The Fight That Lies Between Status Quo and Secession

With a stolen election, stolen culture, stolen courts and stolen dreams, many Americans are realizing that rule by the Left, absolutely corrupt even without absolute power, is unthinkable. Talk of secession, something continually entertained in various states throughout history, is again in the air. The problem is that for the most part, we’ve been supinely submissive in the face of burgeoning leftist tyranny. So it would help if there were something between secession and our current slouching toward servitude. And there is.

Too many conservatives are also waxing defeatist, saying “The republic is dead; our freedoms are gone.” And, yes, if we continue operating inside the box and being “conservative” — as in status-quo oriented — we can kiss our (remaining) liberties goodbye. But the Left isn’t constrained by any box, except what’s physically and politically possible; it doesn’t abide by rules, laws, social codes or conventions except when convenient. So why should we remain in any box except that which is divinely ordained?

Embracing Mao’s sentiment that “[p]olitical power grows out of the barrel of a gun,” the Left trades in violence, violence done to political opponents and to our culture, history, heroes, Constitution and just liberties. Now having seized power in government’s executive and legislative branches via the violence of electoral theft, the Left aims to use that power to become autocratic. As to how we should respond, remember:

Only power negates power.

The Left has been able to steal a national election (and some down-ballot seats, no doubt) via massive vote fraud in, largely, a handful of big Democrat-run cities. Yet despite all the electoral theft, President Trump still won half the states, some by wide margins. It is these states where power should be exercised.

The power I reference is what Thomas Jefferson called the “rightful remedy” for all federal usurpation of states’ domain: nullification. This is the process whereby authorities simply ignore federal dictates, whether handed down by Congress, a bureaucracy or the courts.

There’s nothing unprecedented about nullification. Leftists engage in it continually. For example, their localities often ignore federal drug or immigration laws, and more than a score of states nullified the REAL ID Act of 2005.

Only, leftists don’t call it “nullification” — they just do it. In contrast, conservatives busy themselves conserving the status quo even though it’s leftist-born and generally abide by even unconstitutional federal laws, mandates and court rulings because “this is the way things are done.”

This said, we have seen some pushback, with county sheriffs in recent times refusing to enforce irrational China virus restrictions and some opposition to anti-Second Amendment proposals. But this effort must become widespread and organized — “Nullification!” must become a rallying cry.

To this end, we need a nullification movement. When state officials, from governor to assemblymen and senators, run for office, the first and last question must be: Will you vow to nullify all unjust federal dictates? If they hem and haw at all, they must be immediately disqualified.

In addition, nullification-disposed states should make a compact with one another so that we can enjoy the strength numbers bring.

In reality, nullification (which I’ve been advocating for years) should have been pursued long ago; the federal government has, after all, been trampling states’ powers for at least the better part of a century, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But that being water under the bridge, we now require a ton of cure.

The cure of nullification is the obvious next step for anyone serious about combating the burgeoning leftist tyranny. We’ve no other recourse. “As Jefferson warned, if the federal government is allowed to hold a monopoly on determining the extent of its own powers, we have no right to be surprised when it keeps discovering new ones,” wrote author Thomas E. Woods, Jr.

Under this scenario, the federal government “will continue to grow – regardless of elections, the separation of powers, and other much-touted limits on government power,” he continued.

That is reality. So is this: Reasoned argumentation only works with those who’ll yield to reason (the Left won’t). Constitutional constraints only matter to those who respect laws and national contracts (the Left doesn’t). Appealing to courts only bears fruit when judges have a sense of justice and duty and the guts to act rightly even when pariah status results (most don’t). Making this more tragically comical still is that when we seek redress for federal tyranny, we expect relief from the federal government’s own judicial branch!

This didn’t help us with the 2020 election, which the Left got away with stealing. Moreover, it knows it can not only replicate the theft in the future but can expand it; thus have the Democrats introduced a bill taking mail-in voting nationwide. Perhaps they can pass it, too.

Then the states can just pass on it. “Pound sand” would be my response.

The Democrats can hobble border enforcement so that they can further destabilize our country and import more future voters — and Texas can secure its border itself. Let the left-wing, black-robed lawyers issue their contrary “opinions,” as we know they will. My response would be a paraphrase of the paraphrase of Andrew Jackson: “The judges have made their decision. Now let them enforce it.”

Why, states can even consider deporting illegal aliens within their borders and then say they’re just doing the job the feds won’t do (or maybe “deport” them to liberal states and do the latter the favor of enhancing their diversity. It’s called a one-way bus trip and giving people what they voted for).

In other words, I’d even consider assuming certain federal powers just as the feds have stolen states’ powers. “What of the Constitution?” you ask? “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people,” wrote John Adams in 1798. “It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Leftists are the “other.” They also have wholly trampled the Constitution, the “contract” Americans have with one another. And when a party consistently violates a contract to benefit itself at the expense of other contractees, and courts provide no remedy because they’re complicit in the con, the contract is voided.

Leftists have made their intentions crystal clear, calling for 9/11-like “truth commissions,” blacklists and the persecution of Trump supporters. They’re also successfully “cancelling” opponents as they destroy careers, reputations and lives. For how long will we insist on abiding by Queensberry rules while they proceed no-holds-barred?

Painting with a broad brush, conservatives are principle-oriented and, projecting as man will, don’t fully appreciate that the Left is power-oriented. If we’d handled the Soviets during the Cold War as we do our Left, with NATO (no action, talk only), we’d have been singing “The Internationale.”

Only power negates power, and our choice is simple: Accept that and nullify tyranny — or go gentle into that good night.

Contact Selwyn Duke, follow him on Gab or Parler (preferably) or Twitter, or log on to SelwynDuke.com.

©Selwyn Duke. All rights reserved.

Biden ☭ Team Backs Censorship of Trump and “Hate Speech”

Who decides what’s good and what’s forbidden? What’s hate or love? The same people who called the burning looting, and destroying of American cities the ‘summer of love”?

America’s intellectual leadership has collapsed.

Freedom of speech is the foundation of a free society. Without it, a tyrant can wreak havoc unopposed, while his opponents are silenced. Putting up with speech that offends is essential in a pluralistic society in which people differ on basic truths. If a group will not bear being offended without resorting to violence, that group will rule unopposed while everyone else lives in fear, while other groups curtail their activities to appease the violent group. This results in the violent group being able to tyrannize the others.

If speech that offends a group is outlawed, that group has absolute power, and a free society is destroyed. A group that cannot be criticized cannot be opposed. It can work its will no matter what it is, and no one will be able to say anything to stop it.

Inoffensive speech needs no protection. The First Amendment was developed precisely in order to protect speech that was offensive to some, in order to prevent those who had power from claiming they were offended by speech opposing them and silencing the powerless.

A FREE SOCIETY IS BY ITS NATURE ONE IN WHICH PEOPLE PUT UP WITH OTHERS BEING UNCIVIL AND OFFENSIVE. THE ALTERNATIVE IS A QUIET AUTHORITARIAN SOCIETY IN WHICH ONLY ONE OPINION IS ALLOWED AND THE OTHERS ARE SILENCED, AND ULTIMATELY SENT TO THE CAMPS.

White House Press Secretary: Biden Backs Censorship of Trump

Daybreak Insider: The press secretary said “We’ve spoken to him and he’s spoken to the need for social media platforms to continue to take steps to reduce hate speech.”  The video is here (Twitter). From Dave Rubin: This is extraordinarily dangerous and shows you how big tech is just an extension of the government. 1at amendment stops govt from silencing you, so the government wants to outsource that to the tech companies. (Also, as per Supreme Court there is no such thing as hate speech.) (Twitter).

EDITORS NOTE: This Geller Report column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved. Quick note: Tech giants are snuffing us out. You know this. Facebook, Twitter, Google et al have shadowbanned, suspended and in some cases deleted us from your news feeds. They are disappearing us. But we are here. Subscribe to Geller Report newsletter here— it’s free and it’s critical NOW more than ever.

10 Republicans Voted to Impeach Trump, 7 Already Facing Challenges for Their Seats in Congress

The RINO Republicans who betrayed President Trump and his voters must have no place in the Republican Party. They must all be primaried and replaced with strong pr0-Trump candidates for the 2022 midterm elections. Don’t start a new party and split our vote. Primary the fake Republicans.

10 Republicans Voted to Impeach Trump, 7 Already Facing Challenges for Their Seats in Congress

By Newsweek, January 31, 2021

Some of the Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump in January are already having their seats challenged and their ability to hold onto their place in Congress may be dependent on the moves the former president makes in the next 18 months.

Ten Republicans joined Democrats in impeaching Trump a historic second time, a move that was quickly met with condemnation back in their home states. They’ve been publicly scolded, pushed to resign and warned that local organizations will mount a strong push to oust them from office in the primary.

“After my last election, I had decided not to run again. But the vote by Congressman [David] Valadao to impeach President Trump with no witnesses, evidence, or without allowing any defense was too much for me to stay on the sidelines,” Chris Mathys, a former Fresno, California, city council member, told Newsweek.

Valadao, who represents California’s 21st district, wasn’t in office during Trump’s first impeachment, as he had been ousted from office in 2018 by Democrat TJ Coxx. In November, Valadao won back his seat from the Democrat who beat him in 2018 by less than a point. The Republican placed blame on Trump for the Capitol riot, saying that his rhetoric was “un-American, abhorrent and absolutely an impeachable offense.”

That vote in favor of impeaching Trump “violated the trust” of the millions of Americans that voted for Trump in the November election, according to Mathys, who unsuccessfully sought a seat in New Mexico’s House during the 2020 primary. The decision was “so egregious,” that Mathys doesn’t think voters will forget it.

Whit Ayer, a GOP strategist, told Newsweek it was a “very gutsy” decision to vote in favor of impeachment because they “knew they would likely draw challenges.” However, it remains to be seen how much the impeachment will play in the 2022 primary and one of the factors that is still up in the air is how much of a political powerhouse Trump will be in 18 months.

RELATED ARTICLE: Lewandowski creates new PAC to back Republican supporters of pro-Trump agenda

EDITORS NOTE: This Geller Report column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved. Quick note: Tech giants are snuffing us out. You know this. Facebook, Twitter, Google et al have shadowbanned, suspended and in some cases deleted us from your news feeds. They are disappearing us. But we are here. Subscribe to Geller Report newsletter here— it’s free and it’s critical NOW more than ever.

Biden Sees Own Shadow, Predicting Just Six Weeks Of Being President

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Shortly after being sworn in Wednesday, January 20, 2021, Joe Biden looked down and saw his shadow, predicting just six weeks of being president of the United States.

Biden briefly emerged from his basement to attend his inauguration, where he saw the shadow, declared he would be president for just six weeks, and then returned into hibernation to await his fate.

“Well, looky there,” he said, pointing at the faintest outline of a shadow on the ground. “Looks like I’ll have about six weeks in office.” Biden said he is looking forward to executing his plans for the nation, from napping and calling a lid to puttering about the White House and trying not to get assassinated by Kamala Harris.

At publishing time, sources had further confirmed that on his way out of the inauguration ceremony, Biden narrowly dodged a falling anvil, an ACME dynamite trap, and a falling piano.

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EDITORS NOTE: This political satire column by The Babylon Bee is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

NYPD shifts focus from jihad terror groups to ‘far-right and extremist hate groups’

The NYPD is adjusting its focus to fit the Left’s narrative, not reality. Remember: It wasn’t “far-right extremists” who rioted all summer in Portland, Seattle, Kenosha, Wisconsin, New York, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and numerous other cities that I have already forgotten. It was Leftists: Antifa and Black Lives Matter, who have also been found to have been among those storming the Capitol that is being used as a Reichstag Fire pretext to shut down dissent from the Leftist agenda. When the NYPD talks about “far-right and extremist hate groups,” it likely really means ordinary citizens who oppose the dominant political philosophy, including those who have already been defamed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as “hate groups.” Lies such as what the NYPD is spreading here are in service of solidifying the hegemony of that philosophy.

“NYPD’s focus on terror shifts to local extremist groups”

by Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, January 30, 2021:

The NYPD has spent the past 20 years adapting to the ever-changing landscape of terrorism, focused first on large jihadist groups, then lone wolves who emerge out of nowhere, and now far-right and extremist hate groups.

In late 2019, the nation’s largest police department created a new unit within the Intelligence Bureau called REME, which stands for Racially and Ethnically Motivated Extremism. It was formed a year after a brawl on the Upper East Side between anti-fascists believed to be connected to Antifa and members of the Proud Boys, one of the more prominent far-right groups.

REME works similarly to its’ umbrella unit, with two dozen investigators and analysts applying the same intelligence gathering techniques used to build cases against members of ISIS and al Qaeda.

But there are differences, notably the laws that make it easier to charge someone linked to a designated foreign terrorist organization….

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If Biden reopens PLO’s DC office, ‘Palestinians’ would be liable for $655,500,000 for jihad terror victims

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Mahmoud Abbas is threatening to kill anyone who might oppose him

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EDITORS NOTE: This Jihad Watch column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Young, Healthy and Woke Jumping the Line for China Virus Vaccine

I’m not picking on Stacey Griffith per se, because you know there are others like her who have been so freaked out by Dr. Fauci (and Chairman Joe) that they are willing to push grannies out of the way in order to get an experimental vaccine.

It really is amazing how powerful herd mentality can be.

Snagging the vaccine appears to be the new craze for the Lefties.

President Trump was criticized for trying to keep Americans calm about the pandemic, but now the Fauci (Biden) frenzy is unleashed and has gone into high gear.

From Yahoo Life:

SoulCycle instructor apologizes for getting COVID-19 vaccine, which sparked backlash

A star instructor for the trendy cycling workout brand is backpedaling after being criticized for getting the COVID-19 vaccine under the pretense of being a teacher.

On Friday, Stacey Griffith — a top fitness coach in New York City who, according to a recent Vox report, makes at least $800 per class — shared footage from her trip to Staten Island to get the Moderna vaccine.

“Now I can teach @SoulCycle with a little more faith that we’re all gonna be OK if we get the [vaccine],” Griffith, whose celebrity clients have included Kelly Ripa and Madonna, told her 64,000 followers on Instagram.

It didn’t take long for many of those followers to chide the 52-year-old author of Two Turns from Zero for bypassing elderly and high-risk individuals who have yet to be vaccinated.

“Let’s celebrate that we are making the world safe for in-person spin class in the midst of a global pandemic,” read one comment, from a woman who shared that she and her wife, a cancer patient, were still months away from being eligible for their own shots. “What’s left of any respect that I had for Soul and the leaders it celebrates is done and gone.”

There is more if you feel like reading it.

UK Daily Mail had a lot of fun with the story yesterday.  See here.

EDITORS NOTE: This Frauds, Crooks and Criminals column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Jen Psaki Says She’ll ‘Circle Back’ To Question About Why Biden Is Currently Wandering Press Room Sniffing Reporters

WASHINGTON, D.C.—During a press conference Thursday, Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked why Joe Biden was currently wandering around the room getting “a good whiff” of various female reporters’ hair.

She deftly handled the question, promising to “circle back” to it before taking another question about which Ninja Turtle is Joe Biden’s favorite.

“Yes, um, hi, Press Secretary Psaki. Can you tell me why Joe currently has his nose buried two inches into my bun?” asked a CNN reporter. “And to clarify, I have the utmost respect for you and for the president, may he live forever, so I’m not challenging you. I was just curious. Because I’m a little uncomfortable. But again, that’s probably just me!”

“Yes, great question. We’ll circle back to that,” Psaki said as Biden wandered around the room sniffing woman after woman. “Anyone else? Yes, great question. Joe Biden’s favorite Ninja Turtle is definitely Donatello. Everyone knows Don is the best. Haha. You guys are awesome! Great job, team!”

Psaki went on to answer questions about how Joe Biden likes his steaks done, what his favorite color is, and what he orders at Starbucks before closing up the press conference for the day.

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EDITORS NOTE: This political satire column by The Babylon Bee is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

The Babylon Bee is proud to present Gavin Newsom’s next campaign ad!

Watch as Governor Newsom ends COVID lockdowns by joyfully shouting reopen to rows of abandoned, dilapidated buildings throughout California.

EDITORS NOTE: This political satire video by The Babylon Bee is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved. Head on over to our YouTube channel and subscribe. You (probably) won’t regret it!

Violent terror group BLM nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

President Trump did the impossible, peace in the Middle East.

BLM brought bloodshed, riots and terror. Who will the globalists reward?

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet ….”

BLM is submitted for a Nobel Peace Prize for fighting against racial injustice…. but the summer of violence and riots carried out in its name are glossed over in the nomination

  • Petter Eide, a Norwegian politician, has nominated BLM for the annual prize
  • Eide said he wanted the group recognized for raising awareness of racism
  • He said that incidents of violence were vastly outnumbered by peaceful protest
    BLM, founded 2013, sprung into action this summer after George Floyd’s killing
  • Fringe groups of agitators took advantage of the peaceful protests to riot
  • Businesses and shops were burnt amid violent confrontations with police
  • Nominations for the Prize must be in by Feb 1: the winner is announced October

By Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com, 30 January 2021

Black Lives Matter has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of what the nominator said was BLM’s impact in raising awareness of racism worldwide.

Despite a turbulent summer in the United States following the death of George Floyd, which saw some BLM protests splinter into violent confrontation, the group was praised for forcing important conversations.

Petter Eide, the Norwegian parliamentarian who nominated BLM, dismissed questions about violence carried out in the movement’s name.

CLICK HERE, HERE AND HERE TO VIEW IMAGES OF BLM VIOLENCE.

EDITORS NOTE: This Geller Report column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. Quick note: Tech giants are snuffing us out. You know this. Facebook, Twitter, Google et al have shadowbanned, suspended and in some cases deleted us from your news feeds. They are disappearing us. But we are here. Subscribe to Geller Report newsletter here— it’s free and it’s critical NOW more than ever.

BRILLIANT: Ohio Republicans Propose Designating June 14th as ‘President Donald J. Trump Day’

The enemy party is working furiously to scrub American history of the greatest President in modern history. They must be defeated.

Ohio Republicans Propose Designating June 14th as ‘President Donald J. Trump Day’

Two Ohio state lawmakers suggested designating June 14 as “President Donald J. Trump Day” to honor the former president.

By Allen Zhong, The Epoch Times, January 30, 2021 Updated: January 30, 2021

“Let’s show the 3,154,834 Ohio voters (a record and historic number of votes received for president in Ohio) who cast their ballot to re-elect Donald J. Trump that we as a legislature recognize the accomplishments of his administration, and that the Ohio House believes it is imperative we set aside a day to celebrate one of the greatest presidents in American history,” state Rep. Jon Cross (R-Ohio) and Reggie Stoltzfus (R-Ohio) wrote in a memorandum to all House members.

The duo praised Trump who accomplished many things that led America to unparalleled prosperity “against great odds.”

It’s unclear if this suggestion will be adopted widely by the Republican-controlled state House. The Republicans hold a strong majority 64–35 over the Ohio Democratic Party in the Ohio House.

Ohio House Speaker Robert R. Cupp didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times.

The former president—who launched the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement in the United States and changed the country and the Republican Party substantially—still maintains significant influence at the national and state level.

He agreed with U.S. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to help the GOP to become a majority in the House after a meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach on Thursday.

“Today, President Trump committed to helping elect Republicans in the House and Senate in 2022,” McCarthy said in a statement. “A united conservative movement will strengthen the bonds of our citizens and uphold the freedoms our country was founded on.”

At the state level, Trump secured one of his allies, Kelli Ward, the position of Arizona GOP chairwoman on Jan. 22 with a last-minute endorsement.

Ward won 51.5 percent of the vote, to 48.5 percent for challenger Sergio Arellano in the second round of voting.

“The decision is ours. Are you going to reelect me and show the state, the country, and the world that we are an America first Arizona, or will we go back to the dark days before Trump?” Ward said while presenting her case before the vote.

RELATED ARTICLE: Washington Post Says They Won’t Hold Joe Biden Accountable With ‘Fact Checker’ Like They Did With Trump

EDITORS NOTE: This Geller Report column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. Quick note: Tech giants are snuffing us out. You know this. Facebook, Twitter, Google et al have shadowbanned, suspended and in some cases deleted us from your news feeds. They are disappearing us. But we are here. Subscribe to Geller Report newsletter here— it’s free and it’s critical NOW more than ever.

Rural People Want Separation and Freedom from Elite City Overlords

Here is one example of where rural people are fighting back, even if it seems like it is a hopeless case.

I expect it is happening in other states too.

From The Hill:

Group in Colorado county seeks secession from state to join Wyoming

A group of disenfranchised Colorado residents are exploring the possibility of annexing from their home state and changing boundary lines so their entire county becomes part of Wyoming.

Christopher “Todd” Richards is leading the effort with his “Weld County Wyoming” political committee, created last February, according to local outlet Fox 31 KDVR.

The organization is working to get a measure added to the November 2021 ballot that would encourage county commissioners to “engage and explore the annexation of Weld County with the State of Wyoming’s Legislature.”

The purpose of the measure is to “get out from under the thumb” of Colorado’s more liberal government, according to the group’s Facebook page.

“Can this be done? Yes, it can be done. Is it going to be easy? No,” Richards said during a meeting posted to YouTube in November.

Whether it can be done or not, this is the kind of thing many rural communities should be pushing because it helps to educate Americans about how rural people, the country class, have had enough and they are fighting back.

It is a warning shot to the elitists, a warning to the ruling class, and one that does garner mainstream media attention.

By the way, for those who do not follow my Refugee Resettlement blog here is a little factoid.  Wyoming is the only state in the nation that does not resettle refugees and never has in the forty years the UN and the feds have been spreading the third world to rural America.

RELATED ARTICLE: Rep. Gaetz In Wyoming: ‘It’s The Establishment Against The Rest Of Us’

EDITORS NOTE: This Frauds, Crooks and Criminals column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

VIDEO: Psychologist Explains the Unhealthy Incentives Behind ‘Cancel Culture’

If there was a video documenting every second of my life, you can bet it would contain some pretty stupid comments I’ve made over the years. I would also probably be reminded of some opinions I no longer believe. If you’re being honest with yourself, yours likely would be equally cringe.

The things we have said in the past may not have been outrageously offensive, but we have all made comments, or held opinions, we later regret. We are, after all, inherently flawed creatures.

But imagine if one instance of poor judgment or one “fringe” opinion stuck with you forever. This is the problem our society is now facing with the prevalence of cancel culture.

In 2016, then-high school freshman Mimi Groves posted a video to Snapchat in which she used a racial slur. The video later circulated around her school, though it wasn’t met with controversy at the time.

Fellow classmate Jimmy Galligan hadn’t seen the footage until last year when the two were seniors—four years after it first made the rounds at Heritage High School. By this time, Groves had moved on to focus on her role as varsity cheer captain with big dreams of attending the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a school known for its nationally ranked cheer squad.

For Groves, summer 2020 had been a time of celebration as she found out she had been accepted to the university’s cheer team. But her joy was short-lived when the death of George Floyd rightly outraged the nation, sparking a resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Like many teens, Groves used her social media platforms to urge people to protest, donate, and sign petitions in support of ending police brutality. It was then that her unfortunate video came back to haunt her.

“You have the audacity to post this, after saying the N-word,” one commenter, unknown to the teen, posted on her Instagram.

That’s when her phone began ringing nonstop.

Galligan had held onto the video made four years earlier and had chosen to celebrate Groves’ admission to UT by blasting the footage to every major social media platform.

As the video began going viral, public outrage ensued, calling for the university to rescind her acceptance.

Capitulating to the mob, UT removed her from their cheer team, a decision that resulted in Groves withdrawing from the school because of what she perceived as pressure from the school’s admissions office.

Make no mistake, making racial slurs of any kind is demeaning and inappropriate behavior. But is one comment made four years prior enough to ruin the future of a teen who hadn’t even entered adulthood yet?

The court of public opinion said yes, without giving Groves any chance at redemption.

Why People ‘Cancel’

Groves’ story is just one of many.

Cancel culture has become more widespread over the last several years than anyone could have imagined. When I penned this article on the topic two years ago, I had no idea the problem would escalate to the level it has reached today.

But cancel culture isn’t reserved only for those who have made distasteful comments in the past.

Today, those espousing any opinion that goes against “woke” rhetoric are ridiculed online, fired from their jobs, and some are banned from using popular social media platforms altogether.

One University of North Carolina Wilmington professor, Mike Adams, even took his own life after tweets construed as offensive pushed him into early retirement after years of service to the institution.

Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind and co-author of The Coddling of the American Mindhas been an outspoken critic of the cancel culture phenomenon for some time.

“Part of a call-out culture is you get credit based on what someone else said if you ‘call it out,'” he said in a 2018 interview.

This virtue signaling, which is really just a means of proving to society how “good” and “moral” your views are, is only half of the equation, however. Cancel culture is also about personal destruction, which is obvious in Groves’ situation, since Galligan didn’t use this ammunition against her until the time was ripe for maximum harm.

“It(cancel culture) has reached a level of personal vindictiveness, where people go out of their way to find ways the things other people say could be construed as insensitive,” Haidt said.

Slurs and inappropriate comments aside, cancel culture has made people scared to share their opinions lest they be condemned for thinking “incorrectly” about any given issue.

We now live in an era where people are constantly looking over their shoulders, or computer screens, worried that whatever opinion they post might make them victims of cancel culture.

There is no opportunity to change one’s mind, nor is there room to defend opinions you genuinely believe. And this is a huge problem for any civil society.

Haidt spoke of the importance of protecting open dialogue so that we may live in a society filled with varying opinions from which to choose.

“One of the most important [aspects] is that people are not afraid to share their opinions – they’re not afraid that they’re going to be shamed socially for disagreeing with the dominant opinion,” Haidt said.

The odds are high that your opinions about certain issues will change over time. However, some may not, and you shouldn’t live in fear that your beliefs will be met with social condemnation and isolation.

We are no longer given the room to share our opinions today because we are no longer able to disagree with each other respectfully.

You’re not always going to agree with everything other people say — not your professors, your classmates, or your parents. In fact, you might even find that your own views change as you learn new things and grow as a person and adult.

But having the freedom to consider all opinions and decide what you genuinely believe is vital to the human experience and civil discourse.

There is a market of choice in all things, from what clothes you wear, products you buy, and what ideas you subscribe to.

When you go shopping, you might not like the first outfit you try. You might not even like the second or third. But trying on different looks, or opinions, allows you to think for yourself and figure out what it is you want, or believe.

To be truly open-minded, you must be able to consider all opinions, instead of condemning any thought contrary to your own. The free exchange of ideas pushes individuals to share unique ideas and allows for opinions to evolve.

Dissent is what makes democracy strong. Our Constitution has outlasted so many others because the Founders disagreed and debated with each other until they crafted a document that fostered “a more perfect union” than had ever been seen before. We would be wise not to forget the example they set.

Put simply, shaming others doesn’t work. It’s purely punitive, and self-aggrandizing. It also rarely changes a person’s mind and often further radicalizes their beliefs, widening the divide already growing in our country.

To foster a world where ideas can be freely expressed, Pacific Legal Foundation will be hosting an event this Friday featuring Haidt that will examine the many ways free speech serves as a central tenet of innovation, community, and civil society, and how we can preserve and protect this fundamental value that makes our society so extraordinary.

Without the ability to speak freely and consider all opinions, civil discourse cannot occur. In its absence, society as we know it will cease to exist and the divides between us will continue to grow.

COLUMN BY

Brittany Hunter

Brittany is a writer for the Pacific Legal Foundation. She is a co-host of “The Way The World Works,” a Tuttle Twins podcast for families.

EDITORS NOTE: This FEE column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Abortion—The Issue That Will Not Die

Another anniversary of Roe v. Wade is upon us. And in recent days, the pro-life movement has suffered some serious political setbacks.

Outgoing President Donald Trump was surprisingly pro-life. In contrast, incoming President Joe Biden, although he is a Catholic, has become so pro-abortion that he believes in abortion for any reason up to the very moment of birth—and that you and I should pay for it.

Vice President Kamala Harris is just a heartbeat away from the presidency. She is so pro-abortion that when she was California’s Attorney General, she threw the book (and then some) at video-whistleblowers David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt who shot some undercover videos documenting the grisly practice of Planned Parenthood trafficking in baby body parts.

A major reason controversy over abortion will not die is because it was imposed on the American people by judicial fiat. January 22, 1973 brought us one of the worst decisions of the Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade (allowing abortions in the first trimester, and its companion decision of that same day, Doe v. Bolton—allowing abortions in second and third trimesters, if doctors approve).

Since that dark day, more than 60 million babies have been killed in their mother’s womb. Where’s the most dangerous place to be in America today? In your mother’s womb. It should be the safest.

The Court has unleashed this nightmare, provoking the wrath of Almighty God against the nation that sheds innocent blood—and so much of it too. “We the people” did not get to decide this. The Court did.

Perhaps the biggest reason abortion will never die as an issue is because the truth and science are against the “pro-choice” position. It is a baby being killed. And everyone knows it.

Ultrasound images reveal the humanity of the unborn more and more. Generally, the abortion industry tries to keep pregnant women, would-be-clients, from seeing these moving images. Why? Because when the women realize the humanity of the unborn, they tend to not go through with the procedure.

Some of the strongest voices against abortion come from those who used to engage in abortion in some way or another. One of those is Carol Everett, a former part owner of abortion facilities in the Dallas area. She was on her way to becoming a millionaire by selling abortions, until Jesus changed her heart and opened her eyes.

Carol compiled the following statements from others who used to work in that field:

  • Former abortionist, Anthony Levatino, M.D.: “I want the general public to know that the doctors know that this is a person, this is a baby. That this is not some kind of blob of tissue.”
  • Former abortion counselor, Nita Whitten: “It’s a lie when they tell you they’re doing it to help women, because they’re not. They’re doing it for the money.”
  • Former abortion counselor, Debra Henry: “We were told to find the woman’s weakness and work on it. The women were never given any alternatives. They were told how much trouble it was to have a baby.”
  • Former abortionist, Joseph Randall, M.D.: “The picture of the baby on the ultrasound bothered me more than anything else. The staff couldn’t take it. Women who were having abortions were never allowed to see the ultrasound.”
  • Former abortionist, David Brewer, M.D.: “My heart got callous against the fact that I was a murderer, but that baby lying in a cold bowl educated me to what abortion really was.”

In the last year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen the contrast between tyranny and liberty from our various governors, mayors, and politicians.

There is a direct link between those magistrates who are pro-abortion and who are tyrannical in their governance. Take the governors of California, New York, and Michigan. In the case of those first two states, people are voting with their feet. They are moving out. U-Haul trucks are in great demand right now in New York City and hard to get. Of course, in New York City, they have the double whammy of a pro-abortion governor and mayor.

Meanwhile, Florida and Texas and Tennessee (with pro-life governors) are enjoying a great level of freedom compared to these other states, and people are fleeing from other states to live there.

Where a politician stands on the issue of abortion represents where they stand on virtually everything else—freedom, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and so on.

Our founders said in our nation’s birth certificate, the Declaration of Independence (upon which the Constitution is predicated), that the Creator has endowed us with certain inalienable rights. The first one listed is the right to life.

If you take away the right to life, as they do in abortion, you effectively remove all the other rights. May God help America to repent from abortion and put this bloody mess behind us.

©Jerry Newcombe. All rights reserved.

A Country In Distress — Rules on Flying Your American Flag(s) Upside Down

We are now a country in Distress – some are flying their American Flag(s) upside down – this is not an affront our insult to our national colors but a  symbol of protest of the new Communist Beijing Biden/Commie Harris regime that came to power fraudulently and corruptly via a stolen election and is an illegal Administration hell bent to destroy our Constitutional Republic and turn the USA into a Socialist/Communist nation.

Picture of an upside down flag in Florida is here.

I will continue to fly my Trump Flag as well.

Notice it does not have Pence on it who has turned out to be just another RINO!

According to CollinsFlags.com:

What does an Upside Down American Flag Mean?

Have you ever seen an upside down American flag? We certainly hope not, but it is possible that you have. If you have spotted this at some point in your life, did you understand the symbolism?  In general, members of the United States Military would be most likely to recognize this signal. Nonetheless, allow us to explain with a little help from the United States Flag Code.

8. Respect for Flag

  • The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

Quick interpretation: “Dire distress and extreme danger to life or property” should not be taken lightly here. These instances do not include moments of personal dissatisfaction or times of protest. While it is legal to express yourself in whatever way you so chose, it is illegal to fly an American flag upside down unless you are in a life or death situation. People have faced legal charges for flying an American flag upside down. Stores have also been forced to remove upside down American flags on clothing.

©Royal A. Brown, III. All rights reserved.

Democrat States Follow The Science By Doing What Florida Did Back In May

U.S.—Democrat-run states are now calling on the nation to follow the science by doing what Florida did back in May, opening their economies with reasonable precautions and protections for the vulnerable.

The states are all now suggesting we begin reopening and that our economies cannot stay closed forever. They are calling this process “following the science,” though apparently they mean “follow what Republican states like Texas, Florida, and South Dakota did months ago.”

“We must follow the science by doing what Republican states did eight months ago,” said Governor Cuomo. “Now that Biden will be our president, it is time for the pandemic to end.”

D.C. Mayor Bowser agreed, saying, “The SCIENCE says we must reopen. We cannot kill every small business and restaurant in the city. Think about how a tanking economy would hurt President Biden.”

She also said, “We must catch that rascally plumber Mario!”

Governor Newsom isn’t quite on board yet, saying he will wait to follow the science and reopen until Kamala Harris is president.

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EDITORS NOTE: This political satire column by The Babylon Bee is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.