Wishing you all a joy-filled Christmas 2011!

Isaiah 9:2-7

His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

***

Vivaldi – Gloria: 1. Gloria in excelsis Deo – Trevor Pinnock – The English Concert

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Fort Carson in my city of Colorado Springs welcomed home 200 soldiers from Afghanistan and another 100 from Iraq this week. God bless all our servicemen and women and their families this Christmas season.

Never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice:

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An explosion near a Catholic Church in Nigeria’s capital city on Christmas morning and the cancellation of Christian masses in Iraq remind us of the ever-present persecution and threats to followers of Christ around the world.

Please don’t forget those who have remained steadfast in the face of death — including apostate Pastor
Yousef Nadarkhani, who faces the death penalty in Iran because he refuses to renounce his Christian faith. As the ACLJ notes:

“Christian persecution takes no holiday.”

***
What are your favorite Christmas memories, hymns, and/or traditions? Share via comments or e-mails.

On Tuesday, I gave you the sad news about the passing of Joey Vento. My column below pays tribute to a true American patriot and assimilation warrior.

Via Philly blogger Tania Gale, here are details for Vento’s funeral tomorrow if you happen to be in the area:

All are invited to pay their final respects to Joey on Saturday, August 27 from 9-11:45 AM at the Cathederal of Saints Peter and Paul, 18th and the Parkway, Philadelphia, PA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow the viewing at 12 Noon. Longtime Vento friend and vocal supporter, WPHT TalkShow Host Dom Giordano, has been invited to give a eulogy.

In addition to his entrepreneurship and political activism, Vento was also a passionate philanthropist who raised money for the needy and families of slain police officers. He touched more people than he’ll ever know. In Key West, Florida, Pat Croce’s Rum Barrel restaurant is holding a cheesesteak fund-raiser in Vento’s honor. The details for those in Florida:

On Thursday, August 25, through Friday, August 26, The Rum Barrel will donate 50 percent of proceeds from sales of our signature Philly cheesesteaks to Joey’s foundation, which donated generously to the American Cancer Society and Philadelphia policemen killed in the line of duty.

The Philly cheesesteaks are available at The Rum Barrel’s restaurant and via the Key West Food-To-Go delivery service by calling (305) 292-7862 to order.

God bless Joey Vento and his family!

***

Joey Vento, assimilation warrior
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2011

Blunt. Brash. Bold. Politically incorrect. Unapologetically patriotic. Philadelphia cheese-steak king Joey Vento was all that and a side of freedom fries. The 71-year-old owner of Geno’s Steaks died of a heart attack this week, but he reignited a national debate over radical multiculturalism that will burn for years to come.

Five years ago, Vento garnered national headlines when a local newspaper profiled his outspoken views on customers who couldn’t speak English. He hung a sign in his order window that read: “This is America. When ordering, speak English.” Though he never turned anyone away, the grandson of Italian immigrants informed hungry patrons that he reserved the “right to refuse service” to those he couldn’t understand.

No menus in 10 different languages. No dumbed-down pictographs for the idiocracy. The choice at Geno’s is simple: Sink or swim. Learn English or eat somewhere else. “If you can’t tell me what you want, I can’t serve you,” Vento told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It’s up to you. If you can’t read, if you can’t say the word ‘cheese,’ how can I communicate with you — and why should I have to bend? I got a business to run.”

Vento’s refusal to coddle triggered a tsunami of complaints from self-appointed civil rights leaders. The ululations of the aggrieved resounded from sea to whining sea.

For exercising his constitutionally protected free speech, both the Philadelphia City Council and Philadelphia Human Relations Commission launched political inquisitions against Vento. Yes, it really happened in the home of Independence Hall. Members of the government bodies demanded that Vento remove his bald eagle-adorned sign and threatened to revoke his business license. After 21 months of investigation, a marathon seven-hour hearing and hysterical testimony likening his innocuous 4-inch-by-9-inch sign to “Jim Crow laws,” he was cleared of discrimination charges.

Plainspoken as ever, Vento understood full well why the multi-culti mob wanted to gag him: “I say what everybody’s thinking but is afraid to say.”

As a fellow Philly-born loudmouth, I cheered Vento on for years during his battles with the anti-assimilationists. He weathered the same old slings, arrows and accusations of being a “racist,” “xenophobe,” “nativist” and immigrant-basher — despite the fact that generations of assimilated immigrants and naturalized Americans agree with him. The vast majority of Americans support English as the official language of the United States. Latino parents in California revolted against “bilingual education” mandates that stuck their kids in Spanish-only classes.

Generations of successful immigrant families in America know English is the language of success, not the language of oppression. Yet, politicians in both parties have pandered ceaselessly to the language-Balkanizers.

The Clinton administration gave us Executive Order 13166, effectively requiring all government agencies to provide translations into any language on demand. Rather than rescind the order, the Bush administration went after localities and forced them to provide foreign language materials. In 2004, the Bush administration ordered Harris County, Texas, to provide all voter registration and election information and supplies, including the voting machine ballot, in Vietnamese, as well as English and Spanish.

Under the Obama administration, the Department of Justice threatened to cut off federal funding to the state of Oklahoma over a state constitutional amendment proposal to designate English as its official language. The Obama DOJ also has ordered my home state of Colorado to protect the interests of “language minority populations” by funding free translators for any foreigners — legal or illegal — who sue in civil cases here. In the same vein, the Philadelphia Human Rights Commission that tried to silence Vento distributes pamphlets asking “Are you a victim of discrimination?” in seven languages.

“Progressive” politicians pandering for votes treat non-English speakers as hopeless victims of white hegemony, instead of beneficiaries of the American dream. By contrast, small-business man Joey Vento promoted a common culture, a common tongue and common sense. We need more assimilation warriors like him to challenge the infantilizing Babel Lobby.

***

Previous:

Joey Vento, R.I.P.
Joey Vento takes on the cowards
A win for Geno’s
“This is America. When ordering, speak English.”
The attack on Geno’s
Geno’s says: Speak English

It’s the last day of the Project Valour-IT fundraiser, and as I understand it, Team Marine is trailing the Army team by a small margin, but I sense a last-second come-from-behind victory in Team Marine’s future.

Since 2005, Project Valour-IT has given out over 6,000 adaptive laptops, but there are currently 136 wounded servicemembers on the waiting list, so your donation will have an immediate impact on the recovery of so many of our troops.

Learn more about the cause or donate:

View some related photos here.

Thanks to Project Valour-IT for asking us to participate again this year, and to you for your generosity to this great cause as well as your thoughts and prayers for our troops.

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe

On Sunday we helped kick off this year’s Project Valour-IT fundraiser representing Team Marine. We have just about seven days to go in this year’s fundraiser (final day is July 14), and thanks to your generosity we’re really moving the needle. This is a competition among four teams — Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines — but it’s a competition in which everybody wins. All money raised goes toward providing voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries.

Below you can learn more about this great cause and donate, as well as monitor the amount raised to see how you’ve helped progress Project Valour-IT toward its goal, but more importantly, provided much needed assistance to servicemen and women who have made great sacrifices for the cause of freedom. Thanks so much and I’ll have another update in the coming days. Your help is greatly appreciated!

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe

Fourth of July weekend is a great time to kick off this year’s Project Valour-IT fundraiser, and we’re pleased again this year to be representing Team Marine.

First, a bit about what this great cause is all about:

Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries. Technology supplied includes:

Voice-controlled Laptops – Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.

Wii Video Game Systems – Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions (donated only to medical facilities).

Personal GPS – Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.

The experience of Major Chuck Ziegenfuss (pictured), a partner in the project who suffered serious hand wounds while serving in Iraq, led to the creation of this program that has used voice-controlled laptops to the support recovery and reintegration of thousands of wounded troops since 2005.

The leader of Team Marine, Wolff, who maintains the blog Howling at the Moon, has a few details about this summer’s fundraiser:

Held July 1-14, the Valour-IT fundraising competition will draw on blogging, Facebook, Twitter and other social media to raise money and awareness for the needs of wounded troops. Divided among four “virtual teams” named in honor of U.S. military service branches, participants will also use flyers, word-of-mouth and traditional media outlets to spread the word. The goal is to raise at least $100,000, which will meet increased demand for Valour-IT services through October 2011.

We participated last year, and thanks to your generosity, I’m proud to say that Team Marine came out on top. The “competition” is friendly though, because no matter who raises the most money between the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, everybody wins, and those who make so many sacrifices for us have the help they need and deserve.

Click the link to get more info about Project Valour-IT, or the link below it to donate:

Click here if you would like to add your blog and participate in the fundraiser. On behalf of Project Valour-IT, thanks so much, and in coming days I’ll have updates on how we’re progressing toward the goal.

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe

Today, he courageously discloses the full story behind his health scare: He had attempted to take his life through an intentional drug overdose. Family and faith lifted him up and brought him back.

Please read his entire essay. Take it to heart if you are in despair or know someone who is. The saying is true: One person can make a difference. Andrew is making a difference. You can help him make an even bigger impact. Share his message. Act on it:

On December 9, 2010, I was admitted into Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario, Canada. Given my medical history, when the news got out about my admission, people made assumptions that I had had another stroke. I’ve since learned that some of my friends were under the understanding I had been a car accident; others that I had a heart attack. How these rumors started I don’t care. Any assumptions people made further separated those in my life from the truth, and people not knowing the truth made life easier for both me and my family while in hospital, and since.

Everything shared about me and my medical condition while in hospital was true. I was in a coma; I was on heart and lung bypass; I also had multiple blood transfusions and four cardiac arrests. What people don’t know is that hours prior to my entry to Victoria Hospital, I had taken an intentional overdose of prescription medications in an attempt to end my life. I tried to kill myself. When I described the suicide attempt – and the events leading up to it – to the psychiatrist in the hospital, I didn’t have a good reason. By that I don’t mean to say that there is ever a good reason for suicide, but my understanding is that there is generally an element of logic to it, at least to the victim. In my case, that wasn’t so.

In the weeks and months leading up to the day that would forever change – and almost take away – my life, I wasn’t depressed, stressed, or even sad for that matter. I had, in a very short period of time, endured what one medical professional creatively referred to as “acute hopelessness” through the breakdown of several things I cared about in my life. When these things collapsed, I literally felt that I had nothing in my life to live for. My accomplishments were irrelevant; my family and friends weren’t a factor; I had simply felt nothing. The ensuing emotion wasn’t depression, but rather the feeling that my life had completely lost all direction.

The decision to commit suicide had been made about a week prior to the actual suicide attempt. It wasn’t rational, but it was calculated. I tied up some loose ends and prepared for it internally. But beyond that, I kept up appearances, showing no signs of weakness to friends and family. I kept writing and doing television and radio appearances as usual. I made no attempts to seek help. I knew help was available; I just had no intention of seeking it. Contrary to many others in this situation, this was not a desperate cry for help or a misguided plea for attention. I wanted to die…

Life can be a struggle, but it’s a battle that I fight knowing that I have God carrying me through, and you guys cheering me on from the sidelines. Thank you everyone for all that you’ve done; it has, truly, made a difference.

Thank you. All of you.

The stigma attached to openly discussing this subject remains overwhelming. It transcends politics and race and cultures — and the civilian/military divide, too.

We have been dealing with it in my family in our search for my cousin Marizela, who was taking anti-depressants and had fought such despair for years. The daunting possibility that she took her life — and the signs that cannot be ignored — weigh heavily on our minds as we continue to push for progress in her case.

One of the organizations she supported was To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit support group dedicated to “presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.” The group has kindly spread word of Marizela’s disappearance and kept her in their members’ thoughts. If you are in need of support or know someone who could use a helping hand, please check TWLOHA out. You may not agree with all their politics, but as I said, this is a subject that reaches far beyond those lines. Another helpful resource: Hope for Hurting Parents.

God bless you, Andrew, and all the brave, compassionate activists/volunteers dedicated to saving lives and restoring faith and hope to those in need.

I know from our family experience how important spreading the word about a missing person is in the immediate hours and days after a loved one goes missing.

In Washington, D.C., 24-year-old Matt Hill — a Campus Outreach director at George Washington University — disappeared on Tuesday. His family and friends are trying to get the word out to the public. Police have classified him as a “critical” missing person.

If you are in the Beltway area, please visit the Find Matt Hill Facebook page for more info and updates.

He’s an Elon University alum, and the campus paper reports more details:

The search is ongoing for Matt Hill, a 2008 graduate of Elon University and former member of the Elon Phoenix baseball team, who was last seen Tuesday, May 24 in Washington, D.C.

Hill is considered a critical missing person, according to Officer Tisha Gant, with the Metropolitan Police Department.

Hill, who majored in Communications as an Elon student, currently serves as the Campus Director for George Washington University through a Campus Outreach program at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, according to Holger Hill, his father.

On the morning of May 24, Matt Hill picked up GWU freshman Matthew DeGioia around 7 a.m. The two provided transportation for church member Shirley Luther who needed a transfusion at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland. After breakfast at IHOP, the pair left the area around 9:30 a.m. and arrived back in D.C. about an hour later, according to DeGioia, who was dropped off at the local Verizon Center around that time.

Matt HIll told DeGioia he needed to be at Capitol Hill Baptist by 11:30 a.m., but he never arrived.

“He seemed completely fine, wasn’t troubled at all,” DeGioia said. “He did nothing to suggest he was going anywhere out of town. He had no drug problems, no problems with his family, no girlfriend. It’s completely out of character for him to just leave without telling anybody.”

Holger Hill arrived in D.C. yesterday to assist the Metropolitan Police Department in their search.

“We are pursuing every lead and every piece of information we can accumulate,” he said.

***

Update: Good news…

The youth minister that went missing this week has been found.

Matt Hill, who disappeared on Tuesday, has been found in good health, Shona Sommerville, a spokesperson for the group that has been searching for him told NBC Washington. She said that Hill had left of his own free will.

D.C. Police confirmed that Hill has been found.

A message on the Facebook page for Hill said this morning:

“We need to clarify. We confirm Matt has been found and is alive and unharmed. He also left on his own will. We don’t have any answers. We praise God he is alive, but ask you continue to pray.”

The death toll has passed 125 and the search for the missing continues.

Amid the devastation, neighbors, friends, and strangers are pulling together.

Jim Hoft has the story of a St. Louis Facebook group organizing 4 truckloads of supplies to Joplin.

Relief organizations are in full force.

Reminder:

Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or visit the website to donate, give blood or volunteer.

Those interested in volunteering should list their availability and expertise on their Joplin Storm Recovery Volunteer Form.

Please keep your fellow Americans in your thoughts and prayers:

Rescue workers today searched for victims of fierce storms that ripped through several Midwestern states this weekend, killing at least 89 people in Joplin, Mo., where a devastating tornado touched down and left trapped survivors still crying out for help this morning.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency Sunday evening and activated the Missouri National Guard in response to the destruction.

…There is fear of gas explosions in the storm’s aftermath and authorities are telling people not to light any cigarettes because so many gas pipes are broken, causing concern that what’s left of Joplin might go up in flames, KODE reported.

…In total, 70 tornadoes were produced by the storm system since Friday, including at least 47 tornadoes Sunday. Tornadoes were reported in seven states from the Canadian border to Oklahoma. Warnings and watches were posted from Texas to Michigan.

…Earlier Sunday, tornadoes had torn across other parts of the region, killing at least one person in Minneapolis

HOW TO HELP:

Financial donations to The Salvation Army disaster relief efforts may be made by texting the word ARMY to 90999 for an automatic $10 donation. To make a credit card donation, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or go to SalvationArmy.us. Checks may be mailed to The Salvation Army, 3637 Broadway Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111.

Donations can be made at RedCross.org.

The death toll from the Southern twisters that struck yesterday is nearing 200.

Alabama officials have asked President Obama to expedite help:

Gov. Robert Bentley requested that President Barrack Obama expedite a catastrophic disaster declaration to assist with recovery efforts across Alabama.
Related Links:

This morning there were 131 confirmed deaths in 16 state counties and major damage in five more, Bentley said in a conference call with the media this morning.

“We do expect that number to rise today. In fact, we’re sure it will,” Bentley said.

Art Faulkner, director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, said 2,000 state National Guard soldiers have been dispatched to help with search and rescue along with recovery efforts. All resources available to the state, including air searches, are in use, he said.

ABC News lists ways to help tornado survivors:

*You can call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

*You can call 1-800-SAL-ARMY and donors can text “GIVE” to 80888 to make a $10 donation. Checks can be made out to the Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 100339, Atlanta, Ga., 30384-0339.

Alabama’s governor also has a relief fund donation page here.

Alabama GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions will be touring affected areas today and also has a relief page here.

Help send your thoughts, prayers, and aid to those in need.

***

Update: Word from Washington is that President Obama will fly to Alabama this weekend to meet with Gov. Bentley and tornado survivors. He is reportedly scheduled to make remarks about the storm later this afternoon.

Keep up your prayers. They’ll need every last one.

Toll from the first quake stands at 3,373 dead, 6,746 missing.

Radiation levels are soaring after leakage from the damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.

Here’s a round-up of links on how to help.

Thomas Lifson, founder of the American Thinker and an East Asian scholar, weighs in on the lack of looting and disorder in Japan:

Foreign observers are noting with curiosity and wonder that the Japanese people in disaster-plagued areas are not looting for desperately-needed supplies like bottled water. This behavior contrasts sharply with what has so often happened in the wake of catastrophes elsewhere, such as Haiti, New Orleans, Chile, and the UK, to name only a few. Most people chalk up the extraordinary good behavior to Japanese culture, noting the legendary politeness of Japanese people in everyday life.

Culture does play a role, but it is not an adequate explanation. After all, in the right circumstances, Japanese mass behavior can rank with the worst humanity has to offer, as in the Rape of Nanking. There are clearly other factors at work determining mass outbreaks of good and bad behavior among the Japanese, and for that matter, anyone else.

There are, in fact, lessons to be learned from the Japanese good behavior by their friends overseas, lessons which do not require wholesale adoption of Japanese culture, from eating sushi to sleeping on tatami mats. It is more a matter of social structure than culture keeping the Japanese victims of catastrophe acting in the civilized and enlightened manner they have displayed over the past few days.

***

12:30pm Eastern: Yet more aftershocks being reported.

Just read this.

***

See also: The Constitution Made Easy.

Send a copy to Chuck Schumer.

Reader Ruth sends along information about the Angel Action group’s efforts planned for Thursday to protect the family of 9-year-old Christina Green:

Christina Green Memorial Service Information

Left, right, or center, decent Americans of all political stripes can all unite in condemning, shunning, and pushing back against these un-Christian exploitative vultures.

Today marks the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

From Marines.com:

During the American Revolution, many important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of Philadelphia, including the founding of the Marine Corps.

A committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore.

The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.

As the first order of business, Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines. Tun Tavern’s owner and popular patriot, Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began gathering support and were ready for action by early 1776.

Each year, the Marine Corps marks November 10th with a celebration of the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend our country as United States Marines.

On this 235th birthday of the Marines, as the cake tradition endures, we’re also bringing our Project Valour-IT fundraiser into the home stretch. As many of you know from previous posts, we’re again taking part on Team Marine for this year’s fundraiser. As evidenced by the totals below, so many of you have already responded generously.

The fundraiser ends tomorrow, Veterans Day, but it’s a great cause that needs our support year around.

Click here to learn more or below to donate. If you’ve already donated, thanks so much!

Happy birthday, Marine Corps! Thanks to all those who serve, who have served, and to their families.

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe