More on the Culture Wars

Students at George Washington University are petitioning to change the school mascot from "Colonials" to some other name, such as "Hippos" or "Riverhorses." Don't ask. Obviously, it was Washington who led the Colonies (hence "Colonials") in the American Revolution. No matter. The students claim that the name is "extremely offensive" and "glorifies the act of systemic oppression." I think that it is only a matter of time before the name of the school is changed; after all, Washington was a slave owner. After that, do we take down the Washington Monument?

A lawmaker in Minnesota has a bill that would require all Minnesota schools to post the national motto "In God We Trust." In 2011, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution, 396-9, in which "Congress reaffirms 'In God We Trust' as the official motto of the United States and supports and encourages the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions." We know that all references to God have been pretty much been removed from the public square. However, the motto remains on our coins and currency, notwithstanding lawsuits by atheists seeking its removal.

A week ago I had the opportunity to have lunch at home and turned on MSNBC. I do like to hear what the other side has to say from time to time. The first 13 minutes at the top of the hour focused on Stormy Daniels. Not North and South Korea. Not the possible impending war between Israel and Iran over Iran's bases in Syria. Not the caravan at California's border. No - it was all Stormy Daniels. The next story (I failed to time how long it went on for) was all about gossip about Trump from inside the White House. Negative gossip, of course. Can you say "fake news?"

I care no more about Stormy Daniels than I did about Monica Lewinsky. However, I do question what her motivation is, and whether she desires to be the one to bring down a sitting President, aside from possible financial incentives.

There was a disturbing story in the USA Today about the recent NRA convention in Dallas. Not surprisingly, there was a protest being held a few blocks away. A father of one of the students killed at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School spoke at the protest. The USA Today reported that some pro-gun rights people heckled that father. If so, that is highly inappropriate. The man lost his daughter. Unless he actively engaged the pro-gun people, they should have had sufficient respect for his suffering to have left him alone. Disappointing.

And finally, the Boy Scouts of America is dropping "Boy" from its name. As membership has decreased, also affecting the bottom line, the Boy Scouts has been accepting girls. Needless to say, the Girl Scouts are not too pleased with that development. The Cub Scouts have no need for a name change. But in the 11-17 age group the new name will be Scouts USA. Here's my beef - if boys no longer have the option to be in all boys group, that would be disappointing. And, of course, girls should have the option of being in an all girls group. And I am concerned about possible pressure to join a mixed boy/girl group. Of course, I understand that the Left increasingly sees no difference between the two sexes.