Secession

For John, BLUF:  When I was growing up the concept of succession was one that was looked down on.  It is what Southern States did in 1860.  I was taught it was a bad thing.  Now I have to rethink my understanding of the dynamics.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Small Secessions of the New Civil War

Here is the sub-headline:

Neighborhoods secede from cities, cities from counties, and counties from states.

From Front Page Magazine, by Mr Daniel Greenfield, 21 June 2021.

Here is the lede plus two:

That a battle over Atlanta would play nearly as pivotal a role in the country’s second civil war as it did in the first might have surprised few historians.  What might have surprised them is that the battle would involve civic meetings rather than bullets.  There are plenty of bullets in Buckhead, a part of Atlanta coping with runaway crime under the pro-crime rule of Mayor Keisha Bottoms, and those bullets have inspired local residents to secede and form their own police force.

Buckhead is not the first part of Atlanta to try and secede.  Sandy Springs had already successfully seceded from Atlanta and a number of cities in Fulton County, which includes Atlanta, have tried to break away to form Milton County.  These efforts to escape the blight and corruption of Atlanta aren’t new, but Buckhead’s fight to escape Atlanta’s pro-crime government has captured the imagination of millions of Americans from one coast of the country to the other.

The cold civil war is being shaped not by national, but local secessions like the one in Buckhead as neighborhoods try to secede from cities, cities from counties, and counties from states in a powerful struggle by conservative and centrist communities to define their own way of life.

The issue of big cities, or big governments, exerting their will on the smaller governmental entities has a long history.  The idea of groups of people breaking away from the larger group, to strike out on their own also has a long history.  Groups breaking away is an opportunity for new ideas and new growth.  While it shouldn't be too easy, it should not be forbidden.  Those breaking away should have to do some work, but should be allowed room to succeed.

The City of Lowell is one that was created by a series of secessions, from Dracut, Chelmsford and Tewksbury.  I subsequently learned that once upon a time the City of Cambridge had extended up to my neighborhood, including a small cemetary. This I learned thanks to Intrepid Reporter Jennifer Myers.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

SPLC Strikes Out, Again

For John, BLUF:  In a previous Blog Post I linked to Reporter Glenn Greenwald talking about how near everyone has memory holed the reason US Domestic Terrorist Omar Mateen shot up the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.  Now comes the Southern Poverty Law Center.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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SPLC Uses Anniversary of Islamic Terror Attack to Demonize Conservative Christians

From PJ Media, by Reporter Tyler O'Neil, 14 June 2021, 10:05 AM ET.

Here is the lede plus one:

Five years ago on Saturday, a radical Islamic terrorist opened fire in Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub, killing 49 people and wounding 53 others.  He pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) during the attack, and ISIS later claimed responsibility.  Yet, because Pulse is a gay bar, leftists have memory-holed the terrorist’s intentions and blamed “anti-LGBT hate” for the heinous attack.  On Saturday, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) used the anniversary of the shooting to demonize conservative Christians and efforts to restrain the excesses of the transgender movement.

In a fundraising email, the SPLC noted the horrific Islamic terror attack, saying, “Today, we remember those we lost. We grieve for their families and friends.  And, we honor them by keeping up the fight against anti-LGBTQ hate.”

To quote Agent Maxwell Smart, "Missed it by that much."

This is the kind of thing that discredits efforts to fix our race problem.  The Southern Poverty Law Center may have been doing God's work in the beginning but today it is just hustling money and putting bad spin on the views of those who don't worship at its altar.  Sad.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Interests of the Voters

For John, BLUF:  I think one of the consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic handling will be that the Common Man may be unhappy with the way local government has handled the situation.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Unlawful assembly?  Arrests in Northern Virginia school board meeting after parents erupt over CRT

From Hot Air, by Blogger Ed Morrissey, 23 June 2021, 8:21 AM ET.

Here are the exceprts at The InstaPundit:

How does a public comment period at a school board turn into an unlawful assembly, and then into an ugly scrum?  The Loudoun County school board apparently got tired of getting lectured over critical race theory by angry parents, who already were upset over the suspension of a teacher from a previous public-comment session.  The school superintendent suddenly declared the meeting closed and told police to start arresting people who refused to leave, and … we have this great moment in woke representative government. . . .  Bear in mind that this took place at a public comment session — whose explicit purpose is to hear points of view from the community on proposed regulation and policy.

Plus

In that sense, it’s not even about critical race theory or transgender pronouns.  This conflict is about the definition of representative governance in local school systems, the First Amendment, and abuses of authority.  Its eventual resolution will show whether accountability actually exists for politicians in Northern Virginia, and perhaps in many other places as well.  Speaking of which, accountability takes more than one form.

While the Democrats in Congress are thinking about "Court Packing" the Common People are thinking about voting out the autocrats on local school boards.  I wonder if that kind of thing could ripple up the levels of elected office all the way to the Halls of Congresss?

Local elections tend not to pull many voters, but if the people are aroused that little bit of wisdom might be found to be wrong.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

For John, BLUF:  The McCloskey home defense (2nd Amendment) issue is back in the news, with a resolution.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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McCloskey Gets Last Laugh:  Posts Pics Of New Gun After Being Forced To Surrender Old One

From The Lid Blog! by Reporters Wes Walker and Jeff Dunetz, 21 June 2021.

Here is the lede plus three:

If authorities thought that compelling the McCloskeys to plead to a misdemeanor firearms violation would scare them into bending the knee, they have grossly underestimated the McCloskeys.

For anyone who missed it, here is a quick recap of events that had their detractors gloating.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges after they brandished weapons against protesters outside their home in June 2020 during the height of riots surrounding the death of George Floyd.

On Thursday, Mark McCloskey pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree misdemeanor of assault and was ordered to pay a $750 fine, while Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to a second-degree misdemeanor of harassment and mandated to pay $2,000.  Neither will face jail time, though the pair’s firearms will be destroyed by state authorities.

This seems like a major reduction in the charges, as times has worn on.  How much right does one have to defend the lives of loved ones and one's own property?  Apparently quie a bit.  Just don't yell at the protestors, such that they feel as frightened as oneself.

Will Mr Mark McCloskey be running in 2022 for the US Senate from Missouri, to replace Republican Senator Roy Blunt?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Not the Old Sod

For John, BLUF:  What do parents want for their children, and do we care?  For example, do our school systems wish to retain links to the old sod more than the parents wish it for their children?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Growing up American

Here is the sub-headline:

I recall a time when public education and the entertainment world helped forge a common American culture undefined by race or sexuality.

From The Bookworm Room, by The Bookworm, 20 June 2021.

Here is the lede plus three:

I don’t think I’ve made any secret of the fact that I don’t “get” baseball.  I understand it technically, of course.  It’s just that I don’t understand why people enjoy it.

When I mentioned that as part of a bigger discussion with a friend, he said, “I don’t think that’s at all surprising considering your European upbringing.”

I knew instantly what he meant despite the fact that I was born and raised in America.  My parents came from Europe and never embraced America.  Although we spoke only English in the house (hence, my embarrassing inability to speak any languages other than English), there was nothing American in my home:  the aesthetics, the food, and the values were all tied very tightly to the old country.  Getting back to baseball, even American football, baseball, and basketball were derided (although we did like the Harlem Globetrotters).

Meanwhile, at school, all my friends were first-generation Asians.  That is, like me, their parents came from another country.  They too grew up in houses that had little to do with America.

The Bookworm then goes on to talk about how school and entertainment, in the old days, reinforced being American.

Today, not so much.

Hat tip to Sarah Hoyt, at the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

We Have to Decide Who We Are

For John, BLUF:  This is about the posibility of political opponents stabbing each other in the back.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Fighting the Extremism Fight

Here is the sub-headline:

What might happen if Republican senators were serious about confronting the Biden Administration’s political weaponization of the intelligence community?

From Amertican Greatness, by Commentator Angelo Codevilla, 27 June 2021.

Here is the lede plus one:

Suppose I had in my hands a draft of a bill that Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) were preparing to prevent the Biden Administration from using federal agencies to encourage U.S. persons to inform anonymously on whomever of their families, acquaintances, fellow workers, etc. they suspect of becoming radicalized to violent extremism.  The staffers who provided the draft would probably report that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is pressing the senators to stop work on the bill and to deny they had ever started it.

The draft “dear colleague” letter by which the bill’s authors would seek co-sponsors would argue that encouraging people to attribute the undefined term “extremism” on activities, expressions, and even attitudes that no law prohibits makes it possible to hurt persons non-judicially whom the government and its partisans dislike or fear.  Thus, say the senators, the Biden Administration is grasping the power effectively to outlaw political opposition.  Using anonymous accusations among persons in ordinary contact is sure to politicize ordinary interpersonal difficulties, increase mutual suspicions, and inevitably will lead to bloody fights.  Destroying the lives of political opponents through anonymous accusations of shadowy crimes, which the media then hypes, is a standard tactic of totalitarian regimes. It has no place in America.

We have to decide who we are.  We need to avoid the kind of activity against our opponents that are a reflection of more dictatorial regimes.  On the other hand, the Fourth Estate needs to be a little more active in exposing undemocratic activities and exposing subversion of democracy by Governmental Intelligence Agencies.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Flag Day

For John, BLUF:  The recognition of human rights is an evolving thing, and we should celebrate our movement forward.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Flag Day

Monday, the 14th of June, was Flag Day this year.

In the mean time, over at The New York Times there is a meltdown as a memberof the Editorial Board is triggered by the sight of American Flags on pickup trucks on Long Island:

NY Times defends Mara Gay for saying she was ‘disturbed’ by American flags

From The New York Post, by Reporter Lee Brown, 9 June 2021, 8:11 am.

Here is the lede plus three:

The New York Times is vigorously defending editorial board member Mara Gay after she was widely ripped for saying she was “disturbed” at the sight of “dozens of American flags” flying in Long Island.

Gay had herself complained about the attacks that followed her appearance on MSNBC early Tuesday in which she said Donald Trump supporters flew the flag to say that “this is my country … not your country.”

“I see I’m being trolled with the American flag this morning.  Trolling a Black journalist with the American flag is not the own some people think it is,” the Times board member and MSNBC contributor tweeted.

After outrage grew throughout the day, the Times’ PR team tweeted a statement late Tuesday insisting that her clearly heard comments had been “irresponsibly taken out of context."

Right.

It seems to me that Ms Gay has “irresponsibly taken out of context" the flying of the National Flag.  It is everyone's flag.  Everyone who is an American Citizen or aspires to be one.

I think Ms Gay is having a Pauline Kael moment, but without the insight of Ms Kael, that there are people out there, that one runs into all the time, but never engage in political conversation.  In fact, it sometimes appears that The New York Times itself is having one big, decades long Pauline Kael moment.  That is not a good look for the Nation's Newspaper of Record.

I wonder, if we had a national vote, would The Old Gray Lady or our National Flag win?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff