Losing the Culture: An Example of a Perfect Storm

Every now and then events collide and give the lie to the proglibs who think those of us who are conservative are overheated in our concerns. Even better, a comment is made on this blog which is then buttressed by an incident which comes out of nowhere.

By way of example, a fairly new poster wrote something very profound (in my opinion) about mandated government schooling. I’m sure it will cause consternation in some circles. There are many reasons to oppose government schooling and the miasma of materialism that it engenders is certainly at the top of the list.

Mind you, this is supposed to happen this way. The Inner Party of the progressive movement is quite happy to take baby steps towards the dissolution of tradition and nationhood. It’s the playbook of the Fabian Society. In fact, they would rather things happen slowly, in order to lull the majority into a false sense of security.

It doesn’t stop there however. The purpose is not merely to impose secularism and materialism (i.e. atheism) but to erode that which is good and enduring. Patriotism is one of these things that the kakistocracy of America despises. Or let me be more precise: it’s not patriotism per se that our betters hate but only that which is directed to the American nation.

If it’s another nation, culture or religion (think Islam), that’s OK.

Sometimes however, things get out of hand and even the Inner Party loses control of events. The election of Donald Trump as president was one such counter-phenomenon that blew up in their faces. Now we have another little-known incident which took place in MacAllen, Texas.

In the video below, the teacher of an Advanced Placement Spanish course instructs the students to take the Mexican Pledge of Allegiance and sing the Mexican National Anthem. Brenda Brindsdon, a student in that class, refused to do both. Somebody had the presence of mind to surreptitiously film parts of this incident.

What’s delicious for me is a particular of the Mexican Pledge, and that is that students are required to stand with their right arms outstretched with the palms downward. Does that sound familiar? That’s the old Roman salute that was popularized by the Third Reich.

Years ago on this blog, I mentioned that this was the way that students used to recite the Pledge of Allegiance here in America many decades ago. Some took umbrage at my assertion but others came to my defense. Now I grant you that the posture used in Mexico is not probitive of how our parents’ and grandparents’ generation did things but it is very enlightening, isn’t it?

Why the outstretched right arm? Why the palm down? I don’t know. Perhaps this posture has some spiritual appeal. Perhaps some spiritual power. It’s possible. This of course would give the lie to materialism though, wouldn’t it? Perhaps the Inner Party which strives to rule the world is not as secular and materialistic as we often think? (I believe St Paul had something to say about that, c.f. Eph 6:12.)

But that’s not the point of this essay. Actually, it’s tangential to the main point, which is that the left doesn’t hate patriotism or signs of nationalism so long as they are not directed to the American nation. Any culture and religion is fine as long as it’s not European-derived culture or Christianity.

Anyway, here’s the video. Let’s hope it doesn’t go down the memory hole.

Comments

  1. Constaninos says

    Dear George,
    I don’t see anything wrong with what the school is doing. When you study a foreign language, cultural immersion is often part of the curriculum. Perhaps if the US returned to Mexico all the land we stole from them, this wouldn’t be a problem. Mr. Trump, tear down this wall!!
    By the way, have you ever seen how beautiful the Hispanic women are? I would like to see the President of the United States issue an invitation to all Hispanic women to please come to America. Now what about Hispanic men you say? Let them stay in Mexico.

    Now what about Islam? Convert them to Christ. Every Muslim who comes to America is a potential convert to the Orthodox faith. I love all people because there are beautiful women of every race and culture.

    • George Michalopulos says

      I’ve known a Hispanic woman or two:-). They are beautiful indeed.

    • Michael Bauman says

      Constaninos, it would be OK if they encouraged and allowed both the U.S. anthem and Pledge. You know, immersion in one’s own culture. Unless we no longer have one. Somehow, I think they do not do that.

      I also have now problem with teaching about different religions in public school as long as all are allowed. Consider the following:
      1. Does the faith have a central scripture? If so what is it?
      2. What are the central prayers of the faith?
      3. What is the central act of worship of the faith?
      4. What are the essential disciplines of the faith?
      5. What does the faith teach about the nature of God?
      6. What does the faith teach about the nature of humanity?
      7. What does the faith teach about the creation?
      8. What does the faith teach about the inter-relationship of God and man?
      9. What is the telos of the faith?

      None of these investigations requires a devotee of any faith to either compromise or give up their own. The same questions could also be used to investigate supposedly non-religious philosophies. One could even look at the effect of personal/cultural bias on both how the answers are given and how they are heard.

      If all faiths/religions are asked the same questions and full and truthful answers allowed and given the investigation could be carried out in any class room in the land except those most devoted to the ideology of freedom from religion.

      Of course the problem with that is within each faith/religion there are competing answers to many of those questions. Within Christianity the divergence in answers is so broad as to logically invalidate them as sharing the same faith. For instance, this is the case even between we Orthodox and the RCC IMO. Another problem, will the questions be answered honestly or skewed to a certain audience. Therein lies the ecumenical problem in a nutshell.

      • Constaninos says

        Dear Michael Bauman,
        You make excellent points. Thank you for the enlightenment. My post was more or less written tongue in cheek.(I may have just been silly)

    • Mark E. Fisus says

      issue an invitation to all Hispanic women to please come to America. Now what about Hispanic men you say? Let them stay in Mexico.

      If you only take foreign women, there will soon be a gender imbalance, unless you’re advocating harems. How Muslim of you.

      No, let the men come too. We’ll have the pretty Mexican women, and the Mexican men can take care of the post-30 white land whales. Everyone wins in the art of the deal.

  2. I thank the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit for coming upon your site. Father Peter Alban Speers, Father Spyridon, frserafim, etc.,The spiritual fathers, numberless Martyrs and Saints of our Holy catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church (The CHURCH), and non-Orthodox Ron Paul, James Corbett, the Unz news site etc. are among those who I follow. Now you.
    Father Heers on The love of Truth : http://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/postcards/the_love_of_truth_as_the_key_to_salvation

  3. The Advocate says

    Actually surprised California has not been doing this for years. At least Mexicans in Mexico, are not so PC that they don’t allow the PC police to remove the Hail Hitler ish salute. They have bigger worries, like food on the table, and rampant crime to deal with, hurt feelings, not so much. So I doubt Mexicans, in Mexico even care about political correctness. I know for years now, the La Raza movement, has wanted California given back to Mexico. So this anthem business, is most welcomed indeed by the La Raza folks. I also heard they either did or are in the process of changing their name, as their title, translates to English as, The Race. Not PC enough for the white folk, I imagine, who fund them. I often wonder what would Mexico be like today, if it became part of the United States, and granted statehood 150 years ago. Done if you want to post, or comment on early, George

  4. Bishop Tikhon (Fitzgerald) says

    The dramatic girl and her dramatic dad and some dramatic people here do not approve of ROLE-PLAYING?

    • Gail Sheppard says

      If anyone is being dramatic, it’s the teacher. She is expecting her students to *act* out the pledge and *sing* the national anthem. Hard to get more theatrical than that.

      There is nothing particularly Mexican about the Spanish language. . . not even in TX. It would be like saying English is uniquely American and to learn English it is necessary to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, hand-over-heart, and sing the Star-Spangled Banner (which is incredibly hard, even for those of us with high voices) if you happen to reside in a border town like Tijuana, because it touches the United States and it’s July 4th. Oh, please! No country, certainly not Mexico, is as stupid as we are when it comes to the politically correct. They must laugh at us when they see us contort ourselves into pretzels in an effort not to “offend.” I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that they feel justified in taking over our voting base because we’re too stupid to see it or stop it.

      ROLE-PLAYING requires buy-in from the participants and this young woman didn’t want to “play.” I applaud her ability to stand up and say, “I’m not doing this.” Milgram would be proud.

  5. I prefer the salute the Serbs use with the fist over the heart. However, I get the palm down thing. It has a long history.

    As to Mexico, it is very difficult to take a country seriously that has more than 10% of its population living abroad seeking better living conditions.

    • As to Mexico, it is very difficult to take a country seriously that has more than 10% of its population living abroad seeking better living conditions.

      Like Greece?

    • George Michalopulos says

      All may be true Saunca but why do we have to be the destination of choice?

      • George Michalopulos says

        Saunca,I’ve long believed that a blanket moratorium is in order. Having said that the pathology that arises from untrammelled 3rd world migration as opposed to controlled legal immigration from 1st world countries is as stark as night and day.

      • The thing about Russian migration is that there is a lot of movement of ethnic Russians from Russia to the stans in the south (Khazakstan, Uzbekistan, etc). Russia was an empire, as was the Soviet Union. I would wager that that is where the lion’s share of the migration has been, basically back and forth across the lines of the former empire. Of course, there is immigration to Britain and America, but this is much more restricted with a lottery system in place even for visits.

        I’m not picking on Mexico, exactly. I’m just saying that their relationship to the US is much like that of a debtor nation to Germany in the EU. Their economic weakness is a source of constant tension with America.

        Also, specifically with respect to Russian migration to the West (US and Germany), one often hears talk of a “brain drain”. I.e., that the “best and brightest” are emigrating. But that is mostly a matter of spin. Another way of stating this is that Russia produces too many highly educated technical experts for its own economy to support. The best jobs being taken, people look first to the stans where there are Russian communities already up and running, and then to America and Germany.

        This could just as easily be characterized as colonization rather than migrants fleeing some perceived ogre.

        Also, I found this amusing:

        https://www.worldcrunch.com/opinion-analysis/full-translation-of-french-anti-metoo-manifesto-signed-by-catherine-deneuve

        Catherine Deneuve and a host of other Frenchies have had enough of their feminist sisters apparently.

        It’s good to see them eating their own.

    • If you combine India and Bangla Desh together — as they used to be when ruled by Great Britain — the total is staggering.

      • George Michalopulos says

        Saunca, I responded to your question to another respondent.

        Here is my belief: demons exist. They do damage. They canNOT harm the body however. All they can do is tempt the mind and thereby arouse the passions. They can instill fear. Does that answer your question?

        • George Michalopulos says

          I don’t disagree with you Saunca. However I believe you’re trying to put words in my mouth. All I ask for is a fair reading of what I wrote. As for diabetes type 2, it’s almost always a result of overeating (gluttony) and lack of exercise (sloth). Those are two cardinal sins btw.

        • Michael Bauman says

          saunca, in a general sense all disease is the result of sin, our disunion with God. Demons oft times see those things more clearly than we ourselves do. They work to inflame our passions and blind us to the truth and distract us.

          Inflaming our passions can lead to physical disease and much more is simply in our flesh as a result of our ancestral disunion.

          Prayer helps, laughter helps, stepping back and having a cup of tea helps but worship, repentance and forgiveness help more. Anxiety is not just in our heads, it is in our bodies too as with all sin so receiving the Body and Blood also helps. But helping is not really what the Church is about. Ressurection and salvation are what the Church is about.

          The modern world dishes our anxiety like it is ice cream and we luck it up as fast as we can because we are afraid of being kicked off the progress train.

          The peace of God is beyond all of that. I am stubborn and thick-headed(literally thick-headed).
          It takes a lot of two-by-fours to my medically certified thick skull to get my attention and convince me I cannot do it. I cannot fix anyone else not even myself.

          Entropy gets us all and there is God in the middle of the obscene, decaying piece of animated vegetable fun that is me.

          Only Christ overcomes entropy trampling down death by death.

          Without Him there is nothing. In our sin we reach for the nothing and disease is the result of body, mind and soul. Demons have a part in all of that but rarely in a direct, linear way.

          Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, as wax melts before the fire, so let the demons perish before those who love God. Who make the sign of the Cross and say in gladness Hail most precious and life-giving Cross of our Lord. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

          All healing comes through the Cross.

    • Will Harrington says

      To put it in context, though, one has to take into account the collapse of the USSR and the chaos and economic hardship of the Yeltsin years. Emmigration was a rational choice given the state of the country at the time. Mexico, on the other hand, seems to view emmigration a social pressure valve for at least as long as I can remember. If people couldn’t simply up and cross the border to find a better life, then the Mexican government would have to deal with issues of poverty or face a serious rebellion beyond the Mayan rebellions they have had in recent history.

    • M. Stankovich says

      From my vantage – approximately 12 miles north of the international border at San Ysidro & Tijuana [and do notice, for the record, that it is spelled and pronounced Tee – WANA, not Tee – AH – wana. Just sayin’… ] that it is a serious misnomer to suggest that sneaking under, over, around, and through the existing tall metal “structure” (which we simply refer to as a wall running the length of the county, to terminate approximately 100 yards into the Pacific Ocean) constitutes illegal “immigration.” Further, it becomes more preposterous to suggest that these “immigrants” are “living abroad seeking better living conditions,” when you discover that they are living in canyons, in makeshift “housing” fashioned from boxes that once held major appliances, with operating features they cannot fathom. The do not dare cook or warm themselves because fire in SoCal reveals your location and, as the devastation of the Fall so quickly demonstrated, can unleash an indescribable hell, however inadvertent. Nevertheless, as I have described so many times, they are dutifully & faithfully in line at 0400 to accept work white people won’t accept. On many days, you will see them again at 1900 at places like WalMart, where, at least in SoCal, there is relatively inexpensive currency exchange and transfer of funds to Mexico, and so they wait patiently in line. You can also observe another line, that being the white people who have panhandled the traffic medians in and out of WalMart with signs that read, “Disabled military vet – anything helps – God Bless!” as they pay for alcohol, cigarettes (at $10 a pack), and rolling papers.

      Personally, I fail to see the “outrage” at people who are willing to accept jobs that are no imposition on our local economy (i.e. they are not taking jobs away from otherwise legitimate native job seekers and depriving them of gainful employment); who are willing to do so for a less than “living wage,” with no benefits other than the protection of the law to receive healthcare in the event of an actual emergency; and have the willingness to do so under the constant fear of being caught and immediately deported. They are rarely criminal, troubled, or troublesome; they rarely drink or drug; once they return, they stay returned. Sadly ironic however you look at the situation.

      • Constaninos says

        We need these Mexican immigrants to start auto repair businesses, plumbing companies. lawn care, and moving companies in order to prevent the consumer from being ripped off and scammed.

        • George Michalopulos says

          You know, that’s the exact same argument that Jefferson Davis used to justify African slavery.

          • Constaninos says

            Dear George,
            I’m talking about free enterprise and you’re talking about slavery. I fail to see any correlation between what I said and what Jefferson Davis said. Scratching my head on that one. Oh, well!

            • George Michalopulos says

              Fine line. We’re still talking about a helotry. What is left unstated by the neoliberals is that we cannot sustain our standard of living unless there is a class of people who are underpaid and overworked. Jeff Davis was just upfront about it. The Republicrats use humane language instead to cover up what it is they feel they need for votes (Dems) and increased profits (GOP).

              • M. Stankovich says

                Helotry is also described, in biological terms, as symbiosis, originally thought to be beneficial to both entities by making them individually more aggressive and assertive. But time has clearly demonstrated that humans – much like lichens & fungus – just can’t help themselves: “My name not Toby, my name Kunta Kinte.” Yeah, well I’ll be sure to slap the taste of that business out of your mouth from sunup until sundown, Toby.

                Now here’s the irony: there are approximately 3 million people in San Diego county – the second largest and most populated county in the state. To give you perspective, it is approximately 125-miles from the San Ysidro International Border to the Orange County border to the north; 206-miles from San Diego to the border with Arizona to the west; and there is also more than 70-miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. There are 16 military installations within the limits of the county, including Naval Base San Diego; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (formerly the home of the Navy’s “Top Gun” flight school); Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton; and Naval Air Station North Island, homeport of both the USS Nimitz and the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carriers and strike groups. This city & this county literally reek of freedom. There are roughly 1.3 million in the city limits, making it the 8th largest city in the US. Shockingly, however, in the midst of its massive prosperity & success, more than 15,000 individuals are living on the streets homeless, approximately 70% of whom are suffering from co-substance abuse disorders and mental illness. While people would like to believe the myth that the homeless came here from “elsewhere” – “coaxed and persuaded,” even provided a bus ticket from other major cities to come here (and in the framework of the classic urban myth, if you scoff, you are told, “It’s true, a cop told me”) – the research indicates that 80% of the homeless became homeless here. And to say the homeless are “despised” in SoCal is a gross understatement, because they are absolutely loathed and pretty much blamed for every single social ill that has befallen us. Could this be because they are overwhelmingly and predominately white?

                So, what is my point? The war on “illegal” immigration in California – like the parallel confounding war on legalized marijuana – most certainly depends upon a class of individuals, visually indistinguishable from the “legals,” who are essential to sustaining our standard of living by themselves living in a state of illegal “permanent inferiority.” But waging war against them will do nothing to increase border security, nor stop the influx of illegal drugs into the US. The people I have described above – and so many times previously – are not the harvesters of the delicate fruit and vegetables of the Central Valley, etc., nor are they the least bit interested in the drug trade. Both wars suggest to be focused on helotage, but in the end, the only ones morally harmed are the invisible segment of individuals who come with no intention of permanence. In any case, it is nearly impossible to imagine that any state – particularly a state with an economy as large as the state of California – will capitulate to threats to the stability of its economy, particularly when it supplies a major, essential food commodity to the entire country. It’s a losing war.

                • Michael Bauman says

                  One can look at any economy and discover helotry of some sort. Is it not of “the poor you will always have with you”?

                  I do not think such symbiosis and/or oppression will pass away until the all is fulfilled in Christ. It is an endemic human sinfulness.

                  So we can try to “wipe out the (real) injustice” which never works and ends up creating more misery and injustice. Or we can learn to soften our own hearts to give succor where and when we can to the Lazarus at our door.

                  My workplace is located in an area that seems to attract a lot of homeless or near homeless people and not a few grifters posing as homeless. Observationally, white men seem to predominate.
                  They are a challenge to my own humanity and my faith in Christ. Occasionally, I actually respond but not sufficiently.

                • Open borders, and grow your own weed, sounds like a great society! How about we provide the homeless and the Mexicans, with a planter box, some soil, and some marijuana seeds, pure profit, no need for booze, so long as they water the plant, and stay out of the shade. Next on the Cali’s ballot box, Legal prostitution, for those without a green thumb!

  6. Much ado about nothing.

    For your situational awareness: when the United States receives an ambassador or other dignitary from another country, the national anthems of both countries are played. Members of the US Armed Forces stand at attention (always) and render a salute (if outdoors) during both anthems.

    Army Regulation 600-25, “Salutes, Honors, and Visits of Courtesy,” states in Chapter 1, Section 11, Foreign National Anthems: “During the ceremonies, the performance of a foreign country’s national anthem will be followed without pause by playing the national anthem of the United States. (An exception may be made only when 2 or more foreign national anthems are played in succession; then the U.S. national anthem will be played following the sequence.) The same honors rendered to the national anthem of the United States will be rendered during the playing of the foreign national anthems. The anthems of the United States and other countries will not be incorporated into any musical arrangement, composition, or medley and will be played through without repetition of any part except as required to make both words and music complete. Military personnel in uniform and civilians will render honors during the playing of all anthems as prescribed in appendix C. The performance of a territorial song at ceremonies will not be played in place of anthems.”

    • George Michalopulos says

      These weren’t servicemen, they were students and under no obligation to stand as there were no Mexican dignitaries present.

      • Will Harrington says

        To add to that, there is a difference between standing at attention and saluting and actually reciting a pledge of allegiance to another country. There is NO level of equity between the two acts. The first is an act of courtesy, the second is an actual loyalty oath.

      • I’ll take your point about the Mexican pledge, but not the national anthem.

        But that’s not the point of this essay. Actually, it’s tangential to the main point, which is that the left doesn’t hate patriotism or signs of nationalism so long as they are not directed to the American nation. Any culture and religion is fine as long as it’s not European-derived culture or Christianity.

        Again, “The same honors rendered to the national anthem of the United States will be rendered during the playing of the foreign national anthems.” If your point is that “the left doesn’t hate patriotism or signs of nationalism so long as they are not directed to the American nation,” you need to realize that the long-established tradition of the “right” also not only approves but requires showing respect to foreign countries recognized as equals to the United States. This includes Mexico.

        Long story short: if you have followed the NFL controversy and think that all American citizens should stand during the US National Anthem, then all American citizens – including school children – should also stand for the Mexican National Anthem.

  7. Alitheia1875 says

    I’m trying to figure out if the Trump reference was meant in a positive light. God forbid. If there is anyone in this country who is a poster child for materialism and secularism it is the president. As well as……unethical, immoral, liar, deceitful, sexist, adulterer, swindler, thy name is Donald Trump. Never, since Ronald Reagan, have so many been so fooled by a wolf in sheep’s clothing. (And, I’m rather conservative and not particularly a fan of either Bill or Hillary. But Bill is no longer president and Hillary became irrelevant the second she lost the election.)

    • George Michalopulos says

      So, you would have been happier if Hillary had won?

      • Alitheia1875 says

        No, but I would have preferred that neither of them were the candidates. Forget Hillary. She’s irrelevant. Not thinking about Hillary allows us to concentrate on the president we have. He personifies secularism and materialism.

        • George Michalopulos says

          But they were the candidates.

          • Will Harrington says

            It should be pointed out that this is kind of her point, and it is the sad and sorry shame of it all on our country that those two should have been the choices we had, but at least Trump wasn’t the bought and paid for property of the oligarchy, but recent evidence and actions indicate he may be now. Someday, I hope that I will actually get to vote for a presidential candidate, instead of against the other one.

            • Alitheia1875 says

              Evidence of bought and paid for is the list of major companies represented by members of his cabinet.

          • Alitheia1875 says

            Yup. But what does that say?

          • Jim of Olym says

            Unfortunately, they were the only ‘candidates’. I can think of ohers
            more worthy.

            • M. Stankovich says

              I wrote in the name of John Kasich on my ballot. We are not helpless to make a statement, albeit “futile” in impacting the outcome. I am, however, able to sleep with a clear conscience.

  8. https://nypost.com/2018/01/10/the-trump-dossiers-credibility-is-collapsing/

    This was on the NYPost website. IF the Republicans ever get around to rallying behind Trump on this particular issue, they could very well cause a second and more damaging Watergate (call it Tammany II) and reduce the Democrats to third party status for the forseeable future because it could lead to locking up a significant cross section of the Democratic leadership (Clinton, Obama, their top echelons, et al.) through RICO [federal racketeering law used against the mafia].

    http://www.history.com/topics/tammany-hall

    IF . . .

  9. Constaninos says

    Dear George,
    What is your reaction to the latest kerfulle about President Trump’s bleep hole counties comment?

    • George Michalopulos says

      Well, it seems to have worked. DACA may be dead in the water because of this alleged statement by the President. That was the immediate tactic. Longer term strategy is to bring the concept into open discussion. In other words, the Corporate Media took the bait and are going off the rails. Worse for them, we are now talking about the nature of mass, untrammeled immigration from Third-world countries.

      • Constaninos says

        Dear George,
        Very good, thoughtful answer on your part. No one can play gotcha with you. Have you thought of working for the Trump administration? I think you should head the Department of Immigration or Press Secretary.

        • George Michalopulos says

          I’m holding out for Praetorian Prefect.

        • George Michalopulos says

          BTW, I’ve decided to do a Vlog on this issue. It’s more stream-of-consciousness and allows me to be more fluid with my observations.

          When I get it uploaded I’ll post it as a response. Lemme know what you all think about it.

          • The Advocate says

            Make sure you brush your teeth, hair, no food stained shirts, check surrounding area behind you, and keep your fingers away from your nose, other than that all should be fine.

        • Alitheia1875 says

          Once again, instead of looking to the source of the comment, there is a tendency, which is a Trump PR mainstay, of finding issue with the intended victims (and I use that word carefully and purposely) instead of the source itself. He is a disgrace to all this country has ever stood for and hopes to be.

          • George Michalopulos says

            You realize of course that the steady drumbeat of inflammatory news that is hastily discredited makes it difficult to take even credible criticism of Trump seriously?

      • Again, I don’t think that what he said there or regarding Charlottesville was racist but that is how the multikulti media is going to spin it. Durbin was saying it was racist, for example.

        “Sh*thole” is an apt description for some of these countries like Haiti and Rwanda. No one would want to be exiled there. Better Siberia. Crime is off the charts in Haiti, ostensibly due to the poverty they say. In Rwanda, 800,000 people were ethnically cleansed in 100 days. Not even the Nazis managed anything like that.

        https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/caribbean/haiti/haiti-high-crime-and-chaos

        https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/5-things-to-know-about-rwanda-s-economy/

  10. PS:
    https://spectator.org/importing-the-s-hole/

    This is a refreshingly vigorous defense of the President’s sentiments, including his language, supported by reference to the actual conditions in some of these countries we’re pussyfooting around and the effect that immigration from them has had on American communities.

    • The Advocate says

      Hard for some to to hear reality, but that article is right on, Misha, maybe the language is harsh, but desperately poor countries with greedy, evil, and dangerous leaders, are what they are, and ironic that lefties have more love for those tyrants, than our own President. To be honest, most of the left leaning voices of the MSM on cable, and air waves, are simply putting on a act with their outrage. They will use anything and everything to destroy Trump. No doubt President Trump sometimes helps them out with his poor choice of words. Then again if President Trump found a cure for cancer, MSM and leftist socialists would overlook that, and complain the medication is too expensive. I have actually grown numb to it all. The bias is so obvious, that the leftwing media no longer even tries to hide it. Fake tears, fake outrage, cries of racism, hate. Actual tears from gay anchors Anderson Cooper, and Don Lemon, but then again we know how endearing s___h___s are to them. Meanwhile The Dow is skyrocketing, which good for all, especially those whom their retirements are tied to, unemployment is at it’s lowest point for black Americans since we can remember. Illegal immigration is finally addressed, and border crossings are lowering, which in the long run raises wages. Auto, and in general all types of factories are opening up. The Korean crisis is no longer ignored, and China is finally taking a positive step in the right direction. The largest tax bill reduction in decades. New right minded judges. NATO, and UN justly reprimanded, and on notice to pay it’s fair share. etc, etc, etc…But All We Hear Now is Racist, Rapist, and S___H__e! Next week, word of the week will be IMPEACHMENT! That is of course, the reason for all this nonsense. BTW SEAL ROCKS!

    • M. Stankovich says

      What would be refreshing is an admission that the infrastructure and climate of too many major US inner-cities are every bit as “foresaken” and desolate – if not worse – than the conditions in El Salvador, Haiti, & Somalia, yet have no correlation with Al Shabaab or MS-13 whatsoever. Trust me, the day will never come when a Somali, Haitian, or Afghani will be setting up shop on a corner “owned” by the 44 Raider 4 Life Free Niggas in Chicago.

      Scott describes the American Spectator piece as a “refreshingly vigorous defense of the President’s sentiments, including his language,” because, frankly, the President himself is incapable of doing so on his own. He has come to rely, not on intellectual persuasion, but masterful rationalization from many corners of the “conservative” media. And understand the point of rationalization as a psychological mechanism of ego-defense: to make palatable the spoiled; to make the illogical & foolish seem sensical; and to transform the crude, ignorant, and otherwise offensive into an “elite form of irony,” lost on poseurs and cads alike; perhaps the source of the colloquial noun, “scrump.” Or perhaps not…

      “So why focus on the corrupting immigrants and not our own?” Certainly you are shithousing me, right? Because white people don’t “frequent” those parts of town. Duh.

      Then shall they also answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?” Then shall He answer them, saying, “Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matt. 25:44-46)

      Apparently, we only know them from the FBI/Homeland Security compilations of crime statistics, and we can’t deport their black/brown asses because they’ve been here for a while… The threshold for empathy, compassion, dignity, respect, and basic morality continues to fall.

      • Martyr’s Guilt says

        Difference is, in our ghetto s$%!holes, we feed, house, educate, and medicate our poor. If fact many in the ghetto are quite obese. Seems half of them wouldrather play Xbox, screw whatever they can, do and sell drugs, than either take a Mexican job or use the education system to their advantage to improve their lives. Those systems are NOT available to shithole countries out side our borders. In fact many of those poor countries without rich western nations like the US, sending aid, would suffer even more horrid conditions.

    • The Advocate says

      Misha, hope it does not bother you that M. refers to you as Scott? Why does he not respect your handle or name? At least he doesn’t call you My Love, that would get the boys to fetch the pitchforks for sure. I guess it could be worse, and call you Brother Scott or Bro.

      • Or Brother X and give the Serbian salute

      • M. Stankovich says

        It’s inspiring to see you finally advocate, bro, but that is his name, after all… (no diggity)

      • Yes, Stankovich is correct. I could not possibly take offence at being addressed by my name. When I entered the Church I took the name Michael/Mikhail and am known in the Russian department of the university where I obtained a degree in Russian Studies as “Misha”, also to most Russian Orthodox that I know, that being my saint name.

        But I have no objection to being addressed as “Scott”. Just make sure for clarity’s sake that everyone knows that Scott = Misha.

        As to Trump’s comments, I for one wish he would think before he speaks. It would make it easier on everyone. However, I can see that there is an unintended benefit to the madness in that the level of discourse is losing its sacred cows very quickly. It forces people to distinguish, for example, between the concepts of “sh*thole countries” and “sh*thole people”. There are a number of the former but none of the latter since we are all created in God’s image.

        But Haiti, Somalia, Rwanda and any number of countries down there are dystopian hell holes by any fair and objective standard. Importing people from such places is perhaps not a well thought out strategy for improving domestic, civil life here in America.

        http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/12/somali-man-launches-machete-attack-columbus-ohio/

        So Trump’s 100 percent right on the merits. He just insists on making his point in the most offensive manner that he believes he can get away with.

        What we should be doing, to the extent we can afford it, is to help civilize these people in their home countries so that they can have decent lives there and visit us here without posing a danger due to their cultural proclivities. But importing them and expecting it to happen by osmosis is naive.

        • George Michalopulos says

          As a moral aside, no person should ever use profane language. However, no person should ever divulge confidential comments either. Durbin is a toady. What he did (and he may very well have lied about the entire conversation) is ungentlemanly. And politically very unwise in that no negotiations will ever be undertaken in good faith again with him and his ilk. Bad business.

        • Bob Wiley aka The Advocate says

          In the spirit of inspiring M., brotherly love, and a Advocate of my brothers and sisters. I also, will reveal my name! Also in the spirit of experiments of the mind, some sage advice for Monomakhoans, and perhaps some of you patients M.

          While baby steps worked great for a while, and I have nothing but love for psychiatrist, and author, Dr. Leo Marvin. Death Therapy is second to none. Seriously. I feel sorry for people of Hawaii, and the fear they felt for 38 minutes expecting the arrival of ballistic missiles. My sincere hope is that they will prioritize their lives after they received their own Death Therapy.

          It would not be bad advice to put ourselves in the shoes of the Hawaiians as they thought the end was near. Imagine whatmight race through ones mind as you imagine the end is near. There is a lesson here, for us all, that we should not let pass.

  11. Constaninos says

    I totally condemn the xenophobic, racist statements that President Trump made in relation to immigrants from certain countries. We’re not supposed to be white supremacists.

  12. Joseph Lipper says

    What is the high Western culture that we are trying to preserve anyhow? Protestantism? Freemasonry? Greek paganism? Renaissance Enlightenment?

    On our nation’s East Coast, thirteen colonies declared their independence from Britain in 1776. Those colonies gave us a cultural and political legacy based on Protestantism, Freemasonry, Greek paganism, and Renaissance enlightenment.

    On our nation’s West Coast, the Russian colony in Alaska was sold to the U.S. in 1867, and the official Orthodox mission to Alaska dates from 1794. The spiritual and cultural legacy of that colony is the one that I want to preserve and protect.

  13. If we’re to believe this guy, this is hard evidence we’ve direct, federal-controlled media. Why isn’t this a bigger story? The integrity of both government and music/movie industries was low to begin with, and now this?
    https://www.rt.com/usa/415784-moby-trump-cia-russia-collusion/

  14. Constaninos says

    Dear George,
    May I bring up a part of American culture of great interest? Okay, let’s talk about the NFL. As you know, the NE Patriots are going back to the AFC Championship game for the seventh consecutive year. If the Patriots win the Super Bowl, this would be the Patriot’s third championship in four years mirroring the beginning of their dynasty when they won three Super Bowls in four years. I predict that if the Patriots win the Super Bowl again this year Tom Brady will return to the Patriots for his final season in an attempt to win three consecutive championships. That would make seven Super Bowl Championships along with winning four out of five. Just think of that! It staggers the imagination. We would never see anything like that again in our lifetimes.
    In recognition of all you do, I am giving you the first annual Tom Brady Champion of Orthodoxy Award. You will be spending a day in February hanging out with Tom discussing winning. Congratulations on a job well done. You deserve this prestigious award.

    • George Michalopulos says

      Constantino, I’m fixing to write something about the NFL and Kaepernick’s antics. It is marvelous that Brady will probably win (again) but the damage to the NFL brand because of all the BLM nonsense is going to be long-lasting. And in my view, irreperable.

    • Michael Bauman says

      Super Bowl does seem a done deal for NE when one looks at the quarterbacks:
      Minnesota quarterbacked by Case Kenum an undrafted journeyman who is essentially the third string quarterback for his own team.

      Philadelphia: Backup quarterback Nick Foles who had a shot at being a starter and got paid sizeable money after one good year in Philly by the St. Louis Rams, where he failed miserably. Philadelphia was kind enough to take him back.

      Jacksonville: Blake Bortles. Really? His name alone conjures up punch lines to bad jokes. He is constantly rumored to be on the chopping block even now.

      And then there is TOM BRADY, the king, not the Patriots you notice, but TOM BRADY . Lest we forget, he did not even start full time in college, was laughed at during his time at the combine for his unchiseled body. The 199th player chosen in the draft, he was mired in permanent back up status until the starter got injured. Won’t even go into all of the cheating challenges that NE has been accused of during THE KING’s tenure or the tuck rule that started his reign.

      All Kings must die as well as their Machiavellian masters the head coaches.

      Gosh, none of them black. Maybe all of the black players should just refuse to play because of the terrible example of injustice and oppression. Where is the affirmative action in pro football. Where is the justice? Maybe they should kneel at the obvious exploitation of blacks that the football factories represent, er Power Five Conference Colleges. They should object and protest the Shield, not the flag.

      The whole sport has become corrupt, boring and silly. The NFL brutalizes its players, its coaches and its fans at every turn. Evidence the Oakland Raiders, a true carpetbagger organization that has routinely shot its loyal, passionate fans in the head. Now they are moving to Las Vegas.

      NFL want to solve the Cleveland problem, 0-16 this year; 1 and 32 over the last two? Give Cleveland back the team you stole from them (now the Baltimore Ravens), send the Colts back to Baltimore, the Cardinals back to St. Louis (since the Rams have gone back to LA where they belong) and the Chargers back to San Diego. The current Brown’s team can go to Indianapolis if it is not mercifully disbanded. Stop demanding tax payers fund the opulent pleasure palaces called stadiums that the average fan cannot afford to enter, least of all the “poor oppressed back folks” that Colin wants to see have justice.

      No more sport in football at all. Talk about helotry. Where is Spartacus when we need him. He is certainly not Colin Kaepernick.

      I will not be watching the Super Bowl. I gave it up a few years back because for quite a while the Super Bowl has had nothing to do with the football anyway. Quite often it is just a bad game. Rather the Super Bowl is about the stupid, vapid, vulgar, badly performed half time shows and the excessively priced commercials. CONSUME AND GET TO HEAVEN!

      Maybe the kneelers ought to kneel in protest of that and how our consumer hell has twisted the morals, destroyed families and impoverished millions, especially minorities (if there is even such a thing anymore).

      As evidenced by the recent rumble in LA the NBA is not far from becoming just a sexed up playground league. A hip-hop display from top to bottom. Unwatchable except in brief highlights. Should the white players in the NBA kneel and ask for equal playing time? Physical battles have been marked this year in the NBA. Super street ball. Lebron just as bad or worse than Colin IMO.

      Baseball Ray. People will come, Ray.

      They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past.

      “Of course, we won’t mind if you look around,” you’ll say. “It’s only twenty dollars per person.” They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it. For it is money they have and peace they lack.

      And they’ll walk out to the bleachers, and sit in shirt-sleeves on a perfect afternoon. They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game, and it’ll be as if they’d dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.

      People will come, Ray, people will come.

      The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game — it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again.
      Ohhhhhhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come

      .

      Sadly, Baseball too will succumb even though it is the only sport which has poetry in its soul.

      • Constaninos says

        Dear Michael Bauman,
        That’s a master of literary poetry. The fourth quarter of last year’s Super Bowl had to have been the best in NFL history.

        • George Michalopulos says

          Indeed!!! Was it not the greatest game ever?

        • Michael Bauman says

          Wasn’t watching. Didn’t care then, care less now. The fix was in.

          Now each of the last four World Series were full of drama from start to finish. The Royals 2015 championship had a whole season of dramatic come backs starting with one against against the White Sox in May of that year– seven run rally in the bottom of the ninth with one down and no one on(less than .005 chance of winning. Most of the runs produced by rookies and backups. The comebacks were capped by Eric Hosmer’s mad dash home against the Mets to tie the key game of the World Series that the Royals won in extra innings. Hosmer made the move in part because the previous year the Royals lost game seven leaving the tying run stranded on third. That was the series in which Madison Bumgartner gave the single most impressive World Series performance by a pitcher ever.

          Of course Alcides Escobar led off the Series with an inside the park home run.

          That post season alone the Royals came back six times from multiple runs down.

          How can you forget the 1988 World Series when Kirk Gibson, barely able to walk, dragged himself to the plate and hit a walk-off home run off the best reliever in baseball to turn the entire series to the underdog Dodgers. “I can’t believe what I just saw.”. Or Vin Scully’s “In a season of the improbable, the impossible has just happened.”

          No, football is boring.

          • Constaninos says

            Dear Michael Bauman,
            If I’m not mistaken, they are going to announce the new hall of fame class on January 24th. Do you think Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens will be elected this year?

            • Michael Bauman says

              Constaninos, I do not have a crystal ball, but if not this year, eventually because of the eroding morals of society in general. Of course in the 50’s, 60’s and up into the 80’s “greenies” sat in big bowls in may major league club houses. Players needed something to keep them alert and concentrating day after day. It is a long season played even these days in difficult conditions. Try pitching when the air temperature is 106 and the temp on the field is closer to 120 as I saw a couple of times just last year. Goodness, they used to wear wool uniforms.

              It is possible to play football with a serious concussion and one’s level of play is not eroded, sometimes it is enhanced. When you are facing a small projectile hurled at you at up to 100 mph or hit at you in speeds in excess of 115 mpg (routine ground balls are hit at around 90 mph). You need all of your faculties. I would like to see any NFL player face the level of punishment that the average MLB catcher goes through during a season and still want to play.

              The two sport just do not compare well. But the machines are taking over in Baseball so we have lost unique hitting stances for instance like those of Wes Covington and even Stan Musial. And the nick names. Oh my! One really good player with the Cleveland Indians is nicked named Mr. Smile because he plays the game with such skill and joy. Alex Gordon of the Royals often is seen blowing bubbles with his bubble gum while making exceptional sliding catches with skill, flair and nonchalance. The best outfielders release throws at over 100 MPH with accuracy to a small target over 200 feet away. I have seen Alex Gordon make a difficult running catch to his right going away from the second baseman and immediately transfer the ball to his throwing hand and throw a strike to the second baseman essentially over his shoulder to get a runner trying to advance. That is a throw of at least 30 to 40 yards. Not many players try to run on him any more.

              Also consider this. Terrance Gore, a 5’7″ 165 (who does not look that big) man who has one exceptional athletic virtue speed. He has won a number of games for the Royals using just that virtue. Opposing teams are scared of him.

              In 2016 Gore went in in the bottom of the 9th inning of a tie game against the Minnesota Twins as a pinch runner. The Twins pitcher knew he was there to steal second base. He gets the pitcher and the rest of the Twins so flustered the pitcher tries to pick Gore off, throws the ball away and Gore makes it to third base instead of second (most would have stopped at second). Then, he throws a ball in the dirt that skips away from the Twins catcher a few feet. Gore breaks late from third and still scores easily. Game over. That is what speed do!

              Much more exciting than any football game I have ever watched and it was a not very important game early in a long season.

              Oh, and do not forget most players play both offense and defense. The last man to really do that in the NFL was Chuck Bednarik in 1960.

              There are many current MLB players who are exceptional on both offense and defense.

              Basketball was invented to keep bored city kids out of trouble. Still is.

              Anything that football has as far as excitement and suspense is topped and multiplied a hundred fold in baseball. Theoretically, a baseball game can go on forever but the players would not have the endurance. 25 innings remains the most in history that is like seven overtimes in football.

              Last season the Cleveland Indians won 22 games in a row. An American League record that had not been approached in about a hundred years.

              Ah well, you got me started again. But wait, there is more……

              • Constaninos says

                Dear Michael Bauman,
                I have to admit I was very excited watching the home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Also, I really enjoyed watching Barry Bonds chase the new homerun record. Who can forget the seventh game of the World Series when Jack Morris pitched ten innings of shutout baseball to win?
                I remember the good old days when my brother and I would jump into bed with my grandfather before getting dressed for school. We would talk about the previous night’s baseball game.
                I recall in Babe Ruth baseball my father’s friend’s son was a very fast, hard throwing pitcher. My first time batting against him I was scared to death. Good thing my uniform was really baggy in order to hide my literally shaking legs.. Lo and behold, he threw one inside and hit my baggy uniform in the waist. His father came over that night to make sure I was alright. Fortunately, although the umpire ruled a hit batter, he never actually hit me just my uniform.

                • Michael Bauman says

                  Sosa went so far as to cork his bat which is even worse than the PEDs. Bonds was performing at world class rates before PEDs. McGuire always hit a ton of home runs.

                  It was because of the Sosa-McGuire race that the PEDs begin to come to the surface .

                  • Constaninos says

                    Dear Michael Bauman,
                    You missed an unbelievable fourth quarter yesterday. Tom Brady cut the heart our of the Jacksonville Jaguars. We’ll never see his likes again.

                    • Michael Bauman says

                      Constaninos, The fix was in!

                      I enjoyed the afternoon doing laundry and conversing with my lovely, God-loving wife. Now she is a person whose like will never be seen again. Smart, kind, indomitable–overcoming, by the grace of God, far more than the worst defense Tom Brady could ever imagine. Most people would have folded their tent long ago and sunken into bitterness with what she has experienced in her life. She instead relies on God to love her and support her. Somehow, I don’t think I missed a thing.

                      Just one tidbit. Doctors have told her at least 5 times for different reasons, starting at age 14 that she had less than two years to live or that death was immanent, and that is the least of it. Some day the doctors will get it right, but until that moment, I cherish my time with her.

                      Baseball we can share.

                      God is good!

      • M. Stankovich says

        Michael Bauman,

        Not to seem ungrateful, but LA can keep the ungrateful owners, the Spanos family, and their Chargers, who connived the City of San Diego for years into buying up any unsold seats so the games could be telecast, and always the threat of them leaving. Last year they got on the ballot for the city to sell bonds to build a stadium complex downtown to rival the Padres’ Petco Park, or they would go to LA. It was so overwhelmingly defeated, seats went empty for their final season, the city purchased none, and even their last game had mediocre attendance. Bad enough they continue to be forced on us as the primary game to watch by the networks. LA deserves them.

        On the other hand, baseball is religion, not Religion, mind you, but religion. For this, I humbly refer you to Dean Webster, of the Jordanville Seminary, an acknowledged expert.

        • Michael Bauman says

          Stankovich you prove my point. Keep the team, deep six the owner. The only sane ownership in the NFL is Green Bay which is owned by the citizens of Green Bay (mostly); maybe the Mara’s in NY. If the Green Bay Packers were a corporation we would have lost “the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field” long ago. When Steve Sabol and John Facenda were teamed up for NFL films–that was poetry.

          The rest of the ownership list reads like a bunch of escapees from the looney bin. A bunch of billionaire bonzos.

          I also refer you to the late George Carlin’s routine on the difference between Baseball and Football–genius.

          • Constaninos says

            Dear Michael Bauman,
            You are a down to earth, very funny man. Somehow, I think your wife is also very lucky to have you as her lifelong partner. What a wonderful example of a Godly, Christian marriage! I get the feeling that she makes you a better Orthodox Christian man and you help her to become a better Orthodox Christian woman. I’m inspired. Thank you for your comical but poignant response. May the Lord bless you both with peace, prosperity, and excellent health. After your response, I would have to agree that you really didn’t miss a thing.

            • Michael Bauman says

              Constaninos, my wife agrees with you about me as her partner, her husband and friend. A belief which I always find rather amazing. I am not easy to live with, yet we fit so well that the sharp corners we each have seem to be diminished some how, a bit like a jig-saw puzzle. God is good.

  15. The logical conclusion of secularism-humanism is occultism. Orthodoxy and the Coming Religion of the Future. Fr. Seraphim Rose. What this blog describes was not a mystery to him, nor is it to me We expect this lying bogus life destroying spiritualism. The evil doer will arrive to the fullness of wickedness, as the infallible Holy Scripture states, with the accompanying human suffering never before experienced and never will occur again. As the spiritual Sodom and Gomorrah spreads all over this country, the accompanying of the earth turning from a green tree to a dry tree will occur. The Victorious Lord Jesus Christ asks us, what will they do in a dry tree. One has only to search the web for the systematic destruction with scientific proof to back it, which is occurring on the ability to destroy all that is alive on the earth. The 4th horsemen is riding with great fury and has more killer tricks to to stomp the residue.

  16. James Monroe Harris says

    Millman, be as good as your word and quit posting here. If u really want to deceive us , change your style of writing. Oh, btw, since you said Stankovich was the mouse and you were the cat, I say this: You are Johnny Reb and I am General Grant.

    • Constaninos says

      Dear James Monroe Harris,
      As Orthodox Christians we should always strive to reflect the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you have personal issues with Millman, why not take them up with him? Write something on his facebook page. Do whatever you want. I prefer to strive to be the best Orthodox Christian I can be- and not be a stumbling block to others. We have a grave responsibility to bear witness to the Truth. Millman’s comments were sometimes silly. May I suggest that you not fall into the trap of acting like him?

    • Constaninos says

      Dear James Monroe Harris.
      With your kind permission, I would like to share two scripture passages with you. Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholeseome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
      Also, By this shall all men know you are My disciples- that you love one another. I pray that you will find these verses helpful as you strive to walk with the Lord.

      • James Monroe Harris says

        Thank you, but I think you proved my point. Otherwise, my post would have been forgotten, nobody would have paid attention. Of course, you are free to use any name you want, and I’m glad to see you’ve toned your rhetoric down. But if will hold the President to his words, shouldn’t we hold you to yours?