Guilt is a word and issue we need to know and deal with. We are facing it right now as the race issue divides rather than unites us a nation with a major election in November 2020.

Websters defines it several different ways, from official guilt in the commission of a crime or offense to "feelings of deserving blame especially for imagined offenses," which is the one I want us to focus on today.

The issues are the accusations that "systemic racism" has governed this nations history from even before its founding to now an interpretation called the 1619 Project -- to the need for reparations by whites to pay blacks for the sin of supporting and sustaining slavery from 1619 to 1866 in the nation, and for all of the injustices which followed: segregation, Jim Crow laws, lynchings, etc.

We dealt in a previous Port Rail with the issue of whether the national history of the U.S. is driven by "systemic racism," while such frivolous and distracting items as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, free speech, the rule of law, the rise of capitalism, the Civil War, etc. are all merely eye wash to disguise the reality of white dominance and black subservience. This point of view is described in the 1619 Project promoted by the New York Times and one of their journalists Nikole Hannah-Jones. It was dismissed as bad journalism and even worse history by a group of historians at Princeton who I agree with.

The reparations issue is based, at its core, on white guilt for the bad behavior of our ancestors. What does Scripture say about guilt and reparations?

The Old Testament says we can bear the sins of our fathers up to three or four generations although it is clear these "generational" sins are usually against God and Gods laws. Deuteronomy 5:9 says "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me." On the other hand, Deuteronomy 24:16 says "Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin," and so clearly states sins are not transmitted or generational. Ezekiel 18:18-20 adds: "the son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son."

What does the New Testament say about generational sin? In the simplest way, it does not exist because Jesus wiped our slate clean. Scripture clearly states that we each bear personal responsibility for life and life everlasting, and nothinglike sin or guilt-- is inherited legally from the past. We cannot be held responsible for the sins of our ancestors, our children, or our great grandmothers.

Was slavery bad? Sure enough, and the study of the slave experience from Biblical times to today is part of our history and should never be buried, erased, destroyed or otherwise removed from the study of our past. To do so is to mangle the words and images which preserve the past.

History is often a war of words. The act of pulling down a statue of Christopher Columbus or defacing a statue of Ulysses S. Grant is a physical reflection of two elements: one is a gross historical ignorance; and, two, it is merely a symbolic gesture reflecting a set of values driving the Left towards a destruction of culture as it now exists to replace it with the "truth" of socialism or communism.

One must first win the war of words. The radical Left says "we are right, and you are wrong. We set the stage. You have to play by our rules and words." You can call it names like cancel culture, political correctness, identity politics, wokes, etc. but you are aiming for power, and words, not firebombs, laser beams, and bricks are far more powerful. The actions of a true revolution will follow the words.

Returning to guilt and reparations. If, in spite of Scripture, you still insist on white guilt, remember your history: slaves bought by Portuguese mariners on the coast of West Africa in the mid-fifteenth century were enslaved by other Africans themselves--the kings and chiefs of Africa. Slavery was perpetuated by Africans, so if you insist on reparations, collect your reparations from the heirs of those slave trading kings and chiefs.

Or, even better, dump reparation as another gambit to separate and divide our nation. Take up the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. who preached we are one people, perhaps still evolving, but what a beautiful, Christian message he spoke, and lived. I liked these two particularly.

"We may have all come on different ships, but we are on the same boat now." And "we must learn to live together as brothers, or perish together as fools." That MLK Jrs wisdom came wrapped in a Christian package makes his life, and his example, even more powerful, and, indeed, eternal, far beyond the confines of cancel cultures, political correctness, identity politics, or the wokes.

Larry Clayton is a retired University of Alabama history professor. Readers can email him at larryclayton7@gmail.com.

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THE PORT RAIL: Guilt and words - Gadsden Times

Ed Palm, Columnist Published 1:58 p.m. PT Aug. 7, 2020

Call me a Never Trumper. Ill proudly claim that title. It is my considered opinion that we dont just need to defeat Donald Trump for reelection. We need to repudiate him and what he stands for.

We need to repudiate Trumps juvenile name calling and ad hominem attacks on those who criticize or disagree with him. Contrary to what some of his followers seem to believe, Trump is not delivering deserved counterpunches. Nor is he striking a blow for freedom of thoughtless expression, much less freeing us from the constraints of political correctness. Trumps rhetoric demeans the office he holds and reinforces the strength of ignorance in this nation. We used to expect that civility, decency, and maturity would prevail in our public discourse. A vote against Trump would be a vote for restoring that expectation.

We need to repudiate Trumps paranoid positing of conspiracy theories and his demonization of opponents. There is no deep state conspiracy against him. Judicial rulings arent grounded in personal animosity, antipathy, or approval. Democrats are not evil. They merely disagree with his policies and deplore his personal and official conduct in office.

We need to repudiate Trumps reliance on instinct and his disdain for science. He has been pandering to those who believe their uninformed and unreasoned opinions are just as deserving of respect as those of specialists with years of study and experience in their fields. Witness Trumps repeated attempts to discredit Dr. Fauci and his obvious envy at the attention and respect Fauci has earned.

Even more troubling, Trumps ego has led him into magical thinking. None of his predictions about when and how covid 19 would disappear came to pass. Nor is the U.S. doing as well in managing it as he would have us believe. When we most needed serious and selfless leadership, Trump has been whimsical and self-serving. We need a president who will restore our faith in and respect for science.

We need to repudiate Trumps pettiness and his deference to the racists and white supremacists among his followers. Past presidents and congressional leaders have all acknowledged the great contributions of John Lewis in the Civil Rights Movement and his long-standing service as the conscience of the Congress. Trump merely sent out a short tweet the day after Lewiss death, and he couldnt be bothered to attend Lewiss funeral or to send the vice president. Why? Lewis was one of his critics. Trump further fears offending his base by appearing to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Black Lives Matter movement. Voting Trump out of office would be an important first step toward ending the racial unrest that has spread throughout our country.

We need to repudiate Trumps autocratic aspirations and his fondness for dictators. I recently saw a Fox News clip from June 30 in which Trump praised Turkeys president Erdogan and Russias Putin for being sharp. He went on to say that when Erdogan speaks, his people sit up at attention. Did Trump really say thats what he wants his people to do? No matter. Trump has repeatedly expressed admiration for Putin and for North Koreas Kim Jung-un. We need to reaffirm our commitment to democracy and our rejection of autocracy.

We need to repudiate Trumps jingoistic and chauvinistic approach to patriotism. To quote my friend the noted poet, author, and commentator W.D. Ehrhart, When the symbols of freedom replace the substance of freedom, were all in a whole lot of trouble. Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the National Anthem to call attention to how America is falling short of its promise to provide liberty and justice for all. Trump continues to demonize Kaepernick and those who may follow his lead. His mind is closed to the legitimate complaints of those who continue to suffer injustice. We need a president who will listen to all Americans and not just to those who would use the American flag as a gag.

Along the same lines, we need to repudiate Trumps transactional and shortsighted America First approach to foreign policy. As the richest nation on earth, we should be guided by a spirit of noblesse oblige. To those whom much is given, much is expected. NATO and other alliances have been the bulwarks of freedom and democracy. Trump has made us look stingy and arrogant in quibbling over how much other nations are paying. He further seeks to punish nations that fail to give him the deference to which he feels entitled. What else is behind his decision to pull troops out of Germany?

Most of all, we need to repudiate Trumps demagoguery. Attack ads are par for the course in an election year. But Trumps TV ads have reached new depths of fear mongering. Who seriously believes a Biden presidency would effectively leave us all vulnerable to violent crime?

All we have to fear is fear itself! a much better president once remarked during another dark time in our history. Contrast that with Trumps self-serving suggestion we postpone the election until were safe from the voter-fraud danger posed by mail-in ballots. It recalls comic skits in which banana republic dictators cling to power by claiming conditions are not yet safe for democracy. America is the great republic, not a banana republic.

As it now stands, Trump is down in the polls, but we need to remember how the polls were wrong in forecasting Clintons victory in 2016. Opinion polls dont take into account the vagaries of the Electoral College system. It is important that we all get out and vote -- if not for Biden, against Trump. Trumps repudiation and Americas redemption depend upon it.

Contact Ed Palm at majorpalm@gmail.com.

Ed Palm, community columnist(Photo: Kitsap Sun file)

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A vote to restore civility and decency - Kitsap Sun

Doctors determine obesity by dividing a patient's weight by their height. This produces a measure called body mass index. If yours hits 30 or higher, you're considered obese.

But is this simple measure the best way to frame obesity?

In new guidelines published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, a group of doctors argue that, while knowing a patient's body mass index is useful, healthcare professionals should take a more holistic approach to treating obesity one that doesn't overfocus on weight-loss through exercise and diet.

The authors say this new model could improve treatments and reduce weight stigma. After all, the old model typically frames obesity as "self-inflicted condition" caused by a lack of personal responsibility, which may affect "the type of interventions and approaches that are implemented by governments or covered by health benefit plans."

"For the longest time, we blamed our patients, we blamed people living with obesity for the lack of willpower in terms of overeating, in terms of not being physically active," co-author Dr. David C.W. Lau of the University of Calgary's Julia MacFarlane Diabetes Research Centre, said in a podcast. "We now know this is a totally misperceived perception."

The new guidelines define obesity as "a prevalent, complex, progressive, and relapsing chronic disease, characterized by abnormal or excessive body fat (adiposity) that impairs health." Under this definition, someone would only be considered obese if they have a high body-mass index and a corresponding physical or mental health condition.

The guidelines aren't arguing that weight isn't relevant to health. After all, there's no shortage of research showing that having a high body mass and excess body fat boosts your risks of developing many conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, depression, respiratory problems and even certain cancer.

But one key complication is that obesity is caused by many factors. For example, the guidelines note that the condition is influenced by genetics, epigenetics, neurohormonal mechanisms, associated chronic diseases and obesogenic medications, sociocultural practices and beliefs, social determinants of health, built environment, individual life experiences like adverse childhood experiences, and a host of psychological factors.

As such, a straightforward "eat-less, move more" strategy might not work equally for everyone. The guidelines note that "obesity management should be about improved health and well-being, and not just weight loss."

To help primary care practitioners better treat obesity, the doctors outlined five steps:

Insider noted that some health professionals and body-positive advocates don't think the guidelines go far enough in reframing obesity treatment. The update still points "to individual bodies as the problem, not culture," registered dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield, told Insider.

But it's also possible to see how some health professionals may worry this new model could discourage patients from taking the initiative to tackle weight-loss on their own, through exercise and dieting.

In a 2020 opinion piece published in Frontiers in Nutrition, Dr. Elliot M. Berry argued that misplaced "medical and political correctness" may lead to the abrogation of the physician's responsibility to properly care for patients.

"For example, some doctors are now even reluctant to raise the issue of obesity lest they be accused of fat shaming by not accepting their patients' proportions (despite the quote at the head of this opinion piece), and thereby receive poor approval ratings in an atmosphere where popularity is equated with good healthcare."

Berry offers a list of nine steps that he thinks could help the healthcare industry better treat obesity, without shaming patients or falling prey to political correctness.

Berry concludes his piece:

"Parental and individual responsibility, choice and self-management clearly have a place near the center of the stage in the obesity tragedy. Otherwise, it is like going to see the play Hamlet and the Prince fails to make an appearance."

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Obesity should be redefined to curb fat shaming, new guidelines say - Big Think

Terrorism abroad and domestic violence havebeenthe Iranian regimes pillars of existence since its foundation.The mullahs regime started human rights violations and export of terrorism fromtheearly days oftherevolutionandithas never stopped them ever since.Iran is the record holder of execution per capita in the world.The regimes recent crackdown on peaceful protesters in November 2019 and killing at least 1500of them,therecent execution of Mostafa Salehi, who was arrested during the 2018 nationwide Iran protests, and the1988massacre of Iranian political prisoners arepart of the regimes record of human rights violations.

The regimes ongoing supportforterrorist groups, racing to obtain a nuclear bomb,anditsincessant development of ballistic missileand other malign activities in the region andaround the globe by misusing the Iranian peoples national wealth, haveturned Iran into theworldsnumber one statesponsor of terrorism.

On the other hand, the Iranian people and their organized resistance movement, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), have defied the regimesinhumane policies. The Iranian peoples uprisings, the Resistances vital role in exposing the regimes nuclear activities which alarmed the international community intheearly 2000s,prove thatthepeople of Iran do not want this regime andare willing to overthrow it at any cost.

To further prevent the Iranian regimes terrorism abroad and its domestichuman rights abuses, the international community must stand withtheIranian people and their organized resistance movement. The Iranian regimes threat to world peace and security and the solution, which isrecognizing the Iranian peoples right to resistance and overthrow of the mullahs regime, werehighlighted by distinguished political dignitaries fromdifferent countries and political tendencies who attendedthe NCRIs Free Iran Global Summiton July 17, 2020.This event was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemicand was able to connect over 30,000 locations in more than 100 countries to Ashraf 3, the MEK camp in Albania.

One of the panelists of this conference wasProf. Alan Dershowitz, arenowned human rights lawyer.

The following is the full text of Professor Dershowitzsspeech attheFree Iran Global Summit,

The greatest human rights crisis in the world today is in Iran. The Iranian government is the greatest, most serious human rights violator on this planet, and yet its difficult to make this case against Iran and in favor of dissidents and ordinary Iranians in todays media or on todays college campuses. It is not today part of political correctness to be focusing the worlds attention on Iran, yet it should be the primary focus of every good person who cares about human rights and peace.

Iran is the most dangerous country in the world. Imagine what a nuclear armed Iran could do, not only in the Middle East, but around the world. We know that the Iranian attempt to suppress dissent and human rights goes well beyond its own borders, and we know that Iran will stop at absolutely nothing to preserve its illegitimate, undemocratic regime.

This is a very important organization that does more to bring the problem of human rights in Iran to the attention of the world than any other organization. It operates effectively as a counterforce against the violation of human rights by Iran.

So, if you care about human dignity, if you care about human rights, if you care about life and civility and freedom, join the campaign against the current Iranian regime. Yes, we need regime change. The world needs regime change. The people of Iran need regime change. We hope it will come about peacefully through democratic processes, but that seems less and less likely as dissenters are imprisoned and murdered. So, please join this very important campaign. If youre a supporter of human rights, you must be an opponent of the current Iranian regime.

The world will remember this organization and will respect it, and history will show you are on the right side. The Iranian government is on the wrong side of history.

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Iran Is the Most Dangerous Country in the World Remarks by Alan Dershowitz - NCRI - National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)

A trio of former Columbus police leaders said Wednesday that Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Columbus City Council have jumped on the political-correctness bandwagon in criticizing what they said is one of the best police departments in the country.

Former Division of Police Chiefs Kim Jacobs and Walter Distelzweig, and retired Deputy Chief John Rockwell, met with reporters Wednesday to discuss low morale among officers, a lack of support from city officials, and the policing climate in the wake of nationwide protests over racial injustice following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody in late May.

Jacobs, who retired as chief in February 2019, said she has talked to a number of officers in recent weeks who say they feel that they cannot do their job as well as in the past because of second-guessing coming from City Hall and the public.

"This noticeable shift from praise in the past to accusatory generalizations is dismaying to them," Jacobs said. "Our citys residents need to know how these great officers feel about them. What is being painted about them by a few is not a true representation."

Rockwell said he spoke with former Chief James Jackson, who was unable to attend Wednesdays meeting but wanted to pass along a message to the community.

"He particularly wanted me to express that there is not systemic racism (in the Columbus Division of Police). He wanted me to absolutely emphasize this," Rockwell said. "This is from a (Black) man who was subject to that for years."

Distelzweig, who retired as chief in 2012, said policing has evolved from when he started at the academy in the early 1970s. It now includes a significant emphasis on less-lethal options, he noted.

"One piece of equipment we were issued was a wooden nightstick," he said. "On our tool belt was our firearm, a nightstick, and that was it."

The former police leaders also said they are concerned about gun violence in the city, and they said the citys leaders need to be more proactive in stopping it rather than focusing only on reforms of the police division.

"Its appalling to me that the response has been fairly quiet," Jacobs said. Officers "see those people dying on the streets, they witness the inhumanity if you ask me of what people can do to other people. They see those children and parents crying, and they suffer from that drama and trauma on a regular basis, and someone sits back and calls a press conference and says (police) shouldnt do that anymore."

Distelzweig said there are "council members talking about the number of helicopters we have, and we should be talking about, How many shootings did we have last night, and what are we doing about it? We need to be adding equipment and officers."

All three former police leaders also took issue with statements made by Ginther in the weeks following the protests alleging systemic racism in the division. They also called out the mayor for saying there was a lack of holding officers accountable.

"It feels like a bunch of people jumped on a bandwagon of hate the police right now," Jacobs said. "Theres lots of healing that needs to be done."

About 15 minutes after Wednesdays meeting ended, Ginther sent an email to all division personnel that was obtained by The Dispatch. In that email, Ginther said that he supports both the police and reform, and that those two ideas are not mutually exclusive.

"We launched independent investigations into police misconduct because, again, we must be able to hold police accountable if they violate their oath and the rights of others. Support does not negate accountability," Ginther wrote.

Jacobs said that during her tenure, she recommended that 23 officers be fired, and 17 others resigned while under investigation for an offense for which they could have been fired. She said civilian oversight exists in the city because the director of public safety, a mayoral appointee, has the final say on firing or hiring an officer.

Other oversight methods, such as a civilian review board, are likely to do little to strengthen the discipline process, Jacobs said.

"We cant treat cops (all one way) based on the fact they wear a uniform," she said. "You have to have a board that doesnt bring a bias into that."

Rockwell said the civilian police review board proposed by city officials would need to have law enforcement experience or training in law enforcement policies to make informed decisions about how officers behaved in situations.

"When people start dictating policy and they have no law enforcement background and training, its dangerous to our citizens and our officers," he said. "We wouldnt send an officer to a fire scene and tell the fire personnel how to put out the fire. Thats kind of what were looking at here."

Rockwell said officers will be hesitant to make what would have been instinctual decisions in some situations if someone is strictly looking to punish officers without context.

"Were going to have an officer killed or a citizen killed because an officer hesitates and is so concerned about being judged that they dont do the right, immediate thing," he said.

Rockwell added that Ginther has a chance to set the standard nationally for how police reform and evolution will look, but the mayor has to be willing to be a partner, not a unilateral leader.

"Were here to say you have a great department, and seek out their experience," he said. "Dont just ram change down their throat."

Distelzweig said the city administration, Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, the community and the police division need to come together for the healing process to begin and for any changes to have lasting impact.

"I dont know why that line has been drawn in the sand between the administration and the FOP and the police department," he said. "The line has to be taken out. We have to sit down and talk about this issue. Weve got to come together. Its the community that is going to lose."

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

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Former Columbus police chiefs say city leaders have jumped on cop-hating bandwagon - The Columbus Dispatch

Aug. 15, of this year, marks the 75th anniversary of the end of WW- 2.

Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy. These opening words were spoken by President Roosevelt in an address to Congress. it was a declaration of war against the Empire of Japan, for their attack on Pearl Harbor. Through the eyes of a six year old, I didnt understand the meaning of war. However, I soon realized the dangers of war and its impact on America.

WW-2 brought Americans together for one common cause, defeating the Axis, Japan, Germany and Italy. We did everything on the home front to support our fighting men and women. No sacrifice was too great. Everyone contributed to the war effort. My dad worked at Westinghouse and mom worked graveyard at the Orange Roller Bearing factory near the Edison laboratory. We lived in New Jersey. John Basilone, a Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor for valor at Guadalcanal, spoke in my home town to raise money for War Bonds. He too, was from New Jersey . Sadly, he was killed in action in 1945 at Iwo Jima. Today, Basilone Road, on I-5 at Camp Pendleton is named in his honor.

I did what little I could to help in the war effort. I collected scrap metal, rubber boots, tin foil and tires to sell to the junk man. There was Meatless Tuesday, Ration Stamps and little Blue and Red Tokens. Almost everything was rationed and very scarce. Among these were, nylon stockings, sugar, tires, gasoline, shoes, double bubble gum and Butter. Evertday at school, we read from the book of Psalms, saluted the flag and sang God Bless America. The most feared man in America was the Western Union Man. When he rode his bicycle down your street, you prayed he wouldnt knock on your door. His job was to deliver telegrams from the War Department. That was how people were notified of their loved one being either wounded, missing or killed in action. I saw too many gold star pennants hanging in peoples windows. More than 400,000 of our military were killed during the war. President Truman gave the OK to drop the Atomic biomb on Japan. In those days there was no such thing as political correctness. It was something that had to be done and we did it. Many people, even today, say it was the wrong decision. My brother fought in Belgium amd Germany. When the war ended in Europe in May 1945, he and thousands of others were to be sent to the Pacific for the invasion on Kyushu, Japan. That invasion was scheduled for November. The Atomic bomb saved his life and the lives of thousands of American Soldiers and Marines and yes, Japanese civilians. For America, the war lasted about 3 1/2 years. Admiral Nimitz, General Eisenhower and General McArthur were just what this country needed for military leaders, to lead us to victory. God Bless them and all those heroes that made it the greatest victory for America and the world. Almost all of them are no longer with us. But their duty to country, courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten. When I see statues of great Americans, torn down by fools, then I must say, this is not the same America I once knew.

Russell Roof

Yucaipa

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Aug. 15 anniversary of the end of WW-2 | Letters To Editor - Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror

A few days ago, a member of the Illinois legislature attracted national attention by calling to abolish the teaching of history in public schools statewide, until a suitable alternative is developed that lives up to current standards of political correctness. This radical suggestion is of a piece with the recent moves to tear down statues and rename buildings, institutions, and even cities named for historic figures deemed by activists worthy of contempt rather than honor, and it is also related to the New York Timess 1619 Project, a misguided and error-laden attempt to rewrite American history so that the countrys sins take precedence over all else. Natan Sharansky and Gil Troy argue that Judaism and Jewish history can provide an important antidote to this nihilistic impulse:

Read more at Jewish Journal

More about: Education, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Hebrew Bible, Natan Sharansky, New York Times, U.S. Politics, Voltaire

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How the Jewish Experience Can Help America Defend Itself against the War on History - Mosaic