Over the past two years, the phrase "witch hunt" has enjoyed renewed popularity primarily thanks to its common appearance on President Trump's Twitter feed. While not everyone is thrilled by the president invoking such imagery, one minority demographic in particular has taken issue with the terminology: witches.
Many in the Wiccan community argue the term is not only problematic, it's deeply inaccurate. "If Mueller's investigation were truly a 'witch hunt,' then Donald Trump would be hanging naked from chains in a cold barn somewhere, being tortured into admitting his pact with Satan, before being burned at the stake. Instead he's golfing at Mar-a-Lago," writes author Kitty Randall.
She's hoping to raise awareness for the "traumatic emotional imprint" the president has helped carve into the nation's witch community. "To have him compare his situation to the worst period in our history is just infuriating," Randall says.
Assessing the Damage
Wiccans who are frustrated with Trump point out that he has used the term "witch hunt" (usually in reference to the special counsel investigation) over 60 times on Twitter - including four times this past Sunday alone.
....The Russian Witch Hunt Hoax, started as the "insurance policy" long before I even got elected, is very bad for our Country. They are Entrapping people for misstatements, lies or unrelated things that took place many years ago. Nothing to do with Collusion. A Democrat Scam!
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2018
For some witches, each utterance of the phrase is a fresh reminder of the painful history of their people the many innocent men and women were murdered both in the American colonies and across Europe thanks to "witch" fearmongering.
But since Trump doesn't exactly have a reputation for backing down from the use of abrasive language, few in the Wiccan community expect to see an apology or a course correction. At this point, the general mood is "fed up."
"Many are mad, and the rest are rolling their eyes," explains David Salisbury, a lead organizer at Washington-based witch community Firefly House. For modern day witches a strong contingent of whom also identify as feminists the use of "witch hunt" represents yet another intentional jab at marginalized groups. "It is particularly horrifying because many modern practitioners of witchcraft devote their lives to seeking compassion and justice," Salisbury explains.
Fighting Back
Not all witches are taking the insults lying down, however. Some have sought to push back against the White House using the best tool available to them: magic. A community of internet witches continues to casta "binding" spell on the president monthly. Another group attempted to hex Trump'spick for the Supreme Court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
But others are hopeful the situation will resolve itself without the need for magical intervention. "Trump is safe from any 'witch hunt' because no self-respecting coven would have him," Kitty Randall insists. "I don't think we need to attack Trump with spells. He's in the middle of a process of self-destruction."
76 comments
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William Waugh
This article, coming out today, the same day that more info on senate report on russian interference is released, will ultimately vindicate the victims of witchhunts thru out history. The old "parable" of knowing thyself first to allow the knowledge and awareness of the rest of reality to be discerned, is on full display for not only all americans but the whole world. ..........(tongue in cheek) >>>>All hail the great and powerful leader; that will prove to us all what we already know.(gnow/gnosis)
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angel
I'm a witch and it IS a witchunt!!!!
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Lionheart
You are of course entitled to follow your pagan religion, as are those who follow other religions, or those not having any religion at all. Let’s hope that by honoring the constitution everyone does so, righteously, to further the betterment of this great nation.
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Lonny Watters
Just because someone claims to be a witch don't mean they are pagans. There are good and bad witches. Simply because one can not exist without the other.
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Cassandra
Are you insinuating that pagan witches are bad witches and nonpagan witches are good?
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TigerMoon2
Yes, I'd like to hear your reply to Cassandra, as well? The meaning of 'pagan' is to be 'of the countryside', which means local beliefs in the effects of the sun and moon cycles on weather patterns, crops, mood, nature, etc. as well as the natural energies that surround us here on earth such as wind, rain, fire and earth, colors, sounds, smells, herbs, crystals, etc. I see it as a religion based in basic science, quantum physics, and autonomy. Many witches, such as myself, call upon certain Gods only as a means of correspondence, the same reason we light candles or burn incense, not because we really believe they exist, but because their name, fire, scent, etc., adds energies to the works. Many really do believe in them, much like how many Christians really believe their God exists. I'm not one of them, but whatever makes them better people is fine with me. I don't like Trump's references to 'witch hunts' any better than I like Trump. But I don't think it's a good idea, at this time, for witches to 'meddle' openly and publicly in politics, lest we are condemned for doing 'bad' things to people and regimes currently in office. We might incite a REAL witch hunt. Wicca is still too newly recognized as valid to be jeopardizing our long-fought battle for legitimacy by asserting ourselves, to be proclaiming that we can affect a change in ANYTHING but our own lives, much less politics. One thing you got right... there are both good and bad witches, like everything else. That means that I wouldn't want a BAD witch trying to affect public policy or sentiment with magick (available energies), any more than I'd want anyone else to by their own means of manipulation (who they know or what they have on them). On this matter I am an American, not a witch, who believes the people's VOTE carries more power in it's autonomy than anything else in politics.
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Mark Hannon
I agree. Right now we have to look to the Constitution as our guide. I believe in it.
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Lea Weisenbach
Amen
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Amber
Actually it's only a witch hunt if there isn't anything to hide. First look at how that term came about and then look at the several indictments... not a witch hunt, just investigations and real criminals found.
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Lori
Exactly
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George the benevolant
They say Bad PR is better than No PR - why not use this as an opportunity to promote and share your rights as who you are, it has worked for every other once downtrodden, abused and miss-understood minority group that has come to light long after being recognized.
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Fay Fleming
I am also a witch and I find it to be a witch hunt too. Haven't we been persecuted enough. Time to fight back brothers and sisters. Blessed Be
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Minister Post
It's exactly what the president said, he's going after a Traitor of the United States and the American people. And she happens to be a very Evil Witch. So get over it. Anyone who is a Traitor, Treasoness, he will go after. The Deep State and the Globalists have been stealing from the American public and killing our constitutional rights for to long. It's time to take back our government and country. Give the President time to clean house.
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The Doctor
Lets see deep state and globalist.So you are a conspiracy nut and hate people of jewish ancestry got it.
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William Waugh
Oh Hillary......whatever will become of me. Nothing after the fall but a fire and a lost prophecy.(paraphrased lyrics from Bette Midler's song, "Oh Industry")>another well known "witch"....... Pls review first comment here.
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William Waugh
Minister Post you seem to be confused. This thread is about the russians. I know you probly cant think clearly now that you realize your hero was elected by russian mass marketing. Read my lips, "Not my president"
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John Deaux
I think he's right on target and it is you who can not think clearly or intelligently.
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Rene Guthschmidt
i think you're out of it comlpetely. Ageold respected sciences, beginnings of all sort "religions' such as Daoism, non of your birth and origin(s) know of(f) course the Hexagrams. its older then Christian timedating and trivinity and divinity of wisdom as such. that is ment to be "beyond" senses as such. One is simply not ripe enough. Marry yourself in these difficult times.
Ref.(Magician) Rene(Karma)P.C. Guthschmidt.
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TigerMoon2
Huh? As such.
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Ben
Clean house? Putin's puppet "aka" Trump filled the swamp when he took office.
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George the benevolant
You like my wife - who is normally is very smart and level headed - have bought into a delusional recidivist ramblings that are based naïve, illogical and unconstitutional theories.
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tom
"Witch Hunt" is an apt description when the establishment elite, the ruling class, the deep state, the "news" media, etc etc. are all against you. It would seem we can add witches to the list of those who are persecuting Trump and his supporters.
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TigerMoon2
'God' forbid that a supporter of Trump should question WHY everyone's out to get Trump... and if one did they would only believe what Trump said about it. Again... we, the whole world, but especially Americans, are against Trump because he is an AWFUL person. Absolutely aweful! Nor does he try to hide it. He actually embraces it (...not paying my taxes "makes me smart" [It doesn't... as he is soon to find out]) When the media reports his bs, it's not because they are conspiring, it's because of his bs, plain and simple. No one is MAKING him lie, he does it as a matter of course! No one is making him look bad, he does that on his own and is proud of it. I have said it over and over... if you LIKE Trump and support him, you are one of these people: A fool for being so duped... still!, a moron who cannot tell right from wrong and believes everything their daddy tells them, an anarchist bent on chaos and rebellion, a Russian bot, a White Nationalist, a Neo-Nazi, or just a plain racist.
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Lionheart
I’ll support any President that doesn’t bow down to other world leaders, unravels the mess by previous Presidents, improves our economy, reduces illegal immigration, removes MS13 gang members, reduces unemployment, and puts America first, not last. Obama couldn’t do it in 8 years. Trump has done it in 2, and we still have another 2 years to go, hopefully as a minimum.
By the end of his term of office he could go down as one of the greatest Presidents of modern times. His political achievements so far must be very difficult to accept for Democrats, but if we can get over 8 years of “America Last” Obama, they’ll get over “America First” President Trump.
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T Kosse`
Lionheart
I thought that you were intelligent person, but I guess I was totally and completely mistaken.
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The Doctor
So you are also a conspiracy nut got it. do you believe in the flat earth or hollow earth theories to?
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Larry Copeland
If you don’t like the history of your sect then shut it down !!Satanic religions are Gods words not yours for your sect. If you don’t like Gods reference then get out and worship God?
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The Doctor
Ok so you put your faith above all others and clearly do not believe in the freedom of religion. You are actually fitting one of the definitions of treason by doing so technically.
You are free to have your faith, but to attempt to have it treated as less then yours has no place in the U.S.
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Kirk
He’s simply referring to the fact that the witch hunts of old where BS. They should not have happened just like the special counsel investigation is BS and should not have happened. These people that claim to be witches and can’t see what’s really going on and are all butt hurt by their own ignorance, are clearly too stupid to be real witches!
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Lea Weisenbach
Amen
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TigerMoon2
Even though I disapprove of my fellow witches meddling so publicly in politics, jeopardizing our new-found validity, anyone who believes in Trump has no room at all to call ANYONE else stupid, because they've got that covered, and truly do NOT see what's going on.
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Rev. Brien
Ok, please all of the people who are on this offended fad, Trump was not elected for his sparkling personality. He is a complete ass. But he is right up front about it. He was put into office to piss off the old goons who have been running this country far too long. He was put into office to piss off all of those little leeching countries who have been bleeding us dry due to bad deals that were made. He was not put into office to be the touchy feel good politically correct president. I am sick to death of all the snowflakes that get offended by....everything. Grow up, grow a set, and get on with your life. Have a nice day :)
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D. L. Hatch
I so enjoyed your post. You tell it like it is. Too bad the left-minded who succumb to the wills of the mainstream/lamestream media cannot figure it out or even take a joke. Merry Christmas.
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The Doctor
Cadet Bone Spurs Drumpf is the biggest leech to ever be in DC and that is saying something.
The fact you are so self deluded you turn a blind eye to it says something about you, and its not something positive.
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John Deaux
Speaking of self deluded, have you looked into a mirror lately ?
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Kristen Bommarito
Amen to that Rev.
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D. L. Hatch
Hardly a witch hunt; everyone knows where Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, and Hillary Clinton are. It may not be the Christian thing to do, pointing them out and naming them, but they are so quick to label us deplorables that I feel I must return the favor.
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The Doctor
If you took deplorable as something directed at you then guess what you probably actually are deplorable. You know who actually spews insults directed with clear venom and meant to divide the people of this country and in fact the world as a whole? Thats right the cowardly failure of a over weight mentally ill walking sack of orange died leather.
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Lea Weisenbach
Reading some of these comments..Watch what you say because what your veiw of hate is..is the same thing that comes out of your mouth is nothing more than hate.
You become what you hate.
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Ben
I too hate #45's use of the word witchhunt. These so called witches, were women targeted unjustly. Punished cruelly for crimes they didn't commit. Trump and his stooges all belong behind bars, because they are criminals.
LockHimUp
Resist
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Ben
Trump has violated many of the 10 Commandments, does that not matter to you so called Christians? (ie: he holds money higher than God, works the Sabbath, lies, steals, adultery, etc,,,)
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Lea Weisenbach
As all Christians do...forgive and continue..As for people are still giving to the Pope!! I don't need a label to be a good person...Survivor from Christianity..
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Lea Weisenbach
The swap needs to be cleaned and Trump is the only man that can do it. As for using witch hunt in his statements. I've never heard any Wiccan say they are offended..Its a time of history that Christians should be ashamed of..And we should never firget...
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Chris
Wow. Look at all the offended Trump supporters! For a group who love to mock "offended snowflakes" their knickers sure get twisted easily.
Most of the Witches and Pagans that I know don't like his use of the term but just roll their eyes and add it to the list of other crap he spews. But just like any group there are those who don't appreciate his use of it and make their voices heard. They have the right to say what they believe according to the First Amendment. If you don't like it, too bad.
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Evil Tom
The way the article bounces between witch and wicca as if they are one and the same is quite jarring.
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Virginia Feldman
Of course. 'Witch' was the pejorative name given to women with any skills, who used them publicly. The very type of person DT hates.
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Wayne Bowlby
Please remember Trump has the vocabulary of an Elementary Student, a slow one at that. Trump will not be remembered well, if at all as anything good. Wiccan's represent balance and nature, something D.T. will never understand. Try not to hate to much, it eats away at you. Take pity on what will be fall him in the coming months or enjoy it, because he will be out of office and never see a second presidency. Peace, W
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Lionheart
I’ll ignore your grammatical errors as I’d hate to incorrectly suggest you have the vocabulary of a poor Elementary Student, because we all make errors from time to time. And for all I know, you might also be worth billions and have an incredibly attractive wife and family, worthy of a poor Elementary Student. However, your President and mine, is at last putting the nation and its citizens “first” not “last”, which should have been done by other Presidents long ago. In doing this, if you haven’t noticed, the financial markets are doing extremely well, as is the unemployment rate, and this is in only two years. Not bad for someone that you love to castigate, wouldn’t you say? It’s a pity that the better educated previous President didn’t do as well in his lengthy 8 years. I won’t mention the now illegal Obama Care here to add further woes to his Presidency..... but I guess I just did!
Anyway, let’s hope we have another 6 more years of President Trump, to continue the very difficult task of getting America back on its feet at last. It’s been a looooong time coming.
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Bill Fox
It's part of the cost of being political. Catholics are mocked by members of Congress. Jews seem to be hated by Muslims and atheists. If you are a witch, at least the President isn't attacking you.
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TigerMoon2
Apparently you also put him in office to make more money off of the American middle class and low income folks who are the only ones paying taxes now, and to take away medical care from millions of them, all while he is fattening his bank account and playing golf every other weekend. Apparently you put him there to lie to our faces, disrespect our military in so many ways (I still want to smack him for putting that Purple Heart medal in his pants pocket like it was no better than loose change), and to advertise his 'brand'. And, apparently you put him there to give validity to all of the dictatorships, and watch him kiss up to Putin and Kim. Yes, he offends me... as do you and D.L.Hatch. Worse, you disgust me.
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Secretary3rd
You like magic. I like to be able to do the dark side of the story. Heard similar stories that Jewish magic was being used against President Saddam Hussain of Iraq except it took the US Air Force to show the world what magic was like. It is like the people who think the stories of Harry Potter was real. That those Harry Potters books contain secrets of magic. I guess when you deal with simple minds what do expect!
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Jennifer Kemper
As a Wiccan with Jewish roots, the use of "Witch hunt" is as offensive to me as "Final solution".
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Don
Oh, well, let's just rearrange the whole language because you choose to equate things that are unrelated.
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Qrez
Christians are still hunting witches to this day... in Africa children are victimized accused of witch craft. there is also the satanic panic.
and lets not forget that christian missionaries have been lobbying for the death penalty for homosexuality... the abrahamic religions are inherently murdery...
their text constitute both hate speech and incitement to violence... There is no ambiguity about "suffer not the witch to live"
The only thing that tames Christianity and other abrahamic religions is the secular society that constrain the religions toxicity and genocidal tendencies and that a precarious situation....
the book Christian nation is not all that unrealistic and is based on basically everything the christian right has said they aim to do...
It's funny how atheists are the least trusted people in america when Christians of any group are the most untrustworthy based on history and stated intent at least when given full freedom to act on all their dogma.
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Helena
The phrase "witch hunt" means that it is a fruitless search (because there is no such things as witches ;) ;) right?).
While the origin of the phrase may be harmless, the actual witch hunts were just as devastating as the holocaust.
Truthfully both those word have deep implications to certain groups. However changing words or phraseology to soothe feelings will not change the person saying it's viewpoints.
Yes the actual Witch Hunts were a terrible part of our WORLD history, nothing will change that past and we must learn to heal past it. However the term "witch hunt" has been around for centuries and only recently have people gotten their panties in a bunch.
Life is full of slights but a wise person moves past ignorance and works to better themselves and in doing so will change the world. Not fighting the world, that leads to retaliation. A child's tantrum is ignored but a calm adult teaches.
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Joshua Daniel Browning
This is asinine. The Wiccan community needs to have much thicker skin than this. Constantly being offended by speech shows how truly weak you really are. Time to grow up kiddos
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Joshua Daniel Browning
This is asinine. The Wiccan community needs to have much thicker skin than this. Constantly being offended by speech shows how truly weak you really are. Time to grow up kiddos
I agree with Rev. Brien's "offended fad" comment. Everyone seems to be offended by something lately. I'm not a trump fan. I am pagan, but I'm not offended by his use of the term. People are just looking for anything to throw at the man. I am wondering what evangelical Christians and his groupies see in Trump. He holds none of their values. I guess all the things they believe in aren't important when it comes to Trump. Even poorer folks love him, though he clearly is only interested in the money makers. And now we (the USA) must carry the weight of the cost of the WALL. That's not what he promised,......but still they think he's so wonderful. I am baffled.
Locks and fences keep the honest man honest. And make good neighbors. I'm a trump supporter..I may not like what he has said but I do like his honesty. I'm bipartison and I Beleive in the middle way..balance..Besides I don't like women that stand by men that damages other women's lives for their personal gain..Plus just like people that stand by the church that hides child sex offenders. Personally..I was not happy with the Dems nor the Rep..Both sides are just extreme..So the best choice was Trump...And I do want the wall..No different than Obama wanted the wall..Get over it!
Lea.... Whose pockets will the money for the wall come from, and do you really see him as honest? Okay, if that's how you see him there's nothing I can say to change that. Perspective is a funny thing......and I have already gotten over it. Bright blessings
Oh, and I am also a believer in the bipartisan/balanced way. I don't like it when someone pitches one side against the other and says things that promote division. Have a blessed Yule.
Lori..your not over it..Hilary has started this divide an d is a criminal..Behind the Clintons is a long line of destroyed lives..Plan and simple.
Lea.... I'm not a Hilary fan either. When someone is "over it" it means they have moved on. There isn't anything that can be done about the past. All we can do is works to make things better for the future. Clearly you are clinging to the past. Perhaps you should get more involved with your political party. Then you can stop complaining and make a real difference.
Personally, I think people who smartassedly tell other people to 'get over it' really need to be smacked. Just because you can reference Robert Frost does not make you smart. I am a Wiccan who is offended by Trump, for many reasons... will you still say you don't know any who are? FU!
Lori, please be honest with me, I’m very curious, do you have locks on your doors at home, and do you make sure your car doors are locked when you park your car, if so, why?
Just asking!
I live in the back woods of Tennessee. We just sleep with guns beside our beds.
That policy isn’t good for everyone, especially for children. Not everyone lives in the backwoods, but by the sounds of it you must also lock your doors at night, surely?
Preventing them getting into homes, or vehicles, using locked gates, locked doors, windows, etc., would be a better option than having to risk taking someone’s life.
Wow, not even a chuckle. Yes, Lionheart. I lock my cars and my doors and there are no children in my home at this point. What's your point? I don't see any president fixing the criminal problems of this world. A wall won't fix it either. If you are referring to "THEM" as the illegals, I don't see much of them around here. There seems to be more disturbed alcoholics here than anything else.
The point is Lori, you do your best to keep people out of your home that you haven't invited in, whether they are criminals or not. You don't expect anyone to break into your home, or just walk in through your front door and home squat and expect you to feed them.
President Trump is attempting to do the same with our nations back door. A wall proves to be effective for Israel, not without its issues of course.
Even the Bible, if you want to believe it (Revelation 21:15-17) lists the dimensions of the wall of the New Jerusalem where all Gods people will live. So presumably, even the Christian God likes walls.
I'm glad you don't see many illegal immigrants where you are. I now understand why you perhaps think the way you do. In Southern California (a sanctuary state) where I am, it's a major problem, and getting worse. The sooner the garden wall is up, and the doors bolted shut, the better. We can then look at the current list of those thousands standing in line that have correctly filled in all their applications and waited patiently, to come into our home and be welcomed.
Lionheart...Yes its better than taking someone's life. The walk to our borders is a very dangerous walk. We will never know how many people are buried in Mexico!! If the wall dose not go up...We are risking peoples lives and they are getting false information. The thing is all they have to do is go the the US embassy...They don't have to walk!!
I respect where you're coming from. If you truly feel a wall would help the problem in your area, then I hope it works out for you and I hope we don't all go broke in the process. I don't see anyone solving the problems in my area. Alcoholism is rampant. It destroys families and kills people on the road. There doesn't seem to be any plan to fix it. Perhaps we can build a wall around the liquor stores to keep folks from going in to get their fix. Maybe we need to stop the legals from coming in as well. Citizenship doesn't mean they are good for us. Just because they are legal it doesn't mean they won't slam a plane into a building or two.
You're right, legal citizens don't mean they are good for us, but just like they did when I went through the process, they do thorough background checks as best they can, they also check education, health, financial, and employment status to make sure as best they can that they have something to offer this country so that they don't become a drain on the economy, or bring in any diseases.
Lori..Alcoholism..Drug abuse...children with no fathers..venereal desease..This is a choice and this comes alone with personal responsibility. I come from the streets of Detroit...I have no simpathy for any of it..sorry...I had my fair share of living in fear. No thanks. But lets get back to the wall. All these illegals are nothing but cheap labor for the rich.. They are nothing but prey for the criminals..We has to put a stop to this or we are the cause...
Lea... If the wall works, it's a good thing. My point is the president promised we would NOT be paying for it. He is a real questionable guy in a lot of areas. If you like him that's your choice. We all have to live with our choices.
Mexico most likely will pay for the wall because they are stuck with the mess. Plus I'm just plain tired of congress not working together and just hate the white guy Trump...Yes we have to live with our choices and sorry to say I voted for Obama. The best choice was Trump this time..clean the swamp. Check how many walls are going up around the world..its 77.
I also totally agree with rev Brien. Everybody is offended by something these days too easily. It's ridiculous everybody needs to put on their big pants and focus on something that really matters.