tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34022130042289075982024-03-08T03:33:44.723-08:00Political PalaverThe Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-49396574562786989292018-09-26T01:53:00.000-07:002018-09-26T01:54:26.276-07:00Only Republican Spinelessness Can Save Senate Democrats in November<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OXWxldcjEU7kpCrpdPZjCC8MPjjB5yMQn-qubHXGrVe4Wdsd9cxaf84q02axZbtXm6sfNjGOLOzsLEHVt-UBHBTGgQNNd1050ZtPoI_nbJOJbsjVQk9Q1q5w6bc6d0nnUW4xuQnsrJ4/s1600/thAA8YQCST.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="293" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OXWxldcjEU7kpCrpdPZjCC8MPjjB5yMQn-qubHXGrVe4Wdsd9cxaf84q02axZbtXm6sfNjGOLOzsLEHVt-UBHBTGgQNNd1050ZtPoI_nbJOJbsjVQk9Q1q5w6bc6d0nnUW4xuQnsrJ4/s320/thAA8YQCST.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Senate Democrats,
particularly those running for reelection in red states, are in heaps of trouble
over the Democrat-led circus meant to derail Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to
the Supreme Court.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And what’s more, <span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/25/red-state-democrats-kavanaugh-841400"><span style="color: #0563c1;">they
know it</span></a></span>.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“Democrats have all the
cover they need to vote in lockstep against Brett Kavanaugh,” write Burgess
Everett and Alana Schor at Politico.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>“But a half-dozen of them have refused to go there, even after a pair of
allegations against the Supreme Court nominee.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The simple reason why
they are understandably uncomfortable in denouncing Brett Kavanaugh without any
substantial evidence against him was first observed long ago by an American
Founder.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The responsibility for
a “bad” Supreme Court nominee lies primarily with the executive, according to
Alexander Hamilton in <span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/0593b5bdc4030304/Documents/avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed77.asp"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Federalist
77</span></a></span>.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“The blame of a bad
nomination would fall upon the President singly and absolutely,” Hamilton writes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">However, he continues
to say that the “censure of rejecting a good one would lie entirely at the door
of the Senate; aggravated by the consideration of their having counteracted the
good intentions of the Executive.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It seems an inescapable
reality that Senate Democrats now face this dilemma.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">There are ten Senate
Democrats running for reelection in states that were carried by President Trump
in 2016, and Republicans hold all the cards in either allowing a further delay
to the confirmation vote or forcing the confirmation vote on Friday morning as
is currently scheduled (with no prospect of a filibuster, for which we can <span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/21/harry-reid-nuclear-senate/3662445/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">thank
Harry Reid</span></a></span>).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And unless these
Democrats have more of a reason to vote “no” on Trump’s Supreme Court nominee
than the strength of allegations in which dates, times, and locations of the
alleged crimes, and without one single eyewitness beyond the accusers
themselves, they know that they will run headlong into the ire of their
respective states’ citizens if the president they voted for has his nominee
rejected by their Democrat Senator.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This
is even more assured, and will be more quickly realized, today than in
Hamilton’s time, given the far more <span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxvii"><span style="color: #0563c1;">populist nature</span></a></span>
of today’s Senate elections than the Constitution <span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articlei"><span style="color: #0563c1;">originally prescribed</span></a></span>.
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">There are three ways
that this will play out.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The first is the
likeliest.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Christine Blasey Ford, if she
shows up, will testify on Thursday in Washington along with Brett
Kavanaugh.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The American people will
witness the testimony of a woman which we know absolutely nothing about argue for
the absolute truth about her nearly four-decade-old memories, substantiated by
nothing more than her own inarguably <span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/02/04/271527934/our-brains-rewrite-our-memories-putting-present-in-the-past"><span style="color: #0563c1;">unreliable
recollection</span></a></span>, and <span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://topstoriesusa.com/last-remaining-witness-for-christine-blasey-ford-doesnt-remember-kavanaugh-or-the-party-either/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">without
a single witness</span></a></span> that she claims was there even remembering the
“gathering” in question.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We will also
witness the complementary testimony of a man who has spent much of his life in
easily reviewable public service, who has been vetted by the FBI several times,
explain why he has never done any such thing and was never at any such
“gathering.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">There is no new evidence
that Christine Blasey Ford can offer, as yet noted.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It will undoubtedly be a “he said, she said”
affair, and in no way should that media spectacle, absent new evidence, sway
the opinion of our lawmakers.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">After the event, the
Senate will vote, and will confirm Kavanaugh by a slim Republican majority.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk525683389"></a></span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">That’s the modestly
positive possible outcome for Democrats.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>They will still lose a couple of seats in the Senate, I’d wager, but those
Democrats who remain in power can still claim their #MeToo bona fides to their
constituents, and still tout any Supreme Court decision that they don’t like as
illegitimate.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Then, there’s the
second potential outcome.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Democrats, and
some Republican defectors, vote to reject Kavanaugh on the grounds of
allegations against him which lack any discernible evidence.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">This is the worst
possible outcome for those Democrats battling to keep their seats in states
that supported Trump.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You’d be hard-pressed
to find a single turn of events that might galvanize Republicans and reasonable
independents against Senate Democrats more than this nefarious subterfuge
employed solely for the purpose of “rejecting” Trump’s unquestionably “good”
Supreme Court nominee.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Then, there’s the third,
and by far, unlikeliest potential outcome.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Republicans could choose to double-down on their bad decision to not
force this vote for confirmation two weeks ago, allowing the Democrats to
continue the ridiculous circus that they’ve begun into weeks beyond now.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It’s unthinkable to
imagine that this might happen.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Republicans
must force the vote to confirm Kavanaugh on Friday morning, and no later.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A refusal to do so will spell doom for
Republicans, who risk demoralizing their base of constituents.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Republicans must give the Senate Democrats an
opportunity to either accept or “reject” Kavanaugh.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Trump certainly had
“good intentions” when he nominated Kavanaugh, and Americans voted for Trump expecting
he would do exactly that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Kavanaugh certainly
wasn’t the first pick for many social conservatives, to be sure.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But he was a “good” pick by Trump, in the
sense that he seems beholden to the law and reasoned appraisal of judicial precedent,
generally impartial with immaculate credentials, and his “extraordinary
intellect and experience” even drew support from hard-lined leftist colleagues
like Lisa Blatt, who <span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/09/why-is-lisa-blatt-endorsing-brett-kavanaugh.html"><span style="color: #0563c1;">said
that</span></a></span> “Judge Kavanaugh is the best choice that liberals could
reasonably hope for.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">If Kavanaugh’s confirmation
is derailed by Republicans, who have the ability and every right to force a
vote and a declared outcome at the hands of vulnerable Democrats, based upon media
pressure and the flimsy, decades-old, and undeniably hazy memories of women who
cannot remember even the most basic details around an alleged encounter without
a shred of evidence, and if this is all achieved via the Senate Democrats’ unbelievably
sinister timing and calculated obstruction meant to destroy Trump’s sensible
Supreme Court nominee (not to mention Kavanaugh’s entire life and legacy) on
those insubstantial grounds, Republicans may be left in the cold on election
day, with a demoralized electorate sitting at home wishing for a Party which
will achieve the things they were once promised by Trump’s election.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Namely, an originalist Justice for the Supreme Court like Brett
Kavanaugh.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />
William SullivanThe Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-13658900316459967132018-03-11T00:35:00.000-08:002018-03-11T00:51:32.111-08:00Trump's Steel Tariffs are New, But Ain't Nothin' New Under the Sun About TariffsMilton Friedman, in 1978, warned against the seductive calls for tariffs to protect the steel industry.<br />
<br />
Back then, the issue was that Japan, ostensibly, was subsidizing the production of steel so that the private steel industry in America would be unable to compete.<br />
<br />
In other words, Japan was making it "very unfair" for American steel companies. Milton Friedman articulates why worrying excessively about that, as President Trump seems to, is pure folly.<br />
<br />
An excerpt from the following video, Friedman begins:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Let us suppose for a moment that the Japanese flood us with steel – that
will reduce employment in the American steel industry, no doubt.
However, it will increase employment elsewhere in America. We will pay
for that steel with dollars. What will the Japanese do with the dollars
they get for the steel?<br />
<br />
They're not gonna burn 'em. They're not gonna tear 'em up, if they would, that would be best of all. Because there's nothing we can produce more cheaply than green pieces of paper. [Laughter]<br />
<br />
And they were just willing to send us steel, and just take back green pieces of paper, I can't imagine a better deal.<br />
<br />
But they're not gonna do that. They're not stupid, they're smart people. They're gonna use those dollars to buy goods and services. In the process of spending them, they may spend them directly in the
United States, and that directly provides employment in the United
States. They may spend them in Brazil or in Germany or in China or
anywhere else – but whoever gets them, in turn, is gonna spend them. So
the dollars that we spend for the steel will find their way back to the
U.S. as demand for U.S. goods and services.<br />
<br />
[...]<br />
<br />
I urge on those people who think there's some sense to the steel
industry argument to consider it in a more absurd setting. You very
often bring out the logic of an argument by carrying it to an extreme.
You know, you can have a great employment in the city of Logan, Utah, of
people growing bananas in hothouses. If we had a high enough tariff on
the import of bananas, it could become profitable to build hothouses and
grow bananas and those hothouses. That would give employment. Would
that be a sensible thing to do? If that isn't sensible, neither is it
sensible to artificially restrict the import of steel.<br />
<br />
Now, with respect to the charge that the Japanese government is
subsidizing the export of steel. Number one, it's very dubious that it's
true, but suppose it were true, then that would be a foolish thing for
the Japanese to do from their own point of view. But why should we
object to their giving us foreign aid? We have given them quite a bit. [Laughter]</blockquote>
<br />
That's just it. The reduced cost is <i>value</i> to American producers of products which require steel. Whether that value is subsidized by the taxpayers of another country, or whether it has only become manifest due to an overabundance of steel produced by the Chinese despite <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-steel-demand-global/global-steel-demand-growth-to-slow-in-2018-worldsteel-says-idUSKBN1CL0Q8">expectedly slowing</a> steel demand, is irrelevant. <br />
<br />
To "artificially" jack up the price of steel imports, thereby prohibiting American producers from taking advantage of that discounted steel may be good politics, but it's not economic sense. We should be honest about that.<br />
<br />
And to put it more firmly, it's an affront to liberty. It denies American producers of a grand opportunity to independently grow, unfettered by a government which seeks to price-fix a peculiar type of product to protect certain industries. <br />
<br />
In the end, tariffs are still tariffs. They're as unsound today as they were in 1978, as they were in the 16th century, and as they have been since the beginning of time. Observation of reality throughout human history has led us to this enlightenment, and we shouldn't ignore that truth because we like this president.<br />
<br />
I'm a great fan of Donald Trump for most of what he's done as president thus far. But the fact that this is his edict and not Barack Obama's, George Bush's, or anyone else's, should not factor into a reasonable American's mind as to whether tariff policy makes sense.<br />
<br />
Please watch the below video. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/28061/watch-economist-milton-friedman-talks-steel-frank-camp">Hat tip</a> to Frank Camp at the Daily Wire. <br />
<br />
<div style="height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.21%; position: relative;">
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j0pl_FXt0eM?ecver=2" style="height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; width: 100%;" width="641"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-53501700006759216262017-12-08T23:54:00.001-08:002017-12-09T00:06:15.031-08:00Radical Gender Theory, and the Obsolete Truth<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="375">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hashtag"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Unresolved Mention"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">New reports show that the Canadian Elementary Teachers
Federation of Ontario </span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5123013/Teachers-federation-conducts-LGGBDTTTIQQAAPP-training.html"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">hosted</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
a curious “inclusiveness training” last summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Inclusiveness trainings are common in education, but
what made this one curious is that on the event flyer’s banner was emblazoned
the unintelligibly-long sequence of letters “LGGBDTTTIQQAAPP.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The words below this banner reveal that the
sequence is an acronym, and the letters stand for “Lesbian, Gay, Genderqueer,
Bisexual, Demisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Twospirit, Intersex, Queer,
Questioning, Asexual, Allies, Pansexual, and Polyamorous.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Believe me, I thought this had to be "fake news," at first. It's not. Yes, it was purposefully exaggerated, and the point was to show teachers just how daunting the march toward "inclusiveness" can be in today's world. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-116609" data-recalc-dims="1" height="400" src="https://us-east-1.tchyn.io/snopes-production/uploads/2017/11/LGGBDTTTIQQAAPP.jpg?resize=600,800" style="border: 1px solid black;" width="300" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But what's most curious is that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">elementary</i> school teachers are being
taught to understand and convey these invented distinctions as truth, all of which
are entirely useless in the practical education of elementary school
students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As such, an immediate and
troubling question came to mind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
long will it be before my child in elementary school comes home to ask me,
“Daddy, what is the difference between a Demisexual and a Pansexual?” because
his teacher attended a similar “inclusiveness training?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And that’s when the much more troubling question hit
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When will the government find itself
within its rights to punish me, or my children whom I’m teaching to become
responsible citizens, for saying that studying gender and sexuality identifiers
like Demisexual or Twospirits is nonsensical, and that such imagined
identifications should not be discussed in elementary school?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will it be illegal for me to one day tell my
children that men are men and women are women, irrespective of how they choose
to self-identify?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I tell them
that a young boy who thinks he’s a girl is really just a confused boy, and that
doctors and parents and teachers indulging in that young boy’s fantasies by
pretending he’s a girl, or worse, prescribing puberty blockers and hormone
treatment to potentially cripple him for life, is nothing more than child
abuse?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After all, we all accept that a five-year old may not
have the sense to avoid oncoming traffic, which is why a parent might instinctively
hold a five-year old’s hand when walking on the sidewalk of a busy street. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet we are being led to believe that he can be
positive of his own sexual identity, and that any suggestion otherwise amounts
to ignorance and discrimination?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s like we’re in a Twilight Zone episode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in a way, that's not too far from the mark, particularly when it
comes to gender theory fascists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course, the show never envisioned anything like the
ridiculous acronym or farcical “education” training described above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard Matheson and Rod Serling were good,
but not even they could have imagined the illimitable distinctions being
applied to human gender and sexuality by modern-day, militant gender theorists.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />But it is that fear which exists -- the fear that my
own reasonable thoughts and expression might be criminalized by a government
bent upon indoctrination and enforcement of propaganda rather than truth -- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> is something the show’s creators
certainly recognized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In “The Obsolete Man,” Burgess Meredith plays a
librarian, and is deemed obsolete for adhering to ideas contrary to those
promoted by the fascist State presented in the episode. An excerpt of its
monologue follows:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is not a new world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simply an extension of what began in
the old one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has patterned itself
after every dictator who has ever planted a ripping imprint of a boot on the
pages of history since the beginning of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has refinements, technological advances, and a more sophisticated
approach to the destruction of human freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But like every one of the super-states that preceded it, there’s one
iron rule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Logic is an enemy, and truth is a menace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Too hyperbolic, you say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen to the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgsDFS5t4Gc"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">audio</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
(condensed version </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvdTiVbvvaA"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">)
of graduate student and teaching assistant Lindsay Shepherd of Wilfrid Laurier
University in Brantford, Ontario, as she recently appeared before a tribunal of
two professors and a staff member who excoriated her for presenting to her
students the possibility that gender does not exist on some invented spectrum,
as radical gender theorists insist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ms. Shepherd’s crime was that she </span><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/laurier-free-speech-1.4414696"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">showed</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
a video to her class of the “infamous Jordan Peterson, the Toronto professor at
the centre [sic] of the pronoun debate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Peterson became famous for his opposition to </span><a href="http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-16/first-reading"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bill
C-16</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">,
a Canadian federal bill which added “gender identity” and “gender expression”
to prohibited grounds of discrimination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In one of his more famous videos, Peterson proclaims that he will only
refer to his students as ““he” and “she,” and not “they” as some individuals in
the transgender community prefer to be known.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Is it wrong to suggest that singular beings be
referred to as such, rather than society, “science,” and the educational
infrastructure indulging the fantasy that he or she is some undefined plural
entity?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It was Lindsey Shepherd’s choice to present such simple
and reasonable ideas to her class that caused her to fall under grand
inquisition by university administration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You see, she didn’t present those ideas as sufficiently evil and
contrary to the correct Canadian acceptance of gender pronoun usage under law.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As you may remember, Bill C-16 passed in Canada during
the summer, spearheaded by Justin Trudeau and enjoying a 67-11 majority vote to
secure its passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Some saw the dangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jack Fonseca, head of the Canada’s Campaign Life Coalition, immediately
said:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mark my words, this law will not be used as some sort
of ‘shield’ to defend vulnerable transsexuals, but rather as a weapon with
which to bludgeon people of faith and free-thinking Canadians who refuse to
deny truth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Which is where we return to the audio of a crying
Lindsay Shepherd at Laurier University, who was merely seeking to present two
sides of a cultural debate to her students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I was not taking sides,” she sobbed to the tribunal of
inquisitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I was presenting both
arguments.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Her inquisitor responded:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />If you’re presenting something like this, you have to
think about the kind of teaching climate that you’re creating… These arguments
are counter to the Canadian Human Rights Code, ever since, and I know you
talked about, C-16, ever since this passed, it is discriminatory to be
targeting someone, um, due to their gender identity or gender expression. So,
bringing something like that up in class, not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">critically</i>… [Emphasis implied]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lindsay Shepherd interjects at this point, saying that
her introduction of Peterson’s video “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i>
critical” and that it was “in the spirit of debate.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s pretty clear what the inquisitor
meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was saying that what she did
was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">illegal</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Perhaps the most telling moment came in her defense
against the allegation that she “legitimized” Peterson’s perspective by
introducing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shepherd said, “in a
university, all perspectives are valid.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Her inquisitor responded, “That’s not necessarily true…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, consider the following.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Representatives of a state-sponsored
university set this poor, apparently reasonable woman before a tribunal in
order to proclaim that truth is obsolete if the truth is contrary to the
“truth” as it is seen by the State and its organ, the university.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is not a leap for me to recall this image from my
childhood in writing the previous paragraph or in hearing the audio of the
interrogation:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img alt="Image result for obsolete man" class="irc_mi" height="225" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U3quruHpcuo/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /><br />
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thinking this can’t happen here, are you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/10/09/new-california-law-allows-jail-time-for-using-wrong-gender-pronoun-sponsor-denies-that-would-happen.html"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">state
law</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
passed in California last month may allow for jail time for using of the wrong
gender pronoun in referring to a transgendered person who may be offended by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young charges of American universities routinely
become agitated by ideas which conflict with their own worldview, so much so
that they riot when innocuous speeches are made by more conservative speakers
on campus at the behest of some different-minded students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And American universities employ leftist
professors, many of whom condone such fascist behavior, at a rate </span><a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/6/liberal-professors-outnumber-conservatives-12-1/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">twelve
times</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> as high as their employment of more conservative
professors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can</i>
happen here, and moreover, it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i>
happening here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best that we recognize
that, because the cultural battle against fascistic gender theorists is not to
be taken lightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some hills are worth
dying on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as is becoming more and
more evident, the war to preserve truth is one with many seemingly
inconsequential hills that have already been conceded by those passively
interested in truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">William Sullivan is a frequent contributor at<a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/author/william_sullivan/"> American Thinker</a>, and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">can be followed on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/wjsullivanii?lang=en"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.</span></div>
The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-75306100332155096102017-02-08T21:36:00.002-08:002017-02-08T21:46:41.084-08:00The Recent “Women’s March,” and How the New Left Still Just Doesn’t Get It<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Just ten years ago, there was a
popular bumper sticker lampooning President George W. Bush which read,
“Somewhere in Texas, a village is missing its idiot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In 2017, somewhere in Texas, a
distinguished leftist judge </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.dailywire.com/news/12999/mistrial-judge-wears-pussyhat-courtroom-elliott-hamilton"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">wears</span></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> a pink “pussyhat” in a courtroom to show her support
for “women’s rights.” </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PZzmcgocc-lcTzZ9HfPJ3b0g6S78mszbIgK63fulVf0v9YwSBm6x5gKy2iEsg1yozQO1KQJ9FNjKavSo6mKz7tOIwOKw4htRNmNTFKpfaokzboRnwjZnK5c7ejg1c02MWpCHSbHwnE0/s1600/judge+pussyhat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PZzmcgocc-lcTzZ9HfPJ3b0g6S78mszbIgK63fulVf0v9YwSBm6x5gKy2iEsg1yozQO1KQJ9FNjKavSo6mKz7tOIwOKw4htRNmNTFKpfaokzboRnwjZnK5c7ejg1c02MWpCHSbHwnE0/s1600/judge+pussyhat.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">To say that the left has descended
into the realm of self-parody is an understatement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than making jokes about American public
policy, they have effectively, and unknowingly, become the joke.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Take the recent “Women’s March,” which
resulted from a strong marketing campaign, ample funding by leftist support
groups, and which enjoyed much media coverage and fanfare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Prior to the event, former Obama
speechwriter Jon Favreau urged women to “put on [their] entire armor” to march
on Washington the morning after Trump’s inauguration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sure, putting on “armor” to peacefully
protest a legitimate election sounds silly to most people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as Connie Wang at <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Refinery29 </i></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.refinery29.com/2017/01/136829/million-woman-march-outfits"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">looks to remind</span></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> all the privileged males out there (should
they choose to be identified as males), “all women know how certain outfits can
make us feel bigger and stronger and more warrior-like, which comes in handy in
moments where we need to feel those things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like now.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, in their self-righteous fury,
these mighty Valkyries donned their pink “pussyhats” and full-body vagina suits
to fight the patriarchal status quo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_X3gscjcww2vLrVgEOQfZ8kdniC8OuUF_3-LY8rX6RsN239g6RsrohFCvLQ6q4J4aGMlWAY3vSCJj20cQ7ka2cUgatLTaz2XTy4t29nyyF6I_Vz71NInsvJ5NZ4xdQ1VszSBKLqRrcQ/s1600/Vagina+Suits.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_X3gscjcww2vLrVgEOQfZ8kdniC8OuUF_3-LY8rX6RsN239g6RsrohFCvLQ6q4J4aGMlWAY3vSCJj20cQ7ka2cUgatLTaz2XTy4t29nyyF6I_Vz71NInsvJ5NZ4xdQ1VszSBKLqRrcQ/s1600/Vagina+Suits.png" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDz4sbcNyutwPTj3JIWvTjTknTebl8AkoWO_WyGH8K9c1OH4RdCgeymvYy8IpEOiwtp1WsHSswpqPgHoEeSt_d2q1hT6qjNs797rf-k6_VnjXeG51Hwnmc4VJrekdc3L772vM9aAM6j5k/s1600/vagina+suit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDz4sbcNyutwPTj3JIWvTjTknTebl8AkoWO_WyGH8K9c1OH4RdCgeymvYy8IpEOiwtp1WsHSswpqPgHoEeSt_d2q1hT6qjNs797rf-k6_VnjXeG51Hwnmc4VJrekdc3L772vM9aAM6j5k/s320/vagina+suit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">But which women’s rights, exactly, were
they so ridiculously fighting for?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let’s examine the “Values and
Principles” </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.womensmarch.com/principles/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">stated</span></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> by the March’s organizers: <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We believe that Gender Justice is
Racial Justice is Economic Justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
must create a society in which women, in particular women – in particular Black
women, Native women, poor women, immigrant women, Muslim women, and queer and
trans women – are free and able to care for and nurture their families, however
they are formed, in safe and healthy environments free from structural
impediments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">When you create a statement for mass
consumption like “Gender Justice is Racial Justice is Economic Justice,” it’s
clear that your agenda is not truly about women’s rights and that you seek to
co-opt other leftist grievance narratives to provide ballast to your
cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s also quite clear that
the terms you cite are malleable beyond their having any meaning or value at
all.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">What is meant by this sentence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it suggested that redistribution to
provide benefits to women for abortions, contraceptives, and sex-changes is
what they’re fighting for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we to suppose
that this is the same as demanding that white people pay the penance of their
presumed racial “privilege” by providing reparations for slavery?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And all that is the same battle fought by
those suggesting that the government should redistribute wealth from the
affluent and middle class to provide for the poor?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The “Values and Principles” of the
Women’s March continue:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We firmly declare that LGBTQIA Rights
are Human Rights and that it is our obligation to uplift, expand, and protect
the rights of our gay, lesbian, bi, queer, trans, or gender non-conforming brothers,
sisters, and siblings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you ever wondered how Democrats
lost middle-class, workaday Americans, look no further than that sentence and the
evolution which led to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all,
unless you’re incredibly attuned to the grievance narrative being peddled by
the radical left, you likely notice that the acronym has added a few letters to
the sequence since you’ve probably last seen it referenced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The LGBT agenda has become the LGBT+ or LGBTQ
agenda, which has now apparently become the LGBTQIA agenda to include
“intersex” and “asexual” (or “ally”) individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly, I don’t know why I even bothered to
look it up, as it’s likely that another letter or two will have been added by
the time these thoughts have been shared.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Are these the most pressing matters
facing America today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be truthful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You, like most people, would probably roll
your eyes and laugh at anyone who suggests that they are. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">But returning to Connie Wang, it’s not
important to agree with all the reasons for the Women’s March. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“[P]ick the issues that speak most personally
to you,” Wang suggested, to ensure that “aspects of your identity… are
represented too: Maybe you’re afraid to wear your hijab.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">A sensible person cannot help pausing
for a moment to reflect upon the irony in this social justice warrior’s
invocation of the hijab, an extremely clear symbol of the historic and
religious subjugation of women, as a symbol of women’s empowerment and
liberation in the neo-leftist’s incredibly disjointed formulation of thought.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s so easy to see that some lifelong
feminists cannot help noticing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Emma-Kate Symons </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2017/01/19/agenda-for-womens-march-on-washington-has-been-hijacked-by-organizers-bent-on-highlighting-womens-differences/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">notes</span></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> in an op-ed at the New York Times, “And why
is a woman seen wearing a heavy veil pulled tight to cover her neck – not even
a headscarf – emerging as the symbol of the rally?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, Trump is singling out Muslims, but must
we play his reductionist game?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Incidentally, Symons’s beef with the
march seems sensible enough: “It saddens me to see the inclusive feminism that
I grew up with reduced to a grab-bag of competing victimhood narratives and
rival community-based but essentially individualist identities jostling for the
most-oppressed status.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It saddens her because the march was
not about feminism, but about perpetuating the victim status of certain
identity groups that have little, if anything, to do with women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One has to wonder how she’s missed what most
of America has not – the New Left, and the Democrats who have embraced them,
have no other platform beyond the creation and perpetuation of victimhood
narratives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The “Women’s March” was not about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> women, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, 42% of women </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://qz.com/833003/election-2016-all-women-voted-overwhelmingly-for-clinton-except-the-white-ones/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">voted</span></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> for Donald Trump -- not exactly a fringe
group, and certainly not represented in the political motivation for the
march.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The marchers represented you only
if you want, and are willing to demand, taxpayers to continue financing
abortions via Planned Parenthood’s federal subsidies, whether one agrees with
the practice or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They represented
you only if you think that men can be women if they feel like it, in spite of
all scientific facts which refute that position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They represented you only if you believe that
America is an evil, racist place where your having a job or wealth is due to white
privilege, and justice means giving such a job to a poorer person of color
simply because they happen to be poorer and/or a racial minority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They represented you if you believe that the
Keystone XL pipeline is an anathema to Mother Nature, rather than a conduit
linking products to manufacturers and thereby creating jobs and more affordable
energy resources. (Yes, among the “Values and Principles” of the March, “environmental
justice” is cited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How that pertains to
women is an enigma to everyone but the organizers.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In short, the “Women’s March” did not
represent you unless you are a social and economic radical in the vein of
leftist radicals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And unless you espouse
those same principles, you are alienated altogether.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s as if Democrats have learned
precisely nothing from the thorough electoral flogging they’ve endured these
last eight years, having lost over 900 seats in state legislatures nationwide,
twelve state governorships, both chambers of Congress, and now the presidency
within that timeframe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Let’s be perfectly clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Democrats did not lose November’s election in
spectacular fashion because Americans have shifted rightward to some insane
degree, as they would have you believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They lost this election because Democrats have shifted radically
leftward over the years, both economically and socially, and have thus
abandoned the center-left constituency and the ideals that once bulwarked their
seats of power. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This radical shift to the left is so
pronounced that the left’s representation now appears as little more than
caricatures, and their demonstrations are only taken seriously amongst
themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Americans, for the most
part, have turned their thoughts to more practical things such as jobs,
national security, our diminishing stature on the world stage, and our
seemingly perpetual surrender of wealth and sovereignty to the political elite.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I, for one, hope that the New Left
continues to be utterly oblivious to the realities which are making them politically
obsolete.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So by all means, little snowflakes – keep
marching.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">William Sullivan</span></span>The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-85919360833472811272016-11-26T15:54:00.003-08:002017-02-08T21:55:35.807-08:00LeBron James Needs to Stop Being Such a Posse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX48gUXUFRQFE7JjSxqiPXLe-Qc67fM7Fsn2OfrpWAVbAf2jUVp4lUQMLF5xPsXv9yEsSx1Al_fwW0CAGg_zis6TzPrV8KvW9-y9OZ3Nswme9Y_MmFJ0AO8NFViJlFj7iTVbnmz9l5y2U/s1600/bron.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX48gUXUFRQFE7JjSxqiPXLe-Qc67fM7Fsn2OfrpWAVbAf2jUVp4lUQMLF5xPsXv9yEsSx1Al_fwW0CAGg_zis6TzPrV8KvW9-y9OZ3Nswme9Y_MmFJ0AO8NFViJlFj7iTVbnmz9l5y2U/s200/bron.png" width="200" /></a></div>
It seems that another innocuous word has now found its way into the left's rolodex of racist code language in the past weeks. This time, it's due to LeBron James's having taken issue with Phil Jackson's use of the word "posse" to describe LeBron and his business associates. <br />
<br />
Seems like it was just yesterday that I was writing about how the left was insisting that "socialist" was a racist term to identify Obama in 2008 and beyond, even though "socialist" identifies adherents to a specific economic theory of redistribution, not anyone of a specific race. It was silly of me, I suppose, to do anything other accept the fact that when someone else happens to take a word in the wrong context because it is politically expedient for them to do so, that the word must then become verboten in the PC lexicon.<br />
<br />
Take the word "thug," for example. I'd wager that those who claim it's a racist term never once used their finger muscles to google the etymology. (Hey, I grew up having to read about it in a book, Dewey Decimal, card catalog, the whole nine yards. I don't think I'm expecting too much here.) But the term, in fact, dates back to identification with the "Thugee" cult, a group Indian brigands and thieves. (That's the Indian subcontinent, not Native American.) Devotees of the cult were branded "thugs," and hence were eradicated by the British in the 1830s. The word became part of the lexicon to describe what they were -- brigands and thieves.<br />
<br />
But then the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman encounter occurred in 2012. When accusations occurred about his having been a thief (for his having stolen things from other students' lockers) and a violent fellow who engages in the act of theft (i.e., a brigand), all of a sudden the fact that he was a young black man must have been the impetus for the use of the word to describe him, not those other things.<br />
<br />
But let's just assume I go with all of that nonsense, and all the nonsense that came before. "You're right, PC police -- thug, socialist, personal responsibility, pickup trucks... all of the stupid shit you've offered over the years as racist code words are <em>actually</em> racist code words. You've got the cipher, and you're right! You cracked the code, congratulations!"<br />
<br />
Even if I did buy all of that, I'd still refuse to buy the nonsense that Phil Jackson's use of the word "posse" in describing LeBron James's professional clique is racist. When I hear the word "posse," I think of western movies, or those eclectic clown rappers that my suitemate in my first year in college loved. When anyone, anywhere hears the word posse, they don't think of it with racial undertones.<br />
<br />
But LeBron James did. "It just sucks now at this point," he said, "having one of the biggest businesses your can have both on and off the floor, having a certified agent in Rich Paul, having a certified business partner in Maverick Carter's that's done so many great business [deals], [sic] that the title for a young African-American is the word "posse."'<br />
<br />
Oh, dear God, LeBron. Let me say this in a manner you might understand, and note, I'm being very careful in how I say this. <br />
<br />
<em>#SMFH</em><br />
<br />
First of all, Jackson didn't suggest that the "title for a young African-American is the word "posse."" The word refers to a group of people, not a single person.<br />
<br />
Second, the word "posse" has its roots (again, this is just a Siri question away, fellas) in the Latin term "posse comitatus" which loosely translates to "force of the county." It has historically been used as a term to describe a group of law enforcement officials. It's common, modern use in language is in describing "a group of friends or associates." There is little, if anything, negative associated with it. You are inventing these racist undertones.<br />
<br />
To think that the legendary Phil Jackson, all of a sudden, after a long career of having worked with the greatest basketball players ever to play the game (most of whom were black), meant to throw a snide racist snub LeBron's way? To believe that requires a level of stupidity that registers way beyond any scale of any acceptable scale of stupid comments I've heard in recent months. And I've been watching this past election closely, so that's saying something.<br />
<br />
So I'll just close with something simple: LeBron, grow up.<br />
<br />
William SullivanThe Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-62741682559493748982016-11-18T22:41:00.001-08:002016-11-18T22:41:54.397-08:00Bill Clinton Goes Full Trump in 1995Just stumbled upon this. Amazing stuff.<br />
<br />Amazing in the sense that I'm amazed at how slippery politicians can be, with Bill Clinton later stumping alongside his wife while advocating Barack Obama's complete disregard for federal immigration laws, and demanding that border agents break them by not capturing and deporting the lawbreakers.<br />
<br />
Count this among the myriad reasons Donald Trump won in 2016.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y7AXizmhgi0/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y7AXizmhgi0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-12815443727868581352016-11-13T01:16:00.000-08:002016-11-13T01:16:53.655-08:00The Fishy Thing About Stephen A. Smith’s Kaepernick Tirade<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="374">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hashtag"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHkDVNFKG9hwHgtBim7PlyZXItlMSS1knyDPGjbGdWTJes4wH1QLDpq9sKqPvQfSVE5SIHwpWR0PaG_GDJDBFoOde2VI8cvejHTlGDCAfCuj2eIgI7D0iTuVLPnvcO9HC88sTEJNcaKI/s1600/Smith+kap.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHkDVNFKG9hwHgtBim7PlyZXItlMSS1knyDPGjbGdWTJes4wH1QLDpq9sKqPvQfSVE5SIHwpWR0PaG_GDJDBFoOde2VI8cvejHTlGDCAfCuj2eIgI7D0iTuVLPnvcO9HC88sTEJNcaKI/s200/Smith+kap.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like me, perhaps you woke up this week with friends on
social media applauding ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith for excoriating Colin
Kaepernick for not supporting a candidate in the 2016 presidential election.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“He comes across as a flaming hypocrite,” </span><a href="http://www.mediaite.com/online/watch-stephen-a-smith-blast-colin-kaepernick-for-not-voting-he-absolutely-betrayed-his-cause/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">said</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
a very angry Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And as far as I’m
concerned, I’m not interested in a damn word that he has to say, and quite
frankly, I hope he goes away.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Welcome to the club, Stephen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have a hard time joining my friends in
giving you kudos for now, and only now, voicing your discontent with him,
because there is something incredibly suspicious about your outrage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s why.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Smith, headlong into his angry tirade, said this: “[Kaepernick]
of all people, because of the position he took, because of the attention he
brought to the issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that you
don’t even have the decency to go to the poll and activate yourself in this
election, as our president said, is a damn shame.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Most people hear that and think, “Well, he’s right. Everyone
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should</i> vote, because that’s what I’ve
been told since I was a kid. It’s your duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right on, Stephen A. Smith!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then, if you look a bit closer at the words he chose,
it should become clear that the broad “everyone should vote” message isn’t
really what he’s getting at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He cites
that he should have “activated” himself, “as our president said.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The president </span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/17/politics/obama-black-congressional-caucus/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">did
say</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
that the black community should “activate itself,” but the context of that
statement that he cited is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
will consider it a personal insult,” Obama told the Congressional Black Caucus
gala, “if this community lets down its guard and fails to activate itself in
this this election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to give me
a good sendoff? Go vote.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The president wasn’t saying everyone should go vote
for whomever they please because it’s our civic duty to vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was saying he would consider it a
“personal insult” if black voters didn’t turn out to elect Hillary Clinton and
thus preserve his legacy, specifically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
it’s extremely unlikely that Smith’s anger is predicated on the fact that Colin
didn’t participate in the election process, as his supposed civic duty might
require of him, though I admit, that appears to be the impetus for the rant on
the surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, I don’t think
Smith would be applauding Kaepernick if he came out saying that he voted for
Trump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smith is most likely angry, based
on this curious reference, because he didn’t get roused enough to “get his butt
to the polls” to vote for Hillary, whom I’d wager dollars to donuts that
Stephen A. Smith believes black Americans should have “activated” themselves to
vote for in response to the perceived institutional racism that Smith thought
Kaepernick meant to highlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a
tantrum, and little more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But here’s the real kicker, for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s climb out on the limb and assume that
Smith really is outraged on principle, and that he really thinks Kaepernick not
voting at all, not even having “the decency” to write in a candidate of his
choosing (which would have been ultimately futile and a waste of his time, let’s
be honest) makes him a “flaming hypocrite” and that he “betrayed his cause.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">still</i>
not entirely accurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kaepernick’s
refusal to vote is actually pretty consistent with the purpose of his stupid “protest.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First of all, Kaepernick has been extremely critical
of both candidates, calling Trump “obviously racist” while suggesting that
Hillary Clinton is also a racist, and should probably be in jail to boot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fact is, he’s actually painted Hillary
Clinton in a less favorable light than Trump, which </span><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/09/the_lefts_hillary_problem.html"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">as
I’ve noted</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, really upset those among the left that were paying
attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, the underlying
statement Kaepernick has hoped to make was that there are systemic problems in
America that go beyond who may or may not be the president.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as he refuses to stand for the
time-honored celebration of the national anthem, his refusal to take part in
the time-honored American election process could be considered part and parcel
of the same ideological position of protest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“To me,” Kaepernick said of Clinton and Trump, “it
didn’t really matter who went in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The system still remains intact that oppresses people of color.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, I will say that he is completely wrong in that
position, and that he remains the uninformed idiot that he has always been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And personally, I believe when uninformed
idiots do not vote, the country is the better for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to call him a hypocrite for it isn’t
really fair, either. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Point is, there’s really not a lot to be impressed
about in Smith’s angry rant about Kaepernick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a tantrum disguised as middle-of-the-road criticism, and at the
very best, an expression of his disappointment that Kaepernick didn’t fall in
line to do the one thing that Stephen A. Smith thinks all black people should
have done in response to the perceived institutional racism Kaepernick highlighted
with his protest -- i.e., he didn’t vote for Hillary.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">William Sullivan can
be followed on </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://twitter.com/wjsullivanii"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Twitter</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-50554736594665772212016-11-13T01:12:00.001-08:002016-11-13T01:12:46.718-08:00Time off... But what a time it is now!To all readers:<br />
<br />
We've taken far too long a hiatus in loading content to the blog, thank you for the continued readership we've experienced. <br />
<br />
I've continued to write sporadically for American Thinker since our last post, and for those interested, recent columns can be found at the link below:<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1313879726"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/author/william_sullivan/">http://www.americanthinker.com/author/william_sullivan/</a><br />
<br />
We will look to begin adding content regularly, as the times ahead are sure to be interesting. As always, thank you for your support and participation.<br />
<br />
William<br />
<br />
<br />The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-24652249127586462422015-11-18T10:17:00.000-08:002015-11-18T10:18:30.875-08:00Rich Lowry's Brilliant Excoriation of "Hashtag Heroism"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfuTCSR_HrsQvu5PeJhNhwSjJmvs4o4hDrn9DUNKy6lFzvsAKLpZJx0RDmz15iw2cOM78e_EvCG1L6lizTmR3Qat2cALjTOQaaAPud6Q_rqHkAZcTCoMUWSl4eXrSSGNrJ9Ioib7Mdvc/s1600/Ralph+France.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfuTCSR_HrsQvu5PeJhNhwSjJmvs4o4hDrn9DUNKy6lFzvsAKLpZJx0RDmz15iw2cOM78e_EvCG1L6lizTmR3Qat2cALjTOQaaAPud6Q_rqHkAZcTCoMUWSl4eXrSSGNrJ9Ioib7Mdvc/s200/Ralph+France.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
In his recent article at the <em>New York Post</em>, <a href="http://nypost.com/2015/11/16/paris-doesnt-need-your-hashtag-heroics/">Rich Lowry gave Westerners</a> a much-needed reminder that, while hashtag campaigns and the tri-colored filter on your Facebook profile pic may make you feel better, it's really not very useful beyond that.<br />
<br />
From the article, referencing the #JeSuisCharlie hashtag fad from earlier this year:<br />
<br />
<strong><em>After the slaughter at the offices of the satirical French magazine Charlie Hedbo earlier this year, it was “Je suis Charlie,” or “I am Charlie.”</em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>It was a well-intentioned expression of solidarity, so long as you overlooked the absurd presumption of it.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>You are Charlie? Oh, OK. Then draw a sketch of Muhammad and post it online. Better yet, do it over and over again, until you get constant threats and your office is firebombed, just as a warm-up.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>No, you aren’t Charlie. (For that matter, Charlie isn’t even Charlie anymore — it’s given up on mocking Islam for understandable safety reasons.)</em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Last year, when the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram kidnapped 200 schoolgirls, Twitter exploded with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. First lady Michelle Obama </em></strong><a href="http://nypost.com/2014/05/07/michelle-obama-posts-picture-to-help-bring-home-kidnapped-girls/"><span style="color: #cc3333;"><strong><em>held up a sign with the phrase on it</em></strong></span></a><strong><em>. If Boko Haram was shamed by its Twitter feed, it showed no signs of it. The only girls who were brought back escaped on their own. The Nigerian military has rescued other girls, armed with weapons considerably more powerful than a hashtag.</em></strong><br />
<br />
[...]<br />
<br />
<strong><em>S</em></strong><a href="http://nypost.com/2015/11/14/celebrity-support-for-paris-on-social-media-is-shallow-and-meaningless/"><span style="color: #cc3333;"><strong><em>pare me the #PrayforParis hashtag</em></strong></span></a><strong><em>. Forgive me if I’m unmoved by lighting world landmarks up in red, white and blue, or your putting a tricolor filter on your Facebook profile picture. And please don’t tell me, in the words of the designer Jean Jullien, that “in all this horror there’s something positive that people are coming together in a sense of unity and peace.”</em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Nothing positive comes from innocents getting shot down in cold blood for the offense of going to a concert on a Friday night. It [sic] there aren’t going to be more — and worse — attacks in our cities, the path ahead won’t be one of unity and peace. It will be the hard, thankless work of protecting civilization from its enemies.</em></strong><br />
<br />
Lowry's piece couldn't be more necessary or timely, and I definitely suggest you give the whole thing a read <a href="http://nypost.com/2015/11/16/paris-doesnt-need-your-hashtag-heroics/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
-- W. SullivanThe Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-80852467604719600222015-08-15T03:23:00.001-07:002015-08-15T13:42:50.212-07:00White Mom Blogger Doing Her Part to Fabricate Fear of Racism and a Fear of Cops (They're Gonna Getcha!)I happened upon an <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/a-mom-called-the-police-on-my-3-year-old-son-after-125516874322.html">article</a> on <i>Yahoo! Parenting</i> which struck a chord with me as a father. "A Mom Called the Police on My 3-year-Old Son After a Playground Accident," the title read.<br />
<br />
Sounds ridiculous, I thought. Cops called on a three-year old, what nonsense! So like a dope, I read beyond the <i>Yahoo!</i> tease, which includes this provided picture:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJslutnGjSAF8HJLMEbxnbJlnK-ET0m9WdBLI2404wTFkv5OkR6TVYh4F9fzlipr8lsHTcQwRWAkevg3BkOgF1mZIqsJn_1yMV6ptHJJpJuHMbyImOFCVlJqEcrc_hdMXEaPAGzZrcYr8/s1600/9b4d6a4f52ca19f1a5f1b1ecefe5b47b9a04132c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJslutnGjSAF8HJLMEbxnbJlnK-ET0m9WdBLI2404wTFkv5OkR6TVYh4F9fzlipr8lsHTcQwRWAkevg3BkOgF1mZIqsJn_1yMV6ptHJJpJuHMbyImOFCVlJqEcrc_hdMXEaPAGzZrcYr8/s320/9b4d6a4f52ca19f1a5f1b1ecefe5b47b9a04132c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'll spare the bulk of the details, because as I discovered, they really don't matter. Long and short, the mother of the little girl whom the author's young boy accidentally knocked over while riding bikes decided to call the cops over the incident.<br />
<br />
The other mom requested an ambulance for her daughter, and sought to <u>press charges</u>, presumably because the young ruffian was allowed to roam so indiscriminately. <br />
<br />
The cops were as forceful as you might expect human beings to be in response to a three year-old boy accidentally knocking down a two year-old girl:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Look," the other police officer tried to explain to the other mother, "I can see him crying from here. It was an accident. It's not like he did it on purpose.""</blockquote>
The little girl got a ride to the hospital in an ambulance. And to calm any concern you might have up to now, the young boy is fine, too, despite having been a bit shaken up by the incident. He's "back on his scooter and hasn't mentioned the incident again," the author says.<br />
<br />
And while that cop likely had a "You wouldn't believe these silly suburban moms today" story to tell his wife when he got home, the author, on the other hand, is traumatized.<br />
<br />
She's still furious. She's scared. Her "black son just had his first police interaction at age 3." <br />
<br />
And just like that, it became clear that this story wasn't about her son or that other mom at all. They were just avenues to write a hip new #BlackLivesMatter article.<br />
<br />
She goes on:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I'm glad the police were reasonable and straightened things out. Perhaps in this instance, it was best they were there to handle what was obviously a touchy situation. In this instance. This time.</blockquote>
Geez, she's not even trying to hide her contempt for cops.<br />
<br />
"To be the mother of a black son," she continues, "is to be scared for them, constantly."<br />
<br />
Being a parent is to be scared for your child, constantly. Not a day goes by where I don't fear for my own children's lives, many times over. It's part of the human condition, and mothers with black sons certainly don't have a monopoly on it.<br />
<br />
I guess we can thank her for at least presenting these cops in a somewhat positive light, "in this instance." But she's definitely worthy of derision for perpetuating the dangerous, and completely untrue, myth about bloodthirsty, racist cops being out to get poor, defenseless, and innocent black kids.<br />
<br />
I don't expect that any facts will change author Emily McCombs' mind. I wouldn't expect that any more than the facts of the Michael Brown case, having thoroughly destroyed the bullshit "Hands up, don't shoot!" narrative, could change the minds of other people so devoted the myth that they took the opportunity of the incident's anniversary to protest the epidemic of white, racist, murderous cops. <br />
<br />
But I will say this, Emily. If your young son is ever arrested by a cop, it will most likely be because he did something wrong. So if you're really worried to death about him getting arrested, you should probably devote all your energies to teaching him to not do things that are wrong.<br />
<br />
And if he grows up fearing the phantom specter of a cop that's out to get him at every turn because he's black, it will be your fault. Not society's. Not the cops'. Yours, and yours alone. Because you have the opportunity to teach him something different to help him become a better person. And you will have squandered it in order to keep your fabricated worldview alive.<br />
<br />
-- William SullivanThe Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-29513436113402075172015-06-13T02:43:00.000-07:002015-06-13T07:50:34.047-07:00Christianity, Islam, and Insults<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Last month, two gunmen
opened fire at a “Draw Muhammad” cartoon contest in Garland, TX. They were apparently driven to a murderous
rage by the thought that the prophet, all powerful though he may be in the
afterlife, might be offended by people drawing his picture. Thankfully, their opposition to the First Amendment was answered by a devotee of the Second, as a traffic cop shuffled them off this mortal coil with a few well-placed bullets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">If you find drawing some silly cartoons a sad and stupid reason to be targeted for murder, join the club. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It got me thinking, though, about the context of all this. And no amount of media spin can make the contrast between the contemporary followers of Islam and Christianity any less stark.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As a young
Christian child circa 1992, I was first made aware of this stimulating piece of
art:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvB9Ou7Na0gcH5dVKDrQj3kPuzgUJZwsXNxXhqkHsgtt9t9FCp-ryKkKDnnP6EC0xlp6XsP9pZlJ3k7xpKHa4SgI3CRNoRIsn78yeC-Tuqpzwrs8nTlR9aC-mIxIjVi09VTqx8YP2uDzU/s1600/Piss_Christ_by_Serrano_Andres_%25281987%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvB9Ou7Na0gcH5dVKDrQj3kPuzgUJZwsXNxXhqkHsgtt9t9FCp-ryKkKDnnP6EC0xlp6XsP9pZlJ3k7xpKHa4SgI3CRNoRIsn78yeC-Tuqpzwrs8nTlR9aC-mIxIjVi09VTqx8YP2uDzU/s320/Piss_Christ_by_Serrano_Andres_%25281987%2529.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">That's a picture of Jesus Christ submerged in "artist" Andres Serrano's urine. Believe it or not, I
wasn’t taken aback by the fact that my mom and dad weren’t demanding the death
of the guy who put the likeness of my Lord and Savior in a bowl of piss and called it art. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This was, early on, a
lesson in life: There are those who
believe in things other than my beliefs, and even those who would ridicule my deepest
convictions for fun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Then, and over the years, I’ve
learned to laugh at it. And why would I
not? They're sad little people, those who would insult me and my innocent choice to find faith in God -- the God of <u>peace and love and tolerance</u> for one's fellow man.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In <i>my</i> religious conviction, I never even considered that Andres Serrano should die for his insult, nor did I ever wish ill will toward anyone else who disagrees with my faith or would ridicule my personal beliefs in such a way. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Why? Well, two reasons. One: Because I am right, and they are wrong. Plain and simple. God will vindicate that choice, so I have no need to spur worldly recompense in His stead. Two: My God's instruction doesn't entail directives to harm anyone who might disrespect His image. Blasphemy is sin, but I am not the judge in that ethereal and prospective Court.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In hindsight and in
consideration to those other faiths that require worldly justice for
such insults? </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I just count myself lucky that I'm not a savage, indoctrinated to commit hateful
acts for such trivial nonsense. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">And the furor over a Muhammad cartoon
is just that. Trivial nonsense. Look:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJ-N4n4J6pcjIQ-LtCiEGBcolBeEwKLFEIF03ZmfjWbp9qxofsYPY7vKcJ3XNvhAZ26t0AWQ3XwjGd5Spp9ZzwHBwgstWhm6goi0MSjwhcp2lq_lavkPcOYjnY8nb17KosVnyCPq0WQs/s1600/My-Winning-Mohammad-Contest-Drawing--1024x814.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJ-N4n4J6pcjIQ-LtCiEGBcolBeEwKLFEIF03ZmfjWbp9qxofsYPY7vKcJ3XNvhAZ26t0AWQ3XwjGd5Spp9ZzwHBwgstWhm6goi0MSjwhcp2lq_lavkPcOYjnY8nb17KosVnyCPq0WQs/s320/My-Winning-Mohammad-Contest-Drawing--1024x814.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There are millions of Muslims who would kill over that innocent picture (which is the unveiled message that the image conveys). Millions more would not kill, but would understand the impetus to kill over it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Would Jesus Christ truly care
about Andres Serrano putting his likeness in a vat of urine, or the millions of
people who celebrated it? Or some unbeliever casting his likeness in ink? Would my God have me murder someone else in His name for something so insignificant?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">No. And as for Muslims who
would either commit violence or sit silent as their religious cohorts attempt
murder over something so stupid as a Muhammad cartoon, well… they are threats to a pluralistic society and/or complicit fanatics which must be removed from our culture with which they and their beliefs are not compatible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">William Sullivan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-52874019514890070542015-03-26T21:07:00.004-07:002015-03-27T00:07:50.324-07:00The University of Oklahoma Signifies the Death of Free Speech in American Universities, and Defines Its Newly Accepted Limits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfqTVRUdwJDddJgzfUosttnqnhW0PMiaJTWzTCm5kZzVahupYdqauCqSmBmti6ym9Np2TGF6uo14hBl-hOKPFUGXKZK7DfaM5PxwMejECFzMKTxt4-Ipy30rBpg02J9ttQ2qWnr-j3D4/s1600/150309_atm_fraternity_racist_16x9_992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfqTVRUdwJDddJgzfUosttnqnhW0PMiaJTWzTCm5kZzVahupYdqauCqSmBmti6ym9Np2TGF6uo14hBl-hOKPFUGXKZK7DfaM5PxwMejECFzMKTxt4-Ipy30rBpg02J9ttQ2qWnr-j3D4/s1600/150309_atm_fraternity_racist_16x9_992.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As we all know, a video has surfaced showing students
of the University of Oklahoma singing a racist chant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon
fraternity, and while on a bus carrying them to a formal fraternity function,
the students were captured chanting “There’ll never be a ni**** SAE! You can
hang him from a tree, but he will never sign with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’ll never be a ni**** SAE!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The chant was undoubtedly racist, and insensitive to
the shameful legacy of racial lynching in America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those involved are worthy of derision, and the
community has resoundingly trumpeted its disapproval, as has the entire nation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The question at hand, however, has never been about whether
what the boys did was ethically reprehensible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It clearly was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more pressing
question that we must confront now is whether such an act is worthy of
expulsion from a state-funded university, and what that means for the state of
education in this country if it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
beyond that, we must consider whether freedom of speech is anything more than a
mantelpiece in America which, though fondly remembered and often superficially revered,
has become little more than an old, dusty concept in a culture which is bent on
cultivating homogenized thought. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At the University of Oklahoma, two of the students
involved in the chanting were indeed expelled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most disturbing for me is not that such
sentiments are uttered within such fringe environments as this. Honestly, can anyone say that these boys would ever consider weaving a noose with the intent of hurting someone? Yes, that's rhetorical, because it would be an entirely stupid suggestion which would recuse the accuser from any intellectual forum. The real problem, however, is that so few Americans
seem outraged at the frivolous decision to derail these youths’ lives over
something as practically inconsequential as their offensive, yet presumptively
protected free speech.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">University president David Boren announced a
decision to expel the youths </span><a href="https://twitter.com/President_Boren/status/575331671521656832"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">via
Twitter</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">, where he is cited as having said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have emphasized that I have zero tolerance for
this kind of threatening racist behavior at the University of Oklahoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that the entire nation will join us in
having zero tolerance of such racism when it raises its ugly head in other
situations around the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
extremely proud of the reaction and response expressed by our entire university
family – students, faculty, staff, and alumni about this incident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are “Real Sooners” who believe in mutual
respect for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Perhaps most troubling about Boren’s statement is
that not only is he making explicit efforts to regulate the content of speech
on his own campus, but he is imploring all other universities to follow
suit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These boys are meant to be examples, make no
mistake, and the punishment for their offensive utterances is being exacted
without the courtesy of a show trial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boren
and the university have cited no specific part of the conduct code that the
students had violated to justify their decision. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, their words didn’t hurt anyone
(aside from hurting some people’s feelings), nor did they explicitly threaten
to physically harm anyone in particular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Consider that members, and indeed the president, of the Muslim Student
Association at UCLA have been caught leading </span><a href="http://www.meforum.org/603/islamisms-campus-club-the-muslim-students"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">chants</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> of “Death to Israel! Death
to the Jews!” with no such punishment as expulsion handed down by university
administrators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Such events are
commonplace, by the way, extensively documented by Daniel Greenfield </span><a href="http://www.frontpagemag.com/upload/pamphlets/mhgc.pdf"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">By contrast, rhetorical
salvos against SAE by OU officials and media sensationalism have yielded </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-31881518"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">death
threats</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> against the fraternity’s members.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The message to other college students at OU and around
the country is clear, however.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
some things that you just can’t say, if what you say sufficiently offends
others who share the views of your school’s administration.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">David Boren’s statement overtly seeks to replace the
notion of “freedom of speech” enumerated in our First Amendment and repeatedly
upheld by our courts, supplanting it with “free speech which is subject to
limitations determined by the state.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
latter is fascism, not freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Freedom is a messy thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the purpose of learning, and ostensibly, our
universities, should be to seek the truth amidst the clutter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In a letter to William Roscoe penned December 27<sup>th</sup>,
1820, Thomas Jefferson spoke of the purpose of the newly founded University of
Virginia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The institution will be based
on the illimitable freedom of the human mind,” he </span><a href="http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/75.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">writes</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">,
“for here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to
tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This is the best way to achieve intellectual progress,
not the suppression of thoughts contrary to perceived norms and a social status
quo. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Robby Soave at Reason.com </span><a href="http://reason.com/blog/2015/03/12/frat-brothers-make-execrable-racist-stat"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">explains</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">:
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A school is exactly the kind of place where evil
views should do battle with moral and logical views, and lose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have everything to gain by confronting
racism head-on in an intellectual setting that a university purportedly
provides, and a lot to lose by trampling students’ rights in a misguided rush
to do the opposite.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In short, bad ideas are more consistently destroyed
in an open marketplace of ideas, if one has any faith in humanity’s potential
for reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that reality ceases expression
when our institutions of learning disavow the ambition to cultivate reasonable
individuals in favor of becoming factories which produce fascists, blindly
supportive of singular viewpoints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There is clear substance warranting litigation
against OU, and the lines in this social battle are being drawn. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The SAE fraternity is </span><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/03/13/sae-alumni-lawsuit-oklahoma-university/70276590/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">reportedly</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
preparing a lawsuit against the university, and OU has hired a former federal
judge to</span><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/ou-hires-federal-judge-amid-fraternity-racism-probe-29667334"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
investigate</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> racism within the fraternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The PC thought police of the left are
celebrating the university’s decision to expel these students and eagerly
awaiting the coming witch hunt, while constitutionalists and libertarians are
rightfully </span><a href="https://hotair.com/archives/2015/03/10/can-a-college-student-be-expelled-for-singing-racist-songs/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">condemning</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This may seem a small and insignificant story, but
in the trenches of cultural warfare, inches matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of being allowed to go back to class,
and hopefully educated as to why chanting racist songs about murder is wrong,
the pillorying of these boys in the public square could go a long way toward further
homogenizing thought in the state-sponsored indoctrination camps that we call
universities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="mailto:coog30@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">William Sullivan</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
is a frequent contributor to </span><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/author/william_sullivan/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">American
Thinker</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">can be followed on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/wjsullivanii"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Twitter</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-79603905857424618172015-02-28T01:08:00.000-08:002015-04-17T07:36:57.242-07:00Is Reading a Bill Is Too Much To Ask of Congress?It's clear now that no one one on Capitol Hill knows the content of any big, pivotal bills put before Congress. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, aka Obama's stimulus? The vast majority on the Hill couldn't have read it. It was $787 billion in taxpayer money, passed in Obama's first year in office without any specificity about where each million or billion was going. We later found that $90 billion went to green energy, subsidizing, among other bad investments, windfarms that hack thousands upon thousands of birds to death each year. "Awesome, save the planet!" said the Eco-sensitive greenies. The Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act, aka Obamacare? Another $900 billion (by the very conservative projections) in federal spending. But everyone gets healthcare even if they don't wanna pay for it? "Sweet!" said the single-payer morons. "I want my mom to have to wait two years for an MRI like they do in Canada and the UK!"<br />
<br />
Even when Republicans took control of Congress in a November election last year, the CRomnibus bill -- $1.1 trillion in federal spending -- was passed with Republican John Boehner simply promising us that "frankly, it's a good bill."<br />
<br />
The legislative process nowadays seems to be something akin to me showing my five-year old son a copy of <em>Moby Dick</em> and having him say, "Whales are cool, that's a great idea, dad. Let's go with that." Then five minutes into it he recognizes that it's a slow and boring book, and he realizes that he had no idea what he got himself into. But he's stuck with it, because if he doesn't sit and endure it, I'll take away his dinner and start him on lawn duty for the rest of his and his children's life.<br />
<br />
That's what government does these days. Take the latest Net Neutrality bill that passed through the halls of Congress. It was passed under the guise of busting up the digital trusts, destroying the internet monopolies. What exactly does the bill give the government the power to do? Who knows? No one read the bill in its entirety! But now, here we sit, after the bill has been passed, reading <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/414483/comrades-net-neutrality-john-fund">commentary</a> about all the implications inherent in the bill which gives government the kind of power to regulate the substantial commerce via the internet.<br />
<br />
In our granting the government such power as taking out a credit card in our grandkids' name, or fundamentally changing our healthcare system, or regulating our intellectual consumption via the internet, wouldn't in make sense, Congress -- <u>as our representatives</u> -- to read the damn bill before it's passed?<br />
<br />
William SullivanThe Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-79348021940433424362015-02-16T00:27:00.000-08:002015-02-18T06:20:47.341-08:00Netanyahu Urges Jews in Europe to Heed the Writing on the WallTo begin, please allow an apology for the hiatus in delivering content in recent months. We would like to first and foremost thank all readers for your continued support.<br />
<br />
-------------<br />
<br />
Jews have had reason for fear in Europe. Disregard all the historical reasoning you've heard. No, Jews have a reason for fear in the new, enlightened Europe, which has the benefit of seeing the horrific results of Nazi Germany's industrial eradication of Jews upon racial predication.<br />
<br />
The new Europe seems more interested in atoning for supposed transgressions against Arabs than protecting its Jewish citizens from foreign denizens who would deny them an existence as a matter of religious impulse.<br />
<br />
As <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/03/world/attacks-by-arabs-on-jews-in-france-revive-old-fears.html">told</a> by the American criers:<br />
<br />
"Mindful of the demographics and the strains of anti-Semitism in their country's past," the <em>New York Times</em> declared in 2003, "French officials are struggling to denounce anti-Semitism without fueling racism toward France's ethnic Arab-Muslim population."<br />
<br />
I quoted this blurb in a <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2014/05/the_ominous_implications_for_the_west_of_jews_exodus_from_france_.html">piece</a> I wrote for <em>American Thinker</em>, and I didn't quite catch the gravity of it. I focused on how it's sickening that French officials had to "struggle" to denounce anti-Semitism.<br />
<br />
No, the most sickening factor in this story, and every story ever since, is the notion that denouncing anti-Semitism might fuel more anti-Semitism amongst the French (particularly French-Arab) populace.<br />
<br />
This is no revelation to the Jews living in France. They'd committed to an Exodus long before my typing this piece. European Jews have been long told, and shown, that they don't belong. <br />
<br />
"Jews with a conscience should leave Holland, where they and their children have no future, leave for the U.S or Israel." <a href="http://fritsbolkestein.com/">Fritz Bolkenstein</a> said that, a harrowing cry that, again Jews have heeded to some extent.<br />
<br />
Now Benjamin Netanyahu <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-urges-jews-move-israel-copenhagen-attacks-111012753.html">tells</a> Jews in Europe that they have a home in Israel. "We are preparing and calling for the absorption of mass immigration from Europe."<br />
<br />
Who stands with them beyond Benjamin Netanyahu, who garners more respect among thinking Americans than our own President? Why should they not heed that call?<br />
<br />
And how on Earth could we possibly not see the writing on this wall, and the conflict which will arise as a result of Europe's capitulation to anti-Semitic (Islamic or otherwise) sentiments?<br />
<br />
<br />
William Sullvan The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-88833233469993402612014-08-15T00:34:00.000-07:002014-08-15T09:07:00.220-07:00Good-Bye Robin Williams, Hello Renewed Conflict Regarding Suicide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCA8iUsKfuC6YVCCEvvn-lAHT_HmC4kxa-KCBgc2BiiRvOYhXI9pOC4lYZU2-rVJZzupozNm4tw2D5iJ7MEVSHnOqVdpqx9kyD0Ww15PAR9PAHZrrUPrFlZ93eBkRl_GV7jU6nTTcvv4/s1600/robin_williams_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCA8iUsKfuC6YVCCEvvn-lAHT_HmC4kxa-KCBgc2BiiRvOYhXI9pOC4lYZU2-rVJZzupozNm4tw2D5iJ7MEVSHnOqVdpqx9kyD0Ww15PAR9PAHZrrUPrFlZ93eBkRl_GV7jU6nTTcvv4/s1600/robin_williams_01.jpg" height="163" width="200" /></a></div>
I will say this unequivocally: my favorite comics have long been dead. I grew up with Abbott and Costello, and to this day, there are no greater masters of the art. <br />
<br />
Millions might disagree with that assertion, but who cares? Comedy is entirely subjective, relevant to a specific time, place, and mindset. My younger brother Gordon and I were in just such a place, in just such a time, and in that very specific mindset that it spoke to us in the early and mid-1990s. Dad and Mom would take us to lunch on some weekends and we would beg to have them buy us a new Abbott and Costello VHS to watch so we could have that moment where we all watched, as a family, and got a new laugh at a new routine. And if the flick we’d chosen was a rehash of old routines, a la <i>Foreign Legion</i>? It was still funny. We loved the wordplay, we could recite the routines; and if pressed, Gordon and I could still recreate “Who’s on First” verbatim, each in either role. <br />
<br />
Those are some of the greatest memories of my life.<br />
<br />
Comedy speaks to people and brings them together in a way that nothing else ever could, and in a way I could never truly understand. But outside of those two comedy heroes of mine, there is Robin Williams. For my generation, he made an incredible impact. For some who are older than me, it was when “Mork and Mindy” made landfall on American TVs. Thankfully, his role as a clichéd and goofy alien repeating the catchphrase “Nanu Nanu” was not how I first saw him. No, my first memory of him was as Popeye. That might not mean much to someone who was not in my specific situation, in that specific time. But as a six year old who’d watched Popeye cartoons and played the game on ColecoVision, he was my imagination and the cartoon which fed it come to life. There can never be another Popeye, and I would suggest that you could look at the last 100 years of American actors, from Lon Chaney to Channing Tatum, and there is no one – no one! – who could embody and act out the character from my young imagination. Robin Williams did just that, and perfectly. And he sang it, too.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DOQM8kL5AMs" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Needless to say, Robin Williams’ career is more than that. He was in <i>Dead Poet’s Society</i>, <i>Awakenings</i>, <i>Fisher King</i>, <i>Moscow on the Hudson</i>, <i>Good Will Hunting</i>, <i>Jumanji</i>, <i>Hook</i>, among countless other films which I enjoyed as a kid and which won him accolades. He’s made me laugh. He’s made me cry. He’s made me think. He’s made me consider the nuances of this life that we all must live within. And in a way that no one else could have, he's exposed the fun and absurdity of it all.<br />
<br />
And yet it is his decision to end his life as he did that has become the <a href="http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/08/13/popular-blogger-pens-viral-post-calling-robin-williams-suicide-a-choice-heres-his-response-to-the-hateful-and-violent-reaction-he-received/">topic</a> of conversation? Not the celebration of his life and all that he has given us through his work and his existence? What is wrong with us that we can overlook the greatness we’ve been given and have enjoyed in favor of wondering why we weren’t given such a blessing as Robin Williams for a longer period of time or that he'd have chosen a more acceptable exit?<br />
<br />
Suicide is a very controversial issue. I cannot condone it, nor can I begin to understand it, and I will pray to God that I am never in a position that I must confront it more personally than I have. But life continues, in spite of what might (and what I believe does) happen in the hereafter.<br />
<br />
We are given a short time on this Earth. We have but to appreciate those bright lights which make our stay more enjoyable. As I’d like to think my brother Gordon and I recognized as children, Abbott and Costello were such a light. So is Robin Williams. He should remembered as such -- a bright light -- forevermore.<br />
<br />
William Sullivan The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-8733847901847526062014-07-02T00:41:00.001-07:002014-07-02T01:06:10.580-07:00America: What Makes Us Great, and Why Talking Heads Like Brit Hume Just Don't Get It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4RcQU8ZFIZrGvdv7Re8jq0mBC8Lmx8xUrncgw8f4Nqbf_7N_TtgNgEz5AMwu6a1kvSh8SfXXCL4vCRrkezqo06_RV1XAtpZY5YGvM6eZvnCVpSeqc-y006ziQ7-vdUQSL93Ms0v1P7k/s1600/hume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4RcQU8ZFIZrGvdv7Re8jq0mBC8Lmx8xUrncgw8f4Nqbf_7N_TtgNgEz5AMwu6a1kvSh8SfXXCL4vCRrkezqo06_RV1XAtpZY5YGvM6eZvnCVpSeqc-y006ziQ7-vdUQSL93Ms0v1P7k/s1600/hume.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bill O’Reilly had a pretty interesting exchange with Brit Hume on Fox News last week which I happened to catch. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Brit Hume is a senior analyst at Fox with whom I'm quite familiar. In fact, he particularly caught my attention in recent weeks when he suggested that Republicans having their name associated with immigration reform is some kind of moral imperative which will secure Republicans' future viability in elections. I discuss the folly in that assertion <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/06/the_straw_that_may_break_the_establishments_back.html">here</a>, published at <i>American Thinker</i>. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">But he said one particular thing in this one particular exchange that I found absolutely </span></span><span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">infuriating, well beyond simple naivete. It was outright insulting, and it's crazy to me that this interview has gone relatively unnoticed</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Referring to the mass influx of immigrant children
from Central America, Bill O’Reilly suggested, at odds with the doctrine of “political
correctness” but nevertheless in touch with reality on this issue,
that “the kids are the victims. As I said, you’re creating an underclass. Yeah,
some of them will break out, but most of them won’t…” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“This is a cruel way to look at it, Bill,” Brit Hume
responds, “but I would seriously doubt that with these particular kids, coming
as far as they have, and facing the difficulties that they have, that they’re
going to end up being the underclass.
These are probably the most able kids that are reaching our borders.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I fully understand what he's getting at. It's a "cruel way to look at it" because, in a Darwinist, "survival of the fittest" sort of way, only the best are making it to our borders. But in another way, he is suggesting that those who get here will socially and economically
advance to surpass American children which, he obviously believes, are inferior. Is that the purpose of immigration reform -- which is, ipso facto, amnesty? To drive American children out of the marketplace? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And even if it is, and I'm being asked to potentially vote my child out of a potential job or a seat in a university in the future, upon what does Mr. Hume base his silly assumptions about these children's prospective ability? The fact that they have survived a northward
trek, chaperoned by coyotes who’ve likely been paid by their parents
for the service of dropping them at America’s doorstep for handouts provided by
taxpayers, believing that they’ll get free food, shelter, healthcare, education, and that they'll be an
anchor point for the parents’ future illegal immigration?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know that some of these children have died in their journey. That is an awful reality. But the culpability for that does not lie upon me, or any American, but upon their parents which blindly sent them away!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Furthermore, what makes Mr. Hume think that those children will be more perseverant or useful than mine over the coming decades? I have and will dedicate my entire existence to ensuring that my children understand the necessity of education, a solid work ethic, an
adherence to law, and the duty to protect our civil constructs which have given
us our lifestyles and have heretofore preserved our freedoms. Are the parents who've handed their children to the nameless coyote going to do the same for theirs?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And this leads me to what Mr. Hume certainly did not consider in his simplistic and stupid formulation of his argument. (Watch the video linked below, he seems flummoxed when challenged.) It was for that civil construct, the preservation of freedom, and the very idea of America that my grandfather, William J. Sullivan I, served as a tanker
in World War II in the European front.
It was on that very basis that my father David W. Sullivan served in Southeast Asia, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross in defense of
his country. Both of my brothers, Gordon
and David, served in Iraq, as an airborne-infantry soldier and as an Apache pilot
respectively, each with two tours in the campaign. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My siblings and I are each the grandchildren of immigrants
from two different nations, one of which is Mexico, and we were raised with not only an appreciation of our ancestors' culture, but a profound
belief in what America represents, what that means to the world, and fully aware of the anomaly that we are in global context. And we are each willing to fight to protect all of that.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Will those children which Brit Hume stakes his
reputation upon do the same for this country? Will they have the same sense of duty and adherence to a nation of laws when their very existence within that nation has resulted from breaking those laws? And if laws do not exist or are no longer relevant, do we not cease being the nation my family has fought to protect?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Watch the interview below.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">William Sullivan</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://embed.crooksandliars.com/embed/Q5ryv2F" width="400"></iframe></span></span></div>
The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-63850379822738552892014-06-20T22:48:00.000-07:002014-06-20T22:48:48.742-07:00Hooked on Phonics? That's So Twentieth Century...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXxpY2g06cZGR-8uPPPlDWlQS7HRjWNIT7TCEbX5vCyeOKyg7N1dAnQtBQjqPzCoAkYBDjdIi8yRQEBth1cr24AhOa8PGr8bEC5cQv9qz1NnU4hZO0tZJJn4_MMz1gTG9wG2UKXskhrI/s1600/hard-to-learn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXxpY2g06cZGR-8uPPPlDWlQS7HRjWNIT7TCEbX5vCyeOKyg7N1dAnQtBQjqPzCoAkYBDjdIi8yRQEBth1cr24AhOa8PGr8bEC5cQv9qz1NnU4hZO0tZJJn4_MMz1gTG9wG2UKXskhrI/s1600/hard-to-learn.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">I had never heard of "sight words" until my son Connor came home with a list comprised of them from daycare, tasked with committing them to memory. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">While I think it might be useful at his stage of development (age 4), the idea that sight words, or "Whole Word r</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">ecognition," could supplant phonetic comprehension in developmental literacy is just incredibly stupid, and for our society (our federal education overseers, in particular) to buy into that stupid notion wholesale just guarantees that our society will only become more illiterate and stupid in the future. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">Forgive my lack of perspicacity, but stupid seems the most fitting term to describe any endeavor suggesting that phonics is not a superior path to literacy than sight recognition of "Whole Words." Seriously, the study of "Whole Words" is apparently a thing. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span> <span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">And yet, here we are, and this simple fact must apparently be explained. Doing just that is Bruce Dietrick Price over at <i>American Thinker</i>. If you have even the slightest interest in how our youths are being educated, I suggest that you read the piece in its entirety, found <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/06/reading_the_con_continues.html">here</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">But here is, what should be, a rather convincing snippet:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b>Whole word experts have created numerous gimmicks... They do a picture walk, a pre-read, a paragraph-by-paragraph discussion of what might be in the book. By the time the child comes to "read" the book, he can answer questions about "meaning." And if he can extract meaning, then according to these experts, he can "read." What a con. </b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b>Imagine that this is a nine-word sentence in a language that your child is going to learn: $ ^ # * ) = @ ! &, pronounced "Dick and Jane like to play in the street." You'll find that it's quite a lot of work to memorize those nine symbols so you can read that sentence. You'll also find that if someone reverses the symbols, or adds new ones, you will be confused very quickly.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b>This is typically what happens to Whole Word victims in the second and third grades, as they try to go from 100 sight-words to 300. The common expression you hear is: "They started off so well, but then they hit a wall."</b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b>Isn't that cute? Little children are hitting a wall. Splat, splat, splat. And big adults are making lots of money giving them interventions. And so the lucrative con continues.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b>Systematic phonics (i.e., nothing but phonics) is the only way to go. If your children are at a school that uses any of the following terms, start fighting back: sight-words, Dolch-words, Fry words, high-frequency words, picture clues, context clues, whole language, pre-read, picture walk, guess, skip ahead, balanced literacy.</b></i></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span></b></i></span></blockquote>
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Why are there so many of these bogus phrases? Simple. For the last 75 years, the Education Establishment has been selling a bogus reading method. Some people figure it out. So the Education Establishment has to come up with new slogans and clever new marketing phrases. That's why we have all the slop.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Meanwhile, in all that time, phonics was called phonics and still is. When something works, you don't need to fake it.</span></b></i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b>PS: Common Core is guilty of perpetuating Reform Math and Whole Word. Eliminating both is the prerequisite for educational success.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Now, I am not so invested in the logic of this appraisal that I could suggest that sight recognition </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">has no place in language instruction. In fact, literacy can never be achieved unless some measure of sight recognition can be retained. Individual letters that comprise single words, after all, have no meaning unless the letter's form on the printed page forces the brain to recall the letter's purpose and utterance in the grander scheme of language. But phonetic fundamentals must be in place, if for no other reason that we are human beings. We naturally recognize patterns, and those patterns often dictate our thoughts. Language is the most basic example of that simple fact in human nature, and phonetics directly caters to our need.</span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
And I will never suggest that alternative teaching methods should not be exercised in situations where individuals have specific difficulties in grasping written language from the phonetic angle. What I am suggesting, without the slightest hesitation, is that such practices should only be employed for those specific individuals, rather than the wholesale razing of a phonetic approach. Phonetic learning of language is undoubtedly the most effective means of our bringing the knowledge, and indeed, the gift of language comprehension and understanding to our future generations as a whole. This is true with English, and we find that it is even more so with Latin-based languages such as Spanish and French. But when a federal edict, like Common Core, promotes the alternative for all children in public schools, it is absolutely a cause a cause for concern. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">So, if you're like me, the next thing you'll want to do is rush home and explain, "Ph" indicates a "fuh" sound, and that's why "phone" is pronounced as it is, son. Not because it's a visual singularity that you had to memorize." Because that may very well be instruction that he is not getting in school.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">William Sullivan</span>The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-47142250761640034072014-05-28T21:35:00.000-07:002014-05-29T10:48:02.720-07:00Denzel Washington on Providence and Promise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34648kYjjPwixkgwaOu33W9Cezn1rlRLG5OLc6dRkFgywaou9K-yLrfIQPnU570QfH7LkhtkSNJPFq7XXO-e7ampEmhCScDG1Sraj3io6hwLfaF80VJLiEk4a2YyDKSkG8QLbUKF9yDw/s1600/denzel-washington-picture-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34648kYjjPwixkgwaOu33W9Cezn1rlRLG5OLc6dRkFgywaou9K-yLrfIQPnU570QfH7LkhtkSNJPFq7XXO-e7ampEmhCScDG1Sraj3io6hwLfaF80VJLiEk4a2YyDKSkG8QLbUKF9yDw/s1600/denzel-washington-picture-1.jpg" height="200" width="153" /></a></div>
There are a lot of things for which Hollywood is known. If Hollywood culture is to be encapsulated by a single word, a few examples come to mind.<br />
<br />
"Extravagant" might be a universally applicable word. "Progressive" or "enlightened" might come to mind if you're of a leftish bent, "privileged" or "aloof" might come to mind if you're a conservative. But regardless of which end of the ideological divide you occupy, it's pretty safe to say that one thing Hollywood is <i>not</i> known for is the humility of its prominent denizens.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
That is not to say, however, that humility does not exist among them, exemplified by singularities so rare that they warrant shock and awe. Such a singularity is Denzel Washington.</div>
<br />
<div>
His latest is a profound message by any standard. </div>
<br />
<div>
It is a <a href="http://dailysurge.com/2014/05/denzel-washington-gave-godly-message-young-actors-power-faith-dreams-goals/">message</a> to aspiring young actors about the "power of hard work and the importance of faith:"</div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I pray that you all put your shoes way under the bed at night so that you gotta get on your knees in the morning to find them. And while you're down there, thank God for grace and mercy and understanding. We all fall short of the glory, we all got plenty. If you just start thinking about all the things you've got to say thank you for, that'll be a day.</blockquote>
<div>
He goes on:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
True desire in the heart for anything good is God's proof to you sent beforehand to indicate that it's yours already. So the desire you have, that itch that you have to be whatever it is that you want to be... that itch, that desire for good is God's proof to you sent already to indicate that it's yours. You already have it. Claim it.</blockquote>
<div>
I won't try to dissect these quotes and assign political or spiritual meaning to them. His words speak enough. And regardless of what meaning you take away from them, it's difficult to deny -- these words are a powerful expression of conviction and humility, worthy of respect.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thanks, Denzel. If nothing else, it's a reminder of a simple truth that I, for one, too often forget.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
See the video <a href="http://dailysurge.com/2014/05/denzel-washington-gave-godly-message-young-actors-power-faith-dreams-goals/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
William Sullivan</div>
The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-6373408768555807512014-05-28T21:30:00.000-07:002014-05-28T21:30:19.900-07:00Al Sharpton's Amusing Problem with TelepromptersThis is hilarious. Well, once you get past the fact that Al Sharpton is somehow a relevant media voice after having been a <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/04/remembering_why_jackie_robinson_is_a_hero.html">complicit instigator</a> whipping up anti-Semitic mobs which murdered innocent people. And the fact that his claim to fame is predicated on stoking fears of racism in cases where young, black, supposed "victims" were <a href="http://thedailypamphlet.com/the-guilty-al-sharpton-4820.html">proven</a> to be liars, thereby ruining the lives of the wrongfully accused. Oh, and that he's an insufferable <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2004404787_sharpton10.html">tax cheat</a> and therefore a hypocrite who does not pay his "fair share" to provide ballast to the redistributive agenda he espouses with vitriolic race rhetoric.<br />
<br />
But once you get past all of that, this is hilarious.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VD6MTlT2Ye8" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
William SullivanThe Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-28321301393659800172014-05-14T01:02:00.004-07:002014-05-14T01:11:39.247-07:00Obama's Great Jailbreak: Indeed, Mr. President, No Los Queremos, No Los Necesitamos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkzPjowXESVyeFJtpLeT4e-4X82NTJuUu69NJTcMbI2usbPRUdhBeEfprdhB168pB43AMOecd7yrVsCFBwFs-NuxIhq9rQB0K4Q4ucOT_p5mJ2kgqD5cM_IWq7UWqLg_TWRL5rr7moFc/s1600/jailbreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkzPjowXESVyeFJtpLeT4e-4X82NTJuUu69NJTcMbI2usbPRUdhBeEfprdhB168pB43AMOecd7yrVsCFBwFs-NuxIhq9rQB0K4Q4ucOT_p5mJ2kgqD5cM_IWq7UWqLg_TWRL5rr7moFc/s1600/jailbreak.jpg" /></a></div>
Federal officials have <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/may/12/feds-released-hundreds-immigrant-murderers-drunken/">released</a> hundreds of murderers, sex-offenders, and drunk drivers onto the streets on which you drive, where your sons and daughters live.<br />
<br />
So why? Was this some mass pardon which only applied to people of one specific demographic, outside of the rule of law, and contrary to everything that the word "law" means in any practical sense?<br />
<br />
Well, for lack of a better explanation... yup. This president, and his administration, has "knowingly" released these offenders into the populace, undoubtedly emboldened by Americans' apparent lack of concern for anything he does which bastardizes the concept of his limited role as our federal representative.<br />
<br />
So why not shoot the moon? America doesn't care.<br />
<br />
I could run through the litany of grievances -- his circumvention of constitutional protocol, targeting political enemies in an election year, spying on your phone calls, groping your nether-regions at the airport and all that, but in the <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/338469/hillary-clinton-what-difference-point-does-it-make-nathaniel-botwinick">immortal words</a> of our potential next president -- what difference, at this point, does it make? <br />
<br />
Well, this matters more than your rising premium costs for your family's healthcare that you're taking on the chin. Criminals are being released onto the streets for no other purpose than to advance a political agenda. The IRS may not have targeted you for your contrary and subversive opinions which threaten this administration, but I can assure you, the criminals released in this little political ploy have no such discriminating tastes. You will be driving on those same streets, and your daughters will encounter them if luck has it that they are so unfortunate. <br />
<br />
It can't be described any more succinctly than this, uttered by Texas Republican Lamar Smith: "This could be considered the worst prison break in American history, except it was sanctioned by our president and perpetrated by our own immigration officials."<br />
<br />
Okay, it could have been more succinctly described, because everything after the "except" is utterly irrelevant. It is a jail-break which uniquely benefited illegal aliens who broke the law not only to enter this country, but broke laws which should have kept them incarcerated and off the streets.<br />
<br />
If this administration cannot fulfill that simplest of tasks which benefits all Americans, what confidence can we have in it, however noble some idiots naively assume to be its purpose?<br />
<br />
Consider the words of Jessica Vaughn, Policy Studies director at the Center for Immigration Studies, who says:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>We keep hearing from the administration that they are focused like a laser against the worst of the worst, convicted criminals, as their top priority. On the other hand, they are releasing, at a rate of about 100 per day, aliens from their custody with criminal convictions, and many of them are serious convictions.</b></blockquote>
<br />
Her comment seems as if she were surprised. Or if she imagined people might care. <br />
<br />
How cute.<br />
<br />
William SullivanThe Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-87461121851484827132014-01-19T12:20:00.003-08:002014-01-19T12:20:39.771-08:00How Retail Giants Saved the Obama Administration a World of Grief<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2h27cWAyqeoSlFaQztwCLdMFfJxtCP1jmMoEoaoj8XakC3r1KBdJ-P9EGCIEvZw-Kt2cNhvzAt9AQTQYBZVenyA_LbTyVUXd7-bIt8k5VVepCj8f4UINl8h_pkLplE8OWfL1eeR7KCEE/s1600/obamawalmart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2h27cWAyqeoSlFaQztwCLdMFfJxtCP1jmMoEoaoj8XakC3r1KBdJ-P9EGCIEvZw-Kt2cNhvzAt9AQTQYBZVenyA_LbTyVUXd7-bIt8k5VVepCj8f4UINl8h_pkLplE8OWfL1eeR7KCEE/s1600/obamawalmart.jpg" height="200" width="169" /></a></div>
It has gone relatively unnoticed, but the Obama administration has dodged a devastating PR bullet this month. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532869/They-no-idea-insurance-active-not-At-Virginia-hospitals-Obamacare-confusion-reigns-frustrated-patients-walk-out.html">According</a> to the Daily Mail, “[A]s many as one-third of new enrollees’ applications have seen problems when the government transmits them to insurance companies.” If <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/30/obamacare-just-might-net-its-7-million-sign-ups/">seven million</a> Americans have indeed signed up for Obamacare, this means that potentially millions of Americans now believe that they have insurance, but as far as the insurance companies they believe to be covered by are concerned, they are uninsured. <br />
<br />
We have already heard (however faintly) <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532869/They-no-idea-insurance-active-not-At-Virginia-hospitals-Obamacare-confusion-reigns-frustrated-patients-walk-out.html">stories</a> about a few unfortunate Obamacare enrollees who headed to the hospital expecting to be covered for treatment, only to find that their doctors could not verify their insurance and they were liable for the entire cost. If a million or more Americans, believing to be covered by Obamacare, were to find that they could not get their needed prescriptions because an inept government broker failed to deliver their information and buying intent to their insurance company of choice, there would be a whirlwind of public disapproval that might be untenable even for the Obamacare spin team. <br />
<br />
So retail giants rushed in and saved the Obama administration the headaches. <br />
<br />
Both Walmart and Walgreens have, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/01/us-walmart-obamacare-idUSBREA0000D20140101">according</a> to Reuters, said that they would “provide a month’s supply of certain prescriptions at no up-front cost to participants of U.S. President Obama’s signature healthcare law who have not yet received a plan identification number.” Kroger, Rite Aid, and CVS have <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/03/obamacare-benefits_n_4538407.html">introduced</a> similar policies. Chain Drug Review <a href="http://www.chaindrugreview.com/front-page/newsbreaks/cvs-walgreens-walmart-bridge-coverage-gaps">reports</a> that CVS is providing “a 15- or 30- day “bridge”” for “temporary insurance gaps,” meaning that CVS will essentially give prescription medicines to Obamacare subscribers who, by all accounts, have no insurance.<br />
<br />
These retailers suggest that they will seek to recover these short-term losses by going to the insurance companies afterward to cover the costs. Assuming that all works out for the retailers, these products are indeed “sold,” and they will benefit in the long run. <br />
<br />
There are elements of risk involved in that, though. Unless there is some obscure passage of Obamacare scripture which demands that they do so, there is no guarantee that these insurers will come out of pocket to pay for the medicines of customers who were not policyholders at the time of “purchase.” If insurance companies do not pay and the government cannot force their wallets open, we can assume that the customers will be asked to cover retailers’ costs, which is introduces another element of risk in offering these products at no up-front cost and no interest. Insurance companies have an assumed creditworthiness. These customers do not, and there is certainly no guarantee that these uninsured customers, without a contract or credit check, will pay the entire cost of their prescription medicines if retailers demand, particularly when they took the medicines with the expectation that they wouldn’t be liable for the entire cost.<br />
<br />
And it’s important to understand that it is a very distinct group Americans that will benefit from this decision. You see, a consumer usually looks for three things: a desired product, a good price, and a smooth buying process. To be enrolled in Obamacare means you have invested time and effort in the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/obamacare-website-medicaid-uninsured_n_4550316.html">notoriously painstaking</a> buying experience on the Obamacare exchanges, and in many cases, it means you have <a href="http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/12/22/how-is-this-affordable-experts-warn-of-looming-obamacare-sticker-shock/">paid more</a> than you have in the past for a policy with more bells and whistles than you previously thought you needed. To have done all of that means that you might have a vested political interest in Obamacare’s success, or at the very least, you serve as a bulwark strengthening Obamacare’s bid for continued survival. In other words, it will largely be supporters of Obama’s healthcare legislation, ideological or otherwise, receiving this benefit. That’s a pretty focused recipient group. <br />
<br />
It all seems curiously convenient. If you were to find yourself uninsured because your insurance broker failed in his job or your company decided to discontinue providing health insurance benefits due to Obamacare's myriad regulations and requirements, retailers wouldn’t be champing at the bit to accommodate you with prescription meds at no upfront cost or interest, but they’re doing it for Obamacare enrollees. So altruism has little, if anything, to do with it. While we might not be surprised at some future revelation that this decision somehow involved Obamacare’s social architects, there simply isn’t evidence to assume that any such collusion took place at this point.<br />
<br />
But implicit collusion isn’t necessary to recognize the most unsettling problem this incident exposes. These are the largest pharmaceutical retailers in the nation. They are private companies, and yet they now function as a delivery system distributing a benefit to a specific, preferred group of political constituents in a way that uniquely benefits this administration by protecting its ideological sacred cow. <br />
<br />
What is the message that Americans, particularly independents with no strong opinion on the healthcare law, might take from this? That by putting your faith in government, complying with its edicts, and enduring its incompetence, you might somehow be insulated from the potential adverse realities you would face if you choose to do otherwise. <br />
<br />
And that’s certainly a huge win for Obama and the ideologues out there <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/07/pelosis_dependence_day_pitch.html">peddling</a> government dependence. <br />
<br />
William SullivanThe Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-50116924894423564882014-01-14T15:22:00.002-08:002014-01-14T15:27:52.460-08:00Media Christens the Christie Scandal, [Sigh...] "Bridgegate"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-fg19ZCFoQQ1cYCaVUkl6ptQcQ_D9LBbnXeJ5WtwsW0-Pxyyc6WnYL7duzOdufqt8khWubmuhZ864Bxn3akivJHxYdS2ROhk0LwokBhKYVE6ybjxpql6egwkEqPuH7-cqS7Xb_yLoHw/s1600/Watergate-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-fg19ZCFoQQ1cYCaVUkl6ptQcQ_D9LBbnXeJ5WtwsW0-Pxyyc6WnYL7duzOdufqt8khWubmuhZ864Bxn3akivJHxYdS2ROhk0LwokBhKYVE6ybjxpql6egwkEqPuH7-cqS7Xb_yLoHw/s320/Watergate-04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Motorists that found themselves stranded on the George Washington Bridge, if they're anything like me, have something else to be annoyed about.<br />
<br />
Chris Christie is now embroiled in a scandal which caused these traffic jams, allegedly the result of a petty political vendetta. The media has unsurprisingly dubbed the scandal "<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/chris-christie-bridgegate-questions-102066.html">Bridgegate</a>" or "<a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/01/08/chris-christie-denies-traffic-gate-involvement-says-hes-outraged">Traffic-gate</a>," depending on the source. <br />
<br />
It seems a small grievance, I know, but somebody needs to say it. This "gate" nonsense has gone well beyond ridiculous. Seriously, at some point, American opinion makers should realize that the practice of giving nouns that are relevant to a particular scandal the suffix of “gate” isn’t wit, and completely ridiculous on its face. After all, the Watergate scandal that the practice invokes wasn't a maritime or public utilities issue -- it was the name of a hotel-office building which happened to be the site of a politically motivated break-in by the Nixon administration.<br />
<br />
I do sincerely hope that my grandkids will not have to endure such annoying indicators of our society’s banal groupthink and unoriginality.<br />
<br />
And what of the Chris Christie scandal that's up next on the docket? He is now the subject of a federal investigation questioning the funding used in his $25 million "Stronger that the Storm" advertising campaign, which was launched in 2012 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.<br />
<br />
Will the media do the expected thing? Will they call this scandal "Stormgate," or something even more ridiculous and stupid, like "Sandygate?"<br />
<br />
Wait a tick... they already did. <a href="http://hillbuzz.org/will-bridgegate-collapse-christies-chances-and-sandygate-too-65494">Here</a>, <a href="http://conservatives4palin.com/2014/01/national-journal-christies-sandygate-reduce-bridgegate-afterthought.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://thecontributor.com/sandygate-christie-not-only-one-taking-heat-misusing-relief-funds">here</a>. I hope we can all come to terms with the fact that it's really, really gotten out of hand. Conservative, progressive, sportswriter, blogger,or anything in between, I don't care. It's really, really stupid and all equally deserving of my derision. <br />
<br />
I know it grabs hits and all that, but please, I just want it to stop. I don't know what I'll do if I wake up tomorrow and the A-rod story is being called "Steroidgate" or some other ridiculous thing. But know I that the last thing I'd be is surprised.<br />
<br />
William Sullivan<br />
<br />The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-50032141336547880182014-01-10T00:04:00.001-08:002014-01-10T07:10:00.339-08:00Why a Gender-Neutral Military Doesn't Make Sense<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa3YWExqCWQAY1Cvcptkquye0_ix52YtgEwZaf8aEdylGGkLD5blewaD-QgQ5nKXIrC-yslSCmg0-wFiADc4D2Y2jyoQaONXaSw2XjMGW6CXsmZJV425THhty_gMEpx8wzNPy9p6NddY/s1600/female+infantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfa3YWExqCWQAY1Cvcptkquye0_ix52YtgEwZaf8aEdylGGkLD5blewaD-QgQ5nKXIrC-yslSCmg0-wFiADc4D2Y2jyoQaONXaSw2XjMGW6CXsmZJV425THhty_gMEpx8wzNPy9p6NddY/s320/female+infantry.jpg" height="152" width="200" /></a></div>
Reason was once viewed and applied as an avenue to progress. So strong is the power of reason, and so entangled is it in American foundational principles, that Thomas Jefferson once said that “we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor tolerate any error so long as reason is left to combat it.” <br />
<br />
But what if Jefferson’s qualifier was absent? What if reason is no longer intact in a society in such a way that it might combat erroneous contradictions to reasonable thought? <br />
<br />
Take this excerpt from a <i>USA Today</i> report, which relates:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
More than half of female Marines in boot camp can’t do three pullups, the minimum standard that was supposed to take effect with the new year, prompting the Marine Corps to delay the requirement, part of the process of equalizing physical standards to integrate women into combat jobs.</blockquote>
<br />
In what way might these standards be “equalized” in the future? By reducing the physical standard for our soldiers to match those which might be expected of a unisex collective? Undoubtedly so. But let’s assume that the ideas of militant feminism are not enough to drive an evolutionary change in womankind’s physiological makeup before the military brass, with their PC affectations ordered from above, makes these protocol changes this year or next. How would any military benefit by reducing its physical standards? The supposed benefits of “gender diversity?” <br />
<br />
As many might say of a female infantry soldier’s inability to carry their loved one out of harm’s way in battle, the social currency of that term isn’t worth the practical value to be had in a stronger set of arms.<br />
<br />
It’s a simple matter of whether a set of realistic facts yields specific outcomes (reason), or whether preferred outcomes are dictated by a set of preferred and/or malleable facts (fantasy).<br />
<br />
Logically, if I were a man and unable to do three pull ups, I would be deemed incapable of carrying out the duty of a soldier, and thus I would never be expected to be in position to carry my fellow wounded soldier from the battlefield at all. It is such a corruption of realistic expectations to suggest that if my gender were opposite the practical outcome would be somehow different, and I could carry out the tasks expected of me.<br />
<br />
And here we have Matt Walsh with something of a manifesto on the subject, exposing the fascists who demand we adhere to a gender-neutral worldview which history disproves and nature deems impossible. It is honest, and oh, so refreshingly un-PC. By far the best I’ve ever read on the matter. I will not gut the entire thing, but I ask that you do yourself a favor and <a href="http://themattwalshblog.com/2014/01/03/let-us-send-our-daughters-to-die-in-battle-for-the-sake-of-gender-neutrality/">read the piece</a> in its entirety.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
Let me be more specific: I disagree with the notion that women need to be “integrated” into combat roles.<br />
<br />
I disagree with the fools who like to pretend we’re living in a Charlie’s Angels movie, where ladies can shout “girl power” and then kick butt and take names with the best of ‘em.<br />
<br />
I disagree with the bureaucrats who think the military should be an instrument for social experimentation.<br />
<br />
I disagree with anyone who claims that the battlefield is a place for “equality.”<br />
<br />
I disagree that there is any tactical or strategic advantage to getting more women involved in combat.<br />
<br />
I disagree that the military should place feminist ideology over tactical and strategic concerns.<br />
<br />
I disagree with the pencil pushers and politicians ignoring the combat troop who has rightly worried about a scenario where he is wounded and needs to be carried out of a firefight, but the woman fighting next to him is completely physically incapable of doing so.<br />
<br />
I disagree that we should get people killed just so that pushy liberals can feel like they’ve won some sort of bizarre moral victory.<br />
<br />
I disagree with the notion that military fitness requirements are “barriers” to “gender equality” and ought to be adjusted because of it.<br />
<br />
I disagree with the “gender equality” fable entirely.<br />
<br />
I disagree with the strategy of achieving “equality” by treating different groups unequally.<br />
<br />
I disagree with every single thought process and ideological dogma that goes into creating a scenario where the home of the Few and the Proud is transformed into a place for the Many and the Physically Incapable.<br />
<br />
[…]<br />
<br />
Here’s a funny thought: if women can fight in combat roles, then all-male conscription must assuredly be unconstitutional. So, when the Supreme Court strikes it down, and the draft is reinstated, will the liberal feminists of America jump for joy as their daughters are forcibly recruited and sent off to die in some godforsaken desert halfway around the world? If you want to be like men, will you die like them?<br />
<br />
Maybe you would. But we are a shameful, cowardly country if we would send our daughters off to war for no reason other than to obey our New-Age Gender Creeds.<br />
<br />
There are other aspects that go beyond the physical toll of battle. I’ve never been to war, but I understand (in the abstract, anyway) how the horrors of it can weigh on a man. In a world where we must pretend that women are as physically strong as men, I suppose there’s no hope that we’ll acknowledge the more difficult reality: that men are more psychologically equipped to deal with the lasting mental burden of combat. No human being is designed to deal with the carnage of war, but men at least have a better chance of carrying it and processing it. Research has shown that women are more vulnerable to developing PTSD than men — a fact that should come as no surprise to anyone with even the most basic understanding of the inherent emotional and psychological differences between the sexes.<br />
<br />
And, somewhere in my disgust at this whole thing, I must admit that I am also personally fed up with what it all represents: the cheapening of masculinity.<br />
<br />
No man would claim that they can do everything a woman can do. Or, I should say, not very many men would make that claim. It is a generally accepted truth that women possess unique capabilities. Women are invaluable and indispensable. Who would deny this? Not I, that’s for certain.<br />
<br />
But what about the unique capabilities of men? Are we completely replaceable in every facet of society? Is that the new philosophy? And what about all of the things men have built, and achieved, and won, and died for, just so that we can live in a country where you’re allowed to be a crazed gender revolutionary? Women could have done all of that?<br />
<br />
Ridiculous.<br />
<br />
You know, maybe it would be wise to raise our daughters to have an appreciation for manhood. Maybe we should stop filling her head with this “you can do everything a man can do” garbage. Maybe she isn’t benefitted by this lie. Maybe it will only make her bitter and arrogant. Maybe it will cause her to see men as worthless, with the only characteristics particular to them being negative stereotypes about leaving the toilet seat up and drinking too much beer.<br />
<br />
Maybe we should tell her that it is men who fight the wars, and men who are best equipped for the task. This is not because of “discrimination” or “glass ceilings,” it’s because men are men, and women are not. Women need men. GASP. What a scandalous notion. But I say it again: women need men.<br />
<br />
Of course, in turn, I have absolutely no trouble admitting that men need women. I need my wife. The world needs my daughter.<br />
<br />
Just not on the battlefield.</blockquote>
<br />
Okay. So I quoted a lot of it.<br />
<br />
But those last four sentences happened to strike me particularly hard. <i>That</i> is reality, and if we lose sight of it, we are indeed a confused mess of a country. <br />
<br />
Again, a brilliant piece by Walsh, please read <a href="http://themattwalshblog.com/2014/01/03/let-us-send-our-daughters-to-die-in-battle-for-the-sake-of-gender-neutrality/">here</a>. <br />
<br />
William SullivanThe Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-14898586289877952702013-09-28T12:01:00.005-07:002013-09-28T13:12:31.819-07:00Obamacare Skewered in SongFirst of all, we would like to apologize for the hiatus in uploading content to the blog. These last months have been busy, but we will be looking to remedy this. And also, a big thank you to all readers, we are now poised to cross the threshold of 100,000 hits for this site. Very thankful to have our readership.<br />
<br />
I once heard comedian Steven Crowder explain Houston talk radio czar Michael Berry why he does what he does, creating humorous videos with a conservative political bent. He said that Thomas Sowell could be in a debate with Jon Stewart, and while Sowell is an intellectual mountain to Stewart's molehill, young people will think Stewart wins the debate because he makes them laugh.<br />
<br />
It's extraordinarily sad, but true. It's hard to keep young people's attention, probably now more than ever, what with these fancy new "smartphones" and "social media" and whatnot. (Granted, I wasn't exactly whittling wood in my day, but having just turned 33, my crotchety geezer talk just got a little more cred) And now, more than ever, we need young people to understand that this government is looking to spend their future today. We need them to know that they are going to finance healthcare for everyone older than them, that it will be more difficult to find full-time employment, and that they will be the ones our government relies upon while chasing the dragon of its spending addiction. <br />
<br />
Our collective future as a free nation is dependent upon young people seeing through the lies and whitewash surrounding the Obamacare rhetoric. And to those ends, videos like this one below are essential to our liberty. When such creative people are able to blend their talents with political ideals, especially in a manner that is so relatable, condensed, and undeniably true, we should applaud it and share.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gtyf7UHXNTM?feature=player_embedded" width="400"></iframe>The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402213004228907598.post-4523313720516993642013-07-29T15:08:00.000-07:002013-07-29T15:13:36.474-07:00Bill Whittle Discusses the Lynching of George ZimmermanThis excellent video explores the facts of the Trayvon Martin shooting, set in comparison to the narrative presented by the media -- one that in spite of Zimmerman's exoneration in a court of law, seems to yet pervade the social consciousness of millions of Americans. <br />
<br />
Whether these Americans are only passively interested or ideologically bound to the accepted media narrative does not matter. There is no excuse for such ignorance and complicit support of the unjust desires of a mob. As John Adams said to the jury while making his unpopular defense of the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence: nor is the law less stable than the facts; if an assault was made to endanger their lives, they had a right to kill in their own defense.</blockquote>
<br />
John Adams made this defense not because he loved the British, but because it was <i>right</i>. He later looked back at this moment as one of his proudest, saying that judgment of death against these soldiers who acted in self-defense would be "as foul a stain upon this Country as the Execution of Quakers and Witches, anciently." <br />
<br />
Thankfully, the law has been upheld, and George Zimmerman found innocent. But regrettably, the mob calling for his lynching still holds sway, thanks to racial arsonists like Al Sharpton, the <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/07/abc_still_corrupting_zimmerman_case.html">dishonest journalism of ABC</a>, and none other than the president of the United States.<br />
<br />
This video only touches the tip of the iceberg. But it's a good place to start for any reasonable person who craves truth. <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ebu6Yvzs4Ls?feature=player_embedded" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
William Sullivan can be followed on <a href="https://twitter.com/wjsullivanii">Twitter</a>.The Political Palaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03802688894578033192noreply@blogger.com0