A thought occurred to me while I was snorkeling in the Red Sea yesterday, watching a magnificent and enormous blue triggerfish digging through the stones on the sea floor by a coral reef.
The reef itself, in Eilat, is protected by buoys, to keep snorkelers and scuba divers away -- not that they want to damage the reef, but they can do so accidentally. Reefs are extremely vulnerable.
It occurred to me that it takes a lot of effort to preserve something like that, and the motivation to do so comes from a sense of ownership. We protect what we own, what we consider ours.
Israelis feel they own their country. That leads to some rather intense fights, but it also creates a strong social bond. Most of all, it means they are prepared to defend it and sacrifice for it.
Americans are willing to sacrifice for our country. But we don't act like we own it. That's how we have arrived at a situation in which our government lets millions of people in illegally and nothing is done.
We tell ourselves that the essence of being American is the creed of the Constitution. But is that what people are really willing to die for? Or is it (was it) a sense that this is something that belongs to us?
This week, we are tackling two major areas of contention between the Trump administration and Democrat governors: fighting crime, and redistricting. The president is sending the National Guard to blue cities -- and blue states are trying to stamp out Republican representation. Is this a civil war situation?
Special guests:
- Bradley Jaye -- Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on redistricting
- Tom Manza, California Business and Industrial Alliance, on Gavin Newsom
- Jon Fleischman, veteran California political expert, on the special election
- Dan Backer, veteran political lawyer and consultant, on corruption
- DJ Mark Anthony, on a recent visit to Rome and visiting Pope Leo XIV
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET / 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
This week's portion is the last of the month of Av -- also known as Menachem (Comforter) Av -- which begins in mourning and ends in celebration and anticipation of the New Year and the process of repentance and renewal.
In a similar vein, the portion features Moses offering the Israelites a choice between a blessing and a curse. They are masters of their own fates: if they obey God's commandments, they receive the blessings -- and vice versa.
The key commandment is to reject idol worship. There is said to be something magnetic about the practice of worshiping idols in the new land, such that it would be constant moral battle, both individually and collectively, in the land.
Nowadays, according to Jewish tradition, humanity has lost the urge for idol worship (and the antidote, which is divine prophecy) -- but there are several near substitutes, such as lust or excessive appetites for worldly pleasures.
We are wired for compulsive behaviors, bad habits, and even addictions. These ...
We have so much to talk about this week -- Trump's efforts to negotiate peace through negotiation, and Gavin Newsom's efforts to divide Americans through gerrymandering. We'll also talk about Playboy leaving LA and California.
Special guests:
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Russia & Ukraine
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on Newsom
Harmeet Dhillon - DOJ Civil Rights Division chief, on the fight against DEI
Jessica Vaugn - Playboy model on political commentator, on California
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 PT
Call: 866-957-2874
