Good News and Bad News

A few days ago I read that National Geographic might be on its last legs. Walt Disney, the corporation that now owns the magazine, has fired pretty much everyone that works for National Geographic. Apparently there weren’t that many folks left to churn out the woke drivel that has replaced what used to be wonderful articles about our fascinating world. Although the magazine will still be published, at least for a little while, all future articles will be written by freelancers and then cobbled together by the few remaining editors. I don’t expect that to last too long, especially since their subscriptions are just a fraction of what they once were. At one point over 12 million people subscribed (including me), but now it’s down to 1.5 million (excluding me). I suspect most of these are long-time subscribers who just can’t give it up, despite the magazine’s current weirdness. 

Anyway, unless the Disney wokecrats (Did I just coin a new word?) convert and support the dreaded DeSantis campaign, the future of National Geographic is bleak indeed. I suppose that’s the good news. Sadly, it’s also the bad news. My parents began subscribing to National Geographic when they were married on July 4, 1935, and never threw out an issue. I read and reread all those magazines and turned to them whenever I wanted to learn something about a particular place in our world. It was a unique magazine, well-written, and wonderfully photographed by many true professionals. How wonderful that my folks kept every issue. Unfortunately when they moved from New York to Chatham on Cape Cod, I think all those mags were left behind. Of course by then I had left for college and soon enough had my own subscription. Yes, indeed, it was once a great publication.    

Then there were the maps! I’ve long been a cartaphile (Did I just coin another word?), probably from the age of seven. When NG arrived in the mail, the first thing I looked for was the map. No map, no joy. But if one of those wonderful maps were included, I would open it up and spread it out on the dining room table. Just to see it opened up was almost magical, as if I were right there in that other piece of our world. As a child I’d pore over each newly arrived map for hours, fascinated by it all, the cities, rivers, borders, mountains, lakes, and seas. I suppose those NG maps were the reason I became a geographic fanatic, something reflected even in my choice of hobbies: stamp collecting and ham radio. Like those detailed maps, both took me around the world, but in very different ways. 

And so, I am saddened hearing that National Geographic may not be with us much longer. It could, of course, be restored, but that’s unlikely. One thing about ideologues: they’re so wrapped up in their beliefs, they’re really unable to change. But nothing in this world lasts forever, but at least I and many other will still have the memories of this once great publication. 

Pope Francis, Giorgia Meloni, and Me

Every so often, probably more often than I would like, someone will ask me, "Deacon, what do you think of Pope Francis?" The questions come from across the entire spectrum of Catholic opinion. But most who ask me about the pope are simply looking for direction and understanding. Occasionally, though, I suspect I am being baited by those few who intend to argue a point, whether theological, ideological, or simply political. They hope to hear me state either my total agreement with the Holy Father or my complete disagreement. I always disappoint them because I'm never in complete agreement or disagreement with any mere man or woman, even the pope. I try to weigh what others say against what I know to be the truth, particularly the revealed truth given to us by Jesus Christ and taught to us by the Church He founded. 

Do I agree with everything Pope Francis has said and written? Probably not, but this might well be the result of a lack of understanding on my part. This came to mind today when I read some of the comments made by the newly elected Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni. Many on the left, including our president, have accused her of fascist sympathies. This, of course, is completely absurd and demonstrates either their ignorance -- they don't know what fascism is -- or their willful dishonesty by accusing their enemies of their own ideological beliefs, a common tactic of the left.

Here's how the new prime minister describes her beliefs that center on the family, her Christian (Catholic) faith, her patriotism:

"Why is the family so frightening?  There is a single answer to all these questions. Because it defines us because it is our identity. Because everything that defines us is an identity, and for those who would like us to no longer have an identity and simply be perfect consumer slaves.”

Then, describing those she calls "financial speculators," she says: 

“They attack national identity, religious identity; attack gender identity and family identity. I can’t define myself as Italian, Christian, woman, mother. Now I must be citizen X, gender X, parent one, parent two. I must be a number because when I’m only a number, when I no longer have an identity or roots, then I will be the perfect slave at the mercy of financial speculators.

We will defend the value of the human being -- every single human being.”

If these are the words of a fascist, then I guess I'm one too. Of course, what she said really represents the core beliefs of a Christian society. And I especially liked what she had to say about herself, a self-appraisal summed up in a few choice words:

“I am Giorgia, I am a woman, I am Italian, I am Christian. You can’t take this away from me!”

As you might expect, such a simple, straightforward self-description drives the woke crowd in Washington and Brussels to distraction. She actually cherishes her unique identity: the name she received at her Baptism; the sex with which God blessed her at conception; the nation and culture in which she was born and raised; and the Christian faith that rules her life. As she stated, "You can't take this away from me" because they are all gifts from family, from God, and from a culture.

In her autobiography Giorgia Meloni waxed eloquently on the evil of political correctness:

“You see, political correctness is a shockwave, a cancel culture that tries to upset and remove every single beautiful, honorable, and human thing that our civilization has developed...It is a nihilistic wind of unprecedented ugliness that tries to homogenize everything in the name of One World. In short, political correctness – the Gospel that a stateless and rootless elite wants to impose – is the greatest threat to the founding value of identities.”

I've included all this just to give you a sense of who Giorgia Meloni truly is, so you won't be led astray by the woke, mainstream media, a media that truly despises this woman. But now let's look at what she has said about her Catholic faith and Pope Francis. The following brief comments are sufficient. 

She said this about Pope Francis:

“Maybe it’s age, maybe the memories, but even though I’m Catholic and I’ve never allowed myself to criticize a pope, I admit that I haven’t always understood Pope Francis...Sometimes I feel like a lost sheep, and I hope one day to have the privilege of being able to talk to him, because I’m sure that his big eyes and his direct words can give meaning to the things I don’t understand.”

When I read those words, I almost fell out of my chair, because they reflect my own sentiments almost exactly. I have found so much that is good and valuable in what the pope has said and written, and yet, like Giorgia Meloni, there is much that I simply do not understand. I, too, will not openly criticize the Holy Father, but perhaps in an upcoming post I might share some of my misunderstandings. In the meantime, all of us should pray daily for Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ, and successor of St. Peter. And pray, too, for Giorgia Meloni. I suspect she might need a lot of God's help as she tries to drain the Roman swamp.

Pols and Celebs

I’m always amazed, although I suppose I shouldn’t be, when politicians and celebrities say absolutely stupid things. Both of these groups of self-proclaimed elites experienced a collective meltdown over the U. S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The court ruled that the Constitution does not include a right to abortion and consequently returned abortion laws to state legislatures. I've decided to share a few of these luminaries’ openly expressed thoughts relating to abortion and other issues. Even though I certainly could add extensive comments to each of these quotes, I will resist and, other than some brief introductory words, let these folks speak for themselves. Here goes…

Vice President Kamala Harris explains why abortion rights are fundamentally American:

"Don't hear, 'It can't be done.' Don't hear, 'Nobody like you has done this before.' I like to say, 'I eat no for breakfast.'...What essentially has happened is the statement has been made that the government has a right to come in your home and tell you, as a woman and as a family, what you should do with your body...We have to recognize we're a nation that was founded on certain principles that are -- that are grounded in the concept of freedom and liberty."

And our Vice President is also a lawyer?

Then there’s the always edgy Bette Midler, who was obviously upset about the Supreme Court’s recent decisions. She tweeted a meme purporting to be a photo of the enrobed wife of Justice Clarence Thomas as if Ginni Thomas were hiding behind a mask of the Justice. Ah, yes, she, the white wife, must obviously be the real power behind the Uncle Tom throne. Racist? You can decide:

An English pop star, Lily Allen, who apparently just had an abortion, explained in rather vulgar language why the vast majority of women choose abortion. I will try to cleverly disguise her most explicit language:

"I wish people would stop posting examples of exceptional reasons for having abortions [Note: by this, Ms. Allen meant rape, incest, etc.].  Most people I know, myself included, just didn't want to have a f***ing baby. And that is reason enough! We don't have to justify it. It shouldn't have to be said, and I think examples just play into the hands of the baddies."

From the White House we hear from Brian Deese, the National Economic Council Director, as he explains that the public will just have to grin and bear it when it comes to higher prices for fuel and food. The government, you see, has more important long-term concerns than the common financial concerns of struggling citizens. In the Director’s words:

"What you heard from the president today was about the stakes. This is about the future of the liberal world order, and we have to stand firm."

Ah, yes, the “liberal world order” which no leftist dares define publicly for fear the peasants would rise up armed with torches and pitchforks -- of course those are about the only weapons the Biden administration would want civilians to possess. I suspect Director Deese regrets his slip of the tongue, a rare instance in which someone in the Biden White House actually spoke the truth.

Another potty-mouth politician, the lovely Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago, has decided that we must clean up our public discourse and generate more Kumbaya moments that will bring us all together. In a news conference on Monday, following the tragic shootings in Highland Park, Illinois, the mayor said:

"What it feels like is happening in this moment in our democracy is people are losing respect for the institutions of our democracy...The toxicity in our public discourse is a thing I think we should all be concerned about...We have got to focus on what brings us together and not what tears us apart, and we've got to get back to respect for each other and respect for community. And that's the thing, I think, that concerns me the most over the arc of the last two years."

Respect for our institutions, for each other, for community, getting rid of toxicity, bringing us together...how absolutely wonderful!

Of course, in May this same mayor urged a "call to arms" to attack those who don't accept her woke creed. Perhaps the hundreds of murders in Chicago are just part of this armed ongoing war against whatever. And just last week, unhappy with Justice Clarence Thomas, the detoxified mayor of Chicago publicly screamed, "F*** Clarence Thomas" at a rally. Later she attacked those who objected to her language, and added, without apology, "I said what I said." Yes, indeed, a lovely woman, and quite the lady.

I am particularly distressed by this final example because it relates to the United States Navy. As a retired Navy Captain I wore the uniform for 30 years and truly enjoyed a wondrous career as a Regular Navy and Naval Reserve officer. As a military organization, a fighting force, the Navy always focused on its ability to defend the country while not sweating the political correctness that infects many other elements of our society. In other words, the Navy was never very “woke” — at least until now. Captain Dave Hecht is a public affairs officer who works for the Chief of Naval Personnel. In an email to the American Military News, Hecht was all aflutter about the possibility that Navy personnel might use inappropriate pronouns. The Navy, after instituting its new policies, will have to punish violators. Here’s just a little of what Hecht had to say:

“Intentional misuse of transgender service member pronouns is inappropriate and inconsistent with the Navy zero tolerance policy on harassment…Violations of regulation or law, to include failure to comply with the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice], may be punishable by administrative or judicial action…[The Navy] appreciates that pronouns are a part of individual identity.” Hecht went on to say that both civilian and uniformed Navy members are expected to use appropriate rank or title, pronounce names correctly, and use “an individual’s pronouns consistent with their gender marker in DEERS or as reflected in an exception to policy (ETP) for that individual.” [DEERS is a personnel database containing information on active-duty, reserve, and retired service members and their families.] Captain Hecht went on for quite some time, even waxing eloquently about a training video that teaches Navy personnel on the proper use of gender pronouns and inclusive language.

Your tax dollars at work, folks. Don't you just love the idea of putting our nation's defense, and our lives, in the capable hands of people concerned about what pronoun others use when speaking to them?

God help our country.

Our Times

We certainly live in strange times. So many today seem to have lost the ability to engage in logical, rational thought based on real truth. Instead, they have allowed their little worlds to become politicized, making everything else, including truth, subordinate to politics. Here are just a couple of news stories that recently caught my attention:

A "Die-in" at Amazon. Apparently quite few Amazon employees believe the company that pays them isn't sufficiently "woke." These employees are upset that the book-selling side of the company, whose business is ostensibly focused on satisfying its customers demand for books, dares to sell books these employees believe are "transphobic." 

About 30 of these employees, therefore, staged what they called a "die-in" at Amazon's corporate headquarters in Seattle. Based on the photos published online, the protesting employees covered their bodies with colorful sheets that symbolized Amazon's attempt to "rainbow-wash" its corporate image. They did all this on the sidewalk since lying down in the street might actually result in death. As a result of this wise decision, most of the employees managed to survive the die-in.

Of course, the truth is, there's no such thing as a "transexual" since biologically a person's sex cannot be changed. Surgery just alters the person's surface, but he or she remains what they were at birth. Just check their DNA or count their X chromosomes. Every woman carries a double dose of X chromosome, while men carry one X and a Y.  The desire to change one's sex, regardless of the direction, is nothing more than a psychological aberration. It's all very sad to see so many today caught up in this lie, but God doesn't make mistakes. He is "the way, the truth, and the life." And we should never forget that in the Nicene Creed we profess our belief that the Holy Spirit is the "Lord and giver of life." Yes, indeed, God gives life and defines it, not us. If you don't believe that, you don't believe in God.

Amazon will certainly reassure the world, its shareholders, and even its employees that they remain committed to the LGBTQA+ agenda. All the corporate movers and shakers claim to take this weird, ever-expanding concatenation of letters seriously, but we all suspect they really care little about any of these issues. Most large corporations simply want to avoid the backlash from the woke media and the highly vocal true believers. I expect Amazon will continue selling the books its customers want to buy, although they will no doubt donate big bucks to "appropriate" causes and highlight books supported by the company's "woke police" even though few people actually buy them.

Georgetown Relents...a Little. Okay, honesty up-front: I attended Georgetown University (its School of Foreign Service) for one year in 1962-63. I'll admit it was a fun year and I managed to slide through with a B average. I found I could achieve that comfortable level of academic excellence with only minimal effort. I just read everything I was told to read and apparently recalled enough to do okay on exams. A few weeks after the end of that Georgetown year I reported to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis for four far more challenging years. Believe me, the Naval Academy wasn't nearly as much fun. 

Of course, back in the early 60s Georgetown seemed very Catholic and very traditional in its approach to both education and campus life. Back then many Jesuits actually acted like members of the Society of Jesus founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola, an order that pledged special obedience to the Pope. Anyway, Georgetown has changed. I receive a quarterly copy of the university's alumni magazine, but reading the latest issue, one would be challenged to find evidence of the school's Catholic foundation. 

Anyway, I came across an online article announcing that Georgetown had reinstated Ilya Shapiro, a senior lecturer at Georgetown's Law Center and the executive director of its Center for the Constitution. What happened? Well, several months ago, the university put Shapiro on administrative leave because some folks were unhappy with his tweets about President Biden's Supreme Court choice. It seems the conservative Shapiro thought, rightly I believe, that the president's decision to limit his pool of qualified candidates to black women was a poor decision that likely ensured the best qualified person would be overlooked. For this Shapiro was removed.

After a four-month investigation, the school concluded that Shapiro wasn't an employee when the tweets were written, so he should be reinstated. In Shapiro's words, "What I achieved was a technical victory but one that still shows the value in standing up for free speech in the face of cancellation...It was an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone except perhaps the instigators of the Twitter mob that launched this tempest...I found out who my friends are, even if I would've preferred not to have had the need to know."

And all of this happened even though Georgetown has an explicit Speech and Expression policy stating the "University is committed to free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate in all matters, and the untrammeled verbal and nonverbal expression of ideas." Yeah...right.

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Nancy and Her Archbishop. I was going to include a few words about Nancy Pelosi and San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, but I've run out of time. Let me congratulate the growing number of U.S. bishops who have openly expressed support for the Archbishop. At the same time I wonder why all our other bishops haven't joined them. If I have time tomorrow, maybe I'll post a few words about it.