#1782 (11/30) "Goodbye, Fidel Castro - WHY UTOPIANISM ALWAYS FAILS"

"Goodbye, Fidel Castro - WHY UTOPIANISM ALWAYS FAILS" - By: John Stonestreet| Breakpoint.org: November 29, 2016;

 http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/30169

A brutal communist dictator has gone on to meet his reward. And too many seem confused about the legacy of Cuba’s Fidel Castro.

On Friday, Fidel Castro died at the age of ninety, far older than many of his opponents lived to be. If you’ve been subjected to the fawning epitaphs of many in the media (or read about one NFL quarterback’s ridiculous defense of Castro) please keep this in mind: While exact numbers are difficult to come by, the number of Cubans murdered by Castro’s regime numbers in the tens of thousands, if not more.

In 1998, I found myself standing less than a hundred yards away from Castro. I’d spent a year in Jamaica right after college, and while I was there, Castro came for a visit. Looking back, knowing what I now know about Castro, the esteem in which he was held was amazing: He was met with a hero’s welcome by both public officials and the people… not to mention, streets and sidewalks that had been in disrepair for decades were fixed, and gutters were finally unclogged and cleaned up to honor him.

The obvious question was: Why? And the best answer my Jamaican friends could come up with when I asked was that Castro had “stood up” to the United States for decades. Implicit in their answer is the idea that Castro had stood up to them because he had the best interests of the Cuban people in mind. A sentiment shared by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when he called Castro “a larger than life leader who served his people for almost half a century.”

But what twaddle that is! Castro certainly was larger than life, and as I learned that day, an amazing public speaker. But oratorical skills cannot mitigate the consequences of evil ideas. Only people who didn’t actually have to live under Castro’s rule would call his treatment of the Cuban people “service.” The Cuba Archive has identified at least 15,000 Cubans who were shot, hanged, bombed or otherwise died in Castro’s notorious prisons. This is the legacy of the man that today’s version of what Lenin once dubbed “useful idiots” are praising.

In addition, Castro’s idea of “service” included making Cuba a satellite of the Soviet Union. He allowed the USSR to place nuclear missiles on the island, thus giving his people a potential front-row seat for Armageddon.

And then of course, there’s Cuba’s horrendous human rights record. According to Human Rights Watch, “During Castro’s rule, thousands of Cubans were incarcerated in abysmal prisons, thousands more were harassed and intimidated, and entire generations were denied basic political freedoms.”
If this is “service,” I’d hate to see “evil.”

But let’s be clear: what happened in Castro’s Cuba is fully consistent with the historical record of communism and all other attempts at man-made utopias, a word which, you should recall, means “no place.” All utopian visions attempt to reinvent man and refashion him along ideologically-inspired lines by force of state-level coercion. And that never works. Human nature just isn’t that malleable.

The 2001 film “Enemy at the Gates,” about the siege of Stalingrad during World War II, offers one of the clearest and concise critiques of communism I’ve ever heard. As he lays dying, Danilov, a commissar whose job it was to try and create this “new Soviet man,” tells the hero, “I’ve been such a fool, Vassili. Man will always be man. There is no new man. We worked so hard to create a society that was equal, where there’d be nothing to envy your neighbour. But there’s always something to envy. A smile, a friendship, something you don’t have and want to appropriate.”

Danilov is only mistaken on one point: there is a “new man.” But humans are only made new by a means that Castro tried so hard to destroy during his entire reign: the Christ of Christianity. And I pray this lesson isn’t lost on the rest of us.

[bold, italics, and colored emphasis mine]

RESOURCES
"Counting Castro's Victims" - Mary Anastasia O'Grady | Wall Street Journal | December 30, 2005;http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB113590852154334404

"How Castro Held the World Hostage" - James G. Blight, Janet M. Lang | New York Times | October 25, 2012; http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/opinion/how-castro-held-the-world-hostage.html

"Cuba: Fidel Castro’s Record of Repression" - Human Rights Watch | November 26, 2016; https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/11/26/cuba-fidel-castros-record-repression

"Cuba Archive" - http://cubaarchive.org/wordpress/
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"After Castro’s Death, Trump Seeks ‘Concessions’ From Cuba" - Josh Siegel / November 28, 2016; http://dailysignal.com/2016/11/28/after-castros-death-trump-seeks-concessions-from-cuba/

"Fidel Castro’s Death Is an Opportunity to End Cuba’s Communist Dynasty" - Mike Gonzalez / November 26, 2016 / http://dailysignal.com/2016/11/26/fidel-castros-death-is-an-opportunity-to-end-cubas-communist-dynasty/
"Voices: Castro's death hits home for my family" -  Alan Gomez , USA TODAY; November 28, 2016; http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2016/11/26/voices-gomez-fidel-castro-death-hits-home/94473392/

#1781 (11/27) SUNDAY SPECIAL: "Advent, Sacred Time, and Worldview - A WAY OF BEING IN THE WORLD"

"Advent, Sacred Time, and Worldview - A WAY OF BEING IN THE WORLD" - By: John Stonestreet| Breakpoint.org: November 25, 2016; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/30146

It is time to prepare for Christmas. But I don’t mean at the shopping mall. I mean sacred preparation.


This Sunday marks the beginning of Advent, the time historically “set aside by the Church to help believers prepare to receive the fullness of Jesus’ coming.”And the word “coming” refers both to His Incarnation and “His return as the ‘Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory,” who will “send his angels to gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens’ (Mark 13:26-27).”

A few years ago, on BreakPoint I said that “walking through this season of Advent in prayer, scripture and devotional readings has been a huge blessing to my family, to my church, and to me personally.” That’s definitely still the case.

Today I want to explore the relationship between the observance of Advent and our worldview.
When most Christians think about worldview (if they think about it at all), what comes to mind are ideas. Now worldview isn’t less than ideas, of course, but it is more. Bill Brown, Gary Phillips and I define worldview as the framework of basic beliefs we have that give us a view of and for the world. That framework includes ideas, but also our imagination, our habits, and the basic stories—both cultural and personal—that shape our lives.

We live out of these stories—they give us, as N. T. Wright puts it, “a way-of-being-in-the-world.” It’s this “way-of-being in the world” that I want to talk more about today.Twelve years ago, the historian Robert Louis Wilken wrote in the journal First Things that “The Church is a culture in its own right. Christ does not simply infiltrate a culture; Christ creates culture by forming another city, another sovereignty with its own social and political life.”

What distinguishes this culture from the non-Christian world is not some kind of physical separation, or even a spiritual withdrawal, but, to borrow Wright’s phrase, a “way-of-being-in-the-world” that’s different. According to Wilken, three hallmarks of this “way” were the distinctive Christian uses of space, time, and language. Time today does not permit me to discuss the uses of space and language, so I’ll settle for urging you to read Wilken’s essay. We’ll link to it at BreakPoint.org.

But that does leaves time to talk about, well, time. As Wilken writes, “We should not underestimate the cultural significance of the calendar and its indispensability for a mature spiritual life. Religious rituals carry a resonance of human feeling accumulated over the centuries.” He continues “The season of Advent . . . is a predictable reminder that the Church lives by another time, marked in the home by a simple ritual, the lighting of a violet Advent candle set in an evergreen wreath on a dark evening in early December.” “Sacred seasons” like Advent, “run at right angles to the conventional calendar [and] they offer a regular and fixed cessation of activity.” They become “times of reflection and contemplation that open us to mystery and transcendence.”
What’s more, they provide the “gift of leisure,” a much-needed respite from “the world of work and money and minding our p’s and q’s.”

Only if we truly understand those cultural forces that shape our worldview can we intentionally open ourselves to the possibility that there is a way of being in the world that is both countercultural and transformative.

We have some Advent resources and readings for you at BreakPoint.org. And beginning on Tuesday, you can listen to a special Advent podcast titled, “He Has Come.” It’s available on our BreakPoint podcast. You can sign up for the podcast at iTunes or by visiting BreakPoint.org/podcast.

Please, find time and find space to prepare for Christmas. Have a blessed Advent.

[bold, italics, and colored emphasis mine]

FURTHER READING AND INFORMATION - Carve out time in this busy part of the year to begin your observance of Advent with a special BreakPoint podcast of "He Has Come." To sign up for the podcast, click here - http://www.breakpoint.org/podcast
"N.T. Wright: Worldview Quotes" - Theological Ramblings | September 3, 2008; https://ordinand.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/nt-wright-worldview-quotes/
"The Church as Culture" - Robert Louis Wilken | First Things | April 2004; https://www.firstthings.com/article/2004/04/the-church-as-culture
"The Incarnation: It's about Time" - Jim Tonkowich | Christianity.com | December 29, 2008; http://www.christianity.com/11597518/

#1780 (11/26) PRO-LIFE SAT: "The Truth about Miscarriage - GRIEVING THE LOSS OF AN EMBODIED SPIRIT"

"The Truth about Miscarriage - GRIEVING THE LOSS OF AN EMBODIED SPIRIT" - By: John Stonestreet| Breakpoint.org: Nov. 16, 2016; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/breakpoint-commentaries-search/entry/13/28298

Millions of women experience the profoundly painful tragedy of miscarriage. How we respond to them says a lot about us and our worldview.

The abortion industry, and politicians allegiant to it, will defend to the death—pun intended—a woman’s so-called “right” to end the life of a living, developing human being in her womb for any and every reason. But strangely, when it comes to a miscarriage—that is, the unintended death of an unborn baby by natural causes—its script suddenly changes. Consider these words from Planned Parenthood: “Miscarriage is a common event in many women’s lives. Those of us who have had miscarriages know how difficult the experience can be. Miscarriage can leave us with many emotions to sort out.”

By God’s grace, my wife and I have never experienced a miscarriage, like so many of our friends and co-workers. Difficult seems like an inadequate word for the pain resulting from miscarriage—though the nation’s largest abortion provider fails to mention why: because it is the loss of a precious human being in the womb. Planned Parenthood’s concern for miscarriage’s unintended loss seems quite disingenuous given they want us to celebrate the intentional taking of 55 million human beings since Roe v. Wade.

But such logical schizophrenia is not confined to those who defend the legal right to abortion. Those of us on the pro-life side can also be inconsistent. While many Christians can make the case for the dignity of human life in the womb when it comes to the evil of abortion, when it comes to miscarriage—which ends between 10 percent and 25 percent of all clinically recognized pregnancies—the response is often far different. By the words we say or leave unsaid, too often we risk dehumanizing the child who has died and discouraging the grieving parent.

That’s the assessment of Constance T. Hull, who’s experienced four miscarriages herself. Writing in The Public Discourse (an excellent publication by the way), she encourages us to speak frankly about miscarriage. How? By acknowledging the reality that miscarriage represents—to borrow the wording of Thomas Aquinas—the loss of an “embodied spirit.”

Hull offers a number of ideas to help us comfort grieving parents, many of whom suffer silently. “First,” she says, “we need to bring miscarriage out in the open. We need to engage in discussions about the reality of miscarriage and the pain it causes families. This is a part of building a culture of life.”

She then points out, “We pray at abortion clinics and try to educate the populace on the horrors of abortion, but we also need to be ministering to and supporting families who have lost unborn children. The more we talk about it, the more families will come out from behind closed doors to share their stories and begin to grieve openly.”

Second, Hull says, we need to be intentional about highlighting this painful topic.  “People need forums,” she writes, “both in social media and in person, to discuss their experiences freely. Conversations with one’s priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, local crisis pregnancy center, friends, and family can help one come to terms with the grief and remembrance of those lost children.”

Third, Hull says we pro-lifers must examine our own beliefs and words that dehumanize the unborn or short-circuit the natural and necessary grieving process that comes when someone loses a loved one. We do this when we say things like, “You can always have another child,” or, “There was something clearly wrong with the child,” or even “They are in a better place.” Let’s remember Job’s friends were the most comforting when they didn’t talk at all.

Come to BreakPoint.org, and I’ll link you to Constance Hull’s powerful article on miscarriage.

I pray the truth of miscarriage as the loss of a precious human life will shame many in the abortion industry into repentance. And I also pray this truth sinks into our own hearts, so that we can comfort the grieving among us and carry their burdens in Christ’s name. Amen.

[bold, italics, and colored emphasis mine]

FURTHER READING AND INFORMATION - As John points out, whether a baby is lost through miscarriage or by the act of abortion, the end result is still a lost child. Read Constance Hull's moving article, "Abortion's Miscarriage Problem," linked below.

"Abortion’s Miscarriage Problem" - Constance Hull | Public Discourse | November 1, 2016;http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2016/11/17889/
"Why We Don’t Talk about Miscarriage—And How to Start" - Gracy Olmstead | The Federalist | March 4, 2016; http://thefederalist.com/2016/03/04/why-we-dont-talk-about-miscarriage-and-how-to-start/
"Dealing with Miscarriage & Stillbirth: Coming Out of the Pro-Life Shadows" - Eric Metaxas | BreakPoint.org | October 14, 2015; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/breakpoint-commentaries-search/entry/13/28298
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"Abortion Business CEO Claims Aborting a Baby is “The Same as the Loss Through Miscarriage” - Micaiah Bilger, NOV 25, 2016; http://www.lifenews.com/2016/11/25/abortion-business-ceo-claims-aborting-a-baby-is-the-same-as-the-loss-through-miscarriage/

#1779 (11/25) "The Federal Regulations That Affect Your Thanksgiving Foods"

"THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT AFFECT YOUR THANKSGIVING FOODS" - Diane Katz / November 23, 2016 / http://dailysignal.com/2016/11/23/the-federal-regulations-that-affect-your-thanksgiving-foods/?

Independent estimates find that federal regulations cost the U.S. economy more than $2 trillion annually. (Photo: iStock Photos)

This being the fourth Thursday of November, we turn our attention to the abundance on our tables and the blessings in our lives. (There is also no small number of folks who are deeply grateful for the end of election season.)

Let us also give thanks that the Obama administration will soon cease, albeit leaving behind more than 21,000 regulations that President Barack Obama’s regulators issued, and which increased regulatory costs by more than $100 billion annually. The burden of this vast administrative state is crushing America’s entrepreneurial spirit, productivity, and economic growth. Independent estimates find that total regulatory costs are exceeding $2 trillion annually—more than is collected in income taxes each year.

Indeed, there is virtually no aspect of our lives over which laws and ordinances do not reign. Even the Thanksgiving menu is laden with regulatory do’s and don’ts. Some may be justified as safeguarding public health and safety, but thousands of others are simply the meddling of an administrative state that is threatening to transform us into regulatory serfs.

Lest there be any doubts about the extent of the problem, forthwith is just a taste of the regulatory minutiae that control today’s menu:

     Turkey. Title 9, Part 381.76, of the Code of Federal Regulations directs turkey inspectors on the proper method of examining a frozen bird, to wit: “If a carcass is frozen, it shall be thoroughly thawed before being opened for examination by the inspector. Each carcass, or all parts comprising such carcass, shall be examined by the inspector, except for parts that are not needed for inspection.”
     Cranberries. Title 7, Part 929, establishes a “marketing committee” overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to set quotas on the volume of cranberries shipped to handlers from growers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island, New York. The grower “allotments” help to ensure that the price of cranberries remains artificially high.
     Bread/Rolls. Title 21, Part 136, requires anything labeled as “bread” in a bakery to weigh one-half pound or more after cooling. To be legally called a “roll,” each unit must weigh less than one-half pound after cooling.
     Potatoes. Title 7, Part 51.1546, dictates the proportion of allowable defects among specific grades of spuds. Potatoes graded as “U.S. No. 1” may not exceed the following tolerances at the point of shipping: 5 percent for external defects, 5 percent for internal defects, and not more than a total of 1 percent for potatoes that are frozen or affected by soft rot or wet breakdown. An entirely different set of tolerances apply to U.S. No. 1 potatoes while en route or upon reaching the destination, while similar standards are also set for “commercial” grade potatoes, “U.S. No. 2” potatoes, and “off-size” potatoes.
     Green beans. Title 21, Part 155.120, defined green beans and wax beans as “the foods prepared from succulent pods of fresh green bean or wax bean plants conforming to the characteristics of Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Phaseolus coccineus L. The beans shall be one of the following distinct color types: (a) Green; or (b) Wax. The varietal type is either (a) beans having a width not greater than 1 1/2 times the thickness of the bean; or (b) beans having a width greater than 1 1/2 times the thickness of the bean.”
     Cornmeal (for stuffing). Title 21, Part 137.275, distinguishes yellow cornmeal from cleaned white cornmeal: “Yellow cornmeal conforms to the definition and standard of identity prescribed by §137.250 for white cornmeal except that cleaned yellow corn is used instead of cleaned white corn.”
     Pecans. Title 7, Part 65, requires “country of origin” labeling for pecans and a variety of other foods. The declaration may not contain abbreviations or flags. However, the adjectival form of the name of a country may be used to identify the country of origin—provided the adjectival form of the name does not appear with other words so as to refer to a kind or species of product.

All of this regulation raises a simple question: Who are the actual turkeys?

[bold and italics emphasis mine]

#1778 (11/24) HAPPY THANKSGIVING! - "Thankful for Our Republic"

"THANKFUL FOR OUR REPUBLIC" - Tony Perkins, Washington Update, November 22, 2016; http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WA16K24&f=WU16K08

Millions of Americans will gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving this week. In a constitutional republic such as ours, it seems especially appropriate that a federal holiday is set aside each year for the sole purpose of giving thanks. Even if the Pilgrims had never gathered with Chief Massasoit's tribe to feast and give thanks all those years ago in Plymouth, it would seem wrong not to officially recognize the extraordinary blessings that this great country has enjoyed over the course of its young history. After all, it is our great privilege to be part of a country founded on these immortal words: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

What's more, Americans should be eternally thankful for the wisdom possessed by our Founding Fathers, who, rooted in their Christian belief that there is no king but Jesus, instituted a form of government that requires the political leaders to be elected by the people. This means that no single president, administration or Member of Congress can govern without the approval (or disapproval) of the people.

The election two weeks ago was another stirring reminder that the American people are anything but predictable. With virtually every mainstream media outlet and almost every poll predicting a liberal victory, voters chose a different path. In what felt like an overnight seismic shift, the people placed a new party in the White House and gave one party unified control. As we have made clear over the last two weeks, this election is a God-given opportunity to right some of the wrongs done to life, natural marriage, and religious liberty over the last eight years. This reprieve that the Lord has given is all the more reason to be particularly thankful this year.

With this great democratic power that the American people have comes great responsibility, and it won't work without a moral foundation. As a Founding Father and our second President John Adams said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Here at FRC [Familiy Research Council], we are keenly aware that this wonderful democratic experiment we call America would crumble overnight if it were not held in place by the sovereignty of God Almighty. That is why we are here in Washington, to further the cause of Truth that He has laid out for us in public policy and the culture.

In a certain sense, the primary reason to be thankful for our Republic is that it allows us to live in a monarchy. In other words, we are called as Christians to live completely in the service of Christ the King. We need to let him be the King of every aspect of our lives, which in turn means that He must be King over every aspect of our society. This is the beauty of America -- the freedoms we enjoy in this country allow us to attempt this wonderful mission in the first place.

Therefore, America has much to be thankful for [this Thanksgiving.]

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"Thanksgiving: A Uniquely American Holiday" - Melanie Kirkpatrick / November 22, 2016 / http://dailysignal.com/2016/11/22/thanksgiving-a-uniquely-american-holiday/?D

#1777 (11/23) COFFEE TALK: "How to Be Persuasive About Politics With Your Liberal Relatives on Thanksgiving"

COFFEE TALK: "HOW TO BE PERSUASIVE ABOUT POLITICS WITH YOUR LIBERAL RELATIVESS ON THANKSGIVING" - Beverly Hallberg / November 22, 2016 / http://dailysignal.com/2016/11/22/how-to-be-persuasive-about-politics-with-your-liberal-relatives-on-thanksgiving/?

Thanksgiving has been known to spark dynamic and unexpected conversations with family and friends. (Photo: iStock Photos)

We want Thanksgiving to be as drama-free as possible for everyone. Because you can’t choose your family, it’s likely you have sharp disagreements with several members.

You may already be suffering from panic attacks in anticipation of the many dinner tables you’ll have to sit around. But as we’ve written for the past few months, there is a way to have a sane conversation about politics with the people in your life. So let’s close the chapter on 2016 and hope for good things in 2017. How can you be prepared no matter what political topic comes up between dinner bites?

Common Ground 
     There are many things we can agree on over the holidays: meals are better when you don’t have to cook them yourself, football all day is the best thing ever, and portion control is absurd.

Also, we’re pretty sure most people don’t head into Thanksgiving hoping for bitter conflict, a total meltdown, and the permanent severing of relationships. No one wants this for you, and you don’t want it for yourself.

Preparation is key. Think through the policy issues you disagree on first, and then have a strategy to tie that disagreement back to agreement. Listen first, acknowledge their concerns, and then block and bridge to an issue you agree on.

Here’s a guide to get you started.

Examples
     Obamacare
        We’re in the middle of open enrollment season and Americans are seeing their premiums skyrocket—more than 22 percent just this year according to the latest reports. Even Bill Clinton called Obamacare the “craziest thing in the world.” (Wouldn’t that be a fun Thanksgiving dinner table to sit around?)
     Yet, you may have a family member still buying the company line that Obamacare is good for those who need insurance. What’s the best way to respond?
     Tip: Personal anecdotes are powerful. Talk about how your premiums have tripled or how you no longer have access to the plans you want. Also, use stats and examples that prove Obamacare has achieved the opposite of what we were promised. Focus on the broken system, higher costs, longer wait times, and less choice.

More tips on how to win on Obamacare - http://dailysignal.com/2016/09/19/3-simple-ways-to-win-the-debate-on-obamacare/

Income Inequality
     After this election cycle, you might break into hives if you hear “income inequality” one more time. Us too. But maybe you have a cousin who likes to throw this term around like confetti—especially at family gatherings. The best way to engage in a thoughtful discussion with a big government lover?
     Tip: While the words “income inequality” aren’t threatening on a piece of paper, we know the phrase has meant something entirely different in political conversation since being hijacked by the big government side. A good place to start is to use different language.
    Use phrases like “equal opportunity,” “hard work,” or “achieve the American dream” to better illustrate your point—it’s more effective to give someone the opportunity to succeed instead of handing out freebies.
    How to win on income inequality - http://dailysignal.com/2016/08/31/use-these-3-strategies-to-talk-to-a-liberal-about-income-inequality/

Taxes
    It’s all fun and games until Uncle Jim changes the subject during dinner to tax policy. While this issue might glaze over just as many eyes as it does candied yams, it’s a different story when charges of “tax the rich” and the “1 percent” get interjected.
     How do you combat feel-good sounding words with facts and numbers? (Because we all know calculators don’t have feelings.)
     Tip: Use examples and numbers to combat those nice sounding phrases. RE: 1 percent argument?
     Say something like, “The rich can afford to pay more, but you know who can’t? Everyone else. The more money the rich have to give to Uncle Sam, the more they have to downsize, which often leads to fewer jobs for you and me. It’s a losing situation.”
    How to win on taxes - http://dailysignal.com/2016/10/11/three-ways-to-use-the-presidential-debate-to-talk-taxes/

For winning strategy on other topics, read here - http://dailysignal.com/author/beverly-hallberg/

Words
     In these conversations, saying things like “I understand what you are saying” or “here’s where I agree with you” before you outline your disagreement is helpful to diffuse a potential argument.
    But in addition to words, tone is so important. Keep it calm. And if you find yourself struggling to filter the words coming out of your mouth, take a big bite of mashed potatoes instead.

District Media Group always recommends carbs over conflict during the holiday season. But also (maybe) in life.

[bold, italics, colored, and underline emphasis mine]

Beverly Hallberg is a contributor to The Daily Signal, a visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation, and president of District Media Group.

''Talking Turkey at Thanksgiving-TIPS FOR GOOD WORLDVIEW CONVERSATIONS" - By: John Stonestreet|Breakpoint: November 23, 2016;
http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/30144

#1776 (11/22) "How Infantilized Campuses Threaten Our Nation’s Future"

AT"HOW INFANTILIZED CAMPUSES THREATEN OUR NATION'S FUTURE" - David Whalen / November 18, 2016 / http://dailysignal.com/2016/11/18/how-infantalized-campuses-threaten-our-nations-future/? [AS I SEE IT: Ouch! This is definitely a message that should be presented by every college President with the courage to be truthful, and not just intent on being politically correct and on the right side of his more radical students. - Stan]

For some time, higher learning has been a political matter, one where the primary aim is to usher students into the club of elite (supposedly enlightened) progressive opinion. (Photo: Pacific Press/SIPA/Newscom)

What are we to make of higher education when students and institutions respond to the recent presidential election with cry-ins, canceled exams, therapy dogs, Play-Doh, coloring books, group screams, Legos, bubble-blowing, and trauma counseling? Well, college “ain’t what it used to be.”

For some time, higher learning has been a political matter, one where the primary aim is to usher students into the club of elite (supposedly enlightened progressive opinion. Gone is the formation of keen, analytical habits of mind and rational argument. The result is not just a poorly educated student body, but an infantilized one. Mature discourse is out, and fragility, dependence, and bad temper is in.

Rather than cultivate habits of sustained and sober thought, we encourage manufactured outrage and self-indulgent victimhood. Anyone who has spent time with 2-year-olds recognizes the behavior. In our case, however, we appear to cultivate it on our campuses.

An infantilized campus is bad enough, but it becomes intolerable when these are the places where leaders of a self-governing republic are usually formed. Regardless of party or position, a citizenry incapable of facing adversity or unwilling to reason about and discuss difficult, public things will not likely produce leaders who can do so. If college campuses steep our future leaders in habits of entitled fragility, the only politics they will be able to imagine is that of the tantrum.

Tellingly, this is exactly the kind of politics we have seen on campus, and, increasingly, off campus as well. A darker view would regard our infantilized campuses as something more sinister than the accidental byproduct of politicized higher education. When the noise of a tantrum becomes a primary political instrument in place of reason, persuasion, and evidence, then volume, not thought, wins the day.

And volume is coercive. When 2-year-olds throw tantrums, they attempt to force matters and get their own way. A set of people taught not to reason but to huddle in safe spaces and throw the occasional tantrum is a people taught to impose their will. They have not been denied a voice; rather, they are intent upon being the only voice.

This is not to say that all post-election anxiety is necessarily irrational. But it is a lack of the aforementioned habits that makes aggression and extremism so common. Genuine higher learning requires (among other things) time, intense application of thought, patient reflection, and maturity. Rather than an education in elite and coddled groupthink, real learning is an education in honed and sound thinking—thinking that is not victim to every fleeting passion.

This is precisely the kind of learning poet Robert Frost had in mind when he wrote, “So when at times the mob is swayed/ To carry praise or blame too far,/ We may choose something like a star/ To stay our minds on and be said.”

If we cannot restore the “higher” to higher education, if we cannot put down our Play-Doh and take up our Plato, it’s unlikely we’ll see a return of either to our politics or our learning.

[bold, italics, and colored emphasis mine]

Dr. David Whalen is the provost and a professor of English at Hillsdale College in Michigan.

"The Real Alexander Hamilton Was No Liberal" - Carson Holloway / March 14, 2016 / http://dailysignal.com/2016/03/14/the-real-alexander-hamilton-was-no-liberal/

#1775 (11/21) "Obama's Disconnects and Delusions"

"OBAMA'S DISCONNECTS AND DELUSIONS" - David Limbaugh |Nov 18, 2016; http://townhall.com/columnists/davidlimbaugh/2016/11/18/obamas-disconnects-and-delusions-n2247427 [AS I SEE IT: I have followed politics my entire adult life and I cannot remember another President being so self-absorbed. Also, one thing this article does not point out is that he was careful not to criticize Trump after the election until he went to Europe. In front of world leaders, he did not hesitate to criticize the President-elect, something no other President does. In fact, President's always wait till years after they have left office before saying anything critical of their successor. It has always been proper to let your successor have a chance to put his policies in place before commenting. But of  course, President Obama couldn't wait beyond a week to lash out - and on foreign soil to boot. What nerve! - Stan] 

President Obama, in Greece, said world leaders should learn from the U.S. presidential election and pay attention to the public's fears and frustration about the economy. Why? He never has.

How can a man living in such a fantasy world presume to tell other people how to perceive others and react to problems as if he's been an innocent bystander witnessing these horrors for years?
Scratch that. He doesn't think we've experienced horrors. He thinks the U.S. economy has been wonderful under his watch. Listening to him characterize his eight-year record is to witness willful blindness on a scale my willing suspension of disbelief is incapable of processing.

The American economy, said Obama, was contracting faster than it did during the Great Depression. "We had to fight back from the worst recession since the Great Depression. ... But we were able to intervene, apply lessons learned and stabilize and then begin growth again." He tastelessly bragged, in front of his Greek audience, that his economy recovered better and faster than most of Europe's. Then he began critiquing Greece's economy, as if he is a wizard of economics.

No American politician -- and certainly no president -- in my lifetime has caused such destruction and suffered so little personal accountability for it. It was ridiculous when he still blamed George W. Bush for his own lackluster economy and unconscionable deficits in the latter half of his first term. It was amazing that he kept making this argument with a straight face through the 2012 presidential election.

But why not? It worked. When you've got a liberal media covering your tracks and slanting everything in your favor, you can apparently fool millions.

But Obama is still making the same arguments today after eight straight years of malaise. So how did he fight against the worst recession since the Great Depression? Well, he spent money we didn't have like a drunken sailor, increased taxes and smothering regulations, bad-mouthed entrepreneurship and producers, and vilified the "wealthy" for not paying their fair share.

How did that work out? Contrary to his bizarre self-assessment, we have had the worst economic recovery in 60 years. So he's bragging about that? We've had a stagnant economy his entire tenure in office, and he is touting it as sustained growth? Of course he is, and the media continue to cover for him.

He talks about the unemployment rate's going down, but this obscures the reality that tens of millions have opted out of the workforce in despair. The media know that the unemployment figure is meaningless when factoring in the labor participation rate. Whether Obama is able to accept it, given what this knowledge would do to his unreflective ego, is debatable.

Obama covers his bases. He gets to have his cake and keep it, too, and, if you haven't noticed, he remains skinny. He tells us the economy's great; then he kind of says it isn't. Otherwise, why would he still have to blame Dubya? Why would he have to blame the recent election results on an angry populace? Why would he say, "The problem was I couldn't convince the Republican Congress to pass a lot of (my agenda items)"? What problem? I thought things were rosy.

You see, he thinks the main economic problem we face is income inequality. He thinks people are angry because others are making more money than they do and so they had a temper tantrum and elected Donald Trump. But hasn't there always been income inequality? Isn't that guaranteed in a free system? But if the people are inconsolable with envy, that might have something to do with Obama's constant harping on it, railing against the rich.

Nope. The hoi polloi are just restless; there's nothing to see here. "The country," he says, "is indisputably better off, and those folks who voted for the president-elect are better off than they were when I came into office, for the most part." But here was the punchline: "People," he said, "seem to think I did a pretty good job. And so there is this mismatch, I think, between frustration and anger. Perhaps the view of the American people is that (we) just need to shake things up."

Well, if there's any mismatch or disconnect here, it's Obama's perception of his performance and reality. His narcissism makes him allergic to self-doubt, and his dogged ideology and oversize pride preclude him from admitting his failures.

This same ideology compels him to project onto others his own prejudices. He has been saying since before he was elected that "bitter" Bible toters who "cling to guns" in small-town America are just suspicious of people who don't look like them. But that's offensively false. He is the one who always has race on his mind, and he's a virtuoso of bitterness. Remember when his Homeland Security Department was on the lookout for returning military personnel and tea party types, rather than Islamists, as possible domestic terrorists?

Pro tip: These peace-loving, ordinary, patriotic Americans have had their fill of his attacks on their traditions, their worldview and their lifestyle. They sent that message resoundingly in the congressional elections in 2010 and 2014, yet he escaped accountability with his own re-election in 2012. Another frightful disconnect.

But there can be no mistaking this year's election results. The people's rejection of his agenda and Hillary Clinton is so severe that we are seeing a major restructuring of the electorate. He, his media co-conspirators and the liberal punditry can blame Clinton's flaws for this, and they are indeed part of it, but Obama's leftist agenda got shellacked up and down the ticket and in state elections throughout the country.

This was not a glitch; this is a wave. And the longer he and his cohorts remain in denial about it the more it will grow. That, my friends, is a beautiful thing.

[bold, italics, and colored emphasis mine]

#1774 (11/20) SUNDAY SPECIAL: "Christians ‘Under Caesar’s Sword’ - RESPONDING TO WORLDWIDE PERSECUTION"

PAUSE AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH: My heart goes out to the Americans who are disappointed and even fearful about the results of the recent elections, esp. re: our President-elect. (I certainly remember the angst I felt after the results of the previous 2 Presidential elections.) But 2 Tim. 1:7 instructs us: ”God has not given us a spirit of FEAR, but of power, love, and sound mind.” I believe a sound mind would cause us to look at the things that cause us to fear and to determine if they are truly based on ideas we should fear or just false presumptions we might have or lies we have bought into. As regards President-elect Trump, I agree that I was turned off often by how he expressed himself during the campaign. But note that during his lifetime in the public eye, he was not known to express himself in those ways. In resorting to his showmanship skills during the election campaign, he wrongly used crude expressions to stir up the crowds who he was addressing. I urge you to notice his more humble demeanor when he accepted victory early Wed. morning. I believe those were the expressions of a man who was sobered by the reality of the awesome responsibility he had just been presented. I choose to be HOPEFUL that our next President will govern differently than how he campaigned. I am also HOPEFUL that he will implement many of the good ideas he’s presented, though not necessarily in all the ways he proposed. I encourage those who are fearful to look at the underlying philosophy behind the proposals he has made. We can never be sure of what a new leader will really do until he takes office and so we need to at least give the man time to govern. We must remain PRAYERFUL and HOPEFUL that he will govern with a different temperament than he campaigned. And no matter how we feel about things right now, Donald Trump will be our new President. So I urge all to PAUSE AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH and to be PRAYING for our country’s new leader and his team of advisers, now and throughout his Presidency. As with any leader, he deserves that much from every American. - Stan
WHY MOST OF THE  81% OF EVANGELICALS VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP: A friend send me this  video message by Tommy Tenny the day before the election. It  is almost an hour long but it is excellent. If you are still not familiar with the issues of concern to many Christians at this time, I invite you to please take time to view this; I only wish this kind of message could be heard in all pulpits. Video: The Continental Divide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwTAQpYhkug  

"Christians ‘Under Caesar’s Sword’ - RESPONDING TO WORLDWIDE PERSECUTION" - By: Eric Metaxas| Breakpoint.org: November 17, 2016; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/30119 [AS I SEE IT: I heard recently that the subject of Christian persecution in the world is rarely heard of from the pulpits of churches in the West. I have a hard time understanding this shameful neglect to recognize the hardships of fellow brothers and sisters around the world. I've heard that Jews - who we all know have experienced great persecution throughout their existence - have become vocal in speaking up for Christians being persecuted around the world, and yes, it seems even more vocal than Western Christians. I don't know about you, but that seems very wrong. My question is: how long will the Church in the West be so silent about what is happening to their brethren around the world? - Stan]

There’s an important new documentary that highlights how Christians are responding to persecution around the globe.

One hundred years ago, one-third of the population of Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople, was non-Muslim. It was home to hundreds of thousands of Jews and Christians. Today, Istanbul, now the capital of the modern state of Turkey, is less than one percent non-Muslim.

This did not happen by accident. What’s more, the same forces that turned one of Christianity’s great cities into a virtual Christian-free zone is still at work throughout the world. These processes and possible Christian responses to them are the subject of an important new project, “Under Caesar’s Sword,” and a short documentary by the same name. The project is a joint effort of the University of Notre Dame and the Religious Freedom Center of the Berkley Center at Georgetown University. The goal of the “three-year, collaborative global research project” is to investigate “how Christian communities respond when their religious freedom is severely violated.”

Note that I said “when” not “if” their religious freedom is severely violated. As the project’s website tells visitors, “today Christians constitute by far the most widely persecuted religion.” It cites a study by The International Society for Human Rights, which states that Christians are “the victims of 80 percent of all acts of religious discrimination in the world.” Christians are also “the only religious group that is persecuted in all 16 of the countries highlighted as egregious offenders by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom in 2012.”

All told, a Pew Research Center found “that between June 2006 and December 2012, Christians faced harassment and intimidation in 151 countries, the largest number of any religious group.”
If you’re a regular BreakPoint [reader], some of these dismal numbers should be familiar to you. What won’t be as familiar are the faces and voices behind the numbers. Nor will the localities featured in the 26-minute documentary.

The stories told by “Under Caesar’s Sword” take place not in ISIS-controlled Syria or Iraq, but in Turkey and India, two ostensibly non-sectarian democracies. In India, Christians who’ve been harassed or worse by their Hindu nationalist neighbors, have to file complaints at police stations festooned with Hindu idols covered in garlands and other offerings. Not exactly the stuff confidence in the legal system is made of. In Turkish-controlled Cyprus, all evidence of that island’s rich Christian heritage, which began with Paul’s companion Barnabas (check out Acts 4), is being systematically eradicated.

As the film tells us, “Everyone agrees that we’re seeing religious cleansing, ethnic cleansing on a massive scale” in parts of the world.

So how are Christians responding? As an Indian Christian leaders says in the film, “The first response [to the harassment and persecution] is prayer . . . We do not retaliate, we do not respond as possibly other communities would do.” It’s not only Indian Christians who have foresworn retaliation. As Daniel Philpott of Notre Dame noted, this is, with very few exceptions, the standard Christian response to persecution, harassment, and humiliation.

What’s more, Christians have not only foresworn retaliation, they are reaching out to their non-Christian neighbors in the hope that these neighbors will see them as fellow Indians or fellow Turks and understand the deep roots of Christianity in those countries.

 This important effort deserves our support. Come to BreakPoint.org to view the documentary and to learn more about our brethren living under Caesar’s sword.

[bold, italics, and colored emphasis mine]

RESOURCES
"Under Caesar's Sword" - Project website - http://ucs.nd.edu/

"Worldwide Persecution of Christians: Open Doors 2016 Watch List" - John Stonestreet | BreakPoint.org | February 2, 2016; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/breakpoint-commentaries-search/entry/13/28813

"Christians in the Muslim World: Growth and Persecution" - John Stonestreet | BreakPoint.org | October 4, 2013; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/breakpoint-commentaries-search/entry/13/23999

"An Ironic Ecumenism: The Global War on Christians (part 2)"- Eric Metaxas | BreakPoint.org | December 3, 2013; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/breakpoint-commentaries-search/entry/13/23970

The Global War on Christians: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Anti-Christian Persecution
- John L. Allen, Jr. | Image Publishing | March 2016; http://www.colsoncenterstore.org/product.asp?sku=9780770437374

#1773 (11/19) PRO-LIFE SAT: "Pro-Life Americans Have the Opportunity of a Generation

ATTENTION: Please SCROLL DOWN this page to find the article titled on this post in LARGE BRIGHT BLUE CAPITAL LETTERS. Thank you.)

PAUSE AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH: My heart goes out to the Americans who are disappointed and even fearful about the results of the recent elections, esp. re: our President-elect. (I certainly remember the angst I felt after the results of the previous 2 Presidential elections.) But 2 Tim. 1:7 instructs us: ”God has not given us a spirit of FEAR, but of power, love, and sound mind.” I believe a sound mind would cause us to look at the things that cause us to fear and to determine if they are truly based on ideas we should fear or just false presumptions we might have or lies we have bought into. As regards President-elect Trump, I agree that I was turned off often by how he expressed himself during the campaign. But note that during his lifetime in the public eye, he was not known to express himself in those ways. In resorting to his showmanship skills during the election campaign, he wrongly used crude expressions to stir up the crowds who he was addressing. I urge you to notice his more humble demeanor when he accepted victory early Wed. morning. I believe those were the expressions of a man who was sobered by the reality of the awesome responsibility he had just been presented. I choose to be HOPEFUL that our next President will govern differently than how he campaigned. I am also HOPEFUL that he will implement many of the good ideas he’s presented, though not necessarily in all the ways he proposed. I encourage those who are fearful to look at the underlying philosophy behind the proposals he has made. We can never be sure of what a new leader will really do until he takes office and so we need to at least give the man time to govern. We must remain PRAYERFUL and HOPEFUL that he will govern with a different temperament than he campaigned. And no matter how we feel about things right now, Donald Trump will be our new President. So I urge all to PAUSE AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH and to be PRAYING for our country’s new leader and his team of advisers, now and throughout his Presidency. As with any leader, he deserves that much from every American. - Stan
WHY MOST OF THE  81% OF EVANGELICALS VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP: A friend send me this  video message by Tommy Tenny the day before the election. It  is almost an hour long but it is excellent. If you are still not familiar with the issues of concern to many Christians at this time, I invite you to please take time to view this; I only wish this kind of message could be heard in all pulpits. Video: The Continental Divide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwTAQpYhkug  

PRAYER MATTERS:"To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world." - Karl Barth; "Prayer is inviting God into a seemingly impossible situation and trusting/resting in His love and grace to accomplish His perfect will in His perfect time and for His greatest glory." - Stan 

MY PERSONAL UPDATE can be found on the right side of this blog page under JOURNAL. 11/4 - Ans. Prayer! - 1) My health has been consistently better the past week, and 2) I've been offered a job!

PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14) Short of that, we should not be saying "God Bless America"but instead "God be merciful towards America!" Rev. Franklin Graham: "I do know that the president defends Islam and chastises Christians, rebukes our allies and befriends our enemies, and fully supports gay marriages and abortion but denies the religious freedoms of those who don't agree. Our nation is ridiculed abroad and morally crumbling within. We are in trouble. We have turned our back on God."

PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS:  1) Pray for esp. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP and his advisors as they prepare to assume office in January; that he would seek God's wisdom and be enabled to lead our country effectively for the good of all in the years ahead; and 2) Let's be praying that all of our nation's leaders might be Spirit-filled, leading us with Godly wisdom and integrity; that they will  only pass legislation and enact policies that will benefit Americans today as well as future generations and NOT do any lasting harm.
PRAY that the justices sitting on the Supreme Court will only hand down decisions that are in the best interests of our country now and for future generations.

JUST RELEASED: “I’m Not Ashamed!"  presents the challenging story of the life of the Columbine massacre Rachael Scott. It’s a movie every teen should see!

"THE VOICESLESS." Talk to your pastor about this movie that challenges those who consider themselves pro-life Christians to be more involved more in the effort to rescue the unborn. Go to http://joinvoiceless.com and share it with others.

MILITARY TRANSGENDER POLICY: Contact Armed Services Chairmen McCain (committee number: 202-224-3871; office number: 202-224-2235) and  Rep. Thornberry (committee number: 202-225-4151; office number: 202-225-3706) and ask them to put the  brakes on the National Defense Authorization Act conference report until military transgenderism is addressed. America's safety depends on it."

"PROTECT LOCAL SCHOOLS from Federal Overreach into Kids' Restrooms"/ Contact your local school:  - http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=AL16H05&f=AL16H05##FORM

SIGN THE PETITION: Encourage Congress to STOP THE HARVESTING OF ABORTED BABIES (see story in post ##1581) - http://aclj.org/pro-life/stop-planned-parenthood-from-harvesting-and-selling-babies-organs?

BE Prepared TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST ABORTION (...because ALL Babies Matter!): Go to: LIFE Training Institute - http://prolifetraining.com/resources/five-minute-11/  
Be Prepared TO ENGAGE WITH THE PC CULTURE: Go to:"Tactics" -
http://townhall.com/columnists/mikeadams/2016/04/29/tactics-n2154983;"Asking Questions"- 
http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/29295

World-Wide Prayer Requests:

11/16 - TURKEY: An American pastor was arrested and jailed without explanation about 6 weeks ago. Pray that he would finally be released.

 This is a photo of 3 of Asia's daughters holding a picture of their imprisoned mother.

A Christian Mother's Mandatory Death Penalty Could Be Overturned. PRAY and Sign the Petition Now! - https://aclj.org/persecuted-church/save-christian-mom-asia-bibi-from-execution? -Almost 6 years ago, when Asia Bibi defended her faith at her workplace, the workers accused her of insulting the Islamic prophet Mohmmed. She was soon arrested on blasphemy charges and sentenced to death by hanging by a local judge. She has been languishing on death row for 6 years - separated from her husband and five kids because of her Christian faith. Since then, lawyers and human rights activists have been working around the clock to appeal the case and give her  a second chance at life. Pakistan's Supreme Court was supposed to hear a final appeal but has postponed the hearing without explanation. When it is finally held, the hearing could  result in Asia being finally released. OR it could decide to have her hanged. If executed, she would be the first woman executed under Pakistan's brutal blasphemy law. The American Center for Law and Justice has been aggressively advocating for her. 

     Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is asking Christians around the world to PRAY for the folloiwing: 

That Asia would be acquitted.

For her strength and restoration during and after the hearing.

For wisdom and protection for Saiful Malook, her lawyer; and for the judges hearing her case.

For the wider Christian community who may face a backlash whatever the outcome of the appeal.

For an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Pakistan, to maintain calm in the country.

For justice for others accused of blasphemy, and that the government would urgently amend the blasphemy laws.

Don't let them execute Christian mom Asia Bibi!; SIGN the petition and PRAY for this court decision! [I've been praying in addition that , should she be released and the situation be too tense for her and her family to remain in Pakistan, they would be able to find asylum in another country, possibly even the U.S. - Stan]

Learn about Christian Persecution; Check out the World Watch List:
http://live.opendoorsusa.org/wwl/?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=content-banner&utm_campaign=may-2016
PRAY for the ON-GOING crisis now happening in IRAQ/SYRIA.  Pray that coalition forces will be able to destroy the leadership and infrastructure of ISIS.
"Why It's Becoming More Difficult to Be a Christian in INDIA" - 03-03-2016;
http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2016/March/Why-Its-Becoming-More-Difficult-to-Be-a-Christian-in-India

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"PRO-LIFE AMERICANS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF A GENERATION" - Melanie Israel / November 13, 2016 /  http://dailysignal.com/2016/11/13/pro-life-americans-have-the-opportunity-of-a-generation/

Congress and Donald Trump have an opportunity to stop the flow of taxpayer dollars to organizations that perform or promote abortion, appoint pro-life justices to the Supreme Court, and much more. (Photo: Ariel Skelley Blend Images/Newscom)

The American people have returned a pro-life majority to Congress and have elected a president committed to rolling back the Obama administration’s radical abortion policies and to appointing pro-life justices to the Supreme Court. This presents an incredible opportunity for defending innocent human life. Now is the time to act.

Executive Action
   President-elect Donald Trump should act to defend life and conscience immediately after he takes the oath of office, and should:
     Reinstate the Mexico City Policy to ensure that federally funded nongovernmental organizations do not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in foreign nations.
     Enforce the Weldon Amendment to stop states from unlawfully discriminating against health care entities that refuse to pay for or cover abortions.
     Reject a proposed parting gift to Planned Parenthood through new Title X regulations designed to lock in the abortion giant’s cut of federal funds.
     Nominate a Supreme Court justice that will respect the Constitution and the right to life.
     Repeal the Department of Health and Human Services mandate requiring insurance coverage of certain contraceptives and abortifacients. Although the Supreme Court has protected the consciences of closely held businesses and religious institutions, consciences of individual consumers and employees are still vulnerable absent full repeal.
     Reinstitute Bush administration conscience protections for health care providers.
     Reaffirm states’ freedom to exclude abortion providers from state Medicaid programs.

Congressional Action
     With a pro-life majority in both the House and the Senate, pursuing a life-affirming agenda is a must. Congress should:
     Pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The United States is one of only seven countries in the world that allows elective abortion past 20 weeks (5 months), at which point the baby is capable of feeling excruciating pain during an abortion procedure.
    Pass the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Instead of relying on a patchwork of policy riders attached to appropriation bills each year, Congress should permanently end taxpayer funding for abortion once and for all.
    Defund Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers have disqualified themselves from federal funding due to their callous disregard for human life. The money should be redirected to comprehensive health centers not entangled with abortion.
    Pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. The disturbing case of Kermit Gosnell has shown there must be criminal consequences for abortionists who violate the law and refuse to provide medical care to infants born alive after abortions.
    Pass the Conscience Protection Act, which ensures that individuals get their day in court when their rights to conscience concerning abortion are violated by the government.
    End funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). President Barack Obama sent hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to the UNFPA despite evidence of its involvement in China’s coercive two-child policy. This funding should end.
    Repeal Obamacare. Under Obamacare, tax subsidies are available for health plans that include coverage of elective abortion, and the HHS mandate requires coverage of certain abortion-inducing drugs and devices. Both anti-life policies would disappear with Obamacare’s repeal.

Promoting a Culture of Life
     The success of pro-life candidates up and down the ballot is a victory for the pro-life movement. But more importantly, it is a victory for the most vulnerable and innocent among us. Since Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton effectively legalized abortion on demand, more than 56 million children have been denied the opportunity to live.
     For over 40 years, the pro-life community has worked to counter the devastating impact abortion has had on mothers and their unborn babies, witnessing to the fundamental truth that from the moment of conception, a distinct human being with inherent worth and dignity has a right to life.
     Congress and Trump have an opportunity to codify important policy riders, stop the flow of taxpayer dollars to organizations that perform or promote abortion, end the inhuman practice of late-term abortions on babies who are viable or capable of feeling pain, appoint pro-life justices to the Supreme Court, and much more. They should take action with confidence, knowing that Americans have spoken for life at the ballot box.

[bold, italics, and colored emphasis mine]

Melanie Israel is a research associate for the DeVos Center for Religion & Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation.

 

"Trump’s Victory and the Religious Right" [or what part did the issue of abortion play in how people voted]" - Jerry Newcombe  | Nov 17, 2016; http://townhall.com/columnists/jerrynewcombe/2016/11/17/trumps-victory-and-the-religious-right-n2247011