Happy Friday, Gentle Readers,
I pray this missive finds you well. At least as well as anyone can be in light of current events. I am sorry that I have been away recently, but duties elsewhere have been increasingly demanding my attention.
Typically, when my writing is up to speed, this feature is intended to wrap up the week with a humorous anecdote and a vino suggestion. However, there has been little about which to laugh, lately.
Better to light a single candle…
There are hosts of celebrities, members of the MSM, pundits, and assorted internet personalities, known and unknown, and random individuals who have not just celebrated Wednesday’s murder, but amplified it for political purposes or just to glorify in the murder of someone with whom they disagreed. Not to mention the execrable remarks made by equally execrable members of the political class.
Such people are perfectly content to watch protesters rage and slaver their way through the streets like the cursed fish people in H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow over Innsmouth. These vandals and vigilantes, fueled by propaganda from their teachers, professors, and the enablers of social media, act on impulse, or perhaps even some baser instinct, maybe even some recessive gene lurking in the back of the human brain, left over from a time when hominids banded together against mammoths and saber-toothed tigers. But while our ancestors formed themselves into groups to survive and eventually form a foundation for civilization, these people coalesce for the express purpose of destruction, terror, and chaos.
It is easy to hold such people in contempt. But, as hard as it may be to muster pity, they deserve that as well.
The upper echelon of the Left engages in such behavior because it is immune to the consequences and gains social, political, and financial capital in doing so. They can only live for the moment because the moment is all they have. The lower echelons live hollow lives, devoid of meaning and any meaningful spiritual connections, and fill up those empty spaces with rage and “activism.”
Many years ago, my wife and I were on a summer weekend getaway to a tony ski town. On the last day, we slipped into an upscale joint for brunch. There was a woman at the table next to ours who was lamenting in a loud voice that she simply did not know whether her family and its circle of friends should go to Martha’s Vineyard for Christmas that year. Or maybe it was Cape Cod. Wherever it was, it was some extremely high-end destination that most of us could only afford to drive past. The point is, she could not stop going on about it, and doing so in as loud a voice as she could muster. People have discussed their upcoming heart transplants with less urgency and intensity. Nevertheless, everyone within earshot apparently needed to know that she faced this harrowing dilemma.
Such people, great and small, cling to wealth, power, and luxury. Their poorer counterparts cling to violence, anarchy, and the euphoria that comes with those things. Sadly, there is nothing of substance in their lives, and they have to magnify and project their hate to maintain their sense of euphoria. This is what a person with no soul looks like. There's nothing left inside, you see.
No one is safe from this mania. I am a relatively unknown figure in the media, and I hardly post at PJ Media anymore. Be that as it may, this summer, I received a death threat because I had the temerity to suggest having a conversation about illegal immigration.
There are a few on the Left calling for the nation to come together and an end to “political violence.” And it is worth noting that the Left has encouraged violence with a wink and a nod, and sometimes much more. The gymnastics from the Left are not just clumsy, but shameful.
The situation in the United States is beyond dire. You ignore these people and the system and movements that created them at your peril. Such evil must not go unchallenged. But in our opposition, we must not let our own souls be co-opted like those of our opponents. In standing up to evil, we must not allow ourselves to become like our opponents, who twist themselves into pretzels to avoid a point that they tried so hard to make a week before.
Consider:
We had to run up to another town yesterday on business. We passed Utah Valley University, the scene of the crime, and we couldn’t help but cast a glance that way. But what was also striking were the two overpasses decorated with signs and balloons, offered as a memorial to Charlie.
Entering Orem proper, we passed Timpanogos Regional Medical Center. A small band of people had gathered at the corner. Maybe they were holding a vigil and awaiting the arrival of JD Vance, who would come to escort Charlie’s body home. Or perhaps they had gathered simply to memorialize Charlie and mark his passing. There were signs, balloons, streamers, and flags. It was peaceful, and despite the somber tone and the obvious mourning, people were smiling. There was no joy per se, but there was hope and optimism. Hope and optimism in the celebration of Charlie’s life. And in the brief glimpse I got of those gathered on the hospital lawn, I think I may have gotten a look at the future. At least I hope it is.
Let us be brave, let us be resolute, let us be strong. And let us be who we are, not who they are.
Wine Recommendation
Because you need to raise a glass to Charlie.
May I submit the 2018 Mr. Riggs Shiraz, The Bolter from the McLaren Vale in South Australia:
At around $16, this is not a bad wine for the table or the deck. It is eminently drinkable, and to be perfectly blunt, it was the perfect thing to help Mrs. Brown and me relax after a week of one rotten thing after another cropping up. It has a nicely balanced acidity and tannin profile, and it is not so dry as to have limited appeal.
Medicinal value aside, this is a nice oaky wine with a decent dose of leather, mixed with good earth overtones. It has a little spice to it, including cloves, which works well with the cherries and dark berries. You may want to give it a little more time to breathe than some other reds, but it is worth a little extra wait.
That's it for me. Have as good a weekend as you can, and I'll see you next time.
PJ Media is dedicated to being your go-to source for breaking news and conservative commentary. We couldn't do it without you. While we love the clicks, we would love to have you as a VIP member. Joining the ranks of our insiders is quick and easy, and you can get started here. Use promo code FIGHT and save 60%.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member