Free Republic

Every cult has the same goal: the utter submission of its members. Cult members surrender everything. They give up their physical freedom – where they can go, who they can see, how they can dress. But more than that, they give up control of their minds. Cult leaders determine what their followers are allowed to believe, even in their most private thoughts. In order to do this, cults separate people from all they have known before. They force members to renounce their former lives, their countries and their customs. They allow no loyalty except to the cult. The first thing...

The Normandy beaches were chosen by planners because they lay within range of air cover, and were less heavily defended than the obvious objective of the Pas de Calais, the shortest distance between Great Britain and the Continent. Airborne drops at both ends of the beachheads were to protect the flanks, as well as open up roadways to the interior. Six divisions were to land on the first day; three U.S., two British and one Canadian. Two more British and one U.S. division were to follow up after the assault division had cleared the way through the beach defenses.

The partisan divide over mandatory face coverings is one of the more interesting, if sad, twists of the Chinese coronavirus era. On the one hand, the mask police insist that not wearing one is equivalent to being a literal Typhoid Mary and trying to purposefully kill everyone’s grandma. On the other, many conservatives, including this one, see it as yet another unnecessary and overblown reaction to what has been a pandemic defined by unnecessary and overblown reactions, and a particularly unsightly one at that. Regardless of how you come down on the issue, nobody should condemn anyone for their choice...

Lost in the shuffle of the Memorial Day holiday weekend — unusual, though it was — an Illinois judge unloaded on Governor J.B. Pritzker’s still-in-effect stay-at-home order this past Friday. I’ve written previously regarding the significant distinction between Chicago — and even Springfield — and “outstate” or “downstate” Illinois. This judge’s decision further highlights that great divide. The back story: State Rep. Darren Bailey, a Republican from the state’s 109th District, filed a lawsuit against Pritzker in April, asserting that Pritzker’s stay-at-home order unfairly affected the residents of his home county. Clay County Judge Michael McHaney issued a temporary restraining...

On May 26, Virginia’s Gov. Ralph Northam announced that wearing masks outside one’s home will be mandatory effective May 29. He first hinted he might issue a masking order a week ago, likely to test the water. A new refrain in public discourse is growing in volume by the day: “Things will never be the same.” The certainty with which we are assured of this pre-determined future is perplexing. Whether or not “things” will ever be the same is not at all clear, but that some people hope things will never be the same is certain. To those looking to...

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." —Winston Churchill As we do on this day each year, we pause to remember the men and women who died fighting for our freedom. We stand by humbly, gratefully, silently, to honor their sacrifice. We remember… We mourn for those lost… And we mourn for those they’ve left behind… As we reflect once again on the the steep price of freedom. if you’re lucky enough to live someplace where picnics, parades and celebrations have not been outlawed by fiat, by all means...

That mask isn't virtuous, nor is it going to keep you from catching the virus. Plus, various other things. It’s time to say a few things which need to be said — and to irritate some people who need to be irritated (as they are surely irritating). And on with the show… 1. Enough with the Mask-Nazi nonsense. Those of us who refuse to live our lives in fear, or to bow to those who do, have a message for the rest of you — the time has come and gone for us to continue with this idiotic charade of...

Taiwan will provide the people of Hong Kong with “necessary assistance”, President Tsai Ing-wen has said, after a resurgence in protests in the Chinese-ruled territory against newly proposed national security legislation from Beijing. Taiwan has become a refuge for a small but growing number of pro-democracy protesters fleeing Hong Kong, which has been convulsed since last year by protests. Hong Kong police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse tens of thousands of people who rallied on Sunday to protest against Beijing’s plan to impose national security laws on the city. Writing on her Facebook page late on Sunday,...

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The Boston Globe ran an editorial in support of the Democrats’ latest gun control push and bolstered their position by suggesting gun kit sales “seem to be on the rise.” The Globe is backing Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s (D-CT) push for new regulations on “ghost guns” and the gun kits from which such guns are built. Breitbart News reported Blumenthal’s claim that such guns are “untraceable,” yet he also claimed to know there are currently elevated sales of such guns.

First of all, I mean no disrespect to anyone who disagrees... We can see things differently and still get along... I have love for all friends and family no matter what your viewpoint is... I happen to agree with this. For those who ridiculously claim that we who want our jobs and lives back don’t care about others, this is for you. In light of all the videos that are considered conspiracy theories and are leaving people to wonder what the truth really is, there’s this. I can’t say 100% what the truth is. I know I’m finding it hard...

The French have a saying that has its origin and meaning in revolution: "We obey tyrants until we hang them from lamp posts". Later-on the Guillotine was invented to carry out this principle more effectively. Fortunately, in America we have an option to the annihilation of tyranny by lamp post. We have the Constitution of the United States of America that guarantees our freedom,the right to live, equality under the law, the separation of powers, and elections to throw the tyrants out.

Teleios evaluated measures that could affect wellbeing of children specifically using the top 50 countries from the Human Freedom Index compared to the 50 top countries persecuting Christianity from the Open Doors World Watch List. Children in free countries, which are historically Christian, demonstrate better wellbeing and associated with numerous legal, security, health, and educational measures potentially associated with enhanced wellbeing for children.

Teleios evaluated various publicly available social, political and economic measures of the 20 countries with the highest average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) who were listed in the top 25% of the Economic Freedom Index versus the 20 with the GDP in the bottom 75%. Our analysis showed countries with the highest mean GDP also ranked in the top 25% of free countries, and demonstrated additional differences that might impact general wellbeing, including greater: human, economic and press freedom, more happiness and less corruption.

Over at the Washington Post, Keith Humphreys ended the week on a pessimistic note, opining that no matter how much testing and contact tracing is required to get us fully past this pandemic, America will never do as well as several other countries that seem to be taming the virus more quickly. The reason? Because Americans love their “freedom” too much. (Please note for the record that it was Humphreys who put the word freedom in scare quotes, not me.) He begins by quoting medical professionals who insist that the only path toward the new normal relies on our...

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Sunday he understands that while it may be “irresponsible” for people to gather in large groups during the coronavirus pandemic, it is also “part of the freedom” Americans have as states begin to ease their social distancing guidelines. Responding to a question on CNN’s “State of the Union” about reports of people crowding into bars in Ohio and other parts of the country, Azar said that while federal officials can offer “guidance,” it’s up to local leaders to implement it in their communities. “I think in any individual incidence you're going to...

When dining rooms in Washington start to reopen in the coming months, restaurants will not be required to record customers’ contact information after all. In a walk-back of a controversial component of the restaurant reopening guidance issued earlier this week, Gov. Jay Inslee’s office issued a statement on Friday evening “clarifying” that the state will not require customers to provide their contact information when they go out to eat. Instead, businesses are asked to maintain a list of customers who voluntarily do so.

Thread with running coverage, pictures and video of the protest underway at the PA State Capitol in Harrisburg.

SHEPHERD, Texas — When Jamie Williams decided to reopen her East Texas tattoo studio last week in defiance of the state’s coronavirus restrictions, she asked Philip Archibald for help. He showed up with his dog Zeus, his friends and his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado. – Shooters Grill in Rifle received a cease and desist order from the Garfield County Public Health Department and the Rifle Chief of Police on Tuesday after reopening its dining room against guidelines from the Garfield County Health Department. Shooters began opening its dining room at 30% capacity on Saturday and has served hundreds of customers so far. Owner Lauren Boebert decided to go against guidance from the City of Rifle, the Garfield County Public Health Department and County Commissioners by opening up the dining room. The restaurant prides itself on being a safe place to eat...