☀️A Wonderful Sun
Reading the Sun is as easy as falling off a ladder, but way more fun. Enjoy!
☀️Porned-up and Penned-up
The reason more guys don’t build more things is because it’s too easy for them to see boobs. That was the gist of an article my wife told me about a few years ago. Not only is the observation crass, in many ways we see that it’s getting worse.
When I think about pulling down strongholds, I think about one of the State’s favorite fortifications: porn. Though I didn’t look up the stats, pornography of all sorts must provide considerable tax dollars (at least from honest porn proprietors who pay their bills, however many can be so characterized). But it’s not mostly about the money. Nor is it about the pleasures of power. Epstein’s Island might have had international clientele, but the Roman Caesars were two millennia ahead of them in terms of inventing all kinds of gross. Securing personal availability isn’t what makes it so attractive to our “elites.”
So why do our rulers love it?
Porn isolates. Porn enslaves. Porn emasculates. Porn rewires a man’s brain about relationships, about love, about fruitfulness. It heaps guilt onto his back, and guilty men are like sick oxen stumbling toward their slaughter. It makes men weak, easily pushed and pulled, bought and sold. This is the main difference between Orwell and Huxley's dystopian visions. The Brave New World tranquilizes ambition and strength.
Recently Dennis Prager defended pornography, not under the banner of free speech but for men who want variety. He was specifically saying that for a married man, if pornography is a substitute for adultery “it’s not awful.” (Here are a couple good responses by Denny Burk and Carl Truman.) Prager’s Jewish pragmatism got traction in the media because Prager is ostensibly a conservative. It wouldn't be news if, say, Hunter Biden or Jeffrey Toobin made the same argument. But Prager, known for drawing sharp lines against political and economic insanity on PragerU, whiffed bigly on this one. War does not equal peace, and porn does not equal freedom.
In more encouraging news, SB0287 in Utah went into effect this week that “creates obligations and liabilities for a commercial entity that provides pornography or other materials harmful to minors” (source). The actual safeguards are still being worked out, but it’s a good step. Then Pornhub, who apparently is one of the largest suppliers of this online garbage, started blocking all users with an Utah IP address. Pornhub even argued that at least they offer better “safety measures” for online privacy.
We’re in a bad condition when this can be made as a serious business threat. Pornhub not only knows that their trash is accessible to kids, they are defending it, and think they have enough leverage with an ultimatum against the 18 and over users. Even our President claims that it’s the “extremists” who want to limit kid's access to porn in analog forms.
Legislation can’t fix lust in a man’s heart, and Jesus said that lust itself will send a man to hell regardless of Prager’s claim. Laws can (and should) hold the line about what is good as well as make it more difficult to ruin others. But most states/governments won’t legislate porn because they don't want to. Porned-up men are penned-up men. Those men are appeased with WiFi and their phones; who needs to impress a woman to make her your wife?
Men who are self-controlled, who delight in the wife of their youth, are men who have loves worth working for, worth fighting for. A community of men, enjoying the fruitfulness of their families, makes our current swollen State nervous. More of that would just be wonderful.
☀️In the News
Last Friday the Sun introduced a new acronym: GAGs = Grievances Against the Governor. Then on Monday, a mere three days later, the Governor announced that he would not be running for a 4th term. Coincidence?!
Last week The Seattle Times reported the results of a poll about whether or not people wanted to leave Washington State. And, I mean, that’s one way to frame it, but what about those who don’t want to change addresses but do want to change WA?
The WA State Department of Transportation has a blog. I feel like that in itself is something to reckon with. And there’s a new article about “Lots of work coming to SR 529 between Marysville and Everett in the next two years.” No pain, no gain?
Last May the Sun ran an article about how Elon Musk was not reported to be building a new Starbase in Marysville. C'est la vie. However!! Tesla announced on Monday that they will be opening their first facility in the Pacific Northwest in Marysville’s Cascade Industrial Center. Can the Sun get partial prophetic credit?
☀️On the Calendar
Fishing Derby - tomorrow, May 6, at Jennings Park. It’s the 29th annual derby! Equipment will be available, or kids can bring their own. See the city’s Facebook event page here.
Growing Flowers in the Pacific Northwest - Tuesday, May 16, 6:30pm at the Marysville Opera House. See the Facebook post by Flourish Organic Farms here.
Comeford College Community Choir Concert - Thursday, May 18, 7:00pm, held at Trinity Evangel Church, 9015 44th Dr NE. No cost.
Evangel Classical School Spring Concert - Tuesday, May 23, 6:30pm, held at Word of Life Church, 9028 51st Ave NE. No cost.
Storm Spotter Training - Wednesday, May 31, 6:00pm, at the Marysville Community Center. For more info and to register see the city’s Facebook post here.
☀️Friday Fun
Overheard summer conversations (hat tip):
Extra fun: remember last season’s walk-up dance? Enjoy the cartwheel single.
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