Culture: September 2017 Archives
Liberals sick of the alt-left are taking 'the red pill' | Fox News
Hopeful news about the rising generation:
"People of all ages and ethnicities are posting YouTube videos describing 'red pill moments'--personal awakenings that have caused them to reject leftist narratives imbibed since childhood from friends, teachers, and the news and entertainment media.
"You might say that those who take the red pill have been 'triggered.' But instead of seeking out 'safe spaces,' they're doing the opposite, posting monologues throwing off the shackles of political correctness.
"Their videos can feature the kind of subversiveness that was once a hallmark of the left--before the movement lost its sense of humor."
Were Confederate Generals Traitors?, by Walter E.Williams | Creators Syndicate
From the brilliant professor of economics at George Mason U. (who happens to be an African American):
"America's first secessionist movement started in New England after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Many were infuriated by what they saw as an unconstitutional act by President Thomas Jefferson. The movement was led by Timothy Pickering of Massachusetts, George Washington's secretary of war and secretary of state. He later became a congressman and senator. 'The principles of our Revolution point to the remedy -- a separation,' Pickering wrote to George Cabot in 1803, for "the people of the East cannot reconcile their habits, views, and interests with those of the South and West." His Senate colleague James Hillhouse of Connecticut agreed, saying, "The Eastern states must and will dissolve the union and form a separate government." This call for secession was shared by other prominent Americans, such as John Quincy Adams, Elbridge Gerry, Fisher Ames, Josiah Quincy III and Joseph Story. The call failed to garner support at the 1814-15 Hartford Convention.
"The U.S. Constitution would have never been ratified -- and a union never created -- if the people of those 13 'free sovereign and Independent States' did not believe that they had the right to secede. Even on the eve of the War of 1861, unionist politicians saw secession as a right that states had. Rep. Jacob M. Kunkel of Maryland said, 'Any attempt to preserve the union between the states of this Confederacy by force would be impractical and destructive of republican liberty.' The Northern Democratic and Republican parties favored allowing the South to secede in peace....
"Confederate generals were fighting for independence from the Union just as George Washington and other generals fought for independence from Great Britain. Those who'd label Gen. Robert E. Lee as a traitor might also label George Washington as a traitor. I'm sure Great Britain's King George III would have agreed."
The Art of Being a Red State Liberal -- Strong Towns
"When you're in the minority, success is measured in inches. It's not for the faint of heart. You have to be able to care and fight and lose, and somehow summon the hope to continue caring and fighting and losing, over and over again. Until, eventually, maybe you win, just a little bit.
"But you'll never win if you don't respect the people who disagree with you."
Good advice for conservatives, too. And yes, Sarah Kobos is as gracious in conversation as she comes across in this essay.
Polygamy argument shouldn't be dismissed - and I speak from experience --
Brisbane Times
"I can speak on the subject of polygamy with some degree of understanding. My Chinese grandfather had two wives at the same time, although only one - my grandmother - was allowed into Australia. It was only after my grandmother's death that my "second grandmother" was able to migrate to Australia. It has touched my extended family deeply.
"Whilst I honour and love my grandfather deeply, what he did was selfish and unfair on those subsequent generations who have had to live with the consequences. My family is proof that love alone is not sufficient justification for marriage.
"Around the world, polygamy is accepted in 58 countries; far more than allow same-sex marriage. It is even practised in our near neighbours of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. I can confidently predict that if we allow same-sex marriage then there will eventually be a demand that polygamy be legalised too. Do we really want that?...
"If the current debate was all about love, and only love, there wouldn't be a debate. The reason there is a debate is that a change to the marriage laws will fundamentally alter the shape of Australian society.
"That is why, like millions of other Australians, I shall be voting 'no'."
