Thursday, December 23, 2021

Year End Reflections, Part V (Some Additional Year End Quotes)

In commenting on the rapid increase in violent crime, especially the smash and grab offenses, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi told us this:  "It's absolutely outrageous.  Obviously it cannot continue...But the fact is there is an attitude of lawlessness that springs from I don't know where..."  I don't know where?  Hmm.  Maybe Madam Speaker you've heard of the defund the police movement.  Maybe you've heard about police quitting their departments across the country, and the poor morale.  Maybe the lack of support from politicians is a problem.  What about no bail?  What about steal under $950 and you get to walk?  And what about left-wing prosecutors who will not prosecute?  But she did tell us with Obamacare that "we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it," so... 

In criticizing the NFL's support for entities that support defunding the police, the National Sheriffs Association said this:  "Perhaps they (NFL officials) could spend one night in a cruiser or a jail to see the horrendous effects of runaway crime."  And:  "Or they could look into the faces of the victims of crime who are white, black, brown, men, women, elderly, kids, poor, rich and every demographic in America."  You paying attention, Madam Speaker?

Judge Terry Doughty is a federal district court judge.  In blocking Biden's vaccine mandate for private businesses, he wrote these wise words:  "If human nature and history teach anything, it is that civil liberties face grave risks when governments proclaim indefinite states of emergency."  The judge's injunction was subsequently lifted by the Circuit Court of Appeals.  It will be up to SCOTUS to decide the issue.

And, to end on a happy note, and apropos to this season, here is a letter to the editor of the New York Sun by one Virginia O'Hanlon:  "I am 8 years old.  Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.  Papa says, 'If you see it in the Sun, it's so.'  Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus."

Here is the paper's reply, in part:  "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.  Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus!  It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias.  There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.  We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight.  The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished..."

"...No Santa Claus!  Thank G-d! He lives and lives forever.  A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, Virginia, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."  

The Sun's reply to Virginia was, of course, published on September 21, 1897.

Merry Christmas to all!

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