Author: Kevin Driscoll

Just a blog of random thoughts. Some will be about street photography; some about DMR radio; some about weight training; we can chat about cigars, motorcycles and tools. Since everyone has an opinion, maybe I'll throw in the dreaded political thoughts.

Oh My God – I Was Indoctrinated

We all grew up singing what we thought was a very patriotic song.  But, once you closely examine the lyrics and review the two versions that were ultimately cut from the song, you realize this is an extremely Socialist / Communist propaganda song.

The lyrics for This Land is Your Land were written around 1940.  I don’t say the “song” was written, because Woody Guthrie used an existing melody of the Carter Family’s “When the Worlds on Fire”.

Guthrie wrote his lyric as a slap in the face to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America”.  The story goes that Guthrie was sick and tired of hearing the song sung all across the country by Kate Smith.  

Guthrie, an aggressive supporter of communism and the Soviet Union, wanted to call his song, “God Blessed America for Me”.  Two of the verses were specifically critical of the United States especially in the area of private property.  He didn’t believe in private property.  He believed everything belonged to everyone.  So, even if you pulled yourself out of object poverty, worked hours upon hours, missed family time and essentially worked yourself to the bone, Guthrie and all of his do-nothing friends were entitled to participate in the fruits of your labor.  They could waltz into your house and sleep in your bed, they could camp out in your backyard, eat your food, and use your utilities.  After all, they were “made for you and me”.  

Guthrie was very anti-war except he fully supported the Soviet invasion of Poland, blasted Franklin Roosevelt for loaning money to Finland so it could defend itself against the Soviets and was critical of the lend lease program to England.  But being the typical hypocrite that Socialists are, he changed to a fully vigorous backing of the US in its fight against the Germans when they attacked the Soviet Union.  And he never served.  Another typical Socialist protocol – demand that the holes be dug but never pick up a shovel to help.  Make sure someone else is doing all the work.  He just sat back singing around the campfires while members of the Greatest Generation were dying to protect his commie idols.  There are versus and versions of the song which are obvious shots at the income inequalities of the Great Depression and post-war periods.

And here we were, young, very impressionable grammar / primary school children, idolizing our teachers and following their lead.  We forget we grew up in the era of the Vietnam War and most of these young teachers were probably war protestors on the weekend and Socialists when ever it suited their needs.  So, when these protest songs and Socialist songs became part of our Music Class curriculum, we put out heads back and sang at the top of our lungs.  

Recently, some of our more liberal leaning entertainers started incorporating the verses critical of the United States and private property back into their performances.  It’s astonishing that these very same performers, basking in the freedoms that are the United States, bash it every chance they get.  I wonder, when was last time these super rich entertainers shared the fruits of their labor like the true Socialists they dream to be.  

In 2002 the Library of Congress chose the song as one of fifty to be added to the National Recording Registry.

I think this anti-American, Socialist song should be removed from that registry.

The Salvation Army Declares All White People Racist – (They even have a manual)

The Salvation Army recently published a mini handbook titled: Let’s Talk About….. RACISM

It was a rather depressing read.  Since I was a small child, I have loved to run up to the hanging buckets and put my extra change in.  This was my good deed for the holiday.  When you’re not even a teenager yet, you think you have made great strides in making someone’s life better for the season.  As an adult, for about 6 years in a row, I was one of the bell ringing volunteers.  I even got my sons involved.  

Imagine my disgust when I discovered they are just another major organization involved in a discriminatory, anti-White, and blatant racist position and wants White people to agree to it.  

S.A. definition of racism: the prejudiced treatment, stereotyping or discrimination of POC (people of color) on the basis of race.  Racism also refers to the system of social advantage and disadvantage or privilege and oppression that based on race.  Racism is a marriage of racist policies and racist ideas produces and normalizes racial inequities.  

Essentially, they, The Salvation Army, are making their own definition to suit their propaganda.  They then expend it to discuss individual racism.  Ok, I agree, individuals can be racist.  No need to hash out the definition.  We all know a racist person when we hear one / read one.  

Then they define institutional racism.  They say policies that result in inequitable outcomes for Whites over POC are racist.  Then they admit that these institutions never mention any racial group, but the intent is to create advantages.  So, they make a definition to suit their own needs while the rest of the world realizes there is no such thing as institutional racism.  An institute is not a thinking, planning, scheming, racist entity.  It’s not even a building.  It’s a name of an organization.  As such, it cannot be racist.  I do need to point out their definition is an attempt to make sure all outcomes are equitable.  Not equal.  Here’s the difference.  If you gave a learned artist and I the same paint brush, the same paint, the same canvass, the same room to paint it, the same model, etc. you have treated us both equal.  However, the results WILL NOT BE EQUAL.   But these people want the results to be equal – as crazy as that is.  So, they treat us equitable.  As such, they are going to make the learned artist paint with his non-dominant hand, in the dark, with one eye closed and they are going to give me a tutor.  Guess what, the results are still going to be unequal.  

I might be able to get on board with their definition of a “racist policy”.   We all can.  If an organization initiates a policy that is clearly discriminatory against someone for whatever reason, that’s a racist policy.  You know, sort of like businesses having a person of color candidate who clearly struggled during the interview and a white male candidate who clearly knew what he was talking about and hiring the person of color because the company likes to diversify their hiring results.  

The Salvation Army program ends with a section on repentance.  That is, simply, demanding that all White people apologize for the crimes and prejudices of their ancestors.  People generations removed from their birth.  People they have never heard of nor have any affiliation with.  And, under the assumption that their ancestors acted with racist intent!!!  In other words, if you’re White, you’re a racist.   

As critical race theory starts seeping into every corner of our lives, we, as White people, need to recognize when we are being discriminated against and then organize to respond.  With that said, we, as White people need to make sure our thoughts, our actions and our spoken word is not racist.  Period.  

Insurance Commercial for Special People

There is a very good and very popular insurance company that’s running, what is meant to be funny, commercials that have hit a nerve with the regular “Joe”.

In the first commercial a former football star is trying to convince the insurance company’s call center employee that he would like to be insured by their company. The representative points out the services are only available to members of the armed services – and that’s what makes the company “special”.

Then the football star introduces himself as a former member of a Superball Championship team and doesn’t that make him “special”?

In the second commercial the same athlete is speaking with a former member of the armed services and trying to get him to use his influence to get the athlete accepted as a customer by asking, “Don’t you think I deserve to be a member”?

And there it is. The constant reminder that these overpaid, over glorified, self importance touting athletes believe they should able to do what ever they want just because they “won a Superbowl”.

It is somewhat relieving that in both commercials the insurance company’s employee and customer make it clear to the athlete that he is simply “not that special”.

Hopefully, more companies and regular “Joes” will keep sending the same message.

Parents Speaking Out at School Board Meetings are Domestic Terrorists

What??? !!!! Today, October 5th, 2021, there is talk about getting the United States Department of Justice, a Federal Agency, involved in local school board meetings. That, in and of itself, is not allowed by Federal Law. But, let’s put that aside for a moment.

School Board members are complaining parents are threatening them with bodily harm, following them home from meetings and harassing them, standing outside their homes and scaring their children. They don’t like parents challenging the decisions they make on curriculum and health and safety protocols.

Frankly, I agree. Those are illegal activities. I refer to harassment and threat of physical harm. But, they are not items for the Feds to be involved in. Those are local crimes to be investigated, processed and prosecuted by local law enforcement authorities. But, let’s put that aside too.

The two critical issues facing school boards today are masking kids while they are in school and the attempted assimilation of our children into a Marxist / socialist mindset via the application of Critical Race Theory. Trying to teach kids, especially white kids, that they bare the sins of white bigots who they were not related to nor even knew. Trying to teach kids of color that they are inferior to white kids and therefore need exemptions to school discipline rules and grading because they don’t have the intelligence to keep up nor the moral and ethical ability to follow rules. Trying to convince parents that treating children equally is racist and that children need to be treated with equity is infuriating.

Parents, of all races, have had enough. And, their recourse is to present their concerns and opposition to such policies at school board meetings. Is anything I’ve written so far false? Please point it out. I’ll save you time and effort. It’s not false and it’s not a political slant. That’s what’s going on.

Parents are so frustrated, so at the end of their wits, feeling so helpless that they have to take a stand and sometimes these board members are so entitled, so “above the parents” and so insistent in their cultural Marxist leaning that personal threats are the only way to make it clear this needs to stop.

I believe there is NO place for personal threats, harassment, and confrontations outside the meeting room. However……

Similar to regular politicians, school boards are voted in to represent the desires of PARENTS as to the curriculum taught to their children. As such, warning a board member to either do what the parents want or, “I’ll do everything I can to get you voted out” is not a threat of domestic terrorism. It is a statement of cause and effect leading to a voting preference. Is voting now an act of terrorism?? If I don’t vote to keep you in office, is disagreeing with a school board something I should be arrested for??

No, but the attempt to silence parents with arrest when they speak out at school board meetings IS terrorism. It’s political terrorism. You know, similar to what they do in Marxist / Socialist / Communist countries.

The New York Times – paper of record, Needs to Stick to the News, not Political Comment

See “How the N.Y.P.D. Is Using Post-9/11 Tools on Everyday New Yorkers”, by Ali Watkins, a news article turned political commentary turned advocacy.

The article describes the post 9/11 surveillance, facial recognition and other technologies being converted from anti terrorist surveillance to anti crime surveillance. Much similar to England, France, and oh ya, the rest of the world.

She comments New Yorkers are now subject to near constant surveillance – a burder that falls more heavily on people of color.

WHAT??? Are she suggesting the cameras can distinguish race or creed and turn themselves off when a white person walks by?

It is this type of journalism, or lack there of, that turns people off to the NY Times. Rather than being the paper of record it should be, it is viewed as a liberal woke propaganda daily.

She goes on further to cite Amnesty International’s comment that a person protesting on the public streets from Washington Square Park down to Sixth Avenue would be viewed / recorded on the NYPD’s cameras for about 80% of the time they were marching. Let’s examine that. If you ARE IN PUBLIC you DON’T HAVE PRIVACY. As such, I am missing what the complaint is here. Is she suggesting the cameras on in place to spy on people? To what end? To me, the cameras are much like radar. They are deterrents. If you know someone is watching, you are less likely to smash windows and steal merchandise, etc. Am I missing something?

She ends her piece with this quote, “But without the proper checks and balances, anything that’s good can also be used for bad reasons.”

You mean sort of like news reporting and journalism.

Indeed.

Politicians are NOT Soldiers

There was an interview with General Norman Schwartzcopf shortly before he died. He was originally hesitant to accept the role as commander in chief of the forces involved in the Desert Storm (the 1st Gulf War). Eventually, he came around and told Colin Powel he would take the job but “he would call them when it was over”. Essentially, he already lived through the nightmare that was Vietnam when the day to day minutiae of fighting a war was coming from the Whitehouse. He said all he needed was the general orders – what did they want him to do. Nothing more. He wasn’t going to run the war from a telephone cord back to Washington D.C.

When you think about it, it is a very concrete philosophy. How can some clown in a blue suit, sitting on a sofa in Washington D.C. understand what the soldier sitting in a humvee, in 122 degree heat, facing hundreds of the enemy needed to do?

More recently, during the Obama Administration, we had the full hands on mess that was Bengazi. Another example of too much hands on and not enough listening to the folks in the field.

And now, we have the absolute waste of a loss of 13 soldiers during a pull out because the day to day orders were coming from Washington D.C. by a bunch of people who never served, who had no clue as to what the ground situation was or simply didn’t believe it, had no tactical skills what so ever, had no experience in military pull outs, and (we’ll find out in years to follow) either didn’t listen to the intelligence during the daily briefings, or simply disregarded it.

Lesson: tell the military what to do in terms of your goal and then get the fuck out of the way.

AFFINITY GROUPS – Your Child is NOT Invited

Woke, anti-racist (well, they actually are racist – against whites), and critical race theory advocates are pushing, and pushing quite hard, for affinity groups.

Essentially, these are groups who gather, in assigned areas usually in a school setting, to discuss their shared experiences in a White man’s world full of oppression, social injustice, and racist culture. These are alleged to be “healing spaces” for BIPOC and Asian American students. BIPOC is a woke acronym for Black, Indigenous, People of Color. These safe spaces are for all students of color but NOT for students who identify only as White.

The woke, anti-racist, critical race theory advocates scream for diversity yet they seek to specifically divide up the student population into segregated cultural groups. Essentially, this is in violation of federal law including Brown v. the Board of Education.

These advocates scream for inclusion yet the Asian group excludes all others, the Black group excludes all others, the Hispanic group excludes all others, etc etc. Except the White group. There is no White group. The White kids are not allowed to have their own group.

These advocates scream for equity. I guess this is one of their equity goals: to have all students feel safe, warm and fuzzy as long as they are doing so within their own cultural groups. Except the White kids. They are supposed to feel left out.

Part of this advocacy centers on trying to “right” the “wrongs of the past”. But, considering a 5 year old White kindergarten child doesn’t have much of a past, I wonder why this child is being singled out to be essentially ostracized, made to feel guilty, made to feel his skin color is not equal to his class mates, made to feel like she is the cause of all of her friend’s sadness. DISGUSTING !!!!

Do White kids essentially have the “original sin” of their ancestors? How about the White kids of Irish descent whose ancestors were brutally oppressed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. How about all the Jews, Italians, Poles, etc etc – all of White skin who were made to feel inferior, left out, and rejected when they came to this country??

Affinity Groups are racist, divisive, segregational, and, frankly, criminal.

NY Board of Regents Are Racists

On Wednesday, August 25th, 2021, the NY Board of Education / NY Board of Regents instituted the following protocol / mandate.

“The Board of Regents launched an initiative to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in schools across the New York State. (it actually reads “across the”) The Board expects that all school districts will develop policies that advance diversity, equity and inclusion – and that they implement such policies with fidelity and urgency.”

This is an aggressive racist, divisive, prejudiced, and discriminatory attack on white children. Let’s look at their three prong attack one at a time.

DIVERSITY – Brown v. The Board of Education solved that decades ago. It had to do with desegregating school districts. Here, the NY Board of Regents is suggesting schools in NY are still segregated. Further, they suggest schools should be busing in children of other races, creeds, colors, etc until there is an equal distribution of all races throughout the district. Essentially, an impossibility. What are you going to do if a district is 100% black, or 100% white, or 100% Hispanic? NY school districts are based upon residency. That is, if you live in Make-believe City, you go to Make-believe public schools unless your parents pay to have you go to private school. Make-believe public schools are funded by the tax base. For the district to be diverse it has to determine how many, based on percentage, of each race there is throughout the state and then go bus enough kids from each race to a particular district until there is “diversity”. So, do YOU want your children being bused all over the state until a particular district has it equal percentage of x race children?? Does a member of the Shinicock Nation in Southampton want their child bused to Rochester because they don’t have any Native Americans there? Does a black parent in Central Islip want their child bused to Southampton because the Shinicock Nation is short a few black students to balance out their ratio? I’ll make this simpler. Let’s say X District is 50% white, 20% Asian, 10% Indian (from India), 15% black, and 5% Hispanic. What happens if the school is 25% white (because the white population is older and their kids are already in college)? Does the district have to kick out certain races and cherry pick white kids from other districts to make their school “diverse”???? ASININE !!!!

EQUITY – note the word is not “equality”. The difference, at first, doesn’t seem important but it is massively important. Equal means you treat all children, regardless of race, creed, religion, sex, etc., the same. You treat them equally. Equity means you “make” all children equal by treating some better than others. And, since it is always the white child that all others need to be equal to, the white child is discriminated against in the school. And, how insulting is this for parents of non-white students. The NY Board of Regents is insinuating your child is of a lesser educational quality than a white child and needs special treatment to catch up to that white child. ASININE !!!!

INCLUSION – quite a joke. It actually allows “safe zones” where children of a particular race can congregate to discuss their shared experiences. Unless your’e white. If you’re white and you congregate, you’re a racist mob. All this does is DIVIDE the kids. Inclusion means all kids share a similar school culture. They have to “assimilate” to the shared experiences and practices of the group as a whole single unit not go off to their separate corners to remain different. Where’s the inclusion?? ASININE !!!!

The New York Board of Regents is practicing Critical Race Theory and shoving it down districts throats. Critical Race Theory strives to show that school districts are systematically racist. They are designed to advance the white student only. It strives to show students must maintain their individual identity categories and not adopt nor assimilate into American culture because American culture is racist and designed to advance the white person only. (So much for the “great melting pot”.) It strives to show that white children have a premium by being white. White kids are premium gas but your kid is simply unleaded. Wow. It strives to wipe out testing metrics, benchmarks and standardized tests because students who are not white are not smart enough to pass them. It strives to follow the current woke culture desire for us all to end up in the same place even if we didn’t work for it nor deserve it.

You, especially if you’re a parent of a child in school, have to stand up and voice your opposition to this racist educational mandate.