Dear MOAB: YYYYMMDD Open Topic [exemplary daily post]

[NOTE: Everything after this in square brackets is me as the IMPETUOUS EDITOR. Don’t put any of the square bracket [] stuff in a post. It’s just us talking – MKAY?]

[RE the TITLE: Dear KMAG, Dear MAGA, Dear KAG, or Dear KAG! is required, followed by a colon, a space, the date in YYYYMMDD format, including zeroes in months and days, and then the words Open Topic. All this stuff is REQUIRED for searching, listing and display reasons – we worked it out as a group a LONG time ago.]

[RE using the BLOCK EDITOR: I like it – don’t be afraid of it. I will convert your post to blocks if I ever edit anything – it just makes my life easier, and will ease your fears of it.]

[RE the FEATURED IMAGE: Please add one. You get the featured image offering in the right hand window if you put your cursor in the title. Feel free to pick something from our huge collection of existing images, or just add one. You can SEARCH the images with text, and it REALLY WORKS NICELY. Try “Trump” or “Melania” or “Pepe” or “Gab”. WordPress will CROP the image automatically across the center, widely, to create a header image. Sometimes this produces cool effects. The Wolf Moon logo will appear, centered in the image, when you preview the post. I don’t care how it shows up. Some folks try to game the image itself so the logo placement looks cool – others ignore. Your choice. If the placement accidentally informs you that Melania Trump or James Coburn is in the Illuminati, I urge you to talk back to the semi-pseudo-randomness of picture composition’s intersection with computer graphics algorithms.]

[RE Categories and Tags: Please consider adding some. They are in the right hand window when the cursor is in the title. I will likely add categories and tags if they are not there when I edit a post. You may add new ones if you need them, but there are many there already.]

[RE THE INTRO: Feel free to depart from this stuff. It’s just a suggestion.]

This EXEMPLARY SOME KIND OF CUTENESS NAME_OF_DAY open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA / KAG! / KMAG world (KMAG being a bit of both MAGA and KAG!).

[OPENING IMAGE: not a requirement, but looks kinda cool. Captions can be cool, too.]

[BOILERPLATE: feel free to change it, but we want to communicate the basic idea that we have free speech, with notable and necessary exceptions, which are discussed in the January 1st daily thread.]

You can say what you want, comment on what other people said, and so on.

Free Speech is practiced here. ENJOY IT. Use it or lose it.

Keep it SOMEWHAT civil. They tried to FORCE fake Orwellian civility on us. In response, we CHOOSE true civility to defend our precious FREEDOM from THEM.

Our rules began with the civility of the Old Treehouse, later to become the Wolverinian Empire, and one might say that we have RESTORED THE OLD REPUBLIC – the early high-interaction model of the Treehouse – except of course that Q discussion is not only allowed but encouraged, and speech is considerably freer in other ways. Please feel free to argue and disagree with the board owner, as nicely as possible.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here in the January 1st open thread. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven.

[OPTIONAL STUFF BEGINS – please feel free to keep, change, delete, whatever!]

SPEAK THE FIVE WORDS BOLDLY TO OUR PRESIDENT!

“I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?

TIME TO….

DRAIN THE SWAMP

Our movement
Is about replacing
A failed
And CORRUPT
Political establishment
With a new government controlled
By you, the American People.
Candidate Donald J. Trump

[OPTIONAL STUFF ENDS]

[SUGGESTED STUFF BEGINS]

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

[SUGGESTED STUFF ENDS]

[OPTIONAL CLOSING BEGINS – JUST SAY WHATEVER]

So here we are. After a month of HOT AUGUST, we hope to see LIGHT overcoming DARKNESS in September.

Be part of it. Bring your wisdom, your talents, your opinions, your investigations, your prayers, and your hopes to this thread.

WE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST.

And don’t forget….

Where We Go One, We Go All.

[OPTIONAL CLOSING ENDS]

[CONSIDER A SIGN-OFF]

[CONSIDER A CLOSING IMAGE WITH CAPTION – PEOPLE LOOK FOR THEM!]

[Remember that you can use bold in captions.]

[Consider media, music, GIFs, and all kinds of entertainment. Consider multiple images. Consider WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT. Because YOU’RE THE AUTHOR.]

[W]

Dear KMAG: 20190827 Open Topic

This HOT AUGUST [27] [PLACEHOLDER] TUESDAY open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA / KAG! / KMAG world (KMAG being a bit of both MAGA and KAG!).

SURPRISE.

I was listening to this music as I just realized a beautiful extension of my “playing field” in solving all this TRICKERY that is being inflicted on us.

Time to WAKE UP.

Time to say YOU CAN’T SHUT ME UP.

No, Hillary.

We’re going to hurricane your nukes.

You can say what you want, comment on what other people said, and so on.

Free Speech is practiced here. ENJOY IT. Use it or lose it.

Keep it SOMEWHAT civil. They tried to FORCE fake Orwellian civility on us. In response, we CHOOSE true civility to defend our precious FREEDOM from THEM.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here in the January 1st open thread. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven.

SAY IT LOUD, AND SAY IT PROUD!

“MR. PRESIDENT – I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?

TIME TO….

DRAIN THE SWAMP

Our movement
Is about replacing
A failed
And CORRUPT
Political establishment
With a new government controlled
By you, the American People.
Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

Let’s see if we can tell this story in James Coburn pictures. You ready?

Here we go!

August is going to be an interesting month.

Oh yeah? Just HOW interesting, we might ask.

Well, based on the LEAD-UP, I’d say we’re gonna see some enemy action.

Actors Henry Fonda and James Coburn on the set of Universal Studios movie ” Midway” in 1976. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

OK. Should we be worried?

HA! You’re kidding – right?

Nope. We are gonna WIN this sucker.

Nevertheless, we have to be careful.

We have to be smart.

We have to be cool.

We definitely have to be wary.

Some of us may have to be a bit stealthy.

Some of us may simply be on vacation.

Others may not simply be on vacation.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is jamescoburncafescene.jpg

We have to stay strong….

But we also have to have some fun!

Now in the periodic, random, unpredictable, and unexplained absences of GROWLING, SNARLING WOLVES….

There may be what seem like explosive situations….

However, we believe that higher powers….

And FAITH IN PEACE and IN OURSELVES….

Are all we need to WIN and WIN BIG in this GIFT of a lovingly designed universe.

So stick around for a GOOD TIME.

ENJOY THE SHOW!

Maybe have some POPCORN!

I mean – who KNOWS how much winning there will be?

We are gonna have ONE HECK OF A GOOD TIME!

Because…..

Where We Go One, We Go All.

GREAT AWAKENING.

Dear MAGA: 20190825 Open Topic

Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS:
I AM PRAYING FOR YOU

This cheerfully and purposefully reposted
OH-MY-GOODNESS SUNDAY
open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody
to post whatever they feel they would like
to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA world.

Say what you want, comment on what other people said,
comment on people’s comments.
Keep it civil. Treehouse rules, but expect lots of QAnon.

See the January 1st daily thread for the rules of the road,
which are few but important.

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering,
not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
(Romans 2:4)

Have you ever thought about how long God’s goodness has been hunting you down, cutting off all your avenues of escape, relentlessly hounding you until you finally surrender to it?
God is that committed to blessing you. And that should be good news.
You may remember a time when circumstances were particularly grim, when you felt like there was no escape, you were going to be crushed. But God somehow, someway, was with you, holding your heart so tenderly you barely could feel His touch, but you lived to see another day. And you knew it was the goodness of God.
Maybe you have sensed His goodness in a very deep way when you held a newborn baby in your arms for the first time.
Or perhaps you have never really sensed His goodness, but you still choose to trust in it by His grace.
It’s easy to fall out of the practice of remembering the goodness of God. But you really can never get too much of His goodness, right?
Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved chapters of the Bible. “Surely Goodness and Mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” Who doesn’t want that?
In fact, Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father shares His goodness with the undeserving as well as those who do well in His sight. And He calls us to do the same.

^“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.
For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and
he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”
(Matthew 5:44-45)

Let’s pull on Heaven together for more of His goodness.
The world around us certainly needs it.
Think*3

I am fully confident that you all will keep this Sunday Open lively with discussion while I am away from my computer. I look forward to reading and catching up when I return. God bless. Think*3

Dear KMAG: 20190823 Open Topic

This HOT AUGUST [23] [PLACEHOLDER] FRIDAY open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA / KAG! / KMAG world (KMAG being a bit of both MAGA and KAG!).

**Don’t mind if we do a little escape act here….**

You can say what you want, comment on what other people said, and so on.

Free Speech is practiced here. ENJOY IT. Use it or lose it.

Keep it SOMEWHAT civil. They tried to FORCE fake Orwellian civility on us. In response, we CHOOSE true civility to defend our precious FREEDOM from THEM.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here in the January 1st open thread. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven.

SAY IT LOUD, AND SAY IT PROUD!

“MR. PRESIDENT – I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?

TIME TO….

DRAIN THE SWAMP

Our movement
Is about replacing
A failed
And CORRUPT
Political establishment
With a new government controlled
By you, the American People.
Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

Let’s see if we can tell this story in James Coburn pictures. You ready?

Here we go!

August is going to be an interesting month.

Oh yeah? Just HOW interesting, we might ask.

Well, based on the LEAD-UP, I’d say we’re gonna see some enemy action.

OK. Should we be worried?

HA! You’re kidding – right?

Nope. We are gonna WIN this sucker.

Nevertheless, we have to be careful.

We have to be smart.

We have to be cool.

We definitely have to be wary.

Some of us may have to be a bit stealthy.

Some of us may simply be on vacation.

Others may not simply be on vacation.

We have to stay strong….

But we also have to have some fun!

Now in the periodic, random, unpredictable, and unexplained absences of GROWLING, SNARLING WOLVES….

There may be what seem like explosive situations….

However, we believe that higher powers….

And FAITH IN PEACE and IN OURSELVES….

Are all we need to WIN and WIN BIG in this GIFT of a lovingly designed universe.

So stick around for a GOOD TIME.

ENJOY THE SHOW!

Maybe have some POPCORN!

I mean – who KNOWS how much winning there will be?

We are gonna have ONE HECK OF A GOOD TIME!

Because…..

Where We Go One, We Go All.

Dear KMAG: 20190822 Open Topic

This HOT AUGUST [22] [PLACEHOLDER] THURSDAY open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA / KAG! / KMAG world (KMAG being a bit of both MAGA and KAG!).

You can say what you want, comment on what other people said, and so on.

Free Speech is practiced here. ENJOY IT. Use it or lose it.

Keep it SOMEWHAT civil. They tried to FORCE fake Orwellian civility on us. In response, we CHOOSE true civility to defend our precious FREEDOM from THEM.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here in the January 1st open thread. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven.

SAY IT LOUD, AND SAY IT PROUD!

“MR. PRESIDENT – I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?

TIME TO….

DRAIN THE SWAMP

Our movement
Is about replacing
A failed
And CORRUPT
Political establishment
With a new government controlled
By you, the American People.
Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

Let’s see if we can tell this story in James Coburn pictures. You ready?

Here we go!

August is going to be an interesting month.

Oh yeah? Just HOW interesting, we might ask.

Well, based on the LEAD-UP, I’d say we’re gonna see some enemy action.

OK. Should we be worried?

HA! You’re kidding – right?

Nope. We are gonna WIN this sucker.

Nevertheless, we have to be careful.

We have to be smart.

We have to be cool.

We definitely have to be wary.

Some of us may have to be a bit stealthy.

Some of us may simply be on vacation.

Others may not simply be on vacation.

We have to stay strong….

But we also have to have some fun!

Now in the periodic, random, unpredictable, and unexplained absences of GROWLING, SNARLING WOLVES….

There may be what seem like explosive situations….

However, we believe that higher powers….

And FAITH IN PEACE and IN OURSELVES….

Are all we need to WIN and WIN BIG in this GIFT of a lovingly designed universe.

So stick around for a GOOD TIME.

ENJOY THE SHOW!

Maybe have some POPCORN!

I mean – who KNOWS how much winning there will be?

We are gonna have ONE HECK OF A GOOD TIME!

Because…..

Where We Go One, We Go All.

Dear KMAG: 20190821 Open Topic

This HOT AUGUST [21] [PLACEHOLDER] WEDNESDAY open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA / KAG! / KMAG world (KMAG being a bit of both MAGA and KAG!).

You can say what you want, comment on what other people said, and so on.

Free Speech is practiced here. ENJOY IT. Use it or lose it.

Keep it SOMEWHAT civil. They tried to FORCE fake Orwellian civility on us. In response, we CHOOSE true civility to defend our precious FREEDOM from THEM.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here in the January 1st open thread. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven.

SAY IT LOUD, AND SAY IT PROUD!

“MR. PRESIDENT – I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?

TIME TO….

DRAIN THE SWAMP

Our movement
Is about replacing
A failed
And CORRUPT
Political establishment
With a new government controlled
By you, the American People.
Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

Let’s see if we can tell this story in James Coburn pictures. You ready?

Here we go!

August is going to be an interesting month.

Oh yeah? Just HOW interesting, we might ask.

Well, based on the LEAD-UP, I’d say we’re gonna see some enemy action.

OK. Should we be worried?

HA! You’re kidding – right?

Nope. We are gonna WIN this sucker.

Nevertheless, we have to be careful.

We have to be smart.

We have to be cool.

We definitely have to be wary.

Some of us may have to be a bit stealthy.

Some of us may simply be on vacation.

Others may not simply be on vacation.

We have to stay strong….

But we also have to have some fun!

Now in the periodic, random, unpredictable, and unexplained absences of GROWLING, SNARLING WOLVES….

There may be what seem like explosive situations….

However, we believe that higher powers….

And FAITH IN PEACE and IN OURSELVES….

Are all we need to WIN and WIN BIG in this GIFT of a lovingly designed universe.

So stick around for a GOOD TIME.

ENJOY THE SHOW!

Maybe have some POPCORN!

I mean – who KNOWS how much winning there will be?

We are gonna have ONE HECK OF A GOOD TIME!

Because…..

Where We Go One, We Go All.

Dear KMAG: 20190820 Open Topic

This HOT AUGUST [20] [PLACEHOLDER] TUESDAY open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA / KAG! / KMAG world (KMAG being a bit of both MAGA and KAG!).

You can say what you want, comment on what other people said, and so on.

Free Speech is practiced here. ENJOY IT. Use it or lose it.

Keep it SOMEWHAT civil. They tried to FORCE fake Orwellian civility on us. In response, we CHOOSE true civility to defend our precious FREEDOM from THEM.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here in the January 1st open thread. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven.

SAY IT LOUD, AND SAY IT PROUD!

“MR. PRESIDENT – I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?

TIME TO….

DRAIN THE SWAMP

Our movement
Is about replacing
A failed
And CORRUPT
Political establishment
With a new government controlled
By you, the American People.
Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

No food fights.
No running with scissors.
If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

Let’s see if we can tell this story in James Coburn pictures. You ready?

Here we go!

August is going to be an interesting month.

Oh yeah? Just HOW interesting, we might ask.

Well, based on the LEAD-UP, I’d say we’re gonna see some enemy action.

OK. Should we be worried?

HA! You’re kidding – right?

Nope. We are gonna WIN this sucker.

Nevertheless, we have to be careful.

We have to be smart.

We have to be cool.

We definitely have to be wary.

Some of us may have to be a bit stealthy.

Some of us may simply be on vacation.

Others may not simply be on vacation.

We have to stay strong….

But we also have to have some fun!

Now in the periodic, random, unpredictable, and unexplained absences of GROWLING, SNARLING WOLVES….

There may be what seem like explosive situations….

However, we believe that higher powers….

And FAITH IN PEACE and IN OURSELVES….

Are all we need to WIN and WIN BIG in this GIFT of a lovingly designed universe.

So stick around for a GOOD TIME.

ENJOY THE SHOW!

Maybe have some POPCORN!

I mean – who KNOWS how much winning there will be?

We are gonna have ONE HECK OF A GOOD TIME!

Because…..

Where We Go One, We Go All.

Dear KMAG: 20190818 Open Topic

This very special
Steadfast Fortitude SUNDAY open thread

is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody
to post whatever they feel they would like
to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the KAG!KMAG world.

Header photo credit: http://andyporterimages.com/night-sky-at-bryce-canyon

Say what you want, comment on what other people said,
comment on people’s comments.
Keep it civil. Treehouse rules, but expect lots of QAnon.

See the January 1st daily thread for the rules of the road,
which are few but important.

Remember – your greatest gift to President Trump is FIVE WORDS:
I AM PRAYING FOR YOU

sweetrhythms-tweet-sea-turtle-with-fish — “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tsu

*Photo found at: Cherie @sweetrhythms*

A Steadfast Fortitude Sunday

This past afternoon I was thinking about what I am going to do for those Sundays coming up when I will be traveling and not able to compose the usual on-the-spot posts that often happen pretty close to the beginning of Sunday (but sometimes arriving a tad bit late to our WQ Tree House).

I thought about an excellent fictional book series that I believe carries many important messages for us in the time we are living in. There’s a good number of books in the series. I could have covered a book per Sunday. But that just didn’t quite fit right.

What to do?

I thought about Psalm 119. Another good basis for a series.
But, no, still not it.

Photo credit: “Courage” Summer Snow Art

And then I recalled how strongly Candace and Steve’s conversation about the leftist media being cowards struck me yesterday. So there’s that.

Maybe a series based on the qualities of a Patriot? We shall see. But for today, we will ponder the quality of Steadfast Fortitude or Courage.

In church tradition, fortitude is often used when reflecting on the character of the martyrs. Fortitude is closely related to faithfulness, a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

FAITHFULNESS (πίστις)

“God is faithful” (1 Cor. 1:9. cf. Rom. 3:3), not as having faith, but as being constant (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13), trustworthy (cf. 2 Cor. 1:18). It is a divine quality. The martyrs were “faithful unto death” (Rev. 2:10), not vacillating at the face of bodily harm and suffering, imitating thus their Lord “Jesus Christ the faithful martyr” (Rev. 1:5. cf. 3:14).

In lieu of an example from the life of a Saint, we quote the following lines from the Wisdom of Solomon, read in the Vespers service for Martyrs:

“The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace.

For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of Himself; like gold in the furnace He tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering He accepted them.

In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them forever.

Those who trust in Him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with Him in love, because grace and mercy are upon His holy ones, and He watches over His elect” (Wis. of Sol. 3:1-9).

An important component to fortitude seems to be a quality of perseverance.

Can you think of anyone that has recently demonstrated fortitude in the public arena?

An interesting thought about how one goes about developing fortitude comes from the idea that it is a fruit.

That is, it is something we grow in our character, not something we build or think our way into. It has to come from something we have developed. Like learning to field balls behind 2nd base in baseball. You don’t just go out there and instantly do it well. But it’s not just an internal skill as you might think of will power or the like. No, it’s more like learning to dance.

We are learning to do hard things within the context of our trusting relationship with the One who leads in this dance called life.

And we will not go far without steadfast fortitude.

Think*3

Images of Jesus from the site: God is Real

A Time for Discipline

Today there is a planned confrontation (street brawl?) in Portland.

Oath Keepers have made a statement.

This is a time for discipline.

August 15, 2019

Public Notice: Oath Keepers Will NOT be Participating in the August 17, 2019 “End Domestic Terrorism” Rally in Portland, OR

by Stewart Rhodes

I wish I didn’t have to do this, but it must be done. I must make it clear that Oath Keepers will not be participating in the “End Domestic Terrorism” rally scheduled for this Saturday, August 17, 2019, which is being organized by Joe Biggs and the Proud Boys.
I must also make it clear that Oath Keepers is NOT an organizer of this event, as has been erroneously reported by some media outlets. This event is being organized by Joe Biggs and the Proud Boys, not Oath Keepers. Oath Keepers was invited to attend, but we will not be attending.
We fully support free speech, and we fully agree that Antifa is a domestic terrorist organization that uses force and the threatened use of force to intimidate, silence, and suppress the free speech of Americans. However, we cannot participate in this event for the following reasons:
A. We have not seen adequate steps taken by the organizers to exclude known or suspected white nationalists from attending this event. Oath Keepers has a zero tolerance policy for white nationalism or any other ethno-nationalist ideology that discriminates along racial lines (as our bylaws make clear) and we do not, and cannot, knowingly associate with known or suspected white nationalists.
First, we consider white nationalists (along with any other ethno-nationalists) to be dangerous domestic enemies of the Constitution, every bit as deadly to our Republic as the violent communists within Antifa, because white nationalists also hold the Constitution in contempt and wish to overthrow it and replace it with their own desired totalitarian system. On that, the white nationalists and the communists are in agreement. And all of us who swore to defend the Constitution must stand against both of them as clear domestic enemies of the Constitution.
Second, we have a considerable number of active duty military and police in our membership who cannot knowingly associate with racists and we owe it to them to be diligent in avoiding participating in any event where white nationalists will not be actively, stringently excluded.
Third, the left in this nation is desperate to paint all conservatives and, especially, all Trump supporters as “white nationalists” to the point of absurdity. Allowing any actual white nationalists into an event where attendees are encouraged to bring Trump flags as well as American flags would be a grave mistake and does no favors to either President Trump or to the broader conservative cause. Conservatives, libertarians, and Trump supporters must be diligent about making sure the events they organize exclude white nationalists who want the same thing the left wants – to paint the false impression that we agree with their racist, collectivist, anti-constitution agenda (which is exactly why CNN loves to give airtime to the white nationalist troll Richard Spencer, as he desperately tries to tie his Neo-Nazi agenda to Trump).
I want to stress that we at Oath Keepers DO NOT believe that Joe Biggs or Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, the two organizers of this event, are white nationalists. Nor do we believe that the great majority of those groups and individuals who plan on attending the event are white nationalists. But we do not believe the organizers are taking the steps necessary to ensure that white nationalist and suspected white nationalist groups and individuals will be excluded.
A closely related problem is that the organizers have not secured a permit for exclusive use of the Waterfront Park where they will be holding the rally this Saturday in Portland. Yes, they still have a right to free speech, but one of the advantages of securing a permit to use a public space for a particular time is that it allows you to exclude others from using that same space at that time, such as excluding known or suspected white nationalists.
We saw the problems a lack of a permit can bring when we helped to protect a free speech event in Berkeley, CA in April, 2017. That was an un-permitted event, and because the event organizers had not secured a permit for exclusive use of the MLK park, they could not exclude the white nationalists group Identity Evropa from entering the park. Identity Evropa promptly placed themselves and their anti-Semitic, racist signs front and center, facing off with Antifa.
I instructed those under our command in the event security element that under no circumstances were they to allow Identity Evropa to enter our security inner perimeter around the audience and the stage. I was willing to go to jail to prevent Identity Evropa from actually entering the audience for the event, but we could not kick them out of the park. And, of course, the media all focused their cameras on Identity Evropa. We were able to maintain some separation between them and the event we were securing, but it did give Identity Evropa the opportunity to attempt to co-opt the event for their own agenda.
For this event in Portland, in contrast to the April 2017 event in Berkeley, Oath Keepers is not in charge of the security element and, if we attended this Saturday, we would not be able to actively exclude suspected white nationalists as we did in Berkeley. As such, we cannot attend.
B. Some of the past rhetoric, public statements, and memes/graphics posted online by the event organizer and by planned attendees expose those who attend the August 17 rally to possible civil and criminal law liability.
We understand the anger and frustration among patriots after watching the footage of the violent Antifa attack on Andy Ngo on June 29, 2019 and the horrific attack on two other patriots that same day. However, angry, undisciplined public statements that can be construed as expressing an intent to come to Portland to seek out Antifa and engage them in street fights and to assault them, and memes posted online to that effect, or worse, do a disservice to anyone who wants to attend a free speech event in protest against Antifa terrorism and against the failure of Portland officials to secure the free speech rights of Americans.
Those angry statements cannot be undone, and despite the organizers and planned attendees subsequently dialing back on the rhetoric, those prior statements are already being used against them by their political opponents and by the leftist dominated media. All of the angry videos,Twitter posts, and incriminating photos, etc by the organizer leading up to this rally have been preserved by Antifa and their supporters. Likewise for memes/graphics posted by planned attendees depicting violence against Antifa.
Further, those prior statements, videos, photos, and memes/graphics by the event organizer and other planned attendees potentially expose all attendees to possible prosecution using both an Oregon state “rioting” statute and a federal rioting statute that was used on some of the attendees of the disastrous Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally in August, 2017 (which Oath Keepers also did NOT attend). Even though the vast majority of the planned attendees for the Portland rally this Saturday have no intention of initiating unlawful violence against Antifa, the prior statements of the event organizer, expressing his intent, can potentially be used against all attendees.
I share the frustrations many patriots feel about the obvious double standard of Antifa having free rein in Portland while patriots are under the microscope. But I cannot and will not expose Oath Keepers members to possible persecution/prosecution because of undisciplined statements made by others, however understandable the anger that prompted the undisciplined statements. Therefore, I must urge all Oath Keepers members to stay clear of this event in Portland on August 17, 2019.
C. More Than Ever, This is a Time for Discipline and Professionalism
Because of their own actions, Antifa is currently on the ropes and is on the verge of being declared a domestic terrorist organization. Much has taken place since Joe Biggs first announced his intent to hold this rally. First, on July 13, 2019, the self-identified Antifa terrorist Willem Van Spronsen used a rifle and Molotov cocktails to attack the ICE detention facility in Tacoma, WA. Only by the grace of God was he not able to kill responding officers. Van Spronsen pointed his AR-15 at the officers, but it apparently malfunctioned, and he was shot and killed before he could fix that malfunction. He also failed in his attempt to ignite a 500 lb propane tank. If he had been successful, it could have killed all the personnel and the detainees in the center. Thankfully he was an incompetent terrorist.
Since that attack, Antifa has lauded Van Spronsen as a martyr and an example to follow, and, in the graphics promoting their planned assault on the border in El Paso, Texas September 1-10, Antifa has openly threatened to kill CBP personnel.
And, of course, Antifa widely celebrated the July 12 illegal trespassing at the Aurora, CO ICE facility where protesters tore down the American flag, attempted to burn it, and in its place hoisted up the Mexican flagand also flew a defaced, upside down “blue lives matter” flag with “Abolish ICE” written on it in red.
And most recently, at 3am on August 13, 2019, shots were fired into the occupied ICE offices in San Antonio, Texas.
A maxim of warfare, expressed by Napoleon Bonaparte, is to “never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” Patriots, conservatives, Trump supporters, all need to be disciplined and let Antifa continue to show their true colors. It would be counterproductive to engage in undisciplined activities (or in a rally who’s main organizer made undisciplined statements of intent) that can be construed by the media and politicians to paint patriots as the aggressors and Antifa as the victims.
Frankly, given the prior statements of Joe Biggs that will be used against all attendees of his rally, it would be best for the patriot/conservative cause if this August 17 rally were simply canceled. Those who want to protest the way Portland coddles Antifa should start over, with a clean slate, and then do so in a much more disciplined manner.
In addition to the above noted Antifa terrorism, after the mass shootings in California, El Paso, and Ohio, we are in a decidedly “kinetic” (guns and bombs) environment and we should expect Antifa to use even more deadly force as they go full “Weather Underground” in their revolutionary communist-terrorist trajectory. Expect it.
As such, Oath Keepers will be very disciplined about what events we participate in, and we are currently instructing our members to focus on publicly supporting and directly backing up ICE and CBP personnel in a disciplined, purely defensive posture, using only clearly lawful self defense and defense of others, and to focus on our upcoming operation in El Paso, TX where we will also be assisting in securing private property (including homes) against deadly threat by Antifa.
If the event organizers do continue on with their planned event this Saturday, we sincerely hope it goes off without a hitch and is peaceful and successful. But Oath Keepers will be focusing our resources elsewhere.
For the Republic,
Stewart Rhodes
Founder and National President of Oath Keepers
Credits:
Author, Stewart Rhodes at OathKeepers.org
Recommended by andyocoregon here at WQTH

Let’s P.R.A.Y.!

Whatever the outcome today, may I suggest to include this struggle in our prayers. Thy Kingdom Come. Thy Will Be Done.
Think *3

#WWG1WGA

Dear KMAG: 20190816 Open Topic

This HOT AUGUST [16] [PLACEHOLDER] FRIDAY open thread is VERY OPEN – a place for everybody to post whatever they feel they would like to tell the White Hats, and the rest of the MAGA / KAG! / KMAG world (KMAG being a bit of both MAGA and KAG!).

You can say what you want, comment on what other people said, and so on.

Free Speech is practiced here. ENJOY IT. Use it or lose it.

Keep it SOMEWHAT civil. They tried to FORCE fake Orwellian civility on us. In response, we CHOOSE true civility to defend our precious FREEDOM from THEM.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here in the January 1st open thread. Let’s not give the odious Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven.

SAY IT LOUD, AND SAY IT PROUD!

“MR. PRESIDENT – I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!“

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?

TIME TO….

DRAIN THE SWAMP

Our movement
Is about replacing
A failed
And CORRUPT
Political establishment
With a new government controlled
By you, the American People.
Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules: