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Post by timothylane on Dec 14, 2019 6:53:52 GMT -8
That quote was from Coolidge. He added that the idealism of America is idealism.
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Post by timothylane on Dec 14, 2019 14:42:51 GMT -8
This is a piece of news that ought to be in the satiric section, but apparently it's genuine. One of the pair of Demagogues voting against the authorization of the impeachment Inquisition was Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey. Today he has responded to the quest, and a talk with Trump, and polling numbers in his Republican district by . . . switching parties.
Always nice to pick up a seat, though time will tell how much effect it has on his voting -- and whether he can hold the seat anyway next year.
Something similar happened in 1995, when Demagogue shenanigans regarding the proposed Balanced Budget Amendment induced moderate Democrat Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado to switch parties in disgust. He did vote more conservatively after that, for what it's worth.
The link is:
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Post by timothylane on Dec 20, 2019 10:43:41 GMT -8
Boris Johnson isn't letting the grass grow beneath his feet. His new Parliament is meeting, and already he has given them a bill to pass Brexit -- and the bill was approved 358 to 234. Of course, the devil is always in the details, so time will tell what this really amounts to. But they finally did it, after I had finally given up hope after a long time. Theresa May's repeated failures had convinced me that the globalist elites would be able to block it permanently.
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Post by kungfuzu on Dec 20, 2019 12:44:21 GMT -8
I have yet to be able to find exactly what Johnson's "new" Brexit Bill contains, but there is little doubt that it is much the same as the bill May submitted and couldn't get through. There appears to be a few amendments which favor the U.K.
In any case, we do not yet know how obstreperous the EU negotiators will be. If they push too hard, I believe there is a reasonably good chance that Boris will start amending the bill in ways which will separate the U.K. and EU even more.
I promise you that the EU potentates are now very concerned about the future of the Union. They know that if the U.K. is successful outside of the EU, other member states will start thinking of asking for similar deals.
In my opinion, once Brexit does go through, the EU is finished, over the long haul. Once it moved from the EEC to the EU it was doomed unless it could exercise complete control over its member states, regardless of how the voters voted. As you may know, this is the first referendum or vote to lessen or restrict the powers of the EU which has not been overturned by another vote or referendum. Brexit is a huge deal.
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Post by timothylane on Dec 20, 2019 14:03:32 GMT -8
The Town Hall article had a few specifics. One thing I liked was that British courts will be able to cancel decisions forced on Britain by the eurocrats. The link is:
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Post by kungfuzu on Dec 21, 2019 10:51:32 GMT -8
The link is to an interesting article in Front Page Magazine. Why Left Wing Jews Want To Portray Trump As An Anti-SemiteNot only was the article worthwhile, the remarks below are often very interesting.
Only this morning I had a brief "discussion" with a secular left-wing Jew who was telling me all about the rise of anti-semitism in America and Europe. When I mentioned that the biggest anti-Semites in Europe were the Muslims, she stated categorically that the Muslims were not anti-semitic.
It is simply a waste of time to try and have a serious discussion with such types. This is why I have come to believe the only way to deal with the left is to crush it.
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Post by timothylane on Dec 21, 2019 11:20:01 GMT -8
There are Israeli leftist Jews who oppose the existence of their own nation. Deep down I suspect they know what the Palestinians would do to them if they got the chance (e.g., if Israel as a nation disappeared). But as long as there's no danger of that actually happening, they're free to hate those who keep their nation alive.
The nature home for these Jews -- the ones who only object to anti-Semitism from people they oppose politically (i.e., those considered to be on the right) -- is France. Let them all go there, and add their votes to the left there instead of here (or Britain or Israel), before their Muslim friends wipe them out.
Note, by the way, that Orthodox Jews are socially conservative and thus tend to vote Republican. Deep down, I suspect few leftists really care about anti-Semitic (or any other) violence against them.
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Post by artraveler on Dec 21, 2019 11:25:04 GMT -8
it is simply a waste of time to try and have a serious discussion with such types. This is why I have come to believe the only way to deal with the left is to crush it. JINO (Jews in name only) make up what cvould be referred to the Jewish left. Like all of the leftist persuasion they do not have any religion other than the construct of socialism/communism/statism. Their worldview is that they are Jews by an accident of birth and that identity can be dropped at will. Indeed, it is possible for someone to be a Jew without being Jewish. I see evidence everyday when I read the Israeli newspapers, but the counter to that propaganda is the modern Jewish warrior of the IDF. Many in the IDF are secular, almost to the extent of non-religious. The modern Israeli Jew is outside the ideals of European and American Jews as practiced over the last 2000 years. Except for the domoninace of traditional orthodox in the government Israel would be more Israeli and less Jewish. However, there is a line that will never be crossed. Never again will Jews huddle in fear of an oppressor. So, let the JINO's belch and scream their hatred for their own. It is a drowning sceed of a philosophy that is out of date, no longer relevant, and needs to be crushed beyond recovery. |
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Dec 30, 2019 8:35:43 GMT -8
Here’s a math story problem for you: A guy walks into a Texas church and opens fire. What is the likelihood (if he is a registered voter) that he voted for Obama? Two church-goers are dead and it would have been many more if this had been in a church outside of Texas. The shooter was quickly gunned down by “armed security.” He barely beat out other Texans rushing to the assailant with their guns at the ready. The video that link doesn’t work for me. But one commenter describes it: Maybe Mr. Kung would know more about whether having actual armed security in a Texas church has become a normal precaution. In this case, it worked very well. |
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Post by timothylane on Dec 30, 2019 8:59:03 GMT -8
There have been several articles on this at Town Hall and elsewhere. It was indeed a security guard (who was also a member of the church). The pastor thanked Governor Abbott for allowing people to be armed in church. In commenting on that, I noted the similarity to the incident that led Suzanna Hupp to found the Second Amendment Sisters. She had a gun with her when she and her parents went to Luby's Cafeteria one day, but she didn't bring it in with her because Texas state law at the time forbade it. So she was unarmed when a mass murderer started killing. He didn't get her, but did get her parents.
I don't know how typical it is for a church to have so much unofficial (or even official) security, but that pastor realized the important thing is that they could -- and in the end, did. And the result is that the thug only killed two people (it says something bad about society that it's appropriate to be grateful for such a small body count) before . . . good riddance to bad rubbish.
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Post by kungfuzu on Dec 30, 2019 9:04:49 GMT -8
I can't give any firm numbers, but Texas churches started arranging their own security details after this mass shooting.
I recall this incident well as I was in Texas, at the time, to decide whether or not to move back permanently.
Prior to this mass shooting, I cannot recall having heard of shooting in churches. But church goers took notice and many churches now have a number of members who carry guns during the service.
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Dec 30, 2019 9:08:50 GMT -8
Indeed. And here’s an article with a little more information about the hero: I’m guessing he wins that election. Also… And it would appear it another case of a zombie “transient” being a problem: Apparently one of the people killed was one of the security guards. And “The volunteer security team has been in place at the church for at least a decade, according to sources.” |
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Dec 30, 2019 9:11:22 GMT -8
Yes, one article I linked to noted that this church formed a security detachment ten years ago which pretty much coincides with the Westwood Baptist murders.
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Post by timothylane on Dec 30, 2019 9:14:16 GMT -8
A Republican supporting Trump . . . what a non-surprise. And your prediction about the killer will probably also prove to be true, though that will be hard to find reported anywhere.
Incidentally, when Abbott signed the law allowing armed church members, the Yellow Jester mocked his fears as irrational. I guess he'd have preferred the much larger body count, especially since the victims would probably have been mostly Trump supporters.
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Dec 30, 2019 9:50:51 GMT -8
I realize there are aspects of this in Trump. But it is a very dark commentary on human nature that Joe Biden has ever held an office higher than used car salesman or dog catcher.
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Post by artraveler on Dec 30, 2019 10:34:00 GMT -8
The church was a Church of Christ. They are very traditional, no choir, all music is voice. only men are in leadership, and they tend to have large families. This should send a message to all the creeps who think churches are gun free zones. Don't mess with the Church of Christ.
I believe it was about six months ago that Texas passed a law allowing worship institutions to organize their own armed security,.Arkansas is in process to do the same. BTW there are armed Jews in our congregation for every service. We don't need the blessing of the state to defend ourselves.
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Post by kungfuzu on Dec 30, 2019 11:13:36 GMT -8
This is the denomination I grew up in. As Artler said, very traditional and Bible-based. We went to Sunday School and service on Sunday morning, service on Sunday night and Wednesday night and took the Lord's Supper every Sunday morning. When I was a kid there was no dancing, no drinking and smoking was frowned upon although a number of male members did smoke. People dressed modestly and wore their best clothes to Church. I can remember no slobs. Divorce was a no-no and there were no musical instruments in Church. We sang a cappella which made for good singing . My voice professor told me that the Church of Christ turned out many good singers. The Church's first chapel was very spare. After some years the congregation built a new chapel and this had some stained-glass windows up front. Many members thought this was frivolous or a step in the direction of graven images. Needless to say, there were no crosses in the Church and the preacher did not wear any special vestments. Christmas was never celebrated as a religious holiday. We celebrated it as a national holiday, basically for kids.
It was a very strict environment which I found a bit too constricting, but it taught morals and did not make excuses for bad behavior. God had given the individual the choice on how he might life and salvation if he acknowledged Jesus Christ as Savior. Free Will was a big thing. Predestination was not.
Growing up, our neighbors across the street (the son of whom I still see several times a year) were Baptists, and referring to moral behavior jokingly said, "The Baptists keep an eye on everybody and the Church of Christ keeps an eye on the Baptists."
As an aside, the "singer" Meatloaf went to this Church with us. My older brother and he were good friends and I would sometimes play Cowboys and Indians with them. It looks like old ML as he was called in those days, was even less inclined to stay in the Church than I was.
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Post by timothylane on Dec 30, 2019 11:48:18 GMT -8
A friend of mine played one Meat Loaf song for me that was reasonably good, about a guy trying to seduce a woman and she insisted on his promise to "love her till the end of time".
He was also a minor but significant character in the comedy Scavenger Hunt.
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Post by Brad Nelson on Dec 30, 2019 15:53:58 GMT -8
I can’t speak of the doctrine or personalities involved. I know quite well how dour some ass-puckered-too-tight Christians can be. That said, you just described the way I think all churches should be. Indeed. That stained glass is a little ostentatious. I realize I’m idealizing the situation. Unlike you, Mr. Kung, I did not grow up under such a strict upbringing (assuming that church life intersected family life). I know that what might sound good to an outsider could be hell to live inside. Today the idol is not stained glass but the temple of self-indulgence. Like I said, trust me when I say I know what tightened-down Christians can be like, at least secondhand. I get it. And I think the opposite (the complete loosey-goosey unbuttoned, let it all hang out, let’s pretend a man is a woman) is worse. I think by having your background, you have a better appreciation than most in regards to Happy Mediums. Somewhere between The Scarlet Letter and Pete Butt-gig there is a happy medium. You are quite lucky (it may not seem that way when you’re actually living in the bunker) to have had that experience rather than the opposite. To be born to loose-goosey let-it-all-hang-out (and if it doesn’t hang out it’s likely because you’ve had a sex change) libtard parents is to be corrupted for life and never have a choice. To never know restraint is to be a slave to your passions. Obviously I’m idealizing all this again. It doesn’t mean a member of the Church of Christ hasn’t visited a hooker now and then nor that the grossest atheist hedonist hasn’t helped a friend in need. But in the coming years, if history is any guide, there will be a lot of people looking for something more nourishing than the Styrofoam of popular culture. I was watching this lecture series on the piano on The Great Lectures channel. I’m not a big fan of J.S. Bach. There I said it (although his stuff written for, or adapted to, the cello I quite love). But this style of classical music where you’re just banging away on a piano as fast and as hard as you can just gives me a headache. But the lecturer has some amazing things to say about Bach’s inspiration for his music, which I find to be both beautiful and logical. Bach saw music (and I assume the classical music he was familiar with, not the Justin Bieber crap to come later) emanated from, or was a reflection of, God’s glory. And if you think about it, the very existence of music must come from somewhere. Perhaps my tastes have been eroded by exposure to Satan’s music which is otherwise known as pop music. I feel that I *should* like even J.S. Bach’s stuff written for the keyboard. Maybe it will come.
I know that Meatloaf made a name for himself. But is that really what one should be doing with one’s god-given talent?
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Post by kungfuzu on Dec 30, 2019 16:28:45 GMT -8
Church life certainly did intersect with family life. I don't know how it could not do so, if one actual believes one's religion.
I don't recall people being kooks. We were not frivolous people and did try to live according to the Bible. There was vacation Bible School every summer, which I did not particularly enjoy. We also knocked on doors to invite people to Church. We did not go around "speaking in tongues" or acting like people who would be known as "holy rollers." To our mind, Oral Roberts and other such "faith-healers" were a disgrace. One did not have to be a monk or hermit to find God and there was no Gnosticism. God had come to the world in the form of man and given the opportunity of salvation for all who accepted him.
Perhaps. I have seen many different ways of living and the extremes of both sides. I can't help but admire the idea of the Golden Mean.
During one particular discussion, a Swiss friend once said that I was looking at things with too narrow of a view. I told him that he didn't understand what I was doing as he had been born in Switzerland where virtually everyone was brought up in some valley or other with a very narrow view of the world, thus is was natural for him to try and broaden his view. Whereas, I had been brought up in America where there were no limits to possible views and that I was using my brains to narrow my views down to reality and truth. He liked that.
Think of Billy Sol Estes as regards the Church of Christ. I am still thinking on the atheist hedonist.
I like much of Bach. It is true that much of it can sound similar to non-musicians, but he wrote some great pieces.
Go to 17:45 in the below video to see Gould playing as Bach should be played.
For a chilling piece listen to this.
For some wonderful concertos
Our Western Heritage owes much which is beautiful and excellent to our forefathers' love and veneration of God. This holds for music, painting, architecture, literature and philosophy. That we are forgetting this is a crime.
Also, don't forget that from its beginnings, music has been considered sacred. Think of Orpheus and the rituals surrounding him. It is not surprising music is considered special as it is ethereal, coming from nothing material. I have always believed the human voice to be the most pure instrument and music the most pure art.
If you listen to ML, you will see that his talent lies elsewhere than in singing. He is very clear proof that pop-music does not require musical talent for success. In fact, given the fact that to be successful, one must appeal to the lowest-common-denominator in "music" it would be amazing if many pop stars were actually very talented. Think of the frauds in rap.
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