The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (No. 36)
February 18, 2022
***My day jobs have kept me totally slammed for the last few weeks, but I do hope to have a long-form essay for you on Tuesday.
THE GOOD
I ENDORSE. If you read only one article this week, let it be this one: Helen Keller’s Five Keys to Being Happy.
Once I knew only darkness and stillness. Now I know hope and joy. —Helen Keller.
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!! I would not have survived the last two years without the Babylon Bee: Xi Jinping Criticizes Trudeau’s Heavy-Handed Approach.
I’M NOT A CAT PERSON, BUT FOR ALL YOU CAT LOVERS OUT THERE THIS IS YOUR FEEL GOOD STORY FOR THE WEEK: Missing Maine cat found 1,500 miles away in Florida 7 years later
VERY COOL. And you can thank capitalism for this: Revolutionary 'Bionic Pacemaker' Reverses Heart Failure...
THAT THE BLIND SHALL SEE AND THE LAME SHALL WALK . . . THIS IS THE KIND OF SOCIETY IN WHICH I WANT TO LIVE: Cure for paralysis near? Man with severed spinal cord takes 1st steps
SWEET: One of America's most high-profile fugitives finally caught after 16 years
OMG—REAL JOURNALISM BREAKS OUT! I haven’t seen real journalism in decades. I almost forgot what it looked and sounded like. Can you imagine if even just a few journalists were like this even just some of the time?!?!
I’D HEARD THE NAME JORGE LUIS BORGES BEFORE, BUT I REALLY DID KNOW WHO OR WHAT HE WAS. Now I do, and I mostly like what I see. Jorge Luis Borges, the Libertarian Who Was Denied the Nobel Prize Because of His Political Stances
María Kodama, the wife of the late Jorge Luis, told that on the occasion of an honorary doctorate granted to him by the University of Chile in 1976, the writer scheduled a visit to the southern country which was then ruled by the dictator Augusto Pinochet. When the Nobel authorities found out about the trip Borges was planning to make, they called him from Stockholm to try to dissuade him, to which the writer replied: “Look, sir; I thank you for your kindness, but after what you have just told me my duty is to go to Chile. There are two things a man cannot allow: bribes or letting himself be bribed. Thank you very much, good day.” . . .
Unlike most “intellectuals” of the time, Borges was one of the few who understood that Nazism and Communism, far from being two opposing ideologies, were both monsters of the same left-wing collectivist strand, which sought to make individuals submit to the absolute power of the state. . . .
Clearly, Jorge Luis Borges was not the typical intellectual who smiled before governments to receive awards, money and applause. He was, from the beginning, faithful to his ideas, and criticized—as few did—the ineffectiveness of states to manage people’s lives, and always tried to create awareness in humanity about the importance of protecting the rights of the largest minority on the face of the earth: the individual.
SMILE. And try to bring just a little bit of joy where you can. You have the power to do it, so JUST DO IT: NFL player steps up, takes girl to daddy-daughter dance after father's death
THE BAD
MY ANGER IS MOUNTING. Inflation is a hidden tax that hurts the poor most of all. Case in point: I was in Walmart the other day and overheard a distressed young couple with a baby say they couldn’t afford to pay these food prices much longer. There was a tone of desperation in their voices. The wife was adding up the cost of the few items in their basket. They were discussing which items they had to put back on the shelf. By the time I’d gathered my wits about me and had decided to offer to help pay for their groceries, they were gone. Inflation Increased 7.5% Over Past 12 Months, Hitting a 40-Year High.
Related: Taxing the poor is cruel: Wholesale prices jump 9.7% in January, further evidence of red-hot inflation.
THIS MUST END, AND IT MUST END NOW. Alan Dershowitz's stark warning: Justice system becoming infected by critical race theory.
OBVIOUSLY, THE FIRST QUESTION IS: IS DOMESTIC SPYING OF THIS SORT LEGAL OR ILLEGAL? CIA has been secretly collecting data on Americans in bulk, senators say
I THINK IT’S CALLED ECONOMICS 101: “I won’t bore you yet again with why a wealth tax is a bad idea. Instead, let’s talk about why it’s a stupid idea.” Washington State One Step Closer to Driving Out All Its Billionaires.
I’M STAMMERING IN DISBELIEF. This is pathetic. Just more evidence of civilizational decline and fall. I keep telling you that China and Russia are wasting their money on building up their armies. Why would they? America is committing national seppuku. With world on edge, Army unveils climate change priorities.
Related: The first item of business on the first day of a “Redneck Intellectual” presidency would be to fire General Mark Milley: US Army goes green, announcing new climate strategy.
SERIOUSLY, WHAT’S LEFT THAT’S GOOD? DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCES BANNED
AND UNCLE JOE SHUT DOWN THE PIPELINE FROM CANADA. Seriously, we have the worst Ruling Class possible. Oil could vault as high as $150 a barrel, veteran analyst warns, as undersupply meets surging demand.
ARE YOU STARTING TO GET THE FEELING THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN’T BEEN TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT STUFF: '80% of serious COVID cases are fully vaccinated' says Ichilov hospital director
Related: Spain’s First Study on Omicron Finds Vaccinated People Spread COVID at Same Rate as Unvaccinated.
GEE, WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD HAVE BOTH THE MOTIVE AND THE RESOURCES TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS? GiveSendGo Hacked as Names of Freedom Convoy Donors Apparently Leaked. It’s also weird that Little Justin’s government hasn’t called for an investigation into this crime!
THE WHITE WINE AND CHEESE CROWD VIRTUE-SIGNALING THEIR PETTY BOURGEOIS FAKERY: ABA Approves Mandatory Bias Training Beginning In Fall 2022 By 95%–5% Vote.
THIS WOULD SUGGEST THAT PROPAGANDISTS SCIENTISTS WORKING AT THE CDC ARE EITHER INCOMPETENT OR THEY’VE BEEN LYING TO US: 'Flawed science': Johns Hopkins professor crushes 'political propaganda' out of CDC
NOT THE BABYLON BEE! Can’t make this stuff up: BLM Supporting Gun Control Activist Arrested for Attempted Murder of Louisville Mayoral Candidate.
RACISM IS JUST PLAIN UGLY, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES FROM RULING-CLASS, WHITE LIBERALS: WaPo Describes Justice Thomas: “the Black justice whose rulings often resemble the thinking of White conservatives.”
THE UGLY
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN COMMUNISTS HAD 5-YEAR PLANS. Now they're talking about 50-year plans!!! Tens of millions of people were murdered in the name of the 5-year plans. I can't imagine what it will take to achieve the goals of the 50-year plan.
LITTLE JUSTIN JOINS “THE DICTATOR HALL OF SHAME”: Eric Honecker, Gustáv Husák, Nicolae Ceaușescu, Todor Zhivkov, Fidel Castro, and Justin Trudeau. (All of you Gen Z folks should probably google these names.) Canada PM Justin Trudeau Invokes ‘Emergencies Act’ To Fight Trucker Freedom Convoys
LITTLE JUSTIN GOES FULL Nicolae Ceaușescu—NEVER GO FULL Ceaușescu: Trudeau Goes Nuclear: Invokes Emergencies Act to Crush Freedom Convoy
IS THIS WHAT A BANK DOES IN A FREE SOCIETY? It’s all part of the new Canadian kleptocracy: Toronto Bank Freezes $1 Million in Freedom Convoy Money
FOR CANADA’S RULING ELITE, “FREEDOM IS FASCISM”: Experts: Freedom Is Fascism
CANADIANS NEED TO THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT THE KIND OF COUNTRY THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST, THE KIND OF COUNTRY THEY WANT TO BE IN THE FUTURE, AND THE KIND OF COUNTRY THEY’VE BECOME IN THE PRESENT: Canada's Panicked Government Engages in Undemocratic Theft
LITTLE JUSTIN GOES FULL ERIC HONECKER—NEVER GO FULL HONECKER! Cold War-era East Berlin had armed checkpoints — now Ottawa does too.
It has already been nicknamed Checkpoint Trudeau.
Actually, like Cold War East Berlin, there may be need for many checkpoint names.
“The secured area includes almost 100 checkpoints that will have police presence to ensure that those seeking entry to that secure area for a unlawful reason, such as joining a protest, cannot enter the downtown core,” acting Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell said Thursday.
Canada’s capital, operating under the Emergencies Act, now has ‘no go zones” similar to a police state. Authorities set up checkpoints with armed police officers in downtown Ottawa on Thursday — from Highway 417 (Queensway) to Parliament Hill, where dozens of trucks have been parked for three weeks.
To get through the Berlin Wall under communism, people had to go through entry points known as Checkpoint Alpha, Checkpoint Bravo and, of course, Checkpoint Charlie. Now to get into through Ottawa’s police manned border points, people must produce papers to prove they live in the area or have a reason to be there.
. . . and THE BEAUTIFUL
I’M DEEPLY MOVED BY THIS BEAUTIFUL SCENE FROM “THE DARKEST HOUR.”
And the lines of poetry recited by Sir Winston (played brilliantly by Gary Oldham) are, of course, from Thomas Babington Macaulay’s beautiful masterpiece “Horatius at the Bridge.”
A few lines from . . . “Horatius at the Bridge”
By Thomas Babington Macaulay
. . . But the Consul's brow was sad, and the Consul's speech was low,
And darkly looked he at the wall, and darkly at the foe.
"Their van will be upon us before the bridge goes down;
And if they once might win the bridge, what hope to save the town?"
Then out spoke brave Horatius, the Captain of the Gate:
"To every man upon this earth, death cometh soon or late;
And how can man die better than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his Gods,
"And for the tender mother who dandled him to rest,
And for the wife who nurses his baby at her breast,
And for the holy maidens who feed the eternal flame,
To save them from false Sextus, that wrought the deed of shame?
"Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, with all the speed ye may!
I, with two more to help me, will hold the foe in play.
In yon strait path, a thousand may well be stopped by three:
Now, who will stand on either hand and keep the bridge with me?'
Then out spake Spurius Lartius; a Ramnian proud was he:
"Lo, I will stand at thy right hand and keep the bridge with thee."
And out spake strong Herminius; of Titian blood was he:
"I will abide on thy left side, and keep the bridge with thee."
"Horatius," quoth the Consul, "as thou sayest, so let it be."
And straight against that great array forth went the dauntless Three.
For Romans in Rome's quarrel spared neither land nor gold,
Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life, in the brave days of old.
Then none was for a party; then all were for the state;
Then the great man helped the poor, and the poor man loved the great.
Then lands were fairly portioned; then spoils were fairly sold:
The Romans were like brothers in the brave days of old.
Now Roman is to Roman more hateful than a foe,
And the Tribunes beard the high, and the Fathers grind the low.
As we wax hot in faction, in battle we wax cold:
Wherefore men fight not as they fought in the brave days of old.
Now while the Three were tightening their harness on their backs,
The Consul was the foremost man to take in hand an axe:
And Fathers mixed with Commons seized hatchet, bar and crow,
And smote upon the planks above and loosed the props below.
Meanwhile the Tuscan army, right glorious to behold,
Came flashing back the noonday light,
Rank behind rank, like surges bright of a broad sea of gold.
Four hundred trumpets sounded a peal of warlike glee,
As that great host, with measured tread, and spears advanced, and ensigns spread,
Rolled slowly towards the bridge's head where stood the dauntless Three.
The Three stood calm and silent, and looked upon the foes,
And a great shout of laughter from all the vanguard rose:
And forth three chiefs came spurring before that deep array;
To earth they sprang, their swords they drew, and lifted high their shields, and flew
To win the narrow way; . . .
Alone stood brave Horatius, but constant still in mind;
Thrice thirty thousand foes before, and the broad flood behind.
"Down with him!" cried false Sextus, with a smile on his pale face.
"Now yield thee", cried Lars Porsena, "now yield thee to our grace!"
Round turned he, as not deigning those craven ranks to see;
Nought spake he to Lars Porsena, to Sextus nought spake he;
But he saw on Palatinus the white porch of his home;
And he spake to the noble river that rolls by the towers of Rome.
"Oh Tiber, father Tiber, to whom the Romans pray,
A Roman's life, a Roman's arms, take thou in charge this day!"
So he spake and, speaking, sheathed the good sword by his side,
And, with his harness on his back, plunged headlong in the tide.
No sound of joy or sorrow was heard from either bank;
But friends and foes in dumb surprise, with parted lips and straining eyes,
Stood gazing where he sank;
And when above the surges they saw his crest appear,
All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry, and even the ranks of Tuscany
Could scarce forbear to cheer.
But fiercely ran the current, swollen high by months of rain:
And fast his blood was flowing; and he was sore in pain,
And heavy with his armour, and spent with changing blows:
And oft they thought him sinking, but still again he rose.
Never, I ween, did swimmer, in such an evil case,
Struggle through such a raging flood safe to the landing place:
But his limbs were borne up bravely by the brave heart within,
And our good father Tiber bare bravely up his chin . . .
"Curse on him!" quoth false Sextus, "will not the villain drown?
But for this stay, ere close of day, we would have sacked the town!"
"Heaven help him!" quoth Lars Porsena, "and bring him safe to shore;
For such a gallant feat of arms was never seen before."
And now he feels the bottom: now on dry earth he stands;
Now round him throng the Fathers, to press his gory hands;
And now, with shouts and clapping, and noise of weeping loud,
He enters through the River-Gate, borne by the joyous crowd.
They gave him of the corn-land, that was of public right,
As much as two strong oxen could plough from morn till night;
And they made a molten image, and set it up on high,
And there it stands unto this day to witness if I lie.
It stands in the Comitium, plain for all folk to see;
Horatius in his harness, halting upon one knee:
And underneath is written, in letters all of gold,
How valiantly he kept the bridge in the brave days of old.
And still his name sounds stirring unto the men of Rome,
As the trumpet-blast that calls to them to charge the Volscian home;
And wives still pray to Juno for boys with hearts as bold
As his who kept the bridge so well in the brave days of old.
And in the nights of winter, when the cold north winds blow,
And the long howling of the wolves is heard amidst the snow;
When round the lonely cottage roars loud the tempest's din,
And the good logs of Algidus roar louder yet within;
When the oldest cask is opened, and the largest lamp is lit;
When the chestnuts glow in the embers, and the kid turns on the spit;
When young and old in circle around the firebrands close;
When the girls are weaving baskets and the lads are shaping bows
When the goodman mends his armour, and trims his helmet's plume,
And the goodwife's shuttle merrily goes flashing through the loom;
With weeping and with laughter still is the story told,
How well Horatius kept the bridge in the brave days of old.
P.S.: Don’t forget to submit your aesthetic recommendations to: redneckaesthetic@gmail.com. Please always use as your subject line: “The Beautiful.”
Have a great weekend!