Greetings one and all and happy Thursday!
It is time once again for a fresh batch of Laura's Links.
Obviously, right off the top, on behalf of all of us at Steyn HQ, we would like to thank you all for your continued prayers and best wishes for Mark as he recovers from an incredibly serious medical episode. Obviously, you are now caught up with what happened. We know you appreciate both the update from Mark himself and also seeing his return to producing the irreplaceable and magical content we have all come to know and love. Mark's gradual return to writing and working started with a new episode of Serenade Radio last week and as he gets stronger, we will of course see more of him here.
We appreciate every message of support you have sent, and hope that you are enjoying the articles by guest writers such as Barbara Kay and Tal, and Tal's excellent guest hosting of the Live Q&A Around the Planet. These guest features are giving Mark the time he needs to rest and recover properly and fully, on his own timeline.
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Last week, I posted some particularly awful articles in the "Formerly Great Britain" section. One article was regarding the toddler who was thrown into the crocodile pool by a complete (disabled) stranger, and the other was about the mass jihadi rape of white, British working girls. My point in posting the first one was that this heinous crime appeared in the newspapers as a blip, and then in the immediate aftermath, stories of the FIFA World Cup took precedence in every major British news site-they were all "above the fold" as we used to say. My point in using the phrase "Paki-shagger" was to utilize the contemptuous phrase that was used by various officials in describing the victims of the abuse and rape.
If these points were not clear, that is of course, on me. Clarity in writing is the responsibility of the writer. I don't post these articles in order to inspire despair. I try to give an overview of what is happening within the culture from the point of view of an outsider. I'm looking for patterns and trying to pull together threads and then weave a cultural tapestry or snapshot of sorts. Another reason why I post these stories, especially about the United Kingdom, is because of my own frustration and complete sense of puzzlement, because I don't understand why there isn't more rioting in the streets.
Stories like this (and I've seen some on line speculation suggesting that the murderer/rapist is the girl's father) make me wonder if there is enough (any?) fight left in the people to get the barbarians out of their midst. Sadly, I'm also not optimistic about Canada's future either.
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Lastly, I finished reading the Book of Kings I and am now on Kings II. I'm reading this as a part of a two-year daily learning cycle sponsored by the OU (the Orthodox Women's Union). Anyway, one of the lectures delivered by an educator named Mrs. Michal Horowitz, discussed the idea that most people think that King Solomon asked G-d for wisdom but that is actually not the case. The actual text refers to King Solomon asking G-d for a "lev shomea"; which is Hebrew for "a heart that listens". The Hebrew word for listen/hear has many meanings and is the integral concept of Judaism's most central prayer, the Shema ("Hear O Israel...").
Because the King asked for a heart that listens/hears, and not wealth or power or any other material thing, G-d granted him the wisdom that would ultimately lead him to unprecedented prestige, and power and material gains. I have been thinking about that a lot; the importance of listening. Or as another Rabbi put it "you have two ears and one mouth for a reason".
This has been an excellent reminder for me of the importance of being mindful and vigilant about real listening, of creating sufficient space for real conversations to take place without overlap (no matter how friendly and enthusiastic), and aspiring to a listening heart.
Are you working on anything now, spiritually, psychologically or otherwise?
If you are so inclined, drop a note in the comment section and let us know!
Have a great weekend!
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North America:
One party is purging antisemites. Related.
Also related: Ro Me the Money! (Great headline.) And remember, it's not hypocrisy, it's showing you who's boss.
The commies are coming (actually they are here).
Canada: Death Cult society.
Not unrelated in Toronto: FREE PALESTINE.
RELATED: Canada in a nutshell.
I am not a fan of Mr. Buttigieg or his lifestyle to say the least but anyone who files a fake child endangerment/abuse report should face criminal consequences.
What is more stupid; remotely marrying a Gazan Palestinian with all the cultural baggage contained therein or bragging about it on social media?
The great replacement. Not a theory.
Democracy, whiskey, sexy.
America should force the extradition of the Sbarro terrorist from Jordan.
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Jews and Israel:
"Haaretz is one of the most effective engines of Jew-hatred the world over."
"The moment a security agency begins embracing fashionable causes, it risks undermining the public trust that is essential to its mandate."
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The Formerly Great Britain:
"Cop nights." Just when you think the stories cannot get any worse, they do. Absolute and total evil.
They say "cannot" but they really mean will not.
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Europe:
A leftist French lawmaker celebrates the demographic decline of the white population: "you lost".
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Down Under:
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Human Grace:
"I bet you know a lot of things."
"Hidden in a Parisian courtyard is La Maison du Pastel, the world's oldest pastel maker."
It's open thread time! Log into SteynOnline and let Laura know what you think of these stories or other happenings from the week that was. 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.