Mendel. Gay activists have been hammering the BSA for years. How can you say there's nothing coercive going on here?

The ban was on "openly gay" scouts -- it was basically DADT. No one needs to know about anyone else's sexuality. That's not what the BSA is (was) about. And there always have been gay boy scouts, as nearly everyone in Boy Scouts admits. 

But, now it's a cause, and as other have noted, the gay activists aren't finished yet. I believe it is over, however, for the BSA. I know many families who have been actively involved with BSA who will be looking for alternatives. And, I suspect, many church sponsorships will end. So sad.

The Left only destroys. It never builds. But, at least gay boys will have a club where they can go to feel validated in their homosexuality, even if it's a shadow of its former identity. The great leveling proceeds apace.

I promise I had not read this post nor Mead's blog this morning when my thoughts very much followed the same route. What is the question answered by the BSA's decision? 

What is good for gay boys? 

What is the question asked by SoCons? What is good for ... society? (to privilege families formed naturally by men marrying women)... boys? (to have boy scouts untainted by acknowledgement of individuals' sexual preferences), etc.

The Left's aim seems to be to exploit the grievances of transgressives and victim-minorities to further consolidate its power in society and government (often blurring the distinction between the two), without any real attempt to remedy their grievances, but rather to destroy mediating institutions which might draw from the Left's influence and power.

Libertarians aren't so malicious, but live under the illusion that we can atomize society and retain our mediating institutions, despite the fact (fact!) that malicious power-mad leftists are hell-bent on destroying that which threatens their power. 

Happy Birthday Rob, Peter and all the Ricochetti! Ricochet is a blessing to us all.

I have one last question for you (on this thread). How'd you get the RINO in the cake?

Shall we ask the guys with the machetes? 

I skimmed and noticed Greenwald quoted Michael Moore:

I am outraged that we can't kill people in other counties without them trying to kill us!"

Hey, Mike! They weren't even from "other countries." They were British-born. And they didn't just "try to kill us." They succeeded. 

I don't mind psychotic self-hating leftists being suicidal. I just object to them taking the rest of us over the cultural cliff with them.

The moral confusion is painful to witness. Oof.

This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family.

I don't believe this is true. And that right there is the crux of the problem, if you'll pardon the expression.

While many, if not most, Muslims are peace-loving and would never contemplate such an act, their faith does provide the basis for such a thing. And until they stop denying it, there will be no improvement in the ability of Muslims to peacefully coexist with Jews and the West generally.

Pencilvania

I suggest you set a good example for your younger relatives, and go.

Then come back & tell us all about it.

Alice Roosevelt: "If you haven't got anything good to say about anybody, come sit right next to me."

Yeah, I'm getting the jump on the rest of you being the nosy yenta. Only the tardy wait for Sunday.

"So, how was the wedding?"

Yeah, I don't think so. Once the herd turns, pretty much everyone follows. There are always a few strays, but they'll be embarrassed when the truth becomes evident and is told by so many.

My question for the day is, "How many pigs can you stick before one of them squeals?" The thing about making common cause with thugs and creeps is, they're apt to abandon the cause to save their own skins at some point. 

It's been a long time (Nixon era) since "prosecutorial immunity" became such a tempting carrot.

Agreed. The zero-sum game is not a capitalist's problem -- it's a socialist's problem, caused by socialism.

But, again, the Pope is putting "ethics" at the center of the world's financial, economic problems. He's right to do that, even if he's unclear on what the real causes and solutions are.

I agree it was in reference to the West, Doc. I know what you're saying, James, about "income crumbling" being inaccurate, and I agree. But I think O'Sullivan is right that Francis is thinking of what's happening and will happen to second-tier EU nations (and maybe first-tier) after the crisis, as a result of foolish, if not immoral, privatization of profits, while risk and subsequent debt is held by the public.

Still, we all agree it could have (and should have) been better and more clearly stated, O'Sullivan included.

Ah, I stand corrected. You found the one word I would have changed, Doc. Still, I like that he blamed the participants too. I'm so sick of even our side giving credence to the "predatory lending" meme, as if only the wealthy are greedy. Covetousness is generally from the poor.

This better be the end of Hillary Clinton's political aspirations. What a wicked, despicable woman. 

Oh, for heaven's sake. The Left has always understood that politics is the result of culture, not the reverse. Leftists aren't stupid for working their agenda through the education establishment, entertainment media, and news media. I wish I could say the same for the Right.

Karl Rove? Seriously?

I second the suggestions above. Go because you love your parents, and despite the fact that you dislike and disapprove of your cousin.

deleted double post.... ooooeeeeeooooo

I've had several experiences since roughly 2007 (election 2008) that make me believe in demon possession. Ahem. Even the devil quotes Sacred Scripture, although usually out of context and in some way disordered.

Seriously, has anyone made it to the age of 50 without running into someone you felt was possessed by evil? I've had an up-close experience of mundane, but obviously disordered demon-like possession (I'm not claiming the charism of discernment of spirits; I have no intention of messing with this stuff.)  And once, literally, I experienced a drive-by encounter with someone I thought was demon possessed (a face and expression not entirely human).

There's a powerful story of a missionary priest in Vietnam(?) who exorcised an illiterate little peasant girl able to speak to him in Latin and several other languages. If someone else knows the story, please tell it. I won't do it justice.

As to Pope Francis? I take him at his word. One of the things I heartily approve of about our new pope is that he speaks frequently of evil and Satan. Denial of evil is one of the relativistic West's (Left's) worst features.