Sugar Creek Publishing

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

# 310

January 18, 2025

Oh, what price history?

There is a price to not studying history – world or American. My generation was guided by excellent teachers who knew the value of history and its importance to forming informed opinions and not being led astray by the “buzz words or attitudes of the day.”

So, we this now. The battle over Tic Tok is an excellent illustration. And the generation “Z” is not shy about expounding opinions and criticizing national leadership over it. Yes, with over 170 American millions users, it wields a lot of clout.

When I heard a teenager complaining about losing the site, I was astounded to hear that she would just go to “Red Note.” And what is that? It is another CCP (Chinese) site. The color is – to be repetitive – the first red flag. Red? Yes!

When Mao Tse Tung took over China, he was responsible for killing tens of millions of his people. Why? They were not the least bit interested in his Communist philosophy. The genius of the Chinese people aside, he is remembered for a little red book.

“Quotations from Chairman Mao” is replete with his expounding on his view for the world. And a scary view it was — and is. To say that Generation Z will go to Red Note is to realize how ill-informed they are. To flock to a site run by a government that is a continuation of Mao’s push for ultimate control over his people is downright scary.

To follow Hitler and Lenin who are responsible for millions of deaths, Mao must take the prize for killing the most people. The shame of this is if the Chinese people were free to pursue their personal ambitions, it is hard to imagine what they could achieve. When men and women are killed and never allowed to blossom into contributing members of their society, the loss is inconceivable.

And so we have the current controversy. Unless and until we make sure that our teachers at every level teach accurate world and American history, the students will lack the guidance to see emerging situations for what they are: benign or perilous.

Right now, it is up in the air as to what the Chinese seek here. Given the fact that, if pressured to release all data held on its users, it is compelled to turn all the information over to the Chinese Communist Party, then user identities and data is truly at risk. Yes, many young people use Tik Tok as a way to make money (and in some cases, a lot of money), the lure of profit holds sway. I doubt if the CCP has any interest in videos of dancing, music, or sport. But what if their seeking a way to get to the younger generation through, what at first, looks harmless and entertaining, is really a Trojan Horse?

Will Tik Tok sell to an American owner? If so, will that owner, or owners, honor the privacy of his, her, or their users? We may know in 90 days if the delay that President Trump wants is a reality. Just how much do we want the onerous power of a really dangerous adversary invading our homes via our children and grandchildren?

Is there a price to not knowing history?

Think about it.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

# 309

Prayer – the answer, but not the only one!

January 9, 2025

We need, corporately and individually, to pray for the State of California. Since Reagan was Governor of California, the incremental slip into socialism and progressive policies has not only stymied the population holding solid, constitutional thought, but has also nearly destroyed what once was lauded as the most beautiful and prosperous our states.

If you look up Reagan’s speeches as he ran for President, you will hear him cite that if California were a country, it would have ranked among the topmost in the world. Oh, how time has changed that vision!

If truth be told, the American farmer is the most fervent environmentalist. His very life depends upon his stewardship of the land and water. Yet, the progressive left considered the Delta Smelt fish more important than the water flowing from Northern to Southern California. The Department of Commerce put forth an act to initiate the flow of water from the snow melt in the north to the south, but Governor Newsom refused to sign it. The result is all too painful. Thousands homeless, thousands of structures burned to the ground and municipalities with no water. They ran out!

And the L.A. budget? Millions to homeless – who, incidentally, caused nearly 14,000 fires in one calendar year and a cut in the budget of the Los Angeles Fire Department. If there were an Oscar for stupid, it would need to be shared by the Governor, the Mayor of L.A. and all the department heads who did not hold up their oaths of office.

Only one entity rules the earth, and it is not the Democratic Party. It is God. This is not to say that there is an underlying message in these horrendous fires. They are, in fact, a visible and visceral warning of what will continue to wreak havoc on California if voters do not wake up and realize that what they voted for has come around to bite them in the pocketbook — and sadly – perhaps paved the way to the funeral home.

Take a look at these quotes from 2016: …when Ronald Reagan was governor. We had a surplus. He actually gave money back to the people of California.

The state once was famous for having the best education system, the best business climate, the best roads and infrastructure in America. It was a growing, dynamic paradise where people came to pursue their dreams and hopes.

Now California’s a wreck that people and businesses are leaving in droves. And Gov. Brown and his gang are offering us more of the same this fall – higher income and sales taxes and a bullet train no one wants but them.”

Sound familiar. The litany of incompetence continues and the population able to leave are getting out!

Is prayer the answer? Certainly common sense is fighting a losing battle. The specter of Hollywood affixing itself and its studios and celebrities to the left is not helping. Oh, for the days of John Wayne and James Stewart. If you can, pull up “America: Why I love her!” a magnificent message from John Wayne.

I haven’t seen actors champing to volunteer for military service as they did in World War II. Search a list of those actors who volunteered in that war. You will be astounded at the number and quality of those men. Not that women did not step forward. The USO and military nurses certainly did their part.

Prayer and a return to the mentality that we humans are the creation of a loving and beneficent God is a good step. Pray for California. It is unlikely that those in control who are destroying the state will willingly resign. Fat chance.

Pray for California. It may be the only message that gets through. They need a an entity more powerful than man. Think about it.

IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray

# 308

January 2, 2025

“A Question of Honor and Patriotism”

As we begin this new year and anxiously anticipate the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, we need to assess the strengths of working together and the prospect of honoring the wise values put forth to us by our Founding Fathers.

Working from the fact that God is the source of both wisdom and power held in the hands of man, we must take a moment to reflect on what has – and will — show the world what a truly good civilization can achieve.

Consider for a moment the kitchen table conversations and restaurant, café and bistro gatherings expound and embrace. Beginning with a sports premise. Everyone has his or her favorite team and loyalty is key. Nothing angers a fan more than poor coaching. Given this thought process, what we face now is the aftermath of not poor coaching — but abysmal coaching. The past nearly four years of a glaring absence of national leadership has left the United States weaker, less respected and more vulnerable than in any time in her history. As a former history teacher, I am well aware of former predicaments in moments of extreme risk; but, in retrospect, they pale in the wake of the Biden-Harris (?) administration.

Why the question mark? I, along with many others aware of how the government works, are not convinced that the two aforementioned persons had anything substantive to the workings within The White House. Need I make the comparison to the camel as the prime example of an animal made by committee?

If you want to kill a snake, the best way is to cut off the head. With no one really functioning as the President of the United States, the risk is absurd, and scandalous.

Going back to the sports model, if a sports team has a great shortcoming at any position, the prospect of winning dies. Alas, with no coach and key players propelled by ideology instead of expertise, the result was completely predictable.

Now to the Congress. For all its shortfalls — and they are too many to enumerate – the Democrats do stick together like glue. It’s not as if I believe that, to a person, they all espouse every modicum of the legislation and positions put forward by the party leaders, yet they do vote in lockstep. The Republicans, on the other hand, often hold to individual ideals and do not vote with their cohorts. The pattern, while understandable, is highlighted here – not because of its reflection of individual independence — but because the lack of holding the deference to the GOP position sought more important that the end objective. It’s the stilted motivation that lacks a good result.

If a coach or quarterback set a play and the defenders and the receivers did not follow through resulting in a loss, the fans would erupt in boos and the backlash would be terrific.
Job losses would follow.

Can we demand nothing less of our U. S Senators and Representatives who should be reflecting the landslide victory coupled with the popular vote?

As individuals, we need to take stock of what lies before us. At the heart of this nation is faith and hope. We need both and in good measure. Not only do the border and economic issues loom over us, but the debt is at a crushing level. For anyone who has ever been under the pressure of a daunting debt load, the sole solution is the patience and determination required to pick away at the debt a bit at a time, not unlike the old beaver and the tree. One bite at a time and persistence work.

Do we have the mettle to tackle this and accept less government money in order to ease the crunch in the budget? Time will tell.

In the meantime, take a moment to thank God for the glance to the chart in Butler, Pennsylvania. Modern miracle? Divine Intercession? Why would a person so focused on looking directly at a crowd suddenly look away? Decide on your own. Personally, I feel as if God had a purpose for Donald J. Trump. It was not his time to die.

Preparing for the Presidential Inauguration of our 47th President Donald J. Trump, take time to realize what is at stake. It is time for the United States to regain its position on the world stage. It is time for America’s enemies to think twice before attacking us or our allies. It is time for citizens to demand results and not empty promises. More than all of this, it is time for America to turn back to God. If God be for us, who can be against us?

Think about it. Pray.