The Freedom of the News Media

Freedom within the news media should be open to all points of view. Reporters should not be censored from the agenda of the media management. Reporters should be free to speak their minds without repercussions from those who hired them. 

A few weeks ago, two prominent network reporters were fired. They had a large following. Both expressed their views from the conservative and progressive points of view. I'm not defending either one; each person should draw their own conclusion based on their values. My point is that freedom of speech in the press is critical.  The influence of media management on their employees should not be a factor. I realize it's all about profits, but we have to have news sources, and that news, whether right or wrong, is a mainstay for information. 

Think about this moment; cut off all news sources (which we should occasionally do), no TV, radio, newspapers, or internet. Word of mouth would be the only way to know what is happening. The news at that point would have to be passed on from person to person. This example might seem extreme, but it demonstrates how much we rely on our news sources.

Today's news about the end of Title 42 is a critical piece of information. Why? Because it is estimated that 10,000 illegal immigrants will cross the southern border from now on. This week cities have reported preparing for the massive influx of illegals. 

The news is a critical element of our daily life. We should always stay informed about current events because it will affect us in some way or another. 

 

Photo - pixabay - geralt

Film Friday - Westerns

Top Ten Westerns

This was a tough one; hard to decide which one made the list.

So, here goes:

10. Shane (1953)

9. Pale Rider (1985)

 

8. El Dorado (1966)

7. Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

6. Seraphim Falls (2006)

5. The Searchers (1956)

4. The Magnificent Seven (1960)

3. How the West Was Won (1962)

 2. Rio Bravo (1959)

And my number one pick for Western Movies is:

1. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

The End of Title 42

The End of Title 42 is a disaster for the United States.

Title 42, the public health policy that quickly expels border-crossers – imposed by then-President Donald Trump and continued under President Joe Biden – is set to expire May 11.

Once this expires, it is expected that 10,000 illegal immigrants will cross the border into the United States daily. News media reports these are people seeking asylum. My understanding of asylum-seekers is that immigrants are supposed to stop at the first country border and request asylum. But why is it that there are people from all over the world coming through Mexico? They have managed to maneuver around enough to find their way to the Mexico/United States border. 

At the end of September 2022, the US Border Patrol recorded that 2.4 million illegal immigrants had crossed the United States. This number will expand even more after May 11th.

There are approximately 2,500 US troops at the border now, and 1,500 more troops are expected to arrive soon to assist in controlling the massive number of illegals crossing the US border.

 

Biden orders 1,500 more troops to Mexico border ahead of Title 42 ending | The Texas Tribune 

 

We already have enough problems of our own this would not only overload the border states but will expand into all the states and small towns. 

This seems to be flowing too well. How is it that those crossing the border have traveled thousands of miles, giving the appearance of having just stepped off a charter bus? I will tell you why. It is being funded by wealthy progressives on a mission to destroy the United States by overwhelming our local governments. 

Watch and learn after May 11th. News reports from all over the United States will report cities being overrun by illegals. 

 

 

May

The month of May

The beginning of a new month and the peak of the Spring season. Most will say it's the beginning of Summer, but I consider Summer in June.

I have always associated the month of May with Memorial Day and the celebration of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, within the Catholic church.  Also, with this time of the year, being outdoors is the goal, working around the yard, cutting grass and trimming bushes, and absorbing all the sunshine I can get. I'm going to try posting more pictures this spring/summer season.  I have recently published the progress pics of the Bluebirds.  But there is more to explore, so look for upcoming photos of the Great Outdoors.

Photo - pixabay - Couleur

Bluebirds 23.6

Probably the last pic of them before they fledge.

Date of picture April 29th

The Holy Spirit

 

Bluebirds 23.5

 Finally, hatched !!!

Date of picture April 18th

God will Prevail

Scanning the news stories this morning, I discovered this MSNBC interview about using God as an excuse.

Follow the Link https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/athena-butler-the-republican-party-is-using-god-as-an-excuse/vi-AA19UMh7?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=0799da64adac4a7e8e45bcaedd01cbb1&ei=75

Everyone in this great country has the right to voice their opinion; with that said, here is mine.

The interview follows up on the recent events in the Tennesse state legislature, the expulsion of members of the State House, and the difference in opinions about right and wrong. The video clearly expresses the extreme progressive left criticizing the words and actions of the members of the super-majority-led conservative party in the State House.  These representatives are relaying the voices of their constituents, who are God-fearing people and believe the laws of God should be followed in all matters of life with no exceptions. God did not give us rules to live by just so we could pick and choose the ones we agree with and disregard the ones we don't. 

God knows what is best for us. God created the universe, so I trust God knows what He is doing. No one is perfect. We have to do our best every day to make the right decisions. But the MSN video completely disregards the Truth of God; they are choosing to criticize what conservatives see as a way of life and twisting the words of the Bible to fit their narrative. 

God's Word in the Bible was given to us to follow to the end of times. It does not change according to which way the political and cultural winds are blowing. No exception. God knows what is best for us because He loves us.  There is no place for racism, prejudice, or any other hatred. But with that said we must not give in to the progressive ideology that all things Christian are evil. Christians for over 2,000 years have been defending their faith, and it will not be stopped by whatever is trending on the day's news. God will prevail. 

Photo - pixabay - bpcraddock 

John 19: 19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week,

when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,

for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood in their midst

and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,

and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,

was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

But he said to them,

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands

and put my finger into the nailmarks

and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside

and Thomas was with them.

Jesus came, although the doors were locked,

and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,

and bring your hand and put it into my side,

and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples

that are not written in this book.

But these are written that you may come to believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Bluebirds 23.4

These eggs have been here for a few weeks.  They will be hatching soon, hopefully.

Has evil become a regular part of society?

On any day, reports of evil have become a regular part of society.  I believe the tipping point for all of this was the pandemic. The isolation of people, the churches that closed, and the rioting in cities and, this is just a few to mention. These events caused an effect that spread worldwide. 

25 years ago, the times seemed steady, nothing major besides the norm stuff of everyday life. And a few years later, the 9/11 attacks created a sense of unity of good vs. evil and lasted a few years until the next transition, the global war on terrorism. As anyone can see, the chain of evil events afterward increased more intensity. 

World history will consistently demonstrate events of good vs. evil. But what makes this time so different is the acceptance of evil. In the past, good has always been the dominating force in fighting the bad. But now, evil has become the dominating force against good. 

A simple way to observe this is to take in all the news for just a few days and think about how it would have been perceived 25 years ago. Here are a few examples, drag queens at Storytime in local libraries, parents letting their children decide if they want to be a boy or a girl, men competing in women's sporting events, and mass shootings. Society twenty-five years ago would have deemed this outrageous and unacceptable. 

The unacceptable is still unacceptable! The one thing that has changed is evil has become the dominating influence and has convinced those who once knew the difference between good and evil now believe in just the opposite. 

We must return to the true good, the Truth in God. For thousands of years, the principle set forth from the moment God gave us the Ten Commandments, we are obligated to follow the rules set for us by our Creator. God set these Commandments for a good reason, they are timeless, and along the teaching of Jesus Christ, we have all that we need to fight against the evil in the world.

Photo -pixabay - SHAWSHANK66

  

Keep it Simple

Why does politics have to be a component of every decision we make?

This applies to almost everything we hear in the news.  Within businesses, we see this when large corporations compete with other companies; someone is always trying to make a deal with a politician to gain some advantage over their competitors. I don't believe this applies to lower-level office departments, but to some degree, the "office politics" is in progress daily. The entertainment industry has a load of political actors who use their popularity to manipulate fans. And, of course, the sports industry, like the entertainment industry, has its fair share of opinions.

My opinion is to take the politics out, and I know that is impossible, but why can't marketing, businesses, sports, and entertainment eliminate the political aspect. We already have enough problems, so why add to the stress. Keep everything simple; everything does not have to have a political agenda.

Photo - pixabay - flockine               

Boycott

The recent news about Bud Light beer has become another company gone woke.

Here is why - follow the link - Bud Light Faces Boycott Over Dylan Mulvaney Partnership: 'Never Drink It' (msn.com) 

Why do companies market to the woke agenda?

Don't they realize that not everyone thinks the same way? They are narrowing their marketing to a specific group of people, a tiny percentage of the population while offending the rest of us.  I was never a fan of Bud Light. It's the principle of what they are marketing, so from now on, all Anheuser-Busch products are on my boycott list.  

We must not support companies that endorse the drag queen lifestyle. It has already infiltrated our schools and libraries to intentionally influence the younger generation.  It is a moral issue that goes against God's laws of morality.

Not only should we not buy products from woke companies, but we should also express to others why we do not support those companies. Our moral obligation is to inform others of the evils working in the world.

Photo - pixabay - iXimus  

Bluebirds 23.3

More eggs on April the 1st.

 First egg March the 29th.

The Good from the Bad

Good comes from something bad.

This a simple statement that almost always holds true. 

The Nashville school shooting and all the evil that took place on that day have caused a city and nation to unite in the after moments. And that one uniting thing is prayer. 

In the last few days of watching and reading the latest updates, usually, someone will say, please continue praying for the victims of this tragic event. We have seen this so many times in the past how people are united in prayer. 

If you are new to daily prayer, take this time to start, especially now, but continue to pray daily because there is always something to pray for.

Photo - pixabay - Godsgirl_madi

Generation X

I recently read an article about Cracker Barrel and Walmart closing some of their stores in Portland, Oregon. Several articles stated it was due to the pandemic, crime, and staffing issues.

These businesses are an everyday staple around the United States. What is the future of retail trade in general? These two companies are popular and employ thousands across the United States. But it doesn't stop here. Other business industries are struggling with the same issues.  

I have stated in past blog posts that the pandemic has changed how business is conducted. And crime is clearly continuing to go up. And the economy is in a downward spiral. The sad thing is we cannot do anything about it. This is a generation issue. Those in the 20 to 40 age range are the keys to turning this around. And I don't believe this generation is prepared to take on these responsibilities. Sure, there are a few who will strive to be successful. My concern is this generation will be the future leaders of businesses and government. And this will directly affect the baby boomer generation, which includes me. They will be affected by the decisions made by the younger generation.

I don't know the answers to these questions, but I hope things will get better somehow.

Photo - pixabay - Mimirebelle

 

Everyday Diplomacy

Diplomacy is a powerful word, but it is used even more powerfully when it is in action. It is generally used in the context of nations in a debate about a policy to be negotiated, but this is at a higher level than the average person.   

As conversations go for the day-to-day interactions of the general public, it's necessary to apply this action to everything we do.  Some would say, "I'm going to say exactly what is on my mind," without considering the consequences of those words. This literally applies to not only words but all thoughts and actions. It's about control of yourself.  If you think about this for a moment, if everyone said precisely what was on their mind, there would be considerable disagreement. Once this action is engaged, one could be in an unending conversation cycle. But diplomacy is a more controlled way of speech. It's kinder, considerate, negotiable, and should always be honest.

Photo - pixabay - geralt  

Benjamin Franklin - Quote

 

Bluebirds 23.2

 

The progress continues, but no eggs yet.  The nest will fill within 5 days with 3 to 4 eggs. 

More info to come.

Film Friday - Catholic Movies

Today's Film Friday list.

Happy St. Patrick's Day 

St. Patrick was a Catholic Priest, so I thought it would be appropriate to list some of my favorite catholic movies.  I could have created a list of Irish films but I haven't watched enough to generate a worthy list here. 

My Top 10 Catholic Movies:

10. Angles in the Outfield (1951)

9. Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)

8. When in Rome (1952)

7. Trouble Along the Way (1953)

6. The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968)

5. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

4. The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

3. Going My Way (1944)

2. The Song of Bernadette (1943)

1. The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)