How to tell if someone is a Republican, a Democrat, or simply a Southerner (joke… but not without an element of truth!)

On a lighter note…!

Are you a Republican, a Democrat, or a Southerner? This little test will help you decide:

You’re walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children.

Suddenly, a Terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you, screams obscenities, raises the knife, and charges at you…

You are carrying a Kimber 1911 chambered in .45 ACP, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?

******************************
Democrat’s Answer:

Well, that’s not enough information to answer the question! What is a Kimber 1911 and what does .45 ACP mean?

Does the man look poor or oppressed? Is he really a terrorist? Am I guilty of profiling? Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?

Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand? What does the law say about this situation?

Does the pistol have an appropriate safety built into it? Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind of message does this send to society and to my children?

Is it possible he’d be happy with just killing me? Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me?

Should I call 9-1-1? Why is this street so deserted? Can we make this a happier, healthier street that would discourage such behavior?

I need to debate this with some friends for a few days and try to come to a consensus. This is all so confusing!

******************************
Republican’s Answer:

BANG!

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Southerner’s Answer:

BANG!
BANG! BANG!
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Click…..

(Sounds of reloading)

BANG!
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
BANG!
Click.

Daughter: “Nice grouping, Daddy! Were those the Speer Gold Dots or Federal Premium hollow points?!”

Son: “Can I shoot the next one?!”

Wife: “You are NOT taking that to a Taxidermist!”

“You are NOT taking that to a Taxidermist!” Too much… I love it!!!

 

The killing of Qasem Soleimani | MelaniePhillips.com

Source: The killing of Qasem Soleimani | MelaniePhillips.com

The inestimable Melanie Phillips comments on the killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard general and Quds force commander, Qassem Soleimani:

“Soleimani has been described by some outlets as a terrorist leader. This is vastly to underestimate his importance. The al Quds force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is part of Iran’s hugely powerful proxy army, and Soleimani was the regime’s key military strategist and military commander.

“He launched countless military operations against US, Israel and others. He was responsible for hundreds of American deaths in Iraq. He was the invaluable architect of Iran’s territorial drive for regional incursion and hegemony…

“How will the Iranian regime react to this devastating blow to their prowess and prestige? … [It] will almost certainly use its still considerable malign power to retaliate.

Whatever now happens, however, Trump has achieved something of incalculable benefit for America. He has got it off its knees.

[…] “Faced with attacks on American assets, Carter ran away, Clinton prevaricated, Obama actually helped fund them – but Trump ruthlessly and decisively killed the attacker. America is now back as a force to be reckoned with.”

 

A Tale of Two Embassies… and two Presidents.

US Embassy in Benghazi, Libya, burning on September 11, 2012, following attack by Islamic militants that killed four Americans, including the Ambassador.

U.S. Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command (SPMAFTF-CR-CC) 19.2, prepare to deploy from Kuwait in support of a crisis response mission, Dec. 31, 2019.

This was originally written for my Facebook timeline, and is posted here with minimal editing.

Benghazi, Libya, September 11, 2012. Under attack by Islamic militants, the US Embassy requests assistance. None is forthcoming.

As a result, four Americans die, including the Ambassador, Chris Stevens – the first U.S. Ambassador killed in an attack since 1979 – along with Information Officer Sean Smith, and two CIA operatives, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, both former Navy SEALs, who fell trying to defend the Ambassador against overwhelming odds. The Embassy is burned.

Baghdad, Iraq, December 31, 2019. Under attack by Islamic militants, the US Embassy requests assistance. Within a matter of hours, 100 Marines are airlifted into the Embassy grounds via Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, supported by Apache attack helicopters; further air assets are reportedly overhead.

Shortly after, 750 soldiers – an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the elite 82nd Airborne Division – are wheels-up on their way to Kuwait, with an additional 4,000 troops gearing up to follow, in case additional support is needed.

Now, it’s possible to argue that we shouldn’t be there in the first place, and I might agree with you. But we ARE there: that’s the reality of the situation; American lives were in danger, and the response was quick and, so far at least, has proven effective.

Do some of y’all understand, now, why some of us support President Trump, despite the fact that we might not like or agree with everything he says or does? He puts America first, as an American President should, and when Americans are in danger, he protects them to the best of his ability.

Based on past history, if Hillary Clinton was President currently, we might be looking at another dead Ambassador and another gutted Embassy. That is the difference. You either get it or you don’t. If you don’t, I quite honestly feel sorry for you…

Hundreds of Christians killed in Nigeria attacks | ABC Action News

 

People react as a truck carries the coffins of people killed by the Fulani herdsmen, in Makurdi, Nigeria January 11, 2018. | (Photo: REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde) Image linked from an article in The Christian Post, as no photograph provided with ABC article. The CP article is also worth a read. This has been going on for a long time.

Source: Hundreds of Christians killed in Nigeria attacks | ABC Action News

I know I said I was going to try to avoid political postings during Lent; but I also said I would make exceptions for exceptional events.

With all the coverage given to the reprehensible attack on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand last weekend, it was easily lost that the same week had seen attacks killing at least as many Christians in Nigeria, with comparatively little media coverage or attention. What reporting there was came from Christian organizations, although some mainstream media outlets did pick up the stories (albeit “below the fold“).

I am sorry if this sounds cynical or snarky, but how much do you want to bet the current spate of attacks on Christians will be largely ignored by US/Western media – and in particular, that the celebrities, political pundits, and media talking-heads who are quick to claim “Islamophobia” and oppression of Muslims will have little to say about “Christophobia,” and oppression of Christians by Muslims?

Certainly there will be no denunciations, outrage, or calls for re-education of Muslims to make them more tolerant of Christians, as there have been in the other direction. As my dear late mother used to say, “it all depends upon whose ox is getting gored.”

But violent persecution and oppression of Christians is a very real issue, in these times. Even Newsweek, hardly a right-wing rag (!), recounted a January report by a Catholic charity organization, which found that

“The persecution and genocide of Christians across the world is worse today ‘than at any time in history,’ and Western governments are failing to stop it, a report from a Catholic organization said.

“The study by Aid to the Church in Need said the treatment of Christians has worsened substantially in the past two years compared with the two years prior, and has grown more violent than any other period in modern times.”

And Open Doors USA, which publishes a World Watch List of the 50 countries in which it is most difficult to be a Christian, reports that 215 million Christians experience high levels of persecution, a number which represents 1 in 12 Christians worldwide; that during 2018, 3066 Christians were killed, 1252 were abducted, 1020 were raped or sexually harassed, and 793 churches were attacked; and that although the #1 most dangerous country for Christians is atheist, communist North Korea, Islamic oppression fuels Christian persecution in 8 of the top 10 countries.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy!

Strasbourg shooting: Police appeal to find Chérif Chekatt – BBC News

Source: Strasbourg shooting: Police appeal to find Chérif Chekatt – BBC News

According to the BBC,

“French police have issued a call for help to find the man suspected of opening fire near a Christmas market in Strasbourg. Hundreds of police, soldiers and border agents on both sides of the Franco-German border are trying to find Chérif Chekatt, 29.

“Two people died and 13 were injured in the gun attack in the eastern French city on Tuesday evening. The gunman shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ (‘God is greatest’) as he opened fire.

“Chérif Chekatt was already known to the French authorities as someone who had been radicalised into following an extreme form of Islam while in prison for crimes including robbery.”

Charles Martel, where are you…???

“Military guys” standing strong, and protecting their fellow-students – at the risk of their own lives. Because that’s what military guys do.

Source: John Gray- Journalist & Writer | November 28, 2016 at 3:25 PM

From two years ago:

“Lost in all the chaos at Ohio State University today was something that most people probably missed. About an hour into it, when everyone was ‘sheltering in place’ all over campus, CNN took a phone call from a young woman who was locked inside a classroom right near where the suspect was hurting people. She said she was a graduate student and she and many others were huddled together scared and not sure what was happening outside. Then she said something made me tear up.

“She said casually to the TV anchor over the phone, ‘But we happened to have a few ‘military guys’ in my class and the minute we got the text message alert of an ‘active shooter on campus’ they moved the rest of us away from the door and then all of them stood guard right by the door.’ She said they were standing there as she spoke making certain if a shooter or someone with a knife or whatever calamity tried to come through that door, they would be the first thing he’d see and they’d stop it and protect the other students or die trying.

“These guys weren’t armed, I’m guessing they weren’t in uniform, they were just students who happened to have military training. Those ‘military guys’ instantly put themselves on the clock and assumed the position to protect those unarmed, vulnerable students.

“I thought that was impressive. I thought that was brave. I thought that was oh so very American.

“I also thought you’d want to know.”

I teared up, too, reading this – two years ago, and again today. God bless them! Guess this is what the Left calls “toxic masculinity.” Seems to me we could use a lot more of it.

---

Here’s another account of the incident:

“As a suspect carried out a savage attack at Ohio State University on Monday, members of the U.S. military in one classroom heroically stood by the door to protect others, a student told CNN.

“‘We have quite a few military men in our class, who are actually all standing by the doors, keeping us safe,’ OSU student Molly Clarke said. ‘I’m feeling pretty good about that.'”

And here are my comments, from when I posted this on my Facebook page:

As Fred (“Mister”) Rogers used to say, “look for the helpers.” Smiling through tears… God bless these “military guys,” who stood up and moved forward to guard and protect their fellow students! And from the comments I’ve read and other posts I’ve seen, this was not the only class where that happened. Other OSU students with military or police training also stood forward to defend their fellow students. And I’ll bet they didn’t ask who they had voted for, first!

I know I wasn’t going to post political stuff, but this has to be said: this, folks, is why I have zero – ZERO – respect for those who take a knee or sit through the National Anthem, trample the Flag, or otherwise disrespect either our country or its symbols. Don’t like something? Fine. Work to change it, using our Constitutional processes. Freedom of speech? Fine, speak out against the things you don’t like, but don’t demonize those with whom you do not agree.

You are free to disagree, in fact [principled] dissent is part of what has made our nation great. But do not disrespect the symbols of our country, or the men and women who have fought and died – and continue to be willing to do so – to protect you and your right to disagree. Not if you expect me to have an ounce of respect for you, or what you stand for! Again, God bless those who put their lives on the line to protect others: at OSU, and daily throughout this nation and the world.

Florida man Cesar Sayoc arrested in “insidious” mail bomb spree as more packages are found – ABC News

Cesar Sayoc, 56, faces 48 years in prison for the charges, officials said.

Source: Florida man Cesar Sayoc arrested in ‘insidious’ mail bomb spree as more packages are found: LIVE UPDATES – ABC News

In my last posting in this blog, I suggested that the recent spate of mail-bombs looked suspiciously like a false-flag operation by left-wing operatives.

Well, alternatively, it could just be one whacked-out nut-job with a bad attitude and a rap sheet as long as my arm!

I hasten to note that I left myself an “out” by including the caveat, “unless the perpetrator is, in fact, certifiably insane.” It appears well that I did so: within hours after I’d posted my last, law enforcement officials arrested and took into custody a suspect – one should probably say “the” suspect, as they are quite sure they “caught the right guy” – in the mailings. The individual, Cesar Sayoc, 56, appears to be vigorously pro-Trump and anti-Democrat, and as I say a repeat offender:

“Court documents obtained by ABC News show that Sayoc has a long history of criminal charges, including at least eight arrests in Florida alone, ranging from giving false information to get a refund to grand theft auto.”

He was also no stranger to explosive threats, though it remains open to question whether his devices would actually explode.

Investigators search for person who sent mail bombs, motive | Associated Press

Investigators have been searching coast to coast for the culprit and motives behind the bizarre mail bomb plot aimed at critics of the president

Source: Investigators search for person who sent mail bombs, motive

First, before I say anything else, let me be clear about one thing: politically-motivated terror is never acceptable, under any circumstances, and that is exactly what this is regardless of who is responsible or the motives behind it. I condemn in the strongest possible terms any use of terrorism to advance a political agenda.

I particularly abhor the fact that this is happening here, in the United States, where we supposedly have representative, Constitutional government, and the rule of law, and where there is a defined and clearly functional (despite the fact that some people will, inevitably, not like the results) system to bringing about political change in an orderly, rational, and legal way. That system must be defending against lunatics and zealots, alike.

That critical point having been made clear, let’s talk about the current situation.

BOATLIFT, An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience | YouTube

Source: BOATLIFT, An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience – YouTube

On 9/11, we had our own version of Dunkirk.

In the words of the inestimable Tara Ross, who posted the link to this on her Facebook page,

“Seventeen years ago today….. life as we knew it changed. Have you heard the story of those who escaped from Manhattan by boat?

“When the Coast Guard called for help, hundreds of ferries, private boats, and party boats all leapt into action. Their crews knew they might not come back if New York came under attack again. They went anyway.

“This is the story of the Great Boatlift of 9-11. Get out your Kleenex for this one.”

I remember hearing about this for the first time, a few years ago. It seems to have kind of gotten lost in the general chaos, at the time it happened. But that’s a shame, because this was a truly epic accomplishment. When Tara calls this “the Great Boatlift,” she’s not kidding: it was the largest seaborne evacuation in history. Nearly 500,000 civilians – half a million souls – were rescued from Manhattan by boat… in nine hours.

As Mr. Rogers used to say, “look for the helpers…”

And Tara’s also not kidding about the tissues.

“Where were you when the world stopped turning, that September day…?” (Alan Jackson)

 

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9/11 – September 11th, 2001

Never forget.

Never.

From a YouTube comment:

“6th grade. Science class. I remember turning to my teacher when he put it on the big screen and asking ‘How long ago did this happen?’ He looked at me with the saddest, terrified look I had ever seen in a 65 year old Vietnam veterans face and said ‘Son, this is happening right now.'” 

I’m not 65, nor am I a Vietnam veteran – or a veteran of any sort; my military service is limited to a year in ROTC and a rather inactive stint with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary – but I, too, was teaching a 6th grade class: at the Carroll County Outdoor School. And I will never forget that, either…