Canadian PM Installs Taxpayer-Funded Tampon Dispensers in Men’s Bathrooms

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly made good in the week leading up to Christmas on his May 2023 promise to install dispensers for feminine hygiene products in men’s bathrooms.

Former Canadian Senator Linda Frum fumed that Canadian taxpayers were being forced to support transgender ideology:

. . .

“They’re also going to build dispensers for all the tampons which won’t be used since 1) men don’t menstruate and 2) they are just going to bring them home to their wives for free,” the putative parliamentary staffer pointed out.

The cost of showering the men’s rooms in Parliament with ladies’ products might not be too bad, but the Canadian Labor Code now stipulates that all “female-identified, male-identified, and all-gender toilet rooms will need to have menstrual products.”

The requirement will eventually fall upon private sector potties as an unfunded mandate, the favored political instrument of Western authoritarians. Critics slammed the regulation as an effort to eliminate masculinity and femininity, noting that the regulations managed to stuff every bathroom with tampons without referring to either men or women – it refers to tampon users as “menstruating employees.” (Read more from “Canadian PM Installs Taxpayer-Funded Tampon Dispensers in Men’s Bathrooms” HERE)

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When a Christian Professor Spoke About His Struggle With Homosexuality, the LGBT Mob Came for Him

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. . .Just look at Western Michigan University. In 2021, WMU fired adjunct music professor Daniel Mattson solely for writing about his religious views off-campus on his own time. After a remarkably short seven months of litigation, Mattson was vindicated this year on Oct. 31. . .

In 2009, Mattson returned to Catholicism and left behind his prior homosexual lifestyle. For several years, he wrote articles and spoke at public events explaining how the church should engage with people who experience same-sex attraction. All the while, Mattson strictly compartmentalized his religious activity from his work at WMU. He never initiated a discussion about his religious beliefs or views concerning sexuality with students. . .

In October 2021, Mattson agreed to perform as a guest artist at the School of Music. A recently appointed faculty member and LGBT activist discovered Mattson’s writings on his experiences with homosexuality and his recommitment to the Catholic faith. She launched a campaign to cancel Mattson’s planned events. As she posted to Twitter: “I won’t be going to any recitals by ex-gay activists, thanks.”

She engaged students, faculty members, and DEI administrators in this effort. In the weeks leading up to the recital, there was extensive discussion over email and on social media among faculty and students, many of whom expressed support for the idea that Mattson’s presence on campus was “harmful” to students who identify as LGBT.

The administration’s response to the outcry over Mattson’s religious speech was swift and harsh. Matson was first stripped of his core duties, hindered in important school activities, and finally, WMU refused to renew his teaching contract. (Read more from “When a Christian Professor Spoke About His Struggle With Homosexuality, the LGBT Mob Came for Him” HERE)

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You’d Be Surprised Which States Persecute Religious Schools And Charities

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Attempts to sideline religion from American public life are not new, but whereas conservatives typically think that this type of discrimination is endemic to blue states, the reality is much more complex. In fact, in a new Manhattan Institute report, Notre Dame Law Professor Nicole Stelle Garnett and I discover that states throughout the country are breaking the law by persecuting religious schools and charities. . .

Disabled students suffer because of Virginia’s violation of the First Amendment. Virginia’s school districts and local governments can contract with any “public or private nonsectarian school, agency, institution,” or “nonsectarian child-day programs” to provide special education services. If the nearest option or best fit for your student happens to have a religious affiliation, your child will have to attend a further or worse option to receive funding.

Montana similarly provides funding for day education of students in private institutions so long as they are at “private, non-sectarian schools.” Like Virginia, Montana excludes religious schools from its school bus fuel tax rebate. . .

Georgia does not allow pre-kindergarten providers to give any religious instruction. It specifies that this rule extends even to programs that have both approved secular and religious versions and notes that no funds may be spent on religious instruction. . .

Though in better shape than Georgia, Alabama still falls well short of Carson’s requirements. The state allows a moment of silence during the pre-K school day but forbids religious instruction. Any religious activities must take place “outside of … the school day.” (Read more from “You’d Be Surprised Which States Persecute Religious Schools and Charities” HERE)

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Trump Asks Federal Appeals Court To Dismiss 2020 Election Case

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Donald Trump asked a federal appeals court late on Saturday to dismiss special counsel Jack Smith‘s case accusing the former president of unlawfully plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Trump has “absolute immunity from prosecution for his official acts” as president, including him seeking to “advocate for and defend the integrity of the federal election, in accord with his view that it was tainted by fraud and irregularity,” Trump’s lawyers argued in a 71-page filing.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, previously rebuffed Trump’s immunity claim, saying the defendant’s “four-year service as Commander in Chief did not bestow on him the divine right of kings to evade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens.” The judge also rejected Trump’s First Amendment defense.

Trump’s legal team filed an appeal on the immunity claim. They also requested a pause in the proceedings, which was then granted. Smith’s team responded by asking the appeals court to consider the immunity claim on an expedited basis. The appellate court accepted the request and oral arguments are scheduled for January 9. (Read more from “Trump Asks Federal Appeals Court To Dismiss 2020 Election Case” HERE)

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Christmas 2023 — Mary to the Angel, ‘How Will This Be, Since I Am a Virgin?’

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Christians across the world celebrate Christmas 2023 this week – the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, a town in Israel about a 45-minute modern drive east of Jerusalem. But Christians have a uniquely high regard for Jesus’ birth, proclaiming as an essential belief of the Christian faith that Jesus was born to a virgin mother, miraculously conceived by the God who created the universe – proclaiming that Jesus is the divine Son of God.

In Christianity, this is called the Incarnation – that God himself took on a human body and lived a human life. It is one of the essential beliefs of the Christian faith: that the divine Son of God, born of a virgin, would live a perfect life, decades later would die on a cross outside of Jerusalem, would be physically resurrected, and will one day come again in glory to remake the world.

From the Gospel according to Luke:

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

(Read more from “Christmas 2023 — Mary to the Angel, ‘How Will This Be, Since I Am a Virgin?’” HERE)

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Biden’s Gen Z Approval Plummets Amid Growing Doubts on Mental Fitness

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In a striking turn of events, President Joe Biden’s approval ratings have plummeted to an unprecedented low, with a significant portion of the disapproval stemming from Gen Z voters. Recent polling data from Monmouth University indicates an overall 61 percent disapproval of the President’s job performance, marking a notable decline from 44 percent in July to a historic low of 34 percent.

Kale Ogunbor, a first-generation Nigerian-American university student and self-proclaimed Republican, voiced the sentiments of many young voters on a recent appearance on Fox & Friends First. Ogunbor remarked, “It’s been reported that over 40 percent of Joe Biden’s presidency has been spent on vacation. And I think a lot of Americans, including Gen Z, don’t want a president who seems more like he’s retired the next four years after 2024.”

Gen Z perspectives extend beyond lifestyle critiques to questions about President Biden’s cognitive abilities. Ryan Edwards, another Gen Z voter, expressed doubts about the President’s capability to make complex decisions, stating, “I just think that he is lacking the cognitive ability to lead the country … I think in order to lead the free world, to lead America, you must make hard and complex decisions in the blink of an eye, and I don’t think we have that with Biden.”

Comparisons with former President Donald Trump further underscore the unease. An October Monmouth poll found that 76 percent of voters believe Biden is too old for a second term, compared to only 48 percent who felt the same about Trump. The age factor, coupled with doubts about decision-making abilities, continues to be a significant point of contention among the younger demographic.

As these concerns escalate, voices like 17-year-old Brilyn Hollyhand emphasize the need for scrutiny and transparency. Hollyhand likened Biden’s presidency to a comedy movie, stating, “It’s been a ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ at the White House ever since January 20, 2021.” Concerns about cognitive decline and assertions that the First Lady is the de facto commander-in-chief are raising questions about the transparency of leadership.

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Nikki Haley Makes the Worst Possible Argument Against Trump

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During a speech in South Carolina late last month, Haley trotted out a rather interesting line of attack against Trump: “And the truth of it all — and this is another hard truth — I believe President Trump was the right president at the right time. I was proud to serve America in his administration, and I agree with a lot of his policies. But the truth is, rightly or wrongly, chaos follows him. You know I’m right. Chaos follows him. We have too much division in this country and too many threats around the world to be sitting in chaos once again.”

These were not tossed-off remarks. Byron York, the only political reporter who seems to have grasped the significance of the remark, notes that Haley has been road-testing some variation of the “chaos” line since October, and it appears it’s a regular part of her stump speech. York has done a typically thorough and thoughtful analysis of this, including why Haley’s line might ruffle some feathers among Republicans.

Now, certainly, there are many Republicans out there who might be inclined to agree with a facile reading of this line. There’s hardly a Trump voter out there who hasn’t at least privately lamented Trump saying inflammatory things that detract from his actual policy accomplishments.

But ultimately, Haley’s line about “chaos” spectacularly misreads the problem and, along with it, the sentiment of a lot of Trump voters she needs to win over. When she says “the truth is, rightly or wrongly, chaos follows him,” the word “wrongly” in that sentence pretty much gives up the entire game. The biggest source of chaos in Trump’s presidency wasn’t mean tweets; it was the entire Washington establishment and administrative state breaking laws and violating norms both to impede his policies and attempt to throw him out of office. This was, indeed, very, very wrong and exposed a rot so deep that the number one requirement of any future Republican president is dismantling this corruption that threatens the foundations of the republic.

Let’s recap what the “chaos” in the Trump administration looked like, shall we? Starting before Trump was elected, the FBI was investigating and wiretapping the guy — an investigation that continued well after he was elected. The FBI’s “sources” for their investigation of Trump were treasonously colluding with Russia to steal an election. These included, among other standout individuals, a paid informant at the heart of multiple political scandals who had been apparently lying on his resume for decades and a report from… Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee. (Read more from “Nikki Haley Makes the Worst Possible Argument Against Trump” HERE)

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Proposed Legislation Would Discipline Teachers Who Ban Nativity Scenes in Schools

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Italian lawmakers are introducing legislation which would discipline teachers who ban Christian Nativity scenes from classrooms in the name of cultural sensitivity.

The bill was introduced by senators from the Brothers of Italy party, of which Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is a member. The lawmakers said that it was necessary to preserve Italy’s cultural roots and to protect Christians from being discriminated against.

“For some years there have been embarrassing and unacceptable decisions by some schools to ban nativity scenes, or to turn Christmas into an improbable winter festival to avoid giving offence to practitioners of other religions,” said Senator Lavinia Mennuni, who introduced the legislation.

Mennuni added that she didn’t want recognition of the Nativity to just become part of a generic holiday celebration, but to allow its celebration to remain distinct.

“Allowing the transformation of sacred Christian festivities into another anonymous type of celebration would constitute discrimination against the students and their respective families practicing the majority religion,” she said. (Read more from “Proposed Legislation Would Discipline Teachers Who Ban Nativity Scenes in Schools” HERE)

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China’s Bold Ultimatum: Xi Jinping Tells Biden of Plans to Take Taiwan

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Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly delivered a blunt and candid message to President Joe Biden, openly stating that China is set on taking over Taiwan, and there’s little the U.S. can do to prevent it. The private remarks, described by NBC News as unusually forthright, emphasized China’s preference for a peaceful takeover but warned of military action if any foreign power intervened.

While U.S. military officials speculate that Xi Jinping aims to annex Taiwan by 2025, the Chinese leader did not confirm an official timeline. The timing of these remarks has sparked concerns among U.S. officials, coinciding with Taiwan’s upcoming elections and China’s escalating aggression toward the island nation.

The Biden administration’s response to this geopolitical challenge reveals a strategy of actively avoiding military conflict with China.

After the meeting, President Biden expressed his focus on maintaining a relationship with China that avoids conflict. This commitment comes amid growing tensions between the two nations, with China accused of rampant intellectual property theft from the U.S. and allegations of supplying precursor chemicals for fentanyl production to Mexican drug cartels, contributing to a public health crisis in America.

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The Everyday Hope of a ‘Christmas Carol’ Is That the World Can Change Because We Can

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At certain times, we find ourselves caught in a curious paradox: I want to do a meaningful thing, to be involved in this or that important occasion, yet it’s just so hard. How can an activity I care so much about still be so difficult — even to the point of being off-putting?

Depending on what’s at the forefront of your mind, this could sound like a description of your political or family life. There’s a presidential election coming next year (as you may have heard), and it is important: Why then is it so discouraging to think about doing your part? And soon you’ll be gathering with family for Christmas: You may want — even need — to do it, yet is there anything more stressful to contemplate sometimes?

In each case, the phenomenon is the same. Both situations come down to the possibility of change in a broken world. We want to believe that transformation, personal and social, is possible, yet we have a strong hunch it might not be. Is there anything more hopelessly gridlocked than contemporary politics and culture? And in the family setting, as we reenter our natural habitats, why would we think things could ever be different? All the old wounds, burdens, and complicated memories are there: My mother will of course expect me to do X, which I hate, and my cousins will certainly go into Y in their usual way. None of this will ever change. Can’t we just stay home this year for Christmas and sit out the election cycle?

Against such a backdrop, the undying popularity of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol makes sense. The little book has never been out of print since Dickens first wrote it in 1843, and as we know, it has been repeated, rehashed, and reimagined in countless films, TV adaptations, stage productions, public readings, parodies, and so forth.

These are signs of some essential good thing we desire, abiding and profound, that A Christmas Carol gets at. Part of that desirable good is wrapped up in its picture of human transformation. Inside the story, the drastic about-face undertaken by Ebenezer Scrooge seems possible, despite all the odds. Change, we think as we read or watch, can happen. A Christmas Carol strikes us as an expression of hope in a dark time. (Read more from “The Everyday Hope of a ‘Christmas Carol’ Is That the World Can Change Because We Can” HERE)

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