Dec 28, 2022·edited Dec 28, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
"The Shadow" lasted from September 1937 to December 26, 1954. We were late to getting a TV, so my years up to around age 7-8 were with radio shows, which I stuck with after the TV arrived, since I could come up with better visuals in my head from hearing the words than they could with the early Kinescopes.
Actually, just googling it, the character first appeared in "Detective Story Hour" in July 1930, and got his own show in 1937 - the voice was actor Frank Readick who said "who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men". Orson Welles played the character of Lamont Cranston from September 1937 to October 1938 (when he became to "big" for them after War of the Worlds) And the show was on the Mutual Network until 1954, so I remember it right.
The Shadow, at the end of each episode, reminded listeners, "The weed of crime bears bitter fruit! Crime does not pay...The Shadow knows!"
Some early episodes used the alternate statement, "As you sow evil, so shall you reap evil! Crime does not pay...The Shadow knows!"
I also grew up on radio. It was magic. I still remember that glowing amber dial and the rounded top wooden cabinet. Not only the stories but also the crooners and the Big Bands. I wasn't enamored of the television when it came to our house. I don't own a television now.
Radio was a huge factor in my young life as well. Under the covers with a transistor radio, scanning the AM waves for far away stations. WOR, WWVA, WABC, WLS (you would have listened to the "Ks").
Jean Shepherd and his stories about "Flick", Long John Nebel and his conspiracies..UFOs!
And then, my mom would flip back the covers and say: "put that away, you have school tomorrow!"
Soon, I had put together a Heathkit shortwave radio and then one from Lafayette Radio. I was hearing the greater world. Radio Moscow! Latin America. Ham radio operators!
Who needed a screen when the imagination was so exciting?
Not The Shadow, but... my uncle Bob Hite was the announcer for both The Green Hornet and, most famously, The Lone Ranger on Detroit’s WXYZ. I can’t hear The William Tell Overture without thinking of him.
Your uncle's path may have crossed that of my mom in her childhood. Brace Beemer, The Lone Ranger of the 1950's, lived across the street in the 7 Mile and Woodward area of Detroit. I grew up in the Green Acres section of this square mile (a bit more modest). I was fascinated by the lives and stories of so many of them: authors, Detroit Symphony Orchestra harpsichordist, a judge, a bird lady, husband and wife social workers who developed national organization to help abusive parents, art institute director, a priest and a rabbi...Who needed a TV?!
Dec 28, 2022·edited Dec 28, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Please mock away! It is beyond absurd to be ruled by the non-elected reactionary majority in SCOTUS. We MUST expand SCOTUS but it will not happen in the next 2 years. That means we must work harder than ever for 2024.
Thank you, Robert. I, for one, very much enjoyed your snark. I share your assessment and feelings about the Extreme Court and the Shadow Dock It. I am glad Justice Gorsuch is at least in this case using logic as a legal argument. The Court has no business hearing this case and should not usurp the decision of President Biden. It is clear this crisis at the border is not a medical crisis. The failure is with the Congress not addressing immigration reform for decades now. It would be great if the Court could tell the Congress you can't recess until you have addressed immigration reform and turned it into law. We, the People, all us this time must over rule this Court. The People should have the last word -- not the Supreme Court which has no checks against its bad behavior!
You are not snarky about the Supreme Court. My fears are: Congress abrogated its responsibility to the people of the USA by not passing the Freedom to Vote: John R Lewis Voting Rights Act and soon the Supreme Court will rule in Moore v Harper (State Legislatures' supremacy under Article 1.4 and then Merrill v Mulligan (determining that Alabama is right about not using race when 26% percent of the state is black as being impermissible gerrymandering effectively making Section 2 of the 1965 VRA neutered. Senators Manchin and Sinema will have denied Native Americans, minorities, students, the aged and infirm fair access to the ballot box. This is a tragedy and marks the nail in the coffin of our democracy. Our zip code will determine IF we can vote, WHERE, HOW AND WHEN we can vote: shameful.
The Naval Observatory where the busload of immigrants were dropped off on Christmas Eve is at the north end of Embassy Row. Located on Massachusetts Avenue, Embassy Row is a collection of private residences and embassies, protected by wrought iron gates to ensure privacy. In short, there is no place in walking distance these people could have gone to in any direction and found shelter. I know this, having driven by the Naval Observatory on my daily commutes to D.C.
The 18 degree weather that night was made worse by the nonstop howling winds.
Your comments beg the question, how did 3 buses, at night, on a holiday weekend, get past security? Did the drivers mention that they were going to visit VP Harris? If so, did that get any sort of response from the Secret Service? This story, while a disgusting abuse of power by Mr. Abbott, is a little too pat. Austin, TX to Washington, DC is about a 24 hour drive assuming time for driver rest and sanitary necessities. Did no one know this was happening in time to stop the buses before they got to DC and get the presumably unwilling passengers some help?
Hey, Dave. The drop-off takes place at the street, so not where the security booths are at the entrance to the grounds of the Observatory/VP residence. I found this news story from CNN that explains the situation happening in D.C. more clearly. The video imbedded in the story is an interview with the director of a nonprofit who has been receiving the migrants as they arrive at the VP's residence. So apparently, and thankfully, there is coordination between the Texas officials and the nonprofit so that they can be there to receive them when the migrants arrive. The video I'm talking about is about a third of the way down the article.
Thanks Lynell. That certainly puts a different light on the story although the Governor's approach leaves a great deal to be desired in terms of compassion, morality and ethical behavior.
It would be good, right about now, for Sens. Sinema and Tillis to resurrect their already negotiated legislation on immigration reform that included legalizing the residency status of the Dreamers.
Mr. Hubbell modestly but unnecessarily apologizes for mixing such popular cultural references as the radio drama "The Shadow" and the comic strip Calvin & Hobbes. Well it is just such an admixture of the light-hearted and the deadly serious that makes Today's Edition such a constant source of both entertainment and wisdom. His explication of the pernicious effects of SCOTUS's "shadow docket" under the current tyranny of right-wing ideologues is particularly valuable. While the good sense of Justice Gorsuch is truly welcome, the fact that Chief Justice Roberts didn't find it in his heart--or in his head--to join him is to me deeply disappointing. The flagrant law-making by this Court has brought me reluctantly to support Robert Hubbell's view re the necessity of expanding the Supreme Court at the earliest practical opportunity.
Trying to figure out the logic of GOP public health: They deny a virus exists, go to court to prevent mask, vaccine and social distance mandates, then go back to court to prevent desperate asylum seekers from entering the country because they may have the non existent virus?
The Texas and Florida governors have cruelly, inhumanely treated already suffering people in political games. But why aren’t we flipping the narrative? Why aren’t we states away from southern borders not sending planes to pick up migrants and bring them to safe shelters and welcoming communities? What’s with watching and waiting for human dumping instead of helping out with crowd control at the very least? Why aren’t we giving a pre-emptive warm hand? Outraged commentary doesn’t feed a mouth or a heart.
I keep having similar thoughts, Moira. This seems not only the humane and ethical thing to do, but also a political response that would ultimately have good traction.
Imagine say 20 states formally indicating that asylum seekers are welcome in their states for maybe 60 or 90 days, while these immigrants develop a long term plan (as virtual all such folks intend to do). Shelters and basic assistance could be provided, with states having choices of say 3 options re: how many people per year they will provide with short term support.
If many blue states - in a very public and well-publicized way - were helping the overwhelmed border states and the asylum seekers, wouldn’t that send a powerful message to independent voters that this is our vision of how America should work??
I recently helped deliver supplies to a wonderful Deming, NM shelter for asylum seekers. It’s in a small town in a low income state, and ~50 new people are arriving there weekly after being released from several days of federal detention.
Most of these people arriving in Deming have US relatives or friends with whom they’ll stay very soon. For those asylum seekers who don’t have such connections, the shelter staff work every day to find somewhere to place people. They have to scour churches and organizations in the bluest states for safe destinations.
A more formal, streamlined, and effective system is badly needed as we wait (forever??) for Congress to create comprehensive and just immigration reform.
This is powerful stuff Tyler. If a group of states can align to challenge the public health directive, how do we get a group of states to align to support border states more systematically in the humane accommodation of asylum seekers?
Thanks for sharing for all, Stan. I had an opportunity to read this article in its entirety while attempting to travel to spend Christmas with family (ultimately successful!). I was so taken by the comprehension of this article that I shared immediately with friends on FB. Very impressed by the J6 commission; Bennie Thompson and the role he played in navigating egos and politics for the good of our nation; Adam Schiff's insistence of including Miss Ruby; and last, but not least, the trifecta of our time: Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney and Cassie Hutchinson...3 women from three different generations. They have done all they can to save this Country. Let's hope they go down in history as such.
Each NYT subscriber is allowed to gift 10 articles a month. Once the subscriber gifts an article, that article can be regifted (but I don't know how many times). I don't know if a gifted article can be subsequently regifted by the recipient.
This comment is in response to (what I see as) silence from the mainstream Christian church about this latest act of cruelty toward immigrants and reflects my personal struggle as a 70 year old United Methodist whose family has been active in "church life" and leadership our whole lives. Though raised Presbyterian, I later joined the United Methodist Church, attracted to its tradition of outreach and justice. For decades, I recall the Council of Bishops issuing statements about various events. Sometimes I agreed and sometimes not, but at least the church was a participant in the conversation. It seems to me that the "mainstream" church has gone silent, and while I respect that there can be different opinions on approaches and polices, I don't understand the silence on children separated from their parents, gun proliferation, etc. I think that in the history books, these last few years will not treat mainstream Christian denominations kindly and that this (what I perceive as) failure to lead and provide a counternarrative to white Christian nationalism will add to the church's decline. This all makes me very sad. I've visited with our senior pastor about this, and I'm sure other readers have visited with their church leaders as well. Disappointing.
Thanks for making this point. Here are some thoughts on this:
1) Mainstream churches have been hemorrhaging members for decades now.
2) Such churches often have responded by adding staff and programs to try to pull-in/keep more people. Their budgets reflect this.
3) Many are likely to get financially strapped. They may have a lot of fixed overhead costs in their buildings, which will hold twice as many people as the number who now attend.
4) Boomers are slowly decreasing in numbers and their willingness to play such active roles as 10-20 years ago. Younger demographic groups are more likely nowadays to attend evangelical churches.
5) COVID has slammed churches even further, across the board as I understand it.
6) Mainstream ministers and church leaders are often feeling trapped in this possibly no-win situations. A few, like Unitarians and the UCC, are getting much more vocal about social injustices. Others seem to be getting quieter, based on the not unrealistic fear of creating schisms and alienating even more people.
My conclusion is that most churches, 60+ yrs ago, served as both moral guides and community social organizations. Since the ‘60s, and then the steady acceleration of the culture war, only the most liberal and most conservative churches could readily serve both functions. And evangelical churches have a better chance of distancing themselves from politics - though clearly that is iffy now. Thousands of the others are struggling to find a sustainable formula.
Thank you, Robert for your commentary, mockery and analysis of the merits (as in meritless) of the Court's order. Having now read the order, however, it appears even more outrageous than I had thought. It appears the stay granted deprives the District Court's order of its effectiveness, which means the Title 42 policy/order/whatever stays in effect "until "the sending down of the judgment of this Court." Meantime, however, the question specified for briefing and argument is the procedural question "Whether the State applicants may intervene to challenge the District Court's summary judgment order." This issue will apparently be heard and decided in the summer of 2023. What is not clear is whether the resolution of that question will result in "the judgment of this Court." If so, presumably the stay will be lifted and the parties will be remanded to an appeal of the District Court order. If not, then the stay will presumably remain in effect pending an appeal to the Court of Appeals followed by another appeal (however denominated) to the Supreme Court. This latter alternative could easily cause the Title 42 policy/order/whatever to remain in effect until sometime in 2024 or later. In all events, it presumably will remain in effect at a minimum until sometime in the summer of 2023, with no legal basis for the Court's intervention in a matter that is constitutionally entrusted exclusively to the Congress and the Executive (President) -- NONE WHATSOEVER.
This goes beyond legislating. The Court is now acting as a Super-administrator of the immigration and naturalization function of the United States. Completely lawlessly.
Episcopal priest here, speaking up on behalf of mainline churches. There ARE mainline churches speaking up. There are pastors and priests at protests. We preach about justice issues in our congregations frequently. The issue as I see it, is that the press rarely reports on those actions. That does not mean they aren’t happening. For example: here’s a recent statement put out by a group of mainline Christian ministers about the current egregious rise of antisemitism in our country: https://ccjr.us/news/statements/ccjr-2022dec14. The person who planted the seed to get this statement written was an Episcopal priest in Texas. Anyone seen any news anywhere in main stream media about this? I doubt it. It was picked up by Religion News Service, but not in the Washington Post or NY Times. All of which is to say: many of us are speaking up. It’s just not click bait enough for the press to cover it.
"The Shadow" lasted from September 1937 to December 26, 1954. We were late to getting a TV, so my years up to around age 7-8 were with radio shows, which I stuck with after the TV arrived, since I could come up with better visuals in my head from hearing the words than they could with the early Kinescopes.
Actually, just googling it, the character first appeared in "Detective Story Hour" in July 1930, and got his own show in 1937 - the voice was actor Frank Readick who said "who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men". Orson Welles played the character of Lamont Cranston from September 1937 to October 1938 (when he became to "big" for them after War of the Worlds) And the show was on the Mutual Network until 1954, so I remember it right.
The Shadow, at the end of each episode, reminded listeners, "The weed of crime bears bitter fruit! Crime does not pay...The Shadow knows!"
Some early episodes used the alternate statement, "As you sow evil, so shall you reap evil! Crime does not pay...The Shadow knows!"
Messages still good for today.
I also grew up on radio. It was magic. I still remember that glowing amber dial and the rounded top wooden cabinet. Not only the stories but also the crooners and the Big Bands. I wasn't enamored of the television when it came to our house. I don't own a television now.
There are, and have been, some very fine programs via television. Especially BBC and PBS.
I didn't say I was against tv. I said I wasn't "enamored" of it.
Understood.
We 3 children used to listen to The Shadow, hanging over the back seat in my dad's car. I can still
remember the smell of his pipe
as we rolled along, listening, entrapped, to what The Shadow
would reveal.
although the maga criminals in our Capitol are certainly not paying at this time for all of their crimes.
Radio was a huge factor in my young life as well. Under the covers with a transistor radio, scanning the AM waves for far away stations. WOR, WWVA, WABC, WLS (you would have listened to the "Ks").
Jean Shepherd and his stories about "Flick", Long John Nebel and his conspiracies..UFOs!
And then, my mom would flip back the covers and say: "put that away, you have school tomorrow!"
Soon, I had put together a Heathkit shortwave radio and then one from Lafayette Radio. I was hearing the greater world. Radio Moscow! Latin America. Ham radio operators!
Who needed a screen when the imagination was so exciting?
Not The Shadow, but... my uncle Bob Hite was the announcer for both The Green Hornet and, most famously, The Lone Ranger on Detroit’s WXYZ. I can’t hear The William Tell Overture without thinking of him.
Your uncle's path may have crossed that of my mom in her childhood. Brace Beemer, The Lone Ranger of the 1950's, lived across the street in the 7 Mile and Woodward area of Detroit. I grew up in the Green Acres section of this square mile (a bit more modest). I was fascinated by the lives and stories of so many of them: authors, Detroit Symphony Orchestra harpsichordist, a judge, a bird lady, husband and wife social workers who developed national organization to help abusive parents, art institute director, a priest and a rabbi...Who needed a TV?!
Well that's cool!
Very cool!!
I am another radio listener to The Shadow. I was particularly interested in Lamont Cranston because I lived in Cranston, RI.
Thanks TC...
Please mock away! It is beyond absurd to be ruled by the non-elected reactionary majority in SCOTUS. We MUST expand SCOTUS but it will not happen in the next 2 years. That means we must work harder than ever for 2024.
Thank you, Robert. I, for one, very much enjoyed your snark. I share your assessment and feelings about the Extreme Court and the Shadow Dock It. I am glad Justice Gorsuch is at least in this case using logic as a legal argument. The Court has no business hearing this case and should not usurp the decision of President Biden. It is clear this crisis at the border is not a medical crisis. The failure is with the Congress not addressing immigration reform for decades now. It would be great if the Court could tell the Congress you can't recess until you have addressed immigration reform and turned it into law. We, the People, all us this time must over rule this Court. The People should have the last word -- not the Supreme Court which has no checks against its bad behavior!
You are not snarky about the Supreme Court. My fears are: Congress abrogated its responsibility to the people of the USA by not passing the Freedom to Vote: John R Lewis Voting Rights Act and soon the Supreme Court will rule in Moore v Harper (State Legislatures' supremacy under Article 1.4 and then Merrill v Mulligan (determining that Alabama is right about not using race when 26% percent of the state is black as being impermissible gerrymandering effectively making Section 2 of the 1965 VRA neutered. Senators Manchin and Sinema will have denied Native Americans, minorities, students, the aged and infirm fair access to the ballot box. This is a tragedy and marks the nail in the coffin of our democracy. Our zip code will determine IF we can vote, WHERE, HOW AND WHEN we can vote: shameful.
Alice Schaeffer Smith,
The clarity of your your Zip Code analysis is profound. The renegade court ruling is Indeed tragic and shameful.
Thank you. If only the Senators were as astute as you
Thank you, and as astute as you. Your vomment has caused a smile.
The tragedy of reducing a place-name address to a nine-digit number—easy to manipulate!
Jim Carmichael, Excellent point.
Wow...”determined by our zip code”! Hard to argue with that and profoundly troubling!
The Naval Observatory where the busload of immigrants were dropped off on Christmas Eve is at the north end of Embassy Row. Located on Massachusetts Avenue, Embassy Row is a collection of private residences and embassies, protected by wrought iron gates to ensure privacy. In short, there is no place in walking distance these people could have gone to in any direction and found shelter. I know this, having driven by the Naval Observatory on my daily commutes to D.C.
The 18 degree weather that night was made worse by the nonstop howling winds.
Your comments beg the question, how did 3 buses, at night, on a holiday weekend, get past security? Did the drivers mention that they were going to visit VP Harris? If so, did that get any sort of response from the Secret Service? This story, while a disgusting abuse of power by Mr. Abbott, is a little too pat. Austin, TX to Washington, DC is about a 24 hour drive assuming time for driver rest and sanitary necessities. Did no one know this was happening in time to stop the buses before they got to DC and get the presumably unwilling passengers some help?
Hey, Dave. The drop-off takes place at the street, so not where the security booths are at the entrance to the grounds of the Observatory/VP residence. I found this news story from CNN that explains the situation happening in D.C. more clearly. The video imbedded in the story is an interview with the director of a nonprofit who has been receiving the migrants as they arrive at the VP's residence. So apparently, and thankfully, there is coordination between the Texas officials and the nonprofit so that they can be there to receive them when the migrants arrive. The video I'm talking about is about a third of the way down the article.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/24/politics/migrants-dropped-off-vice-president-christmas-eve/index.html
Thanks Lynell. That certainly puts a different light on the story although the Governor's approach leaves a great deal to be desired in terms of compassion, morality and ethical behavior.
It would be good, right about now, for Sens. Sinema and Tillis to resurrect their already negotiated legislation on immigration reform that included legalizing the residency status of the Dreamers.
Agree, Dave!
Mr. Hubbell modestly but unnecessarily apologizes for mixing such popular cultural references as the radio drama "The Shadow" and the comic strip Calvin & Hobbes. Well it is just such an admixture of the light-hearted and the deadly serious that makes Today's Edition such a constant source of both entertainment and wisdom. His explication of the pernicious effects of SCOTUS's "shadow docket" under the current tyranny of right-wing ideologues is particularly valuable. While the good sense of Justice Gorsuch is truly welcome, the fact that Chief Justice Roberts didn't find it in his heart--or in his head--to join him is to me deeply disappointing. The flagrant law-making by this Court has brought me reluctantly to support Robert Hubbell's view re the necessity of expanding the Supreme Court at the earliest practical opportunity.
Trying to figure out the logic of GOP public health: They deny a virus exists, go to court to prevent mask, vaccine and social distance mandates, then go back to court to prevent desperate asylum seekers from entering the country because they may have the non existent virus?
Well said, Moira. I've been calling it hypocrisy, but as you say, it is distorted logic.
Logic…of what you speak???
The Texas and Florida governors have cruelly, inhumanely treated already suffering people in political games. But why aren’t we flipping the narrative? Why aren’t we states away from southern borders not sending planes to pick up migrants and bring them to safe shelters and welcoming communities? What’s with watching and waiting for human dumping instead of helping out with crowd control at the very least? Why aren’t we giving a pre-emptive warm hand? Outraged commentary doesn’t feed a mouth or a heart.
I keep having similar thoughts, Moira. This seems not only the humane and ethical thing to do, but also a political response that would ultimately have good traction.
Imagine say 20 states formally indicating that asylum seekers are welcome in their states for maybe 60 or 90 days, while these immigrants develop a long term plan (as virtual all such folks intend to do). Shelters and basic assistance could be provided, with states having choices of say 3 options re: how many people per year they will provide with short term support.
If many blue states - in a very public and well-publicized way - were helping the overwhelmed border states and the asylum seekers, wouldn’t that send a powerful message to independent voters that this is our vision of how America should work??
I recently helped deliver supplies to a wonderful Deming, NM shelter for asylum seekers. It’s in a small town in a low income state, and ~50 new people are arriving there weekly after being released from several days of federal detention.
Most of these people arriving in Deming have US relatives or friends with whom they’ll stay very soon. For those asylum seekers who don’t have such connections, the shelter staff work every day to find somewhere to place people. They have to scour churches and organizations in the bluest states for safe destinations.
A more formal, streamlined, and effective system is badly needed as we wait (forever??) for Congress to create comprehensive and just immigration reform.
This is powerful stuff Tyler. If a group of states can align to challenge the public health directive, how do we get a group of states to align to support border states more systematically in the humane accommodation of asylum seekers?
I’m a New York Times subscriber. Here’s a free link to the story referenced above. I’m not sure how many times it’s good for.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/23/magazine/jan-6-committee.html?unlocked_article_code=QusdAsPZ_htq1cxywvf1KXZXbkZroQydnmzDlHhIPJSWm-09aWsPO7M1a6lV1FHU5O6v0QbHxB8oqsEA2c-FMJV86XngGeAzYAdt-IZyqW8ZNFlUFuhei_Z8fN-0zzInARPULpHzDoij2Gyx3gFSwEHSrnU8ujGyDmAyWOTNzNqXGz8aDH-4xOoOkEhu2S-Au047Lmr0PLfCLMZStSTYA43XKMOZK-CgXPj1XGhgKqnCiLqteLrnHVmT0uuL_OeNlxb62BVVnyOcnKeUwm-FB82ptvfZjU7koa6w-CEMANHBa2hA3htYmO0Eu80RokyGcN-YM1eprTE&smid=share-url
Thanks for sharing for all, Stan. I had an opportunity to read this article in its entirety while attempting to travel to spend Christmas with family (ultimately successful!). I was so taken by the comprehension of this article that I shared immediately with friends on FB. Very impressed by the J6 commission; Bennie Thompson and the role he played in navigating egos and politics for the good of our nation; Adam Schiff's insistence of including Miss Ruby; and last, but not least, the trifecta of our time: Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney and Cassie Hutchinson...3 women from three different generations. They have done all they can to save this Country. Let's hope they go down in history as such.
Each NYT subscriber is allowed to gift 10 articles a month. Once the subscriber gifts an article, that article can be regifted (but I don't know how many times). I don't know if a gifted article can be subsequently regifted by the recipient.
Thank you so much Stan!!!!
Thank you! A fascinating read!
Thank you so much for sharing this. It was an amazing read.
This comment is in response to (what I see as) silence from the mainstream Christian church about this latest act of cruelty toward immigrants and reflects my personal struggle as a 70 year old United Methodist whose family has been active in "church life" and leadership our whole lives. Though raised Presbyterian, I later joined the United Methodist Church, attracted to its tradition of outreach and justice. For decades, I recall the Council of Bishops issuing statements about various events. Sometimes I agreed and sometimes not, but at least the church was a participant in the conversation. It seems to me that the "mainstream" church has gone silent, and while I respect that there can be different opinions on approaches and polices, I don't understand the silence on children separated from their parents, gun proliferation, etc. I think that in the history books, these last few years will not treat mainstream Christian denominations kindly and that this (what I perceive as) failure to lead and provide a counternarrative to white Christian nationalism will add to the church's decline. This all makes me very sad. I've visited with our senior pastor about this, and I'm sure other readers have visited with their church leaders as well. Disappointing.
Thanks for making this point. Here are some thoughts on this:
1) Mainstream churches have been hemorrhaging members for decades now.
2) Such churches often have responded by adding staff and programs to try to pull-in/keep more people. Their budgets reflect this.
3) Many are likely to get financially strapped. They may have a lot of fixed overhead costs in their buildings, which will hold twice as many people as the number who now attend.
4) Boomers are slowly decreasing in numbers and their willingness to play such active roles as 10-20 years ago. Younger demographic groups are more likely nowadays to attend evangelical churches.
5) COVID has slammed churches even further, across the board as I understand it.
6) Mainstream ministers and church leaders are often feeling trapped in this possibly no-win situations. A few, like Unitarians and the UCC, are getting much more vocal about social injustices. Others seem to be getting quieter, based on the not unrealistic fear of creating schisms and alienating even more people.
My conclusion is that most churches, 60+ yrs ago, served as both moral guides and community social organizations. Since the ‘60s, and then the steady acceleration of the culture war, only the most liberal and most conservative churches could readily serve both functions. And evangelical churches have a better chance of distancing themselves from politics - though clearly that is iffy now. Thousands of the others are struggling to find a sustainable formula.
The UMC I attended was hijacked by tea party nuts. Bye bye
Mine too. Also bye bye.
Thank you, Robert for your commentary, mockery and analysis of the merits (as in meritless) of the Court's order. Having now read the order, however, it appears even more outrageous than I had thought. It appears the stay granted deprives the District Court's order of its effectiveness, which means the Title 42 policy/order/whatever stays in effect "until "the sending down of the judgment of this Court." Meantime, however, the question specified for briefing and argument is the procedural question "Whether the State applicants may intervene to challenge the District Court's summary judgment order." This issue will apparently be heard and decided in the summer of 2023. What is not clear is whether the resolution of that question will result in "the judgment of this Court." If so, presumably the stay will be lifted and the parties will be remanded to an appeal of the District Court order. If not, then the stay will presumably remain in effect pending an appeal to the Court of Appeals followed by another appeal (however denominated) to the Supreme Court. This latter alternative could easily cause the Title 42 policy/order/whatever to remain in effect until sometime in 2024 or later. In all events, it presumably will remain in effect at a minimum until sometime in the summer of 2023, with no legal basis for the Court's intervention in a matter that is constitutionally entrusted exclusively to the Congress and the Executive (President) -- NONE WHATSOEVER.
This goes beyond legislating. The Court is now acting as a Super-administrator of the immigration and naturalization function of the United States. Completely lawlessly.
Thanks for the supplemental explanation. Outrageous!
Snark and mock are now essential elements for stable mental health—no apology necessary.
Where’s Pogo when we really need him?
That NYT Magazine article is really interesting. Everybody should read it.
Quickly, here is a gifted link to the NYT article that Robert referenced about the J6 Committee:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/23/magazine/jan-6-committee.html?
Episcopal priest here, speaking up on behalf of mainline churches. There ARE mainline churches speaking up. There are pastors and priests at protests. We preach about justice issues in our congregations frequently. The issue as I see it, is that the press rarely reports on those actions. That does not mean they aren’t happening. For example: here’s a recent statement put out by a group of mainline Christian ministers about the current egregious rise of antisemitism in our country: https://ccjr.us/news/statements/ccjr-2022dec14. The person who planted the seed to get this statement written was an Episcopal priest in Texas. Anyone seen any news anywhere in main stream media about this? I doubt it. It was picked up by Religion News Service, but not in the Washington Post or NY Times. All of which is to say: many of us are speaking up. It’s just not click bait enough for the press to cover it.
Hi, Posey. Thanks for your note. And thanks for the link to the CCJR statement. I will note tonight.
Sadly, the ugly outside world also lives in the Church. In fact, the ugly outside world often uses the church to do its bidding.