Programming note: On Friday Mark's Clubland Q&A live around the planet will air at 3pm North American Eastern - that's 7pm GMT/8pm British Summer Time.
Welcome back to this week's edition of Laura's Links and what a week it was.
The death of Queen Elizabeth II marks the end of an era. She lived a truly remarkable, long life and I would urge you to read Mark's tribute to her late Majesty: The Longest Reign, and a Sudden End, and listen to his touching remarks about the Queen in this great interview with Megyn Kelly as well.
I don't think I can add much to the tributes that have already been published and thoughts that have already been articulated, but I will note that many people I know that were not in any way, shape or form fans of the monarchy have personally expressed to me how sad they are about her passing, and how they didn't expect to feel as sad as they do. I think that is largely to do with Queen Elizabeth's regal manner, her lifelong commitment to serving her people, and the dignified manner in which she comported herself throughout her reign.
This gives me some comfort. I take it as an indication that despite the lip service paid by so many to truly frivolous and purely material pursuits, it is the ethereal – duty, dignity, honour, service, parenthood, grandchildren, continuity, responsibility and goodness – that are clearly the things that are important to humans. The things that give our lives meaning and touch us in the depths of our souls – these are the things that resonate with us and unite us.
Like Mark, I no longer commemorate 9/11 for the reasons he has articulated over the years. I was particularly repulsed by the 9/11 memorial itself. It is, physically, a beautiful, tragic site. But it is not intellectually honest, so it is a place that manipulates memory. There is no mention of the religious inspiration of the hijackers anywhere at the site or in the museum. It's just a hop, skip and a jump from this manipulation to "some people did something." Decadence. Decline. For shame.
The "deal" being allegedly offered to the bloodthirsty, evil humans who murdered thousands of innocents on American soil on 9/11 is just the last straw in a series of so many pathetic displays of weakness and decadence by a dying Republic. If murdering almost 3,000 citizens is not enough to warrant the death penalty, what is? That these scumbag, lowlife murderers are still alive and above ground today is a sufficient affront to the memory of the murdered and to their living relatives and friends.
I love America, but I do have to question if there is a single shred of decency or dignity left anywhere in American leadership with respect to this mass murder? What does one have to do in America do warrant the death penalty? Showing kindness to the cruel and leniency to the evil is wrong. Destroying evil is kindness. Our blood and our lives are not important to the ruling elites. We are their cannon fodder. Our lives are cheap playthings for their political machinations and their unapologetic, unending thirst for power, riches and control.
You know what could result in the death penalty in America? A human going up against the leftist, Democrat evil blob for a second Presidential run. That could have easily warranted a federal death penalty by FBI for Donald Trump and I'm actually pretty surprised that it didn't.
In keeping with my mood, the general pulse of the news cycle as I see it right now, and some emotional and physical challenges that I am facing in "real" life while away from my keyboard, the Human Grace section this week is quite slim.
But as I prepared to file, I found one item that I started to chuckle about. Hopefully, this brief chuckle reprieve from a truly difficult day is a portent for a better day ahead.
Take care and I'll see you in the comments.
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North America:
A study on the catastrophe. "Evidence", "peer reviewed" as all the cool kids say. Not that it helps at all. A study in evil.
It only stops when you stop submitting.
"What we're seeing right now is that we are in the late stage of a cultural disease."
The real story of the birth of "social distancing".
Traveling first class for YOUR safety, peasants.
This is something that Jews should be speaking up about. Disgusting.
Nothing to see here.
The best and the brightest, etc.
"Just about every 'conspiracy theory' came true."
Twenty years ago, some people did something, but nobody cares.
For my "you can't make this stuff up" file. OMG.
If the Biden administration was not ideologically in tune with the Taliban, what would they be doing differently?
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Israel:
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Jewish Wisdom:
"I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great."
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Middle East:
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The Formerly Great Britain:
Hands off Alison Moyet!!! I love Yazoo. Gawd people are awful.
Laura Dodsworth on the death of the Queen and ancient maternal truths.
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Europe:
Ain't love grand? A look into the traditional courtship rituals of Switzerland.
Finnish Prime Minister babe has thoughts.
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Left Wing Kooks and Perverts:
They are after your children, etc.
"I could run into a burning building for this city but I couldn't eat in a restaurant"
"Wokeness is like Wahabism." There are certainly many areas of coordination and synchronicity.
There is a racism problem in America. It's not what you think.
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Human Grace:
It's open thread time! Log into SteynOnline and let Laura know what you think of these stories or other happenings from week that was. Commenting privileges are among the many perks of membership in The Mark Steyn Club. While going off topic is permitted on Laura's Links, do stick to the other rules as you engage: no URLs, no profanity, and no ad hominem attacks.
