Denying Threats

When Romney said that Russia is the U.S.’s biggest geopolitical foe during a 2012 presidential debate, Obama scoffed, saying: “The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because the Cold War’s been over for 20 years.” Voters ignored Obama’s inexperience and naiveté and he became president with a failed policy arrogantly and egotistically treating Putin as an insignificant threat.

During a recent GOP candidate debate, Marco Rubio (accurately) predicted Putin’s current actions in Syria and he, too, was ridiculed. President Reagan was vilified for daring to call the Soviet Union the Evil Empire. Pie-in-the-sky ideology does not recognize the existence of evil-doers – unless they are Republicans.

The Left downplays or completely ignores real threats to America because recognizing them would result in taking action and that could require use of military might which they loathe. In Obama’s case, it would also mean admitting his weak foreign policies have failed, especially with regard to Russia where relations have been “re-set” by his administration. The Left picks targets that are politically correct and safe.

During Obama’s administration our troops were prematurely pulled out of Iraq; the “red line” in Syria was crossed and ignored; ISIS developed and now violently rampages in the Middle East; Iran received more time to develop a nuclear weapon unimpeded; Putin invaded the Ukraine; illegal immigrants were encouraged to and allowed to invade our country; North Korea increased threats to South Korea; and China increased expansionist activities.

The Left, meanwhile, has concentrated on threats from: Israel; Christmas and crèches; traditional marriage; FOX News; border security; profiling terrorists; decreased government spending; voter ID cards; the Tea Party; a strong military; displaying the American flag; the Washington Redskins; limits on abortion; the police; school lunches; Republicans; lower taxes; the 2^nd Amendment; Confederate flags and statues; Uber; coal; the Keystone pipeline; male and female rest rooms; and even children playing tag.

Feeling Safe?

David J. Hentosh

Politically Correct Halloween

Christmas, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and most traditional holidays, have been targets of the “progressive” PC police in recent times, so it is not surprising to find Halloween under attack. It seems that those who self-righteously consider themselves champions of personal freedom are, once again, shamelessly trying to dictate everyone’s way of life and “transform” America.

The PC Command Center is our nation’s schools and it is there attacks begin. The Cumberland County, PA school district no longer allows costumes or parades for Halloween, citing “safety concerns” as reason for the ban. They do, however, allow dress-up days throughout the year for students to express individual creativity. That would probably include the PC-approved cross-dressing day held at a Milwaukee elementary school.

Inglewood Elementary School in the North Penn School District tried to ban Halloween using the popular and misinterpreted “Separation of Church and State” excuse. As extra ammunition, dietary concerns, specifically peanut allergies, were included. After an angry outcry from those whose sensitivities were supposed to have been rankled, the ban was lifted.

Colleges, however, have very little backlash when they “mold” the minds of students. Banning Halloween can be done in such a way that students do not even realize banning is taking place. The University of Colorado warns students to avoid costumes such as cowboys, Indians, white trash (which I’m sure includes hobos), over-sexualized themes (geishas, French maids), and anything portraying a culture (Pirates, gypsies, Mexican bandits?). The University of Minnesota allows cowboy costumes but not Indian ones or any that perpetuate racial, cultural, and gender stereotypes.

So, traditional baseball and football costumes are out because of the offensive Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and Kansas City Chiefs. Robots are offensive because they replace human workers. President Obama masks are racist and President Bush masks are…well, Bush is just plain evil. Darth Vader is synonymous with Dick Cheney and a witch is synonymous with Sarah Palin and, of course, any priest or nun costume is highly offensive to progressives.

Halloween is becoming as hollow as the PC movement and progressive ideology, but nowhere near as frightening.

David J. Hentosh

Bob Costas Fumbles Again

Watching football is supposed to be fun and a distraction from the pressure life throws at us every day. So who needs Bob Costas preaching self-righteous admonitions to us in the middle of a football game? Don’t we get enough of that every place we go?

Not only was Bob’s Sunday night half-time monologue intrusive, it was PC indoctrination of the highest order. After conceding that the Washington team’s “Redskin” name is not offensive to the vast majority of people (including Native Americans) and that objection to the name seems like political correctness run amuck, Costas proceeded to tell us, nonetheless, that we need to be offended.

It seems Bob thinks we are just too dumb to know when we should be offended, so he lowered himself to our level and explained it to us. No matter the intent, Bob tells us “Redskins” is an insult and a slur, and since many colleges have buckled to PC pressure and changed their nicknames, Washington’s NFL team must do the same. Thus, spoke the mighty progressive.

Does Costas know how many people he offended with this inappropriate half-time rant? It may very well be that many more people were offended by this than by the “Redskins” nickname. It is getting so very tiring hearing progressives tell us how we should feel and how we should act. Forcing a vast majority of people to cater to a minority needs to stop, especially when that minority finds offense in everything. It is time to stop greasing the squeaky PC wheel.

If one needs to dig deeply under the surface and use broad interpretations in order to find a “possible” offense, it is likely that there is none. It is not incumbent upon everyone to live in fear of offending someone, especially since it is impossible. Offense is in the eye of the beholder, and far too many behold things that are just not there.

Perhaps our right to offend someone needs to be brought to the forefront. You can pass the popcorn and you can pass the beer; but don’t pass self-righteous gas during a football game. Go away, Bob, you’re annoying.

David J. Hentosh