Yep

 

I would add that Trump is not widely expected to win.  The latest batch of polling shows Trump barely ahead of Biden, and not much different than it has been for much of the year.  A squeak-by advantage well within the margin of error. 

Perhaps that is good news, and shows social and Christian conservatives saying enough.  Maybe Christians and others who value the Life movement are saying , they have debased themselves and held their noses for eight years.  But they will not simply act like sheep and push the appropriate button as Trump moves to diminish opposition to one of the most critical moral crises in modern history. 

Trump was never a conservative by any stretch.  The Left portrayed him, as it does all enemies, as a far right neo-Nazi misogynistic racist.  But in honesty, Trump in many things has been left of center, especially regarding animal pleasures.  Why the sudden party platform shift, I don't know.  I do know I've heard little push-back from conservatives - social, Christian, Catholic or otherwise.  And nothing will play up to the 'lie of the pro-life movement' more than standing by as that movement is chipped away at by the GOP while handing over votes in due order.  

It might just be time that we accept the end of the Christian era and a new phase in the history of the Faithful.  It's not time to compromise the Faith to stay loyal to a party that has never really wanted us in the first place, and increasingly is making that clear under the leadership of Donald Trump. 

I wonder if this is true

 

I just don't have the time to look it up, times being what they are.  It's from the Internet, and I've developed a strong distrust for anything I find there, especially on Social Media.  In fact, I was going to post on the increasing number of Social Media posts I see that are dead wrong - photos don't match text, facts wrong and such - until I was informed that it's part of the whole posting gig.  That is, it benefits posts to have many comments for some measures of stats.  Thus they post things that are wrong and sit back as hundreds rush into to say 'Hey!  That's wrong'.  It's a comment, and that's what matters. 

That's not the only problem, but it adds to the distrust I've had for years.  So the above image could be bunk and nothing more.  The only reason I post it is because last year, during our local media's attempt to convince us that the mid-80s are life threatening, I looked up the all time high temps for the Midwest.  And I believe there were only a couple times that the all time highs weren't in the 1930s.   You know, the Depression, those droughts and dust bowls and all.  Because I noticed this referenced the 1930s as a comparison date, and it seemed to fit with what I found last year, I decided to post.

The point being my belief that the climate changes, just as it always has.  That often times we're watching cycles of changes where the climate fluctuates, changes, shifts and changes again.  I'm not saying our approach to STEM hasn't had an impact on the climate.  It probably has to a degree.  But it's simpler than the politics of Global Warming.  Or the two months long daily apocalyptic coverage of our summer temps this year. 

A nice birthday and needed change

So it was our third oldest's birthday last week. Hurray!   As I've written before, we usually consider this our half of the year.  But now things have changed.  Both our daughter-in-law and our granddaughter have birthdays in May.  Our son and daughter-in-law will likewise celebrate their wedding anniversary in May. Plus there is the Kentucky Derby!  We must fix our idea of when our half of the year starts, or if it means anything at all by now.  After all, the Transgender movement is trying to enshrine November (Thanksgiving) as the month for all things non-gender.  So it was only a matter of time.  

Nonetheless, whatever the movers of grand agendas say, for our part it was nice to have a celebration after some pretty rough weeks over the last couple months.  We know there are people in the world who have it worse than us.  People in third world countries, extreme poverty and starvation, embroiled in wars and invasions.  But then, as one of my sons once said, if you need to keep appealing to war zones and famines to remind yourself your life isn't too bad, that does say something. 

Nonetheless, we're still blessed, and we know it.  But as can happen in life, things can just torpedo you broadside and, for some reason, it sometimes feels like it hits all at once.  So after the dust settled, it was a joy to see our third oldest and his usual enthusiasm carry the day. 

It wasn't a milestone birthday, but we did pull out the stops.  One, because it was nice to celebrate and enjoy again and focus on the good of the last couple months.  Two, because his big 21st Birthday fell when Covid and lockdowns were still about, and it ended up being a bit compromised, with problems of the day mitigating the fun his brothers had around their 21st birthdays.

While it wasn't some grand trip through Europe, it was our version cast over several days owing to scheduling.  In an odd twist, of all the things he wanted to do, we dusted off an old game from their youth called Dread Pirate.  That was from a time when board games were ascending and some pretty hefty production standards were used.  In this case, he joked that the game was really just a pirate version of Chutes and Ladders with phenomenal production standards.  I mean, metal castings for playing pieces, cloth board, wooden box - that's impressive.  Truth be told, it was also fun.

Of course he received a sizeable amount of board game and game related material.  He is our game guru after all.  Including games that are apparently big in the video game world - Skyrim - and a little addition I threw on that's a D-Day based wargame.  I thought his birthday coinciding with what will likely be the last big hurrah for that historical event made sense. 

Otherwise we fired off some fireworks - since they're now legal before and after July 4th.  We pulled our resources and our oldest made him a phenomenal steak and lobster dinner. Again, our oldest has broken restaurants for us since there is seldom anything he can't cook better than what we'll find in even the best eateries in the area. 

Then the brothers set aside an entire day to play his favorite board game of all - Twilight Imperium.  After that we just chilled and watched a couple episodes of Blue Bloods.  When they were young, we usually took a day to make their own on their birthdays.  In recent years schedules just don't allow that, and we have to spread things out over a few days.  But it's worth it.   

Chutes and Ladders perhaps, but Grade A production values!

Making everything fun as usual

A pregame warmup for July 4th for his big day

Yeah, it was that good. 

The brothers and the game - I played but don't know what I'm doing

That was my guess

I posted on the mixed up messaging with Juneteenth here.  For the record, I finally blocked Greydanus at FB because I was tired of the mendacity.  Beyond so much BS regarding not admitting the obvious, he is definitely a white guy who has bought the 'white is evil' narrative.  He will bypass the horrors of many suffering innocents until he can find someone white to post against.  Well, despite blocking him, and because of his perpetual focus on only white crimes, I saw a copy of this in a thread:

As a disclaimer, it didn't include the post itself, and because I blocked him I don't know what he said.  But I'm willing to guess.  Nonetheless, take note.  It's apparently linking to BLM activist Gloria Purvis.  Why now?  If my math is good, it's the 9th anniversary of the tragic mass shooting.  Not exactly a milestone.  So why now?  And in Pride Month no less?  

But that's the point.  The reason I posted my post about Juneteenth was that we noticed a few stories about random civil rights topics this month. A murdered black person from the past here, a falsely accused civil rights activist there, a reminder of the history of slavery over there.  And in Pride Month?  What gives?

That's when it dawned on us.  Having made Juneteenth a thing, the Left can now designate yet another month to the trashing and hashing of the rehashed trash of America's vile sins and evil past.  Couple with those now saying Juneteenth is a day about black culture, and others saying it is Independence Day for blacks, whites can have their own, it's obvious where this is meant to go. 

So once again we are told by those on the Left that if we do something it's because of some lofty, harmonious and unifying goal.  Only to realize a year or so later that this is not the case at all.  Once again it is to tear down and destroy the West, the US and the Christian traditions.  

UPDATE: So Greydanus has stepped in with his reaction to the debate last night. Remember Trump's  celebration of Nazis all those years ago.  And now Trump says he doesn't know if Washington owned slaves.  Of course Washington owning slave is really the only thing worth knowing about him today.  And one of the reasons I blocked Gredyanus, things like sanctification or redemption by Christ or working out one's own salvation have definite stopwatches and time limits.  When I pointed out that America ultimately did right by the Civil Rights movement, he shot back that I should look at how long it took. I said I didn't think there was some time limit for people - much less entire nations - striving toward holiness and doing good.  But for him, yep.  His Catholic Church has all sorts of limits and provisos.  I can't say if he applies the same to transgender mutilation, abortion or black on non-black racism, or continued attacks on the Jewish community by pro-Palestinians since he never dwells on such things.  But this is why I don't follow him any more.  

A nation led by Sodom

 And taught by Gomorrah 

Enough said. 

As a general rule

Those upset about this in our schools:

Are fine with this in our schools:

And vice versa. Therein lies the division. 

The reason I don't do Juneteenth

I've only heard him mentioned once this year

Is different from why I never got into MLK Day.  I didn't care for MLK Day because, to me, MLK just became discount Jesus for a nation afraid to invoke Jesus for fear of being called names.  As opposed to whatever official reasons, that was my guess.  And that is why I imagined it wouldn't last forever. 

Since 2020, MLK day hasn't been what it used to be.  When my sons were in public school, they began hyping MLK before the Winter Break that happened at the end of December.  Then into January it was MLK all the way.  That focus would continue through Black History Month.  There were also ample other times in the year to focus on MLK and America's racist identity: Colonial era, the Revolution, the Civil War, Reconstruction, Segregation and Jim Crow in the 20th Century. 

Of course it wasn't just school.  In my ministry days, whenever I heard other pastors preach, it was common to hear them quote or somehow invoke MLK.  Scarcely did a sermon or a lecture or speech pass without at least one mention.  Sometimes he would be the exclusive focus or reference, even when Jesus barely got a dashed off mention.  News reports, college and high school lectures, editorials, documentaries, news interviews on television - you couldn't go three days without hearing of MLK or at least the broader Civil Rights Movement to which he was attached. 

Since 2020, however, that has passed.  There was an attempt to insist we had the whole MLK legacy wrong.  Turns out MLK thought nothing of dividing people into skin color and judging accordingly.  And not a few posts and editorials said MLK was warming to the whole ultraviolence approach to justice.  Which prompted my sons to rename him MLK-Ninja Warrior.  So singing the praises of the Man of Peace isn't as easy now that we realize violence can be a wonderful answer and it is about judging based on skin color. Which is likely why I haven't heard of him for weeks, if not longer.  

Now it's Juneteenth. And in this case you won't see me paying attention to it because, like Critical Race Theory, I have yet to hear a straight answer regarding what it's all about: 

1. A holiday for the black community about black culture and black only and everything, with a fair dash of America's racist past.

2. A holiday for everyone, but whites and others are merely invited, the planning and focus being on blacks in America and blacks in America alone, with a fair dash of America's racist past.

3. A holiday commemorating the historical event of freeing the last slaves in America which should become our real independence day, with a fair dash of America's racist past.

4. A holiday that is important because it was made by blacks alone, and the federal government merely put a stamp of approval, rather than coming up with it itself.  Again, with a fair dash of America's racist past

4. A holiday commemorating the government sending the US army to Texas to inform the slaves that they were free, being the last primary holdout of enslaved African Americans, that should be for all people. 

Until we get an executive decision on what it's actually about, I'll hold off.  Especially since I'm already seeing more and more black Americans preferring a combo of #2 and #3, with a dash of #4.  In one of our local news FB pages, several jumped into the comments to all but say it's about black everything and July 4th is dead to them.  My attempts to explain that without July 4th you don' t have Juneteenth  went about as far as you'd expect.

So nope.  Right now, my gut feeling is that its main purpose is to 1) perpetually keep the sins of America alive as yet another month becomes a vehicle for trashing the Western Tradition and its values, 2) dividing people up between groups antagonistic toward each other, and  3) downplay or outright erasing the heritage, heroes and history of the United States.  

Since I'm not stupid enough or uneducated enough to buy into such things, and there is no clear consensus on what the whole thing is supposed to be anyway, I think I'll spend my time elswhere.

Note what is missing.  What happened to 'a holiday for all Americans'?

This and Harrison Butker too

We all recall the Left/Media's attack against Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker when he dared to challenge the Left's calls for more hedonism and narcissism.  Yet despite some points where those to the Left could have come together and really trounced the guy, the far-left radicals overplayed their hand. By signing petitions and trying to ruin his career, more old time liberals - like Bill Maher - balked.  

Even those who disagreed with him point by point still said they respected his right to speak in a private setting among those who shared his beliefs.  Though the press tried to fish out students at the graduation who would experience PTSD for life because of what he said, they simply found nothing worth exploiting.  

By the end, it was his fellow Catholics and the most extreme left of Lenin 'abortion and group sex' leftists who kept the outrage going.  And among Catholics not just your typical Shea/Greydanus types.  Nice guy Mark Brumley zeroed in on the criticisms.  Even Amy Welbourne, whose writings I have admired for years, trounced.  Her piece was filled with so much contempt and condescension toward Butker, I would have believed Shea ghost wrote it for her.  

Oddly, the only thing the MSM went after was his statements on the worth of motherhood and the worth of fathers and masculinity.  Those do cut to the heart of the Left, I will admit.  Almost ignored was his dig at pride Month.  And it was mostly Catholics who got hung up on his statement about who killed Jesus. I suppose they forgot The Passion of the Christ firestorm when Jewish scholars and rabbis repeatedly appeared on the news to remind us that Jewish people never heard of Jesus.  All that Sanhedrin Council and Judas Iscariot rubbish was made up by the antisemitic and racist church generations later.  

But the good news is, despite extreme leftists' and his fellow Catholics' efforts to the contrary, many felt the fanatical zealots overstepped the mark.  They overplayed their hand.  In the end, most Americans, Christians, liberals and even those who disagreed with his beliefs, still upheld his right to express them. 

Now we have a journalist who went undercover with SCOTUS justices Alito and Roberts.  Posing as a conservative Christian, she interviewed them and then quickly released a 'heavily edited' (the words of the initial ABC report) version of the interviews.

First, the Liars for Jesus inquisition won't be able to say a thing.  Remember, led by Dawn Eden they made it clear that whatever evils and slaughter may happen, if someone lies to stop it, that becomes the only thing worth focusing on.  So they're out.  Heck, the interviews were so heavily edited that ABC announced it would not repeat the quotes.  

The amazing thing is that already there is pushback - and from the media as well as sane people.  In the discussion with Dan Abrams, George Stephanopoulos admitted that the questions were extremely leading.  That is, she didn't say 'what do you think about the divisions in our country', or 'what do you think would help our country?'  She actually based the premise of her question on the idea that the divisions were beyond repair, and asked Alito if it was obvious that only one side could win because there was no hope for reconciliation.

At that Alito said he wished there could be some way to live together, but it looked like there isn't much to hope for because there are strong opinions on both sides.  In other words, his answer was more balanced and open than her bating question.

Same with Justice Roberts.  She basically stated to him that we are clearly a Christian country, ain't we?  To which Justice Roberts responded that he had Jewish and Muslim friends who might disagree.  Again, she was more of a caricature of a rightwing Christian theocrat than most rightwing Christian theocrats.  And she acted a million times worse than the two justices she was trying to ensnare. 

It appears that is what bothers the press.  They don't care about undercover reporting.  Of course not.   But the fact that she was asking such leading questions moved the line beyond even entrapment.  And then, armed with the justices' moderate and understated answers, she rushed to social media with massively redacted recordings to suggest these men are compromising their roles as SCOTUS justices!  At first, some media outlets ran with it, asking if they should recuse themselves from the practice of law henceforth. 

But I've noticed over the last week or so, that has gone the way of the dodo.  More stories began to express concern.  Like this follow up report from NPR.  Not only could this have the effect of causing the Supreme Court to become more hush-hush, but there is also a growing creepy factor in all this. 

And that creepy factor is beginning to spread.  Somewhere, when added to going after the spouses of various individuals (like Alito's wife), Harrison Butker's personal beliefs in a private setting, and now the personal views of these justices, it does look like there are some leftists saying you will have no rights or freedoms at all in this country - even at your own home.  Your one freedom is to bow and grovel before the Political Left. And if you say something around the dinner table or at a private setting that dares challenge leftwing dogma, we will get you. 

Never admit you want a communist flavored totalitarian terror state until you have absolute control.  That is the lesson from the sum of the mistakes we have been seeing these last few weeks. 

Though this was brought to my attention as I finish this post.  There will come a time when I stop supporting the NAACP.  I never had an issue with them. They do their thing.  But if they push this 'white ancestors must be erased' movement, without going back to Africa and erasing its rather robust trading in slavery - including at times white slaves - then I'll happily kiss them goodbye.  I will not continue milquetoasting it with groups or individuals who want to attack my 1) Faith, 2) People (Anglo-European/Native American), 3) Country, and 4) cherished values.  The time for wimpy sissy-groveling is past if anyone cares about protecting such things. 

A happy Father's Day

 To my two favorite dads:

As I said elsewhere, I'm sure there will be more down the line.  For now these are my favorites.  I do miss my dad, but am thrilled at the young man my son has become.  I think he will be a splendid father, and am thankful for the granddaughter he and my daughter-in-law have brought into the world.  Just as I am thankful for my dad, and all he brought to us.  I pray only the best for them and their family and the family with which God has blessed me.  

A prayer request

It seems my mom had another stroke.   They say it's a minor one.  On Friday she was walking along and suddenly gave out.  My third oldest was around to help the new parents move into a larger apartment.  As she fell, he caught her and prevented any major injuries.  At first the tests didn't indicate a stroke, leaving the doctors puzzled.  But after a failed attempt, they ordered a second MRI and that appears to have caught it.  Not sure where things are or where they are going at this stage.   Because of my dad's experience in a nursing home - essentially dying - we are loathe to put mom in a similar setting.  Nonetheless, if it becomes a case of compromised safety or wellbeing for her being here, then we'll have to have a big discussion.  We are hoping we can continue to be caretakers for her sake.  We believe her being around the gang - and even the dog - has done her more good than being by herself.  Right now it's waiting to see what the professional think, which will likely be tomorrow.  So we'll see.  I'd appreciate any prayers offered for her sake and our ability to care for her.  Thanks!

Eighty years ago

An elderly French couple prays over the body of an American GI killed in front of their home

The press is paying particular attention to this anniversary since it is likely the last of the 'milestone' anniversaries that will have many, if any, actual D-Day veterans present to remember.  So one last time, for old times' sake. 

D-Day is basically the WW2 remembrance day.  In a vast global struggle that saw people die by the tens of millions, and entire regions decimated, all over the world, D-Day sort of encapsulates the whole conflict for those youngsters who even have heard of it.  

Which is a good thing.  At least it is remembered.  And so far, remembered well.  This too shall pass, however.  As all things do.  But it's right to pause and reflect. To recall a different time and a different generation. By no means a perfect generation.  But one that possessed qualities worth celebrating.  

As if from another world, FDR summed up the national mentality of time and the event rather well: 

My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

 Amen."

Good update

It looks like the granddaughter has done very well, and will be coming home today.  Thanks be to God for that. With that, we'll be busy, busy, busy.  Still on hiatus, but appreciate the prayers.  Below is the last round of hospital ICU photos.  Grandpa gets a punch in the nose while grandma tries to keep the feisty girl wrapped up.  The results underneath show her as about the most rambunctious newborn I've seen. Under that are the three brothers and dad (bottom left corner) taking their turns.  With my daughter-in-law's four brothers added, I think the little girl will have plenty or uncles looking out for her.

UPDATES:

And let the spoiling begin: 

More updates

So things are looking good.  Our granddaughter is a feisty little bundle.  We had hoped she would be home by now.  Instead she wasn't quite where they wanted her, and then one night there was a breathing incident that sort of reset the clock.  She has been fine since, and now just about everything seems to be going smoothly.  If that keeps up, then she should be home by the end of the week thereabouts.  So here's hoping and praying.  And of course, here are the obligatory baby photos with two happy grandparents.  

Updates

So it looks like our little granddaughter is making splendid progress.  Almost all the breathing apparatuses have been removed.  She still has the tiniest tube to help out.  But she has improved rather quickly, and if it keeps on this pace she might be coming home in the not too distant.  As I said, she is feisty and apparently rather alert.  That delights me beyond description.  Prayers are still appreciated.  We're tickled pink and more than thankful to God for the myriad blessings that come just in seeing her.  

On hiatus

As can be expected, blogging will be pretty much not blogging.  The world is thus.  Very little should be shocking right now.  So no need to harp on the obvious. 

Instead, prayers, effort and time are now spent catching the family up for the early arrival of our precious granddaughter.  She is still in the NICU, but is showing improvement.  A feisty little spitfire, she makes it clear when she isn't happy.  Which is music to our ears.  But we had several big plans for the next few weeks preparing for her arrival, so everyone is kicking in to help out and get things adjusted, helping in any way we can.  

Not sure the timeline.  It will depend on a dozen things or a hundred. But prayers are appreciated.  I will certianly update where baby news or broader family news are concerned.  Otherwise, I'll be back in a TBD.  Thanks for the prayers.  And God bless all. 

A sudden blessing we didn't expect

 And viola!  I'm a grandpa:

Proud parents adorable baby - an excellent match

Yes, according to the experts, about four weeks early.   But her size doesn't suggest that.  Instead, we're figuring they were off by a couple weeks.  Probably closer to the first of June.  Meaning she - and yes, it's a girl - is a couple weeks early.  Owing to that, she's receiving special care in the hospital right now.  But praying everything works itself out soonest and the proud and happy parents can bring her home in a couple days.  So that's where I've been.  We didn't see it coming, that's for sure.  Both families are nearby, so everyone swung into action, and my son rose to the occasion.  But the star of the show was my wonderful daughter-in-law who was a trooper and then some, and of course our newest and youngest addition to clan Griffey.  So praising God right now, with a healthy dose of prayers, and blessing on her, her parents, and all of us who have already been blessed by her.  

An image that is never far from my mind

 From my old WW2 history days, is this:

The saluting officer is Hans Langsdorff.  He is noted for losing the Battle of the River Plate. His ship, the German cruiser (pocket battleship) Admiral Graf Spee, was trapped and he ordered it scuttled.  Contemporary accounts say he made sure his crew was taken care of.  After that, he retired to a room on shore, wrote a letter accepting full responsibility for the loss of the ship, then committed suicide.  

Legend says that before he took his life, he stretched out the traditional imperial naval ensign and laid down upon it.  He did not use the infamous Swastika flag of the Nazi Party.  If you look at the photo, you'll notice something that gives credence to the tale. 

He's the one saluting traditional style.  And what are so many around him doing - including those who are obviously clergy within the Church?  Yep.  That would be the famous salute to der Fuhrer.  Because Nazism was not universally scorned across South America at the time, heavily Catholic though it was.  

Today, of course, it's everything from communism to Marxist influenced Latin American Liberation Theology that is the rage south of the border, and at times to the north.  Pope Francis has, on more than one occasion, given hat tips to the better side of communist thinking.  Quite a few Catholics on the Internet have joined mainstream media outlets in singing praises to various forms of Marxism, certainly socialism, and in the odd case or two, full blown communism.

This doesn't address the legions of Catholic leaders with their heads down about so many growing evils in our modern age. From openly race hating Caucasians, to surgically altering the bodies of minors, the cheering for increased abortion rights, to bringing our porn sex culture to the youngest of these, to turning a blind eye to non-MAGA types cheering for the killing of Jews, to persecuting Christians for refusing to conform to this madness, to ending antiquated notions of equality and sanctity of human life, it's stunning to hear the sounds of the Church's silence.    

Though in fairness, the best we often get from believers is silence. That's because other believers rely on attacking anyone trying to stand up to the madness.  They might not openly support the manifold evils and absurdities being mandated by our corporate expert class.  But they focus on always attacking those trying to stop it.

Then you have the Catholics - leaders and otherwise - who are the modern equivalent of those in the photo giving their loudest Sieg Heils!  They embrace and endorse whatever the World throws our way. Even when the World says the best scholarship has proven the Bible was bunk, those believers are right there trying to  accommodate.  Plus they will happily join with that other group in attacking anyone who does otherwise.   

That's just the way it is.  From the Golden Calf to feeding their babes to Baalim, God's people have always produced a bumper crop of followers willing to throw in with the principalities, the powers, the rulers of the darkness of the age, and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  And there's not much we can do, other than not fall into the same pit.  Instead, consider this from the letter to the Church at Sardis: 

‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

Be like those few in Sardis who didn't defile their garments.  Be like the 7000 who did not bow a knee to Baal.  Heck, even be like Hans Langsdorff. Hardly perfect (he was on the wrong side after all), but a damn sight better than what many of our leaders and fellows in the Faith are doing today.   And don't be like she who doesn't bow a knee, but won't call out Baal and will turn on you in preference to taking a stand.  At the end of the day, it's all the same alliance. 

Courage, Rebel, Counterculture, Non-Conformist

Are words that came to my mind as I note the growing whirlwind of rage from the always tolerant and open minded progressive wing of American society.  That whirlwind involves Harrison Butker, a kicker for the Kansas City Swifts.  Apparently a more traditional leaning Catholic, he gave a commencement speech at Benedictine College.  This might be because he now holds the record for the longest kick in a Super Bowl game ever.  One that figured prominently in the team's victory I'm told.  I don't know.  

Anyhoo, from the clips the news showed this morning, he must have questioned abortion rights.  He spoke of pride in light of God, rather than the pride we see demonstrated in June. Which was reported as an attack on the LGBTQ community (note: does this mean they're saying the type of pride he condemns is, in fact, what is celebrated in June?).  And he said no matter what women in the audience want to accomplish in Corporate America, the real excitement they're waiting for is the beauty of childbirth and family.  

That last part seems to be what really got people.  In a nation that celebrates that most wonderful accomplishment of aborting 60 million pregnancies in barely three generations, you can see why.  I mean, the central message of modern progressivism is that the only reason God decided to exist was to create a vast universe spinning around me.  So suggesting anything close to giving oneself up for others is anathema.  

I've seen some pointing out that the NFL not immediately throwing him out, as compared to Colin Kaepernick who wasn't immediately thrown out, just shows racism and all.  Others - and I saw plenty of examples, since the news broadcasts only showed the critics - attacked him for...thinking women should be excited by childbirth?  Pride isn't good?  I don't know.  A whole lot of people were interviewed and quoted, outrage and more self-righteous outrage and indignation, and yet nobody said exactly what was wrong with the substance of what he said.  As usual, it was just assumed that, having not conformed to leftwing same think, it had to be stupid, wrong, hateful and evil.  At least from what I've seen so far.  I'm sure editorials explaining just what was wrong will be forthcoming.  

For instance, on Good Morning America, Robin Roberts said the problem was that a graduation speech should be about the grads, not about the speaker's opinions.  I'll have to find other examples of leftwing speakers vomiting leftwing ideological and political opinions and see if she reacted that way as well. 

On the whole, this is what being a counterculture rebel, a non-conformist, and demonstrating a certain level of courage is all about.  Conforming to post-Christian secular leftwing ideology today is about as courageous as wearing scarlet and gray to an Ohio State football game in Columbus.  But challenging leftwing dogma and activism?  When running afoul of progressive tolerance and inclusion and diversity, you're probably being as courageous as you can be outside of a real totalitarian state. 

Added Note:  I should mention that, as I prepared to publish this, I was informed by one of my sons  that there is pushback against the MSM witch hunt.  And not just conservatives.  Apparently some on the liberal side are saying hey, the guy is a Catholic speaking at a private Catholic university.  It's his beliefs.  Take a chill pill people.   Let liberal Catholics freak out and go Fred Phelps on the guy.  So not all on the Left are into this, just most in the media from what I can tell.  

More leftwing tolerance.  Now about that guy paid millions to throw a football calling cops racist

UPDATE:  That didn't take long:

From an order that appears proud to have kicked the habit, as they say.  

Memes can make a person look awfully stupid

Which is why I reference them with great caution, and always make sure they don't do something like this: 

You'll note, Sen. Cotton didn't say we honor Jackie Robinson's major league career just because he was a swell player.  He points out that the reason we honor him is precisely because he broke the color barrier.  He then points out he was, therefore, the first African American MLB player. Right there.  In the post.  He explains what and why and who.  

So what in the hell is Mr. John Brown even talking about?  Oh, I can guess.  I can guess what Mr. John Brown would really like Senator Tom Cotton to say and our schools to teach.  But judgementalism aside, exactly how did Senator Cotton not do what John Brown chastises him for not doing? 

Oh, and the age old lie that Americans never learn about our history is one of the greatest falsehoods of all time. We've been learning that Americans never learn about our real history since I was in elementary school in the 1970s.  And we learned what America's sins were then as much as ever.  By the time my sons were in public school, America's sins was the main focus of almost all lessons about our history.  So once again, the thought that kids today know nothing about racism demonstrates the gargantuan level of mendacity and denial that adhering to leftwing activism demands.

Kevin O'Brien does a good thing

Yep.  It was on a post I wrote from last year that was, I'll admit, pretty brutal towards Mr. O'Brien.  It was in response to an article he wrote that I felt was way too partisan despite its surface content which seemed to be condemning partisanship.  I also felt it was at the expense of calling out the particularly egregious things we're seeing to the Left of center.  In that case, the Left/Media's decision to sweep under the carpet those non-MAGA types celebrating the October 7th slaughter of over 1000 Israeli Jews.   Or, for that matter, sweeping under the carpet the actual slaughter of over 1000 Israeli Jews.  Compare that to the media saturation over the Unite the Right rally of 2017, or George Floyd, or the weeks of stories about that teen who supposedly committed suicide over gender.

Anyhoo, I admitted I was lacking in knowledge of the 'Latest of Kevin O'Brien Writings' department.  That one article coming to my attention after many years of not really keeping up with his thoughts.  I also explained why I had stopped reading him.  If you go back here, you can read my post and background and the comment.

Well, for whatever reason, I missed that Mr. O'Brien swung by and responded.  It wasn't a bad response in the least.  It was almost creepily normal and mature.  Almost like someone came to a gathering I was at, walked over, and corrected something he heard me say.  Or at least put it into context.  You know.  How people behaved before the Internet.  Nowadays that sort of behavior is more like a Big Foot sighting.  You hear rumors but never expect to experience it yourself.  

But the really crazy thing?  He admitted he was wrong about the whole 'Lying for Jesus' issue from way back when.  He admitted he was too inflexible.  Which is true.  That was always the problem.  I don't recall anyone saying 'Hey!  Let's lie for Jesus!  Isn't lying awesome?'  They were merely saying that, in a pinch when the innocent are suffering, shouldn't we be pardoned if, in our passion to do the right thing and save the suffering innocents, the best we could do is be less than straight as an arrow?   Are we sure it's better to let a thousand children be slaughtered than to tell a white lie to save them?

Of course logic and 'God is not a machine' thinking suggests if the worst reason you ever lie was making a false statement in order to protect the innocent from suffering and death, you're probably walking a darn righteous path.  But the amazing thing is that Mr. O'Brien admits he was too inflexible in that department.  And I want that to sink in.

One of the side effects of the virtual lynch mobs we call 'wokesters' is a mounting hatred for anyone or anything that is less than perfect.  Since we move from accuse, condemn and then eradicate those reprehensible imperfect types, it stands to reason that such wokesters, and everyone around them, will be less than ready to admit fault.  After all, they've established the standard that there is no forgiveness or understanding for the sinner.  There is only eradication, erasure, and extermination.  Don't hold your breath for many apologies when that approach to failure and sin is all the rage in a society.

Yet Mr. O'Brien did it.  Which isn't bad. That alone warrants another look at his musings.  Not that I will agree with him about Bueller.  I didn't like Ferris Bueller's Day Off when I was a godless liberal agnostic in college.  Something about the layers of lying and mockery of the good heartedness of a city just didn't sit well with me.  Plus I had to wonder why the principal who wanted Bueller to be a responsible student was the bad guy.  I fear that movies like that, even back then, were canaries in the coal mine.  It just didn't bode well if that was what my generation thought was good and bad. 

Nonetheless, kudos to Mr. O'Brien.  He did a rare thing nowadays, and acted like a man.  He admitted fault where he saw it and clarified for me the situation as he understood it.  It's a sad read in that respect, but all too common nowadays.   The Internet does corrupt I'm afraid, even friendships.  And obviously, if you read Mr. O'Brien's comment, it's likely more common than we care to admit. 

Sometimes I think the Internet is a big joke Satan played on us just when we thought things were bad enough. 

Watching President Biden explain the economy to Erin Burnett

Including making false statements about inflation in the 2020 economy and blaming anything under the sun, made me think of this: 

If you're the sitting president, don't sound like Jake Blues. 

Happy Mother's Day

For two of the best moms in the world.  My wife and my mom.   Mom is much aged now in only that year or so, but this photo would not do bad by her in the day it was taken.  My wife is a super-hero where caring for my mom is concerned.  I do the lion's share of taking care of her and all the day-to-day, finances, insurance, medical and such.  But there are certain areas where I'm a bit squeamish. That's where my wife steps up.  Every morning, before going to work, she gets my mom up and tends to her needs and makes sure everything is good to go.  She then makes sure, at night, my mom is taken care of again.  She also helps in other areas, especially keeping track of medications - no small task.  I couldn't do it without her.  But then, that's been our life together.  I'm more the comic relief.  She has ever been the hub around which we turn.  I'm not sure if the same was true with my mom since my dad was such a force of nature, but she was no less important and the second best mom I've ever known (guess who I think is the first).  So happy Mother's Day to them and all who have been a mom to someone in their lives.  

Good for them

Be them

Good things can start with baby steps.  A school board in Virginia - Shenandoah Valley Schools - has voted to restore the names of Confederate generals to schools in its district.  The article says this is the first time in US history that a school district has done this.  I don't know how many times it has come up.  The names were changed in the anti-American protests and riots that took place in 2020. 

Of course conservatives hail Donald Trump as a prophet for seeing where destroying the statues of Robert E. Lee would end up going.  But that's not prophetic.  That's common sense and reality.  Anyone who didn't think it would end up being used to wipe out anything in America's and the West's history or heritage was either a fool or a coward or a Marxist.  Hence why Nikki Haley jumping on the bandwagon with the Confederate flags was a deal breaker for me.  Either she was willing to play with forces dedicated to destroying the Western Tradition and American Experiment, or she was hopelessly naive.  

But this is good news.  It will likely come under a withering assault from the anti-Western forces of the Left (let's finally be honest people).  And this would be a good time for citizens of the Democratic West and the heritage of the Western Christian tradition to rally around them and plant their banners around this school district.  I think one problem with standing up to the forces against the Faith and its heritage is the tendency we have of letting those who do so get shot to pieces by the Left. 

A rare photograph of me

Overhearing the morning news in the background explain how strong the economy is looking:

On this day in music history

May 9, 1962, an obscure record store manager sends a telegram from a London post office to a backwoods seaport that he has secured a recording contract for one of the local music groups.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Telling

 I have seen this pop up over the last couple days:

It references the continued push to expand sex change procedures on minors while lowering the age of exposing our children to our modern porn sex culture.  It might include the sudden debate over just when celebrating the genocidal slaughter of Jews is or isn't a deal breaker.  I don't know.  I should mention that some of the individuals who posted this are not exactly your hard right of conservative types.  A couple actually shocked me.  

Almost hand in hand with this, I've seen this Rockwell pop up in response (a sort of how far we've fallen reference):

Suggesting that while never perfect, we certainly have lost something with throwing God out the window and into the ghettoes of our society.  Believe it or not, there are Christians who think allowing God and Christ to be removed from our societal stage has been detrimental to our nation. 

Well, as I'm seeing the above images, I then see this linked to from Catholic deacon and film critics Steven Greydanus:

Because to the Left, our past is 100% bad.  One of my sons once quipped that with the modern Left, it's not a case of the glass half empty as oppose to half full.  When it comes to our history, heritage and heroes, the glass is altogether empty, crush by a steamroller, and covered by radioactive waste.  

Deacon Gredyanus swooping in to remind us that no appeal to the past can exist apart from focus on the sins of the past demonstrates one of the Left's main trump cards.  Condemn the past for its sins.  Define the past by its sins.  Declare those all defining sins irredeemable and all tainting.  Anything in the past is therefore tainted by these sins.  Anything the past condoned is therefore suspect.  If you think boys and girls used to exist, or raising kids should be parents' priorities, or judging based on skin color is always wrong?  Well, that what those racists in the racist past said, ain't it?  Therefore, anything and everything from the past is, at best, open to debate.  Including the idea that sexing up our children or altering their underage bodies might be suboptimal.  

In fairness, I should mention that I don't know Deacon Greydanus posted the above image in direct response to the others.  After all, this isn't the first time that a Christian argued for remembering a time of more religious devotion in the past as a positive. Nor is it the first time Deacon Greydanus has swept aside appeals to the past that don't emphasize slavery or Jim Crow.   It just all happened around the same time, and I felt it telling.  

UPDATE: Then again.  Someone explained to the good deacon that not all was bad in the past, and not all is the best in the present.  Let's say, school shootings?  And he responds:

So there you go.  Trying to find the good of the past should always deflect to the bad.  But if you pine for the good but don't embrace the proper politics of today, can faith ever be found on the Earth? 

When politics trumps religion

 In one easy FB Post:

Yep.  Mr. Alt, apologist for the Catholic Faith, just put a stamp of approval on all those stupid anti-Christian, atheist, skeptic and other memes that say if you believe anything in the Bible, you have to believe we can kill sinners by stoning them.  

I'm sure in most cases, Mr. Alt knows why that is such an asinine argument. If he has the slightest theological education he certainly does.  Yet he just endorsed skeptics and opponents of the Gospel making that very point.  Though in fairness, most liberal ministers I knew from my Protestant days also invoked this stupidity, as if the Gospel hadn't happened yet.  

This is why keeping politics at arms length is the better way to go.  If we're not careful, we end up shooting Jesus in the kneecap in our attempt to hit those rascally other party types behind Him.  And the only one who wins there is the one who is always happy to see Jesus get shot in the kneecaps.  

The same is true of Ms. Bowers, FWIW.   I know nothing of her.  I found her FB to be fair and see what she was about.  Other than a title that suggests Christian, most of the posts were variations of 'hate Trump, hate him now.'  So there you go. 

Honesty is hardly ever heard

And we know why.  At least nowadays. 

So the media is exploding over a book written by Krisi Noem.  In it, she describes putting one of her dogs down after it became uncontrollable.  Being in the country, she shot it.  Old Yeller stuff.  Maybe she shouldn't have.  Maybe there were other ways.  Maybe it was all she could think to do at the moment.  I don't know.  I just know the world in which we would have had a discussion - even a heated one - about what she writes in her book is long dead. 

Now it's as if someone is trying to reason with a lynch mob.  Kristi Noem is on the same ranks as Manson.  Her name a byname for cruel, barbarian, savage, killer - all words I've heard applied to her.  And this is driven by that thing I used to call the news media. You'd think she bult gas chambers. Of course animal rights advocates are heavily quoted in the outrage.  It helps lend credibility to the hysteria. 

She lived on a ranch or farm or something similar from what I can tell.  I haven't read the book.  And people who exist in the real world like farms and ranches often have experiences different from what armchair Cliff Clavins on the Internet imagine the world should be.  And the media, hoping to gin up any rage hate against anyone right of center, mixed with the usual suspects with fingers poised over their keyboards in anxious anticipation, charges forth with rage hate, condemnation, and conviction sans trial. 

That's the world the media wants.  That's the world the establishment wants.  One where we don't dare be honest.  We don't dare admit to anything.  We fear any word we say.  Because in our world, anything less than perfection is only worthy of eradication.  And the fools who fall for this new world standard will be the ones who scream the loudest when that principle finally turns back on them.  

We call this an in joke

Because you have to know movies, and at least a couple genres, to get it:

Friday Frivolity: Victory!

Victory in our ongoing wargame that is! Heh. Sorry, no victory for the modern West, we must delve into the fiction of strategy games or speculative history for that modern scenario. 

So we're playing that game of games, World in Flames.  A grand strategic WW2 game if there ever was one.  I wrote on that game in the past.  We've been playing it for some time now, when we can.

That's because it isn't easy getting together for these things anymore.  Sometimes we play on a 'deal me in/deal me out' basis.  Right now it's my third oldest - our board game guru - and me, with a couple other brothers when available.  

He is the Axis countries, mainly Germany and Italy.  I'm the Allies, mainly the US and England, and France for what it's worth.  When available, the others take Japan and Russia and split China (communists and nationalists).  

My third son playing Germany works.  He's extremely aggressive in, well, anything he does in life.  That fits here since, like any WW2 strategy game in the history of WW2 strategy games, much of what happens hinges on Germany.  In this game, with the campaign we are playing (Global War: Sept 1, 1939 - end of August, 1945), Germany begins by having to declare war on Poland.  It also has a few special rules to sweeten the deal.  So him going that direction first was a sure thing.  And it went about as you'd expect (though Polish forces around Danzig gave him some fits, more than they probably should). 

What comes next is based on the player's choice.  Go east? Probably not.  West is a better move. That's because another staple of grand strategic WW2 games is that France is usually dead man walking.  The only hope a player of France has is that the German player chooses not to follow the historical footprints.  But since that never happens, it's only how and when France is defeated, not if. 

Which is the victory I mentioned in the title with some gloating on my part.  Per the Players' Notes, the most you can hope for with France is to delay, delay, delay.  And cause as many German losses as possible.  

Historically, Germany ended the famous 'Phony War' by invading the Low Countries and France in May, 1940.  By June, France was finished.  So in this game, Germany taking France out before the end of June is considered a victory.  That didn't happen. 

He even peels eggs aggressively

The next goal if Germany targets France is to make sure France it taken by at least July or, worst case, August.  That's starting to narrow options.  As in every WW2 game, Germany has everything it needs to win - one at a time.  Two at most.  It can take France, or England, or possibly the USSR.  It can't really do all at once.  To go after England and Russia means taking France first.  And by September, the weather in this game begins to turn and make coordinated actions like invading England a long shot (there's over a 50% chance that weather can negatively impact at least something).  If he can't take France by August, then it pretty much narrows his options, most likely eastward.  Which takes the pressure off England.  So it's August or bust. Well, that didn't happen either.

After a series of moves and setbacks against the French, he conceded he probably won't be able to take France this turn (turn ends at the end of August).  A combination of perhaps his decision to start breaking up his units and sending units south before sealing the deal in France, some darn good dice rolls for me, and, if I may, some good planning on my part, I more or less bogged things down.  

In addition to this, his air force has taken a beating.  After the initial invasion where he did run roughshod over my air fields, the French and English have given as good as they've got.  In game scale terms, Germany has lost about 1500 aircraft during this time (which isn't far from the historical numbers, but worse than he hoped, especially since the Allies didn't end up losing nearly as much).

Another bonus for me is that he has had to focus exclusively on land actions.  Turns are made up of a variable number of rounds. Long and short, in each round within a turn you get to pick a single action type for each country corresponding to the main divisions of the modern military: Air, Land or Naval.  In each, you can do anything with that type without limit, usually to the exclusion of the others (with some exceptions).  There also is a combination action, which allows a little of each, but not much of any.  Because I slowed him down, he has had to focus all on Land actions.  Which means he hasn't been able to go after those precious convoys bringing materials, goods and supplies to merry old England across the Atlantic.*  Another win. 

So overall that is a victory for me!  Against his competitive and typically good strategic and tactical thinking, I'll take it.  I had thought of posting an ongoing journal of the game, but realized who am I kidding?  We barely have time to play the game!   But every now and then I might give an update.  Especially when it makes  me look good. :)    

OK, an addendum.  I told him I was going to post this and he objected with much objection.  Stalled, he said.  France is still all but finished.  Likely by the first of September.  True, what I said is accurate.  But he has had some better news elsewhere and it hasn't all been a loss.  

At least I damaged one of his best

For instance, in the Mediterranean Sea, his Italian navy has given England a run for its money.  I don't know why.  But he's been cleaning my clock there.  The good news for me is that in Libya proper, his Italian forces are everything you expect from WW2 era Italian forces.  Which has been a problem for him (in games with Italy, like the larger Axis & Allies games, he prefers an audacious Italian strategy).  Here he's thwarted by the units being modified to account for that famous Italian fighting prowess.  Knowing history, he began - possibly too early - sending German units south to bail them out.  He hasn't picked an HQ Commander yet - dare I hope for Rommel? (As tough as that would be, it warms the cockles of my historian's heart to think he might send his Rommel HQ down there to bail out a floundering Italy) 

So it hasn't been all bad for him.  He has Denmark and the Netherlands (though not Belgium, which is still defended by some stubborn Brit and Belgium units around Antwerp). Plus Poland.  He's giving me fits in the Mediterranean. And France is close to done.  But not as soon as he needed to give him more options.  And with him and his clever mind, reducing his options and stalling his plans is usually the only way I can hope to win no matter what game we play.  

*The one thing he can use is his fleet of Auxiliary Cruisers, or Merchant Raiders. They have special rules.  These were ships used that were more out of a Transformers movie.  They were modified merchant ships, tankers, ocean liners - the munitions and armaments being cleverly hidden.  They traveled incognito and could spring to life with the snap of the fingers, catching Allied ships by surprise.  He hasn't done much damage to my merchant ships so far, since those raiders are 'long shot' units.  But in a bugger of bad fortune for England by way of surprises and bad rolls, I've lost two cruisers to those annoying things - the Fiji in the N. Atlantic and the Ajax off the cost of Portuguese Guinea (the total lost in WW2 to such German vessels, so it had best stop there). 

Real history: The Aux Cruiser Kormoran, which did sink the cruiser HMAS Sydney