversion to the ones trying to be the heroes, while excusing and almost supporting those who traditionally would be seen as the villains. 

A special day

Today is the Feast of St. Francis, my patron saint.  I've written about him many times over the years. He was one of those 'anchor' figures for me.  Even in my secular, agnostic, trying to be an atheist days, I conceded St. Francis was quite the fellow.  Though it's worth noting I was never an unbeliever who tried to insist all believers were stupid or in some way wretched and evil.  For instance, I didn't care for the type to insist Mother Theresa was really a racist con.  But then I've always rejected our modern age's tendency to find any way to tear down the good guys while bending over backwards to find excuses for the bad guys so we don't have to confront them.

Because of that, as a non-believer I could still admire St. Francis.  And as a Protestant, including pastor, I had no problem referencing him, mentioning him in sermons, or even having those famous prayers attributed to him hanging in my office. 

So when I entered the Church, it took me all of half a second to figure out who my patron saint would be.  No matter how crazy it has been since we became Catholic, I admit going back to Saint Francis, sometimes more than anything else, is a small place of refuge for me.  Becoming Catholic having made the relationship more than merely gazing at a framed prayer on a wall.  

As a bonus, it's also Ship in a Bottle day! Like you didn't know that.  For those envious of perhaps the most difficult hobby in the history of hobbies, here's an envy inducing little video for your viewing pleasure:

RIP Pete Rose

Never run home when you can dive - a Rose trademark

Every now and then someone whose name was practically etched into your cultural brain comes along, and Rose was one of them.  When I was a kid, and the Big Red Machine was smashing records, every third kid in my school wanted to be Pete Rose. 

I recall my mom and dad driving to Cincinnati to watch them during those crazy, wild days when the Reds were a juggernaut in the sports world.  I even went down a couple times with my dad and the family.  Once my dad and his best friend from the railroad, along with his friend's son, took me all the way down, through torrential rain squalls, to see them play.  It was a little beyond me, since I was never a huge sports fan.  History was my interest even then.  

Yet I knew there was something especial about everything happening. I knew there was something memorable about using my dad's binoculars to see fairly up close (very good binoculars) these players who were household names - Ken Griffey Sr., Johnny Bench, Dave Concepcion, Joe Morgan, George Foster, Cesar Geronimo and - standing high above them all - Pete Rose.  I can still remember in third grade, we had to give a presentation to the class about someone we admired.  I can't even remember mine.  But I remember Cindy C., standing in her Reds jersey and proudly announcing that her hero was none other than Pete Rose.

The all time Hit Champ in baseball history (the most hits of any pro ball player ever), his reputation became marred by the scandal involving his betting on the game. In those days, there was still a residue of the old 'if you do the crime, you do the time.'   And he did it.  Even many fans in the Cincinnati area had to concede that he violated major rules and laws, and that's what happens.  It was sad, it didn't take away from his accomplishments, but he was going to pay a steep price for his violations.

The problem, of course, was continuing to punish him into the modern era, where players may or may not be punished for assault, or cheating, or getting tattoos.  Perhaps someone who sent an off color email twenty years ago will be canned, but another accused by multiple women of assaulting them might go up in the league.  And now, that sports betting is legal and college kids are becoming millionaires as amateur athletes, is this the age that can still hold ol'Pete to the fire?  

Nonetheless, before that conversation could be brought back up, time did what time does, and Pete Rose has died.  Opinions were strong with him, but his fan base and his legacy were strong.  For me, he occupies a place in my memories and my childhood.  So massive his fame that I can't recall the world without him.  But I will have to now.  And pray that he finds some peace that he lost in this life, as well as peace for his loved ones and millions of fans who are left behind. 

The Big Red Machine