Programming note: After topping the cable news ratings earlier this week, Mark will be guest hosting Tucker Carlson Tonight once again this evening. Tune into Fox News at 8pm ET / 5pm PT.
Greetings friends, and shocky shocky shocker, it's another locky-locky-lockdown edition of Laura's Links live from Ontario, where the little peasant people are scolded by their leaders 24/7 to stay home even as they jet off to holiday. Rules are for the deplorables, doncha know? I wanted to try to keep this intro a little lighter than usual, even though this is pretty much how I feel right now. (I've watched that clip about a dozen times, nodding my head more vociferously each time, so much so that my neck aches.) But best laid plans....
I remind myself regularly that time is something you can never get back. We are on this earth for a finite period, never knowing the exact schedule or plans our Creator has in store for us. Our time here among the living is such a valuable and limited commodity, so it's important to think about the reason we, as individuals, were put here on this earth – and to govern ourselves accordingly, each according to our strengths, gifts and mission. Having said that, I still cannot fully dissuade myself from feeling a sense of relief that the secular year 2020 will soon be coming to a close. I pray that the utter human destruction, plague and repression purposely released unto us, as an Act of War, by the evil, barbaric Chinese communists and embraced so gleefully by Western "leaders" will finally come to an end in our allegedly free parts of the world.
To add insult to injury, it is repulsive to see more and more expressions of the Stay Home/Mask Up/Lock Down/Shut Up cult in every aspect of our lives, and how prevalent, vocal and emboldened the woke-lockdown-mask fetishists are. They never want it to end, so I urge you to remember how to be free and to act free, speak freely, and not surrender any more of our liberties.
As Mark himself said earlier this month: "surrender nothing". That is surely a perfect motto for the dawning of 2021, and for the upcoming transfer of power that we will regrettably see in America next month. No, I'm not happy about it, but one must face the fact that there is no kraken. It pains me to say it, but as far as I can see, the porkulous "Covid relief" bill, unfortunately, was a sign that President Trump will be going out with a whimper. That does not detract from what he did accomplish, nor from my admiration for him as a president, or my feeling that he is certainly one of the most consequential American presidents of all time. And that doesn't mean any of us should give up hope, or give up fighting. It should be a sign for the normal, freedom-loving masses to keep fighting even harder. Surrender nothing.
As you may be aware, the great Prophet Steyn has had and continues to have a very busy week! In case you missed any of his mellifluous musings, I'll catch you up right here. There was a Christmas Eve show plus a lovely Christmas show, a look back at Boxing Days past in The Bounty Hunters, and he covered for Kathy Shaidle on the movie beat in Such a Cold Finger. In song, he shared a beautiful special on Silent Night and a look back at The Lost in a Lost Year. He also guest hosted Tucker Carlson Tonight on Monday night and last night.
Lastly, as this wretched plague year comes to a close, please keep our beloved Kathy Shaidle in your prayers. Kathy and I actually met because of Mark Steyn. He was our matchmaker and our friendship shadchan – we are the weirdest pair. He quoted her former Relapsed Catholic blog quite frequently, and eventually I met her in person when I invited her to speak at an event I was organizing. The rest is friendship history. She is one of the best friends I've ever had, and I can't really articulate how much she means to me and how blessed I have been to have her in my life at the other end of the phone and computer, and at family events. She is simply one of a kind and deserves a miracle.
Wishing you and yours a healthy, joy-filled, and blessed 2021. See you in the New Year and in the comments.
~
North America:
Anonymity just doesn't cut it. Sorry not sorry. If you are part of the 'don't use my name' gang, you're part of the problem.
More good stuff on the criminal, sinister lockdowns here. And even more from our very own Tal Bachman right here (must read).
More tyranny here.
Imagine what a disgusting, evil person you have to be to do this. Conservatives need to understand that we owe no politeness or civility to the power drunk whores of politics that will happily use the entire force of the state to threaten your children if you do not obey.
A brutally honest examination of NYC Mayor Bill DiBlasio's Jew-hate problem.
The threat of authoritarianism in America is real and it ain't from Trump.
~
Israel and Jews:
Merry Christmas from Bibi!
I thought this was really beautiful. Aviv Gefen is a pretty radical leftist who has shown some heart toward religious people and "settlers" in recent years. Fried is a Chassidic star. This is such an unusual but heartfelt collaboration, and because there is a nice English translation, I thought I'd include it here. Jews believe that "baseless hatred" (sin'at chinam) amongst ourselves has been the direct cause of some of most horrendous tragedies that have befallen us as a people. The remedy is boundless love (ahavat chinam).
New Middle East! I love these Emirati guys. I wish they would do a podcast!
This would be YUGE if it happens. YUGE.
Thoughts on forgiveness.
Agree with the great Caroline Glick here: This professor is a disgrace.
~
Middle East:
Another interesting video here, I pray for peace between Israel and Iran, the fall of the Ayatollah's regime, and peace for the Iranian people.
~
The Formerly Great Britain:
Thoughts on the politicization of masks and the evil WHO.
~
Europe:
Not all heroes wear capes. Some sing.
~
Humourless and Kook Left, Wokestapo and Trans:
Pushing back against the Wokestapo.
"Yes, I'm a white girl." Oh boy did I laugh at this one. Turns out the Spanish "Hilaria" is actually Hilary White Bread Mayflower Gal. So perfect.
~
Human and Canine Grace:
Very special people root for children that are strangers to them.
Long may you prosper, beautiful humans.
My brother from another mother?
Home for Christmas.
It's open thread time! Log into SteynOnline and let Laura know what you think of these stories or other happenings from week that was or the election results that never will be. Commenting privileges are among the many perks of membership in The Mark Steyn Club. While going off topic is permitted on Laura's Links, do stick to the other rules as you engage: no URLs, no profanity, and no ad hominem attacks. Meet your fellow Club members, including Laura, in person by joining us on our rescheduled Mediterranean cruise alongside Tal Bachmann, Michele Bachmann, and Conrad Black among Mark's other special guests.
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35 Member Comments
In a time when people can deny their genetics, why not be able to deny your upbringing?
I am happy to add (just pass L's.L. press deadline) that Jonathan Pollard emigrated to Israel. I offer no excuse for his spying (there is none), but would argue that 30 years in prison and another five years on parole--well over half his life in all--are restitution enough for espionage against an ally. Prime Minister Netanyahu was on the tarmac to meet him, but before bumping elbows, Pollard dropped to his knees and kissed the ground. At 61, may he live long and happily in his adopted land.
PS: I should leave well enough alone, but honesty demands I confess my suspicion that the length of his sentence (and denial of pardon, commutation, or parole) had something to do with more than just the nature of his undoubted crime, but with something about who he was and for whom he committed it. Ask Bill DeBlasio, if you're unclear what I mean.
Excellent points, Josh, if you do say so yourself. May I also add how quaint it sounds now to condemn, let alone punish, spying on allies? Wasn't the entirety of the Russian Collusion delusion an act of friendly fire among diplomatic allies? Christopher Steele, late of MI6; Alexander Downer, the Australian High Commissioner; Cambridge Professor Joseph Mifsud, from that sunny place for shady people, Malta; even Italy seems to have been involved. To borrow from The Full Monty, "Is there anyone we didn't get bollocked by?" Not forgetting that the whole stinking, rotten, corrupt, banana-republican operation was launched as a Segretti-style ratf**k by Hillary Clinton's campaign! Don't tsk-tsk me about Pollard's crimes--don't you effin' dare. He deserves the Congressional Medal of Honor compared to...Congress.
Hi John, yes I saw that video and I was reduced to tears, that's exactly what Mr. C and I were blubbering about-before anything, he kissed the ground.
Okay, you got me, Josh. Why should I ask DeBlasio?
A bit of a stretch, Fran, but my thinking went like this: Pollard, who is Jewish, broke the law, and paid for his crime with 35 years of his liberty (contrast with Bowe Bergdahl, who went AWOL in the field, leading to the deaths of several GIs sent to look for him, but whose court-martial called for no prison time); as I noted later, spying on allies (or coercing allies to spy on us) has since become a cottage industry, punishable by...pending the Durham Report (ha!), nothing; Pollard spied not for Russia, not for Afghanistan, not for China, but for Israel, the Jewish State, because he was a Jewish American; if the "dual loyalty" alarm bells aren't going off in your head, they should be; Pollard's example plays right into the stereotypes of the worst antisemites among us, who talk about divided loyalty and the Jewish Lobby; among those antisemites, central among them, you would find Bill DeBlasio, worse even than I imagined, if you read Laura's Link about him above (Jews wouldn't behave themselves, so they don't get the vaccine). Pollard was persecuted because he was a Jew. A latter day Dreyfus. In America. DeBlasio could explain it more succinctly, but that's my explanation.
I appreciate how you can look through the prism of politics over time and force the butt naked truth out, Josh. The old two-tiered justice system at work again! I don't think I'll ever get the divided loyalty thing if you hit me over the head with w/a 2x4 unconscious. Happy end to a crappy year.
Excellent comment, Josh. Couldn't have said it better myself.
My humble, red faced apology to Laura for attributing the opening "kraken" quote in my comment to Kathy even if my mistake was obvious.
Kathy wrote--"one must face the fact that there is no kraken."
Your pessimism on this subject is reasonable but there is still a small shred of hope dangling on a fine thread that at least one state might reverse its election decision but it will depend on the courage of GOP state legislators. If one state legislature leads the way others might follow. If you haven't seen clips of today's Georgia Senate hearing you should watch at least one of the most credible witnesses that testified today. He's incredible with great credentials. He presented a new perspective on the fraud.
G to--- rsbnnetwork.com Cursor to 1:13:20 on the video "Georgia State Senate Holds Meeting on 2020 Election 12/30/20." There is another earlier Georgia Senate hearing video on the site so check the date of course.
I enjoyed your Kathy and Laura friendship insights. I was impressed with Kathy after I watched her first on air discussion/interview and by Marks frequently referenced Kathy quotes. I also remember some clever Laura Rosen Cohen quotes appearing in a Steyn column. I posted a living tribute to Kathy on CTH a few weeks ago that included an interview of her on Ezra's former Sun News Network.
While your links are great, I certainly wouldn't mind it if you decided to extend your own written thoughts and humor in your column even if it meant eliminating some of the links.
Hi Dennis, when I say there's no kraken, I don't mean there is no evidence of fraud, there is-obviously. What I mean is that at this point, it doesn't matter. It's only theatrics now. The GOP conceded actually when Trump won. They didn't take voter fraud seriously then, or now. They didn't care, they didn't show any testicular fortitude when the Democrats sent out all their trial balloons-Russia, impeachment, the rumblings about the 25th amendment, testing the fraud waters in various states across the country. They similarly didn't show any interest in the real threat of Big Social Media. So, there's no chance right now that anything will change the fact that despite the fraud, Biden will be sworn in-and probably serve about 2 months as President before the Democrat cabal shoves him back into his basement because REASONS to make way for Saint Kamala.
Kathy is the impressive part of the Laura-Kathy thing.
And thanks for your kind remarks about the column. Perhaps in the future, I'll have more time for other projects such as columns and other things!
(I've watched that clip about a dozen times, nodding my head more vociferously each time, so much so that my neck aches.) I know it's nothing to laugh at if your head were to really hurt, but Laura, often times I can't get past your openings without exploding. It was a really good clip, too.
I wanted to put it up on the comments that there's a Jewish film festival going on here and I don't know how I can get the word out without posting a link, but maybe through a search. Anyways, there are seven free films being presented by the El Paso Jewish film festival beginning 1/10 through 3/1. All free on zoom. Four are documentary and three are historical dramas.
Hi Fran, do send me the link-sounds neat.
Since the US Constitution bans "Titles of Nobility" it's very strange to me to see a person addressed as "Lord Sumption" speaking truth to power and standing up for individual peasant rights.
Even stranger when I see the "Best and the Brightest" here in the US, both Dem and Repub, following that old First Rule of Nobility, "Do as I say, not as I do, or else you peasant." And they say the Constitution bans nobility. Bah, humbug.
Nobility of character certainly seems to be in short supply.
Your link to Glenn Greenwald's "The Threat of Authoritarianism in the U.S. is Very Real, and Has Nothing To Do With Trump" is excellent. These times make strange bedfellows and who would have thought that as a conservative I would have more in common with Glenn Greenwald, Matt Tiabbi, and Alex Berenson than I would with Foxnews? I think the left's narrative as Trump as Hitler has most to do with projection.
Projection? Isn't that SOP for the commie/scocialist left in the United States? Well said.
It's really weird, isn't it Jamie? I think Mark actually put it best some years ago when he said that our lives are not about left and right anymore. It's about free versus unfree. That's really it, and that's why you can be agreeing with Glenn Greenwald "as a conservative". It's because it's not about conservative/liberal anymore. There is only those who are for freedom and those who are against it.
Yes, totally agree
I got interested in the TV series "The Americans" recently. Having actually dealt with a KGB operative in Moscow 1971 after part of our group visited a synagogue there, I rummaged around and found a critique of the show by a former East German KGB operative. He had been assigned to USA. His bottom line of why he turned....The USA had "freedomz" with a capital "F". That Freedom is being destroyed by those who embrace the very system that reduces the human spirit to a worthless comoditiy. Hillary Clinton is right...it takes a community to steal an ekection.
Are we getting to be just like the 11th Century all over again, free peasant, serf, or slave, no difference in rights? 2020 Coronolockdown seems like it.
Hi Charles, interesting comment. I actually was listening to a podcast yesterday (James Dellingpole and Paul Joseph Watson) and they used the term techno or neo-feudalism if I recall correctly.
Thanks for all the links especially to the article by Tal Bachman. 'We want to live, yes, but we also want to live lives of meaning, purpose, connection, and contentment'.
Nicola, I'm so glad you like it. Our Tal is very smart and such a good egg.
I disagree about always using real names on social media (obviously) but I won't win that argument with you so moving on...
Mark may appreciate the reference, but when I first heard the name "Hilaria" I had to check to see that it wasn't a character from "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".
Regarding your anonymity just doesn't cut it comment and link. I use my name here and elsewhere, see "Parent group fights SAU 16's plan for remote learning" Exeter News Letter 8.16.20.
But I've already accepted that the wokestapo will come after me and eventually will probably get me. Ah well, if I have to give up my corporate life I'd probably make a great woodsman, landscaper, or hermit.
Right on Jamie. We would all be much happier without corporations. Even the best intentioned of those entities is evil in the end.
Actually my best work was "Town center committee disbanded" 8.8.16. Inspired by the courage of the great man himself.
But if you put your name out there it's a risk for sure. I don't blame anyone for using pseudonyms. Not in this awful culture we live here now in the US, and I suppose the rest of western civilization. Well cancel culture can go to hell.
I have to agree with you, Jamie. I'm looking for something off the grid right about now after posting my thoughts with my real name for going on what four, or is it five years now? Oh, my but how time flies, but in the meantime I wish to pick up some survival skills. I was thinking of duck hunting and fly fishing to start with. I just noticed that up the street from my house the middle eastern grocers has closed and it's been replaced by one of those ax throwing target practice chops. Sorry, I slipped, I meant shops. Maybe I'll just keep using my real name and just hone the old ax throwing skills.
Fran, based on your analytical skills, I think you would be a fantastic duck hunter. We could put it to the test if the Mark Steyn cruise ever offers trap shooting, and we're lucky enough to find ourselves on that ship!
I couldn't agree more Charles, corporations are awful. The bigger they are, the worse they become.
I successfully hunted the last duck down at the supermarket just in time for Christmas Eve, Jamie. I have to take a few more lessons with my instructor first for the real thing. There have been a lot of distractions since last year. Even the shooting lessons at the range suffered due to restrictions by the Governess.
The thought of a cruise now sounds lovely. My boating experiences are limited. I could get used to being served meals for a week and luxuriating in the Steyn & Co. camaraderie someday. It certainly would be a thrill of a lifetime.
Good on you, Jamie.
The Emirati guys are charming in the video, and I like their positive message about the growing peace in the Middle East, but I was surprised to hear that they've been travelling in Israel. I thought Israel was under a fairly strict lockdown. Is that not so? I'll add a New Year's toast: Here's to peace on Earth, in the Middle East, and everywhere. And here's to freedom everywhere too. Happy New Year, Laura.
Hi Elisa, I believe they were on an official trip, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if I understand correctly. Also, this trip was before the current lockdown. Happy New Year to you as well.