Today’s World

“Something Given Has Very Little Value”

February 25, 2022

With the exception of the Lord’s grace and infinite blessings, the phrase, “Something given has no value” (the character of Jean Rasczak from: Starship Troopers, Paul Verhoeven, Tristar Pictures, 1997) can rightfully be modified to, “Something given has very little value.” Presents, for example, for whatever occasion—birthday, anniversary, as a prize, and especially during Christmas—can place an ear-to-ear smile on almost anyone’s face, almost anyone because there are those who are quite unappreciative no matter what they receive (we’ve all encountered our fair share of instances, perhaps even we have been discontent for not getting what we wanted). Whether it’s the keys to a brand-new car or a simple pair of socks, we should all be grateful for having been at the receiving end of someone’s thinking. “It is,” as the wonderful adage states, “the thought that counts.” Unfortunately, there are those that care give very little for what they have received. This current batch of midnight gremlins, spearheaded by the Nubian “WOKE” culture, represents the apex of ingratitude and disdain; the [calculated?] callousness with which they treat others has spread like crabgrass across this country, enveloping it in a virulent cloud that is suffocating the entire nation with endless acts of lunacy that have become downright idiotic, and that’s as mild a choice of words with which it can be expressed.

On the dawn of December 7, 1941, the United States was drawn into global conflict that lasted several years and claimed the lives of tens of thousands of American lives, and over an estimated 70-85 million across Europe. The Holocaust, precursor to U.S. involvement in Europe, claimed over six million Jewish souls; the wounds remain fresh and are still healing.

America was officially at war with [Nazi] Germany and the Axis Alliance, not only to return the favor after having been bombed, but more importantly, to free Europe from the stronghold of the megalomaniac Adolf Hitler and his cabal of warped individuals that subscribed to his twisted ideological dogma which operated under the mantra of a “Master Race” as not only their goal, but also a self-proclaimed destiny, and the Jewish people were an obstacle that had to be eliminated at all costs.

A nation can have all types of weapons from tanks to night-vision goggles to the latest technological innovations, but in order to operate machinery and carry out the mission, you ultimately need manpower. In the end, it will require “boots on the ground” to put an end to the turmoil and restore a semblance of order. As opposed to today where a drone can be operated from across the globe with a joystick and keyboard to inflict damage on the opposition while enjoying a cup of coffee in an air-conditioned office, such technology was not available during WW II. Consequently, manpower was required to do all the heavy lifting.

September 1, 1939, the German army, under the directorship of Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland using methods that would eventually be known as the blitzkrieg strategy, which involved an unrelenting bombing campaign aimed at annihilating enemy lines of communication, methods of transportation (railroads), and air capacity. This all-out blitzkrieg strategy—hence where the term “blitz” is used in football as nearly the entire defense descends upon the offensive line like a pack of starving hyenas to claim its prize, the quarterback—would eventually take its toll on the resistance and soften it up for a massive land invasion involving an endless horde of troops, tanks, and artillery, which is exactly what Hitler did.

In order to understand why a majority of European nations did not come to Poland’s aide, we need look no further than the Molotov-Ribbentrop [Nonaggression] Pact signed in Moscow on August 23, 1939, between Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. This treaty allowed Hitler unrestricted access to Poland without having to “watch his six”. Although Hitler was delusional and operated well above acceptable levels of psychosis, there is no denying his military prowess and warped genius as evidenced through treaties such as this one; there was, as stated in Hamlet in his famous idiom, “A method to the madness.”

Although the previous century was heavily saturated with imperialism as Africa was carved up like a pie amongst European nations, Hitler’s over-the-top aggression took the game [no pun intended] to an entirely new level, one that caught the world entirely by surprise. Many nations paid very little attention to Hitler, whether prompted by fear or just simply “turning a blind eye” to the situation so as not to get involved. The United States, on the other hand, foresaw something in the tea leaves that caused it to institute the Selective Training and Service Act on September 16, 1940, which required all males that fell in the bracket of 21 to 45 years of age to register for a draft. (It must be noted that this was the first time in history that the U.S. had moved forward with a peacetime draft.) The terms of the draft included a minimum of one-year service for individuals selected by the lottery. By the time the war came to an end in 1945, an excess of 50 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 45 had signed up. Of those, over 10 million served.

The year is now 2020, and where do we stand as a nation? What is the connection between this current generation and those that answered the call and stepped up to the plate to meet the challenge, serving with honor and dignity, assisting those who could not fend for themselves, among them widows and orphans (Exodus 22:21-24; Deuteronomy 27:15; Psalm 68:5; Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27; et al.) produced by Nazi Germany’s reign of unrelenting terror, displaying acts of unconditional bravery that often caused them their very lives? Where are we [as a nation]? What is the tie that binds our current generation and NBC Nightly News anchorman, Tom Brokaw’s, “Greatest Generation”? The answer? Only a strand remains in the rope that once held this great country together; there remain few who possess that “American grit” that once permeated from coast-to-coast. That number, too, is rapidly dwindling in the face of a leftist, WOKE counterculture whose primary objective is evident: The destruction and ultimately, complete erosion of [Judeo-Christian] American values, which in the end spells the utter annihilation of the United States of America.

“Something given has very little value,” remember that?

Many of us remember working to get that new bicycle, baseball glove, or save for a prom dress. Whether it was mowing lawns, delivering newspapers, babysitting, or as I did all throughout high school, work every job available from bike messenger, delivering pizzas, and scooping ice cream from a very famous ice cream parlor in midtown Manhattan during the mid-80s, there was a certain morally-induced work ethic that we all shared and subscribed to that resulted in purchasing that much-coveted item with our own money, or at times a little assistance from our parents once we demonstrated to them a willingness to work. Nevertheless, what was bought from earned wages held more value than if it had been given to us as a present; it was held in higher esteem, and therefore accompanied by an innate tendency to take care of it like a newborn. Nowadays, our youth, this generation, has canceled its subscription to this work ethic, opting to adopt a WOKE variant rooted in “entitlement” and “complacency”; “I am owed something, just because…” Having a pulse and heartbeat should not be a benchmark by which to sustain and subsidize slothfulness.

With the utmost respect to every soldier that has served in WW I and every war after WW II, from the Korean and Vietnam Wars, all the way up through the recently dismissed war in Afghanistan, the fact that the Greatest Generation greased the proverbial wheels and gears that would catapult America to greatness cannot be disputed. It was through the blood, sweat, bravery, and selfless sacrifice of brave men and women that this [once great?] nation hung its hat, but now that legacy is not only on life support, but also being surgically destroyed through dogmatic leftist beliefs that have transposed good into evil and vice versa while effectuating jaw dropping, hair raising, teeth pulling, [unconstitutional] laws that have morally, ethically, mentally, spiritually, economically, racially, religiously, and even physically torn this country apart. News bulletin: It is only going to get worse, much worse; “All these are the beginnings of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8 NIV).

The Greatest Generation not only elevated the Ferrari known as America, but also turned over the keys. This sports race car has run into its fair share of bumps along the road. Nevertheless, it has managed to stay on course until now, that is. Over the past decade or so, this coveted luxury car has been driven into the wall by a debased, immoral, unethical generation governed by an attitude of ruthlessness fueled by high octane levels of ingratitude, entitlement, and most notable, “WOKEISM” ideology that has infiltrated every institution from government to schools and yes, even our once revered havens known as churches as they, too, have felt the pressure and capitulated to this cancerous counterculture. And there appears to be no end in sight for the anathema being spread by the Luciferian propaganda that guides the zombies behind this so-called “movement”.

The root of WOKEISM cannot be pinned on one single event, it is the culmination of numerous seemingly small occurrences, many of which [at the time of their occurrence] were viewed as benign and thus dismissed as insignificant, that have come together like atoms to create a molecular movement that is practically destroying America from all four corners, devouring it incrementally from the crust inward in larger bites as Frankenstein’s monster’s insatiable hunger grows with every bite. Whether labeled as a movement, ideology, or revolution, the fact remains that this current WOKE culture is at the epicenter of a majority of the chaos, if not all, permeating throughout the U.S., and the world as well. As much as I would like to join the group of optimists who still believe there is hope for getting this locomotive known as America back on the tracks, I must apologize and firmly state, much to the chagrin of the reader, that we are too far down the rabbit hole, way too far. I’m afraid America has reached a desalinization point from where there is no return; I base this agonizing assumption on the inarguable fact that America is not mentioned in the book of Revelation.

This sudden “awakening” expressed in WOKE culture did not suddenly manifest out of thin air. Truth be told, it is as old as mankind itself. This “wokeness” goes way beyond merely opening one’s eyes, yawning and stretching, swinging legs over the side of the bed, and sauntering into the bathroom like the Hollywood undead to tidy up; the movement may discreetly implement such comical analogy to justify its criminal actions, but it is by no means parallel to waking up and fighting for justice at every level. WOKENESS has been around for thousands of years, the Bible overflows with stories of people fighting for freedom, none greater than Moses fighting for the liberation of the Hebrew nation from the stronghold of the Egyptians. Scripture speaks about falling asleep at the wheel while allowing the devil unrestricted access and even warns and provides counsel on how to combat it: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV. See also, Corinthians 15:6, 18).

The motives of this current WOKE culture are a far cry from those exhibited in the Bible. It may claim to be on the side of justice, cleverly brainwashing the uninformed with relative ease through carefully crafted rhetoric, yet justice is the last thing it seeks, “injustice” would be a more suitable term [“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6, KJV)].

The heartbeat of this contemporary WOKENESS, according to its advocates, is based on “social awareness,” which, according to them addresses racism, discrimination at all levels, LGBTQ rights, political awareness and reform, issues concerning gender identity, and just about everything else deemed offensive and posing a threat to their plans of obtaining absolute power through all means. Among the tools used are intimidation and harassment; the vehicle through which it is dispersed is Cancel Culture, which is both its offspring and twin. This Romulus and Remus feudal cohabitation not only forged the movement but will also devour it as internal jockeying for power looms on the horizon, it is inevitable. “If a kingdom is divided among itself, that kingdom will not stand” (Mark 3:24, NIV).

Included in the hit list of the WOKE culture’s agenda, but not limited to, are: complete annihilation of capitalism, preferring an Orwellian oligarchy of ruling pigs as animals/citizens beg for more table scraps from the sidelines; canceling religion altogether, twisting its practices to suit their purposes while enabling Nietzsche to smile from the grave; erasing anatomical lines of demarcation between males and females, paving the way for over 100 types of sexes (throughout two millenniums, tens of thousands of scientists have gotten it all wrong as they have failed to point out the existence of over 100 additional genders [pun intended]); completely rewriting and perhaps even better, blowing up our sacred Constitution to smithereens; and most damaging and sacrilegious of all, the complete dissolution of the Scripturally-reinforced, God-ordained, sacred institution known as the nuclear family (marriage is also on the Naughty List) as we continue to give testimony to the diminishing of rattling sounds of tin cans being dragged and horns honking with the bride’s white veil protruding from the passenger’s side window like some a giant cape). About the only commendable aspect of this WOKE/Cancel Culture is the cancer-like cohesiveness/teamwork displayed once they have the target within their crosshairs; they are calculated and ruthless, displaying an unbridled propensity to completely scorch everything in their path. And what better way to bring down [American] society than by attacking the birthplace of manners and ethics, the family? Yes, these WOKESTERS/Cancellers have done their homework, and they’ve done it exceptionally well.

I am known for constantly quoting one of Lenin’s most famous axioms, one that is as genius as it is perverse: “In order to destroy a generation, destroy the youth.” It rings just as true today as it did back then. Hitler was onto something when he welcomed colleague Kurt Gruber’s youth movement in 1926 that would eventually be renamed the Hitler Youth, League of German Worker Youth that became attached to and run by the SA (Stormtroopers). He picked the apples right from the tree rather than allow them to rot on the ground. In doing so, he created a fool-proof blueprint for absolute decimation of a society. Raising children under Godly wisdom will promote more conscious decisions based on the Word. And the opposite is also true, keeping the Word of God from their lives results in an impish child that will bring shame over the entire family (Deuteronomy 6:7; Proverbs 13:24; 22:6, 29:15; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21; et al.).

The [nuclear] family is the foundation of not only this nation, but also every nation in existence and throughout all history. It is here where education commences, spearheaded by two loving parents, male and female, who provide both the essentials such as clothes, food, and shelter, and institute [Christian] morals and ethics by which to become a respectable, productive, God-fearing adult. The sacred union between a man and a woman followed by the creation of a family are not only encouraged in the Bible, but also decreed by the Lord (Genesis 1:27-28, 2:24; Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:9). Thus, waging war against the family—promoting same-sex parenthood, brainwashing kids into believing that homosexuality is normal, teaching them to disrespect police and other authority, endorsing abortion, the list is endless—is equivalent to waging war against the Lord, and we all know how that chapter ends.

WOKENESS has successfully infiltrated every institution from entertainment to sports, religion, and even education, indoctrinating both educators and children alike, turning bastions of higher learning into petri dishes where bacteria is cultivated, grown, and then released into society to wreak havoc with reckless abandonment. Hundreds of studies have proven that children growing up in a destabilized home are three times more likely to get into trouble in school and eventually, the law.

This cancerous WOKE/Cancel Culture movement seeks to do away with the nuclear family and replace it with single-parent households, foster homes, and worst of all, same-sex parents, which is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.

In addition to dissolving families, WOKEISM has also set its sights on Judeo-Christian values, yet another faction that has also come under attack as they seek to divide both parties by mocking their origins, faith, customs, and of course, followers. The desecration, looting, and setting ablaze of synagogues and churches has risen exponentially over the past couple of years, and it stands to become even worse.

“Something given has less value than something earned through one’s own sweat and toil.” The bicycle from a summer of mowing lawns and delivering newspapers (the latter now a relic as technology has stepped in and put a damper on a once time-honored job carried out by preteens and adolescents) has much, much more value than the one found underneath the Christmas tree because there is a sense of accomplishment brought about by hard work and perseverance as opposed to [today’s] entitlement and complacency. This is not to state that every present received has no value, not at all. Usually, in this case, there is still something that the individual did that merited that bicycle/gift. However, the opposite can also be argued: If the bicycle/gift is merely presented to a child that has not earned it, nor has displayed any type of responsibility, then the seeds have been sewn for a spoiled, petulant, irresponsible, slothful, rude, recalcitrant child that feels as if “something” and “everything” is owed to them despite not having lifted a finger. Regrettably, this is exactly where we stand right now with this current generation of ungrateful adolescents and young adults that are easily offended by the slightest “radical” commentary and are always seeking objects, laws, or people to topple and/or “cancel” merely because it doesn’t align with their ideologies. They have taken this American Ferrari, scraped the paint off of it against the guardrail, rammed it into other vehicles, and flipped it over several times before finally sending it over a hill to rest at the bottom of a creek.

As a nation, we need to “wake up” and rise up against the immorality that has spread across America, primarily onto our youth, and take back our country, beginning with our youth. Both our children and this country are at risk as we continue to sit idly by and play the fiddle as America burns. “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God” (2 Timothy 1:6-8, NIV). The WOKE/Cancel Culture has awakened, it’s time we do the same.

DEFUND THE POLICE???

September 11, 2021

Newton’s Third Law of Motion claims that, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”  This law of physics has become corporeal and found a home in America where good is now evil, and evil is now good.  It has manifested itself in virtually every corner of society, carving its own niche, spreading its tendrils into schools, public and private sector, military, entertainment, sports, etc., turning everything topsy turvy. Gone are the “good old days” when respect, honor, and integrity were not only taught at an early age, but also superlatives by which we lived.  Respect, for example, is anachronistic and may as well be stricken from our lexicon.  Respect for authority—parents, teachers, and public servants such as policemen—is extinct and has been replaced by extreme levels of rudeness from youth to adolescents and all the way up to people in their mid-twenties, thirties, and in some cases, beyond.  The current state of chaos in America [and the world] is due in part to the lack of recognizing the consequences of our actions, we act without weighing outcomes.

The ongoing onslaught on police has increased at an exponential rate over the past several years.  There has always been resistance to authority, especially cops, but never to the degree in which it is being carried out today; Newton’s Third Law is in full effect in the “Defund the Police” movement.  They have been assaulted with objects ranging from frozen water bottles to bricks, spat and cursed at, dowsed with water, ridiculed and harassed, and even assassinated in cold blood.  Politicians have joined forces with a mindless mob that believes society would be better without their services, painting them into a corner to the point in which they cannot do their jobs.  As a result, as per Newtonian principles, there has been a gargantuan spike in crime that has citizens living in fear, and there are no signs of it slowing down anytime soon.

Christ stated, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10 NIV), not doctors, teachers, clergy, parents, and most certainly not the corrupt sanctum of politicians guided by Luciferian principles; everyone makes mistakes, EVERYONE.  Our Founding Fathers who have come under attack as well were not infallible. Cops also fall under this category, there are good apples just as there are bad apples.  However, by no means is this a blank check to treat them as though they were criminals.  Yes, there are some that should not be wearing a badge much less carrying a gun, but taking the law into our own hands is not the answer.  We must remember two things if we are wronged by another individual be it a cop or civilian: 1) “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 KJV); and 2) “Those who use the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52 NLT).  Seeking to assume the role of judge, jury, and executioner will only lead to increased misery.  If we are wronged, we are commanded to forgive (Isaiah 1:18; Micah 718-19; Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37; et al.).  As Eldridge Cleaver wrote in Soul on Ice, “The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.”

I am an English and not a math teacher, but common sense would lead any rational individual to arrive at the logical conclusion that reducing the police force will lead to an increase in crime, it is not rocket science. Criminals do not need to be emboldened and empowered any more than they already are, removing funds acts as a catalyst for greater violence.  Are there problems within the police force that desperately need to be addressed? Without a doubt.  But cutting back on funds is not the answer.  Less funds equate to less training, counseling, community outreach services, special task forces, and most importantly, less cops. I totally concur that there needs to be a middle ground where the police and community desperately need to meet to avoid innocent lives from being harmed, erasing the men and women that have voluntarily put on the uniform to protect us from harm will only have an opposite and adverse effect.  After all, when your vehicle is stolen or your house is broken into, who are you going to call?  Criminals? Or the police?