Fight Fire in Ukraine, Not California

Internet conspiracy theories are usually but not always wrong.  Take the story that has been floating around recently.  Allegedly, various municipalities and counties in California have been, since 2022, donating fire-fighting and protective gear to the Ukraine.  The story has been "fact-checked" and seems to be true on all counts.

I don't know why some Californians, including members of my wife family, are concerned.  After all, America is not an actual nation with its own history, traditions, and cultures.  We are a "universal nation," a propositional nation with a mission to reach out and remake the world in our own image.  Or rather better than our own image, since all the advocates of American internationalism agree that our history presents an endless sequence of barbaric persecution inflicted on women, children, blacks, Jews, Orientals, homosexuals, and transgenders.  The only way we can possibly make any amends for our crimes is by devoting a vast part of our resources toward improving the Third World and by letting vast numbers of Third World people to be welcomed into the US and put immediately on a double helping of Welfare.

So that is American government today at all levels.  They donate valuable resources to prop up a corrupt puppet regime led by a comic actor, while lives and property are being destroyed here in the United States.  If only we had elected Kamala President, she could have donated our border guards, immigration officers, and all branches of the US armed forces.

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Thomas Fleming

Thomas Fleming is president of the Fleming Foundation. He is the author of six books, including The Morality of Everyday Life and The Politics of Human Nature, as well as many articles and columns for newspapers, magazines,and learned journals. He holds a Ph.D. in Classics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a B.A. in Greek from the College of Charleston. He served as editor of Chronicles: a Magazine of American Culture from 1984 to 2015 and president of The Rockford Institute from 1997-2014. In a previous life he taught classics at several colleges and served as a school headmaster in South Carolina

6 Responses

  1. Allen Wilson says:

    I’m sure the border guards, immigration officers, and US armed forces will be donated to Israel. Maybe Ukraine’s comic actor will have a new life as a comedian in America once the war is over. He has all the right credentials. At least Kamala would have entertained us with her giggling and cackling. Maybe they could be a team. But who would be the straight man?

  2. Avatar photo Thomas Fleming says:

    Zelenskyy is already a ventriloquist’s dummy but it will be hard to find any straight male in the Biden entourage.

  3. Raymond Olson says:

    “If only we had elected Kamala President, she could have donated our border guards, immigration officers, and all branches of the US armed forces.”

    Oh, Kamala! If only you’d promised all that, I’d’ve voted for you!

  4. Avatar photo Thomas Fleming says:

    Ray, funny but you’d be high on the list of eliminandi for our Muslim conquerors.

  5. Robert Reavis says:

    I apologize to our dear readers for bombarding you with Mr Belloc recently but Mayor Bass has reminded me again of Matilda who told lies. This will be my last for a while —-I promise.

    MATILDA

    by: Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953)

    WHO TOLD LIES, AND WAS BURNED TO DEATH

    MATILDA told such Dreadful Lies,
    It made one Gasp and Stretch one’s Eyes;
    Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth,
    Had kept a Strict Regard for Truth,
    Attempted to Believe Matilda:
    The effort very nearly killed her,
    And would have done so, had not She
    Discovered this Infirmity.
    For once, towards the Close of Day,
    Matilda, growing tired of play,
    And finding she was left alone,
    Went tiptoe to the Telephone
    And summoned the Immediate Aid
    Of London’s Noble Fire-Brigade.
    Within an hour the Gallant Band
    Were pouring in on every hand,
    From Putney, Hackney Downs, and Bow.
    With Courage high and Hearts a-glow,
    They galloped, roaring through the Town,
    ‘Matilda’s House is Burning Down!’
    Inspired by British Cheers and Loud
    Proceeding from the Frenzied Crowd,
    They ran their ladders through a score
    Of windows on the Ball Room Floor;
    And took Peculiar Pains to Souse
    The Pictures up and down the House,
    Until Matilda’s Aunt succeeded
    In showing them they were not needed;
    And even then she had to pay
    To get the Men to go away!

    It happened that a few Weeks later
    Her Aunt was off to the Theatre
    To see that Interesting Play
    The Second Mrs. Tanqueray.
    She had refused to take her Niece
    To hear this Entertaining Piece:
    A Deprivation Just and Wise
    To Punish her for Telling Lies.
    That Night a Fire did break out–
    You should have heard Matilda Shout!
    You should have heard her Scream and Bawl,
    And throw the window up and call
    To People passing in the Street–
    (The rapidly increasing Heat
    Encouraging her to obtain
    Their confidence) — but all in vain!
    For every time she shouted ‘Fire!’
    They only answered ‘Little Liar!’
    And therefore when her Aunt returned,
    Matilda, and the House, were Burned.

    “Matilda” is reprinted from Cautionary Tales. Hilaire Belloc. 1907.

  6. Avatar photo Thomas Fleming says:

    One of our children’s favorites!