The Practical Parson

 Over the past week, I have listened as the national media have turned their hand of hatred momentarily from the president-elect, and towards some of his picks for cabinet positions in the incoming administration.  Curious, I delved into the stories that are being peddled, to see if I could ascertain a morsel or atom of truth; and as usual, found only hatred and vitriol where fact or evidence should be applied.  Whether or not the men in question are guilty of some form of sexual assault of which they have previously been accused seems little the point; in light of the bigger point for the press, that the allegation was made at all.  Because in the media's twisted view, why would anyone lie about such a thing?  If this person is so wonderful and above board, how could anyone say such a thing about them?   To understand this, we have to understand both what an allegation is (in truth, and in media's view), as well as what it does, and does not do. ...

 In a seemingly endlessly repeated story-line, we see headlines across the country proclaiming "books banned"; and subsequent outcry from (usually) the progressive side of politics, calling such things "un-american" and "Anti-freedom".   But what is the true issue behind the scenes here?   Well primarily speaking, virtually all of the accused "book-bans" have taken place in locations that are elementary and middle school libraries, or libraries that cater to adolescent children.  Now the progressive ideologues will go to war to proclaim that all books need to be available to all children regardless; but do they really mean that?   Does this mean we will soon be having Kama Sutra for Kindergartners?  Sun Tzu for second grade?  Mein Kampf for Middle Schoolers?   Of course not.  Not because there are not some who aren't crazy enough to push for them; but because at the end of the day those books do not reinforce the 'progress...

  They say it doesn’t matter who he is or where, They say he comes and brings us only deep despair. They tell me that he’s not the kind we want in our hometown, So it’s best for our interest if we should hunt him down. We tell him he is cursed of all and never shall be free, We take his hopes and dreams and all with happiness and glee.  We tell him he can’t go home, for home he never has, We’ve given it away to a group we call Hamas. We tell him he’s not wanted here, but then not even there, We fill his ears with words of hate and anger and of fear.  We tell him that he’s the cause of all our suffering, And never give him thanks for any good that he may bring. We blame him now, we blame him then, and blame him near and far, We blame him now for everything, this boy who wears that star.  We claim that he is violent, and kills without a cause;  While his mother, sister, father, aunt: were killed by that Hamas.  We claim that all the death is his sole responsi...