The Patriot Post® · Thursday Short Cuts

Insight: “It has been the great tragedy of our time that people were taught to read and not taught to reason.” —G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Upright: “Respect for the law and every human being comes only with humility, and that humility comes only when we see that law rooted in God and every person created in His image. But too much of our nation’s reality has been controlled arrogance, not humility: arrogance that we don’t need the God of our fathers and founders. Those on the left have convinced too many that our answers lie in politics, their secular humanism and moral relativism. The result is the destruction of life and property that true law, adhered to by true believers, protects. Only return to eternal truths will save us.” —Star Parker

For the record: “I assume there is less racism in America than there once was, but there’s no way to prove that. Even if there were, Malcolm X wrote, ‘If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there’s no progress.’ But I think that’s the wrong way to think about it. George Floyd’s killer was arrested and other cops who abused their power were fired. In the past, police officers were never prosecuted. For years in America, the percentage of interracial marriage has steadily increased. That suggests progress. Burning police stations and looting stores won’t speed that progress. It sets us back.” —John Stossel

Nailed it: “Racism is not dead. But it is on life-support, kept alive mainly by the people who use it for an excuse or to keep minority communities fearful or resentful enough to turn out as a voting bloc on election day.” —Thomas Sowell

D'oh! “Steve King lost the Iowa GOP primary. That’s what we do. We vote racists out of office.” —Alyssa Milano (“King was beaten by… another Republican.” —The Hill’s Joe Concha)

Non compos mentis, Part I: “Violence is when an agent of the state kneels on a man’s neck until all of the life is leached out of his body. Destroying property, which can be replaced, is not violence.” —New York Times’s Nikole Hannah-Jones of 1619 Project infamy

Non compos mentis, Part II: “Yes, America is burning. But that’s how forests grow.” —Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey

Non compos mentis, Part III: “Experts who have studied antifa say there is no evidence that the fringe, amorphous group is driving nationwide protests. Some experts worry Trump is conflating antifa with peaceful protesters in a dangerous way.” —The Washington Post

Non compos mentis, Part IV: “Let’s be clear about something: if there is a spike in coronavirus cases in the next two weeks, don’t blame the protesters. Blame racism.” —New York City councilman Mark D. Levine

Off the mark: “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership.” —former Defense Secretary James Mattis

Bingo: “I love and respect my teammates, and I stand right there with them in regard to fighting for racial equality and justice. I also stand with my grandfathers, who risked their lives for this country, and countless other military men and women who do it on a daily basis. … I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.” —New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees

Friendly fire: “Our communities are under siege, and we need help. And what you’re telling us is don’t ask for help that way. Ask for it a different way. I can’t listen to it when you ask that way. We’re done asking, Drew. And people who share your sentiments, who express those and push them throughout the world, the airwaves, are the problem. And it’s unfortunate because I considered you a friend. I looked up to you. You’re somebody who I had a great deal of respect for. But sometimes you should shut the f— up.” —teammate Malcolm Jenkins

And last… “Democrats were literally arresting Americans for opening their businesses, but now are silent as protesters burn them down. You were fined for worshipping in your church, but now cheered for marching in screaming crowds.” —James Woods