The Untold Story of Israel After October 7th thumbnail

The Untold Story of Israel After October 7th

By Jihad Watch

The national awakening you won’t hear about in the media.

The story of what happened after Oct 7 has played out in the international media as a montage of bombs and rubble. And while Israel’s campaign against the Hamas perpetrators of the horrific massacres, rapes and kidnappings is an important part of the story, it is not the only one.

From the men who grabbed their guns and drove south in the hours after the attack began to the warehouses quickly set up to provide food and clothing for the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who were forced to leave their homes after the attacks from Gaza, inside Israel, the real story has been defined by a country coming together not only to fight, but to support each other.

In the month after the attacks, one survey estimated that the majority of Israeli Jews were volunteering in one form or another at everything from baking cookies for soldiers to standing guard at potential terrorist targets. With hundreds of thousands of soldiers mobilized and hundreds of thousands of people stranded, even the most ordinary things became a problem.

Like laundry.

A Chassidic rabbi loaded up washing machines and dryers on trucks and headed with them to an army base. Laundry from displaced families was crowdsourced through social media groups with messages like, “there are at least 2000 people from Sderot who need help with their laundry. If you can help with doing one or two loads please reach out.”

Both religious and secular groups assembled massive warehouses filled with clothing and supplies for displaced people. Restaurants have set up meals and volunteers have deployed mobile kitchens in parking lots. And tens of thousands volunteer to cook in their own homes.

Weddings and bar mitzvahs have gone forward for refugee families welcomed by communities. Teenagers have volunteered to babysit and to perform household chores for military families.

At farms, including in the communities targeted by the Islamic terrorist invaders, tens of thousands headed to help. In one kibbutz, a “motley dozen-strong crew ranging from housewives to engineers and stockbrokers” could be found “tending to around 600 dairy cows”.

Polly Levine, the daughter of longtime David Horowitz Freedom Center supporter Tammy Steinsapir, recently wrote about her experiences doing everything from preparing food boxes to planting broccoli. “I was surprised to see hundreds of volunteers from all over the world: Australia, Great Britain, South Africa, France, Mexico and beyond,” she wrote.

And in grimmer work, in the days after the attacks, volunteers arrived to dig graves to bury the over 1,000 dead. “Google docs were sent out on community WhatsApp groups and it wasn’t unusual for empty 2 a.m. slots to be filled within minutes in the race to honorably bury the dead.”

“We had 50 people yesterday,” a police officer said. “Now the invitation to volunteers has gone viral, and we’re worried 5,000 could turn up.”

And there are the armed volunteers putting their lives on the line.

After the attacks, hospitals asked anyone with a gun license to volunteer as a guard. Other volunteer guards rallied to protect kindergartens in Jerusalem after the soldiers who usually defend them were summoned to war. While normal kindergartens don’t require soldiers or guards, Islamic terrorists have repeatedly targeted Israeli children. In one notorious incident in 2011, Hamas even fired an anti-tank missile at a school bus. Fortunately it hit only after most of the children had disembarked and only one teenage boy was wounded in the terrorist attack.

600 civilian security squads were established after the attacks and armed with thousands of rifles. These squads help patrol and secure communities likely to be targeted by terrorists. Volunteer forces had played a crucial role in countering the Hamas invasion at a time when the Israeli military had been caught by surprise and was outnumbered by the attacking terrorists.

The volunteerism is only the outward expression of a country at war. At a Shabbat table, I heard the story of a woman who calmly stated, “my husband is in the army, my father is in the army and my son is in the army”. After the Oct 7 attacks, reporting rates in some reserve units passed 100% with personnel showing up who had not even been called up. One viral video shows a 73-year-old “soldier” visiting his 101-year-old mother and then standing watch in the rain.

And that solidarity is really the untold story of what happened after Oct 7.

Turn on CNN and you’ll see the same montage of crying old women in hijabs and wrecked buildings that seems to have been running as a constant feed in the region since the rise of cable news, but in Israel, the story is not just the war, it’s also the peace. Before Oct 7, Israel had been tearing itself apart along political and religious lines. The underlying tensions haven’t gone away and every Hamas hostage offer calculatedly plays on those same divisions.

But Israel has also come together to a remarkable extent. That’s not a story which interests the media, but it ought to interest us because our hope for the future also lies in solidarity. In the years since 9/11, 7/7 or the other numberless Islamic terror atrocities that should have marked an awakening, we have learned all too well that superior weapons are not enough to win a war.

Wars are not just won or lost with firepower, but with the spirit of a people. The food baskets, clothing warehouses, volunteer guards, cooks and even gravediggers represent something as important, and perhaps even more important, than a military force: a national spirit.

“I see mothers of soldiers on the front lines volunteering in supermarkets. I see rabbis leaving their communities, traveling 48 hours across multiple countries to return home and fight for their country.” an email circulating after Oct 7 read. “I see police officers feeding bottles to babies who no longer have parents. I see teenage girls with flags at 2:30 in the morning dancing for soldiers who have returned to fight who simply cannot believe their eyes.”

The war against Islamic terrorism is not only a physical war, it is a spiritual war. Fighting it with weapons, but without conviction, with drones but without a national revival, has failed and will go on failing. Islamic terrorists do not just attack our bodies, they seek to destroy our spirit. They divide us in order to conquer us, they terrorize us and then play the victims, and they make every effort to convince us of the futility and wrongness of our cause so that they may defeat us.

Israel has long been the canary in the coal mine of Islamic terrorism. It has shown us how to physically fight terrorism. Perhaps it will now show us how to awaken our nations to the war.

AUTHOR

DANIEL GREENFIELD

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EDITORS NOTE: This Jihad Watch column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

An Election Integrity Analogy: Good Efforts do NOT assure Good Results thumbnail

An Election Integrity Analogy: Good Efforts do NOT assure Good Results

By John Droz, Jr.

When faced with a complicated, multi-faceted problem like election integrity, it’s often easier to get a much better grasp of it by using an analogy…

home remodeling project might be a good comparison. Let’s say we have a 250-year-old, 3-story home, that has exceptional historical significance. (For example, let’s imagine that in this home a group of patriots met and drafted up the first version of the Constitution!) Additionally, it is an architecturally beautiful building.

Although the home mostly has “good bones,” it has fallen on hard times due to decades of neglect, disputes of ownership, self-serving actions by caretakers, etc.

Some of the current issues are: dilapidated siding, deuterating porches, large holes in the roof, a woefully inadequate electrical system, antiquated plumbing, floors that need refinishing, walls that must be painted or repapered, etc. Although the foundation needs minor attention, it still seems to be solid.

Since no one else is doing anything meaningful about this property (other than a lot of talk, blame, and obfuscation), a group of patriotic citizens decides that they will step in.

These selfless volunteers get permission and then (at their own expense!) energetically do the following: start cleaning up the mess, wallpapering and painting walls, sanding floors, upgrading the electrical system, installing new plumbing, fixing broken windows, repairing porches, pointing chimneys, and improving the landscaping.

Do you see any problems here in my made-up analogy?

I’ve phrased it in such a way that it’s clear that there is no professional oversight to organize and direct these excellent efforts, in an appropriate, effective way. For example, renovation of such a property needs to be done in the proper sequence. In this case, it is a waste of time, effort and money to be finishing interior walls and floors before ALL of the needed plumbing and electrical work is done.

The biggest error in this analogy is also a sequential failure. The number one priority of this renovation MUST be to fix the roof. Almost any work on the interior is likely wasted until the inside is no longer exposed to the elements.

So what’s the parallel with election integrity?

We have almost 250 years of election history, architecturally attractive, and built on a solid foundation. However, our election system has fallen on very hard times due to decades of neglect, disputes about responsibility, self-serving actions by those elected to be caretakers, etc.

One of the few positives about the 2020 election is that it woke up many citizens to the reality that our election system has become seriously deteriorated.

In response, many hundreds of patriotic people have dedicated considerable time, effort, and money in an attempt to renovate our election system. My point here is that unless the contributions of these volunteers are properly focused, it’s likely that the majority of it will do very little. (The 2022 elections should have been a wake-up call!)

So what is the elections parallel with starting by properly fixing the roof?

(See “The Solution” for election integrity: here.)

Without doing that, very little of the rest of the superior efforts will be of any avail!

©2024. All rights reserved.

Here are other materials by this scientist that you might find interesting:

My Substack Commentaries for 2023 (arranged by topic)

Check out the chronological Archives of my entire Critical Thinking substack.

WiseEnergy.orgdiscusses the Science (or lack thereof) behind our energy options.

C19Science.infocovers the lack of genuine Science behind our COVID-19 policies.

Election-Integrity.infomultiple major reports on the election integrity issue.

Media Balance Newsletter: a free, twice-a-month newsletter that covers what the mainstream media does not do, on issues from COVID to climate, elections to education, renewables to religion, etc. Here are the Newsletter’s 2023 Archives. Please send me an email to get your free copy. When emailing me, please make sure to include your full name and the state where you live. (Of course, you can cancel the Media Balance Newsletter at any time – but why would you?

The Roots of Global Instability—Russia’s Fascist Regime thumbnail

The Roots of Global Instability—Russia’s Fascist Regime

By Simona Pipko

If you still have illusions about Russia, you would never be able to understand a global war against Western civilization and American capitalism, waged by the Terrorist State of Russia since the 20th century. The economic wellbeing of America depends on our knowledge of the danger of global instability, because today, we are copying the Europe of 1939. Yes, the Europe of Hitler’s Germany began WWII to expand FASCISM globally. We won WWII, losing millions of young men and women.  We should prevent the next war by all possible ways. It is a Must!

Germany took the process of Denazification very seriously; Russia has missed it. Denazification is the term used to describe the process of removing Nazis and Nazism from public life in Germany and across occupied Europe following the fall of the Third Reich after WWII. The Russian KGB, which Russian people called the Soviet Gestapo, is alive, well, and flourishing in the Russian Federation today.

As a former Soviet defense attorney, I dedicated my life to tell you the truth that you don’t know to save our beloved America the Beautiful. I am writing and warning you about our Chief enemy for the last forty-three years. My major subject is Stalinism and its Intelligence Apparatus. The reason is simple—Stalinist Socialist agenda and objectives have been a destruction of Western civilization and American Capitalism to spread globally his ideology and system of Soviet Socialism, which I called  Soviet Fascism. Stalin assigned his Intel to manage the task globally. And his Intel has been very successful by spreading the ideology of Soviet Fascism globally.

In my writing I use the term the KGB, a predecessor of the current FSB as a representative of the entire Russian Intel. Watching it for forty-three years, its activities and tremendous success globally, it was growing up accordingly and becoming the KGB’s Mafia/Army—the Evil Doer. Due to the rise of anti-Semitism globally, I also was driven to use the term, the new “Axis of Evil” –the countries under the Russian umbrella, overturned to the ideology of Soviet Fascism. History has given us a list of countries inverted to Soviet Socialism in the 20th century: Mongolia, North Korea, China, Syria, and some Central America’s countries, and Turkey are on the way there. That process has been developed by Putin with double force, speed, and a new strategy for oil: Venezuela and Iran had been added to the new “Axis of Evil ” in 21st century.

​Americans have a hundred questions and nobody in the leadership is answering any of them. They don’t know the truth or cover it up. Americans see that the world has dramatically changed, but they don’t know why. They don’t know that the team of Biden’s Socialists of the White House in cahoots with Putin implements the system of Soviet Socialism in America. I have published a book Socialist Revolution in America, XLIBRIS, 2021. But no one on TV, radio or print is discussing it. Nobody in America knows it, knows Russian History, Vladimir Putin and his Intel Apparatus that successfully waged that revolution. Yet, knowledge of all these is the answer to global instability and a current chaos in America.

The first requirement is the awareness of Stalinist Military Doctrine and two his postulates for the generations. The first is Socialist modus operandi: lies, deception, fabrication and fraud. Watch Biden’s team, they are all using Socialist modus operandi, deceiving you. The second is ““Never admit a crime committed, instead accuse your opponent of that exact crime.”  Putin is a devoted disciple of the Stalin/Andropov ideology that is alive and well and Stalin is the major hero in Russia. Please, recall the recent eight years of the Dem’s fiasco accusing Trump collusion with Russia. They did it to cover up that exact crime they had committed before and used Stalinist recommendations to cover it up. Watch Democrats in February 2024, they will repeat again accusations of Trump’s collusion with Russia, not having any other arguments, but—Russian election interference…

What an irony of life! Russian election interference has been existing in reality. Actually, Russian election interference was taking place on behalf of Biden’s Democrats since 2018, 2020, and 2022. Yes, and this is the reason I am writing and warning you about the KGB’s Mafia/Army for forty-three years, showing identical patterns. The Evil Doer has successfully pierced the White House, like it did to all other countries of the new “Axis of Evil,” which means Vladimir Putin runs America. Knowing the KGB’s Mafia/Army intent, I’ve told you that the Afghanistan surrender has been designed by Putin and executed by Biden’s White House in 2021.Then in 2021, I had known about Putin/Biden collusion and wrote several columns about their collaboration in suffocating the young Ukrainian democracy in 2014-2015.

Now eight years later, we have more evidence of their collusion. Let’s start with the International Invasion of American soil. First, Mexico is a failed State, infiltrated by Stalin in the 20th century. It was a skillfully concocted operation to provide for the future infiltration to Mexico by the Russian Intel. Read the story of the Spanish orthents brought to Russia after the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 and trained by the KGB for decades. It is not Mexican Cartels, but Russian Cartels in Mexico, that are directing the army of different gangs, like MS-13 to commit crime in America. I was discussing the story for years, the latest column is following: The Putin/Biden Plot Against America’s Constitutional Republic — Part II January 22, 2024

Yes, this is the Putin/Biden Plot Against America’s Constitutional Republic. The plot has a clear same intent for both sides. As of January 25, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) had signed 128 executive orders, 166 presidential memoranda, 552 proclamations, and 109 notices. Watching and listening to Biden, please, think about it. What objectives does the White House pursue by all mentioned above actions? The answer is clear,  Biden demolished American capitalism for the last three years plus the crisis on the border with millions of migrants entering America every day. Isn’t it a clear intent to complete the task of destruction of American capitalism with help of the KGB’s Mafia/Army? Yes, it is! Moreover, be ready for a new danger and outrage—“Migrant Crime,” different gangs like MS-13, a part of the Russian Cartels system of organized crime.

Knowing the new “Axis of Evil” and its activities, we now can confirm a complete identity and unity of both sides. It was a direct duty of the FBI and CIA to expose the actions against the American political system. They failed us. Can you now perceive a negative impact of the Democrats’ foreign policy on the U.S. national security? The Democrat’s collusion with the Russian Intel has a global implication and started decades ago. The KGB’s Mafia/Army is a managing mechanism of the new “Axis of Evil.” The international invasion from 120 countries is also organized by the KGB. As I stated before, the KGB is a Russian terrorist agency, a global terrorist agency and now it is involving the Democrat’s, Biden’s America in its orbit, influencing both foreign and domestic American policies.

Let me give you an example of Stalinist influence on our domestic affairs. “We have been subjected to so many lies, deceptions, disinformation and fraud by agitators and provocateurs for years that most people are disoriented and puzzled. Who is doing that to us? The answer is America’s Socialist Party through its Socialist Charlatans. They are preaching hate to cover-up the crime they have committed for several decades.

Stalinist Political Correctness is a mechanism of preventing the Truth from getting out. It is aimed at hiding or masking the Truth. Political Correctness is a monumental weapon to destroy successful capitalism and the political system left to us by the Founding Fathers. America’s Socialist Party (Democrats) has used PC against the American Republic and conservative Republicans for decades…

The issue of Abortion has a long history which grew as a snowball to the gigantic cultural fraud due to PC. The premise is clear—prevention of pregnancy. Be attentive to the premise—prevention of pregnancy. The Charlatans just moved the time span one bit further and the Republicans, as usual, swallowed the fraudulent hook.

The real pregnancy comes to life by the sexual act and the actual choice is the prevention of that sexual act. The partners, especially a woman, have a choice before a sexual act. It is action taken before the sexual act that prevents pregnancy and not actions after the fact. Using Stalinist PC, Democrat-Charlatans just reprogrammed the human mind, moving the time span and making the choice after the sexual act, which is a fraud. The abortion issue has become a tool for the Democrats to undermine our traditional culture, and our set of values. Just count the disproportional murder of black fetuses and fatherless black families to see the enormous cultural implications of this leftist fraud. Unfortunately, this fraud has affected all ethnic groups in America. “ Abortion and Other Socialist Plans to Destroy America October 3, 2020

I hope Republicans read this column and some of them will awake from hibernation and learn the truth. They should read all my columns to grasp the environment of Socialist Mafia in America. Yes, Socialist Mafia established by the KGB’s Mafia/Army within the Democrat party. I disagree with @NYPOST, it is not a “Nursing home reunion,” but a dangerous creation of Socialist Mafia in America, a-la the Soviet Mafia in Russia.

Follow

Biden, Pelosi clutch hands as they gingerly walk across San Francisco tarmac: ‘Nursing home reunion’.

Please, read my column: The Democrat Party: America’s Socialist Mafia February 6, 2024.

Biden, Pelosi, and other Dems leaders, Socialist Charlatans of the party are responsible for all troubles America has experienced today. In short: Pelosi as a Speaker of the House saw Biden running for President in 2019 and 2020. She heard his gaffs and saw him mentally unable to focus on the issues and his memory loss. Yet, Socialist Mafia and its Socialist Charlatans have been using the Evil Doer help to make a senile Socialist Biden the U. S. President, who deceives you every day reading a prompter written by his Socialist staff. My columns remind you how Socialist Charlatans were dismantling America’s Law and Order and setting up Soviet Fascism’s system of lawlessness under the supervision of the KGB’s Mafia/Army. Overwhelming heinous crime and a “Migrant Crime” are changing the face of America.

The connection with the past is all over today and Russia is much stronger than fifty years ago. Personal trafficking started by the KGB in Russia under the Warsaw Pact in East Europe, where blond Slovak,  Polish, and Czech girls had been sold to the Islamic countries—the friendship with Islam started then, when Stalin married Islam and Communist ideology. Don’t be surprised by the same trafficking on our Southern border, where Russian Cartels attacking America with different trafficking’s—the same patterns. Easer Arafat was recruited by the KGB in 1957. The same Soviet past comes to mind when we recall the Cuban ship Mariel boatlift with criminals and mentally ill people heading to America in October 1980. It was an intentionally designed criminal invasion. Today we have the same, but the intent has changed. The Putin/Biden collusion prepared for a war today that is why we see on the border a lot of young single men from the countries of the “Axis of Evil,” trained for war.

I am warning you again: read my columns or books, learn information you don’t know and be ready for war. War is a very threatening word, but we are now at three wars: Russia on Ukraine, Hamas-Israel war, and Democrats war against Republicans. However, knowing Russian history and its Intel, we can partially solve the problem. Yes, only partially, but it is a beginning to the right direction to solution. In fact, those three wars are inextricably connected to each other, because they are waged against Western civilization by the same aggressor—Soviet Fascism. There is, in fact, one war with the same target—the free world and American capitalism waged by the Socialist/Communist “Axis of Evil” under Russia’s umbrella for years. Read my column: The KGB’s Roots and Pedigrees October 19, 2017, p. 10

Hamas is a terrorist organization. By reading my columns or books, you will learn Stalin’s testament to the world Communists to start a friendship with Muslims of Iran and spread it to the entire Middle East. All Russian leaders have followed his will. Terrorist gangs of Taliban, al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah and  others had been infiltrated by the Russian Intel and supervised by Russia for 60-70 years. Russia has established ISIS and other terror groups in the 21st century. The Hamas-Israel War is the Russian war against Western civilization. For your information: the term “Two States” for Israel and Palestine had been designed by the KGB Chairman Yuri Andropov. Biden’s current policy for cease-fire betraying Israel and helping Hamas and Russia. Listen to Gen Keith Kellogg, he is giving an objective, professional opinion on this war.

The Russia War on Ukraine is a complete repetition of Hamas-Israel War, the Democrat’s policy colluding with Russia. My heart is with Ukraine, but…it will never win the war against Russia. Negotiation, and the sooner the better. Reading my columns, you will learn how the KGB was infiltrating the Dem’s party with the help of the “Squad’ and turning it toward Socialism. We are dealing with the Party of Socialist Charlatans today. Some of them had colluded with Russia personally like the CIA Director, John Brennan, who helped Russia to manage al-Qaeda terrorist group, while Biden gives us the theatrical performances of “climate change,” reading a prompter with the information from Putin. To grasp the Ballot Factor, pleas, read my column: Russian/Chinese Intel: Carousel and COVID-19 in America, December 21, 2020

Dr. Phil is right. Covid has devastated our children, depriving them of schooling for two years. Yes, it has happened in the 21st century, when China joined Russia and Soviet Socialism, which I called Soviet Fascism, had spread across the globe, threatening freedom and democracy. Today is the end of February  2024. It was a spectacular month. We could read my columns and see alive Socialist Charlatans. The parade started with the interview of the Globalist—Socialist Charlatan, Vladimir Putin. He propagandized a world community using Socialist modus operandi and presented himself as a savior of the world and Ukraine as a Fascist State. Then, the stage had been taken by Socialist Charlatans of New York, Washington D.C. and Georgia. You saw all of them, their arrogance and condescension deceiving you. There was the entire Prosecutor Office on trial in Georgia. American Patriots hope that the U.S. Supreme Court will stop the American Chaos. I hope, too, despite the information that two Supreme Court Justices have ties with the KGB and their name is not Sotomayor.

My Fellow Americans!

When you hear a name Russia—think Oil, Terror and Fascism.

When you hear a name Putin—think the KGB, Murders, and Assassinations.

When you hear the name Ukraine—think about a largest  country in Europe, without which, there will never be the Great Russian Empire.

When you hear the term of a new “Axis of Evil” — think WWIII.

You need those four suggestions to grasp the events happening globally in February 2024. They are all connected, calculated, and determine our future. The economic wellbeing of America depends on our knowledge of the danger of global instability.

To be continued www.simonapipko and at www.drrichswier.com/author/spipko/

©2024. Simona Pipko. All rights reserved.

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The Revolutionary Communists of America are forming a party! After the launch rally, we hit the street in downtown Brooklyn to say it loud & clear: the communists are here! #Communism pic.twitter.com/i4xapzQFSC

— Revolutionary Communists of America (@communistsus) February 26, 2024

Anti-Zionist Jews: Fringe Voices thumbnail

Anti-Zionist Jews: Fringe Voices

By Jamie Glazov

It’s time we ridicule them.


Since the Soviet Union, the Arab League boycott, and the Iranian Revolution, antisemites have tried to hide their anti-Jewish bigotry behind politically acceptable “anti-Zionism.”

Get two Jews in a room, get three opinions. True of most things, but one thing most Jews agree on is that Israel is the indigenous homeland of the Jewish people and that their connection to it is a core tenet of their Jewish identity. Despite this majoritarian view, there is a loud minority of radical anti-Israel Jewish voices. Although unrepresentative of the broad Jewish community, our detractors and the media weaponize them, turning them into “token Jews” used to attack Israel and sow division within the Jewish community. It’s time we ridicule them.

From the Soviet Union to the Arab League Boycott, from the Iranian Revolution to October 7th and anti-Israel protests today, antisemites attempt to hide their anti-Jewish bigotry behind politically acceptable “anti-Zionism”. Jews who support this charade willingly provide political cover for this generation’s loudest and proudest antisemites.

The normalization of anti-Zionist Jews in public life has three glaring issues:

1. Israel-hatred doesn’t exempt you from the Jewish collective future

Jewish life in the diaspora is directly dependent on the continued survival and flourishing of the Jewish state. Groups like Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), and If Not Now (INN), deploy and weaponize their Jewish identity in their anti-Israel activism. The effect? The re-assurance of non-Jewish groups that anyone can target Israel without fear of alienating the “Jewish community”. JVP and INN are a collection of radical left, mostly Jewish ideologues who use their ancestry to leverage attacks against Israel. They cite Jewish ritual, reference texts, and use our people’s language to validate their radical attacks against the homeland of the Jewish people, the state of Israel.

What they fail to realize is that their misplaced activism allows virulent antisemites to turn them into useful idiots. They’re ephemeral political fronts weaponized by antisemites until they no longer serve their purpose. Antisemites hate all Jews – “good Jews” or “bad Jews”, those from the right and from the left alike. So, if Israel ceases to exist, as JVP and INN desire, where will these Jews turn when antisemites inevitably turn on them? By normalizing and validating the progressive movement’s exclusion of Zionist Jews (most Jews) they are essentially digging their own graves.

JVP and INN should forever be contextualized properly and referred to for what they are – useful jesters for Jew haters around the globe. And once contextualized, they should be ridculed.

2. Institutions empowering “token” Jews endanger all Jews 

Radical leftist orthodoxy continues to permeate American institutional life. This ideological capture is perhaps most obvious throughout American universities. Since October 7th, university leadership keen to balance the appearance of caring about antisemitism while maintaining their progressive bona fides,  use token Jews as proof that their progressive agendas are not antisemitic. For example, recently, Stanford named Ari Kelman, a Jewish professor aligned with anti-Israel groups, and who concluded antisemitism wasn’t a problem on campuses in 2017 paper, as the Co-Chair of their Committee on Antisemitism.

In an effort to redefine what constitutes antisemitism, Kelman alongside Jewish Voice for Peace, argued that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism is “flawed and overly expansive” and “silences Palestinian voices.” Deborah Lipstadt, the US Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism called IHRA “one of the most fundamental tools we have to combat [antisemitism].” Stanford selected someone to combat antisemitism whose views are directly at odds with the State Department’s pre-eminent defender of the Jewish people. And after Kelman essentially offered his Judaism as political cover to defend San Francisco State University’s (SFSU) antisemitism, the school admitted to allowing antisemitism on its campus.

More recently, Harvard selected Jewish professor Derek Penslar, a known anti-Israel proponent, to lead an antisemitism task force on campus. In August, Penslar signed an open letter accusing Israel of running “a regime of apartheid” and employing “Jewish supremacism”. And following Claudina Gay’s resignation, Penslar downplayed the antisemitism on campus, telling JTA that outsiders had “exaggerated” the issue. As Larry Summers wrote, “Could one imagine Harvard appointing as head of anti-racism task force someone who had minimized the racism problem,” as Mr. Penslar has done with antisemitism at Harvard.” The double standard glaring.

When selecting leadership and given the centrality of Israel for most Jews, institutions would be wise to listen to the fears and concerns of Zionist Jews. Committees, task forces, and organizations are constantly formed to combat “Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab hate” – lumping in ethnicity, religion and state-based hatred. But Jews aren’t afforded this same protection. Institutions who solely elevate Jews with anti-Israel views perpetuate this double standard.

3. Anti-Israel views are not pro-peace. They’re anti-Jewish future.

Since 10/7 it’s hard to find a “pro-Palestinian” rally that isn’t drenched in antisemitic rhetoric, anti-Jewish venom, or stereotypical tropes. Anti-Israel Jews, aligned with radical leftist ideology, have taken part in many of these rallies. They have joined the growing numbers who view the world through over-simplified binaries and hypothetical pyramids of power and oppression. These activists enthusiastically point to Israel as a unique perpetuator of oppression.

But JVP and INN activists have no interest in peace. One of their allies, Omar Barghouti, the co-founder and co-leader of the BDS movement, explains: “You cannot reconcile the right of return for refugees with a two-state solution. . . A return for refugees would end Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.” And he makes clear that this is precisely his goal. “Most definitely we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine.” And he hails JVP as a “key partner in the BDS network.”

Sunlight is the greatest disinfectant, thus JVP and INN should be exposed as radical, fringe, and anti-peace. They harbor views that not only fail to represent the broad Jewish consensus, but they also directly endanger the Jewish people.

Since 10/7, what many Jews have feared for a long time has been made crystal clear–our place in the world is tenuous, our footing is fragile, and there aren’t many of us. Jews who openly call for the destruction of Israel threaten our future as a people, and we must see them as who they really are –tools that are used by the hands of our enemies.

Originally published in the Jerusalem Post.

AUTHOR

Adam Milstein

Adam Milstein is an Israeli-American “Venture Philanthropist.” He can be reached at adam@milsteinff.org, on Twitter @AdamMilstein, and on Facebook www.facebook.com/AdamMilsteinCP.

©2024. Jamie Glazov. All rights reserved.

EXCLUSIVE: J.D. Vance To Endorse Kari Lake For Senate thumbnail

EXCLUSIVE: J.D. Vance To Endorse Kari Lake For Senate

By The Daily Caller

Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance will endorse candidate Kari Lake on Monday for U.S. Senate, the Daily Caller has learned.

“Kari Lake is a battle-tested warrior who will secure the border and advocate for policies that put the American people first. Kari is running against a far-left Democrat who has been a rubber stamp for all of Joe Biden’s destructive policies that have gutted the middle class. I am proud to endorse Kari as the next U.S. Senator for Arizona,” Vance told the Caller.

Lake, a Republican from Arizona, has the endorsements of fellow Republicans President Donald Trump, Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, Sen. Steve Daines of Montana and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York and Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana.

“I am humbled to have the endorsement of Sen. J.D. Vance. He has been a conservative hero in the Senate, standing up for America First values and never backing down to the DC Swamp. I look forward to joining him in the Senate to get our country back on track,” Lake told the Caller.

Cook Political has rated Arizona as a toss up, one of the best pick-up chances for Senate Republicans. (RELATED: Kari Lake Officially Launches Bid For US Senate)

On Oct. 3, Lake registered her Senate campaign committee with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) ahead of her campaign launch.

The Arizona Republican, who ran for governor in 2022, is heavily favored to win the GOP primary. If selected as the primary candidate, Lake will then likely face Independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Democratic Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego in a three-way general election.

Cook Political rates Arizona Senate as a toss-up, meaning it will likely be a better pickup opportunity for Senate Republicans than Pennsylvania or Montana, which are rated to lean Democrat in 2024.

Two recent polls show Lake with a slight lead over Gallego.

AUTHOR

HENRY RODGERS

Chief national correspondent. Follow Henry Rodgers On Twitter.

RELATED ARTICLES:

J.D. Vance Rips Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Data Collection Warrant

J.D. Vance, Republican Senators Introduce Legislation To Crack Down On CCP Influence At US Universities

Kari Lake Lands Two Big America-First Endorsements From Sen Rand Paul And Rep Matt Gaetz

Kari Lake Officially Launches Bid For US Senate

EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Book Author(s) Wanted! Write a Guaranteed NY Times Best Seller. thumbnail

Book Author(s) Wanted! Write a Guaranteed NY Times Best Seller.

By John Droz, Jr.

Over the last few decades, our society has gradually devolved into the dire situation where truth is not Truth, facts are not Facts, science is not Science, etc. The negative consequences of this corruption are frightful and mind-boggling.

The public is aware of this, but everywhere they turn for relief, they run into slick self-serving snake oil salespeople, endorsed by mainstream media. Their under-LYING message is: up is down, in is out, left is right — and the hell with God…

The result is that there’s now an unprecedented pent-up need for an unambiguous, user-friendly book to expose their key lies, telling it like it is. It may not be readily apparent, but Science is anti-Americans’ number one target — so the book should coherently explain, in an interesting way, what Science is and is not.

Two major reasons why Science has been very aggressively attacked are:

  1. We live in a highly technical society, so the influence of Science is everywhere, on everyone, every day, and
  2. Every poll concludes that the public strongly supports Science — yet 95%+ of the public has no idea what Science actually is! This startling dichotomy sets the stage for charlatans to make unscientific claims, as very few will know enough to object. A well-written book could put an end to hundreds of unscientific scams!

Consider a recent powerful example: COVID. By and large, the US government’s COVID policies were politicalNOT scientific. The public went along as they were told the opposite (see #2 above). The end result of this charade was that some 500,000 Americans likely died unnecessarily.

That is as many American deaths as in WWI and WWII combined

Where is the outrage?

Where are the consequences for the guilty?

Where are the actions that will ensure that this will not happen again?

Another (of many) such examples is what is going on in our K-12 schools today. The three R’s (reading, writing, and arithmetic) have all been bastardized. History has been purposefully distorted. Science has been gutted. Merit is a bad word, while Woke ideology is praised. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has infiltrated almost every classroom, while Judeo-Christian values are scorned. These result in…

And all of these misinformed victims will shortly become VOTING CITIZENS

Where is the outrage?

Where are the consequences for the guilty?

Where are the actions that will ensure that this will not happen again?

The point here is that writing one powerful book could wake up (and educate) citizens, putting a stake in the heart of this horrific corruption.

What would such a book be about?

Good arguments could be made to go about this in different ways. What jumps out to me is that Science is the most consequential common denominator. If the public had a much better idea of what Science actually is — and the most frequent tricks used by scam artists to deceive the uninformed — then neither of the above two examples would have gotten anywhere near the traction that they achieved.

Such a book should be entertaining light-reading — while simultaneously exposing Science facts and fiction. In a prior commentary, I listed thirty (30) everyday Science matters that the public has been misinformed about. To my knowledge, no book has ever covered all these important deceptions, so this would be groundbreaking. And the audience would be everyone. As such it would be a guaranteed Best Seller.

But there’s more!

The same book should be slightly modified to then be usable as High School and College textbooks! There has never been a Science course (in K-12 or higher-ed) that has covered all these essential points. NEVER! Is there any wonder why so few citizens have a clear grasp of what Science is, and is not?

Let me know any competent, committed authors who appreciate this unique opportunity. (I say authors as one possibility is to have such a book written by a team.)

Of course we need to come up with a catchy book title… (Some examples are: “Science: the Insider’s Handbook” or “Science: From Greed to God”.) All ideas welcome!

Most people reading this will agree that we have some major societal problems — but what are they doing about it? I’m suggesting one practical solution that would have an enormous impact. Let’s make this happen!

©2024. All rights reserved.

Here are other materials by this scientist that you might find interesting:

My Substack Commentaries for 2023 (arranged by topic)

Check out the chronological Archives of my entire Critical Thinking substack.

WiseEnergy.orgdiscusses the Science (or lack thereof) behind our energy options.

C19Science.infocovers the lack of genuine Science behind our COVID-19 policies.

Election-Integrity.infomultiple major reports on the election integrity issue.

Media Balance Newsletter: a free, twice-a-month newsletter that covers what the mainstream media does not do, on issues from COVID to climate, elections to education, renewables to religion, etc. Here are the Newsletter’s 2023 Archives. Please send me an email to get your free copy. When emailing me, please make sure to include your full name and the state where you live. (Of course, you can cancel the Media Balance Newsletter at any time – but why would you?

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The Cloak of Grief and Despair

By Kelleigh Nelson

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.” — Washington Irving

“Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero

“Tears are the silent language of grief.” — Voltaire

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” —  Psalm 34:18-19


Many of us are feeling weighed down with overwhelming grief at what is transpiring, not only in our country, but worldwide, and especially with the evil of Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah attacking God’s people, Israel.

The loss of so many blessings and freedoms awaken us each day with a morbid fear of what will come next.  Not only is our country failing, but as we age, personal losses take a toll.

Friends my age say we lived through the best of times, and if I look back, I can say yes, many years were wonderful.  But now I find myself crying out to the Lord and weeping more often than not.

The outlook seems so dreary.  Yet I know that the Lord has His plans and no matter what, we win with Him.  Yet I feel as though I’m drowning in the loss of freedoms, of friends, of trust and in hope for the future.

Thankfully, my husband always makes me laugh or I’d be sobbing all day long because of the evil that has become so staggering.  What do people do without the Lord?  I can’t imagine.

This article shares my heart wrenching feelings for two families. I felt that if I expressed my deep sadness on paper, perhaps the Lord would lift my grief.

Sadness and Loss

When I was in my late 30s or early 40s, my sweet maternal gramma was opening a note from her cousin who was an artist.  He had sent a small colored pencil drawing and it was a lovely scene.  My gram said to me, “The worst thing about growing old is losing family and friends.”

Gramma was so right.  So many of our friends are gone, and so many have lost their spouses.  The grief is overwhelming for those left alone, and try as we might to help, no one but the Lord can ease the sorrow of losing a life partner.  I watched it with my mom and I watched it with my grandparents and many dear friends.  Call those friends for lunch, go shopping with them, send them cards or occasional flowers. Love and caring are so needed through the lonely days of heartbreaking loss.

My husband and I live in a very small community.  Down the street from us were two elderly people, Henry and Carol, who are dear friends.  Both had lost their first spouses and knew each other from church.  Maybe 10 or more years ago, they married and Carol sold her home and moved into Henry’s home.  During the Covid years, Carol came down with the virus and recovered in a week, even though in her 80s.  Her husband refused to sleep in another bedroom in case Carol needed him, and he never contracted Covid.  Our Lord is good!

When the Covid “vaccines” came out, Henry had them both get them.  A year later Carol, who had never been on a medication in her life, had a stroke while driving to pick up Henry from dialysis.  She ended up in hospital and then in rehab, and then home again.  They had to rely on church friends to be drivers for Henry as Carol was no longer allowed to drive.

Another year passed and Carol was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.  She’s now on added medications.

Recently, Henry’s two remaining children urged them to go into assisted living.  Carol did not want to do that, and didn’t want to leave their home, but ultimately this is what happened.  Henry lost his one daughter several years back and he said many times that she was the only daughter who had grown into a wonderful woman; he didn’t have much use for his son and the other daughter.  Those two seem driven by greed and both of them speak ill of their father and his second wife.

The son and daughter cleaned Henry and Carol’s house out and had an estate sale.  One of Carol’s friends would drive her to the house to see if there was anything else she wanted before it was gone, but Henry’s two children became angry with her and disallowed her to enter her own home.  The house will be sold to pay for the cost of assisted living.

Henry and Carol are not happy where they are, but the dye has been cast and now there is no turning back.  These two people are locked away and will perish in this place they detest because of their age and Henry’s children.  Neither of Henry’s children work and both could have helped with their father and his wife to allow them to remain in their home.  Carol’s sons have had to go along with this as only one son lives close and he is still employed.

How sad this makes me for them both, but especially for Carol.  We will miss them both, but especially Carol, and I know how desperate she feels.  She is no longer independent and cannot have any time for herself away from people or even Henry.  My heart breaks for them.

Cancer Diagnosis and Fenbendazole

Our neighbor next door is in his early 50s, and his wife is in her late 40s.  Both are still working and they have no children.  Joe is a smoker and every night he imbibes red wine.  Nothing wrong with that except now he has lung cancer.  His wife has always worked in medical offices, and she noticed that Joe was coughing more than normal.  She sent him for tests.

At first, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and was given medications and inhalers.  The inhalers gave him kidney infections (a side effect of the brand).  When he recovered, he was sent for further testing and over a period of six to eight months he finally received the diagnosis of lung cancer in one lung in an area that is inoperable.  Oncologists have him on 27 weeks of chemo with a port going into the lung.  He was told to stop smoking, but we still see him with cigarettes.  Radiation follows the chemo and then removal of the one lung.  His wife, Bonnie, is pleased that cancer is only in one lung.  Joe doesn’t have any extra meat on his bones, so these treatments will really be difficult.

There are some amazing results with Fenbendazole in treating cancers; it’s another anti-parasitic like Ivermectin.  In fact, ABC interviewed a man who was told that his cancer had spread.

Watch the video from ABC Network with Joe Tippens talking about being diagnosed with lung cancer, given three months to live, and then being cured with Fenbendazole and vitamins.  Six years later he is still alive.

In Dr. David Williams’ important eight-page article, A Cure for Cancer, Hidden in Plain Sight he writes about Fenbendazole.  If you have cancer, or you know anyone who has cancer, give them this article.

Dr. Williams writes about what happened to Joe Tippens.

“Two days later, Joe contacted his friend, a large animal veterinarian, who had posted a story online about a scientist working for Merck pharmaceuticals in the veterinary division. The scientist happened to be testing the effects of their existing products on mice that had various cancers. That’s when she discovered that one of their dog products (a dewormer) was 100 percent effective. This same scientist had stage 4 brain cancer and, like Joe, was also given three months to live. She started taking the dog dewormer and six weeks later, she was clear of the cancer.”

In 2002, while working at MD Anderson, Dr. Tapas Mukhopadhyay and his colleagues reported that mebendazole elicited a potent antitumor effect on human cancer cell lines both in vitro and in vivo.  It is a sister product to Fenbendazole and is typically found in deworming products for humans.

He went further in 2012 and published another study showing that fenbendazole was a potent compound for inhibiting the growth of cancer cells without doing any harm to or affecting the growth of normal cells.

Again in 2018, Dr. Mukhopadhyay published yet another study highlighting fenbendazole as a safe and inexpensive anthelmintic drug possessing “efficient antiproliferative activity” in human cancer cells. (This basically means it inhibits the growth of cancer cells.)

In that same report the doctor stated that FDA and others had published pre-clinical data on toxicology studies showing that dosages several times the approved dosages had no adverse side effects in animals.

MD Anderson isn’t the only facility that has knowledge of fenbendazole.

Dr. Williams writes, “In 2009, researchers at Johns Hopkins evaluated various drugs for treatment of glioblastoma—the most common brain cancer in adults. It is very aggressive, with the average survival 11 to 15 months, and it is considered incurable. They implanted the cancer cells into the brains of mice, which is the normal procedure in these types of studies. Before implanting the cells, however, these particular mice were treated for pinworms with fenbendazole. The brain cancer did not develop. It never grew.”

Stanford Medical Center reports that Fenbendazole is a completely safe and effective antineoplastic agent that can be repurposed for human use in treating genitourinary malignancies.

On page six, Dr. Williams gives Joe Tippens’ protocol with 222 mg. Fenbendazole daily and three other vitamin supplements.

In a recent Canada Free Press article, it included a video of a Marine who had chemo, radiation and surgery but it had not stopped his stage 4 colon cancer. He was told by his oncologist to call Hospice.  Kevin Hennings’ sister called him and told him to try Fenbendazole.  He tells the story, how he took both Fenbendazole and Ivermectin and is now cancer free.

Joe and Bonnie were given all of this information.  I don’t believe they watched any of the videos or read Dr. Williams’ article.  They said they’d stick with chemo, radiation and the removal of one lung.

I’ve laid in bed at night thinking that if only he’d start on the Fenbendazole protocol now, he may save his lung from being removed and cure himself of the cancer.  Instead, he’ll feed the cancer with the sugar in his evening wine, when he most likely could cure the disease and save his lung.

Joe Tippens is a foody and he never stopped eating whatever he wanted, yet the cancer was still destroyed.

My heart breaks because there is a possible cure for Joe, but they still trust the Medical Industrial Complex and the standard poison, burn and cut treatments for cancers.

Conclusion, Our Lord’s Love

In David’s imprecatory Psalm 56:8-9, he is crying out to the Lord.  He says, “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?  When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.”

David begins this sad psalm with the words “Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me.” The Philistines had captured David in Gath, and David was, at the time he wrote this psalm, a prisoner of war, and he had reason to cry and be sorrowful. David says that his struggles are recorded in God’s book (verse 8), and he asks God to put his tears in His bottle.

The idea behind the keeping of “tears in a bottle” is remembrance. David is expressing a deep trust in God, that God will remember his sorrow and tears and will not forget about him. He says, in the midst of this troubling time, “When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: This I know; for God is for me.” (Psalm 56:9) and in verse 11, he states, “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”

The Lord remembers all the things that happen in our lives, including the suffering endured for His sake. In fact, there are many instances in Scripture of God’s recognition of man’s suffering. God is a tender-hearted Father to us, a God who feels with us and weeps with us, “And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.”  (Exodus 3:7)

If we believe the promises of God, we must wait upon Him, long for Him daily, listen to Him in our quiet times, look to Him for our every need, and truly live for Him throughout our lives no matter what trials come.

He hears every cry of those who belong to Him.

©2024. Kelleigh Nelson. All rights reserved.

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2024: The Year of Consequential Elections

By Family Research Council

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election comes into sharper focus, much of the political punditry has focused on the potential rematch of Joe Biden versus Donald Trump. In recent weeks, the American press has reported extensively on former President Trump’s ongoing court cases and Special Counsel Robert Hur’s characterization of President Biden as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”

Although Americans should expect an avalanche of news related to the presidential election over the next 10 months, it is important to remember that other offices besides the presidency will also be on the ballot ?” including 34 U.S. Senate seats, all 435 U.S. House seats, 11 governorships, and legislative seats in 44 states. The results of these elections will have massive consequences for years to come.

The United States isn’t the only country engaging in national elections this year: at least 64 other countries will be choosing leaders as well. Already, millions of people have voted in elections in Bangladesh (January 7), Taiwan (January 13), Finland (January 28), El Salvador (February 4), Pakistan (February 8), and Indonesia (February 14). In the coming months, citizens in many other nations will cast ballots.

As Christians, we recognize that participating in elections is a stewardship and an opportunity to love our neighbors in a practical way. Since the outcome of these elections will affect the rights and livelihoods of so many people, Christians ought to pray that those participating in the political process make wise choices.

Africa

South Africa will hold its general election on May 29. Observers expect it will be the most competitive election in that country since the end of Apartheid. Additionally, many analysts predict that the governing African National Congress will lose its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994. With unemployment and poverty on voters’ minds, incumbent president Cyril Ramaphosa faces a challenging re-election campaign.

Other countries with elections include Togo (legislative, April 13), Ghana (general, December 7), Botswana, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, and Somaliland.

Asia

This spring, voters in India will decide whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be elected for a third term. Modi’s party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, is popular and holds the most seats in the Indian Parliament.

On April 10, South Korea will hold legislative elections that will determine the composition of the 300-seat National Assembly. President Yoon Suk Yeol (elected in 2022) is hoping his conservative People Power Party, currently the second largest party in the National Assembly, will wrest control from the more liberal Democratic Party of Korea.

Americas

On June 2, Mexican citizens will participate in a general election to pick a new president and legislature. Incumbent president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who is ineligible for a second term, has endorsed former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum as his successor. Sheinbaum is a member of Mexico’s more liberal party and is competing against Xóchitl Gálvez, the leader of a center-right coalition.

Other countries with elections include Panama (general, May 5), the Dominican Republic (general, May 19), and Uruguay (general, October 27).

Europe

The European Parliament, the legislative body of the European Union (EU), will hold its quinquennial election on June 6-9. All 720 seats are up for election. With an estimated 400 million eligible voters, the election will be the largest transnational election in the world. It will also be the EU’s first parliamentary election since the United Kingdom’s exit in 2020. Many pollsters are predicting a strong showing by conservative parties, an outcome that would dramatically affect the EU’s political landscape.

European countries with elections this year include Portugal (legislative, March 10), Slovakia (presidential, March 23), Lithuania (presidential, May 12), Georgia (general, November 5), Croatia (general, TBD), and Romania (presidential, TBD).

Expected Elections

In addition to these confirmed elections, other nations expected to hold elections in 2024 include Austria (legislative), Jordan (legislative), Moldova (presidential), Syria (legislative), and Uzbekistan (legislative).

Worth noting is that Russia is also scheduled to hold a presidential election in March, although observers expect President Vladimir Putin to win upwards of 90% of the vote in an election a Kremlin spokesman conceded “is not really democracy.” Additionally, it is possible that the United Kingdom will hold its general election this fall, with polls indicating the ruling Conservative Party may lose 10 Downing Street to the Labour Party for the first time in 14 years.

In short, 2024 has already proved itself to be a consequential election year. By the year’s conclusion, nearly half of the world’s population will have seen a national election take place in their country. As hundreds of millions of people participate in these elections, Christians should commit to praying for voters as well as the leaders who will take office.

In an interconnected world, what happens in one country inevitably affects another. Elections matter because people matter, and the 2024 elections will undoubtedly affect an untold number of people. Thus, until King Jesus returns, Christians should pray, vote, and engage with politics, remembering that faithfulness, not results, is how we will ultimately be judged.

FRC intern Natalie Spaulding contributed research for this article.

AUTHOR

David Closson

David Closson is Director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council.

EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2024 Family Research Council.


The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.

Media Attack Florida’s Surgeon General for Defying Science but the ‘Pharmacology of Vaccines is Deceptive’ thumbnail

Media Attack Florida’s Surgeon General for Defying Science but the ‘Pharmacology of Vaccines is Deceptive’

By Dr. Richard Ruhling, MD

“The Washington Post and media in general know their bread is buttered by pharma but some sources say pharma and its industry professionals offer deceptive benefit for symptoms with adverse reaction risk.” — Dr. Richard Ruhling, MD, board-certified in Internal Medicine.


In contrast to ‘authorities’ who make a living in that industry Ruhling says people should know both sides and let parents decide what’s best for their child, as Dr. Ladapo said.

My background includes a Master’s degree in Public Health and a course in Epidemiology that most MD’s do not get.

For example, epidemiology looks as people who don’t get a disease like autism and populations that do get it—tiny babies that get so many shots. Japan waits a year and they have less. It’s not the vaccine, but the mercury that’s added to multi-dose vials as a preservative. Mercury is a neurotoxin and its symptoms can cause symptoms of autism that has become an epidemic in most of the U.S., but not in Quaker or Mennonites who don’t vaccinate.

I and my wife had a couple kids and adopted four more. None of them had any vaccinations and they all grew up healthy with one daughter featured on the cover of a health and fitness magazine.

The former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, Marcia Angell, MD, wrote The Truth About the Drug Companies—How They Deceive UsIt’s a book title that sounds so much like the apocalyptic warning from the Bible where pharmakeia (Greek word in Rev 18:23) “deceives all nations” but it’s badly translated sorcery.

I think Florida gets negative press on this issue because of DeSantis’ stand against the covid shot, and in retrospect, evidence is mounting that supports DeSantis. In January, Cambridge University reported 25% of folks who got a shot for covid now have VAIDSVaccine Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

This is further explained by the FDA post that media never reported—maybe Biden’$1 Billion to promote the shot was a factor, but those who got the shot have higher risk for dozens of health problems suggested by the FDA—Readers can check this out on page 16 https://www.fda.gov/media/143557/download.

©2024. Richard Ruhling, MD. All rights reserved.

Preserving Freedom in the Face of Challenges thumbnail

Preserving Freedom in the Face of Challenges

By Amil Imani

“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, we must think and act anew.” — Abraham Lincoln


America, the land of liberty, has long been a beacon of hope and opportunity for people worldwide. Its founding principles – liberty, freedom, and justice – have shaped its identity. This foundation, laid by the framers, has come to be known as American Exceptionalism.

However, in the face of evolving challenges, it is imperative that we not only understand the concept but actively work to preserve and strengthen it for future generations.

When asked what kind of government the delegates had created, Benjamin Franklin famously replied, “A republic if you can keep it.” These words hold even greater significance as we confront a crucial juncture in our country’s history.

The slogan “Make America Great Again” is not merely a catchphrase; it embodies a call to action, a commitment to uphold the values that have made America exceptional. In recent years, however, these values have come under attack. The Obama/Biden administration failed to deliver its promises, leaving many Americans disillusioned and disheartened. To the leftists, failure is not only acceptable but expected.

Since Donald Trump announced his candidacy, the Democrats have launched one failed hoax after another in an attempt to derail his presidency. Their efforts, driven by fraudulent claims and partisan agendas, have only sought to erode the genuine efforts of a president with good intentions.

But now is not the time for despair. Our highest priority must be the preservation of our nation’s freedom. We have faced challenges before and emerged more robust, and we must do so again.

The threats we face today are manifold: encroaching Islamism, socialism, Marxism. These ideologies seek to undermine the very foundations of our society, threatening our individual liberty and prosperity. But we cannot afford to succumb to fear or complacency.

To combat these threats, it is crucial to articulate clear policy proposals that uphold American values. This includes:

It is strengthening educational programs that promote an understanding of American history, values, and the principles of democracy.

We are advocating for policies that support the free market and individual freedoms, thereby countering the collectivist ideologies that seek to undermine these principles.
Promoting international cooperation and alliances that support the spread of democracy and the rule of law, thereby countering the global reach of authoritarian ideologies.

Freedom, in all its forms, is our greatest legacy. Throughout history, brave men and women have fought and died to protect it. From the battlefields of Europe to the jungles of the Far East, Americans have made countless sacrifices to safeguard our way of life.

In the not-too-distant past, we confronted and defeated the forces of Nazism, Fascism, and Communism. We stood firm against tyranny and oppression, refusing to waver in adversity. And now, we must once again rise to meet the challenges of our time.

The insidious threat of leftism, socialism, Islamism, and Marxism looms large, but we cannot afford to shrink from the fight. We must meet these challenges head-on, with courage and determination.

Now is the time to stand up and be counted. We cannot give up or give in. We must be willing to do whatever it takes to preserve our nation’s freedom and ensure a bright future for generations to come.

This will require unity, resolve, and a steadfast commitment to our core principles. We must be willing to defend our freedoms against all who seek to undermine them, whether foreign or domestic.

But we cannot do it alone. We need the support of every patriotic American who believes in the principles that make this country great. Together, we can overcome any challenge and emerge stronger than ever before.

For those who are concerned about the direction of the country, there are practical actions that can be taken to support the preservation of American values:

Vote in elections, and this is a must.

Participate in local community activities and public discourse to influence policy and public opinion.

Educate yourself and others about the principles of American exceptionalism and the importance of defending these values.

Defending America against all enemies is not just a slogan but a solemn duty that falls on everyone. We must be willing to stand up for what is right, defend our freedoms, and ensure that America remains a shining beacon of liberty for the world to see.

Now is the time to rise to the occasion, embrace the challenges before us, and reaffirm our commitment to the principles that have made America the greatest nation on earth. United, we will prevail.

These profound words from John F. Kennedy still resonate deeply: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

©2024. Amil Imani. All rights reserved.

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— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 24, 2024

🚨BREAKING: VLADIMIR PUTIN says “The West is Controlled by Satanic Pedophiles”

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Islamic Republic of Iran: State-backed Security Officials Raped 16-year-old Protester before Murdering Her thumbnail

Islamic Republic of Iran: State-backed Security Officials Raped 16-year-old Protester before Murdering Her

By Jihad Watch

The security officials were proceeding on the basis of clear Islamic principles.

The hijab is required for women so that men don’t get tempted. If men are tempted nonetheless, it is the fault of the woman.

This is why rape victims are sometimes imprisoned in Pakistan and other Muslim countries.

And proceeding from those assumptions, the imprisoned protesters in Iran are raped, so as to humiliate them and to ensure that they will be in hell after they die, for even then they will face punishment for allowing men to be tempted.

Document Shows Iranian Protester Raped Before Murder

Iran International, February 21, 2024:

A recently unveiled document has revealed that 16-year-old Nika Shakarami was raped by state-backed security during the Women, Life, Freedom protests.

The document, circulating on social media and seemingly discovered among a trove of files accessed after a hacktivist group breached the servers of the Iranian judiciary on Tuesday, contains evidence confirming that Shakarami had been subjected to rape amid a state sanctioned campaign of sexual violence as documented by rights groups.

The trove of documents obtained by the hacktivist group Edalat-e Ali covers a wide range of sensitive topics, spanning from internal discussions within the National Security Council following Mahsa Amini’s death to efforts aimed at curbing unauthorized VPN vendors, protests against the 2020 employment examination, and cases related to economic corruption.

Abbas Masjedi Arani, head of the Forensic Medicine Organization has sent the “very confidential” letter to the Supreme National Security Council, explicitly stating, “In the genital examination, signs indicating assault or rough sexual intercourse were evident.”

Nika Shakarami, a 16-year-old, was abducted and murdered by security forces during the anti-regime protests which swept Iran in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody….

Read full article.

AUTHOR

ROBERT SPENCER

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EDITORS NOTE: This Jihad Watch column is republished with permission. All rights reserved.

In ‘La La Land’ Dreams, Dance and Choices Echo thumbnail

In ‘La La Land’ Dreams, Dance and Choices Echo

By Amil Imani

Disappointed, it took me six years to grasp that this was not a movie or musical. This was a masterpiece.

If you want to experience a cinematic masterpiece that seamlessly blends music, dance, and emotion, “La La Land” is the film for you. Its visually stunning scenes, innovative storytelling, and deep emotional narrative create an unforgettable cinematic experience. But if you’re looking for a traditional plot-driven film with predictable storytelling, no more of it.

So, what makes “La La Land” stand out and offer a unique cinematic experience? The dreamlike atmosphere throughout the movie is created and aided by the amazing score.

While the dazzling choreography grabs our attention, the film’s more profound exploration of individual pursuits and their bittersweet consequences genuinely makes “La La Land” stand out. The film isn’t just a visual spectacle; it’s a poignant reflection on the sacrifices we make for dreams and the impact on the relationships that hold us dear.

Mia and Sebastian’s unwavering pursuit of their dreams reflects a harsh reality: individual success often comes at the cost of shared experiences and personal relationships. Their journey is paved with sacrifices for success, forcing them to confront the difficult choices that ambition demands. The film doesn’t shy away from portraying the bittersweet ending – they achieve their dreams, but their paths diverge, leaving a void where their shared future once resided.

This isn’t just Mia and Sebastian’s story; it invites us to consider our choices and their consequences. The film encourages us to ponder the trade-offs we make to pursue dreams, prompting a reflective look at our personal and professional aspirations.

But amidst the struggles, glimmers of hope shine through. Their mutual support and growth, evident in their encouragement of each other’s dreams, reminds us of the importance of companionship in achieving anything.

Yet, the film doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges. The sacrifice of their relationship is a stark portrayal of the complexities of balancing personal dreams and shared aspirations. It leaves us with a reflective ending, prompting us to contemplate: do their choices lead to fulfillment or regret?

Despite the challenges, naive optimism flickers within them. Fueled by this optimism, their resilience and determination reflect the spirit required to chase dreams. This spirit isn’t confined to individuals; the collective spirit of Los Angeles, captured in the opening number, reminds us that we’re all dreamers, united by the city’s promise of opportunity and ambition.

But dreams aren’t without shadows.

As we move from the city to Mia and Sebastian’s personal journeys, the personalization of dreams deepens. This shift allows us to explore the emotional costs and rewards of chasing dreams on an individual level. The atmospheric growth reflects this change, becoming more intimate and passionate as we dive into their struggles and the delicate dance of their relationship.

The tension between their ambitions and shared dreams hints at the conflicts they will face. This narrative technique, shifting perspectives between Mia and Sebastian, highlights their differing priorities and foreshadows the inevitable clashes.

But their connection isn’t defined solely by conflict. The progression of interaction from playful banter to an intimate dance symbolizes their deepening relationship. The classic dance style evokes a sense of synchronicity and harmony, capturing a moment of joy and understanding. As the dance progresses, their growing affection, reflected in their movements, underscores the hope for a future together.

But this hope is tinged with fear of separation. The interruption by Mia’s phone call serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices they might have to make. The irony in the lyrics, contrasting the hopeful dance with a doomed relationship, further highlights the complexity of their emotions.

This complexity transcends words, capturing the essence of their shared dreams, struggles, and the flicker of hope for a future together. It reminds us that even the most beautiful dreams can be accompanied by costs.

Ultimately, the film offers a complex exploration of love, dreams, and sacrifice, reflecting the harsh realities of life and the challenges of achieving dreams.

The impact on tone with moments of hope and optimism offers a respite from the film’s predominant cynicism. This shift enhances emotional connection, allowing us to feel the characters’ emotions deeply. It also encourages the characters and prompts viewers to reflect on their lives, enabling them to maintain hope and optimism despite challenges.

“La La Land” doesn’t just entertain; it innovates. The film pushes boundaries within the musical genre, blending traditional elements with contemporary storytelling techniques. This musical innovation resonates with modern audiences, offering a fresh take on a beloved genre.

The film’s use of symbolism in colors further enriches the storytelling. The vibrant hues, often changing with the characters’ emotional states, reflect the highs and lows of their journey. The memorable soundtrack, featuring original songs like “City of Stars,” becomes an integral part of the film, enhancing the emotional resonance and staying with audiences long after the credits roll.

“La La Land” doesn’t just pay homage to classic Hollywood musicals; it reinvents them. It’s a cinematic homage that appeals to nostalgia and modern sensibilities, creating a unique and captivating experience.

Overall, “La La Land” stands out as a cinematic experience beyond visual spectacle and catchy tunes, leaving viewers with a lasting reflection on our choices and paths. It’s a film that stays with you, prompting you to consider your own dreams and the sacrifices you’re willing to make to achieve them.

©2024. Amil Imani. All rights reserved.

History’s Best-Selling Book Supports Trump As Next! thumbnail

History’s Best-Selling Book Supports Trump As Next!

By Dr. Richard Ruhling, MD

History’s greatest person who divided BC from AD said, when asked about the end of the world, to under-stand the book of Daniel. Daniel’s vision “at the time of the end” was a conflict between political cartoons of a ram pushing from the Middle East that angers a goat that flies from the west to stomp a militant Muslim ram in Daniel 8. The horns represent the kings of Media and Persia (verse 20), areas that are now Iraq and Iran—it’s easy to understand whose interest in retirement is current events, Bible prophecy.

He cites Isaiah 46 to say that God “declares the end from the beginning.” In the book of beginnings, Abraham was tested over his willingness to sacrifice his son that was spared at the last minute by a ram caught by its horn in a bush in Genesis 22. George Bush caught the first horn and Saddam is dead.

Muslims say the son spared was Ishmael and they are entitled to the land occupied by Israel. The Bible says Isaac, the father of Israel, was spared.  What’s happening in the Middle East is support for the Bible as the true holy book. “The time of the end” is when the ram’s higher horn gets broken. Iran has been funding the war against Israel, also supported by  Zechariah 14.

Returning to Daniel 8, the goat’s great horn is the first king of Grecia, verse 21. It was Alexander the Great who conquered the Medes and Persians, but “history repeats” for “the time of the end,” verse 17. The US has a Greek educational system that emphasizes the mind and plays down the practical aspects like learning a trade or physical work and college fraternities and sororities are designated by Greek letters.

Daniel 8 shows a great horn on the goat that breaks the ram’s horns and the goat becomes great in verse 8.

President Trump is absolutely right:

“You’re going to believe in God because God is here and God is watching.” pic.twitter.com/QTjohOQGhK

— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) February 23, 2024

In Bible times, horns were used to make trumpets, and the great horn may prove to be the great Trump who makes America great before the great horn is broken.

Alexander died a premature death and Trump could die prematurely as forces favoring New World Order  would be glad to see him dead. Biden “hopes to imprison his rival until he dies.”

By contrast, Trump says, “I don’t care about revenge. My revenge will be success.”

People like leaders who have positive attitudes, but Trump may be assassinated for his success in making America great by the “Deep State” that is pushing U.S. toward a UN New World Order. That’s the pope’s road to world supremacy and the way to regain what was lost in the Old World when Protestants fled persecution and risked death at sea, from Indians or starvation in a brave new world but they forged a Constitution that was the basis of greatness.

The goat horn as Trump might be stretching the imagery, but since the first ram horn was caught in a bush (George Bush), we could logically conclude the 2nd horn (Iran) will be broken by the great horn (Trump).

President Trump: “I’m here today because I know that to achieve victory in this fight, just like the battles of the past, we still need the hand of our lord and the grace of almighty God.” pic.twitter.com/DsnZPV0fHN

— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) February 23, 2024

Scripture says he is the 1st King of Grecia. Kings are not elected. They just take the power and many if not most of the US think Trump has it coming. Perhaps the devil has tried hard to derail this picture, but may God bless America one more time before he goes.

For more information, readers may visit https://HealthHappinessDestiny.com

©2024. All rights reserved.

Biden has U.S. on the Brink of World War III thumbnail

Biden has U.S. on the Brink of World War III

By Matthys van Raalten

Joe Biden is too old and very dangerous

The President of the United States of America is way too old for heavy work. Being President of a large country with a large military in an unstable world, is top heavy.

We are at the brink of World War III because of this.

But Biden keeps on provoking Russia anyway.

After the Cold War, agreements were signed between NATO and Moscow, that said that NATO would not expand eastwards.

But now, NATO is doing all it can to destroy the Russian Federation!

Putin should be applauded for staying calm and only fighting back against the Kiev regime in a defensive way.

The responsible wise leaders on the World stage are President Xi of the People’s Republic of China and President Putin of the Russian Federation right now. Macron, Sunak, Rutte and Silly Old Joe are the irresponsible warmongers.

If the Western leaders would get it their way; the whole world would turn Woke and all traditional cultures would be gone! That would be the end of humanity.

Please follow me on Facebook, X, Truth Social and Linkedin.

©2024. Matthys van Raalten. All rights reserved.

RELATED ARTICLE: Negotiate, you fools! 

Negotiate, you fools! thumbnail

Negotiate, you fools!

By Kenneth R. Timmerman

For the first time since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine two years ago, the possibility of negotiations has emerged on the horizon.

Both Putin and Zelenskiiy have indicated in recent interviews that they are now open to negotiations. In his two-hour history lesson to Tucker Carlson, Putin recalled the Istanbul negotiations in March-April 2022. “We were ready to sign it and the war would have been over long ago,” Putin said, but British Prime Minister Boris Johnson swung by and told Zelenskiiy to hold off.

In his interview with FoxNews host Bret Baier that aired on Thursday night, Zelenskiiy poured cold water on the notion that an agreement had been at hand in Istanbul in 2022, but said he was ready to talk with Putin today. Clearly the near-encirclement of Ukrainian forces at Avdiivka, and the heavy losses they took in their hot withdrawal, helped focus his mind. So has the reticence of Republicans in Congress to write Kyiv another blank check.

Exactly how, and under whose auspices those talks take place is another story. Since Zelenskiiy is understandably demanding great power guarantees, that will mean buy-in from the U.S., France, and Germany as well as Russia.

Ironically, the party most reticent to come to the table is Joe Biden. Just this week, he doubled-down yet again on his “Putin the murderer” rhetoric (aided, for sure, by the apparent murder of dissident Alexei Navalny in a Siberian jail). But like the Chekist he is, Putin didn’t take offense at Biden’s words, telling a Russian journalist Russia would deal with anyone the American people elected president, but would prefer Biden because he was more “predictable” than Trump and a known quantity.

Meanwhile, the rumors of expanded war in Europe intensified this week. Putin’s deputy, former president Dmitry Medvedev played bad cop and said that Russia needed to change the government in Kyiv and probably occupy the Ukrainian capital, to prevent “encroachments” on Russian land.

And in Moldova, the Russian breakaway region of Transnistria hinted it would call a referendum to approve Russia’s annexation of the territory, possibly as soon as February 28, with a Putin speech already planned for the next day.

As I explain in this week’s Prophecy Today Weekend, Transnistria is a narrow strip of land on Ukraine’s southwest border with Moldova. If it fell under Russia control, this would add yet another front to the war. But as It is completely landlocked, and not contiguous with the Russian front lines, resupply would be a challenge.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sketched out his vision for the future of Gaza this morning, and it fell pretty much in line with what I previously surmised in my white paper, “Israel’s War of Survival and the End of the Two-State Solution,” released by the America First Policy Institute last month. Gaza must be completely demilitarized, with Israel in control of security, and local Palestinians with no prior ties to Hamas or other terror groups in charge of civilian affairs.

What Netanyahu did not say, however, was how Israel would find such a rare breed of Palestinian. As I write in And the Rest is History: Tales of Hostages, Arms Dealers, Dirty Tricks, and Spies, Israel has been trying for decades to find such Palestinians, and when they do, the other Palestinians (i.e., the PLO or Hamas) murder them.

©2024. Kenneth R. Timmerman. All rights reserved.

Fixing Congress’ Worst Problem thumbnail

Fixing Congress’ Worst Problem

By John Droz, Jr.

And you’ve likely never even heard about it!

Do you know what is the worst fixable problem Congress has?

I’m willing to bet that I can tell you: 1) what Congress’ most substantial problem is, and 2) have it be something they’ve never heard of (!), and 3) have a simple, low-cost, elegant solution for it!!! I suspect that some people would be willing to bet against me…

Since we are daily deluged with political news from hundreds of sources, is it possible that alert citizens are unaware of Congress’ worst fixable problem? I say YES, so I could make good money if I went around making such a bet.

To appreciate the scope of the #1 Congressional problem, we need to understand how our representatives make decisions. In other words: how do they decide on what to vote for or against; how do they decide which issues to champion; how do they decide which laws to propose; how do they decide exactly what to say in any proposed law they put into the hopper; etc., etc. Do you know the answer (singular)? Consider:

Fact One: there are dozens of major issues (from election integrity to energy) clamoring for our representative’s attention every day.

Fact Two: in our current society, almost every one of these issues is moderately or extremely complicated.

Fact Three: it is very rare that any member of Congress is a bonafide expert in even one of the dozens of issues on their plate.

Fact Four: each member of Congress is solicited every day by lobbyists giving them advice as to what to say or do about one or more of these numerous complex issues.

What does a competent, conscientious representative do?

Nearly 100% of the time, the answer is to rely on their aides. Every Congress person has a staff of aides, plus a Chief of Staff, etc. Let’s take energy as an example, as most members of Congress have an “Energy” aide. We’ll call this their E-aide.

It is the E-aide’s first responsibility to be a buffer between lobbyists (also the public), and the member of Congress. For example, when an appointment is made to discuss wind energy legislation, in most cases it is the E-aide who meets with the lobbyist, citizen, etc. (An exception might be for a repeat visit, a VIP, a major donor, etc. Then the member might also be at the meeting. Note that the E-aide is usually still very involved.)

Typically, the member of Congress heavily relies on the E-aide’s advice regarding the support that should be given to what is requested, the priority of it, how to specifically handle it, who else to communicate with, etc., etc. After that, the E-aide stays actively involved with what happens (e.g., drafting a proposed law).

OK, you’re probably thinking, I knew most of that. It makes sense that members of Congress extensively rely on their staff. After all, there are only so many hours in a day, and certainly, we would not expect any member of Congress to be an expert on more than one or two topics. So what’s the substantial problem?

The answer is: the aides. Who are these sources of knowledge, and how do they work? I’ll keep it simple, only outlining some of the major problems with the current system.

Problem #1: Most of the aides are energetic youths in their early twenties — i.e. wet behind the ears. Few of them have any real-world experiences. For example, a typical E-aide has rarely visited a nuclear plant, hydroelectric facility, or wind project. If they did, it was a show-and-tell, not for serious discussions.

Problem #2: It’s extremely rare that an aide will have an advanced degree (e.g., a PhD) in their assigned field. (People with PhDs can make more money elsewhere.)

Problem #3: Much of what aides know about their assigned field, actually comes from what they are told by lobbyists — people they see daily. Clearly, listening to lobbyists is NOT a successful way to have a comprehensive and objective understanding of anything.

Problem #4: These youths are products of some of the worst education our country has ever provided anyone. For example, these energetic young people have been heavily propagandized with Left-wing ideology. Worse, they have not been taught how to think critically — but instead have been schooled to defer to authority [e.g., re Climate], to follow (without questioning) what is politically correct [e.g., re COVID], etc., etc.

Problem #5: The troublesome relationship between lobbyists and aides gets worse. All the players know that the aide is in a temporary job. (For example, their employment would end if their boss did not get re-elected.) Some lobbyists leverage this uncertainly to their advantage, by letting the aide know that if things work out well now, a cushy gig awaits them when they are looking for a job in the future.

Problem #6: The net result of the above is that we now have a lobbyists-run legislative system. Citizens are often perplexed as to why their elected representatives rarely act in the public’s best interest — that’s the answer. The public interest and the lobbyist’s client interest are almost never the same.

Some of the times when we see a Republican Congressional member take RINO actions, it is due to the fact that lobbyists and their own aide have consciously (or otherwise) ganged up against our representative — and our elected member does not have the expertise to be able to counter their undue influence.

I could go on here, but I promised to keep it simple. Hopefully, you can see that we have a horrifically troubling political system that is putting many of the key decisions about our country and its future in the hands of inexperienced, miseducated, Left-indoctrinated aides, very susceptible to being inappropriately influenced by powerful and sophisticated lobbyists.

So the second part of the bet was that you’ve never heard about this profound weakness of our legislative system. If you think otherwise, show me where it has been adequately discussed and publicized…

Part 3 of my bet was that I could come up with a reasonable solution. Here it is…

Members of Congress should have most of their key aides be seniors and/or retired people. Amazingly, each and every substantial deficiency of the young people aide system is fixed by switching to a mature people system. Consider (using the same numbering as above) the major benefits of making this one easy change:

Benefit #1: Senior aides have a wide variety of real-world, life experiences.

Benefit #2: A good number of the senior aides will have an advanced degree in a relevant field or equivalent job experience.

Benefit #3: The senior aide’s knowledge would have come from their job history, so they would not need to listen to salespeople (lobbyists).

Benefit #4: Their education was during a time when the US education system was much less politicized, and actually taught us things like the Scientific Method!

Benefit #5: These retirees would not be looking for a future job, so would not be susceptible to this inappropriate lobbyist enticement.

Benefit #6: The net result of the prior five items, is that lobbyist influence over our legislative process would be substantially reduced. That would mean that citizen-oriented laws would become the norm, rather than the exception: a Very Big Deal!

In other words, EVERY one of the serious problems inherent in the current system would be fixed by this simple change.

Would it be hard to find such people? I doubt it. Seniors are not only some of the most patriotic citizens, but many of them are very keen on having their experiences put to good use.

So do I win the bet?

If you think otherwise, please tell me where I’m wrong.

If we agree, then why isn’t this happening, today?

PS — It should be obvious that the same reasoning applies to State Legislator aides. State Legislators have fewer aides than their Federal counterparts do, so it makes even more sense for them to have their smaller staffs predominantly mature citizens.

©2024. John Droz, Jr. All rights reserved.

After Male Basketball Player Injures 3 Female Players, Team Forfeits Game thumbnail

After Male Basketball Player Injures 3 Female Players, Team Forfeits Game

By Family Research Council

J.K. Rowling, the famous author of the “Harry Potter” series, has received vehement backlash from LGBT activists over her belief that men who identify as women should not be held in women’s prisons. “If you support putting violent and sexually predatory men into women’s prisons, you are knowingly forcing those women to live in fear of, and, in some proven cases, to suffer abuse that many of them will have endured pre-incarceration,” she wrote on X Tuesday.

She concluded, “Women have the basic human right not to suffer cruel and unusual punishment.” And while Rowling’s grievances centered on trans-identifying men in women’s prisons, her sentiments reflect what many fear within the realm of women’s sports, namely, girls getting hurt by physically stronger boys.

Since the presence of trans-identifying men in women’s competitions have increased, the number of women winning first, second, and third has decreased. The women and girls in swimmingtrack and fieldgolfvolleyballdancecross country, and other sports, are repeatedly defeated by men. For some, this alone is enough to demand a change. But when women losing to men isn’t enough to spark change, many are asking if women being hurt by men, which has happened repeatedly over the last few years, will prove to be the final straw.

Footage from a girls’ high school basketball game earlier this month is raising a lot of questions about the safety of trans participation. In a viral video from a game between Massachusetts Collegiate Charter School of Lowell and KIPP Academy, a large, male figure (who reportedly is six feet tall and has facial hair) from the KIPP team throwing a female player from the charter team to the ground as he seized the ball from her — a move that resulted in the girl gripping her back in pain. But this wasn’t the only incident.

A total of three injuries resulted from the play of this trans-identifying athlete, all of which happened before halftime, and with only five players able to play, KIPP chose to forfeit because they couldn’t afford to have any more girls get hurt.

Allegedly, the male athlete was competing among girls to reflect “the school’s commitment to ‘inclusivity and safety.’” Riley Gaines, a former NCAA All-American swimmer, posted on X, “A man hitting a woman used to be called domestic abuse. Now it’s called brave.” She added, “Who watches this [and] actually thinks this is ‘compassionate, kind, and inclusive?’”

Mary Szoch, director of Family Research Council’s Center for Human Dignity, expressed her concern to The Washington Stand. “As a former Division I basketball player at one of the top women’s basketball programs in the country, at practice, I competed against men every day.” She said this was common for Division I women’s basketball teams, because it gave the women a chance to practice against men who were “stronger, faster, and quicker.”

However, Szoch emphasized that the male players were instructed “to be humble enough to know they are there to help the women’s team become better — not to use their physical advantages to humiliate or hurt a player.” Szoch added that men, on average, are stronger and better at sports when competing against women, and “when we don’t recognize this, women get hurt. … [A]nd deep down, everyone knows this.” But it’s a truth that “people don’t want to acknowledge … because they are afraid of being called a bigot.”

FRC’s Meg Kilgannon also commented to TWS, “It seems abusive to make the girls endure this situation.” However, she added that “seeing girls on the opposing team physically injured by ‘inclusive’ athletic participation policies is only half of the story.”

“We have to also consider the girls on the team with the male player, who have to share a locker room with him, change clothes in front of him, and pretend that he is ‘just one of the girls,’” she pointed out. “I can’t say which situation is more abusive, but both are intolerable.” For Kilgannon, it seems evident that “Massachusetts public schools, charter or not, don’t protect the educational interests or rights of women and girls, but rather advance the interests of men and men who identify as women.”

Kilgannon insisted, “This story is all the more enraging because we knew it would happen, we tried to prevent it, and now girls are getting hurt.”

Szoch added that, ultimately, “telling a biological male that he is a female and allowing him to play women’s sports doesn’t help anyone — least of all the man.” She concluded, “As a former athlete who now has a daughter, I am hopeful that the presence of men playing women’s basketball will be a wake-up call for our country. Women deserve a chance to compete on a fair and safe playing field.”

AUTHOR

Sarah Holliday

Sarah Holliday is a reporter at The Washington Stand.

EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2024 Family Research Council.


The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.

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The Presidents and Faith

By Jerry Newcombe, D. Min.

Since we celebrated Presidents’ Day recently, I thought it might be interesting to reflect on the faith of the first six men who held that office.

Most of them were believers in Jesus and were not ashamed to say so. Several of these instances are not politically correct, but they are historically accurate.

In 1779, ten years before he became the first president under the Constitution, George Washington was asked by Delaware Indian chiefs for advice on the education of three of their sons.

Washington told them, “You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are.”

John Adams, our second president, said in his Inaugural Address in 1797 that he considered “a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for the public service.”

Our third president Thomas Jefferson was a church-going man whenever it was available to him, generally in the Episcopal tradition. As a young man, before he entertained some private doubts of core Christian doctrines, he helped found an evangelical church. This was in 1777, a year after he wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.

That church was the Calvinistical Reformed Church of Charlottesville, and Jefferson wrote up its by-laws and donated more money than any other parishioner. He said in the charter for this church that they started it because they were “desirous of…the benefits of gospel knowledge.”

They called Rev. Charles Clay as the minister. He was an ordained Anglican minister who was also an evangelical. A book I co-wrote with Mark Beliles on Jefferson’s faith or lack thereof contains two of Rev. Clay’s sermons. To our knowledge, this is the first time any of Clays’ works have been in print. They are straight forward Gospel preaching.

Clay preached some things as, “Repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are the means of the sinner’s reconciliation with God.” And Jefferson supported Rev. Charles Clay’s ministry for years.

James Madison, a key architect of the Constitution, served on the committee to appoint chaplains to the legislature. (The first non-Christian chaplain appointed was not until the 1860s, long after Madison’s death.)

Writing in his Memorial and Remonstrances in 1785, Madison, (later, our fourth president), described Christianity, as “the Religion which we believe to be of divine origin.” Madison felt the faith best served by not denying “an equal freedom to those whose minds have not yet yielded to the evidence which has convinced us.”

Madison believed in the separation of the institution of the church from the institution of the state, but he certainly didn’t believe in separating God and government.

Madison once wrote of the correlation between morality and Christian conviction, “The belief in a God All Powerful wise and good is so essential to the moral order of the World and to the happiness of man.”

Our fifth president, James Monroe, was the last of the founding fathers to serve as president. Monroe professed to believe in Christian doctrine, although he is perhaps best known for the eponymous Doctrine, which essentially states that the European nations should not interfere with those of the Western hemisphere and vice versa.

In his First Inaugural Address, in 1817, Monroe stated that he was taking office with “my fervent prayers to the Almighty that He will be graciously pleased to continue to us that protection which He has already so conspicuously displayed in our favor.”

Our sixth president John Quincy Adams (JQA) was the son of our second president. He was the only president who went on to a political career in Congress after he served in the White House.

Why? Adams was so dead set against slavery which was inconsistent with the founding principles of the United States, that he sought to remove this evil. John Quincy Adams was nick-named “The Hell-Hound of Slavery.”

While serving in Congress, he sat next to a young man from Illinois, and some argue he was able to influence that man to help end this evil. That man was Abraham Lincoln.

John Quincy Adams had a great motto, “Duty is ours. Results are God’s.”

JQA once observed, according to author John Wingate Thorton, in his 1860 book, The Pulpit of the American Revolution, “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”

And we could go on and on.

In our highly secular age, we have been largely cut off from our Judeo-Christian roots. It’s time for America to rediscover the indispensable role that the Bible played in our nation’s founding.

Hat tip to Bill Federer and “America’s God and Country” for research help with this column.

©2024. All rights reserved.

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Why Is It So Difficult To Define Anti-Semitism?

By Matthew Hausman, J.D.

Even among those who condemn it, there is little consensus about what constitutes antisemitism. Is it disdain for Jews as a faith community or as a people? Is it motivated by hatred of doctrine or ethnicity?


Antisemitism has been around since the dawn of Jewish history and yet the mainstream media only found it newsworthy after October 7th. Since then, it has become ubiquitous in universities and pro-Hamas demonstrations – where progressives celebrate terrorism and demand the destruction of Israel and the Jews – and in a Democratic Party where progressive radicals demonize the Jewish State.

But even among those who condemn it, there is little consensus about what constitutes antisemitism. Is it disdain for Jews as a faith community or as a people? Is it motivated by hatred of doctrine or ethnicity?

Those who mistake it simply as prejudice against a faith do not understand the nature of Jewish identity, which is at once religious, ethnic, and national. The definition of hatred, it seems, is in the eye of the beholder.

Some antisemitism is religious to be sure, particularly among other Abrahamic faiths that must disparage Jews and Judaism to justify their pretensions to be the fulfillment of Jewish scripture and prophecy. Christians and Muslims both acknowledge the holiness of Tanakh and yet deviate significantly from it. To rationalize their divergence from Hebrew scripture, they must claim they supplanted Judaism or that the Jews corrupted their own scriptures.

Christianity

The Christian gospels, for example, are replete with anti-Jewish invective, associating Jews with darkness, evil, lies, deceit, and Satan (e.g., John 8:37-39; 44-47), blood libel and murder of the Prophets (e.g., Matthew 23:31-33; 1 Thessalonians 2), and hereditary blood guilt (Matthew 27:25). Assertions of insidious influence and control are central to the myth that the Jews compelled Pontious Pilate to kill Jesus at a time when Rome occupied Judea and the Sanhedrin had no leverage or authority to impose or even demand the death penalty. The passion narratives likewise contain demonic anti-Jewish caricatures that inspired persecution and massacres throughout Christian Europe.

Furthermore, the New Testament alters Tanakh (e.g., misstating the number of people who accompanied Yacov to Egypt and the burial place of the Patriarchs), misquotes the psalms and Prophets, and decontextualizes passages from Torah.

Islam

Despite the myth of Muslim tolerance, Islamic scripture is not much better. Indeed, the Quran is equally unflattering when it accuses the Jews of “unbelief” and murdering their Prophets (as does Christian scripture): “So, for their breaking the compact, and disbelieving in the signs of God, and slaying the Prophets without right, and for their saying, ‘Our hearts are uncircumcised’ – nay, but God sealed them for their unbelief, so they believe not, except a few…” (Sura 4:155).

It also accuses the Jews of corruption and deceit:

“And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Book: ‘You shall do corruption in the earth twice…So, when the promise of the first of these came to pass, We sent against you servants of Ours, men of great might, and they went through the habitations, and it was a promise performed. Then We gave back to you the turn to prevail over them…Then, when the promise of the second came to pass, We sent against you Our servants to discountenance you, and to enter the Temple, as they entered it the first time.’” (17:4-7)

Moreover, Jews are frequently accused of scriptural corruption. “People of the Book, now there has come to you Our Messenger, making clear to you many things you have been concealing of the Book, and effacing many things…” (5:15); “God assail them! How they are perverted…They have taken their rabbis and their monks as Lords apart from God.” (9:31.) Claims of textual manipulation seem necessary for explaining away fundamental discrepancies with Tanakh, for example, that Yishmael, not Yitzchak, was bound by Avraham on Moriah.

Racial and ethnic components

Christians and Muslims often misstate Jewish text, doctrine, and history. But conceding deviations from the original Hebrew would undercut their doctrinal narratives. So, both their traditions must accuse the Jews of corruption and deceit, using themes and stereotypes that have fueled Jew-hatred throughout Christendom and the Islamic world for centuries.

Historically, the aim was not merely to disparage Jewish belief, but to devalue or subjugate the Jews as a people; and this is illustrated by the persistence of antisemitism against those who submitted to Christianity or Islam (usually on pain of death). The ethnic and racial components of antisemitism are evidenced by its continuation even after the outward elimination of doctrinal differences.

Catholic antisemitism always had a racial component. On the Iberian Peninsula, for example, people of Jewish heritage were often banned from professions and public office because of ancestry, not belief. Even before the Jews were exiled from Spain per the Edict of Expulsion in 1492 (and later from Portugal), those who were forcibly baptized and designated “New Christians” were identified by their tainted blood. This was first codified in 1449 by the “Statute of Blood Purity” in Toledo; and while some church leaders denounced such enactments, the Inquisition embraced them when it infiltrated Spain in 1478, and later Portugal, Peru, and Mexico in 1536, 1570, and 1571, respectively.

Clearly, racial antisemitism existed long before the Nazis; and it also infected Protestantism.

In targeting Jews through “friendship evangelism,” missionaries strenuously deny Protestant complicity in antisemitism by blaming Catholicism for the most pernicious forms of Jew-hatred. However, Martin Luther embraced the Church’s racial antisemitism and incorporated it in his vile screed, “On the Jews and their Lies,” which advocated expulsion, enslavement, and extermination. These tropes were later adopted by other non-Catholics, many of whom were complicit or complacent during the Holocaust.

Then there are doctrines like replacement theology and evangelical fronts like the Lausanne Movement. Whereas replacement doctrine seeks to displace actual Jews (defined by ancestry and their relationship with G-d) with a faith community of self-defined “spiritual Jews” who falsely claim covenantal status, Lausanne and similar movements actively engage in Jewish evangelism while claiming to love Israel and the Jews. Though antithetical to Torah, both recognize the Jews as a people, not merely a faith community.

And this recognition had parallels in the Islamic world, where forcibly converted Jews often stayed connected to their heritage, married among their own, continued observing Jewish rites and customs in secret – and remained under lingering suspicion. Like the Anusim (Conversos) of Christian Europe, many of these forced converts forgot their heritage while paradoxically maintaining it through rituals and marriage restrictions they continued to observe but no longer understood.

Xenophobia

When the fathers of European Enlightenment rejected the primacy of faith and national allegiances, they were offended by the Jews’ continuing embrace of their religious, ethnic, and national identity. The refusal to assimilate rendered them strangers wherever their migrations took them, arousing xenophobia with religious and racial overtones. And their image as quintessential outsiders was reinforced by their faithfulness to Torah, Jewish language, and ancient blood ties – all of which distinguished them from their host societies and reinforced stereotypes that continued to fester and mutate.

Denial of connection to Israel

A unique form of antisemitism today is the denial of the Jews’ history and connection to Israel. Progressives often maintain that Jewish identity is “only religious” to delegitimize it compared to Palestinian national identity. This theme is echoed in the PA Charter, which denies the Jews’ national history and deems them colonial occupiers.

The claim that Jewishness is “just a religion,” however, is contradicted by the scriptural, historical, and archeological records, which confirm Jewish ethnicity, national heritage, and origins in Israel. The record does not similarly validate Palestinian Arab identity, which is a modern political construct.

Jewish children

Whereas the roots of antisemitism are disparate, they are not mutually exclusive, whether based on religion, ethnicity, racial theory, or xenophobia; and regardless of ideology, it is exacerbated by the Jewish refusal to assimilate. Unfortunately, many opponents of antisemitism unwittingly help perpetuate it through ignorance of its historical and theological foundations.

Even Jewish children understand this.

My generation was born less than twenty years after the Holocaust. Though my family lost collateral relatives to the Nazis and their Ukrainian accomplices, many of my friends’ parents were Holocaust survivors who constituted a significant portion of our community. And they informed our understanding of antisemitism as simultaneously religious, ethnic, national, and racial – which colored our self-perceptions and even our sense of play.

I grew up in a neighborhood where the streets had storm-sewers with removeable grates that we could crawl through. While other kids played “cops and robbers,” we often navigated our way underground playing “escape from the ghetto.” And the brutal kidnapping of the Bibas family brings that “game” to life.

Clearly, even children experience existential angst, and ours was shaped by an awareness of antisemitism in all its manifestations – something adult academics, politicians, and media personalities never seem to grasp.

But then again, perhaps it takes the untainted sensibilities of a child to recognize the nuanced complexities of Jew-hatred and understand its scope.

Copyright 2024. Matthew Hausman, J.D. All rights reserved.

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The New York Marxists Are Out Of Control

By Geoff Ross

The unconstitutional fraud prosecution of former President Trump by the corrupt Communists and Marxists in New York have illegally fined this great American $350 million dollars.

There are no victims and no lawsuits filed against Trump and the banks were all paid back the loans on his real estate ventures. So what’s the reason for this? It’s total election interference.

In a free market capitalist economy the value placed on real estate is subject to the supply and demand of the specific functionality of the property and its location.

Plus, the owner of the property the appraisal company and the realtor all agree on a value. I am a state certified real estate agent in Florida and as such based upon my experience I can find no fraud committed by the Trump family.

The Trump properties were valued by New York state certified appraisers before being placed on the market. Thus no crime has taken place in regards to a fraud involving overinflated selling prices. Disclaimers were properly posted on all contracts.

Now a Communist U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Jones appointed by former corrupt President Bill Clinton is now running Trumps business ventures.

Marxists cannot create anything but they do try to destroy what hard working American entrepreneurs have built.

The Trump family built a real-estate empire that was founded in 1927 by the former president’s father, creating thousands and thousands of jobs for Americans in New York City.

Now a communist who built nothing is running the Trumps real estate empire after it was placed in the hands of a kangaroo New York court-appointed monitor.

This is unconstitutional and has put other companies on notice in New York they too can be subject to prosecution if the government of New York feel you are making too much profit or are not politically aligned with their Marxist agenda.

Perhaps Fox News headquartered in New York City could be prosecuted and fined and the entire network taken over by U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Jones because a judge thinks their advertising rates are overpriced thus giving fake news CNN an opportunity to be the sole news provider in New York.

The state of New York is a banana republic ran by criminal Marxists and corrupt republican and democrat politicians. Trump is exposing them all and they are desperately trying to destroy him.

They will fail.

Copyright 2024. Geoff Ross. All rights reserved.

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