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CHICAGO - The March for Life Chicago’s final event in the 2021 multi-city tour drew almost 600 carloads of pro-life advocates to process through the streets of downtown Chicago for the January 23, 2021 event. Organizer Kevin Grillot, Executive Director of weDignify, noted that the first ever Moving the Movement tour was a “strong public witness to life” as participants assembled in multiple venues across the Midwest for safe, socially distanced car rallies and procession, rather than the annual mass gathering in the Chicago Loop.
The March for Life Chicago Rally on the Road on January 23 was the culmination of a month-long pro-life tour across the Midwest. Throughout downtown Chicago, families cheered on street corners as the procession moved from the near north side through the city to the southwest side where participants donated tens of thousands of diapers to a local pregnancy resource center.
By Jane M. Orient, M.D. -
Students of history feel that we are living in a time comparable to 1848 (the Spring of Nations) in Europe, 1917 in Russia, 1933 in Germany—or the times of the French Revolution, the American Revolution, or the U.S. Civil War.
Most Americans who are alive today have lived in a period of relative political stability and ideological clarity. It never occurred them that they might be facing dilemmas like those their ancestors did in times preceding the American Revolution or Civil War—or those that immigrants from Cuba, Romania, communist China, the Soviet Union, and other totalitarian states came to America to escape. Most Americans, especially young ones, have no knowledge of history.
The people who were experiencing those times of upheaval had absolutely no clue about the future. They therefore tried to make best predictions they could and bet on various outcomes. They joined different factions based upon their place in the societal structure and upon their predictions and bets. Some guessed right, and many were wrong. Millions of people were killed, and many were forced into exile.
Most Americans are—or have been—apathetic about politics. But politics is coming for them. People in the upper middle class have felt secure—they have assets, live in a safe neighborhood, still have a paycheck or pension, and have not knowingly offended anyone. But their gated communities have been crashed.
Continue reading "Dr. Orient: Medicine In Turbulent Times" »
Critical race theory is becoming pervasive in schools around the country. Christopher Rufo writes:
A middle school in Springfield, Missouri, recently held a diversity training program that forced teachers to locate themselves on an “oppression matrix” and watch a video of “George Floyd’s last words.”
According to whistleblower documents and teachers who attended the program at Cherokee Middle School, the training began with a “land acknowledgement,” claiming that “Springfield Public Schools is built on ancestral territory of the Osage, Delaware and Kickapoo Nations and Peoples.” (At the time of publication, Springfield Public Schools had not responded to a request for comment.) The diversity trainers, Jeremy Sullivan and Myki Williamson, asked the teachers to “acknowledge the dark history and violence against Native and Indigenous People” before engaging in the day’s program of “social justice work.”
President Trump approved the use of grants to help cover the costs of in-person education, including enrollment in private schools, allowing parents to get their children back in classrooms.
Trump’s December 28 executive order allows states to use Community Service Block Grants (CSBG) to give emergency K-12 scholarships to disadvantaged children who have been locked out of public schools due to the pandemic. The grants can cover a multitude of schooling options, such as private school, homeschooling, micro-schooling, learning-pods, special education services, or tutoring.
“All families should be empowered to make the decision that is right for their own circumstance,” Trump stated in a press release.
Continue reading "Parents Get Options to Escape School Lockdowns" »
On his first day in the White House, President Joe Biden signed an executive order blocking further construction on the Keystone XL Pipeline project. Most voters disagree with Biden’s decision.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that only 36% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is a good idea to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline that would transport oil from Canada to the U.S. Fifty-one percent (51%) of voters say canceling the pipeline is a bad idea, and 13% are not sure.
OTTAWA - The La Salle County Republican Central Committee is hosting a “Rally for Representation” in Ottawa’s Washington Square Park on Saturday, January 30th at 1:00 PM, and anyone not happy with the 16th CD's representation to the US Congress is invited to attend.
"Over the past six years, Illinois' 16th Congressional District Rep. Adam Kinzinger has not met nor communicated with the La Salle County Republican Central Committee, despite repeated invitations to do so," a statement from LaSalle County GOP chairman Larry Smith said Monday. "Beginning last year, Rep. Kinzinger became a frequent, public critic of former President Donald Trump, who was at that time the President of the United States, the leader of the Republican Party, and his Commander-In-Chief. Rep. Kinzinger's remarks have reached a level of disconnect and inappropriateness that we, as his fellow Republicans and constituents, can no longer remain silent."
Over the past three decades, the Left-Right debate in America has been full of oddities and contradictions. Perhaps the strangest of them all has been the conservative movement's devotion to the interests of large corporations, which routinely use their wealth and power to support causes that directly conflict with conservative ideals.
Among the most notable examples is the recent attack on political speech waged by large technology companies (and multi-billion-dollar corporations) such as Apple, Microsoft, Twitter and Facebook.
Continue reading "Dear Conservatives: Big Corporations are Not Your Friends" »
By Nancy Thorner -
Anyone in a uniform is a Deplorable to the average D.C. Democrat, as was evident when photos emerged of National Guard living in parking garage. Trump showed why he received 80 million votes, with a classy move to instead house the National Guard troops in his Washington, D.C. hotel.
This is horrible publicity for Biden, so is impeachment, even if a token Mitt Romney and a few other RINOS join the Democrats in impeaching Trump for the 2nd time. On Monday, January 25, 2021, Donald Trump’s impeachment article is to be sent from the House to the Senate.
Continue reading "Thorner: A Prelude of Things to Come Under Biden" »
By Hank Beckman -
Joe Biden was sworn in as the nation’s 46th President last week, and the theme of his address could be summed up in one word: unity.
He rambled on about how fragile democracy was, how the “hallowed ground” of the Capital was shaken by the recent violence and how his predecessors from both parties were patriots and how America was a great country and how “we are a good people.”
But the main theme of his inaugural address focused on bringing together people for “that most elusive of things in a democracy: Unity...Unity.”
While it consisted mostly of political pablum that should bore the average fourth-grader, media predictably gushed over the speech as if it were the greatest speech in recorded history, delivered by an orator the equal of Cicero, or at least Barack Obama. (Quick—and no Googling—do you really remember anything the Precious One ever said? No you don’t.)
But you expected that from a community of journalists who have essentially become the public relations arm of the Democratic Party, didn’t you?
When turnabout is never fair play. William Voegeli writes:
Many things are complicated—but not everything. If you condemned the Antifa/Black Lives Matter violence that took place around the country in 2020, as all conservatives did, then you must condemn the Trumpist riot at the U.S. Capitol in 2021. Period.
Suppose, however, you spent last summer applauding the riots, or dissembling about them, or dismissing them. In that case, to deplore last week’s violence credibly is not so simple. If you demand that your political adversaries adhere to a principle, but exempt people whose cause you endorse from having to comply, then that preference you enjoy boasting about is not really a principle. It is not a standard of conduct applicable to all, in other words, but just another rhetorical device used for political combat.
Reopening our economy is vital to recovering from the effects of Covid-19. We’ve got to trust Americans to make decisions for their lives so that their businesses and communities can thrive.
So, it’s really frustrating to see government overreaches of power to shutdown society. The only thing worse than draconian lockdowns (like a mayor in Illinois encouraging the cops to fine his own wife!) is hypocritical politicians doing the very things that they’ve made illegal for their constituents.
The Heritage Foundation has a new resource that tracks officials who violate their own coronavirus restrictions. Take a look here: https://www.heritage.org/data-
As posted on the White House website:
Today marks the 48th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade.
In the past four years, reproductive health, including the right to choose, has been under relentless and extreme attack. We are deeply committed to making sure everyone has access to care – including reproductive health care – regardless of income, race, zip code, health insurance status, or immigration status.
The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to codifying Roe v. Wade and appointing judges that respect foundational precedents like Roe. We are also committed to ensuring that we work to eliminate maternal and infant health disparities, increase access to contraception, and support families economically so that all parents can raise their families with dignity. This commitment extends to our critical work on health outcomes around the world.
As the Biden-Harris Administration begins in this critical moment, now is the time to rededicate ourselves to ensuring that all individuals have access to the health care they need.
SPRINGFIELD - Illinois is making national news again - this time concerning an upcoming General Assembly committee vote on a rule that some are saying will turn Illinois government school classes into "woke indoctrination sessions":
National Review's Stanley Kurtz writes:
On February 16, The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) of the Illinois General Assembly will decide whether to officially enact a rule already approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. The new rule is called “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards.” It’s a doozy. Should the rule be ratified on February 16, the entire Illinois teacher corps will be effectively forced into political re-education and compelled to turn their classes into woke indoctrination sessions. We’ll look at details, but the most extraordinary in a raft of outrageous dictates is that teachers must “embrace and encourage progressive viewpoints and perspectives.” Illinois is literally about to mandate that every one of its licensed teachers adopt progressive political orthodoxy and impart that ideology to students. I’ve seen some pretty extreme stuff in my time, but my jaw is now officially on the floor.
And I’m only just getting started. Yes, the new Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards are filled with commands that utterly politicize the classroom and very likely trample the free-speech and religious-liberty rights of teachers. The larger problem, however, is that Illinois has already laid the groundwork for this assault on the Constitution by enacting a so-called civics law that forces teachers to discuss current political controversies in class. The Illinois civics law also compels teachers to organize adventures in “action civics” (student protests or lobbying expeditions on behalf of causes like gun control or the Green New Deal.) These so-called civics requirements are transparent attempts to import leftist political activism and indoctrination into Illinois schools.
Problem is there's no doubt this is moving forward on February 16th. Evidently, the National Review isn't aware that Leftist Democrats are empowered in Illinois with a super majority in both chambers to carry public policy to extremes.
After all, what do Illinois Democrats have to fear from a public that votes to give them control year after year??
WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) and Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-18) released the following statement on President Biden's executive order regarding revoking the Keystone XL Pipeline
“President Biden’s ill-advised executive order to revoke a key permit that essentially halts construction on the Keystone XL Pipeline is bad for our nation’s economic recovery, energy security, and US-Canada relations. Pipelines are an efficient and safe way to transport energy while creating good-paying jobs for communities in Illinois and across the country. This action threatens the livelihood of thousands of workers.
“We urge President Biden to abandon this decision and take a more measured, all-of-the-above energy approach to meet our nation’s energy needs."
The Keystone XL is a 1,210-mile (1,947-km) pipeline that, the company says, offers a "safe, reliable and environmentally responsible way to deliver crude oil to markets in the U.S., strengthening continental energy security."
The pipeline project was on course to invest US $8.0 billion into the North American economy and meet critical needs for transportation fuel and useful manufactured products.
A portion of the pipeline runs through south central Illinois.
ROCKFORD - Illinois Review's recent story about the Winnebago County Republicans considering an effort to censure Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) created a mini-storm in the district, apparently.
At the very least, it launched a public Facebook discussion and a mention in a new statewide political newsletter, The Illinoize.
In the story "The Kinzinger Problem," Patrick Pfingsten writes that we "took a swing" at the congressman. Actually, we just reported what was going on in his district. If that's a swing, well, it's a swing...
Continue reading "Kinzinger censure remains on track, despite reports otherwise" »
How lockdowns are ruining small businesses. Andy Puzder writes:
The latest lockdowns across the country will be deadly for the small businesses that have endured the pandemic this far. While there are no official numbers yet, business data show significant losses. Yelp’s Local Economic Impact Report found that, from March 1 through Aug. 31, nearly 100,000 businesses listed on Yelp had closed permanently due to the pandemic, an average of more than 500 a day.
In addition to destroying the accomplishments of thousands of American entrepreneurs and the jobs they create, lockdowns are forcing retail to consolidate around large national brands, which are better positioned to survive the pandemic.
Consider restaurants, America’s second-largest source of private employment. According to the National Restaurant Association, 110,000 have permanently closed and more than 500,000 are “in an unprecedented economic decline.” In November alone, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, restaurants and bars lost 17,400 jobs as new state lockdowns took effect.
In December it was revealed that the San Diego Unified School District had hired Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo, two brazen race hustlers posing as “trainers” to jam their radical racial separatist agenda down the throats of the city’s public school teachers. As reported by Christopher Rufo in City Journal, “The training begins with a ‘land acknowledgement,’ in which the teachers are asked to accept that they are colonizers living on stolen Native American land. Then they are told they will experience ‘guilt, anger, apathy, [and] closed-mindedness’ because of their ‘white fragility.’”
It gets worse. Much worse.
A whistleblower secretly took notes and recorded screen shots of another teacher training session in San Diego. This one was held by Bettina Love, a race-obsessed college professor, who claims that American schools are guilty of the “spirit murdering of Black children.” She also insists that “Whiteness reproduces poverty, failing schools, high unemployment, school closings, and trauma for people of color,” and stealing a page from George Orwell’s 1984, that white educators must undergo “antiracist therapy.” As if the above were not despicable enough, because too many black students are failing in San Diego schools, the district will no longer let late work or bad behavior affect a child’s grade.
More HERE
Canceling Homer is not virtue-signaling. It is broadcasting ignorance. Victor Davis Hanson writes:
Amid the current hysteria of toppling statues and renaming things, we keep mindlessly expanding the cancel culture.
We are now seeing efforts to ban classics of Western and American literature. These hallowed texts are suddenly being declared racist or sexist by preening moralists.
Or, as one Massachusetts high school teacher recently boasted on social media, “Very proud to say we got the Odyssey removed from the curriculum this year!”
Proud?
Continue reading "Is the Wisdom of Homer Immune to Cancel Culture?" »
Remember in 2011 when tens of thousands of Democrats surged on the Wisconsin Capitol building in Madison and physically occupied it for more than two weeks? We were told, "This is what democracy looks like."
Remember in 2016 when Obama was President and hundreds of BLM blocked interstate highways and violently accosted police (even killing several)? We were told, "To assign the actions of one person to an entire movement is dangerous and irresponsible."
Remember during the Kavanaugh hearings when a mob of Democrats stormed the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, DC, and pounded their fists in rage on the door. We were told, "It's understandable."
Remember this summer's riots in major cities across the country when groups of Democrats marched in the streets, set buildings on fire, looted businesses, assaulted and even killed bystanders and police? We were told, "These are mostly peaceful protests."
Remember when Democrats seized several blocks of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in downtown Seattle, declaring it an autonomous zone? Remember the guns and deaths and utter destruction? We were told, "It's a block party atmosphere."
Remember when a crazed mob gathered after the Republican National Convention and attacked Rand Paul, a sitting U.S. Senator? We were told, "No justice, no peace."
Remember how police were told to stand down, governors refused to call in the national guard, and Democrats paid bail for violent protesters who were arrested? We were told, "This is the only way oppressed people can be heard."
I have condemned violent protests and lawlessness every single time they've been reported. I condemn the actions of those who stormed the Capitol on Jan 6th, But I refuse to condemn hundreds of thousands of peaceful protestors because a handful (52 arrested) chose to be lawless and to defy everything the vast majority of the crowd stood for. Conservatives are defenders of the Constitution, the police, and the rule of law. Because a relative few people decided to do something stupid doesn't nullify the concerns of the many.
The real culprit here? The mainstream media has been telling us for years that violence is the only way people who feel oppressed can be heard, it's the only way to get justice, and this is what democracy looks like. Apparently, a few who were in the crowd on Wednesday listened to them.
The inflammatory rhetoric of the Left caused this, and it's about time Democrats and the mainstream media took responsibility for dividing Americans and attempting to humiliate those who support the President or any conservative ideals.
They have pushed people to the brink, even while claiming, "It's time for unity." It's time for careful reflection and change on all sides. God help us!
