The existential elephant in the ‘Christian persecution’ room

Raymond Ibrahim     "Open Doors USA recently released its widely cited 2014 World Watch List—a report that highlights and ranks the 50 worst nations around the globe persecuting Christians.
"The one glaring fact that emerges from this report is that the overwhelming majority of Christian persecution around the world today is being committed at the hands of Muslims of all races, languages, cultures, and socio-political circumstances: Muslims from among America’s allies (Saudi Arabia) and its enemies (Iran); Muslims from economically rich nations (Qatar) and from poor nations (Somalia and Yemen); Muslims from “Islamic republic” nations (Afghanistan) and from “moderate” nations (Malaysia and Indonesia); Muslims from nations rescued by America (Kuwait) and Muslims claiming “grievances” against America (fill in the blank __)."

With Friends Like These...

HopenChange


"In a speech addressing Americans' growing fears that the NSA is collecting too much information on too many people, Barack Obama stated that we really have nothing to worry about because "the folks at the NSA and other intelligence agencies are our neighbors and friends," much like the civic-minded folks who peep into women's windows at night and watch while they're changing clothes, just to make absolutely sure they're safe.

"But as reassuring as it is to be reminded that the intelligence agencies are just "neighbors and friends," can't that description be made to fit, well, damn near everyone? ..."

How MLK's Faith Influenced His Public Life

Heritage  ... "King’s faith supported everything he did, and his vision for America arose directly from his Christian ideals. “If we are wrong, the Constitution of the United States is wrong,” he declared. “If we are wrong, God Almighty is wrong.”
"Christianity teaches that people must love one another, and even before he began his crusade for civil rights, King frequently preached that people must love their enemies and forgive those who attempt to harm them. The marches, rallies, and boycotts he organized all featured non-violence, because they were born in Christian love and hope." ...

thebratrights.blogspot

Obama Says Racial Animus Blunts Approval, New Yorker Reports

Bloomberg  "President Barack Obama said that racial tensions may have softened his popularity among white voters within the last two years, according to a story posted on the New Yorker magazine’s website today.
“ 'There’s no doubt that there’s some folks who just really dislike me because they don’t like the idea of a black president,” Obama said in the article by David Remnick, appearing in the magazine’s Jan. 27 edition."

The Remnick article with the cited passage fully quoted:
On and off the road with Barack Obama.

Obama’s election was one of the great markers in the black freedom struggle. In the electoral realm, ironically, the country may be more racially divided than it has been in a generation. Obama lost among white voters in 2012 by a margin greater than any victor in American history. The popular opposition to the Administration comes largely from older whites who feel threatened, underemployed, overlooked, and disdained in a globalized economy and in an increasingly diverse country. Obama’s drop in the polls in 2013 was especially grave among white voters. “There’s no doubt that there’s some folks who just really dislike me because they don’t like the idea of a black President,” Obama said. “Now, the flip side of it is there are some black folks and maybe some white folks who really like me and give me the benefit of the doubt precisely because I’m a black President.” The latter group has been less in evidence of late.

http://thedaleygator.wordpress.com/2013/01/20/your-sunday-best/

 I agree there is, in some places, dislike for this President because of his skin color, just as there is dislike for whites displayed in daily violent attacks on our streets. Both have their roots in the most reprehensible elements of our society.
But I feel this claim by Mr. Obama serves him by painting all who oppose his policies as racist and he is aided in this by demagogues like Chris Matthews and the culture of MSNBC, Hollywood, and academia.
If you read the right sidebar of the Tunnel Wall titled. "Why the Tunnel Wall" you will see these words by yours truly:

...."We felt the day this nation elected a black President would show America had truly become America.
But not this president; not Barack Obama.
We envisioned a black president who would govern as an American who loved this country. One who loved America for her exceptionalness; for having the character to overcome her worst elements; for all her economic strength that it was now possible for everyone to grasp the opportunity to share.
But now we have some ominous dots to connect and a picture takes shape: William Ayres and his causes; Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, Van Jones, all preaching their hateful philosophies. We saw Cuban flags and pictures of Che Guevara on walls of Obama campaign offices; red Soviet flags flying over crowds in post-election rallies. We heard the socialist views spoken to Joe the Plumber and this administration's disdain for private enterprise. " ...

Show respect for our National Anthem

  

The original star-spangled banner

 

Forwarded to me by a former classmate. I do not know if it was indeed written by a USMC colonel in Afghanistan, the words are something many of us will agree with:
Marine Col. In Afghanistan … Please, Sing National Anthem in the Traditional Manner for Our Military and Vets…     

"So with all the kindness I can muster, I give this one piece of advice to the next pop star who is asked to sing the national anthem at a sporting event:

Save them vocal gymnastics and the physical gyrations for your concerts. Just sing this song the way you were taught to sing it in kindergarten - straight up, no styling.

Sing it with the constant awareness that there are soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines watching you from bases and outposts all over the world. Don't make them cringe with your self-centered ego gratification.

Sing it as if you are standing before a row of 86-year-old WWII vets wearing their Purple Hearts, Silver Stars and flag pins on their cardigans and you want them to be proud of you for honoring them and the country they love - not because you want them to think you are a superstar musician. They could see that from your costume, makeup and your entourage. Thanks to Gail Downie, Nehalem, Oregon
 

 

Letter of the Day: Sing the national anthem respectfully

Sing 'The Star Spangled Banner' with the courtesy and humility that tells the audience that it is about America, not you.

And please remember, not everything has to be sung as a Negro spiritual. We're getting a little weary of that. Francis Scott Key does not need any help." Semper Fi !

 

So help me, there is even a Facebook page devoted to properly singing the National Anthem:
 Sing Our National Anthem Correctly

Obama has managed to negate any good the troops did before he became President and since he became president

Background on the article posted  

 

"We spend our whole lives training to defend this country, and then we were sent over there by this country, and you're telling me because we were over there doing what we were told by our country that it was senseless and my guys died for nothing?"

 

 "That was how former Navy SEAL and Lone Survivor author Marcus Luttrell responded to CNN's Jake Tapper during an interview about the new movie based on his book, about an ill-fated mission in Afghanistan in which 19 of his fellow Navy SEALs and other special operations personnel were killed by enemy forces."

 

From Bookworm Room: Yes, the SEALS’ sacrifice during Operation Red Wings was a waste
"Before you start hammering away at me, let me explain what I mean about my claim that the sacrifice the SEALS and their rescuers made during Operation Red Wings was indeed a waste.  I am referring, of course, to Jake Tapper’s asking Marcus Luttrell whether  his comrades died in vain.  That was a foolish and tactless question to ask Luttrell, and Luttrell couldn’t and wouldn’t give the real answer in any event.  There is an answer, though, and Tapper was right.  Here’s why:" ....

... "The above examples of wasted deaths in war are familiar to any history student.  Barack Obama has added an entirely new category to “wasted war deaths,” one that I don’t think has ever before occurred in recorded history:  deaths that are a waste because the Commander-in-Chief couldn’t care less about victory or the troops, but merely wants to give the appearance of fighting for short-term domestic political advantage." ....
....

"So, yes, Operation Red Wings was a waste... and this is so because we have a president who views war solely in terms of his own self-aggrandizement and political objectives, without any regard for America’s national security or strategic interests, or for the troops who have served and are currently serving in our American military.  Obama has managed to negate any good the troops did before he became President and, since he became president, they are merely objects on his own personal chessboard.  Like some spoiled potentate, he moves them around for his pleasure and views their deaths with clinical dispassion."

Senior UK Defense Advisor: Obama Is Clueless About ‘What He Wants To Do In The World’

President Obama is “chronically incapable” of military strategy and falls far short of his predecessor George W. Bush, according to one of Britain’s most senior military advisors.

 Sir Hew Strachan, an advisor to the Chief of the Defense Staff

Strike three for Christie?

Deflating Christie   "The Democrats, along with the media, appear to think that they've struck a mighty blow in the preparations for Hillary's 2016 "coronation" in taking down Chris Christie. (And he has been taken down -- the accusation from Mayor Dawn Zimmer of Hoboken is strike three, and that's the end of it.)
"But in truth, they've done the GOP a great favor in removing a loose cannon that could only have damaged the party and its chances in the upcoming election.
...
"We can be certain that Christie has such a trail, and the Democrats have documented every last milestone on it. Bridgegate tipped their hand early; it would have been much better for them to wait until the last possible moment to reveal Christie's various faux pas, but media frenzies have their own rules, and the Dems are now behaving as if they planned things this way all along." More.
J.R. Dunn

Regarding Mayor Dawn Zimmer: The Scandal Is MSNBC

"MSDNC strikes again. I saw many media outlets just blindly picking up this Christie story without fact-checking it."

Watergate 2? For Over a Week, Chris Matthews Has Hyped Christie as the New Nixon
"Matthews showed a chart of Nixon's slow drop in popularity and connected: "Everything was great, until the evidence came in. Now, Christie can do all the campaigning and showboating he wants, I will argue, but then again, he might as well, because he is going down anyway.' "

Hollywood Blacklist 2: Actress Out Of San Francisco Production After Endorsing Tea Party Candidate

CBS SF   "A famed actress is facing backlash in San Francisco’s Latino community, after she voiced support for a conservative candidate for California governor.
"Maria Conchita Alonso starred in a campaign ad for Assemblyman Tim Donnelly of San Bernardino County, a Tea Party favorite who is seeking the Republican nomination.

You have to see this really nifty ad:

"Donnelly has voiced strong views against illegal immigration and was once involved with the Minutemen Project, a group that patrolled the border with Mexico to catch immigrants coming across.
....
"Standing next to Donnelly, Alonso jokingly translated in Spanish, “We’re screwed.' ”
....
"Alonso is an actress of Cuban and Venezuelan descent. She is perhaps best known for her role in the movie “Moscow on the Hudson” which also starred Robin Williams."

Women Fail to Achieve Male Marines’ Lowest Standard

Western Journalism

Advocates for women in combat have mouthed the words: If women can make the standards, they should be able to serve in the combat units and Special Forces.  If they are telling the truth, why don’t they insist women be tested on the men’s unaltered standards?  Three pull-ups is the bare minimum; it would put a man at the bottom of his unit.  Women get 100% for eight pull-ups where men have to do twenty for 100%.  Is that equality?
Read more at http://www.westernjournalism.com/women-fail-achieve-male-marines-lowest-standard/#6pG3VejIavFRbxCj.99

Biden Still Wrong on Afghanistan

Max Boot   “ 'I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”  –Bob Gates on Joe Biden
"Biden is obviously determined to maintain his perfect batting average, to judge from this Wall Street Journal article, which reports: “Vice President Joe Biden has resumed a push to withdraw virtually all U.S. troops from Afghanistan at year’s end, arguing for a far-smaller presence than many military officers would like to see, said officials briefed on the discussions.' ”....

.... "But if all goes well with Afghanistan’s election, Karzai won’t be president much longer. The U.S. would be crazy to hold hostage our long-term policy in Afghanistan and the region to his whims–or to Biden’s misguided policy prescriptions." ...

http://www.wnd.com/2011/08/330429/

Charles Krauthammer: How in good conscience?

Charles Krauthammer   "By early 2011, writes former defense secretary Robert Gates, he had concluded that President Obama “doesn’t believe in his own [Afghanistan] strategy, and doesn’t consider the war to be his.”

"Not his? America is at war and he’s America’s commander in chief. For the soldier being shot at in the field, it makes no difference under whose administration the fighting began. In fact, three out of four Americans killed in Afghanistan have died under Barack Obama’s command. That’s ownership enough." ....

Tony Branco

Mr. Krauthammer could always see it; in the above article he refers us to this column he wrote back in 2009:

Obama's hollow speech on Afghanistan  

 ... Which made his last-minute assertion of "resolve unwavering" so hollow. It was meant to be stirring. It fell flat.

Back to Mr. Krauthammer's original piece in which he points out the political hackery of this president:


... "Even worse, Obama ordered a major escalation, expending much blood but not an ounce of his own political capital. Over the next four years, notes Gates with chagrin, Obama ignored the obligation of any commander to explain, support and try to rally the nation to the cause.

"And when he finally terminated the surge, he did so in the middle of the 2012 fighting season. Militarily incoherent — but politically convenient. It allowed Obama to campaign for reelection proclaiming that “the tide of war is receding.' ”
It is said that a nation gets the leaders it deserves. Let us give thanks to Obama voters who gave our nation and Western Civilization this mediocre socialist for our president.

Benghazi: Hillary, Obama and the Press

 

'Core Al Qaeda' nonsense: The Big Mac problem  ... "But now it is acknowledged by the Senate Intelligence Committee (chaired by Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-CA) that the attack was preventable because warnings of AQ terror cells in Benghazi were offered to Hillary Clinton's State Department and ignored:"....
 

But here is something the left will buy:

... "So a new fiction has been invented: that the groups operating in Libya were not "core Al Qaeda.""
....
But not Steve Hayes and Thomas Joscelyn. They call this ..."a reprehensible evasion." That they say "explains why the United States has failed to bring the Benghazi perpetrators to justice. But it in no way excuses that failure."

I call it more cowardice from an administration that turns against America's allies, cowers before our enemies, and viciously condemns entire classes of American citizens. Anyway, back to the article:

The Real Scandal  ... "A new report on the attacks from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, along with more than 400 pages of newly declassified congressional testimony from senior military officials, provides fresh insight. The explanation for this failure—a lack of will, combined with a shameless mischaracterization of intelligence—is almost as outrageous as the failure itself."