This Day in History | 1907 

Marion Michael Morrison, who would later become known to the world as John Wayne, is born in Winterset, Iowa.

Good morning Middle America, 

One thing about this pandemic, things are starting to settle on some kind of normal. You hear a lot of talk about the ‘new normal’. What the heck was normal about the old way of life?

We are so glad you’ve found this little corner of the internet. Our audience is growing, so we must be doing something right. But let me ask you this? Was all of America really ready for the internet?

Seriously. It’s a powerful, indispensable tool. Especially nowadays when so many people are still locked down at home, either by government order or by choice.  

The internet has allowed so many people to cut through the big media apparatus, including us. But to what end? Not everyone is as smart as those of you reading this. I mean our president is spreading debunked conspiracy theories about a morning tv host. And some people seem to love it. Others certainly do not.  

That’s not a defense of the TV host, but if we wanted to watch Mean Girls, I’d watch Mean Girls. This is just dumb. So please call the White House and ask the president to stop it. 

There are serious issues at hand, like the separation of church and state. It’s a classic Constitutional clash, a stress test that will ultimately make our country stronger – IF… 

If we all pay attention and make sure no one pulls a fast one with the rule of law. Always be leery when someone from the government says – “it’s for your own good.” That advice should come from your wife/husband, priest/pastor, doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc.. in that order. 

Have you seen that video of that crazy white woman yelling at the black birder in central park? Some people think she should be the one facing charges for accusing the man of threatening her (he didn’t). 

We think the most telling part of the video is the dog, who clearly wants nothing to do with the woman. 

Finally, you’ve heard about what they do to sex offenders in prison, right? So has the subject this story out of…. you guessed it – Florida. 

A former teacher, convicted of having sex with underage students begs a judge for castration over prison time. What did the judge say?

Read all about it. 

-Fraser Dixon

Memorial Day Offers Contrasts as Biden and Trump Salute War Dead with and Without Masks

(Washington Post) – Memorial Day 2020 offered an array of contrasts as some Americans sheltered in their homes, others flocked to beaches and pools, and the nation’s political leaders honored generations of war dead, with former vice president Joe Biden wearing a mask and President Donald Trump going without.

The disparate approaches played out as the country’s reported death toll from the coronavirus edged closer to 100,000.

Trump took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and later gave remarks at Fort McHenry in Baltimore to honor those who have given their lives in wars past and those fighting today on the front lines of the pandemic.

Read more here

COVID 19: CHURCH VS. STATE 

DOJ Urges Nevada to Reconsider Church Social-Distancing Orders, ‘Unequal Treatment’

(FOX News) – The Justice Department is urging Nevada to reconsider its flat ban on religious gatherings of 10 or more people.

“We are concerned, however, that the flat prohibition against 10 or more persons gathering for in-person worship services — regardless of whether they maintain social-distancing guidelines — impermissibly treats religious and nonreligious organizations unequally,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada Nicholas Trutanich and Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Dreiband wrote in a letter obtained by Fox News to the state’s Gov. Steve Sisolak.

“These directives may violate the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, unless the government can prove a compelling interest and pursued the least restrictive means possible,” they wrote.

Find out more here

A White Woman has Apologized after Calling Police on a Black Man for Saying He Was ‘Threatening My Life’

(CNN) – A white woman has apologized for calling police on a black man in Central Park on Monday, after the two argued about her unleashed dog.

Amy Cooper told CNN she wanted to “publicly apologize to everyone.”

“I’m not a racist. I did not mean to harm that man in any way,” she said, adding that she also didn’t mean any harm to the African American community.

She was walking her dog Monday while Christian Cooper was bird watching at a wooded area of Central Park called the Ramble.

Amy Cooper and Christian Cooper are not related.

They both told CNN the dispute began because Amy Cooper’s dog was not on a leash. Dogs are supposed to be leashed at all times in the Ramble, according to the park’s website.

The dog has been surrendered to the shelter he was adopted from days earlier while the dispute is addressed, according to a Facebook post from Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue, Inc.

See the video here

Pensacola Teacher Who Had Sex with Student Begs Judge for Castration Over Prison

(Pensacola News Journal) – A former Pensacola teacher who pleaded guilty last year to an array of sex offenses involving students begged the judge on Wednesday to consider castration rather than sentence him to prison.

Mark Lua, 32, made the unusual request to Circuit Court Judge Thomas Dannheisser at his sentencing hearing Wednesday morning.

“My actions were despicable to say the least,” Lua said. “I do believe that punishment is necessary, and I am requesting chemical castration not only as a punishment but as an act of solidarity to show how sorry I am for everything. If your honor is so inclined, I am even willing to undergo physical castration if that way I can stay home and raise my daughter.”

Dannheisser did not respond to Lua’s request and instead sentenced him to 12 years in state prison, followed by 15 years of probation.

Find out more here