The Inauguration Was Everything I Expected - Times 100

 

I grew up in the 1950s, when we read the newspaper, watched intelligent TV news anchors, and discussed what was happening at the dining room table. As I wrote before, my parents said more than once, "We are turning into Rome."

And we were. That took some time, because those days were not close to what we have today. We did not have drug dealers living on our street. Breaking into homes and businesses - not at all common. It was too easy to identify culprits, like the hoodlums who stole a cash register from my father's bakery. They had been kicked out for hanging around the cute waitress.

President brought back the olden days in his Inaugural Address. I was shocked to see so many issues addressed, each one aimed definitely for the good of our Constitutional Republic.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (a stolen name) tore everything apart,  starting officially in 1988. As the Lutheran CORE pointed out recently, all the evil and nothing good has come from the smirking, radical, self-destructive witches of that merger.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Epiphany 3 Centurion - "Here behold the attitude of faith toward Christ: it sets before itself absolutely nothing but the pure goodness and free grace of Christ, without seeking and bringing any merit. For here it certainly cannot be said, that the leper merited by his purity to approach Christ, to speak to him and to invoke his help. Nay, just because he feels his impurity and unworthiness, he approaches all the more and looks only upon the goodness of Christ. This is true faith, a living confidence in the goodness of God."

 

Third Sunday after Epiphany. Matthew 8:1-13. Christ heals the Centurion’s Servant, or Two Examples of Faith and Love. The Faith and Baptism of Children

TEXT:

Matthew 8:1-13. And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And behold, there came to him a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

And when he was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth in the house sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And he saith unto him, I will come and heal him. And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.

For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

And when Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And the servant was healed in that hour.

I. TWO EXAMPLES OF FAITH AND LOVE.

1. Two examples of faith and love are taught in this Gospel: one by the leper, the other by the centurion. Let us first consider the leper. This leper would not have been so bold as to go to the Lord and ask to be cleansed, if he had not trusted and expected with his whole heart, that Christ would be kind and gracious and would cleanse him. For because he was a leper, he had reason to be timid. Moreover the law forbids lepers to mingle with the people. Nevertheless he approaches, regardless of law and people, and of how pure and holy Christ is.

2. Here behold the attitude of faith toward Christ: it sets before itself absolutely nothing but the pure goodness and free grace of Christ, without seeking and bringing any merit. For here it certainly cannot be said, that the leper merited by his purity to approach Christ, to speak to him and to invoke his help. Nay, just because he feels his impurity and unworthiness, he approaches all the more and looks only upon the goodness of Christ. This is true faith, a living confidence in the goodness of God. The heart that does this, has true faith; the heart that does it not, has not true faith; as they do who keep not the goodness of God and that alone in sight, but first look around for their own good works, in order to be worthy of God’s grace and to merit it. These never become bold to call upon God earnestly or to draw near to him.

3. Now this confidence of faith or knowledge of the goodness of Christ would never have originated in this leper by virtue of his own reason, if he had not first heard a good report about Christ, namely, how kind, gracious and merciful he is, ready to help and befriend, comfort and counsel every one that comes, to him. Such a report must undoubtedly have come to his ears, and from this fame he derived courage, and turned and interpreted the report to his own advantage. He applied this goodness to his own need and concluded with all confidence: To me also he will be as kind as his fame and good report declare. His faith therefore did not grow out of his reason, but out of the report he heard of Christ, as St. Paul says: “Belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the Word (or report) of Christ.” Romans 10:17.

4. This is the Gospel that is the beginning, middle and end of everything good and of all salvation. For we have often heard that we must first hear the Gospel, and after that believe and love and do good works; not first do good works and so reverse the order, as the teachers of works do. But the Gospel is a good report, saying or fame of Christ, how he is all goodness, love and grace, as can be said of no other man or saint. For even if other saints have a good report and reputation, it is nevertheless not the Gospel, unless it tells alone of the goodness and grace of Christ; and if it should include other saints also, it is no longer the Gospel. For the Gospel builds faith and confidence alone upon the rock, Jesus Christ.

The Past Predicts the Future - Here Are Echoes from an Earlier, Squirrely ELCA.Response from The CORE

 

https://www.lutherancore.website/

Recent comments from The Lutheran CORE - https://www.lutherancore.website/2025/01/13/reconsiderations-more-than-simply-editorial/

Deluded? I was absolutely astounded when I read ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s response to the recent action taken by the United Methodist Church to affirm the historic Christian view of marriage and human sexuality. Speaking of the very different vote that the ELCA took nearly ten years ago, she said, “Yet, though a controversial decision at the time, our 2009 action has brought strength and blessings for our life and mission beyond what we could have imagined a decade ago.” [emphasis added] 

How in the world could she make a statement like that when she wrote the following in the February 2019 issue of “Living Lutheran”? “Our congregations are growing older and smaller. At least 40 percent of our congregations have an average weekly worship attendance of 50 or less. ELCA membership decreases by 70,000 people a year, or roughly the loss of a synod per year. Clergy retirements outnumber new candidates for ministry. Financial pressures and building maintenance create stress. There is a dearth of people in their 20s and 30s in our pews.” 

<Bad News > Imagined Good Having recently said all of that, how could she now say that because of the 2009 decisions the ELCA is experiencing “strength and blessings for our life and mission beyond what we could have imagined a decade ago”? 

Revelations 

Instead the ELCA is revealing what it really believes and the direction in which it is determined to go by its doing nothing to address the “We Are Naked and Unashamed” movement and nothing to counter the growing influence and message of its most famous public spokesperson, the author of the book, Shameless: A Sexual Reformation. Also, while the Presiding Bishop is quick to respond to so many other issues, she refuses to respond to recent state legislation regarding abortion. How could she expect God to give “strength and blessings” to a church body that is refusing to deal with such blatant rejection of His Word? 

***

GJ - Kids were warned that smashing a puddle of toxic mercury would spread the liquid all over. That was a threat issued by various teachers and parents. ELCA counter-threatened their congregations and swore everything would be fine. Each Presiding Bishop was worse than the one before, leaving them with Elizabeth Eaton, who took a leave of absence for six months.

She is due a retirement in 2025. Strange how her current photographs are so different from the grinning Liz of the past. 

What could be more trite and juvenile than a Liz selfie with an ELCA conference?

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany - 2025.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85224688970?pwd=I3Rfam56ScquWBaVaCgCtHWRUebOvb.1 

Hymn #417                How Can I Thank Thee             

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

All the earth shall worship Thee: and shall sing unto Thee, O God.

They shall sing to Thy name: O Thou Most High.

Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 

sing forth the honor of His name, make His praise glorious.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth, mercifully hear the supplications of Thy people and grant us Thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual   

Gradual

The Lord sent His Word and healed them: 

and delivered them from their destructions.

V. Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness: 

and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts. Hallelujah!

    

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Hymn #381          I Know My Faith Is Founded

 The Marriage at Cana in Galilee

Hymn #369     All Mankind Fell in Adam's Fall             

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
Hymn #577                    God Bless Our Native Land

Prayers and Announcements

• Doctor's care - Pastor Shrader, Sarah Buck, Kermit Way, Dr. Lito Cruz, Alicia Meyer is doing better.
• President Trump will be inaugurated tomorrow.
• Chris Shrader's birthday, the same day as Pastor Jackson's mother but a few years earlier. Monday - OSU vs. Notre Dame.

KJV Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

KJV John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins [GJ -10 gallons per firkin] apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

The Marriage at Cana in Galilee

KJV John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

The first miracle of Jesus is one with many levels of meaning. It was His first miracle, included all His disciples - and His mother, and yet this took place in a little town where the unique event took place for a few people, a humble bride and groom.

The Scriptures describe what happened and include clear messages against future errors. This may be too obvious - Jesus began by blessing the institution of marriage. He did not bless or promote the distortions of men and women living separately and creating holiness for the world through isolated holy places and anti-family obsessions. More than a thousand years promoted the papacy and made the priesthood, monks, and nuns captive to orders outside of and against marriage. Luther broke that up by getting marriage, almost against his will, and promoted what God blessed from the beginning - a man and a woman united as husband and wife, raising children, a unit of the Christian Faith, blessed by Jesus Himself.

3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 

These were poor people. Wine was basic and they ran out. The parents were evidently no longer alive. Mary took the place of the bride's mother and father. I have participated in quite a few weddings - the mother of the bride is the manager. Everything must be done properly - to perfection. Not having wine was the most basic for a number of reasons. Guests would say, "It's just not done!" 

At a conservative Methodist wedding, the couple was unwrapping gifts - one was a bottle of wine. That was re-wrapped quickly and slipped back into the array of gifts.

The discussion with Jesus meant one thing only - Mary believed Jesus would take care of matters. She had seen the greatest miracles anyone could imagine - her difficult trip to Bethlehem, the shepherds coming to see the baby Jesus, the Wise Men come from the East, risking their own deaths.

4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 

Jesus did not say, "Mother" or even "Dear Woman" in John 2. His response emphasized His divinity and her human nature. In the Gospel of John, Mary was addressed as "woman" twice - at the wedding and at the cross. Jesus had John take Mary to safety, with this dialog - behold your mother, and behold your son. But He addressed Mary as "woman."

This anticipates the cult of Mary, which grew up after a debate about Mary giving birth, which became an obsession about Mary. That grew throughout many centuries and still grows today. "Mary comforts the tortured souls in Purgatory," a claim and a terrible distortion even today, in Rome and Eastern Orthodoxy.

In a few words, Mary expressed her faith in Jesus - without limits - much like the many who came to Him in His public ministry or were dragged to Him so they could be healed, even the Roman soldier who believed that a Word from Jesus would cure his servant at a distance. The woman with the terrible disorder, never healed, and yet believed she would be healed just by being touched.

6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins [GJ -10 gallons per firkin] apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

This is a widely distributed miracle which did not take place from Jesus touching or doing the work, but various people being involved. As Jesus' ministry grew, the population doubtless shared the story of the wedding - "I was there!" That could not be missed - the sudden amount of wine, the perfection of the wine, the helpers doing the work, but the Word coming from the Son of God.

9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 

The groom was dragged into this miracle because the order of wine was described by the master of the feast - so the groom an experience as well. The groom got the best wine until later.

11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

The miracle of the wine is known world-wide, but often neglected through the miracle of marriage itself. Walter Meyer emphasized that there should always be another person in the marriage - Jesus Christ. Two become one, and that leads to mutual love that transcends daily life and goes beyond the ordinary.

WELS Is a Sect - Or Cult - Where Anonymous Claims Are Posted Anonymously!

 

Anonymous said...

Wow, where does one begin with a letter like this?

First, anonymity on the part of the author of the letter, pen names like Freddy Finkelstein and sweeping generalizations like "lots of people from across the Synod" are not very convincing, especially when charges such as are contained in this letter are being made. Anonymity allows for things to be written which may not have been written if names were required. If the writer of this letter feels so passionately, then he should express his convictions along with his name and location such as accompany the memorials to the Synod Convention. Years ago, a woman in the church I served told me as we were transitioning to Christian Worship that "a lot of people in the congregation were really upset and were thinking of leaving the church." It turned out that two or three people didn't like the new hymnal mostly because they were unfamiliar with it, that only she was upset and nobody was thinking of leaving the church. This was her way of trying to bully the church to get her way. Christian people can have different views on ministry decisions. But how much credence should be given an anonymous letter making reference to blog postings with only a pen name listed as the author and vague reference to lots of people around the Synod? John, I am disappointed that you chose to put online these kinds of charges without the name of the author.

Oh no! The former WELS pastor, Rick Johnson, actually signed his jeremiad!

Detailed Summary of WELS Disaster - From Bailing Water - Not His Real Name.

 

Someone gathered a great deal of information about the ongoing WELS debacle. I have copied the link - Bailing Water - simply because WELS secrets get erased. 

New Website for Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry - Alec Satin - Lutheran Librarian

 

📅 NEW PUBLICATIONS AND UPDATES

🎉 New Website for 2025 Summary (TL/DR) The Lutheran Library website has been updated for 2025. The biggest changes you may notice are better options for browsing and finding books. Why this change? The website has been created using Hugo, an underlying language for “static” web development. Hugo continues to undergo significant changes, rendering older versions obsolete. As the number of books in the Lutheran Library has increased, the version of Hugo we have been using has grown slower and slower on the 2013 ... Read more 🎁 If You Care To Help Your encouragement always means a lot to us. If you wish to help: Send a note when you think of it. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy! Tips of any amount bring a smile to our face. If you have a recent x or t series Thinkpad you’re not using and would like to gift to us, that would be a blessing. Keep us in your prayers. Most of all, pray that these books will find their way to those who are seeking them, whoever and wherever they may be. May the Lord bless all of us in this year to ... Read more The Lutheran Liturgy by Luther Reed “Public worship… is the privilege and responsibility of the Church. It must be ordered and administered. It is not an abstraction; it is a solemn transaction. It is faith in action. Times, place, forms, and musical settings must be provided. Reverence, dignity, beauty, and efficiency can best be attained by appropriate formality. The Church has thought much about these matters.” - From the Introduction: The Mind of the Church Level of Difficulty: Intermediate: Some prior subject matter ... Read more Consolation: Discourses to the Suffering Children of God by James Alexander The whole of Divine Truth may be regarded as a comfort to Christian disciples… We help the disheartened by… setting before his mind those great everlasting truths, the acceptation of which lays the basis for joy and peace. - From the Preface" Level of Difficulty: Primer: No prior subject matter knowledge needed. Contents About the Lutheran Library Titlepage Contents Preface 1 God’s Everlasting Mercy a Source of Consolation 2 The Providence of God a Ground of Consolation 3 The Same Subject ... Read more The Augsburg Confession: A Brief Review and Interpretation by Juergen Ludwig Neve “The main stress in the book… is upon the interpretation of its text… It is prefaced by a chapter with simple talks on confessional questions… The second part… tell(s) the story of the Confession in a readable way.. The third part, with its interpretation of the articles of the Confession, forms the main part of this book… the effort has been made to write in such a way that a layman… can follow the discussions.” -from the Preface by J L Neve. Level of Difficulty: Primer: No prior subject ... Read more Life's Golden Lamp: A Treasury of Texts from the Words of Christ by Robert Offord This daily devotional is made up of short messages based on Scriptural texts. Each has been written by a different minister of the Gospel. ‘May the Lord whose words are the vital portion of the book grant that as these are read from day to day… they may not return to him void!’ - from the Preface Level of Difficulty: Primer: No prior subject matter knowledge needed. Contents About the Lutheran Library Titlepage Preface These Sayings of ... Read more

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Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Epiphany 2 Epistle - "The ecclesiasts desire to sit in high places, to receive all honor, to have their feet kissed, and will honor and respect none but themselves. Indeed, they would ultimately intercede for poor Christians, would be mediators between them and God, attaching no importance whatever to the stations in life occupied by these. They proceed as if they alone were members of Christ, and as if their relation to him could not be closer."

Luther's Sermons - Romans 12:6-16.
Second Sunday after the Epiphany

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

EACH MEMBER CONTENT WITH ITS OWN POWERS.

7. In the second place, the simile teaches that each member of the body is content with the other members, and rejoices in its powers, not being solicitous as to whether any be superior to itself. For instance, the nose is inferior in office to the eye, yet in the relation they sustain to each other the former is not envious of the latter; rather, it rejoices in the superior function the eye performs. On the other hand, the eye does not despise the nose; it rejoices in all the powers of the other members. As Paul says elsewhere (1 Corinthians 12:23): “Those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor.”

Thus we see that hand and eye, regardless of their superior office, labor carefully to clothe and adorn the less honorable members. They make the best use of their own distinction to remove the dishonor and shame of the inferior members.

8. However unequal the capacities and distinction of the individual members of the body, they are equal in that they are all parts of the same body. The eye cannot claim any better right to a place in the body than the least distinguished member has. Nor can it boast greater authority over the body than any other member enjoys. And thus it does not essay to do. It grants all members equal participation in the body. Likewise, all Christians, whether strong in faith or weak, perfect or defective, share equally in Christ and are equal in Christendom. Each may appropriate the whole Christ unto himself. I may boast as much in Christ as Peter or the mother of God may boast. Nor do I envy Peter because he is a more distinguished member of the Christian Church than I. I am glad of it. On the other hand, he does not despise me for being a less honored member. I am a part of the same body to which he belongs, and I possess Christ as well as he does.

9. The self-righteous are unable to concede this equality. They must stir up sects and distinctions among Christians. Priests aspire to be better than laymen; monks better than priests; virgins than wives. The diligent, in praying and fasting, would be better than the laborer; and they who lead austere lives, more righteous than they of ordinary life. This is the work of the devil, and productive of every form of evil. Opposed to it is Christ’s doctrine in our text. Under such conditions as mentioned, faith and love are subverted. The unlearned are deluded, and led away from faith to works and orders. Inequality is everywhere. The ecclesiasts desire to sit in high places, to receive all honor, to have their feet kissed, and will honor and respect none but themselves. Indeed, they would ultimately intercede for poor Christians, would be mediators between them and God, attaching no importance whatever to the stations in life occupied by these. They proceed as if they alone were members of Christ, and as if their relation to him could not be closer. Then they presume by their works to constitute others members of Christ, being careful, however, to demand adequate financial return for the service. They are members of the devil; not of Christ.

EACH MEMBER SERVES ALL THE OTHERS.

10. In the third place, according to the simile each member of the body conducts itself an a manner to profit the others — the whole body. The eye prepares the way for hand and foot. The foot, in its carriage of the body, safeguards the eye. Each member ever cares for and serves the others.

More beautiful figures of love and good works are not to be found than those derived from the body with its members. In the members we daily bear about with us, and with which we are continually familiar, God has described the law of love in a living and forcible manner. Upon the principle there illustrated, the Christian should act, conducting himself in a way to profit not himself but others, and having a sincere interest in them.

Under such conditions, schisms and sects could not spring up among us.

Everything Except the Real Thing.The Big Five Apostates - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

 

They loath Justification by Faith, the Reformation, which is why they ridiculed Luther for the 500th Anniversary, to sell some cheap trash.

They call themselves "Confessional Lutherans" but they do not study or understand the basics of the Book of Concord.

They love to designate themselves as "Orthodox Lutherans," but their little puddle of dogma comes from Martin Stephan, who gave his syphilis to the young women who serviced the self-proclaimed bishop.

They claim to be "distinctly Lutheran," which means worshiping every CFW Walther, C. Peter Wagner, Donald McGavran, and Mark Jeske quote.

They are Biblical - no really! - even though they drool over the latest butchered snip and clip fiasco. 

They adore the NIV, even though many non-Lutherans fail to see any quality or accuracy in that money-maker.

The FBI Has Closed Its DEI Office

 

 

Daily Wire

The Federal Bureau of Investigation closed its Office of Diversity and Inclusion last month ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s entry into the White House.

The announcement comes as Trump and his allies have pledged to purge the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda from the federal government and military.

“In recent weeks, the FBI took steps to close the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), effective by December 2024,” the federal agency said in a statement to Fox News, though it did not provide any additional information as to why it made the decision to close the office.

"Scholars are divided."

***

GJ - I refused to echo the DEI fetish at the University of Phoenix. I told them I would not help them destroy the English language. Not long after, they increased their tumbling around and now have something cooking, either with or without the University of Idaho.

At almost the same time as UOP's foolishness, Augustana College in Rock Island, second cousin to the same name in Sioux Falls, went all out for DEI, even hiring a new president who was soaked and sugar-coated with DEI. Their board of directors was "blown away" by this great effort. I too dabbed tears from my eyes, but they were tears of laughter rather than blown-away-ness.

I only mention this because I fear the Boomers are too lax to object to anything. How else can one explain the downhill slide of so many basics of Western culture?

This is a reference to Planet of the Apes, where Taylor realized he had returned to the once great planet, which was blown up by DEI, weed, coke, gummies, and other improvements.