FEATURED QUESTION: The Path To Destruction

In my homeschool World Literature class this year, we are reading George Orwell's 1984, the other outside-the-textbook readings being Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, and Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart.

I am reading 1984 again, of course. Until now, I hadn't opened the novel itself for over half a century! Naturally, my insights and interpretations are much different now, and I find myself occasionally gasping and frequently nodding my head.

Anyway, here is one of the famous quotations from Orwell's dystopian novel.

For discussion, this FEATURED QUESTION, in two parts: (1) How is the above Orwell quotation true and engulfing us in Orwellian Times? (2) How is the above Orwell quotation not true and therefore not engulfing us in Orwellian Times?

FEATURED QUESTION: Iran

What option(s) do you favor as the course to take in reaction to Iran's recent attack upon and shooting down one of our drones?

FEATURED QUESTION: The U.S. Supreme Court

After much ado and the invoking of the nuclear option (Dangerous precedent?), last week the United States Senate confirmed Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court.  He will be sworn in today. 

FEATURED QUESTION: Missile Strikes Against Syria

Last night, President Trump ordered our military to launch 59 Tomahawk missiles to strike Al Shayrat Airfield in response to chemical weapons having been deployed in Syria.

The complete text of President Trump's post-strike statement....

Text: Trump statement on U.S. military strikes in Syria

My fellow Americans: On Tuesday, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians. Using a deadly nerve agent, Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women and children. It was a slow and brutal death for so many. Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack. No child of God should ever suffer such horror.

Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons. There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons, violated its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, and ignored the urging of the U.N. Security Council.

Years of previous attempts at changing Assad's behavior have all failed, and failed very dramatically. As a result, the refugee crisis continues to deepen and the region continues to destabilize, threatening the United States and its allies.

Tonight, I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria, and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types. We ask for God's wisdom as we face the challenge of our very troubled world. We pray for the lives of the wounded and for the souls of those who have passed. And we hope that as long as America stands for justice, then peace and harmony will, in the end, prevail.

Goodnight. And God bless America and the entire world. Thank you.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

For his part, Bashar al-Assad has long claimed that he is quelling a dangerous uprising within his nation.

And, as we would expect, Putin Calls U.S. Syria Strike Aggression, Stops Air Cooperation.

FEATURED QUESTION (in two parts): 
(1) Was this military strike the right move? Why or why not?   
(2) Are you in agreement with the above statement by President Trump?

FEATURED QUESTION: The Demise of the AHCA (Bumped to the top)

Friday afternoon, because there were not enough votes to pass the House of Representatives, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan pulled the bill for Phase One of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Ryan stated:

"I don't know what else to say other than Obamacare is the law of the land. It'll remain law of the land until it's replaced," he said. "We're going to be living with Obamacre for the foreseeable future."

FEATURED QUESTION: The 2016 National Election

I cannot recall a more bizarre election cycle!

The traditional rules do not seem to apply.

According to Can Donald Trump be stopped?, a February 24, 2016 article in the Washington Post:

FEATURED QUESTION: Technology (With Addendum)

Apple has challenged a court order requiring the corporation to access the data on the iPhone used by San Bernardino jihadist Syed Farook.

Apple has refused to comply with the court order. See Apple CEO Tim Cook's letter to customers.

FEATURED QUESTION: 2016 Election

If you could have your druthers, whom would you choose as the GOP candidate for President of the United States? Explain the reason for your choice(s).

FEATURED QUESTION: BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP

(This blog post is lengthy and, therefore, will remain here for a few days so that readers will have time to consider the topic before leaping to taking a position. Also, please see the blog post published on Saturday, August 22, 2015; I am seeking advice about a personal matter)

Donald Trump's immigration plan has ignited a firestorm of discussions about the matter of illegal immigration, a problem that can and should be laid at the feet of both the Democratic and Republican Parties. Stories such as this one add more fuel to the fire: DHS Kept Secret the Release Of Violent Criminal Illegal Immigrants: Local law enforcement ‘perplexed’ over controversial policy.

Trump's published statement about immigration reform contains the following:

FEATURED QUESTION: "Free-Range Parenting"

(This blog post to remain here for several days. Please scroll down for other material)

Recently, two "free-range" children (age 10 and age 6) were held in custody for hours in Montgomery County, Maryland, as the parents frenetically sought the whereabouts of this children.

Full article from the Washington Post below the fold. Please read the entire article before commenting.

FEATURED QUESTION: Science

(This FEATURED QUESTION stuck here for few days. Please scroll down for other material)

According to this source, the following are the greatest inventions in history: the wheel, money, the television, the Model T Ford, the internet, the modern computer, the steam engine, the telephone, the printing press, and the jet airplane.  Inventions can be defined in several ways, including "labor-saving devices." 

FEATURED QUESTION: Immigration

(This FEATURED QUESTION stuck here for few days. Please scroll down for other material)

Time and again, we hear the following: "These hard-working immigrants do the work that Americans will not do."

President Obama has characterized immigrants, particularly illegal immigrants, as "workers who pick our fruit and make our beds."  As if those are the only tasks undertaken by illegal immigrants!

FEATURED QUESTION: Midterm Elections 2014

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Everybody and his brother seems to have their own sets of predictions for the November 4 National Intelligence Test, otherwise knows as Election Day.

FEATURED QUESTION: What do you predict for the outcome of Election Day 2014? Your answer may be general or specific.

[Before commenting, know that this blog will no longer accept comments about Ebola unless such comments are posted to these threads. Thank you]

FEATURED QUESTION: Constitutional Roles

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In several ways, my sister-in-law is a nice person. She is also financially prosperous. As the executive president and CFO of her own private business and living in a very exclusive area of Southern California, she is clearly a member of "the 1%."

When it comes to politics, however, she and I are at complete odds over on Facebook, where I'm actually quite restrained in any political posts that I make. Indeed, I rarely post about politics at Facebook; rather, I typically reserve that venue for contacting friends, family, and former students.

I'm sure that my sister-in-law would have a meltdown if she saw this blog! I have carefully kept secret from her my Always On Watch identity.

One day, my sister-in-law revealed an important part of her political belief system: "President Obama is the man with a vision. It is the job of Congress to smooth the waters!" I was dumbfounded. My sister-in-law is an anomaly in our family, and I didn't expect that salvo from her. Furthermore, she launches an attack every time I post anything the slightest bit political — the one exception being anything about Islam. She hates all religions with a passion.

FEATURED QUESTION: How does one reason with those who believe as my sister-in-law does? 

When Progressives are members of one's own family, it is well nigh impossible to avoid them completely — or to be oneself around them, for that matter.

FEATURED QUESTION: World News

(This blog post will remain here for a few days)

Many all across the political spectrum are opining that Russian President Vladimir Putin has blood on his hands because of last week's downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

This FEATURED QUESTION, in two parts:

(1) Is Vladimir Putin to blame for the downing of the flight?

(2) If Putin is indeed responsible, what is the appropriate reaction on the part of the United States?

FEATURED QUESTION

How many applications of the above quotation can you think of?

FEATURED QUESTION: Blogging

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I've been blogging for nearly eight years.

I'm curious about a few matters related to blogging.

FEATURED QUESTION: Healthcare Reform

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Recently Ann Coulter wrote "Three Cheers for Romneycare!" She stated:

...Until Obamacare, mandatory private health insurance was considered the free-market alternative to the Democrats' piecemeal socialization of the entire medical industry....

Read the entire essay HERE.

How does any kind of insurance work?

FEATURED QUESTION: Politics

(This post stuck here for several days. Please scroll down for other posts. I've got a couple of real doozies a few posts down!)

We are still a long way from the 2012 GOP Convention in September of 2012, but primary season is fast closing upon us. See the 2012 primary calendar HERE.

Agree or disagree, you can view a Dick Morris video about the present GOP field of candidates below the fold:

FEATURED QUESTION: Michele Bachmann

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Recently Chuck Thinks Right pointed out that GOP Presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann signed The Marriage Vow, which includes the following statement:

"Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families, yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raised by his mother and father in a two-parent household than was an African-American baby born after the election of the USA's first African-American President..."

The passage, which was on the front page of The Marriage Vow, has since been removed. Read the details HERE.