Idiots.

 I saw two people posting on social media today about some imagined outrage of the IDF or another.  In one case the author didn't even bother to mention 10/7 and provide the obligatory "Well, Hamas is bad, but..." disclaimer.  While the other did add the disclaimer, they balanced it out by repeating the "genocide" myth which just makes him look stupid.  

The reality is that the IDF could eradicate every living thing in Gaza in a matter of a few days with virtually zero risk or casualties to the IDF.  While historically air power and artillery doesn't win wars, in this case the IDF could flatten Gaza using both of those tools.  The reality is that the IDF has chosen to take the riskier path and send in ground troops (and incur the inevitable casualties) precisely because they don't want to wipe Gaza off the face of the earth.   I readily acknowledge is that one reason for this choice is PR.  The reality is that Israel is held to a higher standard of conduct, and absolutely has to make every effort to minimize civilian casualties.  If idiots are calling this "genocide", imagine what they'd be saying if the IDF really did go scorched earth on Gaza.  

Of course, both of these geniuses neglected to mention the years of Hamas launching unguided rockets into civilian areas, sending suicide bombers into Israel, and just generally blowing things up and killing/wounding innocent civilians.  They neglect to mention Israel supplying it's enemies with water and electricity or that Hamas has received billions of dollars in aid, yet chooses to spend that money on weapons and infrastructure designed to kill Jews instead of for the welfare of it's subjects.   They fail to mention that Hamas is taking the aid that is getting through for itself and it's fighters instead of taking care of the "innocent civilians".   

It's amazing how the APL is so willing to ignore evil, in it's relentless drive to paint Israel as the problem. 

Sanctuary

 https://original.newsbreak.com/@choeshow-1601553/3279134274094

 https://original.newsbreak.com/@choeshow-1601553/3279181233243

 

It seems like this is a natural consequence of governing cities by appeasing the far left.   Who thought that bringing in thousands of "illegals" to "sanctuary cities" would be free from problems.  Who thoughts that this wasn't going to hurt the long time residents/taxpayers.  Y'all invited all these folks in, it's on you to deal with the results of your actions.  

Ultimately what's most interesting about this is that these northern, liberal, mayors didn't have a problem with illegal immigration when TX and AZ and the southern border states were the only ones that had to deal with the consequences.   But now, they've invited all these people into their shit hole cities, and they want everyone else to bail them out from the consequences of their decisipns. 

Let Muslims Speak for Themselves

 https://twitter.com/AzzatAlsaalem/status/1721174636354761126

 https://twitter.com/i/status/1739222078853632423

 https://twitter.com/i/status/1739251785737384053

 https://twitter.com/i/status/1738699353596854677

 https://twitter.com/ImtiazMadmood/status/1738511996528607435/photo/1

 https://twitter.com/i/status/1740044819014054094

 

 

 

 

How is the practice of Bacha Bazi tolerated and engaged in by Muslims?

 

 https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/5e86/e269a66232c22b114afecc526ea0d5ccce3c.pdf

Kindness, Gentleness, Respect, What a Concept.

 https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/vivek-ramaswamy-praises-protester-interrupted-campaign-event-comments-rcna93574

 

Watch the entire video, before anything else.   

As I was watching this, and other similar interactions, I realized something about American politics.   There is no way in hell that Trump or Biden would have reacted like this to someone who vehemently disagreed with them.   Trump would likely mock the person after they were removed, and Biden wouldn't be able to formulate a coherent response.    This isn't a Vivek for POTUS post, although he has all of the attractive characteristics of Trump, with none of the negative aspects of Trump.  It's argued that he has no experience and that his lack of experience is a negative, of course the same people who make that argument claimed that Trump's lack of experience was one of the main reasons to elect him.    They also argue (now) that Trump's experience is a positive and the reason why we should vote for him.  (Contradictory, I know, but...)  

The point of this post is that it is possible and worthwhile for political candidates to interact with those who disagree with them while campaigning.  Not only that, but to do so with kindness, gentleness, and respect.  

Maybe this'll start of trend of politicians not screening out anyone at an event who might disagree with them, and instead take the time to formulate answers to the questions people ask. 

No Jews, No News.

 https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/iraq-turkey-airstrikes/

 

 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerian-villagers-missing-two-days-after-suspected-nomadic-herders-kill-140-2023-12-26/

 

 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerian-villagers-missing-two-days-after-suspected-nomadic-herders-kill-140-2023-12-26/

 

 https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/26/violence-west-darfur

 

 https://dailycaller.com/2023/11/28/gang-rape-germany-2020-suspended-sentence

 

Where are the protests, the angry self righteous social media posts, the blog posts and even the merest hint of concern from the APL.

 

RIP

 I just learned today that John Shuck, the namesake of this blog actually died in October of 2022.    John was a strange guy.   I became acquainted with him during the period when the PCUSA was circling the drain around the issue of ordaining gays.   After John lost his son to suicide, he went further out to the fringes.  He first announced himself to be an atheist, while being an ordained PCUSA pastor, then he flirted with Islam, and finally went down a rabbit hole of various conspiracies.   Primarily that 9-11 was carried out by the CIA, and that COVID was a precursor to a catastrophe.  Needless to say he was militantly anti-vax.    Unfortunately he contracted COVID and died from it.   Unlike some, I'll simply note the irony, and move on.

My sympathy goes out to his wife and daughter, I hope that they are surviving this as well as possible.  My sympathy also goes out to John.  I can't imagine the mental anguish he went through after losing his son, and it's painful to see what it did to him.  

Go!

 

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

 

While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a Holy light

 

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

 

The shepherds feared and trembled
When, lo! Above the Earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth

 

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

 

Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And brought us all salvation
That blessed Christmas morn

 

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
That Jesus Christ is born

Even the Rocks Will Cry Out

 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

 

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love (and wonders of His love)
And wonders of His love (and wonders of His love)
And wonders, wonders of His love

 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing (and Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven and nature sing (and Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing (and Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven and nature sing (and Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

Angels

 

Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains. Refrain: Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo! Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heav’nly song? Come to Bethlehem and see Him Whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. See Him in a manger laid, Whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, While our hearts in love we raise.

Candlelight

Some of my fondest memories of Christmas are of singing this carol in a dark church while candles are lit to fill the sanctuary.   

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace


Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born


Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

 

 

 1. How glad I am on Christmas Eve,
The night of Jesus' birth;.
Then like the sun the Star shone forth,
And angels sang on earth.

2. The little child in Bethlehem,
He was a king indeed;
He came from His high state in heav'n,
Down to a world in need.

3. He dwells again in heaven's realm,
The Son of God today/
But He knows all the little ones,
And hears them when they pray.

4. How glad I am each Christmas Eve!
His praises then I sing;
He opens then for ev'ry child
The palace of the King.

Double Standard

 "Also, the reality that WK chooses to remain anonymous does not give any serious credence to his ultra-conservative human opinions"

Dan

 

 "A little education and well-informed information about context goes a long way towards improved understanding."

 Dan extolling some "human opinions" from an ultra-liberal anonymous commenter on his blog.  

 

I didn't want to break up the post of Christmas movies, but this was pretty good stuff.

 

 

Come

 

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

 

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

400 years of silence.  400 years of waiting.  Between Malachi and Matthew Israel doesn't hear directly from YHWH.   Finally, their prayers are answered and YHWH breaks into our world in a completely unexpected way.    I know I often experience what feels like silence from YHWH, sometimes it feels like 400 years.  Yet I have confidence that He will break the silence at the perfect time, with the perfect response, out of His perfect love. 

Caroling

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on Earth, good will to men

And the bells are ringing (peace on Earth)
Like a choir they're singing (peace on Earth)
In my heart I hear them (peace on Earth)
Peace on Earth, good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on Earth, " I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on Earth, good will to men

But the bells are ringing (peace on Earth)
Like a choir singing (peace on Earth)
Does anybody hear them? (Peace on Earth)
Peace on Earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
(Peace on Earth)
(Peace on Earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on Earth, good will to men

Then ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on Earth, good will to men

And the bells, they're ringing (peace on Earth)
Like a choir they're singing (peace on Earth)
And with our hearts, we'll hear them (peace on Earth)
Peace on Earth, good will to men

Do you hear the bells, they're ringing? (Peace on Earth)
The light, the angels singing (peace on Earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (peace on Earth)
Peace on Earth, good will to men

Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth, good will to men

 

 

 

This probably isn't the most popular Christmas carol, but I have always been struck by it's focus on the redemptive work of Christ.    That it looks to a future when Christ has redeemed Creation and where His peace will prevail.

Stand wrote about peace on earth a while back (https://birdsoftheair.blogspot.com/2023/12/peace-on-earth.html) and made the point that,  "Believers can find peace in the middle of unrest in their relationship with God. With the Spirit within us and with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, we can know a peace that is not normal, not human. It is beyond normal comprehension. And it's available ... to all those who are in Christ. So, I guess we know now what the angels meant, eh?".    I think that while Stan is correct, that peace on earth also looks forward to that time after Jesus returns, finishes His redemptive work, and His peace will reign over all the earth.   In the mean time, it's good to know that YHWH has provided us with peace amidst the strife and that right will prevail and we will know peace of a different kind. 

 

You Blinded Me With Science

https://winteryknight.com/2023/12/19/i-went-on-a-date-with-a-christian-woman-who-couldnt-defend-the-pro-life-view-3/

 

I'll post this link, because it's got multiple links to expert sources that lay out the scientific basis for the pro-life position.    

 I know that the current favorite response is to assert the "personhood" argument, which entails absolutely zero objective evidence, zero scientific evidence, and zero specifics about how "personhood" works and when "personhood" is magically conferred.

I know, I know, it's always a "religious" argument. 

A quick one

 This'll be quick.    As most of us have probably seen the IDF discovered what con only be described as a terrorist subway in Gaza.  This tunnel was one of, if not the, most extensive and expensive tunnel found to date, and took terrorists very near to a border crossing into Israel.

The question that should be going through everyone's mind is why isn't Hamas spending the money it invests in terrorism infrastructure on the "innocent" people of Gaza?   You know, the ones they rule.  

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2020/02/egypt-builds-new-barrier-to-boost-border-security-gaza-strip.html

In other news, American liberals don't seem to be very upset by the fact that Egypt has a border wall to separate Egypt from Gaza.  As has been noted, Egypt is the only Muslim/Arab nation that actually borders Gaza, yet Egypt seems determined to keep it's coreligionists in an open air prison.   Again one wonders why this fact gets so little attention.   Strangely enough, it seems that Israel (the evil oppressors) have seven border crossings with Gaza, while Egypt only has two.   But tell me again how Egypt doesn't bear any responsibility for conditions in Gaza and Israel bears 100% of the responsibility?   Or at least why Egypt never gets mentioned when it comes to keeping the residents of Gaza "imprisoned"?

This is Bad, Right?

https://newschannel9.com/news/local/nashville-tennessee-mother-muslim-family-accused-of-assaulting-son-for-converting-to-christianity-middle-tn

 

Interesting, in progressive christianity it is considered a badge of honor to deconstruct one's faith, even if that means abandoning one's faith all together.  

In Islam, they take a different position on those who have the temerity to leave the religion of peace.  

Harvard

 After Harvard president Claudine Gay demonstrated her inability to engage in a blanket condemnation of language that encourages the killing of Jews/elimination of Israel, we've learned some other interesting information about president Gay.  We've learned that she regularly plagiarized in her scholarly papers.  We also learned that her publishing output was significantly lower than would be expected of a faculty member at an institution like Harvard.   In essence, it would appear that she's not really qualified for the position she holds.   One wonders why she was given this position and why no one thought to check her work for plagiarism.  I guess we'll never know.  

For it's part, Harvard has been clear that Gay may be a plagiarist, but she's their plagiarist and they're sticking with her.  

For what it's worth, Biden engaged in plagiarism and it doesn't seem to bother many on the left either. 

More Fun With Hamas

https://www.newsweek.com/turkish-mp-heart-attack-condemns-israel-hasan-bitmez-1851707

  https://www.timesofisrael.com/senior-hamas-official-calls-on-members-of-palestinian-diaspora-to-kill-jews/

"The day that enemies usurp part of Muslim land, Jihad becomes the individual duty of every Muslim. In face of the Jews' usurpation of Palestine, it is compulsory that the banner of Jihad be raised."

 Article 15 of the Hamas charter.    It's hard to take Hamas seriously, when their own founding documents are based in this sort of thing.

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/10/corpses-on-streets-sudans-rsf-kills-1300-in-darfur-monitors-say

Strangely enough, actual ethnic cleansing doesn't get nearly as much press as fake ethnic cleansing.  

https://www.memri.org/tv/snr-saudi-islamic-scholar-sheikh-saleh-fawzan-right-captive-women-concubines-married-infidel-archive

Apparently this sort of thing was evil beyond measure when ancient Israel did something similar, but since it's modern Muslims, it's not worthy of much outrage.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologist-claims-to-find-oldest-hebrew-text-in-israel-including-the-name-of-god/

When exactly was the first archeological evidence of a sovereign nation called Palestine?  

" In terms of a permanent ceasefire, I don't know how you could have a permanent ceasefire with Hamas who has said before October 7, and after October 7, that they want to destroy Israel. They want a permanent war. I don't know how you have a permanent ceasefire with an attitude like that."

 

Bernie Sanders

 

 

This

https://twitter.com/bungarsargon/status/1731845301869146247

American Leftist Students Calling for Armed Uprising.

Intifada:  uprising, rebellion

specifically : an armed uprising of Palestinians against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip 

 

 https://www.nationalreview.com/news/university-of-pennsylvania-students-vandalize-school-property-call-for-intifada/

 

 https://twitter.com/MarinaMedvin/status/1731341047832199191

 

 https://cairoscene.com/BusinessAndPolitics/Muslim-Scholar-Says-It-s-OK-to-Rape-Non-Muslim-Women-to-Humiliate-Them

 

 

 https://twitter.com/GadSaad/status/1731876822340571298

 

This post is slightly different than the usual aggregation of Hamas videos, this is a little more specific.   

 

We're told that Muslims that hate Jews are a "minority" of Muslims, that "Muslim scholars" don't teach violence, and the Muslims just want to live in peace with the Jews.     Yet, as the videos demonstrate, these viewpoints do exist.

 

As I pointed out earlier in this context, even 1% of Muslims is tens of millions of people, so even a minority of Muslims is a significant number.  

 

My questions are.   

 

If these viewpoints are really the minority of Muslim thought and belief, where are the  large numbers of Muslims speaking out against these viewpoints?    Why are statements like this met with virtual silence from this alleged majority of Muslims who don't agree?  Hell, where are the American leftists who tell us that Islam is a "religion of peace" protesting these sorts of things.   

Well, one place they are is the University of Pennsylvania, and there they are calling for an "armed uprising of Palestinians".    That doesn't sound helpful, does it?     Or could it be that these idiots have no idea what Intifada means and are just shouting in ignorance?    Or that they've redefined it to mean hearts, flowers, and rainbow unicorns?

Every time an alleged "right wing" person does anything bad, we hear the APL asking why won't anyone denounce this outrage.   Yet, a cursory search usually reveals plenty of "right wing" folks denouncing that specific outrage.   Where then are these hundreds of millions of Muslims speaking loudly and proudly against this "minority" who are giving their "religion of peace" a bad name?     

Is it possible that they're afraid of the "minority" placing a fatwa on them, and putting them in the crosshairs?    If the Muslim majority is afraid of this alleged "minority", then isn't it reasonable that everyone else would be a little concerned?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpBXzsWN0ko

 

At some point

 As I went through the weekend, I kept saving the various stories about the Hamas war and planned on doing another post with them.   The increasing number of stories about protesters calling for a new Intifada, coming up with excuses for why the barbarism of Hamas wasn't really that bad, engaging in anti Jewish "protests",  detailing the propaganda campaign of Hamas, and the increasing detail of just how barbaric the 10/7 attack really was, made me realize that for many people they have already made up their minds and more evidence isn't going to persuade them.  

The false equivalence narrative has taken a firm hold on far too many in the US and the west. 

Who could have seen this coming?

https://www.businessinsider.com/derek-chauvins-accused-stabber-black-friday-blm-2023-12

 

Well, this is quite the story.  Chauvin's attacker was a white guy who wanted to support BLM by attacking Chauvin on Black Friday.    Oh yeah, he was also a long time FBI informant.  

Nothing to see here, move along. 

More fun with Hamas

https://twitter.com/DrEliDavid/status/1730573448131322023

This post makes an excellent point.  Why is there all this hysteria over the war in Gaza that Hamas started, yet destruction like we see in Homs (Arab city, destroyed by Arabs) doesn't garner nearly the same outrage?

Speaking of Gaza, why is anyone surprised when Hamas, the government of Gaza, starts a war and subsequently reaps the negative consequences that come with starting a war?

https://twitter.com/i/status/1730576512535925127

Apparently there are so few actual children in Gaza that are actually injured that Hamas needed to use a doll for this woman to fake cry over.