NEW YOR K | DC EDITION
00
In the News
NEWS
Rising bond yields ihave
caused a market panic re-
cently and sparked a sell-off
in the stock market, worrying
investors. ... A8
Hundreds of thousands
of people in Wuhan, China,
were infected with COVID-19
in 2020, with the first case
emerging in October 2019, ac-
cording to new studies. ... A10
Rep. Mo Brooks has an-
nounced his 2022 candidacy
for the U.S. Senate seat to
be vacated by Alabama Sen.
Richard Shelby. ... A4
The Chinese Communist
Party’s new five-year plan is
a more aggressive extension
of the regime’s previous Thou-
sand Talents Plan, an expert
says. ... A10
The top 1 percent of house-
holds by income have failed
to report 21 percent of their
earnings to the IRS, a study
shows. ... A9
Attorney Sidney Powell is
seeking the dismissal of a $1.3
billion lawsuit filed against her
by Dominion Voting Systems.
... A9
A new project aspires to
unite Americans in the effort to
promote authentic education
that teaches the United States’
founding principles. ...A1
BUSINESS
Workers shouldn’t be forced
to join unions, which is a viola-
tion of their First Amendment
rights, an economist says.
...A22
Supplemental Security In-
come, a federal welfare pro-
gram that pays a small stipend
to people who are over 65 and
very poor, is different from
Social Security, an expert ex-
plains. ...A22
OPINION
Roger Kimball: Time to Take
Action: 3 Proposals Regarding
Free Speech, the Media, and
Washington, D.C...A13
Hans Mahncke: American
WHO Representative’s Past
Connection to Wuhan Institute
of Virology Raises Questions...
A15
Wang He: US Falls Into 4
Traps Set by the CCP in US–
China Talks...A17
FEATURES
From selling potatoes at a
young age to crowdfunding
millions of dollars, the Harmon
brothers are driven by com-
mon ideals and values. ...B1
When given time to play, tin-
ker, and explore, children de-
velop specific interests. ...B10
The strings are the “back-
bone of the orchestra”—we
never tire of their warm, hu-
man-like tone. ...B9
Human fertility rates are
plummeting amid a tidal
wave of endocrine-disrupting
chemicals. ...C1
How to overcome shame
and face the pain of life’s un-
expected jolts of agony. ...C1
DON’T DELAY.
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| W E D N E S D A Y, M A R C H 2 4 , 2 0 21
BORDER SECURITY
Exclusive: Border Agent Gives Inside
Account of Overcrowded Facilities
Agent describes ‘horrible’ conditions, ‘no end in sight’
as surge of illegal immigrants gets bigger each month
BY CHARLOTTE CUTHBERTSON
The family-unit holding cells smell
like urine and vomit. Fights break
out in the unaccompanied-minor
cells. Scabies, lice, the flu, and CO-
VID-19 run rampant.
Up to 80 individuals are squeezed
into each 24- by 30-foot cell, and there
aren’t enough mattresses for everyone. Temporary processing facilities used by
Sheets of plastic divide the rooms.
EDUCATION
New Project Presses
for Pro-American Education
BY MATTHEW VADUM
A new project called The Civics Alli-
ance aspires to unite Americans in
the effort to promote authentic civ-
ics education that teaches the Unit-
ed States’ founding principles and
documents, key events of American
history, the structure of our self-
governing federal republic, and the
spirit of liberty and tolerance.
The National Association of Schol-
ars-sponsored project comes after
President Joe Biden rescinded Presi-
dent Donald Trump’s executive or-
Masked students wait in a socially distanced single file line before heading to the
cafeteria at Medora Elementary School in Louisville, Ky., on March 17, 2021.
DONALD TRUMP
Out of the White
House, What
Can Trump Do
to Stay Popular?
BY IVAN PENTCHOUKOV
Ever since he announced a run for
the White House in 2015, former
President Donald Trump dominated
headlines in the United States and
around the world.
Many attributed Trump’s surprise
Continued on A5
Accuracy The Epoch Times was founded in 2000 as an independent newspaper with the goal to restore accuracy and
integrity in media. We have received numerous awards for our reporting, including from the Society of Professional
& Integrity Journalists, the Society for News Design, and the New York Press Association.
Truth & Tradition
Border Patrol agents apprehend about two dozen illegal
immigrants in Penitas, Texas, on March 11. 2021.
CBP
Border Patrol in Donna, Texas. Continued on A3
der banning the Marxist-invented
critical race theory in federal train-
ing, and disbanded Trump’s 1776
Commission that sought to move
American education away from
a radical curriculum that unduly
emphasized race-related injustices
of the past.
NAS describes itself as “a network
of scholars and citizens united by a
commitment to academic freedom,
disinterested scholarship, and excel-
lence in American higher education.”
The project is in part a response
Continued on A8
JON CHERRY/GETTY IMAGES
SARAH SILBIGER/GETTY IMAGES
Then-President Donald Trump and
First Lady Melania Trump at the White
House on May 25, 2020.
CHARLOTTE CUTHBERTSON/THE EPOCH TIMES
“Any diseases that are in there,
it’s being kept in there, like a petri
dish. The smell is overwhelming,”
a Border Patrol agent said, describ-
ing the conditions in a facility in
south Texas. The agent, Carlos (not
his real name), spoke to The Epoch
Times on condition of anonymity,
for fear of repercussions.
Border Patrol agents on the front
FREDRICK J. BROWN/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Yang Jiechi (R), director of the Central
Foreign Affairs Commission Office for
China, and Wang Yi (L), China’s foreign
minister, arrive for a meeting in Anchor-
age, Alaska, on March 18, 2021.
US–CHINA
Lessons to be
Learned from
the US-China
Meeting in
Anchorage
BY JAN JEKIELEK & FRANK FANG
News Analysis
Beijing’s delegation came to Alaska
to “score a cheap propaganda”
while trying to divert international
attention away from the Chinese
regime’s abuses, the China adviser
to former Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo says.
Last week, Secretary of State
Antony Blinken and White House
national security adviser Jake
Sullivan held a two-day meet-
ing in Anchorage, hosting their
Chinese counterparts Foreign
Minister Wang Yi and top diplo-
mat Yang Jiechi.
The bilateral talks have since
been remembered not for what
the two sides talked about, but
for how the Chinese delegation
threw a diplomatic temper tan-
trum during the in-person meet-
ing. Yang, in particular, veered
off the usual diplomatic protocols
and lashed out over what he said
was the United States’ struggling
democracy and poor treatment of
minorities.
Yang’s public outburst has since
been heavily criticized by several
U.S. lawmakers and former U.S.
Continued on A11
VOL . X V I I I | NO. 2,924 $3.
PANDEMIC
Study: CDC
Overstated
COVID-19
Deaths
BY MARK TAPSCOTT
A little-noticed, peer-reviewed
study published last October by a
science and public health journal
claims the Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention (CDC) ignored
federal laws and regulations when
it changed how the government
counts deaths from COVID-19,
caused by the CCP virus, also
known as the novel coronavirus.
“All federal agencies are required to
Continued on A5
HOME DELIVERY ADDRESS :
SOCIETY
A Closer Look:
Behind the Rise in
Anti-Asian Hate
Surge in anti-Asian hate
crimes may partially be
due to overall rising levels
of violence
BY BOWEN XIAO
Horrific headlines have recently
proliferated across social media and
the news industry depicting Asian
Americans as victims of an increas-
ing spate of assaults, both verbal and
physical. Examining what’s behind
the trend requires a deeper look into
a complex, multifaceted issue.
The Epoch Times spoke to nearly
a dozen people spanning different
backgrounds, expertise, and person-
al experiences. These included Asian
Americans who have experienced
racism firsthand, attorneys with ex-
pertise on hate crimes, former law
enforcement officials, public safety
experts, scholars, activists, and more.
Racism has always existed, and in
recent years, Asians have increas-
ingly been prey to racially motivated
crimes, although the extent of the
problem varies depending on the
source. Hate crimes have histori-
cally gone underreported, and most
Continued on A6
US–MEXICO BORDER
BAN ON MEDIA AT
BORDER UNJUSTIFIED,
SENATOR SAYS
“They just don’t
n’t
want people
reporting
on what is
going on,”
Sen. Marsha
Blackburn said.
d.
Read more on A4
A2 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
IMAGES BY SHUTTERSTOCK; PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES; AP; INSTAGRAM; THE EPOCH TIMES
TRUMP RETURNING
TO SOCIAL MEDIA
WITHIN MONTHS: ADVISER
Former President Donald Trump will
set up his own social media platform
and will return to posting online in two
to three months, his adviser and
If they get rid of the
filibuster, if they
knock it out, it will
be catastrophic
for the Republican
Party.
Former President Donald Trump, in
an interview with “The Truth with
Lisa Boothe” podcast
AstraZeneca May Have
Used Outdated Infor-
mation in COVID-19
Vaccine Trial
Results from a U.S. clinical trial
testing the efficacy and safety
of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vac-
cine may have included “outdated
information,” American officials
said.
The Data Safety Monitoring
Board notified the company and
two health agencies that it was
worried by the information As-
traZeneca released on its trial.
The board, which monitors tri-
als and reviews data collected
at regular intervals, “expressed
concern that AstraZeneca may
have included outdated informa-
tion from that trial, which may
have provided an incomplete
view of the efficacy data,” ac-
cording to the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseas-
es, one of the agencies.
2.5
MILLION
About 2.5 million people per day
are receiving COVID-19 vaccines
in the United States, according to
the Biden administration.
Letlow Wins Louisiana Election
for Late Husband’s Seat
Republican Julia Letlow, the widow of Louisiana
congressman-elect Luke Letlow, who died last year
from complications related to the CCP (Chinese
Communist Party) virus, won a special election on
March 20 to replace him in the U.S. Congress.
Letlow topped 11 other contenders to receive 65
percent of the vote in the 5th Congressional District
race, according to the Louisiana Department of State.
Former President Donald Trump endorsed Letlow
on March 10 and boosted her again during the elec-
tion on March 20.
NEWS BRIEFS
spokesman Jason Miller said.
Miller told Fox News that he
expects Trump will return
to social media with his
own platform that will
"completely redefine
the game" and
attract "tens of
millions" of
users.
Royal Caribbean Says
It Will Only Accept
Vaccinated Passengers
Passengers who travel aboard
Royal Caribbean International and its
subsidiary, Celebrity Cruises, will have
to be vaccinated for the CCP virus
when cruises restart, officials said.
Royal Caribbean plans to be-
gin providing cruises to the Ba-
hamas and Mexico in June, the
company said.
1 IN 6
Approximately 43 million adults
in the United States, or about 1 in
6, have been fully vaccinated against
COVID-19, federal data show.
Supreme Court Rejects
Facebook Appeal in $15
Billion Lawsuit
The Supreme Court rejected an ap-
peal from Facebook that requested
the court intervene in a $15 billion
class-action lawsuit that alleged the
firm illegally tracked the online activi-
ties of its users when they aren’t on
the platform, in violation of the federal
Wiretap Act.
The lawsuit alleged that the Menlo
Park, California-based tech giant had
secretly tracked users’ visits to web-
sites that use Facebook’s features
such as the “like” or “share” buttons,
even if the users didn’t click on either
of the two buttons.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Ap-
peals said in a ruling last year that
Facebook users suffered a clear in-
vasion of privacy. The Supreme Court
has denied Facebook’s appeal, mean-
ing the suit can go forward.
1.3 BILLION
Facebook took down 1.3 billion
fake accounts between Octo-
ber and December 2020. It
also removed more than 12
million pieces of content about
COVID-19 and vaccines.
Rep. Hice Announces Bid for Georgia
Secretary of State
An ally of former President Donald Trump has an-
nounced a 2022 bid for Georgia secretary of state,
pitting him against the incumbent Republican who
clashed with Trump repeatedly last year.
Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.) took aim at Secretary of
State Brad Raffensperger, claiming that his ac-
tions served to “create cracks in the integrity of
our elections, which I wholeheartedly believe
individuals took advantage of in 2020.” I predict a million people trying
to get into this country by the
summertime.
2,000 CHILDREN
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), telling ABC’s “This
Week” that he predicts that the crisis at the southern
border will worsen in the coming months.
The United States is set to open another facility,
in Pecos, Texas, to deal with a surge in illegal im-
migrants, the Biden administration announced.
It will initially hold up to 500 unaccompanied
$4.38
minors, with the potential to expand to 2,000.
BILLION
About $4.38 billion in stimulus checks will go to
illegal immigrants, according to an analysis by the
Center for Immigration Studies.
Arizona Town
Declares
‘State of
Emergency’
ThemayorofanArizonatownsaidhewilldeclareastate
of emergency over the crisis at the southern border.
Gila Bend, a town near Arizona’s border with
Mexico, has a population of only 2,000 people.
They are incentivizing long-term Mayor Chris Riggs told Fox News he is placing the
blame on the Biden administration for transport-
family separation. ing illegal immigrants on buses to his town, noting
that, particularly due to the ongoing pandemic, the
Stephen Miller, former adviser to former President Donald Trump, community doesn’t have the necessary resources
saying on Fox Business that President Joe Biden’s immigration to take care of the influx.
policies are motivating parents in other countries to send their
children alone across the United States’ southern border.
2.1 MILLION
HUD Secretary
Possibly Violated Hatch Act
Arizona legislators have
The newly sworn-in secretary of the Department of Housing and
ordered a hand recount
Urban Development may have violated an ethics law by endors-
ing Democratic candidates in a Senate race. of 2.1 million ballots from
Housing Secretary Marcia Fudge, a former the 2020 presidential
U.S. representative, in her first press confer- election.
ence in office, told reporters on March 18
that she had two friends who were con- Michigan County Votes
sidering running for the Senate seat
being vacated by Sen. Rob Portman to Hand Count Ballots in
(R-Ohio). Upcoming Primary
Experts said the remarks may Commissioners in
have violated the Hatch Act, a Michigan county
which bars federal employ- late last week voted
ees engaging in political ac- unanimously to hand-
tivities.
count every ballot
cast in an upcoming
primary, avoiding the
use of Dominion Voting Systems machines.
Antrim County commissioners voted against
a proposal from County Clerk Sheryl Guy to ap-
This six-foot distancing requirement portion $5,080 to reinstall election management
system software on a computer and tabulators for
has probably been the single costliest the county, which would enable use of the Dominion
mitigation tactic that we’ve employed machines in the May 4 primary.
in response to COVID ... and it really
wasn’t based on clear science.
Scott Gottlieb, former Food and Drug Administration
commissioner
South Dakota Gov. Noem Sends Trans-
gender Sports Bill Back to Legislature
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on March 19 sent a bill
that would bar biological males from participating in
women’s sports back to state legislators for changes. Rep. Reed Apologizes After
Noem, who previously said she was “excited” to Sexual Misconduct Claim,
sign the bill, expressed concern that the measure in
its current form contains “vague and overly broad Won’t Seek Office in '22
language” that could have “significant unintended Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) has apologized to the woman
consequences.” who last week accused him of sexual misconduct
The legislation, House Bill 1217, which aims and said he will take “full responsibility” for the al-
to “promote continued fairness in women’s legations made by the former lobbyist.
sports,” passed in the state House in Febru- Reed, a married father of two, said he will no lon-
ary. The state Senate subsequently passed
the bill in early March. The language of the bill
specifies that “a team or sport designated as
ger be seeking office in 2022. Last month, he said
he was considering a run against New York Gov.
Andrew Cuomo, who has been accused of sexual
being female is available only to participants who misconduct by at least eight women, including cur-
are female, based on their biological sex.” rent and former aides.
8TH WOMAN
ACCUSES NEW YORK
GOV. CUOMO OF SEXUAL
HARASSMENT
An eighth woman says New while revealing her name.
York Gov. Andrew Cuomo McGrath told The New
sexually harassed her. York Times that Cuomo has
Alyssa McGrath, 33, is the ogled her, commented
first current staffer in the on how she looks,
Democrat's office to level and made sugges-
accusations against him tive remarks.
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 NATION | A3
CBP

Family units and

EXCLUSIVE unaccompanied
alien children
are held in a

Border Agent Gives Inside Account temporary

processing
facility in Donna,

of Overcrowded Facilities
Texas, after being
apprehended by
Border Patrol.

Agent describes ‘horrible’ conditions, ‘no end in sight’ as surge of illegal

immigrants gets bigger each month

CONTINUED FROM A1
lines are getting so frustrated that they’re
now risking their livelihoods to reveal
what’s really going on in the illegal im-
migrant processing facilities.
One or two agents are left to control 300
to 500 people during a shift. No agent
wants to report physical or sexual as-
saults between the aliens because they’ll
get blamed for “letting it happen.” They’re
also forced to separate a child from an
extended family member because he or
she is not a biological parent.
The number of unaccompanied minors—
children under 18 who arrive without a
parent—is buckling the system. The law
requires Border Patrol to prioritize unac-
companied minors and transfer them to
the Department of Health and Human
Services within 72 hours.
“We’re getting them out of here as quick-
ly as possible, but we are so overwhelmed
Illegal
immigrants
climb up an
embankment
after running
right now,” Carlos said. “It used to be easy Health and Human Services confirmed
to get them out in 72 hours. Not anymore. on March 23 that its Office of Refugee Re-
They’re staying here for 10, 12 days. It’s settlement is holding approximately 11,350
horrible.” children.
So far this fiscal year (from Oct. 1, 2020), CBP and Health and Human Services
Border Patrol has apprehended more than have opened several extra facilities to deal
29,000 unaccompanied children crossing with the influx, with the latest being the
the border illegally. In all of fiscal 2020, just San Diego Convention Center.
over 33,000 were apprehended, according Carlos confirmed that the majority of
to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) unaccompanied minors coming across
statistics. the border already have parents or family
This year’s numbers are on a trajectory members in the United States.
to surpass the 2019 crisis numbers, when “Everybody that shows up here—even if
80,634 minors were apprehended. it’s a 3-year-old kid with no one around—
CBP declined to provide the number of they all have an address on them. And
unaccompanied minors currently being they’ll give it to you: ‘Here’s my address;
held. “In general, CBP does not provide this is where you are sending me,’” Carlos
daily in-custody numbers, as they are con- said.
sidered operationally sensitive because “And that’s what we do. This is the way
CBP’s in-custody numbers fluctuate on we are being played.”
a constant basis,” CBP spokesman Nate Most of the unaccompanied minors
Peeters wrote in an email to The Epoch come from the Central American countries
Times on March 23. of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
JOHN MOORE/GETTY IMAGES “We’re dealing with a different culture
who’s not afraid to send all their kids under
the age of five, knowing they’re going to get
raped, knowing they’re going to get killed,”
Carlos said. “You talk to the adults or the
teenagers and they’ll tell you, ‘They raped
three or four girls, and they kicked them
off the trains.’ They’re going to die.”
Two-thirds of migrants traveling through
Mexico report experiencing violence dur-
ing the journey, including abduction, theft,
extortion, torture, and rape, according to
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which has
been providing medical and mental health
care for migrants and refugees in Mexico
since 2012.
Almost 1 in 3 women surveyed by MSF
said they had been sexually abused during
SOURCE: CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION
their journey—60 percent through rape.
Border Patrol Apprehensions Families Released
of Unaccompanied Minors A new directive from the Biden adminis-
tration is allowing for family units to be re-
leased into the interior of the United States
50,036
59,692
the Trump administration’s border policies
is the direct cause of the surge.
“One hundred and ten percent. They were
already ready before Biden was even in of-
fice. They knew that the doors were going to
be open. And now we’ve got a point where
we cannot stop it,” he said.
The administration hasn’t allowed media
to access the processing facilities and, ac-
cording to agents, it’s even requiring that
agents in the field move illegal aliens they
apprehend onto private land to process
them.
“Keep trying until you find us on a public
road. But we’ve been instructed to move
all the traffic onto ranches to make sure
there’s no public eye,” an agent said.
“Biden’s strict on that. Trump was a dif-
ferent story. This administration is a no-go
on media, I’m guessing because they don’t
want to let the word out on what’s going
on here on the border—to make him look
good.”
Any diseases that are in
there, it’s being kept in there,
like a petri dish.
Border agent
Carlos said the agency has stopped drop-
ping illegal immigrants off directly at bus
stations now. “We were given strict orders
from Washington, D.C., that that ceases—
it’s drawing too much attention,” he said.
Now they drop the illegal immigrants
nearby or at a local NGO facility near the
bus station, he said.
The administration hasn’t yet called the
current situation a crisis, and Biden said
on March 21 that he’ll visit the border “at
some point.”
‘Our Defenses Are Down’
Morale among Border Patrol agents has

76,020
39,970
38,759

30,577

29,010
68,541

41,435
24,120
19,418

18,168

15,701

across the 80,000 without a notice to appear—the paperwork plummeted, Carlos said. “The attrition rate
shallow Rio that states the date an illegal immigrant right now is ridiculous,” he said. “We don’t
Grande into El must turn up in court to plead their case. want to work for the Border Patrol any-
70,000
Paso, Texas, “There’s no repercussions. I’m not even more. It’s not the Border Patrol.”
from Ciudad
going to give you a court date. You don’t During the Trump era, agents felt “em-
Juárez, 60,000
Mexico, on even have to show up at court if you don’t powered” to do their jobs, he said. “What-
Number apprehended

March 17, want to. It’d be nice, but you don’t have ever deals he made, everything was work-
50,000 to. That word gets out immediately. And I ing just fine. Now we’ve got this trash.”
2021.
mean overnight,” Carlos said. As agents get moved to deal with the in-
40,000 He said it’s now common knowledge that crease in family units and unaccompanied
if you bring a child, you’ll be quickly re- minors, the smuggling organizations and
leased into the United States. They’re being cartels move drugs and other individuals
30,000 transported all over the country, but pop- through other, unpatrolled areas.
ular destinations include Houston, New “Our manpower is being depleted be-
20,000 York, and California, as well as Maryland cause we need to go babysit these people,
and Washington, D.C. move them as fast as possible to release
Border “They’ll put them in a hotel for a couple them into the country,” Carlos said. “It’s
Patrol agents 10,000
of days until their flight is ready to fly them ridiculous. We have no backup. We’re los-
apprehend
about two to where they are going. That’s tax dollars,” ing more than we’re catching. And it’s no
0
dozen illegal Carlos said. secret.
immigrants in 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 “There’s no end in sight. The people that “Our defenses are down. So if there’s
20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
Penitas, Texas, we’re apprehending are warning us of the anybody that we should be worried about,
on March 11, Fiscal year (Fiscal year up to Feb. 28, 2021) larger caravans that are on their way.” they know this is the time to come in. They
2021. He said President Joe Biden’s rollback of know it.”
CHARLOTTE CUTHBERTSON
THE EPOCH TIMES
A4 | NATION
Sen. Blackburn: Ban on Media at Border Unjustified
MARK TAPSCOTT
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
said on March 23 that she didn’t
see anything during her time on
March 21 in Arizona to justify
barring journalists from cover-
ing the growing crisis at the U.S.
border area with Mexico.
“I didn’t see anything that
would justify keeping media
out. Media embed in war zones,
they do that, and they do it well,”
Blackburn told reporters during
a telephone news conference
following her visit to Cochise
County, which is on the Arizona–
Mexico border, and Pinal County,
just north of the border area.
They just don’t want
people reporting on
what is going on.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn
“So I can’t imagine why there
would be this push to keep media
out other than I didn’t see any-
thing that would justify keeping
media out.”
A flood of illegal immigrants
has surged across the U.S. border
with Mexico since President Joe
Biden signed multiple executive
orders reversing his predecessor’s
immigration policies, including
immediately stopping work on
the border wall President Don-
ald Trump spent several years
improving, which he extended
hundreds of miles into previously
open areas.
According to the Hill, more
than 15,000 unaccompanied
minors are said to have been
processed thus far by U.S. border
immigration officials, with thou-
sands more children and adults,
most not tested for the CCP virus,
also known as the novel corona-
virus, crossing the border and be-
ing released into the U.S. interior.
Department of Homeland Se-
curity Secretary Alejandro May-
orkas said on CNN on March 21
that reporters won’t be allowed
until the federal government can
guarantee their safety from the
virus.
“We are in the midst of a pan-
demic, we are dealing with
crowded Border Patrol facilities,
we are focused on our operations
and the needs of the children, and
at the same time, we are working
to provide access to those border
patrol facilities when we can do
so in a safe manner,” Mayorkas
Rep. Mo Brooks Announces
US Senate Run in Alabama
IVAN PENTCHOUKOV
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—Rep. Mo
Brooks (R-Ala.) on March 22 an-
nounced his 2022 candidacy for
the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated
by Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.),
who isn’t seeking reelection.
Brooks made the announce-
ment at Bullet and Barrel, a gun
range in Huntsville, Alabama,
alongside Stephen Miller, a se-
nior adviser to former President
Donald Trump.
Brooks is the sec-
ond Republican to
enter the fray for
Shelby’s seat.
Brooks is the second Republi-
can to enter the fray for Shelby’s
seat. Trump’s former ambassa-
dor to Slovenia, Lynda Blanchard,
announced her intention last
month.
It’s unclear who Trump will en-
dorse, although Miller’s appear-
ance suggests that the former
president has his eye on Brooks.
Blanchard has described herself
as part of the MAGA (Make Amer-
Caption ssimaio. Nequodit offictis nectame ndebis ullupta con cus. Nequod eicto que omnis et vent eumquam niet que dollitAndipsum sit, voloria ndessita
dolutem facestorenim ha
Illegal immigrants, most from Honduras, walk toward a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico, near Mission, Texas, on March
23, 2021.
ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
speaks during a hearing on Capitol
Hill in Washington on Dec. 10, 2019.
said on “State of the Union.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wrote
on Twitter on March 22 that
“denying the press the ability to
observe, film, and report on the
conditions at the border is not
openness or transparency—it is
hiding the truth from the Ameri-
can people.”
Cruz demanded that Biden re-
verse the previous decision and
allow journalists to accompany
the Texas senator and 14 Senate
colleagues on an oversight border
visit on March 26.
ica Great Again) family and held a
fundraiser at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago
resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Brooks was the earliest propo-
nent of the Trump-backed effort
to challenge the 2020 Electoral
College votes during the joint ses-
sion of Congress on Jan. 6.
An endorsement by Trump is
the chief form of political capi-
tal for candidates heading into
the 2022 midterm election. The
president has high approval rat-
ings among the Republican base
and sports a nearly undefeated
record of endorsements dating
back to the 2018 election.
A Trump adviser told The Epoch
Times on March 21 that the for-
mer president was leaning toward
endorsing Brooks over Blanchard.
Brooks made a negative comment
about Trump ahead of the 2016
election but went on to secure
Trump’s favor, including an en-
dorsement for the 2018 election.
In his announcement speech,
Brooks steered clear of mention-
ing Blanchard by name but de-
voted a portion of his speech to
highlight his conservative track
record in Congress and his align-
ment with Trump. He noted that
the former president has twice
endorsed him and that he fought
Mayorkas also said on March
21 that the present border crisis
was caused by Trump disman-
tling the immigration system he
inherited from his predecessor,
President Barack Obama.
“We are rebuilding the orderly
systems that the Trump admin-
istration tore down to avoid the
need for these children to actu-
ally take the perilous journey,”
Mayorkas said.
But Blackburn said she talked
with private citizens and local
law enforcement authorities in
Arizona, all of whom pointed to
policy changes implemented by
the Biden administration as the
cause of the growing crisis.
“Everyone says the uptick has
been significant since Joe Biden
won in November. They all know
that this is a crisis of Biden’s mak-
ing, it is the Biden open-border
policy, it is the Biden immigration
policy,” she said.
Blackburn called for an imme-
diate return to the Trump admin-
istration’s “Remain in Mexico”
policy, which forced immigrants
seeking to enter the United States
to remain in Mexico until allowed
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) speaks to the media at the Bullet and Barrel gun
range before formally announcing his candidacy to represent Alabama in the
U.S. Senate, in Huntsville, Ala., on March 22, 2021.
alongside Trump to secure fund-
ing for the wall on the southern
border.
“No other candidate for the U.S.
Senate can say that,” Brooks said.
“I led the charge in Congress
to promote honest and accu-
rate elections. At first, my fight
was pretty darn lonely. But over
time, 140 congressmen and sena-
tors joined my fight against voter
fraud and election theft,” Brooks
said, referring to his leading the
movement to challenge Electoral
College votes during the joint ses-
sion of Congress on Jan. 6.
“Your Alabama congressman
led that fight, and no other Ala-
bama candidate for the U.S. Sen-
ate can say that.”
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
to cross the border for the adjudi-
cation of their cases.
She also said the Biden ad-
ministration should cease its
resumption of the catch-and-re-
lease policy of the Obama era in
which illegals stopped at the bor-
der would be given a court date
to appear for processing, then be
released into the United States.
Few of them actually returned for
their court dates and have simply
remained in the country illegally.
Blackburn also emphasized
the importance of resuming
construction of the Trump wall,
both to complete it as a barrier
to illegal crossings and to deny
Mexican drug cartels the ability
to use the construction access
roads built by the United States
as drug-smuggling resources.
“I think one of the things many
people don’t realize is the so-
phistication of the cartels. These
are big international businesses,
and in the Arizona border, that
border South into Mexico is
controlled by El Chapo’s cartel,”
Blackburn said.
The drug cartels use extremely
sophisticated surveillance re-
IVAN PENTCHOUKOV/THE EPOCH TIMES
Miller, who worked as Trump’s
speechwriter on the campaign
trail in 2016 and as a senior ad-
viser for all four years in the White
House, delivered an impassioned
endorsement for Brooks. Miller
said he’s worked with Brooks on
solving the border crisis and de-
scribed the Alabama congress-
man as the man the America First
movement needs in Washington.
“Your vote for Mo Brooks will
allow him to carry on the Amer-
ica First agenda. The fight to save
America and to save our country,
our Constitution, and our Liberty
begins right here in Alabama, and
it begins right here with your sup-
port for Mo Brooks,” Miller said.
Brooks was born in South Car-
JOHN MOORE/GETTY IMAGES
sources to track where U.S. law
enforcement units are located
so they can be avoided by drug
smugglers and human traffickers.
“Fifty percent of all the street
drugs that come into the U.S.
come in through Arizona,” Black-
burn said. “So this is where the
cartels have set up their sur-
veillance systems, and with the
border wall construction being
pulled to a halt, these roads,
having already been cut into the
mountains, the cartels are using
them to more quickly move up
people who are signed on with
their cartel.”
In addition to the drugs, Black-
burn said the cartels are rapidly
expanding rent-a-child programs
that utilize children to pose with
unrelated adults as family units.
Blackburn has introduced leg-
islation that requires DNA test-
ing to confirm familial claims
before the individual adults
and children are allowed into
the country.
Congressional reporter Mark
Tapscott may be reached at
mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
olina and moved to Huntsville,
Alabama, with his parents when
he was a child. After graduating
from the University of Alabama
School of Law in 1978, he became
a practicing attorney. Brooks
served in the Alabama House
of Representatives from 1982 to
1992. He then served as a member
of the Madison County Commis-
sion until 2011, when he began
his first term in the U.S. House of
Representatives.
In 2017, Brooks finished third in
the Republican primary for the
U.S. Senate seat vacated by Sen.
Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who became
the U.S. attorney general.
In Congress, Brooks has had a
solidly conservative track record,
receiving top grades from the
American Conservative Union,
the National Taxpayers Union,
and the Club for Growth. He was
a candidate preferred by the Tea
Party.
Brooks isn’t a member of the
gun range where he made the
announcement and doesn’t have
any ties to the business, aside
from renting the space for a prior
political event, according to Gun
and Barrel owner Melanie Ham-
mer Murray.
“I am not a registered member
of any party,” Murray told The
Epoch Times. “I am first and
foremost a child of God, a wife,
a mother, and a small business
owner trying to support firearms
owners regardless of politics.”
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
Medical staff move bodies from the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center to a refrigerated truck in Brooklyn, N.Y., on April 2, 2020.
CDC Skewed CCP Virus Fatalities Higher,
Peer-Reviewed Study Claims
CONTINUED FROM A1
submit notification for data collec-
tion, publication, or analysis to the
Federal Register BEFORE gaining
approval from the U.S. Office of
Management and Budget’s Office
of Information and Regulatory Af-
fairs (OMB/OIRA) to ensure they
are in compliance with the Infor-
mation Quality Act (IQA) and the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
and therefore, approved to imple-
ment the proposed changes,” the
authors said in the study published
by the Journal of Science, Public
Health Policy, and Law.
“Based upon the complete ab-
sence of Federal Register records
for ‘Proposed Data Collection
Submitted for Public Comment,’
at no point did the CDC inform the
OMB/OIRA or allow for 60 days of
public comment in the following
unilateral decisions that attempted
to bypass Federal oversight.
“We allege that the complete ab-
sence of the appropriate Federal
Register records is evidence that
the CDC knowingly and willingly
violated the IQA & PRA. As a direct
consequence of implementing the
Out of the White House, Banned From Twitter,
What Can Trump Do to Stay Popular?
CONTINUED FROM A1
victory in 2016 partly to the me-
dia’s obsession with the real estate
billionaire and reality television
star. His popularity continued to
grow throughout the four years
in office, evidenced by the tens
of millions of followers on social
media and the record number of
votes—74 million—cast for an in-
cumbent president.
But in the aftermath of the elec-
tion, Trump lost his social media
megaphone and the media atten-
tion that comes with being the
president of the most powerful
country in the world. The former
president committed to continu-
ing his involvement in politics,
raising the question of what, if
anything, he should do in order to
stay top-of-mind with voters, influ-
ential with the Republican Party,
and of interest to the news media.
Some argue the former president
doesn’t have to do much to remain
popular due to the success of his
agenda, which will inevitably be
viewed in contrast with the poli-
cies of the administration of Presi-
dent Joe Biden.
“He is going to remain popu-
lar because his agenda and his
policies were successful,” Jim
McLaughlin, Trump’s former poll-
ster, told The Epoch Times.
“I don’t think he has to do a lot. I
two documents below without
OMB approval, there was signifi-
cant inflation of COVID-19 case
and fatality data.”
A CDC spokesman didn’t re-
spond to a request by The Epoch
Times for comment by press time.
The 10 authors of the study com-
pared fatality counts compiled us-
ing the new system propounded
by the CDC in an alert issued on
March 24, 2020, early in the initial
national lockdown and the proce-
dures used by the CDC and all state
and local public health officials
since 2003. The latter procedures
are described in two handbooks,
one for physicians and a second for
medical examiners and coroners.
“These handbooks have been
used successfully for 17 years with-
out need of update. They remain
in use today for all causes of death
except where involvement of CO-
VID-19 is suspected or confirmed.
When involvement of COVID-19
is suspected or confirmed, the
March 24th, 2020 COVID19 Alert
No. 2 guidelines are used instead,”
according to the study.
Based on data for all recorded U.S.
deaths through Aug. 23, 2020, the
ALEX EDELMAN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Outgoing President Donald Trump
and First Lady Melania Trump step
out of Marine One at Joint Base
Andrews, Md., on Jan. 20, 2021.
think in a lot of ways, sometimes
less is more. Here’s a guy who’s
been out of office now since
January 20, almost two months
now, and the media is obsessed
with him.”
Cable news ratings have declined
across the board after Trump left
office, with the only bump in view-
ership occurring due during the
impeachment trial in February.
As a result, the media’s interest in
Trump may not be limited strictly
to his newsworthiness.
While some believe that “less
is more,” others think that in or-
new CDC system counted 161,392
that were attributed to the virus.
Using the older system, the death
total was only 9,684.
The essential difference between
the old and new systems was the
latter’s inclusion of multiple co-
morbidities along with the virus
and listing the virus as the cause
of death and the comorbidities as
“contributing conditions.”
The study pointed to a CDC
weekly alert on Aug. 23, 2020, that
stated: “For 6 percent of the deaths,
COVID-19 was the only cause men-
tioned. For deaths with conditions
or causes in addition to COVID-19,
der to stay popular, relevant, and
influential, the former president
will have to continue to be actively
engaged, including by comment-
ing on the policies of the Biden
administration.
“Barack Obama killed the old tra-
dition of being silent,” Rich Baris,
the director of Big Data Poll, told
The Epoch Times. “He opened the
door for Trump, and people expect
that now from him.”
Baris referenced Trump’s re-
sponse to Biden’s pandemic an-
niversary speech, in which the
former president urged people
to remember that it was his ad-
ministration that fast-tracked the
discovery, approval, manufac-
ture, and distribution of the CCP
virus vaccine.
Baris believes Trump needs to go
beyond merely staying engaged,
and change some of the people he
seeks advice from.
“There’s really no polite way to
say this—he’d better have some
better people around him than the
people he had before the election
and in the immediate aftermath
of the election,” Baris said. “Any
leader is only as good as the peo-
ple that they surround themselves
with and the data that they deliver
to the leader.”
Baris recommended that Trump
not waste the political capital he
now has by doling out endorse-
ANGELA WEISS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
TAMI CHAPPELL/REUTERS
Centers
for Disease
Control and
Prevention
headquarters
in Atlanta
on Sept.
30, 2014.
on average, there were 2.6 addition-
al conditions or causes per death.”
The same weekly alert updated as
of March 14, 2021, read: “For 6 per-
cent of these deaths, COVID-19 was
the only cause mentioned on the
death certificate. For deaths with
conditions or causes in addition to
COVID-19, on average, there were
3.8 additional conditions or causes
per death.”
The revised fatality counting sys-
tem, with changes that weren’t an-
nounced or made subject to public
comment, as required by federal
laws, raises concerns, according
to the study’s authors.
ments indiscriminately.
“The power of endorsement will
get diluted after a while,” Baris
said. “Wasting an endorsement
on a certain senator that probably
was going to be reelected anyway,
doesn’t particularly like you ... that
is a waste of an endorsement. It’s a
waste of political capital.”
He is going to re-
main popular be-
cause his agenda
and his policies
were successful.
Jim McLaughlin,
Trump’s former pollster
Whichever path Trump chooses,
he will have to deal with a handi-
cap he didn’t have on the cam-
paign trail for the 2016 election
or during most of his term at the
White House: the account bans
by Twitter and Facebook, which
severed a direct line of commu-
nication with tens of millions of
followers.
According to Andy Surabian, a
Republican strategist and former
Trump White House official, the
social media bans are inconse-
quential because Trump won’t
have trouble connecting with vot-
ers once he is ready.
“I don’t know how much that
matters at the end of the day. Be-
cause when he so chooses, he’s
obviously going to be able to get
his message out,” Surabian told
NATION | A5
“Why would the CDC decide
against using a system of data
collection and reporting they au-
thored, and which has been in use
nationwide for 17 years without
incident, in favor of an untested
and unproven system exclusively
for COVID-19 without discussion
and peer-review?” the study said.
Based on data of
U.S. deaths through
Aug. 23, 2020, the
new CDC system
counted 161,392
that were attributed
to the virus. Using
the older system, it
was 9,684.
“Did the CDC’s decision to aban-
don a known and proven effective
system also breach several federal
laws that ensure data accuracy and
integrity? Did the CDC knowingly
alter rules for reporting cause of
death in the presence of comor-
bidity exclusively for COVID-19?
If so, why?”
The study has received little me-
dia attention, despite the potential
significance of such a huge over-
count for federal policymakers and
medical professionals.
Searches on the study’s title pro-
duced no results on the websites
of The Washington Post, The New
York Times, and The Wall Street
Journal. The Epoch Times hasn’t
previously reported on the study.
Politifact, a journalism fact-
checking website, addressed the
study indirectly in rating a Na-
tional File post about it as “False,”
and saying: “The study does not
definitively say that the CDC in-
flated COVID-19 deaths. Rather, it
calls into question guidelines the
CDC issued in March 2020 that
were designed to more accurately
capture mortality data related to
the coronavirus.
“The study’s authors called the
guidance ‘a capricious alteration to
data collection has compromised
the accuracy, quality, objectivity,
utility, and integrity of their pub-
lished data.’”
In fact, while the study doesn’t
say the CDC “inflated COVID-19
deaths,” it does claim the change
in data counting procedures pro-
duced the wide divergence in total
fatalities as of Aug. 23, 2020, 161,392
versus 9,684, as explained above.
Congressional correspondent
Mark Tapscott can be reached at
mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc.
The Epoch Times. “While annoy-
ing, I think it’s a little bit overstat-
ed how much the social media
stuff matters.
“He’s always going to get media
attention. No matter how much
the media hates him, they’re al-
ways going to cover and nothing
will change that. He got an out-
sized amount of media attention
before he was president. He got it
before he ran for president. And
he’s going to get it post-presidency.
That’s just a reality.”
Trump’s signature rallies could
be one way the former president
cuts through the social media
blockade. The popular events are a
media magnet to generate a chain
reaction of social media activity
as attendees share their clips and
photos of the event.
Surabian said he’d be shocked if
Trump doesn’t get the rallies go-
ing again. The former president’s
speech at the Conservative Politi-
cal Action Conference on Feb. 28
resembled a typical rally and gen-
erated the kind of media ratings no
other Republican can lay claim to.
Fox, which aired the entire speech,
set a Sunday ratings record. More
than 30 million people streamed
the speech online, by one estimate.
“The press is going to be craving
for Donald Trump a lot more than
Donald Trump will be craving for
the press,” McLaughlin said.
“He has all the right enemies.
He’s got the radical left. He’s got the
establishment. He’s got the news
media. He’s got Big Tech. Those
people are not popular on the right
and in the center-right coalition.”
A6 | NATION
ALL PHOTOS BY CHUNG I HO/THE EPOCH TIMES, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
A Closer Look:
Behind the Rise
in Anti-Asian
Hate
CONTINUED FROM A1
victims, especially immigrants, are hesi-
tant to report anything to the authorities.
Reliable national data on anti-Asian hate
crimes, and the history behind them, is
also scarce.
According to data from the nonprofit Stop
AAPI Hate, there were 3,795 incidents re-
ported from March 19, 2020, to Feb. 28, 2021.
Verbal harassment accounted for 68 percent
of all reports, while physical assaults made
up just over 11 percent. The report contains
firsthand accounts that detail the use of ra-
cial slurs and instances of shunning.
Federal data show that there were 158
anti-Asian hate crimes reported in 2019 by
police agencies to the FBI, up from 148 the
year before ; more recent data have yet to be
released. The Center for the Study of Hate
and Extremism at California State Universi-
ty said that anti-Asian hate crimes surged in
16 of America’s largest cities by 149 percent
in 2020, according to an analysis of official
preliminary police data. The first spike took
place in March and April as the country
started lockdowns over the CCP (Chinese
Communist Party) virus pandemic.
One scholar who  testified before the
House Judiciary Committee on March 18,
at a hearing titled “Discrimination and
Violence Against Asian Americans,” said
that while some offenses were no doubt
motivated by bias, it’s best to “be cautious
when interpreting the broader trend solely
as a spike in hate crimes,” as these crimes
“should be understood as part of a larger
surge in violence.”
Charles Fain Lehman, a fellow at the Man-
hattan Institute who works primarily on the
institute’s Policing and Public Safety Initia-
tive, testified that while some of the recent
attacks were obviously due to racial bias,
the reasons behind others weren’t as clear.
He brought up Yahya Muslim, a homeless
person who was arrested for shoving three
Asian adults in Oakland’s Chinatown. Mus-
lim’s defense counsel blamed the attacks on
his history of mental illness and claimed
any other narrative was “false, misleading,
and divisive.” Lehman listed a number of
similar cases.
“I’m fairly certain that the general in-
crease in crime is part of what’s driving
this more particular increase, although it
may not be exhaustively what’s driving it,”
Lehman told The Epoch Times.
Criminologist Jeff Asher estimated that
2020 saw the largest one-year spike in ho-
micides on record, as murder increased by
more than 30 percent in nearly 40 major
cities. This trend appears to have continued
into this year, according to new data.
“That pattern appears in cities where Asian
residents are being attacked,” Lehman said
in his testimony, where he also called the
violent attacks “a product of free-roaming
criminals,” and added, “If anything is to
blame for the terror now plaguing Asian
Americans, it is public officials’ dereliction
of their duty to preserve public safety.”
The Chinese regime has
weaponized racism by con-
flating criticisms of the CCP
with discrimination against
Chinese people.
There is always a danger in misidentify-
ing hate crimes, said Lehman, who noted
that related charges can carry a substantial
added penalty in terms of years served.
“I think that the people making this argu-
ment are often the same people who think
that our justice system is too punitive,” he
told The Epoch Times. “If a homeless, men-
tally ill man charged three Asian adults and
tackled them, I think how we deal with him
should not necessarily be to give him 10
years for multiple hate crimes.
“It’s important to push back on bigotry
and racism. But the best response is to keep
people safe, and the best tool for keeping
people safe is the criminal justice system.
“It’s very hard to change the minds of
bigots and racists; it’s much easier to keep
the streets safe. That means fully funding
police departments. That means putting
more cops on the beats, especially in Asian
American neighborhoods.”
Some activists and groups, however, ar-
gue that any lasting solution to the issue will
be more complex than just sending more
police officers into Asian communities.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
In at least some circumstances, (Top and Bottom) immigrants, especially Asians.”
“the global pandemic has fueled People attend a Kamii’s great uncle was Judge
the specific hate crimes against vigil for victims of John Aiso—the first Asian ap-
Asians,” according to Brian Hig- Asian hate, at Union pointed to LA’s superior court.
gins, a retired chief of Bergen Square in New York As a child, he was voted junior
County Police in New Jersey, on March 19, 2021. high class president by his
where he served for 27 years. peers, but white parents pro-
Higgins, an adjunct lecturer at the John tested the move, saying a Japanese person
Jay College of Criminal Justice, said when- shouldn’t be president. Aiso also won a na-
ever there is a large population of first-gen- tional oratorical position as a Hollywood
eration Americans or immigrants, such High School student, but was forced to step
as in New Jersey and New York City where down and coach his runner-up. He later
there is an influx of Chinese, Japanese, and attended Harvard Law School.
Korean people, many are reluctant to report Kamii believes the recent incidents go
crimes to the police. “beyond the virus” in terms of what’s fuel-
“Because you’re in another country, the ing it. She mentioned a Los Angeles Times
culture is not to trust the police,” Higgins story about a Chinese family who moved
told The Epoch Times. “They keep it within into middle-class white Ladera Heights last
their own community.” year from Covina, a less affluent area, and
Bergen County, where Higgins spent most were harassed for months at all hours of
of his law enforcement career, has a signifi- the night. It became such a problem that
cant population of Korean Americans. He their neighbors stepped in to help stand
said that as these immigrant populations guard against their nightly harassers.
grow, “you’re going to have, as you would “I think it relates to how cultures who are
imagine, more crimes—whether they’re making inroads into middle-class white
specifically hate crimes or not—involving communities are perceived by the exist-
Asians.” ing class,” she said. “I think these recent
But Higgins also cautioned about trying episodes are a continuation of how white
to dig into the underlying motivations in culture feels when minorities start taking
certain cases. up public positions of authority, occupying
“I think what happens sometimes is we places in the middle class, ‘getting ahead,’
get too technical,” he said. “I think if it looks etc.—partially fear, partially envy.”
like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s prob- Christopher Rim, an Asian American
ably a duck.” who is the founder and CEO of Command
Education, an education and admissions
Personal Stories consultancy headquartered in New York
As the recent wave of incidents gained at- City, said that anti-Asian hate crimes and
tention, Asian Americans started telling sentiments “have always been present in
their stories about experiencing racism this country.”
while growing up. Many Asian immigrants “We’ve seen it throughout the history of
made the move to the United States hoping this country, but within the past year, anti-
for a better future for their children. Asian hate crimes have spiked following
Carolyn Kamii’s family first immigrated the words and actions of President Donald
from Japan to California more than a cen- Trump amid the coronavirus pandemic,”
tury ago. They arrived in Los Angeles dur- Rim told The Epoch Times. “We must revisit
ing the 1890s and bought farmland, which hate crime laws to better protect people of
they worked until they were made to give color and our communities.”
it up during the internment of Japanese Trump has denied that using the term “Chi-
Americans during World War II. na virus” had anything to do with race. “It’s
“Racism against Asians is not new to me, not racist at all,” he said in March 2020. “It
growing up in LA,” Kamii told The Epoch comes from China. That’s why.”
Times. “My family endured a lot since Viruses are often named after their
they arrived in the 19th century. ... LA in place of origin, as is common in naming
the early 20th century was hateful toward diseases. The Epoch Times, for its part,
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
A person lights candles during the
Peace Vigil for Victims of Asian Hate
at Union Square Park in New York on
March 19, 2021.
If anything is to blame
for the terror now
plaguing Asian Americans,
it is public officials’
dereliction of their duty
to preserve public safety.
Charles Fain Lehman, fellow,
Manhattan Institute
made the decision in March 2020 to refer
to the virus as the “CCP virus,” to reflect
the role of the Chinese Communist Party
in failing to contain the virus’s spread to
the world.
CCP officials knew in early December
2019 that the virus had appeared in Wu-
han, but nevertheless sat on the informa-
tion for six weeks as locals and visitors
continued to come and go, spreading the
virus around the world uninhibited. CCP
officials arrested those who tried to warn
of the danger, accusing them of spread-
ing “rumors,” while also employing the
communist regime’s rigorous censorship
to prevent media coverage and delete any
mentions of it from social media.
Jason Miller, spokesman and adviser
for the former president, didn’t respond
by press time to requests from The Epoch
Times for comment about Trump’s use of
the term “China virus.”
Art Chang, an Asian American who is
running for mayor of New York City, said
one of the reasons he moved to the city in
1985 “was to escape racism in Ohio, where
I grew up, and New Haven, Connecticut,
where I attended college.”
“I have experienced the occasional ‘gook,’
‘chink,’ and ‘charlie,’ over the years, but a
far cry from what I experienced before,”
Chang told The Epoch Times.
Chang said he has never before seen the
current level of community support and
energy going to Asian American organi-
zations.
Some, like Sheena Yap Chan, an Asian
American keynote speaker, podcaster, and
author, blamed the issue on the “model
minority myth,” a term commonly used
to describe a minority group “perceived
as particularly successful, especially in a
manner that contrasts with other minority
groups,” according to a report from Harvard
Law School.
“Perhaps the most problematic aspect of
the model minority argument, however, is
an underlying methodological shortcom-
ing—an inability to account for the nu-
anced composition of the Asian American
community itself,” the report notes.
Chan told The Epoch Times that the mod-
el minority myth “has dehumanized Asian
women in today’s society.”
“Women are less likely to report a crime
due to our upbringing,” she said. “When
something traumatic happens, we usually
keep it to ourselves or ignore that it hap-
pened. Also, growing up in Asian culture,
we want to save face and never tarnish the
family name even if that traumatic experi-
ence isn’t our fault. ... We end up being the
easy target.”
Asian Americans in recent years have
also accused Ivy League colleges such as
Harvard of discriminating against them as
the institutions attempt to provide oppor-
tunities to racial groups underrepresented
in their schools.
Author and journalist Kenny Xu, who
wrote the book “An Inconvenient Minor-
ity,” told The Epoch Times recently that
Asian Americans have inconvenienced the
left’s narrative of privileged whites and op-
pressed people of color.
“It raises this fundamental tension, I
think, in our society, especially in our
‘woke’ culture, which is what happens
when you privilege the narrative of cer-
tain minorities over others, because Asian
Americans are often second class in the
left’s racial narrative today,” Xu said.
Meanwhile, some Asian American
writers and scholars such as Wenyuan
Wu, executive director at Californians
for Equal Rights, and Melissa Chen, New
York editor at The Spectator, have cau-
tioned against trying to solve problems
using race and identity politics, warning
that it has harmful ramifications.
Hate Crime Laws and Bail Reform
Hate crime laws have been the subject of
much debate in recent years. The FBI has
defined a hate crime as a “criminal offense
against a person or property motivated in
whole or in part by an offender’s bias against
a race, religion, disability, sexual orienta-
tion, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.”
The FBI definition states that “hate itself
is not a crime—and the FBI is mindful of
protecting freedom of speech and other
civil liberties.”
David Clark, an attorney at the Clark Law
office based in Michigan, said hate crime
convictions are rare, “due to the need for a
proven intent when convicting someone of
this charge, especially since the intent must
be beyond a reasonable doubt.”
“Murder charges are more prevalent as
they are direct, utilizing the crime itself as
evidence enough to prove the validity of
the charge,” Clark told The Epoch Times.
“Hate crimes, however, require harder and
more complex ways to secure a conviction,
thus making suspects harder to prosecute.”
Higgins said it’s “extremely difficult” to
charge someone with a hate crime because
of the way the laws are written. “You have to
get into somebody’s mind” and prove you
knew their thoughts at the time, he said,
adding that often the only way to do this is
to check the suspect’s social media posts,
or their emails and texts.
“If an individual goes to a neighborhood
that has a high population of Asian Ameri-
cans and commits a crime against one of
those people, ... did that person specifically
go to that neighborhood to target a specific
group?” Higgins told The Epoch Times.
Higgins also warned about the premise
of hate crime charges. “We want to stamp
out racism, we want to prevent hate crimes,
right? But what if I
don’t hate you be-
cause of your color
and I beat you up—
should I be charged
with something
less?” he said. “It’s
still a violent crime
against a human
being.”
Police officers
are often sent to
respond to crime
spikes, Higgins COURTESY OF CAROLYN KAMII
said, but there are
also other responses, such as community
engagement and awareness of the issue.
He warned that people should be careful
not to politicize the issue.
Bail reform laws also need to be tweaked,
and potentially removed, according to Hig-
gins. When there was a surge in anti-Se-
mitic attacks last year in New York, Jewish
leaders and residents told The Epoch Times
that the city’s new bail-reform laws—which
let offenders out of prison without paying
bail—were too lenient, saying it encourages
attackers to re-offend.
“Rethinking the changes to bail laws will
definitely go toward reducing hate crimes,”
Higgins said. “There’s no doubt in my mind
that it’s a direct result, but to what extent I
don’t really know. If you look at when bail
reform came in, the spikes in crime were
very closely related.
“There’s no fear in going to jail anymore.
There are multiple examples of individu-
als who have committed multiple crimes
over several days who were arrested and
released, arrested and released.”
Lehman told The Epoch Times: “Even if 90
percent of people you released on bail don’t
commit more crimes, the other 10 percent
are going to go out and offend again. We
know that crime is a highly concentrated
NATION | A7
People attend a phenomenon. A good predictor of being a
vigil for victims criminal offender is having been a criminal
of Asian hate, offender.”
at Union Square
in New York on CCP Exploitation
March 19, 2021. Amidst all of this, the CCP hasn’t hesitated
in exploiting the recent narrative to push
its own propaganda and to further divide
the United States, according to scholars,
human rights activists, and journalists,
who have pointed out that the Chinese re-
gime has weaponized racism by conflating
criticisms of the CCP with discrimination
It’s very hard against Chinese people.
Adrian Zenz, a senior fellow in China stud-
to change the ies at the Victims of Communism Memorial
minds of bigots Foundation who has exposed horrific hu-
and racists; it’s man rights abuses committed by the CCP,
said there’s a “new trend of weaponizing
much easier to racism against scholarship on China.”
keep the streets Zenz wrote in a Twitter post that hawkish
safe. That CCP-run media The Global Times had ac-
cused him and Washington Post journalist
means fully Josh Rogin “of being responsible for anti-
funding police Asian racism in the U.S.” Both had been
departments. critical of the Chinese regime’s human
rights abuses against Chinese citizens.
That means put- “Previously, some on social media ac-
ting more cops cused scholars researching Chinese in-
fluence operations
on the beats, in the West of hav-
especially in ing ‘blood on their
Asian American hands’ (a term also
used against me in
neighborhoods. recent online at-
Charles Fain tacks),” Zens wrote
Lehman, fellow, on Twitter.
Manhattan Institute “Weaponizing
racism against se-
lect forms of schol-
arship on China
serves to magnify
existing divisions
and promotes mis-
information and
misunderstanding rather than nuanced A woman
scholarly work. That is ultimately nearly as holds a card-
dangerous as racism itself.” board sign
One March 12 article in Foreign Policy with the
notes that “while Moscow attempted names of vic-
to pose as a leader for oppressed people tims of the
worldwide, Beijing is instead attempting Atlanta shoot-
to portray itself as the head of the global ings, at a vigil
for victims of
Chinese diaspora.”
Asian hate,
Reporter Melissa Chan recently shared in New York
the same article on her Twitter account and on March 19,
added her response. 2021.
“What resonated with me about this piece
is that the Asian American writers recog-
nize their objectification in both instances:
anti-Asian hate from racists who see them
as less human, and the Chinese Commu-
nist Party that uses ethnic Chinese as po-
litical pawns,” Chan wrote on March 16.
“Anyone who thinks we should only focus
on one and not the other can’t seem to fig-
ure out it’s possible to walk and chew gum
at the same time. But that’s Twitter for you.”
Carolyn Nathan Law, a prominent pro-democ-
Kamii. racy Hong Kong activist, shared a similar
sentiment. In a March 18 Twitter post, he
described the way in which the CCP propa-
gates its smears as “disgusting,” referring to
an article by The Global Times that accused
The New York Times and Chan of “inciting
hatred against Asian groups, due to their
biased and groundless reports.”
“CCP depicts all Chinese as dictators’
followers, stigmatizing the people’s im-
age more than anything else,” Law wrote.
“Millions of Uyghurs are in concentration
camps due to the CCP’s hatred towards
religions and diversity. So hypocritical.”
The Spectator’s Melissa Chen denounced
the propaganda narrative that critiquing
the Chinese regime or its handling of the
pandemic “must mean you’re a racist who
downplays the racial motive of the shooter.”
“Surely you see the problem with linking
political criticism of a nation with racism?”
Chen wrote in a series of Twitter posts. “And
surely you see who this benefits?
“This conflation is disingenuous and dan-
gerous, and is basically a giant assist for the
CCP’s psyops. Our media has abandoned
even the pretense of truth-seeking and is
retroactively fitting stories into pre-con-
ceived frameworks.”
A8 | NATION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

New Project Presses for Pro-American Educational Reforms

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

CONTINUED FROM A1

to the proposed “Civics Secures

Democracy Act,” a radical piece of
legislation that was introduced in
Congress earlier this month. That
measure would have overwhelm-
ingly left-leaning education bu-
reaucrats handing out $1 billion in
federal grants for K-12 curriculum
development, teacher training, and
research on the teaching of histo-
ry and civics in K-12. Some of the
money will encourage and support
student political activism.
The problem, according to Eth-
ics and Public Policy Center se-
nior fellow Stanley Kurtz, is that
the money will promote so-called
woke education, including critical
race theory and action civics, in
the nation’s classrooms, merging
“the culture war [and] ... K–12 ed-
ucation-policy disputes to a degree
never before seen.”
The new legislation “is a back-
door effort to impose a de facto
national curriculum in the po-
litically charged subject areas of
history and civics,” Kurtz writes
in National Review.
“This civics education is part of a
broader ideological assault on the
American republic,” David Ran-
dall, NAS director of research, told Students stand at attention as the national flag is raised at St. Joseph Catholic School in La Puente, Calif., on Nov. 16, 2020.
The Epoch Times in an interview. COURTESY DAVID RANDALL SAMIRA BOUAOU/THE EPOCH TIMES

“Action civics really has to be public operates, and the Found-

removed from the curriculum.
It shouldn’t even be an option,”
he said. Action civics refers to
K-12 and college students being
required to protest and lobby for
political causes for course credit.
“You are supposed to be learning
affection for the republic we’re a
part of. The republic cannot con-
tinue if nobody loves it,” Randall
said.
“There has to be freedom for peo-
ple to make up their own minds
and not have the answers spoon-
fed to them, which is what action
civics does. You have to end up
being a radical environmentalist
with all of the radical environmen-
tal agenda.”
“This new alliance is a necessary
step to ensure that the teaching
of our Nation’s civics and history
accords with the principles of its
founding and the reality of that
history,” NAS President Peter W.
Wood said in a separate statement.
“Progressive action civics, while
encouraging our students to be-
come activists, fails to promote
a full understanding of civics. It
fails to teach the responsibilities
of citizenship, how our federal re-
ers’ reasoning behind America’s
This civics edu- balance of powers, Bill of Rights,
cation is part of or encouragement of public educa-
a broader ideo- tion,” Wood said.
NAS says it hopes to return civics
logical assault education to a traditional curric-
on the Ameri- ulum, so that America’s students
can republic. will learn about the nature of their
republic and be prepared to fulfill
David Randall, their civic duty by ensuring that it
director of research, continues to preserve the liberties
National Association and rights spelled out in the Dec-
of Scholars laration of Independence and the
Constitution.
The Civics Alliance brings to-
gether education reformers, poli- (Left) David Randall, research director, National Association of Scholars.
cymakers, and concerned citizens (Right) Bob Woodson, the founder and president of the Woodson Center, in
focused on preserving traditional Washington on Feb. 18, 2020.
civics education against the threat
of the leftist “New Civics.” cial sciences at Brown University. ance as “much-needed pushback
Some of the original signatories Other signatories include Kather- against action civics.”
to the Alliance’s Open Letter and ine Gorka of the Heritage Founda- Working in partnership with
Curriculum Statement are Robert tion; Sam Karnick of the Heartland NAS, a nonprofit called American
Woodson, founder and president Institute; Terry Stoops of the John Achievement Testing  (AAT) ac-
of the Woodson Center and 1776 Locke Foundation; Ryan Wil- cepted a grant from the National
Unites; Ryan Williams, president liams, president of the Claremont Endowment for the Humanities
of the Claremont Institute; Wilfred Institute; John Hinderaker, presi- (NEH) to design instructional ma-
McClay, professor of the history of dent of Minnesota’s Center for the terials for kindergarten through
liberty at the University of Okla- American Experiment; and Tom 12th-grade U.S. history courses,
homa; Roger Kimball, editor and Lindsay of the Texas Public Policy as The Epoch Times reported in
publisher of The New Criterion; Foundation. September 2020. NAS will review
and Glenn Loury, professor of so- Kurtz describes the new Alli- mainstream history textbooks.

SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES

grams have artificially depressed

Spike in Bond Yields Roil
Financial Markets
EMEL AKAN
WASHINGTON—Rising bond
yields caused a market panic re-
cently and sparked a sell-off in the
stock market. While yields are still
at historically low levels, investors
worry that a sharp move in yields
could be a sign of trouble.
The yield on the benchmark 10-
year U.S. Treasury bond rose this
month to as high as 1.73 percent,
up from 0.89 percent a year ago.
After reaching a 14-month high,
the yield retreated to 1.62 percent
on March 23.
The technology sector has been
the biggest beneficiary of artifi-
cially low rates in recent years and
the spike in Treasury yields has hit
technology shares especially hard.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, for
example, fell more than 10 percent
between Feb. 12 and March 8 be-
fore it started to recover in recent
weeks. The index is dominated by
America’s most innovative com-
panies including Apple, Google,
Intel, and Tesla.
After its peak on Jan. 26, Tes-
la’s share price has plunged more
than 30 percent in March.
The cheap money provided by
the Federal Reserve in response
to the pandemic has inflated asset
prices and created an “enormous
bubble,” according to Daniel Oli-
ver, founder of Myrmikan Capital
and director at the Committee for
Monetary Research and Educa-
tion, a nonprofit educational orga-
nization on the monetary system.
“Every asset—be it Tesla, Bitcoin,
NASDAQ, or housing prices—
they’ve all gone crazy because
rates are so low,” he told The Ep-
och Times.
The whole financial system can
blow up if the rates go higher, as
with the savings and loan crisis of
The New York Stock Exchange on March 9, 2021.
the 1980s and 1990s, according to
Oliver.
If the yields continue to rise,
companies get squeezed, he said,
because they would have a higher
cost of capital to fund their busi-
nesses.
A rise in yields also push-
es mortgage rates higher, which
would make housing less af-
fordable and depress the hous-
ing market. With lower housing
prices, most Americans would feel
squeezed, because the majority
of their wealth is tied up in their
houses, he added.
In addition, “the banks blow
up, because they have only term
loans that are fixed interest rates,
and the money they would have
spent to raise capital, either from
deposits or from the bond market,
goes up. And that squeezes their
margins. So then everyone starts
to go broke,” Oliver said.
The economic crisis caused by
Every asset— the pandemic and the lockdown
be it Tesla, Bit- measures has prompted govern-
coin, NASDAQ, ments to take strong fiscal and
monetary measures that have con-
or housing tributed to the rise in asset prices.
prices—they’ve A survey by Deutsche Bank in
all gone crazy January found that the vast major-
ity of investors (89 percent) believe
because rates some assets, including bitcoin and
are so low. U.S. tech stocks, are in bubble ter-
ritory.
Daniel Oliver, founder, To support the markets, the Fed
Myrmikan Capital has been buying at least $80 billion
per month in Treasuries and $40
billion in mortgage-backed securi-
ties since June 2020.
The aggressive responses by
central banks in the United States
and the European Union and their
massive bond repurchase pro-
bond yields, Daniel Lacalle, chief
economist at hedge fund Tressis,
told NTD Business.
“What we are basically seeing
right now is that the economy is
so leveraged, and it’s so exposed
to the increase in debt globally,
that central banks simply cannot
tolerate a very, very small move in
bond yields,” Lacalle said.
The depressed bond yields and
lower incomes encouraged house-
holds and corporates to borrow
more. As a result, vulnerabilities
associated with business and
household debt soared in 2020,
according to the Fed’s monetary
policy report released in February.
“Business debt has risen from
levels that were already elevated
before the outbreak of the pan-
demic. Business leverage now
stands near historical highs,” the
report stated.
Economists believe a continued
rise in bond yields could prompt
the U.S. central to buy more bonds
to maintain low rates and protect
heavily indebted banks and cor-
porates from failing.
“The only way the Fed can pre-
vent [a crisis] from happening, is
by printing more and more money
to bid on bonds, to bid on assets to
keep rates low. So that’s the dan-
ger,” Oliver said.
“That’s been the policy response
for the last 40 years,” he noted.
“Every time they do this, it’s not a
free lunch. The economy gets more
and more focused on malinvest-
ments.”
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
Top Earners Dodge Taxes by Failing to Report 21
Percent of Income: Study
TOM OZIMEK
The top 1 percent of U.S. households
by income fail to report 21 percent
of their earnings to the IRS—a
level far higher than previous esti-
mates—according to a joint study
between the tax collection agency
and academics, who reached for
new tools to gauge just how much
people avoid paying taxes.
Collecting all
unpaid federal
income tax from
[the top 1 percent]
would increase
federal revenues by
about $175 billion
annually.
National Bureau
of Economic Research
Studying the problem of tax eva-
sion—or avoiding paying taxes
by illicit means—the authors of
the National Bureau of Economic
Research (NBER) working paper
found that random audits un-
derestimate the degree to which
people hide income.
Previous estimates undershot
the true extent of dodging taxes by
high-income households chiefly
because random audits fail to cap-
ture “most tax evasion through off-
shore accounts and pass-through
businesses, both of which are
quantitatively important at the
top,” the authors found. They said
Attorney Sidney Powell speaks during a press conference on election results in
Alpharetta, Ga., on Dec. 2, 2020.
Sidney Powell Seeks to Dismiss
Dominion’s $1.3 Billion Lawsuit
JACK PHILLIPS
Attorney Sidney Powell, who filed
third-party lawsuits to aid former
President Donald Trump in his
post-election legal fight, is seek-
ing to dismiss a $1.3 billion lawsuit
that Dominion Voting Systems filed
against her.
Powell said via her attorneys that
the lawsuit should be dismissed as
it was filed in the wrong jurisdic-
tion, while adding that her claims
about Dominion were protected
under the First Amendment of the
Constitution. Her team also re-
quested that the lawsuit be moved
to Texas from the District of Colum-
bia if it isn’t thrown out.
“Reasonable people would not
accept such statements as fact
but view them only as claims
that await testing by the courts
through the adversary process,”
her lawyers said in a motion filed
on March 22. “Sidney Powell dis-
closed the facts upon which her
conclusions were based.”
Dominion, in a statement to
Bloomberg News in response to her
motion, said Powell’s lawsuit con-
tradicts her previous statements.
“Powell’s attempt to dismiss the
case contradicts her claim that she
wants to present her evidence in
court,” Dominion attorney Tom
Clare said. “Dominion Voting Sys-
The IRS’s information technology functions, applications development, enterprise operations, and other services are
done at the New Carrollton Federal Building in New Carrollton, Md., on April 27, 2020.
that of the 21 percent of unreported
income among the top 1 percent
of earners, 6 percent comes from
“undetected sophisticated evasion”
techniques—including misrepre-
sentation of business income, divi-
dends, interest, and capital gain in
pass-through businesses.
Correcting for this by reaching
for data from operational audits
carried out by the IRS and from
“targeted enforcement activities,”
such as on offshore bank accounts,
and then combining it with ran-
dom audit data, the authors be-
LYNN LIN/THE EPOCH TIMES
tems is eager for the case to move
forward and intends to hold Powell
accountable.”
But Powell’s lawyers contended
on March 22 that “all the allegedly
defamatory statements attributed
to defendants were made as part
of the normal process of litigat-
ing issues of momentous signifi-
cance and immense public inter-
est,” adding that “the statements
were tightly focused on the legal
theories they were advancing in
litigation and the evidence they
had presented, or were going to
present, to the courts in support
of their claims” of election fraud.
Her lawyers further argued that
Powell’s claims about Dominion
and election fraud post-Nov. 3,
2020, were “public announce-
ments,” saying they served to dis-
close the “status of cases” that were
filed in court.
“Such announcements are rou-
tine by lawyers engaged in public
interest litigation, including the
U.S. Justice Department,” Powell’s
lawyers said.
Dominion also filed lawsuits
seeking $1.3 billion each against
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and
former New York City Mayor Rudy
Giuliani.
In its lawsuit against Powell
filed in January, Dominion said
that she “caused unprecedented
lieve they arrived at a more accu-
rate estimate of the true extent of
the tax-dodge problem.
“We find that unreported in-
come as a fraction of true income
rises from seven percent in the
bottom 50 percent to more than 20
percent in the top one percent” of
earners, the authors wrote in the
paper, which was jointly authored
by two IRS researchers—John
Guyton and Patrick Langetieg—
and three academics: Gabriel
Zucman from the University of
California–Berkeley, Max Risch
harm” to the firm.
“As a result of the defamatory
falsehoods peddled by Powell—
in concert with likeminded allies
and media outlets who were de-
termined to promote a false pre-
conceived narrative—Dominion’s
founder, Dominion’s employees,
Georgia’s governor, and Georgia’s
secretary of state have been ha-
rassed and have received death
threats, and Dominion has suffered
enormous harm,” Dominion’s law-
yers said in January.
Dominion’s lawyers stated that
they sent a letter to Powell formally
warning her to stop making state-
ments about the company or she
would face legal action. The suit
also listed “Defending the Repub-
lic, Inc.,” a company that Powell
used for fundraising purposes as
a defendant.
Separately, the Supreme Court
on March 1 rejected Powell’s
lawsuits challenging the results
in Arizona and Wisconsin—offer-
ing no comment.
One of Powell’s mandamus peti-
tions stated: “A submission directly
to this Court seeking an extraordi-
nary writ of mandamus is unusual,
but it has its foundation. While such
relief is rare, this Court will grant
it ‘where a question of public im-
portance is involved, or where the
question is of such a nature that it is
peculiarly appropriate that such ac-
tion by this Court should be taken.’”
Powell appeared alongside
Trump’s lawyers, including Gi-
uliani and Jenna Ellis, in Decem-
ber as they announced a series of
legal challenges after the election.
About a week later, Giuliani con-
firmed that Powell wasn’t part of
Trump’s team.
SAMIRA BOUAOU/THE EPOCH TIMES
Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, speaks
at the ‘Let the Church ROAR’ National
Prayer Rally on the National Mall in
Washington on Dec. 12, 2020.
CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES
from Carnegie Mellon University,
and Daniel Reck from the London
School of Economics.
The problem is even more acute
at the very highest sliver of earn-
ers—the top 0.1 percent—the study
found. While unreported income
by the top 1 percent was higher
than previous estimates by a fac-
tor of 1.3, that figure rose to 1.8 for
the upper 0.1 percent.
“We estimate that 36 [percent]
of federal income taxes unpaid
are owed by the top one [percent]
and that collecting all unpaid fed-
Anti-Tax PAC Is Vetting Wyoming
Primary Challengers to Cheney
IVAN PENTCHOUKOV
Conservative anti-tax politi-
cal action committee Club for
Growth dispatched an official to
Wyoming this week to interview
candidates challenging Rep. Liz
Cheney (R-Wyo.) in the Republi-
can primary election for the U.S.
House in 2022.
Cheney opened herself to pri-
mary challenges by voting to im-
peach President Donald Trump,
who later vowed to oust her in
the primary. Club for Growth’s
strategy for 2022 is to focus on
Republicans who have a poor
track record on economic votes.
“Where we see incumbents
who are not good on economic
issues and are vulnerable and
there’s a strong economic con-
servative running, we’re going
to look at that race and consider
getting involved in the prima-
ries,” Ben Decatur, a digital
communications associate with
the Club for Growth, told The
Epoch Times.
The political action commit-
tee (PAC) is backing candidates
on both sides of impeachment,
including Sens. Ben Sasse (R-
Neb.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.),
both of whom voted to convict
Trump during the second im-
peachment trial.
The PAC won’t support a pri-
mary challenger against Rep.
Tom Rice (R-S.C.), who voted
for impeachment but earned 82
percent on his 2019 scorecard.
Cheney, in the meantime, re-
ceived a score of 65 in 2019, plac-
ing her in the bottom third of all
Republicans in the House.
Cheney’s office didn’t immedi-
ately respond to a request by The
Epoch Times for comment.
Cheney’s primary challeng-
ers include State Sen. Anthony
Bouchard, State Rep. Chuck Gray,
Sheridan County GOP Chair Bry-
an Miller, and former Pavillion
Mayor Marissa Selvig. The Club
for Growth wouldn’t disclose
which of the candidates its of-
ficial is meeting with this week.
A large number of House Re-
NATION | A9
eral income tax from this group
would increase federal revenues
by about $175 billion annually,”
the authors wrote.
They said their research supports
the view that it would be worth-
while for tax authorities to invest
in improved tools and deploying
more resources to tax enforcement
at the top of the income distribu-
tion, as this “could generate sub-
stantial tax revenue.”
These findings represent an up-
ward revision to federal tax rev-
enue estimates by the Congres-
sional Budget Office, which said
in a report last July that boosting
the IRS’s funding for audits would
increase revenues by $61 billion to
$103 billion over 10 years, depend-
ing on how much the agency’s
budget was increased.
These recommendations come as
audit rates have declined in recent
years, particularly for large busi-
nesses and wealthy taxpayers. A
Center on Budget and Policy Pri-
orities report from February 2020
found that audit rates dropped 46
percent from 2010 to 2018, while for
millionaires, they fell 61 percent.
The IRS periodically estimates
the difference between the amount
of taxes owed and the amount col-
lected each year—called the tax
gap. In its most recent report, the
IRS estimated that the average an-
nual gross tax gap was $441 billion
between 2011 and 2013.
The net tax gap, which is the gross
tax gap reduced by the amount
that the IRS collects through en-
forcement, was estimated at $381
billion per year, on average, over
that same period.
publicans wanted Cheney re-
moved from her post as the
conference chair over her im-
peachment vote. The conference
chair is the third-highest-rank-
ing member of the GOP hierar-
chy in the House. Cheney kept
the post after a majority of Re-
publican House members voted
in a secret ballot to allow her to
keep her assignment.
The Club for Growth, accord-
ing to its website, encourages
representatives and senators “to
vote in favor of economic poli-
cies that strengthen our nation’s
economy and against legislation
that would raise taxes, increase
harmful regulations, and grow
our already massive govern-
ment.”
On March 22, the PAC endorsed
former Trump official Max Miller
in the primary challenge against
Rep. Anthony Gonzales (R-Ohio),
another Republican who voted to
impeach Trump on Jan. 13.
“Ohioans can count on Max to
protect their taxpayer dollars and
fight for their values, unlike the
current incumbent who contin-
ues to push for Big Government &
budget-busting spending bills,”
the PAC wrote on Twitter, refer-
ring to Gonzales, who received a
rating of 70 percent on its score-
card in 2019.
Trump endorsed Miller on Feb.
26.
“Max Miller is a wonderful
person who did a great job at
the White House and will be a
fantastic Congressman. He is a
Marine Veteran, a son of Ohio,
and a true PATRIOT,” the former
president said in a statement.
“Current Rep. Anthony Gonza-
lez should not be representing
the people of the 16th district
because he does not represent
their interest or their heart. Max
Miller has my Complete and To-
tal Endorsement!”
Eight of the 10 Republicans who
voted to impeach Trump in Janu-
ary are now facing primary chal-
lengers. Trump has also vowed
to back a primary challenger to
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
A10 | CHINA WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

CCP’s New 5-Year Plan Creates More Aggressive

‘Thousand Talents Plan’: Chinese Expert
KEVIN FRAYER/GETTY IMAGES

JENNIFER ZENG & programs.

JENNIFER BATEMAN Between 2008 and 2016, local
governments of China recruited
Making a greater effort to attract about 53,900 talents from over-
top experts from around the world seas, while more than 7,000 ex-
was listed as a priority in China’s perts were recruited through the
14th Five-Year Plan, which was Thousand Talents Plan and the
just passed in the regime’s recent Hundred Talents Program.
Two Sessions meeting in Beijing
on March 11. More Aggressive Policies to
When talking to Radio Free Attract Foreign Experts
Asia, American-based Chinese To “create and train a high-level
economist Cheng Xiaonong said talent troop” and “to provide an
the new Five-Year Plan is an exten- internationally competitive and at-
sion of China’s previous Thousand tractive environment for overseas
Talents Plan. The essence is the scientists to work in China,” the
same; both plans intend to steal plan requires the implementation
foreign intellectual property and of a more open talent policy: con-
advanced technology by poaching structing a scientific research and
experts from overseas. innovation highland to attract and
Only the new Five-Year Plan is gather outstanding experts from
more aggressive. home and abroad.
“Previously, the so-called Policies that can enable high-end
‘poaching’ was mainly done foreign experts and professionals
through spies in the field of tech- to stay and work in China, as well
nology. Later on, the U.S. govern- as a permanent residence system
ment imposed tougher control for foreigners, should be perfected,
on [spying], they thought about the plan says. Chinese leader Xi Jinping (C) and officials applaud during the closing session of the National People’s Congress at the
poaching experts, together with In the meantime, the establish- Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2021.
the technology. If you succeed ment of a skilled migration system
in poaching experts, you natu- should be explored. Multiple ‘Thousand Talent Plan’ and were identified by U.S. federal dicted on charges of making false
rally get the technology too,” Systems should be established Scholars Indicted authorities as being involved in statements to federal authorities
said Cheng, who is also an Epoch to ensure that foreign experts According to a 109-page report Chinese efforts to steal American regarding his participation in Chi-
Times contributor. and professionals can have better released in November 2019 by research. na’s Thousand Talents Plan.
He said the goal of the new Five- salaries and benefits, social secu- the U.S. Homeland Security and Before the U.S. government or- He was accused of receiving
Year Plan is still in key areas rity, tax incentives, as well as Governmental Affairs Senate Per- dered the CCP to close its Hous- $50,000 per month in salary,
related to military expan- good education for their manent Subcommittee on Inves- ton consulate in July 2020, the FBI $158,000 per year in living expens-
sion. children, and so forth. tigations, the FBI “has been slow in Houston had been investigat- es, and more than $1.5 million in
It lists the following The plan says that to respond to threats posed by ing Chinese nationals’ efforts to research funding from Wuhan
key areas: quantum in order to “actively Chinese talent recruitment plans.” funnel advanced research from University of Technology in China.
information, photon- promote open co- The report states, “Despite the Houston’s University of Texas MD In September 2020, Turab Look-
ics and micro nanoelec- operation in science Chinese government’s public an- Anderson Cancer Center back to man, a former employee of Los
tronics, internet com- and technology,” a nouncements in 2008 of its intent China. Alamos National Laboratory, was
munications, artificial more open and inclu- to recruit overseas researchers Keping Xie, a former professor sentenced to five years of probation
intelligence, biomedicine, sive, mutually beneficial, with access to cutting-edge re- in gastroenterology research at and fined $75,000 for lying about
modern energy systems, and shared international search and absorb, assimilate, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, his participation in the Thousand
integrated circuits, life and The FBI seal science and technology co- re-innovate technologies, the FBI and a member of Thousand Talents Talents Plan.
health, brain science, bio- in Washing- operation strategy should did not identify Chinese talent re- Plan, was part of the FBI’s focus. Emily Weinstein, a research ana-
breeding, aerospace tech- ton, in this be implemented. cruitment plans as a ‘threat vector’ In September 2019, Thousand lyst at the Center for Security and
nology, deep sea, deep earth, file photo. China should also take until 2015.” Talents Plan scholar Yiheng Emerging Technology at George-
polar exploration, and so on. the lead in “designing and China is the most aggressive Zhang, a former professor at Vir- town University, is in charge of
According to the plan, more in- initiating international scientific among countries that “seek to ginia Tech, was found guilty of the Chinese Talent Program Track-
vestment will be poured into basic programs and projects,” allow the exploit America’s openness to ad- conspiracy to defraud, including er, “a catalogue of Chinese Party-
research, and experts will be heav- science funds to play a unique role, vance their own national interests,” charges that he used $1.1 million State-sponsored initiatives aimed
ily rewarded. increase the opening of national the report states. “Federal agencies in research funding he applied for at cultivating China’s domestic tal-
The so-called Thousand Talents science and technology programs are not prepared to prevent China in the United States for research ent pool in support of China’s stra-
Plan is the Chinese Communist to the outside world, launch a from transferring taxpayer-funded projects in China. tegic civilian and military goals,”
Party’s (CCP) program to identify number of major scientific and research and stealing intellectual In May 2020, Xiao-Jiang Li, a for- according to its website.
and recruit high-level overseas technological cooperation proj- property.” mer Emory University professor She said in December 2020: “At
experts; it’s been in place since ects, study the establishment of Since 2018, the FBI has increased and Thousand Talents Plan partici- this point, it would be really hard
December 2008. global scientific research funds, the number of arrests and prosecu- pant, was convicted and sentenced to find people putting [their par-
Apart from the national level and implement scientist exchange tions of Thousand Talents scholars. for filing a false tax return. He was ticipation in] Thousand Talents on
Thousand Talents Plan, the CCP programs. In April 2019, former GE engi- accused of replicating his U.S. re- a resume in the U.S. That doesn’t
also has other plans, such as the China should also support the neer Xiaoqing Zheng was charged search for the Chinese Academy mean that all talent programs are
Hundred Talents Program of the establishment of international sci- by the FBI with economic espio- of Sciences and earning at least gone.”
Chinese Academy of Sciences entific and technological organiza- nage and theft of GE’s trade secrets. $500,000. “Thousand Talents was merged
and the Changjiang Scholars tions in China and allow foreign Meanwhile, the MD Anderson In June 2020, Charles Lieber, into a different talent program with
Program of the Chinese Ministry scientists to hold posts in China’s Cancer Center in Texas removed former chair of the Department a new name—it is now the High-
of Education, as well as a number scientific and technological aca- three of five scientists who had of Chemistry and Chemical Biol- End Foreign Expert Recruitment
of local government recruitment demic organizations. ties to the Thousand Talents Plan ogy at Harvard University, was in- Program.”

HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

the virus internationally.

Studies: Hundreds of Thousands
Infected With COVID-19 in
Wuhan in 2020; Patient Zero
Emerged October 2019
NICOLE HAO
As many as 968,800 people in Wu-
han, China, had developed anti-
bodies to COVID-19 by April 2020,
while the first case appears to have
emerged between mid-October
and mid-November in 2019, ac-
cording to two new studies.
An estimated 6·9 percent “of a
cross-sectional sample of the pop-
ulation of Wuhan developed anti-
bodies against SARS-CoV-2, with
39·8 percent of this population sero-
converting to have neutralising an-
tibodies,” a China-based research
group wrote in an article published
in The Lancet on March 18.
“Our results define the period
between mid-October and mid-
November 2019 as the plausible
interval when the first case of
SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Hubei
Province,” a U.S.-based research
group wrote in an article pub-
lished in the online issue of Sci-
ence magazine on March 18.
The results of both research
groups revealed data that differ
from the Chinese regime’s dis-
closures.
The Chinese regime recognizes
the first COVID-19 case  as oc-
curring on Dec. 31, 2019, while
confirming  human-to-human
transmission of the CCP (Chinese
Communist Party) virus, which
causes COVID-19, on Jan. 20, 2020.
The regime finalized the number
of infections in Wuhan on April
17, 2020, saying a total of 50,333
people had been infected, which
is less than 10 percent of the ana-
lyzed figure.
The Chinese regime
said 50,333 people
had been infected in
Wuhan, which is less
than 10 percent of
the analyzed figure.
In the past few months, multiple
countries have criticized the re-
gime in Beijing for its initial mis-
handling of the CCP virus and
subsequent underreporting of the
outbreak, leading to the spread of
Infection Count
Thirty authors from China co-
researched the status of the CCP
virus infection in Wuhan for the
Lancet study.
The research is based on data
from 9,542 people who live in 100
communities throughout Wuhan,
the capital city of Hubei Province
and ground zero of the CCP virus
outbreak. Blood samples were col-
lected on April 14 and 15, 2020.
The result showed that 6.92 per-
cent of the population had been in-
fected with the CCP virus, with 82.1
percent of the infected ones being
asymptomatic carriers. Among
the infected group, 39.8 percent of
them had neutralizing antibodies
in their blood, which meant they
were immune to the CCP virus af-
ter being infected.
In January 2020, about  5 mil-
lion residents escaped Wuhan,
which has a population of 14 mil-
lion, ahead of a Jan. 23 travel ban.
Based on an infection rate of 6.92
percent of the population, 622,800
to 968,800 people could have been
infected with the CCP virus by
April 2020.
People who lived in Wuhan in
April 2020 were survivors of the
city’s epidemic, which peaked
in January and February 2020.
There’s a possibility the people who
left the city in January had COV-
ID-19, since the Science magazine
study estimates that the first case
likely emerged in October 2019.
First Case
Researchers at the University of
California–San Diego School of
Medicine, with colleagues at the
University of Arizona and Illumina
Inc., published the Science maga-
zine study about the world’s first
possible COVID-19 case, studied
through molecular dating tools
and epidemiological simulations.
The study points out that the CCP
virus is a zoonotic coronavirus,
meaning it’s transmitted to hu-
mans from an unknown animal
host. But based on over a dozen
studies conducted by the research-
ers in the past year, it’s unlikely
that the Huanan Seafood Market
in Wuhan—which the Chinese re-
gime claims was ground zero—is
the venue where the animal trans-
mitted the virus to humans.
Medical
staff wearing
protective
clothing arrive
with a patient
at a hospital
in Wuhan,
Hubei Province,
China, on Jan.
25, 2020.
“We used Bayesian phylody-
namics to reconstruct the under-
lying coalescent processes,” the
researchers explained, saying they
analyzed 583 CCP virus complete
genomes that were sampled in
China.
Combining the CCP virus’s
genetic diversity study with the
earliest reported cases and other
study’s results about the spread
of the CCP virus in Wuhan before
the lockdown on Jan. 23, 2020, the
researchers estimate that the first
COVID-19 case emerged as early
as October 2019.
The World Health Organization
(WHO), as well as scientists from
several countries, are investi-
gating the origin of the virus. To
understand the environment bet-
ter, WHO sent a team to China,
which conducted its research in
February; the team hasn’t yet re-
leased its report.
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 CHINA | A11

‘Do Not Let Chinese Propagandists Take Advantage of You’:

Former Adviser on Lessons From US–China Meeting
FREDERIC J. BROWN/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
CONTINUED FROM A1

officials. Meanwhile, China’s state-

run media have touted that the
meeting was a diplomatic win for
Beijing, with China’s hawkish
mouthpiece Global Times call-
ing it “a grand show of China’s
strength” in an article published
on March 20.
Miles Yu, a Chinese-born
academic who helped shape the
Trump administration’s China
policy, said the Chinese delega-
tion didn’t travel to Alaska with the
intention to solve problems un-
derlying the bilateral relationship,
but rather to promote the Chinese
regime’s political agenda.
“They are here to basically try to
discredit American democracy,
try to score a cheap shot,” Yu said
in an interview with The Epoch
Times’ “American Thought Lead-
ers” program.
The Alaska talks came at a “very
unique time,” when the Chinese
regime is “unprecedentedly iso-
lated internationally,” Yu said.
In recent years, policymak-
ers around the world have be-
come increasingly alarmed by
how the Chinese Communist U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) speaks to Yang Jiechi (L), director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office, and Wang Yi (2nd L), China’s
Party (CCP) poses a threat to their foreign minister, at the opening session of U.S.–China talks at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 18, 2021.
governance, economic systems, TAL ATZMON/THE EPOCH TIMES
and national security as Beijing China’s international isolation, ac- and the European Union jointly
becomes more assertive. cording to Yu. unveiled sanctions on six Chinese
The general public in many
[The Chinese He added, “They come here to ba- officials responsible for human
countries also views China officials] are sically to shift the focus of the real rights abuses against Uyghurs in
negatively. In October 2020, a Pew here to basi- issue of the day, which is the global Xinjiang.
Research Center poll showed that challenges posed by the Chinese When Chinese officials leveled
negative views of China in nine cally try to dis- Communist Party.” criticism at the United States, it was
countries—including Australia, credit Ameri- very different from Americans criti-
Canada, South Korea, the United can democracy, The CCP’s Diplomacy cizing their own country, Yu said.
Kingdom, and the United States— The Chinese delegation’s public “We Americans criticize our sys-
had reached their highest levels in try to score a blow-up was also useful in one tem because we wish our system to
more than a decade. cheap shot. respect, according to Yu. be better,” he said.
In the United States, the Trump “It seems to me the Chinese Miles Yu, Hudson Institute senior “When the Chinese Commu-
administration spent four years Miles Yu, have lost [their] grace, diplomatic fellow and former senior China policy nist Party criticizes the American
pushing back against China’s ma- former adviser finesse, and aplomb, but that’s adviser to former U.S. Secretary of system, it doesn’t wish us well.
to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in Annapolis,
lign influences, including unfair State Mike Pompeo
actually very educational to the It challenges the foundation of
trade practices and espionage. rest of the world to see, to see how Md., on Feb. 11, 2021. American democracy. It basically
In March, another Pew Research Chinese diplomats truly func- tries to destroy the entire system of
Center poll showed that more than tion,” he said. over its aggressions. freedom and democracy. They [the
70 percent of Americans stated that “Chinese diplomats are not re- Nonetheless, Yu said he found it CCP] are completely different.”
Washington should stand up to the ally diplomats, per se, they are the “absolutely crazy” for the Chinese Looking back at the talks, Yu
CCP over its human rights record, agents of the will of the Central delegation to lecture the United said the Chinese delegation
even if it means bilateral economic Committee of Chinese Commu- States on the virtue of democracy, missed an opportunity to work
ties taking a hit. nist Party,” he added, referring to given China’s records of human with the Biden administration
Beijing’s initial coverup of the the body comprising the top lead- rights abuses against dissidents, because the administration really
CCP virus, which causes the dis- ers of the Party. religious groups, Uyghur Muslims, wanted “to find common areas to
ease COVID-19, also has contrib- Yu said Yang was known as a and Falun Gong, and the regime’s work with China.”
uted to the global backlash against man of political skill, but for him to state-sanctioned practice of har- In conclusion, Yu said that the
the Chinese regime. At the early behave like that in public showed vesting organs from prisoners of Biden administration should learn
stage of the pandemic, Beijing si- that he was simply acting on the conscience. a lesson from the Alaska talks.
lenced whistleblower doctors who orders of China’s top leadership In January, then-Secretary of “You have to deal with China
tried to warn the public of a new to behave like a bully or “wolf State Mike Pompeo declared that with candor, with strength, with
form of pneumonia. warrior” in Alaska. The CCP has Beijing had committed “genocide” unapologetic strength, and self-
As a result, the Chinese delega- increasingly taken an aggressive and “crimes against human- confidence in our own demo-
tion traveled to Alaska to vent, form of diplomacy dubbed “wolf ity” against Uyghur Muslims. cratic system. Do not let Chinese
trying to blame the United States warrior” in an effort to fend off On March 22, the United States, propagandists take advantage of
as the only country responsible for mounting international criticism Canada, the United Kingdom, you,” he said.

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OPINION
American WHO Representative’s
Past Connection to the Wuhan In-
stitute of Virology Raises Questions
Hans Mahncke
See A15
OPINION |BUSINESS | ECONOMY|PERSONAL FINANCE
The U.S. Supreme Court of the United States in Washington on Dec. 10, 2018.
Time to Take Action: 3 Proposals Regarding
Free Speech, the Media, and Washington, D.C.
ROGER KIMBALL
There is a lot of
chatter among
conservatives
(well, among
some conserva-
tives) about finally
dispensing with chat-
ter and moving on to action.
We’ve had a lot of diagnoses.
Where’s the treatment?
As the first offering in this big
project, I’d like to propose three
courses of action.
None is original. This pleases
me. Novelty in human affairs is
often—I’d go so far as to say “gen-
erally”—counter-productive.
My first proposal is to follow
the advice of Laurence Silber-
man, the eminent jurist who was
appointed to the D.C. Court of
Appeals by President Ronald Rea-
gan, and scrap the landmark 1964
Supreme Court decision in The
New York Times v. Sullivan.
I said “landmark,” but forbore
to put the word in ironical quota-
tion marks, as Silberman does,
not because it doesn’t deserve the
epistemic deflation they impart,
but because mentioning it this
way allows me to give more full-
throated support to Silberman’s
skepticism about the opinion.
The judge was writing last week
in his dissent in a defamation
case called Tah v. Global Witness
Publishing.
I have had occasion to write about  immunity from almost any mis-
New York Times v. Sullivan before.
In essence, the decision made it
almost impossible for anyone des-
ignated a “public figure” to win a
libel suit. To do so, one has to prove
that the defendant acted with “ac-
tual malice,” a high bar to pass.
The press, of course, loved the
decision, for it effectively insulated
them from most defamation suits.
As the legal scholar Glenn
Reynolds noted in “The Judiciary’s
Class War,” the decision was in
effect “a subsidy to media com-
panies, whose libel risks (and
insurance premiums) were drasti-
cally reduced. It also meant that
juries ... had far less power in libel
cases. Perhaps coincidentally (but
perhaps not), trust in the press has
fallen steadily since the Sullivan
ruling freed media organizations
from previously existing legal ac-
countability.”
This was a point that the lawyer
Gregory J. Sullivan dilated on in
National Review, on the 50th an-
niversary of the decision in 2014.
Although the press celebrated
the anniversary as a triumph for
free speech, Sullivan wrote, for
“those committed to the text and
history of the Constitution, and a
judiciary tethered to them, there is
nothing at all to celebrate.”
“Even by the imperial-judiciary
standards of the Warren Court, this
case stands out as something of a
classic effusion in that Court’s proj-
ect of remaking American society
to conform with its far-Left prefer-
ences. There is no question that the
case is a watershed: Before New
York Times v. Sullivan, the First
Amendment protected a free press
that was responsible in law for its
errors; after and because of this
case, the press has anything-goes
takes, no matter how damaging.
“As a policy matter, this may or
may not be a prudent develop-
ment. Constitutionally, the deci-
sion is an infamous failure and a
disgrace to the judicial role.”
Silberman echoed and ampli-
fied many of these concerns. The
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/
AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
President’s Commission
on the Intelligence Capa-
bilities of the United
States Regarding Weap-
ons of Mass Destruction
Co-Chairman Laurence
Silberman, accompanied
by Co-Chairman Charles
Robb (L), speaks dur-
ing a news conference in
the Old Executive Office
Building in Washington
on March 31, 2005.
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OPINION
US Falls Into 4 Traps Set by
the CCP in US–China Talks
Wang He
See A17
New York Times and The Washing-
ton Post, he wrote, are “virtually
Democratic Party broadsheets.” The
same goes for the news sections
of The Wall Street Journal, most of
other major newspapers, television
networks, and Silicon Valley social
media outlets.
The major exceptions—Fox
News, the New York Post, the opin-
ion pages of The Wall Street Jour-
nal—are all owned by one man.
In short, “There can be little
question that the overwhelming
uniformity of news bias in the
United States has an enormous po-
litical impact,” Silberman writes.
One-Party Control
And the nature of that impact is
worrisome.
“It should be borne in mind,” Sil-
berman writes, “ that the first step
taken by any potential authori-
tarian or dictatorial regime is to
gain control of communications,
particularly the delivery of news.
“It is fair to conclude, therefore,
that one-party control of the press
and media is a threat to a viable
democracy. It may even give rise
to countervailing extremism. The
First Amendment guarantees a free
press to foster a vibrant trade in
ideas. But a biased press can distort
the marketplace. And when the
media has proven its willingness—
if not eagerness—to so distort, it
is a profound mistake to stand by
unjustified legal rules that serve
only to enhance the press’ power.”
Silberman writes with élan as
well as insight.
“After observing my colleagues’
efforts to stretch the actual malice
rule like a rubber band,” he reflects,
“I am prompted to urge the overrul-
ing of New York Times v. Sullivan.”
It will not, he knows, be easy. “As
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 A13
SAMIRA BOUAOU/THE EPOCH TIMES
I wrote, the Court has committed
itself to a constitutional Brezhnev
doctrine.”
Remember the Brezhnev doctrine?
In 1968, the Soviet leader had
expounded the principle that any
territory gained by a communist
state had to remain in the hands
of a communist state. There could
be no retreat. So it has been with
certain judicial opinions.
“Once the Court has ‘constitution-
alized’ a new area of the law [Silber-
man writes], it will never willingly
retreat. The long-term consequence
of this policy is obvious: An ever-
expanding sphere of influence for
the Judiciary at the expense of the
policymaking branches.”
To the charge that he regards
decisions such as New York Times
v. Sullivan with disdain, Silberman
pleads guilty.
“I readily admit that I have little
regard for holdings of the Court that
dress up policymaking in constitu-
tional garb. That is the real attack
on the Constitution, in which—it
should go without saying—the
Framers chose to allocate political
power to the political branches. The
notion that the Court should some-
how act in a policy role as a Council
of Revision is illegitimate.”
When one recalls the extraor-
dinarily vituperative, monolithic,
and unfair coverage under which
President Donald Trump and any-
one associated him struggled for
four years—a regime of left-wing
intolerance that has only accelerat-
ed post-Trump with the embrace of
wokeness by the government—it’s
easy to see why the former presi-
dent castigated “fake news” and
mused about revisiting decisions
like New York Times v. Sullivan.
Continued on A14
A14 | OPINION
Time to Take Action: 3 Proposals Regarding
Free Speech, the Media, and Washington, D.C.
CONTINUED FROM A13
So my first “action item” is to overturn
New York Times v. Sullivan.
Section 230
I can deal more briefly with my second
two proposals.
No. 2 also has to do with the media.
My suggestion is that we revisit “Sec-
tion 230,” part of a federal statute passed
20 years ago that provides immunity to
social media companies such as Face-
book, Twitter, and Instagram from being
sued over the material they purvey.
This allows them to operate without being
responsible for the content they publish.
“Section 230,” an article in Forbes
explains, “set the legal framework for
the internet that we know today that
relies heavily on user content rather than
content that companies create. Without
Section 230, companies would not be
willing to take so many risks.”
This issue is that such media compa-
nies want to have it both ways. They want
the immunity of neutral providers. But
they act—and they do so with increasing
boldness—as spokesmen advocating,
and censoring, certain points of view.
Should we, therefore, scrap Section 230
as well, as Trump suggested before he
was banned for life from Twitter?
I was leaning toward that expedient
myself, but on reflection, I think that An-
drew McCarthy has a better idea: Don’t
repeal Section 230, just make sure that
the entities enjoying the privileged status
it affords act in a way that entitles them
to its protection.
“To be a mere interactive computer ser-
vice entitled to immunity from speaker/
publisher liability,” McCarthy explains,
“a platform must refrain from publish-
DILBERT
PEANUTS
RED AND ROVER
GRAND AVENUE
MUTT & JEFF
ing activity—which includes suppress-
ing one point of view while promoting
its competitor. Twitter is well within its
rights to censor its partisan adversaries;
but in doing so, it forfeits the legal privi-
lege that is available only to interactive
computer services that do not censor on
political or ideological grounds.”
So don’t jettison the legislation, which
does help maintain the internet’s open-
ness, but do subject the businesses violat-
ing its provisions to oversight and revoca-
tion of protection when they violate the
neutrality they huddle under for protection.
Back to America
My third suggestion picks up on a sug-
gestion made by a few people, including
Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Marsha
Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in 2019.
In October of that year, they introduced
a bill that would have moved about 90
percent of the workforce of 10 federal
agencies out of Washington, relocating
them in the heartland.
COMICS
MICHAEL CIAGLO/GETTY IMAGES
A voter reads
a newspaper
in line as he
waits to vote
at the Hazel
Parker Play-
ground on
Election Day,
in Charles-
ton, S.C., on
Nov. 3, 2020
Quoth Hawley at the time, “Every year,
Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars fund
federal agencies that are mainly located
in the D.C. bubble. That’s a big part of the
problem with Washington: they’re too
removed from the rest of America.”
You can say that again.
There were some good ideas in that bill,
the Hire Act.
The Department of Agriculture would
have moved to Missouri, Commerce to
Pennsylvania, Education to Tennessee,
Energy to Kentucky, Health and Human
Services to Indiana, Housing and Urban
Development to Ohio, Interior to New
Mexico, Labor to West Virginia, Trans-
portation to Michigan, and Veterans
Affairs to South Carolina.
Of course, it wasn’t radical enough.
Instead of moving the Department of
Education, for example, the Act should
have abolished it altogether.
But the impulse to relocate Washington
to America is a sound one.
We should endeavor to build on it.
GARFIELD
GINGER MEGGS
BIG NATE
DRABBLE
FRANK AND ERNEST
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
First of all, to forestall talk of granting
statehood to Washington, D.C., we should
simply incorporate it into Maryland,
which already shares its socialist temper.
Then the entire official infrastructure
of the district should become part of the
Smithsonian Museum.
Since all official business will hence-
forth be conducted elsewhere, the build-
ings themselves—the White House, the
Capitol, the Supreme Court, etc.—can
become tourist attractions.
And to those who say that the fence,
razor wire, and federal troops ought to be
removed from around the Capitol, I say,
“Think big!”
Since we are listing toward commu-
nism ourselves, why not take a page from
former communist regimes and turn the
Capitol just as it is now into a museum,
much as Berlin did with its former Stasi
headquarters.
We keep the fence and the razor wire
but instead of federal troops, many of
whom, of course, will be busy modeling
their maternity flight suits or arranging
for their gender reassignment surgery, we
second suitably tough-looking employees
from the Smithsonian to dress up in mili-
tary uniforms and act as tour guides.
The time for idle talk is over. Here are
three concrete, workable proposals that
would enhance free speech, make the
media more responsible, and do some-
thing about the national embarrassment
that is Washington.
I offer them free and for nothing to the
civic-spirited public.
Roger Kimball is the editor and publisher
of The New Criterion and publisher of
Encounter Books. His most recent book is
“Who Rules? Sovereignty, Nationalism, and
the Fate of Freedom in the 21st Century.”
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
(Left) Peter Daszak (R) and other members of the World Health Organization team investigating the origins of the CCP virus, arrive at the Wuhan Institute of Virology on Feb. 3, 2021. (Right) Chinese
virologist Shi Zhengli inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on Feb. 23, 2017.
American WHO Representative’s
Past Connection to Wuhan Institute
of Virology Raises Questions
HANS MAHNCKE
The World Health Orga-
nization’s (WHO) latest
mission to Wuhan,
China, to trace the
origins of the COVID-19
pandemic is back in the
headlines. But not for the
right reasons.
Its ostensible purpose was tainted
from the start, as revealed by a March
17 article in The Wall Street Journal that
showed the Chinese Communist Party
(CCP) secured veto rights over who was
going to be allowed to travel to Wuhan to
conduct the purported investigation.
With the CCP’s power to effectively pick
and choose who should be on the team,
the only American invited to be part of
WHO’s investigation was Peter Daszak.
He’s the president of the EcoHealth Al-
liance, a government-funded nonprofit
that is purportedly engaged in research
to prevent pandemics.
It seems like no coincidence that
Daszak was handpicked for this effort.
In fact, given his own likely motivations,
he may have been the CCP’s best hope of
covering up the origins.
To understand why, we need to go back
and look at Daszak’s close affiliation to
the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV),
dating back to at least 2013, when he co-
authored a bat coronavirus study with
the director of the lab, Shi Zhengli.
Daszak co-authored further papers
with Shi in 2017 and 2018.
But it’s not just Daszak’s collaboration
with Shi that raises questions, but also
what they were collaborating on. The
2013 research successfully managed to
get deadly viruses to dock to human cell
receptors.
The viruses had been isolated from
horseshoe bats in Yunnan Province, an
area of China more than 1,000 miles
from Wuhan. It isn’t clear whether the
viruses were extracted and brought to
Wuhan or whether the bats themselves
were brought to Wuhan.
Chinese CCTV news footage from April
2018 suggests that the bats may have
been brought to the laboratory.
Daszak himself took issue with that
suggestion in a November 2020 tweet.
For unknown reasons, he subsequently
deleted the tweet, and when alerted to
the deletion, Daszak, instead of provid-
ing an explanation, blocked this author
on Twitter.
The work done by Shi and Daszak was
no secret. The fact that they isolated a
deadly virus from a bat was celebrated in
research circles:
“Recently, the team led by Dr. Zhengli
Shi from Wuhan Institute of Virology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Dr.
Peter Daszak from Ecohealth Alliance
identified SL-CoVs in Chinese horseshoe
bats that were 95% identical to human
SARS-CoV and were able to use hu-
man angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
(ACE2) receptor for docking and en-
try. Remarkably, they isolated the first
known live bat SL-CoV that replicates
in human and related cells,” states an
abstract of an article headlined “Bats as
Animal Reservoirs for the SARS Corona-
virus: Hypothesis Proved After 10 Years
of Virus Hunting.”
HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
But not everyone was thrilled about
what Daszak and Shi were doing. In
2015, Shi had created “a chimeric virus
expressing the spike of bat coronavirus
SHC014 in a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV
backbone.” In layman’s terms, she had
artificially generated a hybrid version of a
bat coronavirus in her lab. This research
came on the back of the 2013 study that
Shi had undertaken with Daszak, in
which the virus had for the first time
been isolated in a lab.
That led to Nature, the international
weekly journal of science, publishing a
2015 article titled “Engineered Bat Virus
Stirs Debate Over Risky Research.”
The type of experiments that were be-
ing done by Daszak and Shi are called
gain-of-function research, a term refer-
ring to research that aims to increase
the virulence and lethality of viruses—
something that raises even more ques-
tions now given what happened with the
current pandemic.
Daszak is quoted in the 2015 Nature
piece as defending these kinds of experi-
ments because they would help identify
a “virus from a candidate emerging
pathogen to a clear and present danger.”
But others did not agree. According to
Rutgers University professor Richard
Ebright, cited in the same piece, “the
only impact of this work is the creation,
in a lab, of a new, non-natural risk.”
Essentially, the issue can be boiled
down to this: Is it worth isolating viruses
from the wild and experimenting on
them in the laboratory to be a step ahead
in case the virus might one day follow
the same path naturally, or is the risk
that something goes wrong too high?
While the research itself
was causing great concern,
so too was the manner in
which the experiments
were being conducted at the
Wuhan Institute of Virology.
It wasn’t just scientists writing in Na-
ture that found the risk was too high. The
Obama administration also determined
that these gain-of-function experiments
were too risky and suspended them in
the United States in 2014.
While the research itself was causing
great concern, so too was the manner in
which the experiments were being con-
ducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virol-
ogy. In January 2018, the U.S. Embassy in
Beijing sent staffers from its environment,
science, and health sections to the insti-
tute to investigate reports of inadequate
biosafety.
Eerily, the diplomatic cable sent by the
embassy back to Washington, which
was obtained by The Washington Post,
read, “During interactions with scientists
at the WIV laboratory, they noted the
new lab has a serious shortage of appro-
priately trained technicians and inves-
tigators needed to safely operate this
high-containment laboratory.”
Daszak himself warned, in a co-
authored paper published in Nature, of
the risk of laboratory spillovers in 2015.
He said, “Among all high-risk interfaces
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
The World Health Organization (WHO) head-
quarters in Geneva on March 9, 2020.
and hosts, only viruses transmitted to
humans by contact with wild animals
in the wildlife trade and in laboratories,
such as [various viruses], were more
likely to have broader geographic reach.”
Daszak’s collaborator Shi also pub-
lished a piece in 2010 describing how a
lab leak in Yunnan had led to an out-
break of hantavirus.
But that was not the end of it. After the
Obama administration banned gain-
of-function experiments, Daszak out-
sourced the work to the Wuhan Institute
of Virology.
The project that Daszak outsourced,
titled “Understanding the Risk of Bat
Coronavirus Emergence,” was funded
by Dr. Anthony Fauci’s National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Disease. It isn’t
clear how much of the $3.7 million in
U.S. government grants that Fauci gave
Daszak ultimately ended up at the WIV
but the research output from Daszak’s
project features many articles involving
bat experiments at the WIV.
Daszak advertised his deeds, even
tweeting in November 2019 that “we’ve
made great progress with bat SARS-
related CoVs ... ID’ing ones that bind to
human cells, using recombinant viruses/
humanized mice.”
In a December 2019 interview with You-
Tube channel MicrobeTV, Daszak boasted
that he could “manipulate [coronaviruses]
in the lab pretty easily.” He also explained
how coronaviruses could “get into human
cells in the lab” and that he had started
experiments with chimeras (hybrid
organisms comprised of genetic material
from more than one organism) combining
coronaviruses with other viruses.
Soon after his December 2019 interview,
news of a bat coronavirus outbreak in
Wuhan started filtering out. Despite his
knowledge of the pre-2020 coronavirus
experiments at the WIV, Daszak became
a driving force to focus the scientific com-
munity and media on natural origins.
In a co-authored statement published
in the medical journal The Lancet on
Feb. 18, 2020, Daszak and others claimed
that scientists had “overwhelmingly
conclude[d] that this coronavirus origi-
nated in wildlife, as have so many other
emerging pathogens.”
In retrospect, the last part of this
sentence looks particularly contrived.
As does the next part of his statement:
“Conspiracy theories do nothing but
create fear, rumors, and prejudice that
jeopardize our global collaboration in
the fight against this virus.”
As subsequent freedom of information
requests have revealed, Daszak not only
drafted this statement but persuaded oth-
er scientists to sign and sought to “avoid
the appearance of a political statement.”
OPINION | A15
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Daszak further wanted to “put it out
in a way that doesn’t link it back to our
collaboration so we maximize an inde-
pendent voice.”
The Lancet failed to disclose that four
of the statement’s signatories worked for
Daszak at the EcoHealth Alliance. Instead
of withdrawing the statement, or at least
adding a conflict of interest note, The Lan-
cet announced on Nov. 23, 2020, that it
had made Daszak the head of its own task
force to find the origins of the virus. Half
of its task force is composed of signatories
of the February 2020 statement.
Also in February 2020, Daszak published
a piece in The New York Times in which he
preemptively castigated virus “misinfor-
mation campaigns and conspiracy theo-
rists,” while at the same time pronouncing
that “pandemics usually begin as viruses
in animals that jump to people when we
make contact with them.” He also claimed
that “we know roughly where they origi-
nate and what’s responsible for them,” at a
time when we knew almost nothing about
the origins of this virus.
The final insult came when Daszak
was appointed as a member of the WHO
team that was supposed to get to the
bottom of where the virus came from.
Even before he set off for China, Daszak
had already determined that the lab leak
theory was a “conspiracy theory” and
“pure baloney.”
It’s not just Daszak’s
collaboration with Shi that
raises questions, but also what
they were collaborating on.
Since his return from China, Daszak
has been pushing even harder to deflect
from the lab leak theory. He recently told
NPR that his “team found new evidence
that these farms were supplying vendors
at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Mar-
ket in Wuhan, where an early outbreak of
COVID-19 occurred.”
NPR didn’t push back on this false-
hood, when even the WHO conceded
after its trip to Wuhan that “all the
samples related to the animal products
or animals were all negative.”
In a March 10 live stream hosted by
Chatham House, Daszak was asked why
the Wuhan Institute of Virology had de-
leted a database of more than 16,000 vi-
rus sequences and why the WHO hadn’t
demanded to see the sequences. He
responded by vouching for his collabora-
tors at the WIV and claimed that there
was nothing relevant in the database.
It’s impossible to think of any person
who could be less qualified to investigate
the origins of the virus than Daszak.
He worked directly with the Wuhan
Institute of Virology on risky bat virus
research, bragged about creating geneti-
cally manipulated bat viruses, published
papers with the Wuhan Institute of
Virology, and provided funding for the
institute. He appears to be a friend of
the institute’s director, writing in a tweet
on Nov. 7, 2020, “looking forward to that
special moment when we hit the baiju
and the karaoke with Zhengli & Linfa.”
Daszak also ruled out a lab leak immedi-
ately before the facts were known.
How did anyone other than the CCP
think that it would be a good idea to put
him in charge of investigating the origins
of the virus? The old saying about putting
the fox in charge of the hen house doesn’t
do him justice.
As long as Daszak is investigating him-
self, we will never find out what really hap-
pened at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Hans Mahncke is a columnist, author,
and general counsel of the British Virgin
Island based Penfield Group Ltd.
A16 | OPINION
The Biden-Harris Trip to Atlanta Raises
Questions About Biden’s Future
STEPHEN BRYEN
Since the terrorist attacks
of 9/11, it has been Amer-
ica’s security policy to
avoid having the presi-
dent and vice president
travel together. It was
therefore unusual that the
president and vice president flew together
on Air Force One to Atlanta last week.
The fact that the two of them traveled
together raises questions about Biden’s
future as president.
Even before 9/11, presidents and vice
presidents avoided traveling together. Go-
ing back to the Kennedy presidency, in the
infamous trip to Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963,
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson flew to
Texas on Air Force Two, while President
John F. Kennedy and his team traveled on
Air Force One. (After the assassination,
Johnson returned to Washington on Air
Force One and, in fact, was sworn in while
onboard.)
On 9/11, both the president and vice
president were moved to separate loca-
tions while New York and Washington
were under attack. This wasn’t just an in-
stinctive move by the U.S. Secret Service.
In 1998, President Bill Clinton is-
sued Presidential Decision Directive 67,
which set up a Continuity of [Govern-
ment] Operations Plan (COOP) in case of
emergency.
Not only the president and vice presi-
dent, but a raft of senior officials were
under COOP tasked to go to special secret
locations if COOP was activated. There
they would continue to operate the gov-
ernment and control U.S. strategic mili-
tary forces, including nuclear missiles.
When there is a heightened alert, the
Secret Service—the organization that pro-
tects the president and vice president—
steps in to make sure full protection is
operating. Such was the case this month.
Washington is currently guarded by Na-
tional Guardsmen deployed to the city.
Alert
On March 17, the D.C. Police issued an
alert that a “person of concern” was on
the loose in Washington. The next day,
on March 18, that person was arrested by
the Secret Service. He was allegedly stalk-
ing the vice presidential residence at the
Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Av-
enue, where he was apprehended.
By the morning of March 19, no one
knew for sure if others may have been
looking to carry out an attack on the presi-
dent or vice president. Yet, Air Force One
departed Joint Base Andrews, just outside
of Washington, for Atlanta with both
President Joe Biden and Vice President
Kamala Harris on board.
As the president climbed the stairway to
Air Force One, he stumbled three times,
causing a sensation in the media. Social
media was alive with speculation that the
president might be in physical and mental
trouble.
A president can decide what level of
protection he wants and tell the Secret
Service his preference. The current Secret
Service team is one that Biden changed
at the end of December 2020 (even before
he took office) in order to remove persons
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regarded as too closely associated with
former President Donald Trump. That is
the prerogative of the president and previ-
ous presidents have also selected Secret
Service personnel they favored.
It’s highly unlikely, even with the
changes, that the Secret Service would
have wanted the president and vice presi-
dent traveling together, especially under
heightened alert conditions when security
is all-important.
The real reason for the two of them trav-
eling together must have been for a reason
different from a security imperative.
Shielding the President
Given the White House’s intention to
shield the president from talking to the
press or interacting with the public, Har-
ris no doubt went with him to Atlanta to
protect the president and keep him away
from making mistakes or blunders in
responding to questions.
This fits in quite well with the fact that
Biden has held no press conferences and
is kept very isolated and controlled by the
White House staff of overseers. Even more
worrying has been Biden’s uncalled for
and risky conversations with foreign lead-
ers—most dangerous of all are the alleged
accusations Biden leveled at Russian
President Vladimir Putin, accusations
that, in Biden’s better days, he would have
avoided.
His similar attacks on Saudi Arabia’s
Mohammed bin Sultan also plunged the
Gulf area into great danger and led to in-
creasing Houthi attacks on the Kingdom.
SAMIRA BOUAOU/THE EPOCH TIMES
A secret service agent stands guard at the
White House on Dec. 2, 2017.
It appears the president has a poor grip on
the reality of his office.
Two very serious questions arise: the
first is, how long can the White House
staff, the vice president, and others
(including First Lady Jill Biden) protect
Biden? The second question is, can the
public be assured that Biden is capable
of exercising presidential responsibilities
including that most critical task of act-
ing as commander-in-chief of America’s
armed forces?
Building public confidence in Biden’s
ability to discharge his responsibilities
could well grow increasingly difficult. If
he can’t, what is to be done?
The real reason for the two of
them traveling together must
have been for a reason different
from a security imperative.
25th Amendment
The 25th Amendment to the Constitution
deals with presidential disability. It says
that the president should inform Congress
he can’t carry out his responsibilities, in
which case the vice president becomes
the acting president. Alternatively, the
vice president and the principal Cabinet
officers can inform Congress if the presi-
dent is unable to carry out his duties.
Presidents have been very reluctant to
invoke the 25th Amendment. In 1981,
when President Ronald Reagan was shot
and taken to G.W. Hospital in Washington
for emergency surgery, Vice President
George H.W. Bush was on an airplane
heading back to the Capitol.
Reagan could have invoked the 25th
Amendment (he was conscious enough to
crack jokes to the surgeon that he hoped
his surgeon was a Republican), but didn’t.
By the time Bush’s plane landed, Reagan
was out of surgery and was starting to
recover.
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson had
an incapacitating stroke. He was pro-
tected for the next two years by his wife.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
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Yet he remained in office until 1921. There
was no 25th Amendment—it was passed
in 1965 and ratified in 1967. Edith Wilson
secretly but effectively discharged presi-
dential responsibilities.
There has never been a case in which the
provisions of Article 4 of the 25th Amend-
ment empowering the vice president
and Cabinet officers to intervene were
invoked.
An additional element is mental health,
which isn’t directly addressed by the
25th Amendment. If a president suffered
from mental illness, would his support-
ers invoke Article 4 or would they try to
cover up the problem? Equally important
is mental decline, not mental illness. De-
mentia falls into that category.
The 25th Amendment doesn’t directly
address mental decline or speak about
two well-known maladies: dementia and
Alzheimer’s disease. Presidential health
checkups don’t take into account mental
health issues, or mental decline, although
with aging presidents, such assessments
might make sense.
Other countries have had similar
problems. The most famous case is that
of King George III, king of Great Britain
and Ireland. He suffered from recurrent
mental problems caused possibly by bipo-
lar disorder or porphyria, a type of blood
disorder.
His story was portrayed in the popu-
lar film, “The Madness of King George.”
While the film ends on a happy note, with
George restored to health and back on
the throne, the real story ended when a
Regency was established in 1811 because
George couldn’t carry out his responsi-
bilities or even recognize people around
him. In his last years, he became blind
and deaf and had dementia (perhaps
Alzheimer’s disease). He died in 1820.
Stephen Bryen is regarded as a thought
leader on technology security policy, twice
being awarded the Defense Department’s
highest civilian honor, the Distinguished
Public Service Medal. His most recent
book is “Technology Security and National
Power: Winners and Losers.”
ƉŽůŝƟĐĂůƌĞǀŽůƵƟŽŶ͙ŝŶĂƉůĂĐĞĐĂůůĞĚ
ŽŚŽĞƐ͙ŽīĞƌĞĚĂŶŝŶĞůĞŐĂŶƚůĞƐƐŽŶƚŽ
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ƉŽǁĞƌĂŝŵĨŽƌƚŚĞũƵŐƵůĂƌ͘͟
New York Herald Tribune
dƌŝƉƚŽƚŚĞWŽůŝƟĐĂůƌĞŶĂ͗
WĂƵůΖƐ Ŭ ŝƐ Ă ŐƌĂŶƵůĂƌ ůŽŽŬ Ăƚ ǁŚĂƚ
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Ŭ ŝƐ Ă ŵĂŶƵĂů ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŽǀĞƌƚŚƌŽǁ ŽĨ
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ŶĞƉŽƟƐŵ ĂŶĚ ůĂǁůĞƐƐŶĞƐƐ͘ ŽŶŐƌĂƚƵůĂ-
ƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ Śŝŵ ĨŽƌ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵůůLJ ĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ Ă
ƚŚŝƌĚƉĂƌƚLJ͕ƉĞƌƐĞǀĞƌŝŶŐƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŝŶĐƌĞĚŝ-
ďůĞŚĂƌĚƐŚŝƉ͕ĂŶĚŐĞƫŶŐƚŚĞũŽďĚŽŶĞ͙͊
/ƚŚŽƌŽƵŐŚůLJĞŶũŽLJĞĚƚŚŝƐƌĞĂĚĂŶĚǁŽƵůĚ
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ƚƌŝƉƚŽƚŚĞƌĞĂůůŝĨĞƉŽůŝƟĐĂůĂƌĞŶĂ͊
Kat Lyon，Book Review on Amazon
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 OPINION | A17

US Falls Into 4 Traps

ALL PHOTOS BY FREDRICK J. BROWN/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Set by the CCP in

US–China Talks
WANG HE
Anchorage, the largest
city in Alaska, recorded
a temperature as low as
zero degrees Fahrenheit
in the early morning on
March 20. A two-day high-
level talk between the United
States and China has just ended in this
frigid place. The high pitch of the Chinese
Communist Party’s (CCP) “wolf warriors”
howl and the weak U.S. response, in con-
trast, are really worrying.
In short, the U.S. side fell into four traps
set ingeniously by the CCP during the
talks.
First, the holding of high-level talks be-
tween the United States and China is itself
a CCP trap.
After President Joe Biden’s inauguration
on Jan. 20, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony
Blinken spoke with Yang Jiechi, a member
of the CCP’s Politburo, and Biden spoke
with CCP leader Xi Jinping. Judging from
their public statements, each side took a
different tone. In fact, as far as the current
state of U.S.–China relations is concerned,
it’s the CCP that has begged the United
States to stop the decoupling and sanc-
tion. Without substantial proposals (or
concessions) from the communist regime,
there would be no need for the United
States to hold the meeting at all. Before
the U.S. administration had any clear
policy toward the CCP, it actually “in-
vited” the CCP to come to the talks, falling
into the “dialogue trap” set up by the CCP.
In a press conference afterward, Yang
said the U.S.–China talks were candid,
constructive, and beneficial. “But, of
course, there are still differences between
the two sides.”
“We came to the meeting with the hope
that the two sides could enhance commu-
nication and dialogue on different fronts.
The two sides should follow the policy
of ‘no conflict’ to guide our path toward
a healthy and stable trajectory moving
forward,” he said.
Secondly, Yang broke diplomatic pro-
tocol by speaking for 16 minutes, which
was eight times longer than usual, and his
speech was obviously scripted. In particu-
lar, Yang said in his speech, “I don’t think
the overwhelming majority of countries
in the world would recognize the univer-
sal values advocated by the United States
or that the viewpoint of the United States
could represent international public opin-
U.S. side, not the other way around.
According to a report from Nikkei Asia,
Yang said, first of all, that “the United
States does not have the qualification to
say that it wants to speak to China from a
position of strength.”
Yang added that the CCP’s “leader-
ship and China’s political system are Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (R) address
supported wholeheartedly by the Chi- the media following the closed-door morning talks between the United States and China upon
nese people, and any attempt to change conclusion of their two-day meetings in Anchorage, Alaska on March 19, 2021.
China’s social system will be futile,” ac-
cording to a March 19 press release on the
website of the Chinese Embassy in the
United States.
Another point Yang made in his long
speech was a series of security and hu-
man rights issues the United States had
raised with the Chinese side, including
the CCP’s persecution of Uyghurs, its
suppression in Hong Kong, its economic
coercion of allies, its cyberattacks on the
United States, and its acts of aggression Secretary of State Antony The U.S. side has a good hand, but it
against Taiwan. Yang declared these are Blinken (2nd R), joined by can’t play it effectively. What is the prob-
all China’s internal affairs and that the National Security Advisor lem? The U.S. policymakers must first
communist regime “firmly opposes U.S. Jake Sullivan (R), speaks recognize the evil nature of the Chinese
while facing Yang Jiechi (2nd
interference.” communist regime and know themselves
L), director of the Central
According to Yang, “What the United Foreign Affairs Commission and their opponents in order to win.
States should do is to ... mind its own Office, and Wang Yi (L), Author and China expert Gordon Chang
business ... rather than making irrespon- China’s Foreign Minister at wrote on Twitter: “Yang Jiechi, in his
sible remarks about China’s human rights the opening session of US– opening remarks in Alaska, said, ‘there is
and democracy.” China talks at the Hotel no way to strangle China.’ Well, actually
Captain Cook in Anchorage, there is, and Beijing, with its increasingly
Alaska on March 18, 2021. dangerous conduct, will leave the world
Holding of high-level talks no choice but to do so.”
Hopefully, Chang’s voice will be heard at
between the United States and the U.S. policy-making level.
China is itself a CCP trap.
Wang He has master’s degrees in law and
To sum up Yang’s meaning in a sen- history and has studied the international
tence, it’s what he said in his opening communist movement. He was a univer-
remarks that “there is no way to strangle Like this article? Share it sity lecturer and an executive of a large
China.” This implies that the CCP isn’t with your friends and family. private firm in China. Wang now lives in
afraid to confront the United States and Use the camera on your North America and has published com-
uses the confrontation as a means to smart-phone to scan this code mentaries on China’s current affairs and
deter the U.S. side from retreating without and receive a shareble link. politics since 2017.
a fight.
The fourth trap lies in the U.S. side’s
intention to seek cooperation with the
CCP, even when facing such fierce con-
frontation. After the talks, Blinken spoke
at a press conference about very specific
areas where the United States and China
could cooperate.
Planned Giving Consultant Needed
“We were also able to have a very candid The Epoch Times is hiring planned giving consultant/firm.
conversation over these many hours on
an expansive agenda. On Iran, on North
If interested, please contact Lisa at Lisaw@epochtimes.com
Korea, on Afghanistan, on climate, our
interests intersect,” he said.
In addition, Biden administration of-
ficials said they were open to easing some TRUTH AND TRADITION

ion.” This is a clear indication that in the
future the CCP will no longer abide by the
rules set by the United States.
This is a very serious provocation. U.S.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) told The
Epoch Times in an email, “Just as the Chi-
nese delegation refused to comply with
the agreed-upon rules of the meeting,
Beijing refuses to comply with the rules-
based international order.”
The U.S. side, however, sat there obedi-
ently and listened to the end. American
conservative commentator Jack Posobiec
wrote on Twitter: “The obvious move
would be for Blinken and Sullivan to
stand up for the U.S. and kick out the CCP
delegation after being disrespected. But
they aren’t. They’re going back tomorrow
to lose even more face. Hard to say how
they could be any worse at this.”
Thirdly, Yang drew a “red line” for the
Yang Jiechi (R), director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office for China, and Wang Yi
(L), China’s foreign minister, arrive for a meeting with U.S. counterparts at the opening session of
U.S.–China talks at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 18, 2021.
of the visa restrictions imposed on Chi-
nese citizens under the Trump adminis-
tration. By doing so, the U.S. side swapped
its offensive position with the CCP and
willingly gave up its advantage.
In short, the Chinese Communist Party
is more cunning and evil than most peo-
ple can imagine. This round of talks was
the CCP’s way of testing the waters, and
now it has a clear picture of the United
States’ intentions. It’s expected to execute
tougher and stronger tactics, step by step,
targeting Taiwan after it has finished with
Hong Kong.
Of course, there are also discerning peo-
ple in the United States, such as former
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He was
seemingly the first to review the meeting
between the United States and China in
Alaska, writing on Twitter, “Strength de-
ters bad guys, weakness only invites war.”
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A18 | OPINION
A Veteran and Registered Democrat for Trump
Over 100 years ago, Vladimir
Lenin said that the takeover of
a country will be accomplished
by “willing idiots who have
believed the Big Lie.”
Adolph Hitler’s propaganda
minister, Dr. Joseph Goebbles,
said, “When you tell a lie, tell
a big lie because it is more
believable.”
Biden and Obama did not
react to the Asian flu nor the
swine flu that devastated my
nephew some six years ago, but
Bankrupting Our Country for Botox
Yesterday, on my local commu-
nity’s Facebook page, a woman
posted the following:
“My stimmy about to hit. I
want Botox and lips. Where to
y’all recommend?”
I could not believe all the com-
ments SUPPORTING this! A few
people tried to respond saying,
“Maybe you should use the
money to do something more
responsible,” and they imme-
diately got shouted down with
things like “she can do what she
wants with her money.” And
Taxation Without Representation
Hard-working U.S. taxpayers,
devastated by the politically
motivated COVID-19 lock-
downs, continue to shake
their heads in disbelief over
the obstructionist coronavirus
response of many of our public
school teachers unions across
the country this past year. The
same holds true for the massive
$1.9 trillion Democrat COVID
stimulus bill, passed March
11, that includes coercing the
entire country to bail out over-
spent “blue state” municipal
union pension plans. We have
reached the apex of power-hun-
gry elitist irresponsibility.
The National Labor Relations
Time Magazine Details
the ‘Shadow Campaign’ Against Trump
In the article last month in Time
magazine by Molly Ball, it was
stated that “they (The Shadow
Campaigns) were fortifying the
(last presidential) election; not
rigging it.” After reading the
article in depth several times,
it was clear that this article can
be likened to putting lipstick on
a pig. The more recent article in
The Epoch Times by Jeff Carlson
[“Time Magazine Details the
‘Shadow Campaign’ Against
Trump,” published Feb. 10] was
very good, but I thought it did not
go into detail enough about what
the Time article was really about.
The pig itself was portrayed in
great detail without undue bias.
Using traditional reasoning, all
of the elements of the Shadow
campaign were laid out in good
scientific fashion. The campaign
was organized into clusters of
differentiated data. They were
1) the alliance, 2) securing the
vote, 3) the disinformation de-
fense, 4) spreading the word, 5)
people power, 6) strange bedfel-
lows, 7) showing up, standing
down, 8) the five steps to victory,
and 9) how close we came.
These groups were organized to
follow the progress of all these
secret liberal groups.
Within each of these clusters
were long lists of mostly liberal
groups that met secretly in order
to thwart the lies of Donald
Trump. It was presumed that
The Readers’ Turn
Biden will cure COVID-19! That
must be the next big lie, because
my COVID-19 virus shots sched-
uled for February have been
canceled for lack of product.
Fortunately, President
Trump’s “Warp Speed” pro-
gram and fast reaction to CO-
VID-19 brought in vaccines in
record time. His policies made
America energy-independent
and our country safe and
strong. He also put 5 million
Americans back to work and
she responded back: “Girlfriend
I’m getting a huge fat check this
time around. These kids coming
in handy!”
They don’t understand that
IT’S OUR MONEY that she
is spending! We just spent a
trillion dollars bankrupting
our country for the next gen-
eration so that people who are
irresponsible with their money
get bailed out by those who are
responsible.
When the government gives
blank checks to people with
Act of 1935 (also known as the
Wagner Act) is the founda-
tional statute of U.S. labor law. It
guarantees the right of private
sector employees to organize
into trade unions. The act spe-
cifically doesn’t apply to certain
workers ... including govern-
ment employees.
The reason government
employees were excluded from
the act is because tax paying
citizens would be forced to foot
the spiraling tax bill for above-
market rate union member
compensation, without having
a direct “seat at the table” in the
government union negotiations.
This would be the ultimate
his lies were the source of the
upset that had overtaken the
voting public. No other source
was even mentioned. What all
this organized lipstick said was
that indeed a secret cabal had
worked feverishly to overcome
what they thought was over-
bearing intimidation and lying
to the American public. But
what if the underlying premise
of the Time article was wrong.
What if Trump was right and
had not lied? His verbiage can
be quite forceful, but I think he
is only intimidating to those
who prefer to think he lied.
What if our archaic system of
voting is flawed? Maybe it has
become necessary to review and
incorporate new updated laws.
The result then may include a
more modern, more efficient
election result. Consider that
our system of voting is over 200
years old. Perhaps it does need
an update.
Let us consider that maybe,
just maybe, either party in a
polarized group conflict could
consider the opposing party
to be liars; in other words, it
works both ways. This view
could depict a situation where
each group presumes guilt for
the opposing party without any
admission of guilt for them-
selves. Under those conditions,
there would be no real search
for the truth, just unimagina-
If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, please contact us:
Email: lettertoeditor@epochtimes.com
Mail: The Epoch Times 229 W. 28th St., Fl. 7, New York, NY 10001
found a way to pay the inter-
est on the $22 trillion Biden/
Obama U.S. bankruptcy debt
that even our great-grandchil-
dren couldn’t pay off.
However, the big lie believ-
ers and corrupt media have
inaugurated Howdy Doodie as
president of our great country!
Go figure. I am ashamed to be a
registered Democrat.
ANDREW MAHANEY
VIETNAM WAR VET
HAWAII
no strings attached, and no
education to people about how
they might want to spend that
money, we are left with a hor-
rible financial future.
Please, please, please encour-
age your readers to write to their
representatives asking them to
refuse to approve any additional
handouts without some over-
sight on how it should be spent.
Bankrupting our country for
Botox has got to stop.
CHRISTINE DULL
CALIFORNIA
“taxation without representa-
tion” abuse of power.
Intellectually dishonest peo-
ple, pushing a political agenda,
have systematically gotten us to
where we are today. They, quite
simply, need to get out of the
way. It is unchecked nonsense
to allow our government “of the
people, by the people and for the
people” to negotiate with itself
and then let the citizen taxpay-
ers know how it turns out.
The time has come for a collec-
tive bipartisan challenge to the
fundamental legality of govern-
ment unions.
THOMAS J. MURPHREE
MICHIGAN
tive defensiveness. As far as I
know, there has never been this
kind of intense polarization in
presidential elections before.
Because it is new, old solutions
may no longer work. To impose
a secret marketing campaign
on the opposition is surely an
attempt to rig the election, not
fortify it.
As I’ve said before, the Time
article is metaphorically put-
ting lipstick on a pig. The real
solution to the problem of the
election process is to diminish
or eliminate the real cause of
the general upset. We appear
to need laws or regulations that
limit the amount of all upsetting
intense communications under
crisis conditions, including
presidential elections. That way,
media can be limited under
certain conditions while still be-
ing able to function freely as an
advocate of freedom of speech.
Media should not be allowed
to censor certain special po-
litical entities because it would
certainly encourage special in-
terests to become self-interests.
When the media is allowed to
censor, it is analogous to hav-
ing basketball players serve as
umpires in their own games; it is
self-serving.
SINCERELY,
FLOYD SOURS, MA
RETIRED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
OHIO
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
Stand Up, Shout Out
Just say no to the H.R. 1 election
reform bill that was recently
passed by the Democrat-con-
trolled House of Representa-
tives. The 800-page bill shifts
power from the states to the
federal government: no voter-ID
laws, allow same-day voter reg-
istration, no signature require-
ments for mail-in ballots, allow
mail-in ballots to be counted
as late as 10 days after Election
Day. H.R. 1 does more harm to
the American people, leaving
them at a disadvantage to cor-
rect election system errors.
The 2020 election was stolen.
The Constitution states that
state legislators set the rules.
Where was the Supreme Court
when the Democrats shifted the
Saving America From Socialism
I just finished reading the in-
depth article by Trevor Loudon
“A New Zealander’s 9 ‘Starter
Steps’ to Save America From
Socialism” [published March 9].
This is one of the most out-
standing articles I believe I have
read. It certainly outlines the
pitfalls and downfalls America
is currently dealing with and
practical solutions to fix it.
I would like to suggest that you
run this article again, in the next
installment of The Epoch Times
in case some folks missed it or
wish to forward it on to friends
and family.
I have tried to put it up on
Facebook but expect it to be
deleted. I have forwarded it to
Jean Chen’s Article: ‘A Mom’s Research’
I am writing to say how much
I enjoyed your article in the
Times [“A Mom’s Research:
Texas Freezing and Global
Warming” by Jean Chen,
published on Feb. 24]. As I have
lived a good many years on this
earth, I appreciate a logical, ob-
jective review of current news
events. I especially like your
quote from Richard Feynman,
as I too see too much advocacy
and less proven science in the
world’s “scientific leaders.” And,
in too many instances, facts
omitted.
I would like to add two scien-
tific facts to your list of research
material. I am not a scientist
and I do not have initials behind
my name listing all my degrees.
I’m just a plain ordinary old
guy who’s done a fair amount of
reading on this subject.
Fact No. 1: The movement of
the “magnetic north pole.” The
magnetic pole (not true north)
consists of a large molten (2700
degrees F) mass of iron ore
under the earth’s surface. For
decades, this mass was located
in the Hudson Bay of north-
ern Canada. Until recently,
its movement was limited
to inches a year. It currently
resides under the Arctic Circle
and is moving toward Russian
Siberia. Using a layman’s logic,
a mass of iron at 2700 F would
have a definite effect on the
polar ice above. Brian Williams
(NBC News) reported this event
back in January 2011.
Fact No. 2: This is a little
more complicated than No. 1.
We’re all taught in school that
the earth makes a yearly orbit
around the sun, and that the
earth spins on its axis once
every 24 hours. Some of us
remember that the earth is
tilted some 20 degrees-plus on
its axis, thus creating the sea-
rules to benefit the Democratic
Party? A voter can register the
same day and vote, with no
voter ID, and signatures are not
verified. Nevada had 90,000
ballots mailed to registered vot-
ers in Nevada’s largest county,
returned undeliverable. That
could have made a difference in
the outcome of the 2020 elec-
tion. Thousands of votes from
other states were counted with-
out verification in the middle of
the night.
Do we want to go through this
again? Clean up the swamp!
Call, write, encourage others to
call or write. Take the challenge!
Do you want your vote to count?
BETTY HENDSBEE
FLORIDA
about 15 friends in my list in
hopes all will take the time to
read it. He certainly points out
what we need to do to SAVE
OUR BELOVED COUNTRY. It is
heartbreaking to even think of
a Socialist/Communitst tak-
ing over, but if America doesn’t
wake up and SOON, it is defi-
nitely going to happen.
Thank you for running such
in-depth, deep-thinking
articles. I was certainly glad to
find it online as well as in my
hard-copy paper. GOD BLESS
THE EPOCH TIMES, and Trevor
Loudon as well!! I hope and pray
it is not too late for the USA.
MRS. BUDDY L. WOLFE
TEXAS
sons (winter, summer, etc.) as
the earth makes its yearly trip
around the sun.
Most don’t know that the
earth wobbles on its axis.
Picture a spinning top and how
it begins to wobble as it begins
to spin down. This wobble
affects the earth’s tilt toward
(and away) from the sun. This
wobble is called “the proces-
sion of the equinox.” Look it up,
quite interesting reading. This
scientific fact has been known
for centuries, and even (I’ve
been told) documented in Cen-
tral and South American Native
Indian calendars. Again using
a layman’s logic, if the angle of
the earth changes its exposure
to the sun, there would be a
corresponding temperature
that would affect both positive
and negative. A single (360-de-
gree) rotation of this “proces-
sion” takes approximately
26,000 years to complete. Just
one degree of this “proces-
sion” takes around 72 years—a
lifetime. If my memory serves
me right, we were taught that
the last ice age in the Northern
Hemisphere ended around
12,000 years ago. Logic tells
me that if 12,000 years ago the
Northern Hemisphere was
under ice, the earth has been
warming ever since.
Is the “procession” the cause?
If that’s the case, then do the
math. The earth is going to
continue its cycle of warming
for another 1,000 years, and
there’s little science can do but
prepare for it.
In closing, I again thank you
for your interesting and edu-
cational article. I hope I have
given you additional research
sources with which to inform
your daughter.
L. LABAHN RENO
NEVADA
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
SPECIAL SERIES: HOW THE SPECTER OF COMMUNISM IS RULING OUR WORLD
Chapter Sixteen: The Communism
Behind Environmentalism
The Epoch Times here serializes
an adaptation from the Chinese
of “How the Specter of Communism
Is Ruling Our World,” a new book
by the editorial team of the “Nine
Commentaries on the Communist
Party.”
2. Climate Change (cont.)
b. ‘Consensus’ in Climate
Science
In 1988, the U.N.’s IPCC was estab-
lished to assess and synthesize the
science related to climate change.
One of its missions is to evaluate
existing scientific research on climate
change and release an authorita-
tive report every several years. These
reports are designed to provide a sci-
entific basis for governments in their
policy making. They are authored by
hundreds of scientists and reviewed
by thousands more. Hence, the re-
ports’ conclusions are often described
as being the consensus of thousands
of the world’s top scientists.
In 1992, the U.N. Framework Con-
vention on Climate Change (UN-
FCCC) stated that its goal was to stabi-
lize the concentrations of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere at a level that
would prevent dangerous anthropo-
genic (human-induced) interference
with the climate system. It began with
the assertion that climate change was
caused by humans and was danger-
ous. [34] Therefore, the UNFCCC
must operate under the assumption
that humans are the culprits behind
dangerous climate change, as this
is necessary for the organization’s
existence and survival. This assump-
tion has also restricted the focus and
scope of the IPCC’s inquiry. [35]
Statements of Uncertainty
Removed From IPCC Reports
Before the IPCC released its 1995
Second Assessment Report, world-
renowned physicist Frederick Seitz
obtained a copy. Seitz later discovered
that the final report was not the same
version that contributing scientists
had approved. All statements express-
ing uncertainty about the effects of
human activity on climate change
had been deleted.
Seitz’s article in The Wall Street
Journal stated, “In my more than
60 years as a member of the Ameri-
can scientific community, includ-
ing service as president of both the
National Academy of Sciences and
the American Physical Society, I have
never witnessed a more disturbing
corruption of the peer-review process
than the events that led to this IPCC
report.” [36]
The deleted statements included the
following:
“None of the studies cited above has
shown clear evidence that we can at-
tribute the observed [climate] chang-
es to the specific cause of increases in
greenhouse gases.”
“No study to date has positively
attributed all or part [of the climate
change observed to date] to anthro-
pogenic [man-made] causes.”
“Any claims of positive detection of
significant climate change are likely to
remain controversial until uncertain-
ties in the total natural variability of
the climate system are reduced.” [37]
The IPCC claimed that the authors
had approved all modifications made
to the report, but the changes reveal
how the IPCC’s reporting was influ-
enced by politics. The report mostly
summarizes existing studies without
adding original research. Because the
existing research contains so many
different views, ensuring a consen-
sus meant that the IPCC had to omit
views that stood in the way of its
predetermined conclusion.
In April 2000, a first draft of the
IPCC’s Third Assessment Report said,
“There has been a discernible hu-
man influence on global climate.”
The second draft in October said, “It
is likely that increasing concentra-
tions of anthropogenic greenhouse
gases have contributed significantly
to observed warming over the past
50 years.” In the final, official conclu-
sion, the statement was even stronger:
“Most of the observed warming over
the last 50 years is likely to have been
Scientists attend due to the increase in greenhouse gas
the opening ses- concentrations.”
sion of the Inter- When the U.N. Environment Pro-
governmental gramme’s spokesman, Tim Higham,
Panel on Climate was asked about the scientific basis
Change at UNE- behind the change, he told New
SCO in Paris on Scientist, “There was no new science,
Jan. 29, 2007.
but the scientists wanted to present
a clear and strong message to policy-
makers.” [38]
Put another way, the UNFCCC gave
a homework assignment to the IPCC,
making the answer they wanted clear.
The IPCC then delivered what was
required.
The UNFCCC must operate
under the assumption that
humans are the culprits behind
dangerous climate change, as
this is necessary for the organi-
zation’s existence and survival.
‘Disaster Consensus’
Overstated in IPCC Report
Paul Reiter, medical entomology
professor at the Pasteur Institute in
France, is a leading expert on malaria
and other insect-borne diseases. He
disagreed with the IPCC report and
had to threaten legal action against
the IPCC to get his name removed
from the list of 2,000 top scientists
who were said to have endorsed it. He
said that the IPCC “make[s] it seem
that all the top scientists are agreed,
but it’s not true.” [39]
In his testimony during a U.S.
Senate hearing on April 26, 2006,
Reiter said: “A galling aspect of the
debate is that this spurious ‘science’
is endorsed in the public forum by
influential panels of ‘experts.’ I refer
particularly to the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. Every five
years, this UN-based organization
publishes a ‘consensus of the world’s
top scientists’ on all aspects of climate
change. Quite apart from the dubious
process by which these scientists are
selected, such consensus is the stuff
Before of politics, not of science.” [40]
For example, environmentalists
the IPCC
have been promoting the theory that
released its insect-borne diseases such as ma-
1995 Second laria will wreak havoc as the climate
Assessment warms. “Global warming will put
Report, millions more people at risk of ma-
laria and dengue fever, according to a
world-
United Nations report that calls for an
renowned urgent review of the health dangers
physicist posed by climate change,” a Bloom-
Frederick berg article stated on Nov. 27, 2007. [41]
Seitz But Reiter does not agree with this
discovered simple correlation, pointing out that
malaria is not confined to tropical ar-
that all
statements
eas. Throughout the Russian Empire
and Soviet Union in the late 19th and
expressing early 20th centuries, up to 5 mil-
uncertainty lion people died annually from the
about the disease. [42] A 2011 study published in
effects of Biology Letters found that, contrary
human to the prevailing assumption, rising
temperatures decrease a mosquitoes’
activity on infectiousness and malaria transmis-
climate sion slows down. [43]
change had
Another scientist who withdrew
been deleted. from the IPCC accused the organi-
-/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
zation of using so-called disaster
consensus as part of its operational
culture. Meteorologist Christopher
Landsea, a former hurricane re-
searcher at the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and
a lead author of the IPCC’s fourth
assessment report, withdrew from
the IPCC in January 2005. In an open
letter, he stated, “I personally cannot
in good faith continue to contribute
to a process that I view as both being
motivated by preconceived agendas
and being scientifically unsound.” He
urged the IPCC to confirm that the
report would adhere to science rather
than sensationalism. [44]
Landsea criticized the lead au-
thor of the IPCC report’s chapter on
hurricane activity for ignoring the
scientific studies that could not prove
that increased hurricane activity was
related to man-made global warming.
Instead, the lead author of the report
spoke at a high-profile press confer-
ence in which it was asserted that
global warming was “likely to contin-
ue spurring more outbreaks of intense
hurricane activity,” and gave several
interviews before the report was pub-
lished presenting the same view.
Notes
34. U.S. Congress, House, Committee on
Science, Space and Technology of the United
States House of Representatives, “Hearing
on Climate Science: Assumptions, Policy
Implications and the Scientific Method,”
115th Cong., 1st sess., March 29, 2017.
35. Ibid.
36. Frederick Seitz, “Major Deception on
Global Warming,” The Wall Street Journal,
June 12, 1996.
37. Ibid.
38. Tim Higham, as quoted in Larry Bell,
“The New York Times’ Global Warming
Hysteria Ignores 17 Years of Flat Global
Temperatures,” Forbes, Aug. 21, 2013.
39. Paul Reiter, as quoted in Christopher C.
Horner, “Red Hot Lies: How Global Warming
Alarmists Use Threats, Fraud, and Deception
to Keep You Misinformed” (Washington,
D.C.: Regnery Publishing, 2008), 319.
40. U.S. Congress, Senate, Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
“Projected and Past Effects of Climate
Change: A Focus on Marine and Terrestrial
Systems,” 109th Cong., 2nd sess., April 26,
2006.
41. Bloomberg, as quoted in James Taylor,
“Mosquitoes Ignore Global Warming
Predictions,” Forbes, Oct. 5, 201.
42. Leonard J. Bruce-Chwatt, “Malaria
Research and Eradication in the USSR,”
World Health Organization Bulletin, 1959,
accessed via National Institutes of Health on
April 30, 2020.
43. Zoë Corbyn, “Global Warming Wilts
Malaria,” Nature, Dec. 21, 2011.
44. Christopher Landsea, as quoted in
James Taylor, “Climate Scientist Quits IPCC,
Blasts Politicized ‘Preconceived Agendas,’”
The Heartland Institute, April 1, 2005.
See next edition for the next installment.
To purchase the books, visit Epoch-
Shop.com
OPINION | A19
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Jasper Fakkert, Editor-in-Chief
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A20 | OPINION
Tucker Carlson-Military Spat
Shows Left’s Long March
Reaching Dangerous Apex
BENJAMIN WEINGARTEN
Is the military more fo-
cused on winning wars,
or Wokeism?
Americans shouldn’t
have to ask this question.
But on account of doings
of the Biden-led Department
of Defense (DOD), Fox News’ Tucker
Carlson was rightly compelled to proffer
it. That he received any DOD response—
and no less an almost parodic scolding,
rather than an assurance that the mili-
tary is singularly focused on crushing our
enemies—demonstrates an existential
problem for our country.
It shows that the progressives’ Long
March through our institutions is reach-
ing its dangerous apex.
This is a dangerous apex because when it
comes to matters of national security and
foreign policy, politicization literally kills.
Our military must be impervious to
politicization, and particularly political
correctness and insubordination, or it
will lack the will and capability necessary
to deter and when necessary defeat our
adversaries.
Absent a military insulated from these
ills, our peace and prosperity will erode.
People will die.
Yet for well over a decade now, perhaps
the last trusted institution in this country,
the military, has shown dangerous signs
that it’s succumbing to the maladies of all
of our other institutions.
This is an indictment not of our cher-
ished military itself, but of those who
have tarnished it through repudiating its
core principles, and the civilian leaders
who have abided by such conduct, if not
endorsed it.
Stop Human ‘Fetal Farming’ Before It Starts
WESLEY J. SMITH
The news rocked the
scientific world. Mouse
embryos were success-
fully developed halfway
through the normal ges-
tation period using artifi-
cial wombs. Scientists were
ecstatic. The New York Times reported:
“The mouse embryos looked perfectly
normal. All their organs were developing
as expected, along with their limbs and
circulatory and nervous systems. Their
tiny hearts were beating at a normal 170
beats per minute.”
Meanwhile, scientists involved in hu-
man embryonic research are moving at
a fast pace toward the same place as the
mouse artificial uterus experimenters.
The Tucker Carlson–DOD contretemps
broke this reality right out into the open
for all of America to see.
Carlson highlighted President Joe
Biden’s lauding of military progress on
“creating maternity flight suits,” and “up-
dating requirements for their [women’s]
hairstyles,” Defense Secretary Lloyd
Austin’s efforts to root out ill-defined “ex-
tremism” in the military ranks, and a U.S.
Navy reading list that includes among
its foundational texts for sailors the likes
of discrimination-defending professor
Ibram X. Kendi’s execrable “How to Be
an Antiracist.” Navy initiatives flowed
naturally from this list.
Could a military focused on so many
items other than fostering the strongest,
toughest, and smartest fighting force in
the world, he wondered, really compete
with a deathly serious communist China?
The DOD’s response, a news story, titled
“Press Secretary Smites Fox Host That
Dissed Diversity in U.S. Military” that com-
pletely mischaracterized Carlson’s argu-
ment as an attack on women rather than on
identity politics, and a defense of merit—
replete with images of female soldiers of
varying backgrounds—proved his point.
That active servicemen and women piled
on to the attack via their social media ac-
counts only lent further credence to it.
This is to say nothing of the politiciza-
tion evident in that the U.S. military is now
considering easing its fitness standards,
for which women tend to lag significantly
behind men.
Maybe this all shouldn’t be surprising.
Maybe the military is just following in the
footsteps of a commander-in-chief who
believes America is systemically racist, that
white supremacism and extremism consti-
tute our greatest scourges, and that—con-
Researchers currently work under a vol-
untary guideline known as the “14-Day
Rule” that requires embryo experiment-
ers to cease their studies and destroy
their research embryos after two weeks.
When enacted, the rule was much less
than met the eye since scientists could
not maintain embryos outside a woman’s
body for longer than two weeks anyway.
Thus, scientists pulled a fast one. They
assured a wary public that their work
would be strictly limited in scope, with-
out giving up anything that they could
then actually accomplish.
Such experimentation has now pro-
ceeded to the point that embryos will
soon be able to be maintained for longer
than 14 days. And surprise, surprise!
“The scientists” now want to trash the 14-
Day Rule and allow nascent human life
TASOS KATOPODIS/GETTY IMAGES
Members of the National Guard
from Delaware tour the rotunda at
the U.S. Capitol on their downtime,
in Washington on Jan. 13, 2021.
sistent with many of his executive orders—
progressivism ought to pervade every
aspect of the federal government. And why
should we expect a military not to conform
to the culture of the government?
But the truth is, the politicization of our
military predates Biden and a Democrat-
dominated legislative branch.
We just witnessed four years of insubor-
dination, obstruction, and worse up and
down the ranks of our military—to say
nothing of our intelligence and foreign
policy apparatuses.
Could a military focused
on so many items other
than fostering the strongest,
toughest, and smartest
fighting force in the world
really compete with a deathly
serious communist China?
Those four years concluded with the Na-
tional Guard apparently not deploying due
to “optics”—that is, politics—in advance of
the Capitol Riot, the urgings of then-Presi-
dent Donald Trump notwithstanding.
Consider what came before that episode.
Lt. Col. Alex Vindman of Trump’s Na-
tional Security Council led an impeach-
ment effort effectively on the basis of his
opposition to a foreign policy decision that
wasn’t his to make.
Trump’s special envoy to Syria Jim
Jeffrey admitted deceiving the president
on troop levels there, by “playing shell
games to not make clear to ... leadership
how many troops we had.”
SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) speaks on the
second day of the Democratic National Con-
vention in Boston on July 27, 2004.
to be experimented upon much farther
along in their development. Such pro-
cesses will almost surely require using
artificial wombs.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
Several former senior military officials
openly entertained scenarios in which the
military would have to remove Trump from
office should he lose the 2020 election.
Retired generals engaged in unhinged
attacks on Trump, likening him to Mus-
solini, drawing parallels between his
administration and Hitler’s Nazi regime,
and accusing the president of being a Rus-
sian traitor—arguably in violation of the
Uniform Code of Military Justice.
There was continuity in the reading lists
within the armed services between Presi-
dents Trump and Biden as well. In 2020, the
then-director of the Defense Intelligence
Agency reportedly endorsed Robin Di-
Angelo’s “White Fragility”—an anti-racist
bible on the level of Kendi’s—apparently es-
chewing A.T. Mahan, Carl von Clausewitz,
and Sun Tzu. To ensure the next generation
of warfighters gets its share of leftist indoc-
trination, we learned that West Point was
requiring cadets to read about critical race
theory and queer theory in one of its leader-
ship courses. Related policies abounded.
Before Trump, there was President
Barack Obama. His administration sys-
tematically downplayed the threat of Is-
lamic terror, and fired those in the military
who presented competing opinions about
the size, scope, and nature of the threat.
It purged training materials on the jihad-
ist’s threat doctrine, and even related law
enforcement records. It continued a war
in Afghanistan for—per the Afghanistan
Papers—largely political reasons. It insti-
tuted suicidal rules of engagement that put
the lives of our adversaries first.
When, early in the Obama presidency,
in November 2009, Maj. Nidal Hasan shot
and killed 13 people, and injured 30 more
at Fort Hood, Texas, that alone should
have told us that something had gone
very wrong in our armed forces. This was
an individual whose business card bore
the markings of an Islamist, reading “SoA
(SWT)”—“Soldier of Allah,” with “SWT”
an acronym for Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala,
Arabic for “The most glorified, the most
high.” Hasan delivered disturbing pre-
sentations to his peers regarding Islamic
law, jihadism, and the implications for
the military while serving as a psychia-
trist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
His activities drew the Federal Bureau
of Investigation’s notice, yet he remained
in our armed forces, and it enabled him to
carry out a deadly assault. The DOD de-
clared his jihadist act “workplace violence.”
The then-chief of staff of the U.S. Army,
Gen. George Casey, declared that “what
happened at Fort Hood was a tragedy but I
believe it would be an even greater tragedy
if our diversity becomes a casualty here.”
That was 12 years ago.
Carlson has done yeoman’s work in
drawing attention to the perverse politi-
cization of our military, which can only
have the effect of undermining morale
and warping the military’s culture, caus-
ing dissension and disorder within its
ranks, blinding America to the threats
we face, and deterring the talented from
joining—all ultimately weakening our
national security and leading to the fu-
ture loss of American lives.
But the sobering truth is that this prob-
lem has been festering for years.
Stopping the Long March through our
military, and indeed all of our institu-
tions, and reversing it, is the essential task
of our lifetime.
Ben Weingarten is a fellow of the Clare-
mont Institute and co-host of the Edmund
Burke Foundation’s “The NatCon Squad.”
He is the author of “American Ingrate:
Ilhan Omar and the Progressive-Islamist
Takeover of the Democratic Party,” and is
currently working on a book on U.S.–Chi-
na policy and its transformation under
the Trump administration.
Much of this future experimentation
will involve learning how to eugenically
manipulate babies. From the MIT Tech-
nology Report story on growing calls to
trash the 14-Day Rule: “Scientists are mo-
tivated to grow embryos longer in order
to study—and potentially manipulate—
the development process. ... New experi-
ments ‘might ignite abortion debates,’
especially if the researchers develop
human embryos to the point where they
take on recognizable characteristics like
a head, beating heart cells, or the begin-
ning of limbs.”
It should stimulate debate! We are not
talking about “beating heart cells” but the
human hearts of nascent human beings.
And contrary to the Technology Report
story, these ethical questions have noth-
ing whatsoever to do with abortion, since
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
My Tibetan Friends and ‘Rooftop
Koreans’ Know All About Gun Control
ALEXANDER LIAO
I have many Tibetan friends. Whether
in Tibet in the past or later in the United
States, when Tibetans tell the story of
their families during the period in which
the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
entered Tibet, many of them usually
begin with the same event: the full-scale
confiscation of guns.
Most Tibetans live as nomads, so weap-
ons are an important part of their lives,
used against wild animals and people as
self-defense.
In 1950, the CCP and representatives of
the Dalai Lama signed a 17-point agree-
ment not to carry out “reforms” in the
Dalai Lama-controlled areas of Tibet, pre-
serving their original institutions and way
of life. But on the west bank of the Jinsha
River, one of the first things the commu-
nist army did was to confiscate guns on a
large scale. Tibetans in Qinghai, Gansu,
and Sichuan provinces rioted and fled in
large numbers after a 1959 uprising failed.
These Tibetans fled to the heart of Tibet,
often in large groups, with entire tribes
numbering in the thousands.
The Chinese communist army pursued
and intercepted them, and large numbers
of Tibetans died on the way, including the
elderly, the weak, women, and children.
A Tibetan I know, who was 8 years
old when he fled from Qinghai, told the
story of his tribe, which refused to hand
in their guns, fought back, fled, and was
eventually exterminated. His parents and
siblings all died, and he himself was the
only one in the family who was rescued
and later adopted by other Tibetans.
After 1959, the CCP no longer recognized
the 17-point agreement. Tibet, which was
the first region that experienced the CCP’s
policy of “one country, two systems,” came
under the full control of the CCP.
Another friend of mine came from the
west bank of the Jinsha River, which was
part of the former Tibetan local govern-
ment area. In 1959, when the CCP started
to ban guns in all of Tibet, his father and
more than 50 people from his tribe went
to the mountains with guns and con-
fronted the CCP. A year later, the CCP
forced the group to surrender by holding
their families as hostages, most of whom
were eventually shot and killed.
Not only Tibet, but also other ethnic
minorities, including Mongols, Kazakhs,
Uyghurs, and Yi, were forced to surren-
der their extremely outdated guns. As
compensation, they were allowed to keep
small and medium-sized knives for use
in the field.
But in the past decade, knives were also
deemed a major threat by the CCP.
In Xinjiang and Tibet, especially
among Uyghurs and Tibetans, a real-
name system is required for knife
purchases. In Xinjiang, even for kitchen
ARCHIVE PHOTOS/ARCHIVE PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES
no woman would be required or asked to
do anything with her body. The question
that these experiments thus force us to
face—and answer—is of whether unborn
human life has any intrinsic moral value,
and if so, to what extent.
Some pro-lifers hope this technology
could save babies from abortion. But
before we even get to that issue, the ques-
tion has to be considered of whether de-
veloping human artificial wombs could
even be accomplished ethically.
Frankly, I don’t see how. Perfecting
such a machine would entail the mass
creation of human embryos and their
repeated destruction in experiments
as researchers strived to maintain the
embryos for ever-longer time periods, in-
deed, eventually well into the fetal stage.
This would be human experimentation
of the rankest sort, with living fetuses
maintained in an artificial environment,
not for the purpose of being born or
learning how to save babies in danger of
being stillborn—but also as being akin
Gun advocates in front of the Washington state Capitol, during the “March for Our Rights” rally, in
Olympia, Wash., on April 21, 2018.
knives, an ID number and a QR code
must be engraved on the knife.
As a Han Chinese, the restrictions are
even stricter. I clearly remember a big
sign hanging at a train station, “Anyone
carrying a knife such as a dagger is sub-
ject to two years of reeducation through
labor.” Reeducation through labor is
a long-standing CCP administrative
measure beyond the rule of the law that
authorizes the public security bureaus to
imprison people for up to three years on
various charges without a court ruling.
The Chinese regime abolished the re-
education through labor system in 2013,
though other forms of detention outside
the law still exist in China, according to
various reports.
The CCP doesn’t “discriminate” against
any ethnic group when it comes to the
control of guns and knives, and all people
must bow down without any dissent.
US Gun Rush
In the United States, many are rushing to
buy guns for the same reason: ensuring
the ability to protect themselves.
According to the FBI’s National Instant
Criminal Background Check System,
more than 7.7 million background check
applications for gun purchases were
accepted nationwide in January and
February, an increase of more than 2 mil-
lion compared to the 5.4 million checks
for the same period a year earlier. It’s also
a 5 million increase over the 2.7 million
checks done in the same period a decade
ago in 2011.
A National Shooting Sports Founda-
tion survey shows that almost 5 million
Americans purchased a firearm for the
first time in 2020.
Some first-time gun owners told The
A Tibetan
lines up
his match-
lock rifle in
Tibet, in this
file photo.
to lab rats, for example, used as sources
of organs for transplantation, a prospect
already discussed in bioethics known as
“fetal farming.”
Are we really willing to go that far? I
fear we may because we already have.
Back in the late ’60s, researchers con-
ducted experiments on born “aborted”
infants kept alive for experimentation.
Please excuse the graphic description of
one of these experiments that follows,
as reported by Pamela R. Winnick in her
book “A Jealous God.”
She writes: “In a 1968 study called the
‘Artificial Placenta,’ a twenty-six-week-old
fetus, weighing more than a pound, was
obtained from a fourteen-year-old girl,
presumably from a therapeutic abortion.
Along with fourteen other fetuses, it was
immersed in a liquid containing oxygen
and kept alive for a full five hours.”
Winnick then quoted from the study
itself: “For the whole 5 hours of life, the
fetus did not respire. Irregular gasping
movements, twice a minute occurred in
JASON REDMOND/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Epoch Times that they’re worried about
the ability to defend themselves as some
politicians push left-leaning policies.
Rooftop Koreans
If you think Americans will never fall
into the same helpless and desperate
situation as my Tibetan friends did, think
about this: the rooftop Koreans in the
1992 Los Angeles riots.
In 1992, riots were sparked after four of-
ficers—three of them white—connected
to the beating of Rodney King, a black
man, were acquitted. The riots lasted for
four days and resulted in 53 deaths, more
than 45,000 fire-related responses, and
more than $1 billion in property dam-
age, a Federal Emergency Management
Agency report states.
Korean-owned stores were particularly
targeted in the 1992 riots. Stanley Sue, a
professor of psychology at the University
of California—Los Angeles, testified that
Korean Americans suffered half of all of
the property damage that occurred in
Los Angeles.
On the afternoon of April 29, a large
mob gathered a few miles from Kore-
atown, also known as West Los Angeles
due to its location on the west side of
the downtown area. Several large gangs
in Los Angeles declared a truce so they
could work together to raid Koreatown.
The large group of rioters was armed
with guns and ammunition robbed from
stores. The police in Los Angeles weren’t
able to provide protection for the local citi-
zens. On April 30, Korean residents began
to form their own armed defense teams.
When the mob stormed into Kore-
atown, they were confronted by a more
organized militia. Koreans who owned
small stores and gas stations were armed
to the teeth, standing on the roofs of their
businesses in an all-out war against the
mob, relying on fortifications made of
concrete piles, vehicles, and furniture.
All Koreans had to fulfill mandatory
military service, with even the scrawnier
Koreans receiving four years of formal
military training in Korea. They clearly
had more experience in fighting than the
mob. From then on, the Koreans were
given the nickname “Rooftop Koreans.”
“I will never forget the sight of the Korean
grocers on the rooftop holding rifles to
the middle of the experiment but there
was not proper respiration. Once the pro-
fusion [pumping in of oxygenated blood]
was stopped, however, the gasping respi-
ratory efforts increased to 8 to 10 per min-
ute. ... After stopping the circuit, the heart
slowed, became irregular, and eventually
stopped. ... The fetus was quiet, making
occasional stretching limb movements
very much like the ones reported in other
human work. ... [T]he fetus died 21 min-
utes after leaving the circuit.”
After these ghoulish experiments be-
came known publicly, they were stopped
by an outraged Congress—led by Sen.
Ted Kennedy, of all people—which
prevented National Institutes of Health
funding of such experiments.
But that was when the sanctity of life
held greater sway. Would the country
erupt in the same revulsion today at such
experiments? I wonder.
Indeed, the ground is already being
prepared to permit experiments on
living fetuses to resume. For example,
OPINION | A21
guard themselves against looters,” Pulitzer
Prize-winning columnist Clarence Page
said during a hearing before the U.S. Com-
mission on Civil Rights in the Office of Per-
sonnel Management Auditorium in 1992.
What if the rooftop Koreans hadn’t
had guns?
In the early days, the American con-
tinent was sparsely populated and rule
of law wasn’t yet in place. When family
property was threatened, it was impossible
to wait for police on horseback to arrive a
month later, so the right to own a gun was
inevitable. Eventually, American indepen-
dence was achieved by the militia.
Success of Self-Governance
The right to own guns in the U.S. Con-
stitution, however, exists for more than
these historical reasons. The Founding
Fathers of the United States wanted to
create a society with a small government
that would rely primarily on civilian self-
governance to achieve economic success,
social stability, and prosperity. Therefore,
popular self-armament is both the cause
and the effect of maintaining a small
government in this country.
Guns need to be managed, but how
they are managed is a big issue.
In modern society, guns actually help
the disadvantaged rather than the power-
ful. Imagine if there were no civilian guns
in the United States—any criminal could
break into any house at will. Especially in
neighborhoods with an elderly popula-
tion, they could go on rampages without
even needing guns; they are usually young
and strong enough to sweep through a
neighborhood with a stick or their bare
hands. But with guns, it’s a different story.
An 80-year-old grandmother can still be
very deadly, so criminals need to think
twice about entering a private house.
Even if all guns were banned, it would
only prohibit law-abiding citizens, and
criminals would still be able to find guns,
which would only make them more ram-
pant. The police are limited in number,
and it’s difficult to prevent crime as it takes
place, so banning people from owning
guns may create an even bigger security
loophole.
The push from President Joe Biden and
some Democrats for stricter background
checks and gun control seems to be put-
ting the cart before the horse.
On one hand, opening up the borders
means opening the door to organized
crime, and reduced police input at the
same time leads to an increase in the over-
all crime rate. On the other hand, banning
guns across the board is tantamount to
weakening the public’s capability to pro-
tect themselves.
I suspect that there are some who want
to see crime rates in the United States
skyrocket, leading to chaos and creating
justification to establish a super-govern-
ment surveillance state. I hope this is just
a conspiracy theory and not true. But
that’s what communist regimes do.
Having lived under a communist sys-
tem, I can’t help but be very wary of that
possibility.
Alexander Liao is a journalist who cov-
ers international affairs, focused on the
United States, China, and Southeast Asia.
His work has been published in news-
papers and financial magazines in the
United States and Hong Kong.
Vermont recently enacted a statute that
states, “A fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus
shall not have independent rights under
Vermont law.” Again, this has nothing to
do with abortion. That provision can only
mean that any embryo or fetus can be
put to any instrumental use whatsoever
without legal consequence.
The time to decide whether we want to
go down this utilitarian road should be
before we actually get there, not when the
ethical crisis is upon us and there is no
time to think. At the very least, we need
to enact a legally enforceable moratorium
preventing live fetal experimentation to
give the world time to sort out the ethics
of pursuing such technologies in humans
through democratic deliberation.
Just floating along and letting “the
scientists” decide the moral propriety of
fetal farming simply will not do.
Award-winning author Wesley J. Smith
is chairman of the Discovery Institute’s
Center on Human Exceptionalism.
A22 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

“Interest rates are the price of risk.
Eternally and artificially depressed COVERING
rates create bubbles and the roots IMPORTANT NEWS
of the next crisis.” OTHER MEDIA IGNORE
Daniel Lacalle, chief economist, Tressis ReadEpoch.com

Don’t Force Workers to Join a Union

ZACH GIBSON/GETTY IMAGES

STEPHEN MOORE to associate together.” of millions of dollars of worker

Commentary
In 1978, when I
was 17 years old, I
worked as an ush-
er at concerts and
sporting events earn-
ing $2.25 an hour, the minimum
wage. I had to surrender about 15
cents of this meager hourly wage
to a union I was forced to join.
I could never understand what a
union was doing to help me since
the company had the legal re-
quirement to pay me $2.25. I was
infuriated over the principle of
this confiscation by labor bosses I
had never met.
I wanted out of the union, but
they told me I must pay dues to
keep the job. Shouldn’t there be a
law against this type of coercion?
There is, actually. It’s called the
First Amendment. The right of
association isn’t explicitly listed in
the Bill of Rights. Still, the courts
established this “fundamental
right,” ironically enough, in 1958
in the landmark Supreme Court
case NAACP v. Alabama. Cru-
cially, the courts declared that
“the First Amendment protects a
right to associate and a right not
I was thinking about this when
I watched the viral video of Rep.
Tim Ryan, the Ohio Democrat, on
the House floor slamming Repub-
licans for opposing the Protecting
the Right to Organize Act that
would force tens of millions to
join a union.
“Heaven forbid that we pass
something that’s going to help the
damn workers in the United States
of America,” he fumed. “ We talk
about giving the right to organize;
you (Republicans) complain.”
The left lionized him as a cham-
pion for the little guy. But hold on
there, congressman. No one is
saying that unions should not ex-
ist or that they should not be able
to organize. I would be first in line
to defend their First Amendment
right to do so.
But let’s be clear: This bill
doesn’t allow people to associate
with a union. It forces them to
join the union. In other words, it
violates millions of workers’ First
Amendment right not to associate
with a union.
In 27 states, voters have adopted
right-to-work laws that prohibit
forced union participation. Those
laws are popular with voters and
workers. Mark Mix, the president
Let’s be clear: This
bill doesn’t allow
people to associate
with a union. It
forces them to
join the union. In
other words, it
violates millions
of workers’ First
Amendment right
not to associate
with a union.
Members of the Service
Employees International
Union hold a rally in Chi-
cago on Feb. 26, 2018.
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) speaks dur-
ing the North American Building Trades
Unions Conference at the Washington
Hilton in Washington on April 10, 2019.
of the National Right to Work
Committee, which defends non-
union workers’ rights, said that
“almost every attempt to repeal
RTW laws and create ‘closed
shops’ by Big Labor has been
soundly beaten on the ballot or in
state legislatures.”
That’s why the union bosses are
running to Congress.
There are good reasons why
blue-collar workers may not want
to join a union. The corruption
with Big Labor has been so ram-
pant, with union bosses taking
high six-figure salaries, parties,
and spending union dues on
junkets to Hawaii and the Carib-
bean, that workers have said they
want out. Unions also donate tens
SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES
dues to Democratic politicians.
In many unions, as many as half
of the rank-and-file workers on
the line aren’t even in favor of the
Democrats. They are Trump-vot-
ing Republicans.
High-performing workers also
don’t want to be under the um-
brella of “collective” bargaining
agreements because they want to
get pay raises above what low-per-
formers and shirkers earn. Union
laws often prevent productive
workers from getting more, just
as teachers unions all but prevent
poor-performing teachers from
getting fired.
For whatever reason, millions
have freely decided they don’t
want to be in the union. How
is Ryan helping them by taking
away that freedom to choose,
which is another core principle I
thought Democrats believed?
Don’t forget the convenient rea-
son why workers of right-to-work
states don’t want to be told by
Washington they must rush into
the union bosses’ arms. Right-to-
work states are where the jobs are.
Right-to-work states create about
twice as many new jobs as forced-
union states. Right-to-work states
have created triple the number
of manufacturing jobs as forced-
union states. America hasn’t lost
auto jobs. The jobs have left states
such as Michigan, Ohio, and New
York in favor of free states such
as Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and
Alabama.
That raises one last question for
Ryan and his Democratic House
colleagues, nearly all of whom
voted for the Protecting the Right
to Organize Act. Rather than
force states such as Florida, South
Carolina, and Utah to adopt the
policies that have economically
crippled New York, Illinois, and
New Jersey, why not encourage
the worker freedom policies that
are standard fare in the economi-
cally high-flying states.
Workers should think about
this: If all 50 states become forced
union states, where will the jobs go
next? Probably China and Mexico.

Stephen Moore is an economics

journalist, author, and columnist.
The latest of many books he co-au-
thored is “Trumponomics: Inside
the America First Plan to Revive
Our Economy.” Currently, Moore
is also the chief economist for the
Institute for Economic Freedom
and Opportunity.

FIZKES/SHUTTERSTOCK

You Are Not Getting SSI.

You Are Getting Social Security!
TOM MARGENAU
Every single day, I
get emails from
readers that say
things like this:
“My wife and I are
getting SSI. And
we would like to ask
you some questions.” Or this: “My
SSI check is $2,140 per month. My
wife’s SSI check is $1,800. Can she
get any of my SSI?”
You know the uncomfortable
feeling you get when someone
scratches their fingernails on a
chalkboard? Well, that’s how I feel
when I get emails like this. Why
does this bother me so? Because
these folks are not getting SSI.
They are getting Social Security
benefits. And there is a HUGE dif-
ference, which I will explain.
Most people know what Social
Security is. You work. You pay
taxes. And then, when you retire
or become disabled, you start get-
ting Social Security checks based
on what you paid into the system.
Or if you die, your widow, widow-
er, or minor children start getting
monthly benefits—again, based
on what you paid into Social Secu-
rity during your working years.
But it’s obvious to me, based on
the reader mail I get, that most
people do not know what SSI is. It
stands for Supplemental Security
Income. It’s a federal welfare pro-
gram that pays a small monthly
stipend to people who are 65 or
older who are very poor, or to peo-
ple who are under 65 but disabled
and very poor. How poor? Usu-
ally, they have to have a monthly
income of less than about $800 to
qualify for SSI payments.
Many people confuse SSI with
Social Security for a variety of rea-
sons. One is the name. Supplemen-
tal Security Income just sounds
like some kind of supplemental
Social Security program. It is NOT.
Another reason for the confu-
sion is the fact that the Social
Security Administration runs
the SSI program for the federal
government. But that’s all they ty income.” In other words, when
do. They manage the program. To my readers say, “I’m getting SSI,”
repeat: SSI is not a Social Security they think they are saying, “I’m
benefit. And SSI payments are getting Social Security.” But when
not paid for out of Social Security I hear you say, “I’m getting SSI,”
funds. The money for SSI comes or when a Social Security repre-
out of the government’s general sentative hears you say that, we
operating funds. In fact, Social think you are saying, “I’m getting
Security’s trust funds are even re- Supplemental Security Income.”
imbursed from the general funds So, it’s not really just a matter
for the costs of administering the of semantics. By phrasing a ques-
SSI program. tion using the wrong terminol-
And getting back to that name ogy, you are going to get a wrong
business. So many people think answer.
that SSI stands for “Social Securi- Here is an example. Recently, a
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
How a Small Rise in
Bond Yields May Create
a Financial Crisis
DANIEL LACALLE
Commentary
Ned Davis Re-
search estimates
that a 2 percent
yield in the U.S.
10-year bond could
lead the Nasdaq to fall 20 per-
cent, and with it, the entire
stock market globally. A 2 per-
cent yield can cause such dis-
ruption? How did we get to such
a situation?
Central banks have artificially
depressed sovereign bond yields
for years. Now, a small rise
in yields can cause a massive
market slump that evolves into a
financial crisis.
Quantitative easing was
designed as a tool to provide
liquidity to a scared market and
benefit from exceptionally at-
tractive valuations of the lowest-
risk assets—sovereign bonds.
Central banks would cut rates
and purchase these high-quality,
low-risk assets from banks, thus
allowing financial entities to
lend more to businesses and
families, and strengthen con-
fidence in the economy. Once
financial conditions improved,
central banks would reduce
woman wrote to me and told me
she was getting SSI and was plan-
ning to move from California to
Texas. She asked if her SSI checks
would change because of the move,
and I answered telling her that her
benefits would very likely change.
Because SSI is a welfare benefit,
the payment amount depends on
your living arrangements (whether
or not you own a home, rent, share
expenses with others, etc.). Also,
the payment rate can change from
one state to another. For example,
California adds a supplement to
the federal benefit payment.
When she moves from California
to Texas, she is going to lose that
extra California money. So, I told
her that when she moves to Texas,
there was a pretty good chance her
SSI benefits would go down.
Well, she later wrote back to tell
me that when she called the Social
Security people and they checked
their records, she learned that
her payment rates would stay the
same. And surprise, surprise—
that’s because it turns out she
wasn’t getting SSI, as she told me;
she was getting Social Security
benefits. And your Social Security
their balance sheet and normal-
ize policy.
This never happened.
Central banks started purchas-
ing sovereign bonds at rock-
bottom valuations and contin-
ued buying them when they
went from being underpriced to
massively overpriced, regard-
less of the state of the economy,
maintaining purchases in
growth periods. That led to the
European Central Bank purchas-
ing sovereign bonds even when
governments were enjoying
negative real and nominal
yields in their issuances. Bond
yields became so low that the
check stays the same no matter
where you live in the country.
Actually, I partly blame myself
for giving her bad information.
I am so used to having people
incorrectly tell me they are get-
ting SSI that I usually respond
by saying something like: “I bet
you meant to say you are getting
Social Security. And here is the
answer to your question assum-
ing you are getting Social Security
and not SSI.” But I must have been
lazy or rushed when I answered
the California-to-Texas lady, so I
assumed she was getting SSI and
later had to apologize.
But sometimes, just the oppo-
site happens. I get emails from
people who are actually getting
SSI, but they tell me they are get-
ting Social Security, and we end
up with more misinformation.
Not long ago, a woman wrote to
me to say her mother was getting
Social Security and planned to
move to Honduras. She asked if
her mother could get her Social
Security check sent to that central
American country. I initially told
the daughter that her mother
could move just about anywhere
CHUNG I HO/THE EPOCH TIMES
(Above) The Nasdaq Mar-
ketSite in New York’s Times
Square on April 15, 2020.
(Below) Federal Reserve
Chair Jerome Powell and for-
mer Chair Janet Yellen par-
ticipate in a panel discussion
at the American Economic
Association conference in
Atlanta on Jan. 4, 2019.
JESSICA MCGOWAN/GETTY IMAGES
VITALII VODOLAZSKYI/SHUTTERSTOCK
Many people
confuse SSI with
Social Security for
a variety of reasons.
One is the name.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY | A23
gap between bond prices and
the reality of risk and solvency
of the issuer widened to extre-
me levels. Southern Europe
sovereign bonds “traded” at
all-time high prices and historic-
low yields despite worsening
deficits and weaker economic
conditions.
The Federal Reserve did the
same. Throughout the growth
periods, Janet Yellen and Jerome
Powell continued with aggres-
sive asset purchases and low
rates, bringing the 10-year sover-
eign bond yield to an abnormal
level for a growing or recovering
economy.
What happens when the
central bank makes the highest-
quality and lowest-risk asset
extremely expensive? Savers take
more and more risk for lower
yields in other assets and the
perception of risk is clouded,
driving investors to take too
much risk in equities and bonds
because the central bank is ma-
nipulating the most important
risk signal: rates.
Interest rates are the price of
risk. Eternally and artificially de-
pressed rates create bubbles and
the roots of the next crisis.
Central banks tell us that rates
are low because the market
demands them. However, they
won’t allow rates to float freely,
and when bond yields rise with a
mild bounce in inflation expec-
tations, central banks immedi-
ately step up purchases and yield
curve management policies,
which shows that such an excuse
is simply false.
Think about this for a second.
A mild increase in U.S. 10-year
bond yields to 2 percent, a more
than logical move consider-
ing inflation expectations and
the recovery of the economy,
may cause a financial crisis, not
because of this modest rise, but
because of the massive level of
risk built into the economy from
the prior artificial depression of
those yields.
A small bounce in yields would
simply collapse the massive
house of cards of risk built into
the economy when rates were
manipulated down at any cost.
What mainstream economists
call a “rate tantrum”—rates go
up, markets down as investors
unwind risk-on bets—is, in real-
ity, a “rate hangover”—waking
up from a binge-drinking fest
of disproportionately low rates
for too long. The worst is that
rates are so abnormally low any-
way and risky bets so high that
even a set of dovish messages
from central banks can’t prevent
a correction.
Why? A 2 percent yield in the
U.S. 10-year bond would gener-
ate a massive outflow of capital
from emerging markets, driving
their bond yields to unsustain-
able levels, because in past years,
these economies have been ac-
customed to believing that twin
in the world and still get her So-
cial Security checks.
But after exchanging another
email or two, I figured out her
mother was actually getting SSI.
As I said earlier, SSI is a welfare
benefit. And we don’t send wel-
fare benefits overseas. So, if Mom
leaves the United States, her SSI
checks will stop immediately.
So, please, dear readers, repeat
after me: Social Security is not
SSI, and SSI is not Social Security!
If you use the wrong terms when
asking questions, you’re going to
get wrong answers.
I’ve got a little space left, and I
want to share this story about the
birth of the SSI program. Back
in the 1970s, President Richard
Nixon’s administration thought
it would be a good idea if in-
stead of 50 different state welfare
programs, as we had at the time,
it would be better to have one
national program with the same
basic eligibility rules applying to
everyone no matter where they
lived. So, in 1973, they scrapped
the 50 separate programs and
created one national welfare
program for the country. They
deficits and massive imbalances
are the way to go.
This wouldn’t just happen in
emerging markets. The riskiest
assets—high-yield bonds and
cyclical equities—as well as
those sectors that benefitted the
most from low rates and high
liquidity—technology—would
suffer together. This reaction
would make it impossible to hide
from an abrupt market correc-
tion because the correlation built
in the past 10 years is simply too
high. Falling tech stocks? Falling
“value” stocks as well.
There are a lot of
problems when entire
markets have based
their valuations on
inflationary policies not
generating inflation.
What worries me the most is
that most consensus comments
are saying that central banks
should accelerate financial
repression to avoid a market
slump. Instead of paying atten-
tion to the risks built in the past
decade due to abnormal rates
and bond valuations, instead of
raising the alarm on the nu-
merous bubbles we can see in
markets, most are asking central
banks to inflate the bubble fur-
ther at any cost.
However, this time it may
not work. Why? Because this
time, inflation is actually rising,
and rates rise even with central
bank dovish policies and fi-
nancial repression. You wanted
inflation, you got it. What is the
problem of a bounce in infla-
tion if the economy is recovering
strongly? The problem is that,
for years, investors have been
told to take massive and rising
risk betting on one thing and
the opposite: that the economy
is going to grow, and inflation
recover, but central banks will
keep low rates and high liquidity,
regardless.
There’s no problem in a 2
percent U.S. 10-year bond yield
in normal conditions of a grow-
ing economy with 2 percent
inflation. There are a lot of
problems when entire markets
have based their valuations on
inflationary policies not generat-
ing inflation.
The risk of a financial crisis
doesn’t come from rising bond
yields. The risk of a financial cri-
sis was created by lowering bond
yields to unrealistic and unjusti-
fiable levels in the first place.
Daniel Lacalle, Ph.D., is chief
economist at hedge fund Tressis
and author of “Freedom or Equal-
ity,” “Escape from the Central
Bank Trap,” and “Life in the
Financial Markets.”
decided to let the Social Security
Administration run the program
because it already had lots of ex-
perience paying monthly benefits
to millions of Americans.
But then, in my opinion, they
made one huge mistake. They
called the program Supplemental
Security Income. And that name,
coupled with the fact that the SSA
ran the program, has led to a half-
century of confusion between the
two entirely separate programs.
Tom Margenau worked for 32
years in a variety of positions
for the Social Security Adminis-
tration before retiring in 2005.
He has served as the director of
SSA’s public information office,
the chief editor of more than 100
SSA publications, a deputy press
officer and spokesman, and a
speechwriter for the commissioner
of Social Security. For 12 years, he
also wrote Social Security col-
umns for local newspapers, and
recently published the book “So-
cial Security: Simple and Smart.”
If you have a Social Security
question, contact him at thomas.
margenau@comcast.net
A24 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

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 PAULAPHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK
PARENTING MUSIC

How to Encourage Your Why the Strings Are the

Child’s Interests ‘Backbone of the Orchestra’
When given time to play, tinker, and explore, The strings can take on just about any
sooner or later, children develop a keen interest characterization. We never tire of their warm,
in something specific. human-like tone.
See B10 See B9

TRADITION|VALUES|FAMILY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 B1

LIFE & TRADITION

GAUDILAB/SHUTTERSTOCK

On a date,
you’re there
to get to know
each other, to
listen as well as
to speak.

JEFF MINICK Then

Dating: The Old-
O
K. I agree with some of you right off the
bat. What’s a 70-year-old guy doing giv-
Fashioned Path to ing advice about dating and courtship?
In words made famous by the man we
now call president, “Come on, man!”
Love and Romance Agreed in part. I am “old, and grey, and full of
sleep,” as the poet Yeats once wrote of a former
heartthrob, and though I’m not yet King Lear dod-
dering through a wilderness of memories, I am well
on my way.
On the other hand, I’ve been around the block a
few times, I’ve got one foot in the past and one in
It’s an old dance, dating, a waltz the present, and like a lot of codgers my age, I’m
of courtship, love, and romance. always ready to shoot out suggestions to the younger
set, though to be frank, they rarely ask me about
anything of import.
Anyway, let’s look at the dating game.
It’s early March 1976, and I’m sitting in the Harvard
Gardens, a pub and restaurant in Boston. It was no-
where near Harvard, and back then it was anything
but a garden, but the beer was cheap, and the es-
tablishment was an easy walk from my fifth-floor
walkup room.
I was working in The Old Corner Bookstore that
year, managed then by Doubleday and now defunct,
and in the evenings I was scribbling away on a novel.
I wrote by hand because burglars had broken into my
place and had stolen my typewriter. Many evenings I
would then stroll down Beacon Hill to Harvard Gar-
dens for a beer or a Black Russian. There the working
class from the Back of the Hill mingled with medical
personnel from Massachusetts General Hospital,
which was across the street.
Continued on B2

Harmon Brothers: Entrepreneurial Spirit Runs in the Family

From selling potatoes at a young age
to crowdfunding millions of dollars,
these brothers are driven by common
ideals and values
COURTESY OF THE HARMONS
More than $10 million was
raised for “The Chosen,”
through Angel Studios,
making it the most successful
crowdfunding campaign ever
for a television series.
THALIA ZHAO
For many tech entrepreneurs, a
first venture starts with an angel
investor and a promising idea. For
Neal Harmon, it all began with
a cow.
“I saved up money when I was 11
and bought my first cow,” he said.
His brother Jeffrey had some
color to add to the story.
“And then he had a plan to make
a million dollars—like if every
cow had twins, by the time he was
18, he’d be a millionaire. That’s
where Neal started, and we kind
of followed after that.”
Today, Neal, 43, and his broth-
ers have come a long way from
selling cows. Neal is co-founder
and CEO of VidAngel, a service
that lets users set custom filters
to block out explicit content in
streamed video content. Jeffrey
Harmon, 38, is co-founder and
chief content officer at VidAngel,
which also produces its own orig-
inal shows including “The Cho-
sen” and “Freelancers” through
Angel Studios. Daniel Harmon,
41, heads up the brothers’ award-
winning advertising company,
Harmon Brothers, as chief cre-
ative officer.
‘The Chosen’
has been viewed
more than 100
million times in
180 countries.
However, the three are only a
fraction of the full set of Harmon
siblings—six brothers and three
sisters. Growing up, the adults of
the family had given the siblings
free rein to explore wherever
their imaginations would take
them, making for many misad-
ventures—and very few dull mo-
ments—around the house.
“When I was growing up, I
could build treehouses, go sail
down canals ... a little bit like
Tom Sawyer,” said Neal. “Some
parents would be worried about
that, but our parents just trusted
us and let us experiment and try
new things. And because we were
quite poor growing up, we also
tried all sorts of businesses.”
Entrepreneurial Roots
One of these businesses involved
potatoes from the family farm in
Idaho—and lots of them. As teen-
agers, Jeffrey and Daniel would
often haul two tons of potatoes at
a time down to Utah. On a good
day, they’d be able to earn more
than $100 an hour selling them
door-to-door.
What made the potato busi-
ness even more lucrative was
that they’d always take the family
trucks, so their only expense was
gas. However, it wasn’t always
convenient to have the trucks
randomly disappear for these
day trips, and one Harmon uncle
decided to take matters into his
own hands.
“Our uncle went and bought
a 15-passenger van with almost
400,000 miles on it for $900 on
auction,” said Jeffrey. “Then he
drove it back, picking us up, and
said, ‘Hey, you’re buying this
van from me for $900, you two,
because you’re gonna stop bor-
rowing the trucks from the farm
to haul your potatoes to Utah!’”
The Harmon adults did whatever
they could to support the children
in their big ideas, regardless of
whether it was potatoes, cows, or
landscaping. Before Jeffrey and
Daniel could drive, their father
would chauffeur them down to
Utah to sell potatoes. One of their
grandfathers gave the brothers a
client list to start a landscaping gig.
Continued on B4
B2
If affection develops into love, marriage should be next on the agenda.
Dating: The Old-
Fashioned Path to
Love and Romance
Continued from B1
On this particular night, I was sitting with
my acquaintance Jimmy J., a window wash-
er, when I remarked that one of the three
nurses at the next table was pretty. Jimmy
sent a drink to her—he should have sent
one to each nurse, but he was glassy-eyed
with beer—and they invited us to join them.
The nurse and I talked, and shortly after
midnight, they got up to go home. “Go after
her,” Jimmy J. told me, and I hurried out the
door onto Cambridge Street, where the wind
and cold were butcher knives on the flesh.
I ran after her and said, “I don’t usually do
this, but could I have your phone number?”
She replied, “I don’t usually do this, but
here it is,” and she wrote it out on a piece of
paper from her purse.
Just then a little old man—either a drunk
or an angel, or both—appeared, put one arm
over each of our shoulders, and said: “Give
the guy a chance! Give the guy a chance!”
The next day, I called and asked her out on
a date, and Kris gave me a chance. Within 18
months, we were married. Together we had
four children, loved each other, quarreled,
laughed a lot, and together faced hardships
and experienced various adventures until
her death 26 years later.
Now
Times have changed.
Google “Is dating dead?” and numerous
sites pop up declaring it so. Aspirations for
marriage and a family have changed. Hang-
ing out and hooking up have become the
new norm.
In her insightful online article “The Two
Biggest Reasons Dating Is Dead,” Suzanne
Venker writes of today’s young people that
they understand sex, “but how to commu-
nicate, how to date, and how to love, well,
it’s all Greek to them.”
She blames the death of dating on lowered
female sexual standards—“Women don’t
gain power by being promiscuous—they
lose it”—and the failure of both sexes to as-
pire to marriage, which is a primary purpose
of dating.
To these, I would add the confusion today
about sex and gender, particularly among
college students and university graduates. A
society that wants women to become more
like men and men more like women throws
dating out the window.
But suppose you want to revive dating?
Suppose you like the idea of courtship? And
suppose, as Venker writes, you really don’t
understand how to go about it?
Here are some tips that might help.
Say No to Texting
The inspiration for this article came from a
wife and mother whose single female friends
meet men who seem unable or unwilling to
ask them out. “None of the males make a
move,” one of them said. Another woman,
a former student of mine who graduated
several years ago from Appalachian State
University, bright and attractive, told me
that in her first two years in college, several
young men had asked her out by text, but
never face to face.
Let’s say you meet the friend of a friend at
a supper. You find her attractive and inter-
esting and want to get to know her better.
You get her phone number from your friend,
and you text her, reintroducing yourself and
Google asking her if she’d like to have a glass of wine
‘Is dating together.
Bad move.
dead?’ and When you text to ask a woman out, you
are sending a message that you’re either
numerous too intimidated or too cowardly to make a
sites pop up phone call. Either ask her out in person or
if circumstances render that impossible,
declaring call her.
And for the ladies: Remember my angel on
it so. Cambridge Street. “Give the guy a chance,”
Aspirations he said, and you might consider following
that advice. That young man you met at your
for marriage friend’s dinner might have struck you as
and a nerdy or shy, he might be a bumbler as I was,
but he also might be the man who will make
family have you happy, your white knight in disguise.
changed. Online Dating
Two years after my wife’s death, I signed
up with an online dating service. Over the
next few years, I used that service from time
to time, and met some nice women, others
with whom I quickly proved incompatible,
and one who was crazy.
Eventually, I developed a dislike for this
electronic matchmaking and closed my ac-
count. Scrolling through pictures and pro-
files made me feel too much like a judge at
a cattle show, and two of the women I dated
told me they shared that same sentiment
when looking at men.
Along the way, I did learn a few things
about this modern method of dating. When
you put together your profile, tell the truth.
If you’re a smoker, say so. If you’re unem-
ployed, admit it. Report your correct age,
and don’t post 10-year-old photographs
of yourself as if they were taken yesterday.
Once you open a correspondence with a
“match,” arrange to meet as soon as pos-
Jeff Minick has sible, otherwise you are avoiding the per-
four children and a sonal touch and wasting time.
growing platoon of
grandchildren. For Crunch Time
20 years, he taught So there you are, out on a first date, seated
history, literature, opposite each other at a table in a nice res-
and Latin to seminars taurant. Your date is easy on the eyes, has a
of homeschooling pleasant demeanor and a lovely smile, and
students in Asheville, JELENA ZELEN/SHUTTERSTOCK
N.C. He is the author
of two novels,
“Amanda Bell”
and “Dust on Their
Wings,” and two
works of nonfiction,
“Learning as I Go”
and “Movies Make
the Man.” Today,
he lives and writes
in Front Royal, Va.
See JeffMinick.com to A tip for guys: Be the gentleman, despite
follow his blog. today’s ideas of sexual equality.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
JACOB BOURGEOIS/UNSPLASH
the evening looks promising.
And then you open your mouth and begin
talking.
As you blather away about your work at the
office, your education, your sessions with a
counselor for your various neuroses, your
trips to Europe, and so on, you fail to notice
the glazed look creeping into the eyes of the
person opposite you. You’re not only behav-
ing like a narcissist, but you’re also missing
the whole point of the evening.
You’re there to share with that other per-
son. You’re there to find out about each
other, to listen as well as speak. And I mean
really listen. If your date says her father died
two months ago, don’t ask her what sort of
music she enjoys.
Another tip, especially for guys: Play the
gentleman. Offer to pay for supper. Show
some manners while you’re eating. If the
sidewalks outside are slippery, offer her a
hand. When you arrive at her car, open the
door for her.
Yes, I know these gestures grate against
today’s ideas of sexual equality, but I don’t
care a fig for that. Most women—yes, even
the young ones—appreciate a gentleman.
On the Dance Floor
In the movie “Kate & Leopold,” an English-
man from the 19th century is transported
through time to modern-day New York City.
There Leopold meets Kate, a woman disap-
pointed in love, and her bumbling brother,
Charlie.
Leopold’s etiquette, his antique views on
love and courtship, his pursuit of Kate, and
the advice he gives to Charlie about ways
to win a woman’s heart might serve as a
primer on dating, even in today’s cultural
chaos. Leopold teaches Charlie, for example,
what flowers to buy for Patrice, gets him her
phone number, and schools him before he
calls her on what he should say.
It’s an old dance, dating, a waltz of court-
ship, love, and romance. As Charlie and his
sister discover, the manners, customs, and
understood rules of that dance don’t inhibit
relationships, but actually help build them.
Robert Frost once said of writing free verse,
it’s “like playing tennis with the net down.”
The same is true of “free love.”
Goals
The immediate goal of dating as an adult is
to get to know another person. If familiar-
ity develops into affection, and if affection
deepens into love, then marriage should
be next on the agenda. Several people of
my acquaintance, young and old, have of-
ten drifted in and out of relationships, have
lived with a partner for months and years,
broken up, repeated that same behavior,
and eventually, as Suzanne Venker points
out, they often ended up jaded and cynical
about love.
Author Jefferson Bethke wrote: “Dating
without the intent of marrying is like going
to the grocery store with no money. You ei-
ther leave unhappy or take something that
isn’t yours.”
If you want marriage and a family, quit
listening to the cultural gurus of our time,
go retro, and try old-fashioned dating.
A final thought: Always bear in mind the
words of songwriter Steve Forbert, “You can-
not win if you do not play.”
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
COURTESY OF ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE
“Everything I had went to drugs, Bill’s Place.
chasing drugs,” Philp recalled.
Former Fentanyl Addict
Celebrates ‘Amazing Life
on the Other Side’
JENNI JULANDER
Last month, a man in Kelowna, British Co-
lumbia, celebrated four years sober after
living the life of a hardcore drug addict
who had plunged headfirst into heroin and
fentanyl use. He spent time in prison, saw
his friend die on his shoulder from an over-
dose, and came close to death himself.
Crediting a special recovery program
called Bill’s Place for saving him, Jacob
Philp, 33, described his new life as a “com-
plete 180” compared with his life before
recovery.
Philp is now a homeowner and is married
with two beautiful children. He works as a
supportive housing program coordinator.
He never counted on
treatment actually
working.
“I love the person I am today,” Philp told
The Epoch Times. “I have a new-found self-
respect that I’ve never had in my life.”
But it wasn’t always this way.
He once had to steal, scam, and lie to
loved ones on a daily basis to feed his habit.
He was homeless and slept in construction
site outhouses, for fear the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police would catch him if he went
to the shelter.
“When I was stuck in my addiction, I was
homeless, I was on the streets, I couldn’t
scrape together anything,” Philp said.
“Everything I had went to drugs, chasing
drugs. I gave up everything.”
Philp’s descent into drug use started with
his insecurities. He was unsure of his iden-
tity and afraid of not fitting in with others.
When he smoked weed for the first time
at the age of 12, it felt like a quick fix. From
Defying the Odds
Boy with ‘1 in 10,000’ birth disorder:
‘I’m not that strong, I’m just brave’
JENNI JULANDER
A young Ohio boy who wasn’t expected to
live past infancy has defied the odds. Now,
at the age of 9, he is tackling life
ife head-on
and refuses to let anything hold d him back.
Born preterm with a rare birth
disorder, a severe cleft palate, and
serious lung and heart issues, doc-
oc-
tors predicted that Carson Locherher
didn’t have long to live.
Doctors didn’t expect Carson’s on’s
mother, Jessie Beals, to have a full-
ull-
term pregnancy. Early on, theyy
discovered a tear in her uterine
wall and said she would likely
miscarry, reported Fox News.
At 20 weeks in utero, little Car-
ar-
r opment, Genital anomalies, and
son was still growing strong, but
doctors detected severe issues dur- r
ing his first sonogram.
“It got really awkward, and they
brought in more techs and the doctor, and
nobody really talked after that,”” Beals told
Fox News. “They weren’t 100 percent sure
what was wrong but noticed his head was
growing faster than his body.”
Carson, who was born in August 2011, four
weeks early, wasn’t breathing. Beals said
her son had lung problems and heart is-
sues, but “nobody was sure what was wrong
with him.”
Despite the profound issues present at his
birth, Carson proved to be a fighter.
The tiny warrior underwent surgery at 8
months old and, in his 9 years of life, has
had a total of 17 operations and 36 hospital
stays, the report stated.
SCREENSHOT/GOOGLE MAPS
there, he tried mushrooms and psychedel-
ics, and developed a heavy drug habit as
early as age 14.
“For other people, it was just dabbling,”
Philp said. “But for me ... I had no switch in
my brain to tell me enough was enough.”
When he started dating a woman who
used heroin, he tried it with her and soon
became addicted to both heroin and
meth. Within the first month, he says
he started spending his entire paycheck
on heroin.
Philp’s life spiraled out of control. He lost
his job, pawned off his belongings, and
before long, became homeless. Eventu-
ally, he was arrested and spent several
“brutal” months at Kamloops prison.
It wasn’t long before Philp was ready to
get out. His mother hired an attorney, and
they learned that the best way to get out
of jail was for him to willingly start treat-
ment for drug addiction.
He agreed, for what he calls “the wrong
reasons.” He never counted on treatment
actually working.
After he got out on bail, his father threat-
ened to pull bail if his son didn’t make his
daily calls to the recovery center.
But it wasn’t long before he ran into old
friends, who recommended he try fen-
tanyl, a drug he describes as “night and
day” compared to heroin.
The drug was dangerous, though. Soon,
his friends began overdosing and dying,
and Philp had some close calls himself.
“I lost a lot of friends to fentanyl in that
short amount of time,” he recalled. “I
woke up and my friend was dead on my
shoulder.”
A couple of months after getting out of
jail, Philp finally entered into a treatment
center called Bill’s Place, which wasn’t at
all what he expected, though he says it
saved his life.
It wasn’t your average rehabilitation
Carson raises
awareness and money
for the CHARGE
Syndrome Foundation.
B3
COURTESY OF JACOB PHILP
Jacob Philp with this family.
center; Philp said he could tell something other people in the program instantly ac-
was different the moment he arrived. cepted him, and for the first time, he felt
“I was expecting ... this big, crazy place like part of a community.
that looks like a hospital or something, “There was a magic in that place that
full of counselors and nurses and doc- saved my life,” Philp said.
tors,” he said. “It was nothing like that, He also attributes his recovery to his
nothing at all. It was a house! I was like, parents’ support.
‘What is this madness?’” “They never gave up,” he said. “My par-
A man with tattoos greeted him at the ents wouldn’t sit there and support the
door. addiction, but if I was ready to take a step
Philp recalled: “He looked like some- or go to treatment, they were there.”
one that I would’ve hung out with in my Philp has been sober since 2017. By shar-
previous life. But the difference here was ing his story, he aims to bring that same
he was smiling, he was laughing, he was glimmer of hope to other addicts.
happy. He had this light on in his eyes.” “It can be so, so scary to take that first
Philp thought he was a counselor but step,” he said. “[But] there’s an amazing
later found out the man was actually a life on the other side.”
recovering addict. He says it was a mo- He added that the best parts of his
ment that gave him hope. transformation are “the relationships,
“My first impression,” he said, “was the happiness, the inner peace” that he
here’s a bunch of guys who are struggling has achieved.
like I’m struggling right now, only they’re “That’s just daily now,” he said. “It’s
happy and they’re laughing.” a complete 180-degree turn from where
He added that he felt like he fit in; the I was.”
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF JESSIE BEALS
Despite his life challenges, Carson re-
mains humble about his determination.
“I mean, I’m not that strong,” he told Fox
News, “I’m just brave.”
It was also predicted that Carson wouldn’t
be able to walk or talk, but he’s tackled that
prognosis, too. Indeed, he started walk-
ing as a toddler, and he started speaking
around aage 6.
“I wasn’t
wasn supposed to live past a year old,
then the doctor said I wouldn’t live past 1,
then the doctor said I wouldn’t live past 2,
Carson said.
no, 5,” Ca
Dr. Ric
Richard Grossberg, a pediatrician
who spespecializes in neurodevelopmental
disabilities at University Hospitals
di
Rainbow Babies and Children’s
R
Hospital in Cleveland, ultimately
H
diagnosed Carson with CHARGE
d A doctor said Carson wouldn’t live past the
syndrome, a complex condition that
sy age of 1.
ccauses numerous life-threatening
birth defects.
b “I call him my hero,” she said. “A lot of
The acronym CHARGE stands people never meet their hero, but I truly
ffor “Coloboma of the eye, Heart have given birth to mine. He has a heart
defects, Atresia of the choanae,
d of gold.”
Retardation of growth and devel-
R A family member even posted a video
o of him dancing on stage in April 2019,
Ear abnormalities.”
E whipping out moves you might not expect
“It’s rare, it’s 1 in 10,000 live from someone who was told he would
births,” Grossberg told the outlet.
bi never walk.
Still, Carson has beaten the odds and
Stil The brave boy is adamant about educat-
pursues a life full of sports and activi-
pursu ing others about CHARGE syndrome and
ties, just
ties ju like most other third-graders his has even started a YouTube channel to
age. Grossberg said that Carson “may be raise awareness and raise money for the
the cutest kid on the planet.” CHARGE Syndrome Foundation.
“He goes to school and does quite well “This is truly a big thing for me,” Carson
given he has this disorder,” Grossberg said. told Fox News. “Very mean people, I feel like
“My hope is Carson will live a normal lifes- it will really help them, the very language
pan; I’m optimistic about his future.” they use, and who they do it to. I think it
Carson enjoys sports, swimming, and fish- will really help them understand what this
ing and is keeping up with his schoolwork. is all about.”
He learned how to do cartwheels from his
older sister, with whom he shares a birthday. Share your stories with us at emg.in-
The proud mom Jessie Beals said that her spired@epochtimes.com, and continue to
little son is determined to defy all odds. “If get your daily dose of inspiration by sign-
you tell him he can’t do it, he’s going to show ing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter
you,” Beals said. at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
B4
Harmon Brothers: Entrepreneurial
Spirit Runs in the Family
Continued from B1
The other funded half of Neal’s missionary
trips, and always matched his grandchil-
dren’s contributions to their own travel
funds dollar for dollar. He also got up in
church to advertise his grandsons’ pota-
toes—“which is totally inappropriate for him
to do,” added Jeffrey, laughing.
But they did manage to sell their entire
carload of potatoes that day, thanks to
Grandpa’s stunt.
“I don’t remember my dad raising his voice
at me, ever,” said Neal. “He was so calm and
just let me figure out things for myself.”
There was a lot that the brothers figured
out for themselves. Through the patience
and encouragement of the adults around
them, they learned that their grit and hard
work were what would get them ahead in
life. They learned the importance of action,
of being unafraid to try things out for them-
selves. And perhaps most of all, they learned
the value of having a family that would be
devoted to each other against all odds.
“I believe that our success would not be
possible without the heritage that came be-
fore us,” Neal said. “Both our parents and
grandparents on both sides went through
very, very difficult times. But they stuck it
out and were very committed to our family.”
Family First
Having grown up in Idaho, where family-
owned businesses were common, the broth-
ers saw firsthand that mixing family with
work had the potential to go very badly. Mis-
takes could turn into grudges that broke
family relationships beyond repair, and it
was something the brothers knew they had
to work through as they started and ran their
own companies together.
“If you want to work with family, you have
to get really good at just letting things slide,”
said Neal.
“I think we’ve all been committed to the
idea that regardless of how sticky it gets or
how much we disagree at certain points,
that we’re not going to let business as op-
posed to family [take priority] in [our] rela-
tionships,” said Daniel. “Because at the end
of the day, that’s all this life is about anyway,
right?”
But once everyone has agreed on the same
set of priorities, working with family does
come with its own benefits, especially when
all nine children are entrepreneurs who of-
ten help each other out.
“You see a lot of Big Tech companies that
have been born out of some college friends
or high school friends that just knew each
other really well, [who] knew how to com-
municate really well,” said Daniel. “It’s
a similar advantage we have in that we
have the familiarity, we have the trust, we
have the similar values and aspirations
and ideals.”
Solutions to Everyday Problems
These similar ideals have powered the en-
gine of innovation for the Harmon broth-
TIMELESS WISDOM
National Debt or
National Greatness
JOSHUA CHARLES
The United States has passed a forebod-
ing milestone: $28 trillion in national debt.
In 2021, the federal debt alone is projected
to be 102 percent of gross domestic prod-
uct—which doesn’t include the $1.9 trillion
“American Rescue Plan” that President Joe
Biden recently signed into law.
The debt-to-GDP ratio has only exceed-
ed 102 percent twice in American histo-
ry—1945 and 1946—as a result of the spend-
ing required to win World War II (103.9
percent and 106.1 percent respectively).
With that victory secured, it immediately
plummeted as the United States entered a
new golden age of prosperity.
However, while the American economy
enjoyed an average growth rate of 3.1 per-
cent between 1951 and 2020, the Congres-
sional Budget Office is currently projecting
that over the next three decades, that rate
will fall to 1.8 percent.
This is on top of a growing solvency cri-
Daniel Harmon, chief creative Jeffrey Harmon, co-founder and
officer, Harmon Brothers. chief content officer of VidAngel.
We’ve all been Rather than creating
committed to the
stuff that you think
idea that regardless other people will want,
of how sticky it gets you build things that you
... that we’re not would use.
going to let business Jeffrey Harmon
as opposed to family
[take priority] in lems, they might just happen upon the
next big thing.
[our] relationships. “Rather than creating stuff that you think
Daniel Harmon
other people will want, you build things
that you would use. And by doing that,
more often than not, the market is very
ers from their beginnings up until today, big because there’s a lot of people in the
as they operate several successful projects world who have the same problems or like
that span the advertising, entertainment, the same things you do,” said Jeffrey.
and technology industries. These eclectic He gave the inception of Dry Bar Com-
business interests can be explained by the edy, an online standup series produced by
“user method,” Jeffrey said, which guides Angel Studios, as an example of the user
many of the brothers’ business decisions. method in action. Dry Bar was pitched as
a platform for family-friendly and clean
comedy, which was a sharp deviation from
the age-restricted humor that has long be-
come an industry norm.
The Tuttle “We got phone calls from many board
Twins series members and investors saying, what are
by Connor
you doing, this is stupid, nobody wants
Boyack
is being clean standup, standup is a saturated
adapted into market—”
an animation “There’s no more room in the market,”
project. It was added Neal.
crowdfunded “There’s no more room in the market, be-
through cause they’re thinking of it from a market
Angel standpoint,” Jeffrey said. “But we just say:
Studios. ‘You want this, right? And we want this. So
there clearly is a market, and we think it’s a
lot bigger than the current market of lewd
and blue comedy.’”
Coined by Jeff Schwarting in his epony- Today, Dry Bar Comedy is the largest li-
mous book, the user method is the idea brary of standup comedy online, boasting
that entrepreneurs should pay attention more than 300 specials in its catalog. In
to the problems they run into in their lives; total, these specials garner more than a
in finding a solution for their own prob- billion views a year.
sis in our nation’s most important “en-
titlement” programs: Social Security and
Medicare.
In 2019—prior to COVID-19—the U.S.
Treasury was already warning that these
programs would be “bankrupt” (meaning,
they would pay less to beneficiaries than
they promised) much earlier than previous-
ly predicted. They warned that Social Secu-
rity would be insolvent by 2035, and Medi-
care by 2026. I was born in 1988, roughly in
the middle of the millennial generation.
That means that both of these programs,
for which I am taxed a great deal, will be
For too long, bankrupt 15 years (Social Security), and 27
years (Medicare) before I am even eligible Our
we’ve believed for them. The situation is even worse for Founding
we could young people in their teens and 20s today. Fathers
warned
Even more worrying, our birthrate has
have it all, been plummeting. For a society to simply
about
accumulating
forgetting that maintain its population, it must produce debt.
2.1 babies per woman. The United States “Scene at
at some point— has been below that number since 1971. the Signing
But in 2019—again, prior to COVID-19—it of the
either now or had fallen to a record low of only 1.7. That Constitution
in the future— number has fallen even further during the of the United
pandemic, which means even fewer people States,”
every expense are contributing to the system. 1940, by
The reasons we have arrived at this finan- Howard
must be paid cial juncture are various and complex. But Chandler
Christy.
for, and every what is simple and straightforward is this:
We are here because we have exhibited a
debt repaid. collective lack of wisdom with respect to
our national finances. For too long, we’ve
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
Neal Harmon, co-founder and
CEO of VidAngel.
I believe that our
success would not be
possible without the
heritage that came
before us.
Neal Harmon
‘The Chosen’
The brothers had gotten a similar reac-
tion when they first began crowdfunding
to produce “The Chosen,” a television se-
ries on the life of Jesus Christ. Little did
the naysayers know then that the Angel
Studios campaign would raise more than
$10 million, making it the most successful
crowdfunding campaign ever for a televi-
sion series.
“A lot of people told us, ‘Jesus movies have
been done a bajillion times. What makes
you think yours is going to be different?’”
Jeffrey said.
But different was what the brothers were
shooting for—Hollywood-caliber different.
The brothers were really looking for a way
to create something that they wanted to
see themselves: the professionalism and
polish of big-name studios crossed with
some of the most enduring stories known to
humanity. More importantly, they wanted
to share these stories in a way that could
be enjoyed by viewers of all religious and
spiritual persuasions.
“It’s [just] good storytelling, regardless of
your faith, which was what we were trying
to do,” said Neal.
He then shared a recent string of texts
sent to him by a friend. In them, the friend
had screenshotted a comment from the
pay-it-forward comment wall on “The Cho-
sen,” where viewers who’ve watched the
series for free can thank the donors who
made it possible.
“There was a note in there from somebody
PUBLIC DOMAIN
believed we could have it all, forgetting
that at some point—either now or in the
future—every expense must be paid for
and every debt repaid. In doing so, we have
forgotten the profoundly moral dimension
of national finances, and the duty every
generation has to pay its bills, and not un-
duly burden future generations.
A Warning From Our Founders
Our founders warned us of this very situ-
ation. In his Farewell Address, our first
president, George Washington, had a great
deal to say about this topic.
“As a very important source of strength
and security,” he said, “cherish public
credit.” He enjoined his country to “[avoid]
likewise the accumulation of debt, not only
by shunning occasions of expense, but by
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 B5
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE HARMONS

keting budgets, there is a growing popula- During the

who said that they were thinking about
suicide and that they were willing to take
their lives, and that they didn’t because
they watched ‘The Chosen,’” he said. “And
my friend who screenshot these messages,
he’s Hindu, and he said, ‘Wow, this is truly
God’s work.’”
“The Chosen” has been viewed more than
100 million times in 180 countries. Yet, it
too started out with the user method, as the
brainchild of a few brothers who were just
looking to make a show that they wanted
to watch.
Since there’s no reason to fix a business
formula that has clearly been working well,
the brothers are now looking to work their
magic once again by tackling their own
needs in another industry: children’s en-
tertainment.
“We’ve hit the global comedy community,
and we’re hitting the global Christian com-
munity, and the third group we’re trying
to serve—which is also us, you notice all
these are us—is a global freedom commu-
nity, which is where Daniel is focused with
Tuttle Twins,” said Jeffrey.
Freedom and Animation
Written by Connor Boyack, the Tuttle Twins
book series is geared toward teaching chil-
dren and teenagers about the principles
that power a free society, from the intrica-
cies of a legal system to the fluctuations
of a market economy. To date, the series
has sold more than 2 million copies. Now,
under a partnership with the Harmon
brothers, it’s being adapted into a cartoon
crowdfunded by Angel Studios with Daniel
as director and showrunner.
“We’ve known Connor Boyack, the au-
thor of the Tuttle Twins books, for years.
[We’re] very like-minded with similar val-
ues,” Daniel said. “I bought his first book,
called ‘The Law,’ immediately. I felt like it
was a real solution to teach my kids some
of the principles that I grew up with, that I
learned in my education.”
Though this is Daniel’s first foray into the
world of animation, the Harmon Brothers
agency has been creating entertaining,
educational, and viral content for a long
time. Their advertisements have collec-
Growing up, the tively earned more than a billion views
Harmons’ parents, and generated more than $350 million
and grandparents, for their clients, including Squatty Potty,
encouraged their Chatbooks, Purple Mattress, and Fiber Fix.
entrepreneurial spirit. “We felt like we could do justice, not just
Jeffrey is in the bottom by the principles of the books themselves,
row, left, Daniel is in
but we felt like our background in storytell-
the bottom row, center.
Neal is in the back row, ing via marketing through ads was a really
center, in the blue shirt. great preparation to bring a lot of comedy,
adventure, and storytelling into the books,”
Daniel said.
Daniel wants to create a genuinely engag-
ing series that children would choose to
watch over their other options. His vision
for the show is 80 percent entertainment
and 20 percent education, in which the
emotions, characters, humor, and storyline
will make the educational aspect resonate
with children in a memorable way.
“What I’m finding is that there’s a big gap
between the number of people who like
freedom and those who really understand
what freedom really means in practice,” he
said. “Very, very few people understand
what freedom means and what principles
of freedom are in practice. And that’s the
gap we’re looking to close with the Tuttle
Twins.”
Comedian Jenna Reception to the concept of a Tuttle Twins
Kim Jones during cartoon series was very warm, and sup-
her Dry Bar Comedy port came from “a much broader audience
special “Don’t Buy
than expected,” according to Jeffrey. In fact,
Skinny Jeans.”
many backers of the show viewed it as more
of a passion project than an investment.
Although crowdfunding patrons may re-
ceive returns on their investment, many of
them have told the Tuttle Twins team that
they viewed their contribution as more of
a donation.
“It was somewhere between 25 percent
and 30 percent of our investors, when they
put their money in, they said something
to the effect of ‘I don’t care if I ever make
a dime back, this just needs to exist!’ said
Daniel. “That was kind of the mentality, like
‘I’m in, regardless of how this turns out as
far as a profitable venture.’”
Values and the Future
Signs like this show the brothers just how
strong the market for values-based content
is—that despite Hollywood’s massive mar-
tion of people who are quietly tuning it all early days of
out. Knowing that this group is out there, VidAngel.
counting on their success, is what keeps
the brothers going, despite all the bumps
in the road.
Last year marked the end of a four-year-
long legal dispute between VidAngel and
Disney, in which Disney had sued the for-
mer for copyright infringement based on
VidAngel’s former content distribution
model. Both parties came to a settlement
eventually, but the resolution was a costly
one for VidAngel, which had to file for
bankruptcy in the process.
“The fact that we had 8,000 families that
had invested for us to be able to fight that
battle is the reason that we were able to pull
through during the darkest of times in that
lawsuit,” said Neal. “When you’re doing
something and you’re at the end of your
rope and you think of somebody else, that
has a different impact on your soul than if
you’re just fighting for yourself. And it just
gets you through.”
Just then, Daniel offered up the fun fact
that Neal’s favorite movie is “Cinderella
Man.”
“There’s a scene where [the main charac-
ter is] getting beat up pretty bad, and what
gets him through the fight is remembering
his kids he’s fighting for, to try to provide
for them and his wife. And [when] he’s just
fighting just to have a good career, just to be
competitive, it wasn’t enough,” Daniel said.
“But once he tapped into his motivations
with his family, he was able to rise above
and compete in a meaningful way.”
At the end of the day, family is where it all
starts and ends with the Harmon brothers.
It was what first nurtured their confidence
and ambitions as children, what instilled
in them the values that have guided them
to success as adults—and now, with each
brother having a family of his own, it’s why
they must continue their work.
With the Tuttle Twins series, the brothers
are hoping that the values that they grew up
with will be passed down to their children.
But their overall goal goes beyond any one
project and is one shared by most parents:
the wish to create a better world for their
children to inherit.
Jeffrey said: “My 9-year-old came up to
me yesterday. She’s been saying she wants
to build rockets her whole life. But then
she came up to me yesterday—‘You wanna
know what I want to do when I grow up?’
“I said, ‘Build rockets,’ and she was like,
‘Nope.’
“And I was like, ‘Be an astronaut?’ ‘No.’
“‘Do you want to .... be an inventor?’ ‘No,
I want to work with VidAngel and be an
angel for creating movies!’
“For the first time in my life, I’m excited
for my kids to be able to get into the film
industry,” he added. “That’s exciting to me.”

vigorous exertion in time of peace to dis-
charge the debts which unavoidable wars
may have occasioned, not ungenerously
throwing upon posterity the burden which
we ourselves ought to bear.”
Speaking with the candor of a statesman,
Washington reminded American politi-
cians that it was essential for the American
public to understand why minimal debt
was best. “To facilitate to them [the public]
the performance of their duty,” he said, the
public must be reminded that the payment
of debts requires revenue, and “to have
revenue there must be taxes,” and “that no
taxes can be devised which are not more or
less inconvenient and unpleasant.”
This final point by Washington is worth
considering. We normally think of taxa-
tion taking place in one way: the govern-
ment directly confiscating our money. But
it actually takes place in two ways: first,
by direct taxation (the kind we normally
think about) and the other by currency-
devaluing inflation.
With direct taxation occurs, the people
feel the burden immediately. Cost and
benefit are aligned and experienced at the
same time. There is no sugar high result-
ing from a benefit gained while the cost is
deferred. Direct taxation is therefore the
only honest way of paying for debts, and
ensuring the American people, as Wash-
ington said, engage in “the performance
of their duty.”
Currency-Devaluation Inflation effort, but also time. So where did that appealing to the plight of the vulnerable,
But there is another form of taxation the 20 percent go? It disappeared because of whose fortunes it will harm the most in
government has increasingly utilized currency-devaluing inflation—the “pay- the long run. The long-term future of “the
since the 1960s, namely the taxation im- ing” of debts by printing dollars rather children” is undermined for the sake of
posed by currency-devaluation inflation. than direct taxation. “the children.”
What does this mean? It means that when This has been taking place in the United The national debt is a complicated is-
the government has a debt, it covers the States for decades. The people are being sue—more complicated than we can dis-
shortfall not by taxes directly imposed on robbed and they don’t even realize it be- cuss in a short column. What isn’t com-
the people, but by printing more dollars cause “currency-devaluing inflation” isn’t plicated, however, is the reality that it’s
through the sale of government bonds. a line item on their income or their taxes. politicians’ favorite tool for manipulating
This increases the money supply (infla- It’s an invisible expense that they must and the people for their own benefit. They will
tion) in such a way that more dollars are will pay, but behind their backs, as it were. continue to do so until the people wake up.
required to pursue fewer goods Like the frog that doesn’t realize the But if that is what we hope to do, we face
and services (which leads to pot of water it’s in is getting hot- another choice that is both clear and stark:
currency devaluation). Even more ter and hotter, the people don’t Either we decide to incur the cost of our
The consequences of this worrying, realize that the policies they past extravagance ourselves, or we contin-
are pernicious, for it not only our birthrate vote for actually cost far more ue to impose it on future generations. We
leads to higher prices now, has been than they realize. can choose self-indulgence or restraint;
but it decreases the purchas- plummeting. As the necessaries of life profligacy or responsibility; cowardice or
ing power of money that has grow more expensive, this in duty; the national debt—such as it is—or
already been earned. turn creates fodder for politi- national greatness.
Let me illustrate. Let’s say that cians who are more than happy The choice we make will in large part an-
by 2010, you had managed to save up to run to the “rescue” once again with swer the question of whether or not we are
$50,000. Earning that amount of money similar promises of largesse, whose costs worthy of the ancestors who purchased
took time and effort. You can almost al- are once again imposed behind (and our liberty, safety, and prosperity at the
ways expend more effort (at least until you eventually upon) the backs of the very cost of their fortunes, ease, and blood.
are too old), but you can never get back people they claim to be helping.
the time it took to save that much mon- By the time this happens, the correlation Joshua Charles is a former White House
ey. And yet, what has happened to that between cost and “benefit” has long since speechwriter for Vice President Mike
$50,000 since 2010? Its purchasing power been obscured, while the politicians who Pence, No. 1 New York Times bestsell-
has decreased more than 20 percent! That sold it to them have already gotten the ing author, historian, columnist, writer/
means that what you could purchase for reelection they wanted. This discourages ghostwriter, and public speaker. Follow
$50,000 in 2010 would now take you more both private and public frugality, and to him on Twitter @JoshuaTCharles or see
than $60,000! That 20 percent isn’t only make matters worse, is often achieved by JoshuaTCharles.com
B6
DEAR NEXT GENERATION:
Life Lessons I Learned From Teenagers
« Advice from our readers
to our young people
I am intrigued by the letters that subscrib-
ers write to the young generation and am
moved emotionally by many of them.
For half a century, I practiced pediat-
rics with an emphasis on adolescents and
learned many life lessons from them. So
many, in fact, that today I want to spin the
“What would I tell the young people today”
to “What would I tell young people today
that I learned from young people yesteryear.”
The lessons were told to me by teens. I
changed the names, contributed medical
and social data to prove the verity of the les-
sons, and published them in a book, “Mes-
sengers in Denim: The Amazing Things
Parents Can Learn From Teens.”
I have since retired from pediatrics and
spent 10 years doing qualifying exams on
military applicants. Most of these recruits
were 17 to 19 years old with an occasional
youth in his or her early 20s. These teens,
like their non-military peers, also taught
me some important life lessons.
Eighteen-year-old Nat,
born to a single mother,
was joining the Army
to escape an abusive
childhood. He was beaten
by several of his mother’s
serial boyfriends.
So if you permit me, I’ll tell you some true
stories and let you consider if they are valu-
able lessons.
Eighteen-year-old Nat, born to a single
mother, was joining the Army to escape an
abusive childhood. He was beaten by sev-
eral of his mother’s serial boyfriends. When
mother and the child’s molester faced the
judge, he reportedly told her she had to
choose between her son and her boyfriend.
She replied, “I’ll take my boyfriend.”
Thus began Nat’s experience in and out
of foster homes. Mom soon became drug-
dependent and spent several terms in jail,
each time losing custody of Nat only to have
him return to her when she was released.
She was in jail and he was in a foster home
as Nat neared the end of his high school
junior year. He contacted his uncle who
agreed to let Nat work in his sawmill in
exchange for room, board, and a small sal-
ary. That summer, Nat saved enough to buy
a “junker car.”
When fall came, he needed two classes to
graduate from high school, so he arranged
his schedule to attend school only on Tues-
days and Thursdays and be able to graduate
with his class. Because he couldn’t work
full time, his uncle threw him out.
Nat lived in his car and spent as little of his
saved money as possible. He took enough
food from the school cafeteria on Fridays
to last over the weekend. By the middle of
Christmas vacation, he was out of money
and unable to eat during that time off of
school. One morning, he got out of his car
and fainted in the street. He was taken to
the hospital by a passerby and given fluids
and food. Social service was able to contact
his grandmother, who agreed to keep him
until graduation if he promised to join the
Army then.
I asked him how he managed to survive
all that abuse.
“I’m a committed Christian,” he replied.
“Really?” I commented. “So am I, but just
how did that help?”
His answer, “Jesus taught forgiveness.”
I was struck dumb and I’m sure my face
showed it.
“Forgiveness,” he continued, “is the basis
of mankind! Man is the only animal who
can forgive.” Nat lived that truth: Forgive-
BRIDGET M. KEANE/U.S. MARINE CORPS
ness is the basis of mankind!
What lessons can we ***
learn from teenagers? James, a model child, wanted to join the
Army to follow the family tradition. Dad
was in Desert Storm, Granddad a Vietnam
vet, and Great-Granddad served in World
War II.
After we finished the interview and physi-
cal exam, I pushed back in my chair and
asked: “James, what made you such an out-
standing young man when so many of our
nation’s black men your age are in jail? Do
you have any suggestions that might help
other parents?”
James looked into the distance, thought
for a long minute, and said: “When I was
little, my mom wouldn’t let me cross the
street, but my cousin who lived across the
street and down a couple of blocks was
allowed to. I didn’t think that was fair,
because he was younger than me. I asked
Mom about it, and she told me she cared
about me too much to let anything happen
to me. There was a hill just up the street and
she worried I couldn’t see cars coming.”
Then he took an even longer pause, looked
over my head, and continued, “You don’t
need to have lots of things like computers
or cellphones, all you need is someone who
you know cares about you.”
I agreed and dared to ask, “What does
your cousin do now?”
James looked at the floor. “He’s in jail.”
***
Joe was an admirable lad of 18. He played
You don’t trumpet in the marching band, varsity
baseball, had a GPA of 3.7, didn’t smoke or
need to drink, and had a positive attitude with a
smiley face to match his personality.
have lots of His dad was imprisoned for murder since
things like Joe was 5. He had no siblings; he lost his
mother to breast cancer when he was 9,
computers or and lived with Grandma until she died
right after his 15th birthday, then he moved
cellphones, into an apartment and lived “on his own.”
all you need He wanted to join the Navy because he
thought he “needed some discipline.”
is someone I asked how he was able to rent an apart-
who you ment or sign a contract when he was still
a minor.
know cares “My uncle is a doctor—chiropractor—and
helped me. He said as long as I didn’t get
about you. into trouble, I could live alone. So, I just did
James
what I should and didn’t do what I knew
was wrong.
“I gave him my word and he trusted me.”
A man is as good as his word!
***
Jason, also 18, was born to a single mother
and until age 4 or 5 lived wherever his mom
could dump him for the day or night. He
said he had been a “really bad kid” (who
could blame him!). He received counseling
for his “behavior disorder” and started med-
ication for ADHD before he started school.
At age 5, his so-called parent lost custody
and Jason was adopted by a former Marine,
now a cop, and his wife. They didn’t believe
in counseling or medication for ADHD.
They believed in strict structure and that
actions have consequences. Under this
family’s care, Jason’s behavior changed.
His ADHD abated, and he became a good
student and a good kid. He told me that his
dad was the “best dad any kid could have.”
His Marine dad and his wife knew that all
love is tough love! And that actions speak
louder than words.
***
This next guy is no longer a teen, but he was
a teenager when he learned the lesson he
taught me.
Mike was a handsome 26-year-old guy
Recruits struggle to lift wanting to join the National Guard. He
the front end of the log spent his first 16 years in foster homes and
during log drills at Marine claimed he changed homes at “least twice a
Corps Recruit Depot San year.” He didn’t know for sure, but thought
Diego, in this file photo. that he was born in a foster home. He found
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
MARIEKE KOENDERS/UNSPLASH
a factory job at age 16, emancipated him-
self, left foster care, and quit school while
still in 9th grade. By 18, he was into drugs,
became an alcoholic, and had been im-
prisoned twice.
Before his 19th birthday, he impregnated
his girlfriend, the daughter of a preacher,
married his child’s mother, and began to
turn his life around. Because he had no
idea who he was, he took his father-in-
law’s name. He stopped drinking and us-
ing drugs.
“When my son was born,” he said, “I held
him in my arms and looked him all over. I
couldn’t believe I had helped make such a
beautiful, helpless, baby boy. His eyes were
staring at me. All I could think was this
baby needs a dad. I looked at those eyes and
told him I was his dad and I promised him
I’d take care of him. And I have.”
Mike’s baby was 7 years old when I met
Mike; by then he had earned his GED. Mom
was a stay-at-home mom and had a new
baby coming. “I’ll take care of him, too!”
Mike boasted.
I wish you could have seen the glow on his
face as he shook my hand to leave. “My wife
and my baby saved my life!” he exclaimed.
I couldn’t help adding, “The poet says,
‘The child is the father of the man!’”
“Mine sure is,” he offered.
***
One young man summed up good parent-
ing in four words. We were discussing his
family history when he said: “I’ve got the
best dad in the whole world. I always try to
be just like him.”
This from a 17-year-old boy!
He pointed to a tattoo on his bicep, “Like
Father, Like Son,” and said, “Dad has one
just like it!”
This father–son dyad lived a tattoo they
shared, “Like father, like son.”
Dad was the man he wanted his son to
become!
***
Each day I worked for the military, I would
see 10 to 15 young men and women, and
each day I saw at least one with the same
story as Joe, Nat, and Mike. Kids born to
single mothers; kids whose “sperm donor”
walked out and Mom tried to make it on
her own; kids whose parents went in and
out of jail and left the kids to foster homes;
and kids who were abused and hungry.
I also saw kids who came from divorced
or separated parents. Some did well, oth-
ers not so. And I saw a few from “old-fash-
ioned” parents who were still married to
each other. Many of them, in every group,
taught me lessons in living.
But the group of kids I loved most were
those who had survived in spite of all the
misfortune they had had in their lives.
I’m not worried about the future of our
great country, or the world, because the
next greatest generation is just putting on
their uniforms.
—Dr. Parnell Donahue, Tennessee
What advice would you like to
give to the younger generations?
We call on all of our readers to share the
timeless values that define right and
wrong, and pass the torch, if you will,
through your wisdom and hard-earned
experience. We feel that the passing down
of this wisdom has diminished over time,
and that only with a strong moral founda-
tion can future generations thrive.
Send your advice, along with your full name,
state, and contact information to NextGen-
eration@epochtimes.com or mail it to:
Next Generation, The Epoch Times, 229
W. 28th St., Floor 7, New York, NY 10001
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021   B7
ALL PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE

The middle gate

(Chumon) is the
main entrance
to Horyuji Temple.

LARGER THAN LIFE: ART THAT INSPIRES US THROUGH THE AGES

Japan’s 2nd Buddhist Temple: Horyuji

From 594 to 622, Prince Shotoku ruled
Japan. He certainly lived up to his name,
for “sho” means sacred and “toku” means
virtue.
During his reign, he promoted Buddhism
in Japan, so much so that he is popularly
known as the founder of Japanese Bud-
dhism. After his death, many even called
him “Japan’s Shakyamuni.” A historical
figure of India, Siddhartha Gautama be-
came known as Shakyamuni after his en-
lightenment, and his teachings became
the foundation for Buddhism.
The second Buddhist temple Shokotu
commissioned was Horyuji, in Nara Pre-
fecture, southern Japan. The temple is a
significant part of Japan’s art, architecture,
and spiritual heritage.
Buddhism had only just emerged in Ja-
pan from China, via the Korean peninsula,
when the wooden buildings of Horyuji
Temple were built. Japan’s first Buddhist
temple, Shitennoji, still exists, but its build-
ings were later rebuilt, therefore, the temple
buildings of Horyuji, are Japan’s oldest sur-
viving Buddhist structures. Several of the
Horyuji Temple buildings date from the
late seventh or early eighth century, mak-
ing them among the world’s oldest surviv-
ing wooden buildings.
Each building in the temple complex is
based on traditional Chinese Buddhist
architecture adapted to Japanese tastes,
marking the emergence of Japanese Bud-
dhist architecture.
According to the UNESCO website, the
buildings were constructed using the
Chinese bay system, a type of post-and-
lintel construction, with ornate brackets
and large columns bearing the immense
weight of the tile roof.
UNESCO lists some of the temple’s ar-
chitectural highlights; for example, the
columns’ cloud-shaped brackets and the
application of entasis to the columns. En-
tasis is a technique whereby the columns
have been gently tapered for aesthetic, and
often weight bearing, purposes.

1. 2. PUBLIC DOMAIN 3. PUBLIC DOMAIN

4. 5. 663HIGHLAND/CC BY-SA 3.0

6. 7.

8.

1. The light of the sunset on the rooftops of one of the Horyuji Temple buildings. 2. A statue of Shotoku Taishi, created in 1121, shows the prince dressed in the court style and holding a scepter. The statue is
housed in the Shoryoin, a temple dedicated to worship of the prince. 3. The Golden Hall (Kondo) of Horyuji Temple was once adorned with Buddhist murals similar in style to those of the Ajanta caves in India
and Dunhuang caves in China. In 1949, a fire damaged a substantial number of the Horyuji murals. In this photograph, taken before the fire, a seventh-century mural shows Buddha Amitabha’s paradise.
4. A komainu, known as a lion-dog, protects the temple and wards off evil. The komainu is similar to the Chinese guardian lion that originated in the Tang Dynasty. 5. The wooden columns at Horyuji Temple
are examples of the application of entasis, where the columns are gently tapered for aesthetic effect and sometimes for weight bearing purposes. 6. A Buddhist statue displaying a mudra, a sacred hand
gesture, at Horyuji Temple. 7. The Golden Hall (Kondo, L) of Horyuji Temple, and part of an ornate incense burner in the foreground. 8. The octagonal Hall of Dreams (Yumedono, R) of Horyuji Temple.
B8 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

REACHING WITHIN:
WHAT TRADITIONAL ART OFFERS THE HEART

Reuniting With the Divine:

‘Sacred Love and Profane Love’ ALL IMAGES IN PUBLIC DOMAIN

ERIC BESS

A
s the profane runs rampant,
there is little left that is sacred.
Sacred love has been turned
on its head, and people today
often value vice instead of
virtue. Love, however, used to be sacred.
The controversial painting “Sacred
Love and Profane Love” by Giovanni
Baglione might give us insight into the
sacrality of love.

Baglione’s Feud With Caravaggio

Unfortunately, Baglione’s painting “Sa-
cred Love and Profane Love” is mired
in controversy. Baglione and the painter
Caravaggio were enemies. Caravaggio
wrote defamatory poems about Baglione
and criticized his ability to paint. Ba-
glione took him to court over it in 1603. Sacred Love is
Baglione painted two versions of
“Sacred Love and Profane Love.” The represented
version above was painted in response standing
to Caravaggio’s painting “Love Victori-
ous.” In “Sacred Love and Profane Love,” upright,
Baglione painted Caravaggio as the
Devil, and visually accused Caravaggio
between the
of sodomy, an accusation that caused Devil and the
Caravaggio to leave the city.
“Sacred Love and Profane Love” de- child, wearing
picts the Devil consorting with Cupid ornate armor
(Profane Love) at the bottom of the com-
position. The Devil looks back at us as if and with an
he is startled. Profane Love holds an ar-
row in one hand and a bow in his other. otherworldly
He looks up at the angelic representation arrow in his
of Sacred Love that looms over him.
Sacred Love is represented standing right hand.
upright, between the Devil and the child,
wearing ornate armor and with an other-
worldly arrow in his right hand. In con-
trast to Profane Love’s ordinary, childlike
appearance, Sacred Love is depicted
with an idealized and calm face.
In the tenebristic fashion of this time,
all of the figures are positioned against a
background of darkness, which height-
ens their three-dimensionality and helps
us focus on their interaction.

The Sacred and Profane

Baglione’s intentions may not have been
pure when he painted this, but it doesn’t
mean that we can’t extract meaning from
the painting that may inspire our hearts
and minds toward goodness. Maybe
from a close look at this work, we can
gather a deeper understanding of the op-
posing elements of sacred and profane.
In the tenebristic
fashion of this time,
all of the figures are
positioned against a
background of darkness,
which heightens their
three-dimensionality
and helps us focus on
their interaction.
The use of the word “love” denotes,
at least in part, a desire or caring for
something. Thus, these two contrasting
representations of love may be symbolic
for what we care about or desire.
The depiction of Cupid in consort with
“Sacred and Profane
Love,” 1602, by Gio-
vanni Baglione. Oil on
canvas; 94.5 in by 56.3
inches. National Gallery of
Ancient Art, Rome.
the Devil is very telling. The Roman god
Cupid is often associated with using his
arrow to instill lascivious desires in gods
and humans alike. The Devil is often
associated with tempting humans away
from God and toward worldly pleasures.
The rendezvous between the Devil
and Cupid suggests that Profane Love
represents a desire for base and even evil
pleasures that keep humans separated
from the divine.
Sacred Love, however, stands over
them both. The Devil and Cupid are
painted in the lower register of the com-
position, but Sacred Love transcends
them both, suggesting that Sacred Love
transcends, rises above, the desires and
cares characteristic of Profane Love.
Sacred Love wears armor, which sug-
gests that he is protected from the temp-
tations that Profane Love represents. He,
however, also has a weapon of his own:
his arrow.
If the sacred and profane are true
opposites, and here the profane arrow
would be used to separate humans from
the divine, the sacred arrow must be
used to reconnect humans to the divine.
Sacred Love is love—a deep desire and
care—for the divine.
The positioning of the figures suggests
that Sacred Love has come to separate
Cupid from the Devil. He stands between
Cupid and the Devil and positions his
arrow at Cupid’s heart. A prick from his
arrow would elevate (that is, save) Cupid
from the Devil’s influence and reunite
Cupid with his divine nature.
The positioning of the figures reiterates
the power of Sacred Love: Our righteous
thoughts, when powered by a transcen-
dent love of the divine, will overpower,
overwhelm, and subdue all base and evil
desires even when their power seems
great or their number many.
How might we identify the ways in
which we hide profane thoughts, speech,
and acts so that we might transcend
them and reconnect with the divine
through sacred love? How can we
strengthen the righteousness in our
hearts and minds so that we may subdue
the evil in our lives?

The traditional arts often contain spiritual

representations and symbols the mean-
ings of which can be lost to our modern
minds. In our series “Reaching Within:
What Traditional Art Offers the Heart,”
we interpret visual arts in ways that may
be morally insightful for us today. We do
not assume to provide absolute answers to
questions generations have wrestled with,
(Left) An engraving of but hope that our questions will inspire
painter Giovanni Baglione, a reflective journey toward our becom-
1625, by Ottavio Leoni. ing more authentic, compassionate, and
(Public Domain) courageous human beings.
(Right) A chalk portrait
of the painter Michelan- Eric Bess is a practicing representational
gelo Merisi da Caravag- artist and is a doctoral candidate at the
gio, circa 1621, by Ottavio Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual
Leoni. Arts (IDSVA).
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
Strings make up the bulk of an orchestra.
MUSIC
Why the Strings Are
the ‘Backbone of the Orchestra’
MICHAEL KUREK
Growing up, I always enjoyed hearing
the nicknames given to various musical
instruments. We were told that the organ
is the “king of instruments,” while the
harp is the “queen of instruments.” The
bassoon is “the clown of the orchestra,”
and, at least in jazz circles, the clarinet is
the “licorice stick.” To play the piano is
to “tickle the ivories.” The drums are the
“skins.” Both the terms “horn” and “axe”
can refer generically to a person’s instru-
ment, whatever it may be.
Then we had “Tubby the Tuba,” per-
sonified as a chubby boy, and who can
forget that the oboe was the duck and
the clarinet the cat in Sergei Prokofiev’s
“Peter and the Wolf”? And in Camille
Saint-Saëns’s “Carnival of the Animals,”
the string double bass aptly plays the
elephants, the cello the swan, and the
xylophone the skeleton bones. In “The
Instrument Song,” the horn sounds “so
forlorn.” The instruments are truly fasci-
nating, especially to children.
The ‘Backbone of the Orchestra’
But what about the strings? In fact, the
strings can take on just about any char-
acterization. We never tire of their warm,
human-like tone the way we can tire of,
say, the oboe’s nasal and reedy sound.
The strings can play almost endlessly,
because their players’ lungs or lips do not
wear out from constant breathing and
blowing. The string group in five sec-
tions—violins (split into first and second
violins), violas, cellos (properly called the
violoncello), and the double basses (also
called contrabass)—can collectively
cover the entire range of the piano, save
the bottom three keys, much wider in
range than the other orchestra sections.
They can pass off a melody from high
to low, sounding seamlessly like one
instrument, while such a figure passed
from flute down to oboe to clarinet and
bassoon would reveal a distinct change
of tone color with each. They can play
incredibly soft or loud, fast or slow, hold
long tones endlessly with imperceptible
changes of the bow up and down, and
play all sorts of special effects, like piz-
zicato (plucking with the finger instead
of bowing), whistle-like harmonics
(touching a string lightly and bowing),
and scratching tremolos (rapidly bowing
back and forth on one string).
In fact, in most orchestral works, the in-
dividual string players’ parts are typically
many pages longer than the other instru-
ments’ parts because they play almost all
the time, while the others frequently rest.
For all these reasons, the Russian compos-
er Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908)
called the strings the “backbone of the
orchestra” in one of the first books to be
written on orchestration, his “Principles of
Orchestration” (written 1873–1908).
What makes them the backbone is
that the strings can stand alone for any
length of time, but when woodwinds
and brass are featured on the melody,
the strings are often still played, too,
though in the background. When the
wind instruments do play as a section
without strings, it is usually not for more
than a few seconds, lest the composition
begin to sound like a band piece rather
than an orchestra piece.
Teaching my university orchestration
class, I have always showed the students
scores and pointed out how Brahms,
for example, employed what is called
“homogenous orchestration,” where
parts are often “doubled,” that is, played
together by strings and a woodwind and
a brass instrument blending in uni-
son. Tchaikovsky, on the other hand, is
known for “family orchestration,” where
a melody will be passed around, with a
phrase first played by the strings alone,
then echoed purely by the woodwinds
alone, and then by the brass alone. Both
composers do have all the families play
together, too, especially at climactic mo-
ments, so it’s only a relative comparison.
Strength in Numbers
I used to wonder as a child how and why
our city orchestra could round up so
many string players, as many as 70, but
so few winds, no more than 23, espe-
cially when my school only had a band
program with no string players. Where
did all those hundreds of marching band
members on the field disappear to after
graduation, and where did all these string
players come from? Apparently, there
must have been lots of kids taking violin
lessons somewhere, awaiting their turn to
be in the majority. The reason for the nu-
merical disparity is simply the disparity
in the volume between the instruments.
If you had 70 winds on stage with those 70
strings, you might have a hard time even
hearing the latter.
I also wondered if, perhaps, all those
marching band kids found it quicker
and easier to learn a wind instru-
ment than learn to play at the same
skill level on a string instrument. So I
interviewed Luciano Marsalli about it;
he’s a remarkable young college senior
I know majoring in violin performance
at Vanderbilt University:
MICHAEL KUREK: Are string instruments
harder than other instruments to learn
to play?
LUCIANO MARSALLI: Yes! To give just one
example, instruments with any sort of
keys allow their players to immediately
gain the satisfaction of playing in tune at
a very early stage. We have no marked in-
dications for where to place our fingers—
no keys and no frets. We must spend
years training our left hand to know
exactly where to place our fingers on the
strings to produce the correct pitches,
which requires precision at the level of
millimeters. We are forced to engage in
a physical process that is both unnatural
and asymmetrical with both hands.
MR. KUREK: Why did you choose to play
the violin, as opposed to the more imme-
diate rewards of other instruments?
MR. MARSALLI:  Without parental sup-
port, I never would have made it past my
early years on the instrument. I would
have neglected my violin studies without
the insistence of my parents, something
which I now consider a great gift. In
growing older, I came to love the violin
myself, for many of the same reasons
that make it so difficult. In mastering
the violin, there is an all-encompassing
mastery of music that one encounters:
The instrument attains such a versatility
that it becomes an extension of oneself,
capable of any expression. This is all the
more evidenced by a rich repertoire of
pieces written for the instrument.
MR. KUREK: If you could only choose one
role as your primary activity, would you
B9
STOKKETE/SHUTTERSTOCK PUBLIC DOMAIN
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, circa 1888.
rather be a soloist, player in a string quar-
tet, or a member of an orchestral string They can play
section, and why?
MR. MARSALLI: I would almost certainly incredibly soft or
choose to be in a string quartet. The thrill
of being “the one” in any solo setting is
loud, fast or slow, hold
certainly alluring, and by contrast, the long tones endlessly
wonderful unity of playing in an orches-
tra is a truly fulfilling musical experi- with imperceptible
ence. But, for me personally, playing in changes of the bow up
a small ensemble is the perfect balance
between the two. A quartet seems to be and down, and play
the greatest number of players who can
all be communicating with each other at all sorts of special
once. You can attain a perfectly homoge- effects.
neous result while still achieving a great
deal of intellectual individualism.
The String Orchestra Showcasing It All
A piece you might hear at any orchestra
concert is “Serenade for Strings,” Op. 48
by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893).
Typically, it would be scheduled first in
the program, and then the other mem- For more
bers of the orchestra would join the arts and culture
strings for the rest of the concert. articles, visit
It would seem that almost everyone has TheEpochTimes.
heard his ballet “The Nutcracker,” but com
many may be unfamiliar with Tchai-
kovsky’s romantic, deeply affecting
serenade for the string family alone. If
you did enjoy that ballet, you are guar-
anteed to gain a new favorite in this lush,
emotional serenade.
If you begin to wonder how Tchai-
kovsky got such a rich sound out of the
strings in the opening part of the piece, it COURTESY OF MICHAEL KUREK
is because four of the five sections (listed
above) are playing “divisi,” Italian for
divided. That means, for example, that
eight (half) of the sixteen first violins
are playing one note and the other eight
playing a different note. So instead of
five-part harmony, you are hearing nine-
part harmony. It might help to imagine
two barbershop quartets singing to-
gether where each person has a different
note, so the harmony sounds thicker and
richer. From there, Tchaikovsky puts the
strings through all their paces, showcas-
ing a delightful, tuneful catalog of about
everything they can do.
In four movements totaling around 30 Violinist Luciano Marsalli.
minutes, we are treated to quicksilver-
fast music, exquisitely slow and poi-
COURTESY OF MICHAEL KUREK
gnant music, and an elegant waltz. He
composed the “Serenade” in 1880, and
George Balanchine (1904–1983) choreo-
graphed it as a ballet in 1934. The waltz
from the serenade even became a song
in the 1945 movie “Anchors Aweigh,”
called “From the Heart of a Lonely Poet,”
performed by Kathryn Grayson. In 1983,
NBC used excerpts from the serenade
as a lead-in to commercial breaks in
its broadcast of an NFL Playoff game
between the San Diego Chargers and
Pittsburgh Steelers.
American composer Michael Kurek is the
author of the recently released book “The
Sound of Beauty: A Composer on Music
in the Spiritual Life” and the composer of Conductor Rodrigo Müller rehearsing the
the Billboard No. 1 classical album “The author’s Billboard No. 1 composition “The
Sea Knows.” The winner of numerous Sea Knows” with the strings of the Orquestra
composition awards, including the presti- Sinfônica de Limeira in São Paulo, Brazil.
gious Academy Award in Music from the
American Academy of Arts and Letters,
he has served on the Nominations Com-
mittee of the Recording Academy for the
classical Grammy Awards. He is a profes-
sor emeritus of composition at Vanderbilt
University. For more information and
music, visit MichaelKurek.com
 B10 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES

hadn’t learned in public school. My educa-

tion had been a scope and sequence type
that provided the bread and butter, but this
new way was giving me and my kids the
lobster, prime rib, and oysters Rockefeller
of the educational menu.

Launching Young Adults Into Life

As my oldest reached junior high, she be-
gan looking at options for her adult life. Her
goals were set but made with flexibility in
mind. From child to child, according to
academic ability and readiness, we have
slowly but surely progressed.
There are as many ways to launch a
home-educated student as can be imag-
ined. We had friends who had sent their
child to a four-year university without a
high school diploma. It turns out that at
her chosen school, good scores on a college
entry test were all that was necessary. My
husband had also become an administra-
tor at a community college in the area. He
began to see homeschooled students begin
classes with a placement exam and without
the need for a diploma. This has been the
route our oldest two students have taken.
We also saw young entrepreneurs be-
gin businesses such as taking over family
farms, becoming real estate agents, and
cosmetologists. Some of these students
even ended their homeschool journey
with graduation ceremonies put on by
groups of parents. We were slowly learn-
ing how to launch these young adults into
life with home education as an asset, not
HOMESCHOOLING A student picks up an obstacle.
her diploma dur-
Now we have two students in college, but

The Diploma Dilemma ing a graduation cere-

mony at Bradley-Bour-
bonnais Community
High School on May 6,
2020, in Bradley, Ill.
The high school diploma
TRICIA FOWLER ues, drug use, premarital sex, and declin- is frequently seen as
I can easily remember the days of uneasi-
ness when I imagined my grown children
in the great big world without diplomas.
Just the other day, one of my daughters,
a student at a four-year college in Ken-
tucky, called and said, “Mom, I see how

I
n 1821, the first public high school
was established in the United States.
Since then, the pursuit of the high
school diploma has been a primary
goal for most Americans. Earning
the accolade is celebrated as a major mile-
stone. Parents not only anticipate their
child’s graduation but expect it—complete
with pomp and circumstance, cap and
gown, and pecuniary gifts at the gradu-
ation party.
The diploma’s magical appeal to parents
is undeniable. High school graduation is
seen as the doorway to all the opportuni-
ties of adulthood. Without a diploma, who
would be able to attend college or get any
job at all, right? Through the typical high
school route, millions of teens launch to
become the doctors, lawyers, plumbers,
and farmers of the next generation.
In 2000, when my husband and I began
our family, we never gave a thought to
home education and took it for granted
that all our children would, of course,
graduate from our local high school be-
cause that was all we knew.
As we saw the effects of public school
education on our peers and family mem-
bers, our perspectives about what our pri-
TOC
K orities
oritie were regarding
ERS
SH UT T our kids began to
EN/
R AV
BIO change. Our confu-
cha
sion stemmed from
sio
tthe trade-offs that
ccame with the di-
ploma, including
p Laurie Bluedorn about the true classical
loss of family val-
lo
ing academic standards we saw in public
schools. I will never forget the shock of our
family members as we announced our de-
cision. We would school at home.
Early Years
During those early years, other mothers
were tied down by a school schedule and
school activities while I juggled teaching
at home and motherhood. These things
weren’t as life altering as I had anticipat-
ed, so we started our crazy journey hap-
pily, but never far from my mind was that
ever-nearing, much-feared obstacle—no
diploma. Sometimes, while nursing my
younger children in the night, the thought
would almost strike panic in my heart. The
busy days and the joys of being with my
children drove the fears away. I heard
anecdotes of home-educated people as
successful adults doing amazing things.
Surely, the diploma wasn’t as essential
and George Washington
as I had heard.
Carver doing amazing
Reading aloud was a large part of our
homeschooling days, and while sharing
stories, histories, biographies, and histori-
cal fictions with my kids, I found myself
amazed at education throughout the ages
coming alive. I saw in my mind’s eye peo-
ple such as Benjamin Franklin, Nathaniel
Bowditch, and George Washington Carver
doing amazing things without a diploma.
As my kid’s primary teacher, I decided
I should immerse myself in educational
philosophy and learned through Charlotte
Mason, Dorothy Sayers, and Harvey and
education. Often, I was amazed at what I
the doorway to other
opportunities, including
college and a job.
I saw in my mind’s
eye people such as
Benjamin Franklin,
Nathaniel Bowditch,
things without a
diploma.
well prepared I am for my classes because
you taught us how to read great books.”
My secondborn has been able to pursue
music because of homeschooling and was
told by her mentor that she could audition
“for any school she wants” because of her
talent level. My husband and I feel no need
to change course or worry about life with-
out a diploma for our younger children.
These days are radically different than
those 20 years ago when my husband and
I first decided to homeschool. Now the very
fabric of traditional values is being torn
apart starting at the local primary school.
Never would I have dreamed that the his-
tory of our nation would be canceled, the
sex of my children questioned, or the label
of racist be stamped on so many children’s
heads just because of their skin color.
Many of these changes are placing
conservative public school teachers and
administrators in a crisis. No longer
would their main task be to teach reading,
writing, and arithmetic but progressive
ideologies.
As a beacon of hope, I want to hold out our
homeschooling story to those who may be
scared to leave public school. It turns out
that the dilemma isn’t the absence of the
diploma, but what your student inadver-
tently is indoctrinated into with one.
Tricia Fowler is a Christian homeschool-
ing momma in the Midwest. She currently
spends much of her time teaching math,
feeding sourdough, and helping with
whatever is in season on the hobby farm she
shares with her husband and seven children.

PARENTING

How to Encourage Your Child’s Interests

JONATHAN BORBA/UNSPLASH

BARBARA DANZA
Children are innately curious and
creative. When given time to play,
tinker, and explore, sooner or lat-
er, they develop a keen interest in
something specific. The very best
thing a parent can do, when that
spark of interest reveals itself, is to
add kindling to the fire and watch
how long it’ll burn.
Here are ways to encourage and
support your child’s interests.
Notice
First, of course, you need to be pay-
ing enough attention to notice an
interest when it surfaces. What does
your child most enjoy talking about?
How does your child spend free
time? What sorts of books does your
child regularly choose at the library
or bookstore? What is your child
doing when he or she loses track
of time? Notice where their true
interest lies and take it from there.
Gather All the Books
Once an interest has been identi-
fied, seek out books. Request a stack
of books on the subject from your
local library. Check new and used
bookstores for titles that your chil-
dren can dive into. Find books that
approach the subject from different
angles and books that are written
for different age ranges, including
adults (assuming appropriate con-
tent obviously).
Documentary Night
Let movie night become documen-
tary night in your home. Whatever
your child is interested in, I bet you
can find a documentary about it.
Get the whole family fired up about
this interest by making a movie
night out of it, complete with pop-
corn and snacks.
Field Trip
Might a field trip be in order to
learn more about your child’s in-
terest? Whether you head to the
park to explore nature photogra-
phy, to the local bookstore to hear a
favorite author speak, or to a factory
to witness how a certain candy is
Given time and space
to explore, children
often develop specific
interests.
made, get out there and see first-
hand what’s what when it comes
to this new interest.
Roll Up Your Sleeves
Hands-on learning is a favorite
among most kids. Roll up your
sleeves and get to work creating,
making, and experimenting with
this new interest. Ensure your child
has all of the tools necessary to tin-
ker and thoroughly explore what
has captured his or her interest. You
may find yourself foraging along
the beach for shells, shopping the
hardware store for tools, or visiting
a flea market for collectible toys.
Share With the World
As your child learns about his or
her new interest, he or she may be
enticed to share newfound knowl-
edge or creations with others. For
example, a baking interest definite-
ly calls for cupcakes delivered to the
neighbors or grandparents; a pho-
tography interest will delight online
friends; a writing interest may even
lead to self-publishing a book. In-
vite friends over for a themed party
based on the interest. Branch out
and share the delight with others.
Take It to the Next Level
As the spark turns from a flame
to a roaring fire, it may be time to
kick things up even further. Might
this interest become a business
venture? Would formal study or a
public blog be in order? The sky’s
the limit when it comes to encour-
aging and supporting your children
in their interests.
As a bonus, when children are en-
grossed in something, they truly
enjoy and explore it from every
angle, and as a result, tend to learn
the more fundamental academics
lessons you’d expect from school
but through their interests.
Cheer them on. Comfort and str-
engthen them through their strug-
gles. Let them follow their deepest
interests wherever they may lead
and for the greatest good they can
conceive. Don’t forget to marvel at
the unique and wonderful genius
that is specific to them. It’s a blessing.
 FOR KIDS ONLY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

This
Week in
History
Traveling WHERE DO SHEEP
LIKE TO GO ON
Again VACATION? CONSTANTINOPLE

PRACHAYA ROEKDEETHAWEESAB/SHUTTERSTOCK
by Du Fu (Chinese: 杜甫, 712–770)
BECOMES

ISTANBUL
I remember the temple, this route I’ve travelled before, An
I recall the bridge as I cross it again. illustration of
It seems the hills and rivers have been waiting, Constantine
The flowers and willows all are selfless now. the Great.

O
The field is sleek, and vivid, thin mist shines,
On soft sand, the sunlight’s colour shows it’s late. n March 28, 1930, the present-day
All the traveler’s sorrow fades away, Turkish port city of Istanbul thusly
What better place to rest than this? THE BAA-HAMAS.
changed its name. A city with a
storied history, it was the capital
ALL PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK
city of both the Ottoman Empire and the Byzantine
Empire. It was previously known as Constantinople,
named in the fourth century after Constantine the
Great, and before that, Byzantium.

Make your
vocation your

LUCIANO MORTULA - LGM/SHUTTERSTOCK

vacation. That
is the secret to
success.

MARK TWAIN (1835–1910),

AMERICAN WRITER
The Ottoman-era Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.
YUGANOV KONSTANTIN/SHUTTERSTOCK NACI YAVUZ/SHUTTERSTOCK

By Aidan Danza, age 14

THE RABBIT

ALL PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK

R
There are 62 species of rabbits
and hares in the world. They can
range in size from the pygmy
rabbit, which weighs less than a
abbits pound, to Darius, a Flemish giant
rabbit who is 4 feet, 3 inches long.
are one of the most Here in the United States,
iconic animals the most common rabbits are
of Easter and cottontails. One female cottontail
springtime. usually has 3 to 4 litters (sets
of babies) though she can have
Whether we’re talking about up to seven. Within each litter,
Peter Rabbit or the Easter there can be anywhere from 1 to
Bunny himself, there certainly 12 kittens (babies). These stay
with their mother until they are
are a lot of well-known around 4 to 5 weeks old. After the
rabbits, and wild rabbits are kittens leave, the mother will have
interesting creatures. another litter almost immediately.
The cottontails are most active
Pygmy around dusk and dawn, though
rabbit. they will stay up during the day
and sometimes at night, as well.
All rabbits are herbivorous,
meaning they eat only plants.
They enjoy grasses, clover, wild
strawberries, and of course
garden vegetables. In the winter,
they eat the bark off of trees.
Unfortunately for the rabbit, The eastern
many other animals will eat
it, including hawks, owls,
cottontail can run at
a speed of up to 18
foxes, badgers, weasels, and miles per hour.
many more. To combat this,
rabbits have a few specialized
features. Firstly, their eyes Flemish giant
can see all around them even rabbit.
without turning their heads,
meaning they see everything
around them at the same time.
When they do see a potential
threat, they may freeze in their
position, slink avway low to the
ground, or flush. To flush, for a
rabbit, is to run very quickly, in a
zig-zag dash, to the closest safe
area. The eastern cottontail can
run at a speed of up to 18 miles
per hour.

1 2 3 4
Across
1 Vacation tours have one (5)

AMAZING
5 6
2 You might carry snacks in one (4)
7 4 When touring with a large group across
country you might ride in this (3)
8 9

ESCAPES!
START 5 Path through the forest (5)
10 11 12
6 Seashore (5)
7 Cruise or sail follower (4)
13 14 9 You might drive this on a ferry (3)

15
10 The family car is one (10)
13 A walk along the Appalachian Trail (4)
16 17 18
15 Some vacation spots let you ride these
boats (4)
USE THE FOUR NUMBERS IN THE CORNERS, AND THE OPERANDS 19 20
16 Conductor’s inquiry (11)
(+, - AND X) to build an equation to get the solution in the middle. There may be 19 Before vacation you have to do this (4)
more than one “unique” solution but, there may also be “equivalent” solutions. 21
For example: 6 + (7 X 3) +1 = 28 and 1+ (7 X 3) + 6 = 28 21 When on vacation, usually somebody has
22 to do this (5)

23
22 Check out (7)
Easy puzzle 1 Medium puzzle 1 Hard puzzle 1
23 If we fly on vacation we ride one of these (8)

3 7 10 19 14 36
12 24 24 A N E
K
A I R P L
E
E
K
E X P L O R Down 11
12
Amtrak is one (5)
Vacation necessity (3)
2 3 2 16 13 33
E I D R I V A
B L A P A C K B
13 Suite spot on vacation (5)
I O N
E D R
S T I N A T
I
H N
M
D E
1 A short vacation (7)
14 Where we might visit the animals (3)
+ − × ÷ + − × ÷ + − × ÷ 2 An African vacation (6)
O O E S A I L
Z H I K E A P
15 What we ride on a cruise (4)
E E Y R A 3 What we may ride in at our vacation
destination (3) 17 Board a vessel (6)
L B I L E A U T O M O

Solution For Easy 1 Solution for Medium 1 Solution for Hard 1 C A R R W W

Y
C H
O A T
F B E A
A
T R A I L
B
4 On vacation, you might rent one of 18 Going places on vacation (6)
(7 − 2) × 3 − 3 (10 − 2) × (19 − 16) 33 + 14 + 13 − 36
I A A E these (7) 20 On some trails you can ride a
B U S S A C K G U I D E
8 Getaway time (7) mountain ____ (4)
B12 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

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While this online censorship is not new, the
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We had multiple reporters and photographers
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Tradition are scarce commodities
these days.
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Tech is doing to a lot of people,
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I truly admire your courage in
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and your defiance of the big tech
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YouTube is now trying to shut you
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determined to support you as an
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We even have mail delivery people
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TRUTH AND TRADITION

 ANDREY_POPOV/SHUTTERSTOCK RUSLAN HUZAU/SHUTTERSTOCK
OVERTREATMENT RELATIONSHIPS

Glucose Monitors: Big The Pillars of a Strong

Money, Little Evidence Relationship
People with Type 2 diabetes are being pushed Many of the 10 keys to a satisfying,
to get costly devices, despite questionable lasting bond are probably already present
benefit. in your relationship.
See C3 See C6

WELL-BEING|DIET|FITNESS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 C1

JUMPSTORY

When Trauma
Gets Trapped
in the Body
How we can
overcome the
shame, face the
pain of life’s
unexpected jolts
of agony
CONAN MILNER

I
magine if the sound of footsteps
made you fear for your life. It’s a
feeling that author Karen Stefano
suffered with for more than 30 years.
“When I go out on my runs, I’m
very conscious of anybody running
behind me and the sound of feet slap-
ping concrete,” Stefano said. “Some-
times, I want to pat myself on the
back about how I cope, but then I go
through episodes where I think, ‘I
haven’t grown at all. I haven’t gotten
over this.”’
Not all footsteps trigger a panic at-
tack, but Stefano never knows when
her fear will strike. She recalls one
episode a few years ago, when she
was walking down the street on a
sunny San Diego morning. It was
a safe area. Plenty of people were
milling around. But when Stefano
heard the sound of a man jogging
behind her, she became overcome
with dread.
“I spun around and almost screamed
at the poor guy. He was just morti-
fied and apologized profusely even
though he had done absolutely
Continued on C6

Our Hormones Have Been Hijacked By 2030, 53 million

Human fertility rates are plummeting amid a tidal
wave of endocrine-disrupting chemicals
JOSEPH MERCOLA
The convenience
Plastic is such a ubiquitous part of mod-
ern life that it’s hard to imagine a world
without it. But in the grand scheme of
things, plastics are still a new inven-
tion.
As noted by Pete Myers, the chair,
founder, and chief scientist of Environ-
mental Health Sciences, there’s a lot we
don’t know about plastics and health—
but then, there’s a lot that we do.
Particularly when it comes to the chemi-
cals in plastics, much is known about the
of plastic comes risks they pose to human health, including
at the risk of to future generations through intergenera-
hormone tional endocrine disruption.
disruption on “It’s enough to give me great pause,” says
a worldwide
scale.
Myers.
JUMPSTORY
Endocrine disruptors—which are wide-
spread in plastic products and similar in
structure to natural sex hormones such as
estrogen—interfere with normal hormone
function, and more. According to Myers
and other researchers, these chemicals
metric tons of plastic
may be dumped into
our planet every year.
jeopardize the reproductive health—and
continuation of—the entire human race.
“Your hormones have been hijacked. Your
body’s astonishing, finely calibrated signal
system—a system that controls everything
from your weight to your fertility to your
mood—has been scrambled by loosely
regulated chemicals manufacturers use
in a myriad of ways, including in consumer
products,” says Myers.
Continued on C4
C2
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
MADE TO MOVE
A Former Runner’s
Take on Walking
While this runner once thought walking wasn’t
enough exercise, she’s since become a convert
LYNN JAFFEE also builds muscle mass to help sup-
port your bones and joints.
A few years ago at a friend’s house, I
met a woman who had lost over 100 Want better immunity? Take up
pounds. I was clearly impressed and walking. Researchers have found
asked her how she did it. Her answer that people who walked for 30 to 45
was simple. minutes each day at a medium pace
“Walking,” she said. had fewer colds and flus than study
Walking? She went on to elaborate participants who didn’t walk.
that she just put on her shoes one
day and pretty much began walking If you’re prone to varicose veins,
everywhere. And over the weeks and walking may help. The action of
months, her weight just kept dropping. your leg muscles help to push blood
At that time, I had been a runner back up from your lower body to your
for more than 40 years. I used to run heart, reducing the strain on the veins
mountain trails, road races, and a in your legs.
quick couple of miles after work
just to let off some steam. Can’t sleep? Try walking. It helps to
During my running days, I tire you out and calm your mind.
thought that walking wasn’t
enough exercise for me.  Walking boosts your mood,
However, when this wom- especially if you’re walk-
an described her weight ing in the woods. A great
loss, I realized that walk- deal of research that origi-
ing isn’t a better or worse nated in Japan has docu-
workout than running–it’s mented that walking in a natural
just different. In fact, walking setting reduces stress, lowers your
actually has a lot of benefits. blood pressure, promotes better
immunity, enhances creativity, and
helps you recover faster from stress-
ful situations. In addition, you don’t
Taking a long walk need to run to get a runner’s high.
Taking a long walk at a moderate
at a moderate pace
can increase the
pace can increase the circulation of
feel-good endorphins in your brain,
the neurotransmitters responsible
FRANTIC00/SHUTTERSTOCK
circulation of feel- for the runner’s high effect.
good endorphins Walking strengthens your legs.
in your brain, the This is especially true if you walk on
neurotransmitters
hills or if your route includes some
stairs.
responsible for the Finally, walking is simple to do. It
runner’s high effect. doesn’t require any special equip-
ment, just a comfortable pair of
shoes. You don’t need any lessons
Here are some reasons why or special techniques; you can just
walking is a really good idea: head out the door and get started.
However, if you want to mix it up,
It burns calories. If you’re the options are endless. You can go
walking to lose weight,
however, how much you
lose will depend on factors
for a hike, snowshoe through the
deep stuff, do a city walking tour, or
use walking poles to get your upper
such as your pace, the distance body involved. You can walk with a
you walk, the terrain you cover, and friend, walk with a dog, or just go it
even your weight. alone.
The simplicity, pace, and benefits
Walking can lower your risk for of walking have made me a convert.
heart disease. Just 30 minutes a day is Now, on most days, I head out onto
all you need to reap the heart-healthy the trails and into the parks near my
benefits of a regular walking habit. house. It takes a little longer than a
quick run, but my pace means that I
Taking a walk after a meal helps to don’t miss the red-winged blackbirds
lower your blood sugar. To improve when they arrive in the spring or the
your blood sugar levels overall, taking marsh marigolds blooming under a
a short walk after each meal may be nearby boardwalk.
more beneficial than going for one
long walk each day. Lynn Jaffee is a licensed acupuncturist
and the author of “Simple Steps: The
If you have joint pain, walking may
actually help. Regular movement
Chinese Way to Better Health.” This
article was originally published on
helps lubricate your hips and knees. It AcupunctureTwinCities.com
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If you really want to take your walk to the next level, add some walking sticks and natu-
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 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
Glucose Monitors:
Big Money, Little Evidence
People with Type 2 diabetes are being
pushed to get costly devices, despite
questionable benefit
PHIL GALEWITZ
I
n the nation’s battle against the diabe-
tes epidemic, the go-to weapon being
aggressively promoted to patients is
as small as a quarter and worn on the
belly or arm.
A continuous glucose monitor holds
a tiny sensor that’s inserted just under
the skin, alleviating the need for patients
to prick their fingers every day to check
blood sugar. The monitor constantly
tracks glucose levels, sends readings to a
patient’s cellphone and doctor, and alerts
patients when readings are headed too
high or too low.
Nearly 2 million people with diabetes
wear the monitors today, twice the num-
ber in 2019, according to the investment
firm Baird.
There’s little evidence that continuous
glucose monitoring (CGM) leads to better
outcomes for the estimated 25 million U.S.
patients with Type 2 diabetes who don’t
inject insulin to regulate their blood sugar,
health experts say. Still, manufacturers, as
well as some physicians and insurers, say
the devices help patients control their dia-
betes by providing near-instant feedback
to change diet and exercise compared with
once-a-day fingerstick tests. And they say
that can reduce costly complications of the
disease, such as heart attacks and strokes.
But continuous glucose monitors aren’t
cost-effective for Type 2 diabetes patients
who don’t use insulin, said Dr. Silvio Inzuc-
chi, director of the Yale Diabetes Center.
Sure, it’s easier to pop a device onto
the arm once every two weeks than do
multiple finger sticks, which cost less
than $1 a day, he said. But “the price
point for these devices is not justifi-
able for routine use for the average
person with Type 2 diabetes.”
Without insurance, the annual cost
of using a continuous glucose monitor
ranges from nearly $1,000 to $3,000.
Lower Prices Help Propel Use
People with Type 1 diabetes—who make no
insulin—need the frequent data from the
monitors in order to inject the proper dose
of a synthetic version of the hormone, via
a pump or syringe. Because insulin injec-
tions can cause life-threatening drops in
their blood sugar, the devices also provide
a warning to patients when this is happen-
ing, particularly helpful while sleeping.
People with Type 2 diabetes, a different
disease, do make insulin to control the up-
swings after eating, but their bodies don’t
respond as vigorously as people without
the disease. About 20 percent of Type 2
patients still inject insulin because their
bodies don’t make enough and oral medi-
cations can’t control their diabetes.
Doctors often recommend that diabetes
patients test their glucose at home to track
whether they are reaching treatment goals
and learn how medications, diet, exercise,
and stress affect blood sugar levels.
The crucial blood test doctors use, how-
ever, to monitor diabetes for people with
Type 2 disease is called hemoglobin A1c,
which measures average blood glucose
levels over long periods of time. Neither
finger-prick tests nor glucose monitors
look at A1c. They can’t since this test in-
volves a larger amount of blood and must
be done in a lab.
The continuous glucose monitors also
don’t assess blood glucose. Instead, they
measure the interstitial glucose level,
which is the sugar level found in the fluid
between the cells.
Companies seem determined to sell the
monitors to people with Type 2 diabetes—
those who inject insulin and those who
don’t—because it’s a market of more than
30 million people. In contrast, about 1.6
million people have Type 1 diabetes.
Helping to fuel the uptake in demand for
the monitors has been a drop in prices. The
Abbott FreeStyle Libre, one of the leading
and lowest-priced brands, costs $70 for the
device and about $75 a month for sensors,
which must be replaced every two weeks.
Another factor has been the expansion
in insurance coverage.
Nearly all insurers cover continuous
glucose monitors for people with Type 1
diabetes, for whom it’s a proven lifesaver.
Today, nearly half of people with Type 1
diabetes use a monitor, according to Baird.
Type 2 diabetes doesn’t
usually require insulin
treatments, but does call
for attention to diet and
physical exercise.
A small but growing number of insurers
are beginning to cover the device for some
Without insur- Type 2 patients who don’t use insulin, in-
ance, the cluding UnitedHealthcare and Maryland-
based CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.
annual cost of These insurers say they have seen initial
success among members using continu-
using a con- ous glucose monitoring (CGM) along with
tinuous glu- health coaches to help keep their diabetes
under control.
cose monitor The few studies—mostly small and paid
for by device-makers—examining the im-
ranges from pact of the monitors on patient’s health
nearly $1,000 show conflicting results in lowering he-
moglobin A1c.
to $3,000. Still, Inzucchi said, the monitors have
helped some of his patients who don’t re-
quire insulin—and don’t like to prick their
fingers—change their diets and lower their
glucose levels. Doctors said they’ve seen no
proof that the readings get patients to make
lasting changes in their diet and exercise
routines. They said many patients who
don’t use insulin may be better off taking
a diabetes education class, joining a gym,
LY N
N E S H A L L C R O S S /K HN or seeing a nutritionist.
“I don’t see the extra value with CGM in
this population with current evidence we
have,” said Dr. Katrina Donahue, director
of research at the University of North
Carolina Department of Family Medi-
cine. “I’m not sure if more technology
is the right answer for most patients.”
Donahue was co-author of a land-
mark 2017 study in JAMA Internal
Medicine that showed no benefit to
lowering hemoglobin A1c after one
year of regularly checking glucose lev-
els through finger-stick testing for people
with Type 2 diabetes.
She presumes the measurements did
little to change patients’ eating and exer-
Trevis Hall, of Fort cise habits over the long term—which is
Washington, Md., credits probably also true of continuous glucose
a continuous glucose monitors.
monitor with helping “We need to be judicious about how we
him get his diabetes use CGM,” said Veronica Brady, a certified
under control. Makers diabetes educator at the University of Texas
of the device say that Health Science Center and spokesperson
the instant feedback
provides a way to
for the Association of Diabetes Care & Ed-
motivate healthier eating ucation Specialists. The monitors make
and exercise. But experts sense if used for a few weeks when people
point out that the few are changing medications that can affect
studies on the monitors their blood sugar levels, she said, or for
show conflicting results. people who don’t have the dexterity to do
finger-stick tests.
Some patients like Trevis Hall credit the
monitors for helping them get their disease
under control.
Last year, Hall’s health plan, United-
Healthcare, gave him a monitor at no cost
as part of a program to help control his
diabetes. He said it doesn’t hurt when he
Trevis Hall’s insurer gave him a monitor last year at no cost as part of a program to help control his diabetes. He says it doesn’t
hurt when he attaches the monitor to his belly twice a month.
C3
ZORAN ZEREMSKI/SHUTTERSTOCK
attaches the monitor to his belly twice a
month.
The data showed Hall, 53, of Fort Wash-
ington, Maryland, that his glucose was
reaching dangerous levels several times a
day. “It was alarming at first,” he said of the
alerts the device would send to his phone.
Over months, the readings helped him
change his diet and exercise routine to
avert those spikes and bring the disease
under control. These days, that means tak-
ing a brisk walk after a meal or having a
vegetable with dinner.
“It’s made a big difference in my health,”
said Hall.
This Market ‘Is Going to Explode’
Makers of the devices increasingly promote
them as a way to motivate healthier eating
and exercise.
The manufacturers spend millions of dol-
lars pushing doctors to prescribe continu-
ous glucose monitors, and they’re advertis-
ing directly to patients on the internet and
in TV ads, including a spot starring singer
Nick Jonas during this year’s Super Bowl.
Patients who don’t
use insulin may be
better off taking a
diabetes education
class, joining a
gym, or seeing a
nutritionist.
Kevin Sayer, CEO of Dexcom, one of the
leading makers of the monitors, told ana-
lysts last year that the noninsulin Type 2
market is the future.
“I’m frequently told by our team that,
when this market goes, it is going to ex-
plode. It’s not going to be small, and it’s not
going to be slow,” he said.
“I believe, personally, at the right price
with the right solution, patients will use it
all the time.”
Phil Galewitz is a senior correspondent
at Kaiser Health News. He covers Medic-
aid, Medicare, long-term care, hospitals,
and various state health issues. He has
covered the health beat for more than two
decades. He is a former board member of
the Association of Health Care Journalists.
This article was originally published by
Kaiser Health News.
LYNNE SHALLCROSS/KHN
C4
While social
factors play
a role, hor-
mone dis-
rupting
chemicals
have an
ever-grow-
ing effect
on fertility
rates.
Our Hormones Have Been Hijacked
Human fertility rates are plummeting amid a tidal
wave of endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Continued from C1
These hijackers—known to scientists as
‘endocrine-disrupting chemicals’—are
threatening our existence as a species. Driv-
ing this problem are chemical companies
focused only on cheap plastics and regula-
tors unwilling to do anything about it.”
Male Fertility Declining, Could Reach
Zero by 2045
Myers highlights the book “Count Down,”
written by Shanna Swan, a reproductive epi-
demiologist at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of
Medicine. It’s based on a 2017 study she co-
wrote, which found sperm counts dropped
by 59.3 percent from 1973 to 2011.
Men in certain countries
had a 52.4 percent
decline in sperm
concentration and a 59.3
percent decline in total
sperm count.
The most significant declines were found
in samples from men in North America,
Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, where
many had sperm concentrations below 40
million/ml, which is considered the cutoff
point at which a man will have trouble fertil-
izing an egg. Overall, men in these countries
had a 52.4 percent decline in sperm concen-
tration and a 59.3 percent decline in total
sperm count (sperm concentration multi-
plied by the total volume of an ejaculate).
The book expands on what Swan describes
as an impending fertility crisis: along with
the dropping sperm counts, changes in
sexual development pose a threat to hu-
man survival.
“The current state of reproductive af-
fairs can’t continue much longer without
threatening human survival,” Swan warns.
In fact, she estimates that if current projec-
tions continue, sperm counts could reach
zero in 2045.
Global fertility rates are also falling, reach-
ing 2.4 births per woman in 2018, down from
5.06 in 1964. Fertility rates in about 50 per-
Despite
known risks,
hormone-dis-
rupting chem-
icals remain
widespread
in food pack-
aging.
RECYCLEMAN/SHUTTERSTOCK
cent of countries worldwide are at 2.1, which
is below population replacement level.
This cataclysmic drop in fertility rates
makes human beings an endangered spe-
cies, according to Swan and the generally
accepted criteria for defining an endan-
gered species. Within a generation, we
could see a staggering decline in human
reproduction. While there are numerous
factors involved—including contraception
and costs of raising children—biological
reasons, such as declining sperm counts,
increasing miscarriage rates, and genital
abnormalities, are also driving down birth
and fertility rates.
Endocrine-disrupting “everywhere chem-
icals” are a key culprit, she writes: “Chem-
icals in our environment and unhealthy
lifestyle practices in our modern world are
disrupting our hormonal balance, causing
various degrees of reproductive havoc.”
Has the ‘Count Down’ to Infertility
Begun?
“Count Down” brings some little-known
findings into the spotlight, like the fact that
a significant part of the global population
may not be able to reproduce without tech-
nological assistance come 2050. Men today
have about half the number of sperm com-
pared to their grandfathers.
There appears to be a synergy occurring as
well, which the book dubs “the 1 percent ef-
fect.” Sperm count, testosterone, and fertil-
ity are all dropping at about 1 percent a year
while testicular cancer and miscarriage are
rising at about the same rate.
Studies continue to link endocrine-dis-
rupting chemical (EDC) exposure to repro-
ductive health problems. One review of 35
studies looked at one common EDC—Bi-
sphenol A.
”According to our findings, BPA has a di-
rect negative impact on maternal, fetal, and
neonatal outcomes, including birthweight,
rates of preterm birth, developmental de-
fects, and recurrent miscarriage,” wrote
researchers in their 2017 review published
in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal
Medicine.
Another EDC used for making plastics
more flexible is known as di-(2-ethylhexyl)
phthalate (DEHP), a phthalate plasticizer.
“Clinical and experimental studies have
indicated that exposure to DEHP is asso-
ciated with developmental abnormalities
of the reproductive system particularly of
male neonates, endometriosis and miscar-
riage in women, low sperm counts and lower
sperm motility and DNA integrity in men,
and placental problems with higher rates
of low birth weight, premature birth, and
fetal loss in laboratory animals,” research-
ers warned in a 2016 study published in
the Journal of Applied Toxicology.
Chemical exposure during pregnancy has
been found to affect both masculinization
and long-term fertility in males. In the wild,
fish, frogs, and reptiles are also increasingly
being born with both ovaries and testes.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
JUMPSTORY
Environmental Chemicals Causing
Fertility Declines
A number of chemicals are wreaking havoc
with human fertility. EDCs interfere with
endogenous hormones, and it’s been found
that some effects of exposure persist in fu-
ture generations, even among males that
weren’t directly exposed.
Research published in PLOS Genetics, for
instance, found that exposing male mice to
ethinyl estradiol, a synthetic sex hormone
found in birth control pills, causes develop-
mental problems in the reproductive tract,
thereby lowering sperm counts (men may
be exposed to birth control pills through
contaminated water and other sources).
This study also revealed the generation-
al effects of EDCs. Environmental Health
News reported:
“They observed adverse effects starting
in the first generation of mouse lineages
where each generation was exposed for a
brief period shortly after birth. The impacts
worsened in the second generation com-
pared to the first, and by the third genera-
tion the scientists were finding animals that
could not produce sperm at all.”
“This latter condition was not seen in the
first two generations exposed. Details of
the experimental results actually suggest-
ed that multiple generations of exposure
may have increased male sensitivity to the
chemical.”
Other research adds further evidence that
environmental chemicals are involved in
fertility declines. A study published in Sci-
entific Reports in 2016 found that dogs liv-
ing in human households suffered similar
declines in sperm quality to humans, with
sperm motility declining by 30 percent over
a 26-year period.
In the canine study, the researchers
linked certain environmental chemicals to
Our cells require
sperm problems and suggested they could an intricate and
also be responsible for the sperm quality finely tuned bio-
declines in humans—a notion supported chemical system
by a 2019 follow-up study also published in now being sabo-
Scientific Reports. taged by chem-
Researchers from the University of Not- icals that mimic
tingham used sperm samples from 11 men hormones.
and nine dogs from the same UK region. LUKIYANOVA NATALIA
FRENTA/SHUTTERSTOCK
They exposed the sperm to doses of two
types of environmental chemicals, dieth-
ylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and polychlo-
rinated biphenyl 153 (PCB153), currently
found in the environment. The result was
reduced sperm motility and increased DNA
fragmentation.
The researchers believe dogs may act as
a “sentinel” for declines in male fertility
and that man-made chemicals used widely
in home and work environments are the
likely culprits. The previous 2016 study even
detected such chemicals in dog sperm and
some dog food.
Top Sources of Endocrine Disruptors
The Environmental Working Group (EWG)
named the following 12 chemicals in their
“dirty dozen” list of EDCs:
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 C5
GETCOULSON/SHUTTERSTOCK

Research Suggests Lockdowns

Didn’t Reduce COVID Deaths
Multiple studies find lack of evidence that
lockdowns had meaningful impact on pandemic
A review of data from 87 regions world-
wide found that in about 98 percent of the
comparisons, there was no evidence that
lockdowns reduced the number of CO-
VID-19 deaths.
The locking down of healthy people in
their homes in order to prevent the spread
of disease is an unprecedented public
health move that has had devastating ef-
fects on the economy and has set a dan-
gerous precedent for freedom and human
rights.
Lockdowns deprive
human beings of their
innate need for social
interaction.
If the lockdowns saved millions of lives,
most people would feel they could be jus-
tified. But if these lockdowns have been
ineffective, they’re easily—as Stanford
professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya put it—the
“biggest public health mistake we’ve ever
made.” Increasingly, research is confirm-
ing that lockdowns, in fact, were largely
ineffective in reducing deaths from CO-
VID-19 while also causing “catastrophic”
harm to the public.
Bhattacharya is a professor of medicine
at Stanford, and research associate at the
National Bureau of Economics Research.
He is also a senior fellow at the Stanford In-
stitute for Economic Policy Research, and
at the Stanford Freeman Spogli Institute.
‘No Evidence’ COVID Deaths Reduced
by Staying Home
In November 2020, an international group
of researchers released a study in the jour-
nal Computer Methods and Programs in
Biomedicine. It was based on a sophisti-
cated mathematical model, which found
staying at home, on its own, did not have a
major role in COVID-19 disease transmis-
sion. Building on this, researchers from
Brazil set out to determine the associa-
tion between COVID-19 deaths per million
people and the percentage of people who
remained in their residences on lockdown.
Using a combination of data from
Google’s COVID-19 Mobility Reports, Our
World in Data, and the Brazilian govern-
ment, including 87 regions worldwide,
they used a novel approach for the study,
assessing the association between staying
at home and the reduction or increase in
COVID-19 deaths. Specifically, they noted:
“If the variation in the difference be-
tween the number of deaths/million in two
countries, say A and B, and the variation in
the difference of the staying at home values
between A and B present similar patterns,
this is due to an association between the
two variables.”
“In contrast, if these patterns are very
different, this is evidence that staying at
home values and the number of deaths/
million are not related (unless, of course,
other unaccounted for factors are at play).”
The researchers published their study
in Scientific Reports earlier in March. It
has encountered criticism and is currently
undergoing a type of peer review and dis-
cussion, with the publication waiting to
hear from all voices before any final con-
clusions.
Both a restrictive and global analysis
were performed in the study. In the re-
strictive analysis, direct comparison of
two regions took place if three of the four
following conditions were similar: popu-
lation density, percentage of the urban
population, human development index,
and total area of the region. The global
comparisons included regions and coun-
tries worldwide.
In the restrictive analysis, only one com-
parison (or 3 percent)—between the state
of Roraima, Brazil, and the state of Ron-
donia, Brazil—was significant, while in
the global comparisons only 1.6 percent
were significantly different. “Indeed,” the
researchers wrote, “the global comparison
confirmed the results found in the restric-
tive one; only 1.6 percent of the death rates
could be explained by staying at home.”
Put another way, in about 98 percent of
the comparisons, there was “no evidence
that the number of deaths/million is re-
duced by staying at home.” The findings
were backed up by real-world examples
taking place at the time. For instance:
“Our findings are in accordance with
the dataset of daily confirmed COVID-19
deaths/million in the UK. Pubs, restau-
rants, and barbershops were open in Ire-
land on June 29th and masks were not
mandatory; after more than 2 months, no
spike was observed; indeed, death rates
kept falling.
“Peru has been considered to be the most
Research suggests that pandemic lockdown had relatively little effect on infection rates despite
massive impact on our economies and social lives.
strict lockdown country in the world, nev-
ertheless, by September 20th, it had the
highest number of deaths/million.”
They believe the stay-at-home orders
represent a case of “exception fallacy,” also
known as stereotype fallacy, in which con-
clusions are made about an entire group
based on data or observations from one
individual.
Great Barrington Declaration Calls
for End of COVID Lockdowns
Bhattacharya, along with Sunetra Gup-
ta, a professor at Oxford University, and
Martin Kulldorff, a professor of medi-
cine at Harvard University, wrote the
Great Barrington Declaration in October
2020 to call attention to the devastating
short- and long-term health effects being
caused by lockdown policies and calling
for a return to normalcy for those at low-
risk. A number of harms resulting from
lockdowns were identified by the team,
including:
J Worse cardiovascular disease outcomes
J Deteriorating mental health
J A rise in opioid and drug-related over-
doses
J Increases in dementia-related deaths
J Catastrophic learning losses for students
J Increase in all-cause mortality among
25- to 44-year-olds
The imposed social isolation that occurs
during lockdowns deprives human beings
of their innate need for social interaction.
At least 13 studies demonstrate that so-
cial isolation increases mortality risk, and
many Americans are experiencing mental
crises as a result of the lockdowns and
COVID fear-mongering being perpetu-
ated by mainstream media. According to
Bhattacharya and colleagues:
“In Massachusetts, emergency depart-
ments have seen about four times more
children and teens in psychiatric crisis
than usual. One in four young adults in
the U.S. seriously considered suicide this
past June.”
Since October, thousands of public
health scientists, medical practitioners,
and researchers have endorsed the Dec-
laration, which recommends “focused
protection” in lieu of lockdowns, putting
strategies in place to protect the elderly at
high risk from infection while protecting
those who are non-vulnerable from the
immense harms of “radical” lockdown
measures.
Public health, after all, is about more
than infection control; it’s intended to look
out for the health and well-being of the
entire population, they note, adding:
“There is more than a thousand-fold dif-
ference in COVID-19 mortality between
the oldest and youngest. Children have
lower mortality from COVID-19 than from
the annual influenza. For people under
the age of 70, the infection survival rate
is 99.95 percent.”
“For the non-vulnerable, who face
far greater harm from the lockdowns than
they do from COVID-19 infection risk, the
lockdowns should be lifted and—for those
who so decide—normal life resumed.”
The GMI Research Group is dedicated
to investigating the most important
health and environmental issues of the
day. Special emphasis will be placed on
environmental health. Our focused and
deep research will explore the many ways
in which the present condition of the hu-
man body directly reflects the true state
of the ambient environment. This work
is reproduced and distributed with the
permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Sign
up for the newsletter at www.Greenmed-
Info.health
For a complete list of studies sourced for this
article, please find it online at TheEpoch-
Times.com/author-greenmedinfo

J Bisphenol A (BPA)
J Dioxin
J Atrazine
J Phthalates
J Perchlorate
J Fire retardants
J Lead
J Mercury
J Arsenic
J Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)
J Organophosphate pesticides
J Glycol ethers
Such chemicals are ubiquitous, being found
in everything from food, drinking water,
and household goods to personal care prod-
ucts, cleaning products, nonstick cookware,
and foodware plastics. Others, like atrazine,
are banned in the European Union but still
widely used in the United States.
Early research by Tyrone Hayes, an inte-
grative biologist at the University of Califor-
nia–Berkeley, hypothesized that atrazine
turned on an enzyme (aromatase) that
caused testosterone to be converted into
estrogen. If you’re a male, this means that
you won’t make sperm, but you will make
estrogen, even though you shouldn’t.
According to Hayes and colleagues in
research published in Nature in 2002, ex-
posure to water-borne atrazine contami-
nation led to “gonadal abnormalities such
as retarded development and hermaphro-
ditism” in 10 percent to 92 percent of male
wild leopard frogs. Hayes published another
study in 2010 in Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences (PNAS), which had
similar findings.
Phthalates, another class of chemicals on
the list, are linked to hormone changes and
appear to trigger “‘death-inducing signaling’
in testicular cells, making them die earlier
than they should,” EWG noted. These chemi-
cals have also come under fire for impairing
brain development and putting children at
higher risk of learning, attention, and be-
havioral disorders.
2045
Avoiding EDCs
Plastic is indeed ubiquitous.
A team of 20 researchers published a study
in Science in September 2020, warning,
“Plastic pollution is a planetary threat, af-
fecting nearly every marine and freshwater
ecosystem globally.” They warn that by 2030,
we could be dumping 53 million metric tons
of plastic into our planet every year.
These mountains of plastic breaking down
in our soil, waterways, and oceans make it
all but impossible to avoid contamination.
That said, there are many things you can do
to significantly reduce your exposure:
J Avoid plastic containers and plas-
tic wrap for food. Store food and
drinks in glass containers instead.
J Avoid plastic children’s toys. Use
toys made of natural substances,
such as wood and organic mate-
rials.
J Read labels on your cosmetics and
avoid those containing phthalates.
J Avoid products labeled with “fra-
grance,” including air fresheners,
as this catch-all term may include
phthalates commonly used to sta-
bilize the scent and extend the life
of the product.
J Look for PVC-free products, in-
cluding children’s lunch boxes,
backpacks, and storage containers.
J Do not microwave food in plastic contain-
ers or covered in plastic wrap.
J Frequently vacuum and dust rooms with
vinyl blinds, wallpaper, flooring, and fur-
niture that may contain phthalates as the
chemical collects in dust and is easily in-
gested by children.
J Eat mostly fresh, raw whole foods and
avoid the food packaging that is often a
source of phthalates.
J Use glass baby bottles instead of plastic.
Breastfeed exclusively for the first year,
if you can, to avoid plastic nipples and
bottles altogether.
J Remove your fruit and vegetables from
plastic bags immediately after coming
home from the grocery store and wash be-
fore storing them; alternatively, use cloth
Sperm counts could
trend downward to bags to bring home your produce.
zero by 2045. J Cash register receipts are heat printed and
often contain BPA. Handle the receipt as
little as possible and ask the store to switch
to BPA-free receipts.
J Use natural cleaning products or make
your own.
J Replace feminine hygiene products with
safer alternatives.
J Avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets;
make your own to reduce static cling.
J Check your home’s tap water for contami-
nants and filter the water if necessary.
J Teach your children not to drink from the
garden hose, as many contain plasticizers
such as phthalates.
J Use reusable shopping bags for groceries.
J Take your own non-plastic leftovers con-
Many drugs, tainer to restaurants. Avoid disposable
including birth
utensils and straws.
control pills,
persist within J Bring your own mug for coffee and bring
the environ- drinking water from home in glass water
ment and bottles instead of buying bottled water.
water. J Consider switching to bamboo tooth-
STAS MALYAREVSKY/ brushes and brushing your teeth with co-
SHUTTERSTOCK
conut oil and baking soda to avoid plastic
toothpaste tubes.
It’s important to remember that many things
can affect your fertility. Everything from
antidepressants and EMF exposure, to diet,
physical fitness, and mental state can affect
your ability to have healthy children.
Dr. Joseph Mercola is the founder of Merco-
la.com. An osteopathic physician, best-sell-
ing author, and recipient of multiple awards
in the field of natural health. His primary
vision is to change the modern health para-
digm by providing people with a valuable
resource to help them take control of their
health. This article was originally
published on Mercola.com
C6 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

When
Trauma Gets
Trapped in The shadow of past
experiences can
follow us for years,
the Body changing ourselves
and our world.
How we can overcome the
shame, face the pain of life’s
unexpected jolts of agony
Continued from C1

nothing wrong,” she said.

Stefano explores the source of her fear
in her book, “What a Body Remembers:
A Memoir of Sexual Assault and Its After-
math.”
In the summer of 1984, Stefano was a
19-year-old sophomore at UC–Berkeley.
One night, as she was walking to her off-
campus apartment, she heard the footsteps WILLIAM PERUGINI/SHUTTERSTOCK

of a man who would cast a long shadow

on her life. building, she felt a twinge of concern. A few
As she made her way to her apartment moments later, the man’s wild blue eyes
building just before midnight, Stefano met hers and his motives became clear.
saw the man on the street. At first, she “My body knew his intentions,” she said.
dismissed his presence—probably just a The man cornered Stefano in the tun-
grad student—but once she heard his foot- nel-like concrete hall that led to her apart-
steps change course and follow her into her ment. He revealed a knife, and grabbed her
110-pound body tightly from behind. He
held the knife to her throat with one hand
Threatening and covered her mouth with the other. She
situations can was stunned at first, but then she began to
trigger an over- scream. Her attacker struggled to silence
whelming anxi-
ety in those car-
her, but her screams only grew more fero-
rying trauma cious.
from a past As the sound of neighbors opening their
experience. doors crept into the hallway, the attacker
released her. She fell to the ground as his
footsteps trailed off into the night.
Mark of Shame
Stefano sustained little physical harm—
just a puffy bruise on her lips where her
assailant gripped her mouth—but even
today, the aftermath still lingers like a scar
that refuses to heal. She says the worst part
is the shame that accompanies it.
“Back in 1984, PTSD was not a well-
known term. It was just coming into the
lexicon. I certainly didn’t know there was a
name for what I was going through. I didn’t
cope. I just denied what I was experiencing
DELIRIS/SHUTTERSTOCK
Trauma victims will often
blame themselves as a
way to regain a sense
of control.
with the mantra: ‘I’m fine.’” Stefano said.
Part of what generates shame for a victim
following trauma is a loss of control. First,
you find yourself at the mercy of high-
stress circumstances. Then, your panic
gauge seems to be broken. Days, weeks,
or even years later, when it’s objectively
clear that there’s no danger in sight, your
body may still react as if another threat is
just around the corner. You try to convince
yourself that everything is fine, but your
body is still stuck on high alert.
“There is a societal pressure to project
an image of having it all together,” Stefano
said. “But you don’t just get over it, as much
as you’d like to.”
Why does fear maintain its hold on us
long after the traumatic event has passed?
According to Erica Hornthal, a licensed
clinical counselor and board-certified
movement therapist specializing in PTSD,

10 Pillars of a Strong Relationship ings, relying on each other, and being emo-
tionally intimate. Even if vulnerability can be
challenging at times, you’ve learned to trust
your partner and find it brings you closer.
You no longer put up emotional walls and
Many of the keys to a satisfying, lasting bond are search suggests are key to a sat- don’t constantly worry about your partner
isfying, lasting bond. Many of leaving, which provides a sense of stability.
probably already present in your relationship these are likely present in your
own relationship; you just need 4. You’re more alike than different.
GARY LEWANDOWSKI JR. manufacture problems that don’t ex- x
x- to pause and take notice. You and your partner have a lot in common,
ist. A study published in Science sug-
g- and key areas of similarity may help make
Your performance evaluation at work comes gests that if our relationship doesn’t n’t 1. You can be yourself. your relationship more satisfying, new re-
in, and it’s glowing. However, there’s one have any major issues, we’re more re You and your partner accept each
Yo search suggests. Sure, the differences stand
area that “needs improvement.” Days later, likely to take what once would have ve other for who you are; you don’t
ot out, but beyond those few contrasts, you’re
which part do you think about? been considered a small issue and nd try to change each other. You can similar in a lot of ways. For example, your
The negative, of course. Part of you knows feel it’s more problematic. simply be yourself and show your
sim partner may enjoy superhero movies while
it’s ridiculous to let that one thing bother you. When we spend our time worry- y- true identity without worrying if
tru you enjoy rom-coms. Though that feels like a
After all, there’s a lot more good in there than ing about the wrong things, we don’t n’t your partner will judge you. That’s
yo major contrast, you’re both homebodies who
bad, but you can’t seem to help it. have time to appreciate what’s goingng helpful because research shows that
he enjoy making a meal together then crashing
Unfortunately, we do the same thing in right. Not only does this mean our ur partners who accept each other tend
pa on the couch to watch TV shows where you
our romantic relationships. Most of us have view of the relationship is skewed, d, to be more satisfied with their rela- can debate others’ life choices, make fun of
a negativity bias, or tendency to focus but it also means we’re miss- s- tionships.
tio awkward dialogue, and try to guess the next
on the bad aspects of experiences. ing out on a meaningful op-
p- plot twist. Ultimately, you have a lot more in
This makes us more critical of portunity. While working
ng 2. You are BFFs. common than you have differences.
our relationship than we should Over-worrying on problems is one wayay In many ways, your romantic partner
be. Along the way, we take the about what’s to improve a long-term
m is yyour best friend, and you’re theirs. 5. You feel like a team.
good times for granted and they wrong means relationship, it’s just
st That’s good news because research
Th Words matter. When you talk, do you of-
become an underappreciated ignoring what’s as important to reflect
ct suggests that romantic partners
su ten use words like “we,” “us,” and “our?” If
part of our partnership. But the right. on your partner’s goodod who emphasize friendship tend to
wh someone asks, “What’s your favorite show to
problems? They stand out. Our qualities and the positive
ve be more committed and experience binge-watch?” do you reply with, “We have
partner’s insensitive comments, aspects of your connection.
n. more sexual gratification. Romantic
m started watching ‘The Queen’s Gambit’”?
moods, and messiness regularly capture relationships that value friendship
re That use of “we” shows a strong sense of
our full attention. The Pillars of Healthy emphasize emotional support, in-
em cognitive closeness, or shared identity, in
Mix this into a relationship that has lost a Relationships timacy, affection, and maintaining
tim your relationship. Research suggests that
bit of its spark, and it can be hard to notice To shift your perspective, start by a sstrong bond. They also focus on couples who are interconnected like this
anything other than the problems. As Dan- paying more attention to the facets ts meeting needs related to caregiving,
m tend to be more satisfied and committed.
iel Kahneman describes in “Thinking, Fast of your relationship that are stable, le, security, and companionship.
se
and Slow,” we tend to only see what’s right in consistent, and comfortable. Those se 6. They make you a better person.
front of us and overlook what’s not there at peaceful, drama-free, status-quo el- 3. You feel comfortable and close. Your partner helps you refine and improve
the moment. When problems are all that you ements are easy to forget, but they’re re Getting close to someone isn’t al-
G who you are. Here, your partner doesn’t
see, it feels like that’s all your relationship is. sources of strength. ways easy. But in your relationship,
w take charge and tell you how to change, but
In fact, we have such a strong tendency to Below are 10 key pillars of yyou’ve worked through that and rather supports your choices for self-growth.
pick up on the bad stuff that we may even healthy relationships that re- are quite comfortable sharing feel- Together, you seek out new and interesting
MACROVECTOR/SHUTTERSTOCK
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
your body isn’t working against you. It’s
just trying to protect you.
“At the heart of it is safety,” Hornthal said.
“This is a survival mechanism that we’ve
had since the beginning of time. It’s that
very primal part of us that we forget is there
sometimes, but that’s the part that’s really
trying to keep us safe.”
Hornthal describes a panic attack as a
kind of flashback, plunging you into the
past to relive the feelings of a traumatic
event, even when your environment
poses no actual threat. She explains that
memories aren’t formed in the same way
in trauma as they are when we’re not un-
der stress. So when we confront a trigger
that resembles the traumatic event—like
footsteps, for example—those same fight-
or-flight feelings can come flooding back.
“The body doesn’t know everything is
OK. It’s just responding to the stimulus,”
Hornthal says.
Giving Voice to the Pain
Hornthal says that when trauma victims
are faced with losing so much control, they
often blame themselves as a way to regain
some control. However, this only amplifies
the shame.
“We can internalize it, and make our-
selves feel like we brought it on. We will
JUMPSTORY
experiences that contribute to a feeling of
self-development. According to relationship
researchers, when you expand and grow as
a person, your relationship does, too.
7. You share the power.
While partners may have their areas of ex-
pertise (for example, one handles lawn care,
while the other does interior decorating),
partners often share decision-making,
power, and influence in the relationship.
When both partners have a say, relation-
ships are stronger, more satisfied, and more
likely to last. And, unsurprisingly, couples
are happier when they feel the division of
labor in their relationship is fair.
8. They’re fundamentally good.
What do people want in a spouse? It’s sur-
prisingly simple: someone who is reliable,
warm, kind, fair, trustworthy, and intelli-
gent. Though these traits aren’t flashy and
may not immediately come to mind when
creating your partner wish list, they provide
the foundation for a resilient relationship.
rationalize that it was our fault: ‘If only I
would have done this or hadn’t done that,’”
Hornthal said.
According to Stefano, we can only coun-
teract this shame by finding a voice for
those feelings.
“By talking about it, you take away the
shame,” she said. “Secrets don’t help you
heal. It’s only by shedding some light on
our issues that we can make them go away.
We can make them more manageable,
then we can help other people.”
But being able to process and talk about
these feelings can take a lifetime, especial-
ly if you don’t have the skills or the support
necessary when the trauma first strikes.
Stefano says her panic came and went
over the course of her life on its own mys-
terious time frame. It slowly faded a few
years following the incident. And it seemed
to disappear completely during the years
she worked as a criminal defense attorney.
During that time, she represented many
violent individuals, some of whom com-
mitted sexual assaults similar to the one
she suffered. But Stefano says she didn’t
feel any panic, only compassion.
“It’s a paradox, but I came to develop
compassion for these very flawed human
beings,” she said. “I was honest to God the
only person on earth fighting for them.
Many of them didn’t have a family. They
didn’t have money. They didn’t have any
prospects. They were severely psychologi-
cally damaged, and the prosecution was
out to string them up.”
Stefano’s panic returned with a ven-
geance about five years ago, when she was
enduring several new traumas: financial
problems, a devastating divorce, and her
Physical movement can mother’s dementia. During this time, the
be essential for trauma old memories and panic attacks related to
recovery as it can allow the assault of her college days came flood-
stuck feelings to resur- ing back. The difference was that now she
face. had acquired wisdom, perspective, and
knowledge she lacked when she was 19.
“That’s when I started to actually do some
beneficial coping mechanisms, like going
to therapy,” she said.
Hornthal sees a similar pattern in her
patients. She says even those who think
they’ve processed their experience and
have successfully moved on are often
forced to confront these feelings again.
“They’ll say, ‘I thought I processed this.
Why is it coming back?’ It’s because a part
of your brain is still storing it,” Hornthal
said. “As we’ve seen with the recent Me
Too movement, people are coming out 15
or 20 years later to tell their stories, and
it’s often because they’re just not able to
speak about it [until then].
Listening to the Pain
In addition to talking with a therapist, Ste-
fano has also found relief through run-
ning, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desen-
sitization and Reprocessing)—a proven
trauma recovery method that involves
lateral eye movements.
We typically think of talking as the pri-
Research suggests that when partners have
agreeable and emotionally stable personali-
ties, they tend to be more satisfied in their
relationship.
9. You trust each other.
We need to be able to rely on our partner,
which comes from a sense of trust. Not only
do we trust our partner with the password
to our phone, or with access to our bank
account, we know that our partner always
has our best interests in mind and will be
there for us when we need them. Research
suggests this is a positive cycle: Trust en-
courages greater commitment, which en-
courages greater trust.
10. You don’t have serious issues.
Our tendency to take There are problems—and then there are
the good for granted and problems. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget
focus on the bad takes about all of the problems and major red
a particular toll on our flags we don’t have to deal with. “Dark side”
relationships. Take a issues like disrespect, cheating, jealousy,
moment to take stock of
and emotional or physical abuse are rela-
what’s good.
tionship killers. Sometimes, the light can
come from the absence of dark.
Spend a few moments reflecting on how
each of these apply to your own relation-
ship. At this point, you may want to give
yourself some kind of score to affirm your
relationship is in good shape. How many
of those 10 pillars do you have? How many
do you lack? But that’s not really the point.
Chances are, your relationship has ele-
ments of all 10. The key is to do a better job
of noticing and, where needed, cultivating
these foundational areas. Often, strength-
ening these pillars is as simple as savoring
everything in your relationship that works.
There’s a lot there when you know what to
look for.
Hopefully, you’ve also noticed areas of
strength that aren’t on this list. That’s great,
C7
JUMPSTORY
mary mode of processing an experience, The emo-
but movement may be a significant part tional weight
of the puzzle. Experts say the body also of a past
needs a way to voice its own story in order event grows
for us to truly move on. lighter when
As a movement therapist, Hornthal we stop
believes addressing the physical body is dedicating
essential for trauma recovery. She says mental
movement is what allows the stuck feelings effort
suppress-
to resurface so that we can vocalize them. ing it.
“That’s what it takes to release those
trapped emotions, and for us to really re-
wire, reintegrate and change the brain,”
Hornthal said. “Movement is the first
language that we learn. As we get older,
typically our higher brain takes over, and
we can start to rationalize why we feel a
certain way. We don’t necessarily listen
to our body like we used to.”
In addition to moving our body in ways
to release the trauma, we also need to be
open to what our body has to say once the
feelings come bubbling to the surface.
Most of us tend to ignore the signals our
body gives us, but it’s especially difficult
when it’s trauma-related because the mes-
sages our body has to deliver in these cases
can be very painful.
“It’s about identifying those feelings, and
when you’re working with trauma and
people who have experienced incredible
pain, a lot of it is painful,” Hornthal said.
“It feels counterproductive to feeling bet-
ter. Why would I want to sit in my misery?
I just want to feel good.”
It’s certainly not fun, but it’s necessary.
Because unless we take the time to sit in
our discomfort and acknowledge the pain
we feel, it will continue to haunt us.
Stefano sees the same dynamic playing
out in her most recent trauma: her moth-
er’s death. She died just a few months ago,
and Stefano says she’s watching herself do
the same dance of denial she did when she
was 19. She says she knows better now with
everything she’s learned, but still finds
herself avoiding the pain.
“I believe our minds will do anything to
avoid pain and processing pain,” Stefano
said. “But if your mind keeps pushing it
down because you don’t want to feel the
pain, your body is going to make you ad-
dress this one way or another. It says, ‘We
can do this the easy way, or we can do this
It’s a lot easier to fix those
problems when you appreciate
how much of your relationship
is already going well.
because this list is by no means compre-
hensive. More importantly, it shows you’re
starting to notice more of what works, and
not obsessing about what’s broken.
Of course, you shouldn’t use a few posi-
tives to justify staying in a bad relationship.
Focusing on strengths is only helpful for
those in good relationships looking to make
them better. Good relationships are built
on mutual respect, love, and friendship
between equals.
The lesson here also isn’t to pretend like
your relationship doesn’t have issues. Rath-
er, it’s a lot easier to fix those problems when
you appreciate how much of your relation-
ship is already going well. Relationships are
difficult enough without making them any
harder. When you’re only shedding light
on what’s wrong, it’s easy to buy into the
mistaken belief that your relationship is
in trouble.
But when you stop taking the good for
granted, and give your partner and rela-
tionship more credit, you may realize that
your relationship is stronger than you think.
Gary W. Lewandowski Jr., Ph.D., is the
author of “Stronger Than You Think: The
10 Blind Spots That Undermine Your Re-
lationship … and How to See Past Them.”
He is also an award-winning teacher,
researcher, relationship expert, and
professor at Monmouth University.
C8
LISA AVELLAN
A
s minimalists, we strive for less
stuff to experience more life.
We learn how to detach from
our possessions, limit technol-
ogy, set boundaries with our
commitments, and manage our financ-
es with more intention.
Our schedules get pared down to the
most important appointments, we open
our calendars for family time, coffee with a
friend, reading, or pursuing a passion. Sim-
plicity leads to meaningful engagements.
We learn to ask ourselves important ques-
tions before adding any item to our life:
“How can this make my life easier?”
“Will this cause more freedom or hold
me back?”
Simplicity takes more intention than
renting a storage unit, so we learn to val-
ue the weight of every decision. The value
of an item or experience becomes more
than a price tag or a great story to tell at a
cocktail party. Minimalism is not for the
half-hearted.
Living with less should
never mean less
community.
Minimalism is a journey of heart and soul.
Minimalism, in some ways, is a new word
for the ancient insight that we must guard
ourselves so material pursuits don’t in-
fringe upon our spirit.
Minimalism represents a deep dive into
the core of what we believe about who we
are, where we find value, our purpose, and
our passion. These are incredibly personal
and difficult mountains to climb. A com-
pass and hatchet are necessary tools to
make the journey.
This matter of the heart requires that we
take great care to cut the nonessentials,
and cultivate the things we should never
The Things
We Should Never
Minimize
There are some things we can have too
much of—and others we can’t thrive without
minimize. This is how we maximize the
benefits of minimalism.
Here are nine things that should never
fall victim to our minimalist pursuit:
1. Relationships
We should never commit so intently to this
outlier way of life that we alienate our fam-
ily, faithful friends, or the potential of new
positive relationships. There may be a time
when minimizing harmful or unhealthy
relationships  is appropriate, however,
minimalism isn’t about living a reclusive
or withdrawn existence.
We minimize to un-clutter our lives from
that which robs us of time and energy to
invest in the most important people in
our lives.
2. Community
Living with less should never mean less
community. In fact, living with less opens
our lives to more community and oppor-
tunity to live alongside others, minimal-
ist or not. Our community, those outside
our immediate family but who share in
our activities around home, school, work,
church, or neighborhood, should benefit
from our life of less.
The amount of time we gain, the items
that can be reused or repurposed by some-
one in need, and the hospitality we offer in
less-crowded homes are practical ways to
intentionally live in community.
3. Gratitude
I believe that the greatest expression of
gratitude is minimalism. When one is truly
grateful for what matters most, no number
of possessions could raise that contentment.
In fact, a room full of gadgets, toys, and for-
gotten impulse purchases usually steals our
gratitude by complicating our lives.
To live a life of gratitude, we recognize
that the essentials are enough and we can
experience how they enhance our exis-
tence. Gratitude isn’t just being thankful
for what you have; it’s believing and being
thankful that what you have is enough.
4. Empathy
We don’t like to admit it, but when we have
a strong belief about the way we live, some-
times we minimize our empathy for those
who live differently. Becoming minimalist
is never a destination; it’s a journey of mini-
mizing the outside influences. But even if
someone is pointedly not a minimalist, they
are still a person. If we truly take material
items lightly, we shouldn’t focus on what
other people own, but on the people them-
selves. They are potential inspiring mentors,
faithful leaders, guides, and peacemakers.
Also, the way we treat others who struggle
with the burden of stuff will either maxi-
mize or minimize our value to them.
Choose wisely.
5. Generosity
Minimalism isn’t an excuse to not be gen-
erous. It’s the greatest excuse to be more
generous. Ridding our lives of excess offers
the obvious opportunity to donate or re-
home our possessions that can be useful
to someone.
But there are other, not-so-obvious rea-
sons we should never minimize generosity:
we create more space to offer our home,
time, meals, service, and gifts to others.
Our unburdened schedules allow more
investments in relationships, more family
building, and more financial resources.
Our minds are free of stressors so we can
create more and share more of our talents.
Need less, give more.
6. Education
I spoke with a middle-aged woman re-
cently who is, in her words, pursuing a
“useless” graduate degree. I felt sad that
she perceived her educational pursuit was
for nothing. Education in any form, when
applied, enriches our lives to greater un-
derstanding, empathy, and action.
To minimize our education is to mini-
mize our potential to change the world. For
any educational investment, we gain, at the
very least, a deepened capacity to relate to
the world bustling around us.
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7. Dreams
Our passions and dreams often end up
on the chopping block when we are over-
whelmed with crammed calendars and
closets. Minimalism should never stifle
our life-giving joys. When we release our
attachment to stuff and busyness, we can
better hold onto our passions.
If we ever feel the need to minimize
the very thing that makes us come alive,
we’ve lost sight of who we are. Minimalism
creates space for the development of our
dreams and character.  It helps us realize
the burden our stuff brings with it.
8. Forgiveness
If you’ve ever been in any kind of relation-
ship that has lasted more than a few days,
you know that forgiveness is part of life. If
we minimize our capacity to forgive, we
can never hope to grow or change. Sig-
nificant relationships grow unbreakable
through repentance and forgiveness.
Ruth Bell Graham said, “Marriage is a
union of two good forgivers.” I believe that’s
true of any relationship. Minimizing the
value of forgiveness will kill our capacity
for genuine connection.
9. Joy
The absence of joy is often caused by our
inaccurate source of value. The more we
buy, the less happy we are. It may seem
depressing to live a life with less, but that’s
only because we haven’t freed ourselves
from the chains of believing our value
comes from what we own.
Less stuff is more joy. Minimalism of-
fers a way to free ourselves from compari-
sons and the joy-killing value system of a
broken world.
How are you maximizing the benefits of
minimalism?
Lisa Avellan writes at Simple & Soul,
helping you simplify life so you can
uncover your soul and live joyfully just
as you are. This article was republished
from BecomingMinimalist.com
EVERYDAY CHEAPSK ATE A GREENER VIEW

SHUTTERSTOCK
MARYANA VOLKOVA
How to Spring-Clean Your Car New Books for New Gardeners
Your car has served you well all winter long. Here are new books that are going to deserve a special
It needs a good cleaning, too! place on the gardener’s bookshelf.

See D6 See D3

HOME IMPROVEMENT|FOOD|MONEY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 D1

HOME
ELENA TRUKHINA/SHUTTERSTOCK

Springtime
and lamb meat
have gone hand
in hand since
ancient times.

A leg of lamb, simply roasted, makes a crowd-pleasing centerpiece for any celebration.

Roast Lamb for a Springtime Feast

For your AMY RIOLO Easter Memories

T
I grew up eating lamb as part of our Greek
Easter table— he versatility of lamb is one of Easter celebrations because my step-
its greatest features. Wheth- grandmother, whom I referred to as Yia-
or any spring
KARL ALLGAEUER/SHUTTERSTOCK

er you’re preparing Italian, Yia, was a Greek American whose family

celebration— Greek, Chinese, Indian, Mexi-
can, French, or Scottish cui-
take inspiration sine, a good roasted lamb dish can be
the crowning glory of your meal.
from the Springtime and lamb meat have gone
Mediterranean hand in hand since ancient times. The
conveniences of our modern world en-
able us to enjoy our favorite ingredients
year-round, and although that is a won-
derful advantage, having foods always
available to us makes us forget the impor-
tant rituals that surround eating them. In
antiquity, many cultures incorporated
lamb meat into their Easter menus, just
as people in the Mediterranean still
do today.
hailed from Nafpaktos. Since my grand-
parents lived next door to us, I always had
an opportunity to celebrate the holiday
and enjoy all of its traditional foods.
The centerpiece of the feast would be a
whole lamb roasted on a spit, as there is a
great deal of religious symbolism around
eating lamb at Easter in the Greek Or-
thodox tradition. I remember waking up
early in the morning, getting dressed up
in a new dress, and walking through our
yard—past my grandfather’s garden—to For an easy side dish, roast
find the air already being filled with the potatoes with your lamb—they’ll
soak up fat and flavor from the
aroma of the roasting lamb. meat as they cook.
Continued on D2

How to Organize and Declutter Your Home, Room by Room

BETTER HOMES
AND GARDENS
Wondering how to begin declut-
tering your home? Take a men-
tal inventory of what you see
and write down how the room
Add fun makes you feel. Then, close your
hooks and
shelves to
eyes and imagine what you want
your entry your new space to look like. Write
space to keep down how the new vision makes
keys, mail, you feel, and place this in a promi-
and other nent spot as a reminder of what’s
items sorted. to come. If you stick to the pro-
NEW AFRICA/SHUTTERSTOCK
cess, you will reach your goals.
Here’s how to tackle the tough-
est areas of your house.
Create a Do-It-All Entryway
The entry is a sneak peek into the
rest of your home, so you want
it to be a functional space that
also makes a statement. This
area tends to become cluttered
with miscellaneous items that
don’t make it too far past the
door. Organize the entry space
to handle daily in-and-out items.
Cover one wall with blackboard
paint so you can leave reminder
messages, or add fun hooks and
shelves to keep keys, mail, and
other items sorted.
Make Over Your Home Office
A cluttered office is more likely to
serve as a dumping ground than
a functional workspace. Give this
area a “space-lift” and you’ll feel
the difference immediately.
Continued on D3
 D2 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

Roast Lamb for a Springtime Feast COURTESY OF AMY RIOLO

For your Easter

table—or any spring
celebration—take
inspiration from the
Mediterranean

Continued from D1

Decorations were everywhere, including

large outdoor tables laden with the finest
china and loaves of tsoureki, Greek Easter
bread studded with ruby-red-dyed eggs.
As relatives started to arrive, I would al-
ways head to the kitchen to help Yia-Yia put
the finishing touches on the rest of the meal
while my grandfather tended to the lamb
on the spit. I’m embarrassed to say that as
a young girl, my appreciation for lamb, and
meat in general, was not what it is today. I
developed some crafty ways of making my
family believe that I ate it, even though I
never actually did. Well aware of my tactics,
Yia-Yia would never tell me when she put
meat or broth in a dish so that I would eat it.
My favorite recipe from the holiday was
her roasted potatoes. I could never figure
out why hers tasted so good. I used to ask her
for her secret, but she would just smile and
kiss me. Years later as an adult, I tried again.
She pulled me into the kitchen and showed
me the roasting pan in the oven: There was
a generous chunk of lamb meat next to the
potatoes, which was slowly giving them all
of its flavor. We both laughed, and I became
a lamb lover ever since.

Simple, Healthy, and Crowd-Pleasing

Nowadays, in my career as a Mediterra-
nean lifestyle ambassador, I promote eat-
ing lamb meat on occasion, just as they do
in the Mediterranean region. Traditionally,
meat in general was reserved for holidays
and special occasions, which were often
preceded by long fasting periods (when the
faithful avoid meat and dairy). For that rea-
son, it was easy to incorporate meat into the
diet without overdoing it.
Nutritionally, lamb is one of the best meat
choices you can make. When I worked for the
Tri-Lamb Group, I learned that, on average,
a 3-ounce serving of lamb is lean—about 175
calories. Lean cuts including the leg, loin,
and rack are easy to find and prepare.

Try sprinkling 1/2-inch-

thick potato rounds
around the bottom of
the pan during the last
hour of cooking, taking
inspiration from my
Yia-Yia, and you’ll be
sure to create your own
crowd-pleaser.
Lamb provides many vitamins and min-
erals and is an excellent source of protein,
which helps keep hunger at bay, preserves
lean body mass, and regulates blood sugar.
A 3-ounce serving has 23 grams of protein—
nearly half of the daily recommended needs.
The same serving size also offers a good dose
of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat and
almost five times the amount of omega-3
fatty acids as found in beef.
This simple recipe for roasted leg of lamb—
made in the oven, not on a spit—incorpo-
rates the sunny Mediterranean flavors of
lemon, cinnamon, and extra-virgin olive
oil, along with the ubiquitous additions of
garlic, onions, and tomatoes. Try sprinkling
1/2-inch-thick potato rounds around the
bottom of the pan during the last hour of
cooking, taking inspiration from my Yia-
Yia, and you’ll be sure to create your own
crowd-pleaser.
Amy Riolo is an award-winning, best-
selling author, chef, TV host, and educator.
As a Mediterranean lifestyle ambassador,
she is known for sharing history, culture,
and nutrition through global cuisine, and
simplifying recipes for the home cook.
Find her at AmyRiolo.com
Tsoureki, Greek
Easter bread
studded with
ruby-red-
dyed eggs.
RAWF8/SHUTTERSTOCK
ROASTED LEG OF LAMB WITH TOMATOES, ONIONS, AND CINNAMON
Succulent, juicy lamb meat is always served well- stored in the freezer. the leg of lamb. Sliver garlic cloves and insert
done in the Mediterranean region. This type of them into the slits in the lamb. Massage 1/2
roast—once synonymous with Easter, weddings, MAKES 10 SERVINGS teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper into the
This simple
roast
and important feasts—is now often enjoyed at
weekly family gatherings. A symbol of hospitality
1 (5-pound) leg of lamb lamb, and place in a large roasting pan. Pour 1 cup
of the chicken stock or water into the pan. Bake
incorporates
1 head of garlic, peeled the sunny
for millennia, this is an excellent celebratory dish for 1 hour, uncovered, basting every 20 minutes. Mediterranean
that your guests will appreciate. 1/2 teaspoon unrefined sea salt or salt, plus Pour lemon juice over the lamb. Place the onion flavors
Many chain grocery stores offer leg of lamb,
to taste rings over the top and drizzle olive oil over the of lemon,
especially in the springtime, but if they don’t, you 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, onions. Scatter the tomatoes around the sides of cinnamon,
can order ahead. Greek, Italian, Indian, and Middle plus to taste the pan. Add the cinnamon sticks and remaining and extra-
Eastern meat shops usually sell lamb meat on 2 cups chicken stock or water, divided
1 cup of stock to the pan. Return to the oven and virgin olive oil,
a regular basis. Personally, I like to source mine bake, uncovered, an additional 2 hours, basting along with the
from a halal butcher in my neighborhood. Juice of 1 lemon every 20 minutes, until lamb falls off the bone. ubiquitous
2 large yellow onions, sliced into rings Remove from the oven and cover the pan with lid additions of
For an easy side dish, try adding potatoes or other
or aluminum foil. Allow the lamb meat to stand garlic, onions,
root vegetables; fennel, peppers, and carrots 2 tablespoons Amy Riolo Selections, or other
at room temperature for 10 minutes before and tomatoes.
could all be added during the last hour of cooking. extra-virgin olive oil
carving. Remove and discard cinnamon sticks.
Leftover lamb meat can be added to stews, soups, 2 large tomatoes, chopped, or 1/2 cup Place the lamb on a serving platter and carve.
pasta, frittatas, tacos, and more! I love serving chopped canned tomatoes Serve warm, with tomatoes and onions spooned
thinly sliced leftover roasted lamb on top of salads over the top.
2 cinnamon sticks
and in pita sandwiches, or to accompany hummus
and other traditional Mediterranean-style dips. It Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. With a paring Recipe from “The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet
lasts for a few days in the fridge, and can also be knife, make 1-inch slits in various places around Cookbook” by Amy Riolo.
LAMB, KALE, AND POMEGRANATE SALAD
COURTESY OF AMY RIOLO
This colorful salad looks as good as it tastes. The 1 (4-pound) leg of lamb, deboned, on tray. On gas grill, turn all
addition of lamb lends a “special occasion” feel butterflied, and trimmed of visible fat burners to high, close lid,
to this otherwise straightforward dish, while the and heat until hot, about
FOR THE DRESSING
pomegranate amps up the flavor. I love to serve 15 minutes. Scrape grates
it in the springtime, and it makes great use of 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard clean and brush with oil.
leftover roasted meat as well. 2 tablespoons pomegranate balsamic Grill lamb, fat-side down,
vinegar over medium-high heat
PREP & COOKING TIME
for 25 to 35 minutes total,
Cook Time: 25 minutes 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Total Time: 45 minutes
depending on desired
FOR THE SALAD doneness, turning halfway
MAKES 8 SERVINGS 5 cups baby kale through cooking. Aim for an internal temperature Top this
FOR THE MARINADE
of about 145 degrees F for medium-rare and colorful salad
2 bulbs fennel, thinly sliced
160 degrees F for medium. Remove from grill and with grilled,
1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds or sliced red loosely cover with foil. Let rest about 15 minutes, thinly sliced
grapes then thinly slice. While resting, prepare salad. lamb, or use
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
leftover meat
3 cloves garlic, chopped 4 cups blanched green beans In a large bowl, whisk together all dressing
from a roast.
ingredients. Season with salt and pepper (if
1 tablespoon ground ginger 2 tablespoons crumbled gorgonzola cheese
desired). Add kale, fennel, pomegranate seeds or
1/4 cup walnut halves, toasted grapes, and toss to coat. Arrange dressed salad

1 tablespoon organic Ceylon cinnamon

2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon unrefined sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Combine marinade ingredients in a large
resealable plastic bag. Add lamb and place in
refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
Remove lamb from marinade, pat dry, and set
on platter and top with sliced lamb, green beans,
gorgonzola cheese, and toasted walnuts.
Recipe from “The Mediterranean Diabetes
Cookbook” by Amy Riolo.
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
How to Organize and
Declutter Your Home,
Room by Room
Continued from D1
Get rid of furniture and miscellaneous
items that are broken or nonfunctional.
Then, brighten up the room using paint and
a colorful rug. Finally, find useful objects
such as desk accessories and file folders that
speak to your personality—to make even
the most mundane tasks a little more fun.
Donate Unused Food Items
The kitchen can be one of the easiest places
to organize. Start by going through the food
in your pantry. Box up unwanted items that
haven’t been opened and aren’t expired and
take them to your local food shelf. Next,
go through your tableware, pots and pans,
and decorative kitchen accessories. Donate
anything you aren’t using regularly or don’t
love. Giving makes the letting go a lot easier.
A GREENER VIEW
New Books for New Gardeners
JEFF RUGG
As we talked about last week, many people
became gardeners in the past few years,
especially last year. Gardeners have al-
ways turned to books to help them learn.
Here are new books that are going to
deserve a special place on the gardener’s
bookshelf.
For the people who are new to house-
plants, there is a need for a dictionary to
look up plant names and an encyclopedia
for a picture and a profile that describes
the plant and where it is from. Care in-
formation would also be nice. All of that
and more is covered in the fully illus-
trated book called “Plant: House Plant
Choosing, Styling, Caring” by Gynelle
Leon. The etymology of the plant names
is worth the price of the book. This book
is due out in April.
Gardeners have always
turned to books to help
them learn.
As the surveys mentioned last week,
many people buy plants without know-
ing the proper growing conditions to keep
the plant alive. “Doctor Houseplant” by
William Davidson covers all you need to
know about the maintenance and care
of 42 of the most popular houseplants. It
explains the ideal thrive conditions for
each one. It has photographs of damaged
leaves and flowers that help identify com-
mon problems that are sure to develop
when people try to grow plants in the
wrong places.
“Houseplant Party” by Lisa Steinkopf
takes the care of houseplants a step be-
yond the typical how-to-take-care-of-
plants book. It does tell how to take care of
plants, but it also covers decorating with
plants. There are do-it-yourself projects
for using plants to decorate the house,
not just set plants next to a window and
hope for the best.
It includes the old-fashioned mac-
rame hanger for a vining plant, but it
also has shadow boxes to display an air
plant collection. Or how about creating
a Zen garden for your favorite relaxation
spot? There are dozens of easy-to-care-
for houseplants that are a perfect fit for
your desk, windowsill, bedside table, or
bathroom vanity.
“The First-Time Gardener’s Guide to
Growing Vegetables” by Jessica Sowards
was just released. She explains how to pre-
pare, plant, and tend your first vegetable
garden. She shows how to design an eco-
friendly layout, how to grow with the sea-
sons, and how to maximize your harvest,
even if you only grow in a small space.
New gardeners are intimidated by pre-
paring the soil, how often to water and
fertilize, and what to do about insects. All
this and more are covered by this excel-
lent book from Cool Springs Press.
I have saved my favorite of these books
for last. “Grow Your Own Spices” was
released in December, also from Cool
Springs Press. Author Tasha Greer ex-
plains everything you need to know to
Edit Furniture
Your home should reflect your personal
style. If you are using furniture that was
passed down to you, make it your own by
painting it a new color or swapping out
hardware such as drawer pulls. Don’t let
sentimentality bully you into keeping items to ignore excess and duplication.
that just aren’t you. If a hand-me-down isn’t
working for you, let it go and make room Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet and
for a piece that you really love. Linen Closet
Just like food, medicines and cosmetics
Inventory Your Closet have a shelf life. Check expiration dates
Organizing closets is a great opportunity to and toss anything that’s past its prime.
take stock of how much stuff you own ver- Sort through your towels while you’re at
sus what you really use. Pull all the items it, discarding rough, torn, or stained ones,
out of your bedroom closet and sort them or repurposing them as rags.
into like categories. Then, get out similar
items stashed under beds, in a spare-bed- Celebrate Your Accomplishments
room closet, or in off-season storage. Once Stay motivated to continue organizing by
you have items in a single place, it’s hard finding ways to reward yourself for vic-
grow over 30 species of spice-producing
plants. Herbalist Lindsey Feldpausch
finds a balance between the science and
the natural world of spices, and gives ben-
eficial information on each of the spices.
Regardless of whether you’re using spic-
es as a health booster or to just flavor your
meals, you will love the easy-to-follow ad-
vice on growing a wide variety of plants.
The book doesn’t just cover the typical
garden-variety spices such as dill, fen-
nel, and mustard. It covers cinnamon,
sesame seeds, paprika, and wasabi. Greer
explains how to grow the tropical spices,
such as ginger and turmeric, even if you
don’t live in a tropical climate.
Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@
greenerview.com. To find out more about
Jeff Rugg and read features by other Cre-
ators Syndicate writers and cartoonists,
visit the Creators Syndicate website at
Creators.com. Copyright 2021 Jeff Rugg.
Distributed by Creators Syndicate.
D3
NEW AFRICA/SHUTTERSTOCK
Give your
home office
a “space-lift”
and you’ll feel
the difference
immediately.
tories big and small. Every time you ac-
complish a decluttering goal, find a way to
recognize it: take a walk, enjoy a treat, or
put money in a jar for a night out. Celebrat-
ing is a great way to keep yourself moving
forward.
Better Homes and Gardens is a maga-
zine and website devoted to ideas and
improvement projects for your home and
garden, plus recipes and entertaining
ideas. Online at BHG.com. Copyright
2021 Meredith Corporation. Distributed
by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
PERSONAL FINANCE
How to Have
Meaningful
Conversations
About Money
With Your Spouse
RACHEL CRUZE
My dad, Dave Ramsey, filed for bankruptcy
the year I was born.
My older sister was about 3. So, with
a brand-new baby, a toddler, and as dad
says all the time, “a marriage hanging by
a thread,” things hit rock bottom. Hard. It
took them a good five years to climb out of
that hole—right around the same time of
my earliest memories.
Because of my parents’ hard work after
that soul-crushing bankruptcy, I was able
to learn firsthand the value of managing
money well. I learned that my income is
my biggest wealth-building tool, so I never
took on any debt—and I never will. I don’t
say that to pat myself on the back, but to
show you what a big impact our parents
can have on our money outlook.
How you grew up, and the environment
you were raised in, shaped your money be-
liefs and your habits with money in very
specific ways.
That’s why when I help couples get on the
same page with their money, I start with
their childhood. As children grow, more
is caught than taught, meaning children
absorb a lot about money without even re-
alizing it. For some, money is stressful and
secretive. For others, it’s peaceful and posi-
tive. Each household starts with the same
basic ingredients—money, income, bills,
and goals—but things can look and feel very
different from one house to another.
Your story may not involve something as
drastic as bankruptcy, but your childhood
household was your money classroom. Now
as an adult, you may handle money just like
your parents did when you were growing
up, or you may have deliberately chosen to
do the exact opposite of what your parents
did. Regardless, we each learned lessons in
our childhoods that we’ve taken into adult-
hood. Some are good habits and healthy
views on money that help us. Some are les-
sons we wish we could unlearn.
Talking through this with your spouse
will be eye-opening. Knowing how your
spouse grew up thinking about money
might explain why they get buyer’s remorse
after every purchase, why you hate budget-
ing, or why either of you gets uncomfortable
talking about money.
Having an honest conversation about
what money was like for each of you grow-
ing up will help you understand each oth-
er better. And it’ll help you squash your
fears together, and align your dreams and
goals.
Remember, you’re a team—and a team
only wins when everyone works together!
Rachel Cruze is the host of The Rachel
Cruze Show and The Rachel Cruze Show
Podcast, and a best-selling author, in-
cluding “Love Your Life, Not Theirs” and
“Smart Money Smart Kids,” which she
co-wrote with her father, Dave Ramsey.
Follow Cruze at RachelCruze.com
D4 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

CROSSWORD CONSTRUCTED BY TOM HOUSTON

EPOCH TIMES STAFF 12. Ruhr Valley city CHESS CHALLENGE DAILY BRIDGE CLUB
13. Hot sauce
Course correction
14. Avalon and others BY MICHAEL GIBBS
BY FRANK STEWART, TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY
15. A greenhouse gas Set your clock to 10 seconds and find
the mate in 3 for White to move! ©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
20. Speedometer letters
24. Plants after a flood “Stock up on liquid paper; it’s a corrector’s
25. Norse goddess of item.” — graffiti
love I continue a series on choosing a suit to
attack. Many factors may influence your
26. Johnny ___ choice, but if you choose wrongly, it may be
27. Drop the ball too late for a correction.
28. “Sail ___ Ship of At today’s 3NT, South won the second
club and attacked his best suit: He led the
State” (Churchill speech) queen of diamonds to finesse. East took the
29. “Ni Hao, Kai-___” king and led his last club, and South won
(Nickelodeon cartoon) and tried the A-J of diamonds. When West
threw a spade, South had to lead a spade: A
30. One CPU arch winning heart finesse and a 3-3 break would
31. Pharaoh’s symbol WORK SPACE give him only eight tricks. West won and
35. Like some coffee took two clubs for down one.
36. “Fresh ___” (NPR WRONG SUIT
program) South attacked the wrong suit. In case
37. “Chi” intro he had to lose the lead twice in setting
up nine tricks, he needed to lose to West
38. Kind of column early, before West’s clubs were good.
39. “... winding o’er the South must lead a spade at Trick Three.
___” If West wins and continues clubs, South
wins and passes the queen of diamonds.
42. Hit hard
44. Bungalow roof 4NUMBERS CONSTRUCTED BY C. CHANG
AT 4NUMS.COM
East wins but has no club to lead, and
South is sure of two diamonds, three
45. Whip but good spades, two clubs and two hearts.
Use the four numbers in the corners, and
46. Ectoplasm the operands (+, - X, and ÷) to build an DAILY QUESTION
47. Welsh valley equation to get the solution in the middle. You hold: k Q 10 7 j A 6 2
There may be more than one “unique” so- i A J 9 7 6 h7 6. Your partner opens
48. Bristles lution but, there may also be “equivalent” one spade. The next player passes. What
49. Heaven on earth solutions. For example: 6 + (7 X 3) +1 = 28
do you say?
and 1+ (7 X 3) + 6 = 28
50. Pop or jerk ANSWER: In “Standard” methods,
Across 39. Baggy 73. Over and over 54. Black ___ bid two diamonds. If partner rebids two
spades, raise to three (or to four if you
1. Tree whose two-word 40. Heavens 81. “The ___ O’clock 55. Carpenter’s rasp, for feel bullish). If he bids two hearts, bid
name, when switched 41. “Ta-ta!” People” (S. King novel) one two or three spades. In a game-forcing
82. Ill-gotten gains 56. Argues logically two-over-one style, you must judge
around, identifies its 42. Patch up whether to force to game. If you think
product 43. Auberon Waugh’s 83. Biblical valley 57. “Big Brown” not, you must respond 1NT. That is one of
8. Small woods term for the politically 84. 168 in a wk 58. Clear several aspects of “2/1” I dislike.
59. Oft-broken promise South dealer
13. “Cats” cat Rum ___ active, educated metro- 85. A friendly look it isn’t N-S vulnerable
Tugger politan middle class 86. Academy Award 60. Like some ears
16. Property receiver 51. Kept category 62. BB launcher NORTH
65. Patches up kQ 10 7
17. Hotel posting 52. “Field of Dreams” Down jA 6 2
18. Broke bread setting 66. Possessor? iA J 9 7 6
1. Bumbler 67. “Ching” preceder Hard 1 - 1 Solution h7 6
19. Highest ranking naval 53. Samurai’s home 2. Indisposed 68. Ancient British WEST EAST
officers 54. Wrap choice 3. Stretch out monument kA 4 k9 8 3 2
21. ‘Droid kin 57. Not yet pledged 4. Capital of Peru? 69. Advised jQ 10 9 7 j8 3
22. Attacks, with “into” 61. Help in a heist i8 3 iK 10 4 2
5. Certain colonist 74. Major Richard Bong hQ J 10 9 5 h8 3 2
23. Angel of the highest 62. Imitate 6. Wise up 75. Anger
order 63. 1957 #1 song 7. Doc 76. Bigeye, on the Big SOUTH
kK J 6 5
25. Its capital is Papeete 64. Problem posed by 8. Adjective for lettuce Island jK J 5 4
30. Less typical Johann Bernoulli in 1696 9. Dinghy propeller 77. Catch iQ 5
hA K 4
32. One of the Bobbsey 70. Critic and then some 10. ‘Harper Valley ___’ 78. “Gimme ___!” (Indi-
twins 71. Cry of glee 11. Device that keeps ana cheerleaders’ cry) South West North East
1 NT Pass 3 NT All Pass
33. CAT or PET 72. “Much ___ About motors and generators 79. Days ___
34. Fuddle Nothing” running together 80. Peck at Easy 1 - 2 Solutions Opening lead — h Q

WORDSEARCH CONSTRUCTED BY TOM HOUSTON

EPOCH TIMES STAFF SUPER KAKURO CONSTRUCTED
BY EPOCH TIMES STAFF

Help with Today’s Crossword Puzzle? Kakuro puzzles are like crosswords that use numbers instead of words. The goal is to fill the blank squares associated with a clue (called a “run”) with the numbers 1-9
so that the numbers add up to the corresponding clues. Like Sudoku, digits in a run cannot repeat. When the grid is filled, the puzzle is complete.

ABRADER GEHENNA OIL PALM SERAPH

AIR GUN HEALS OWNER SETAE
ALIENEE HENGE RARER SNEER
BASHER INEBRIATION RATES TABASCO
COPSE IONIC REASONS THATCH
CRISP LEARN REDED UNCOMMITTED
DIANA LOOSE RESOWS UTOPIAS
EDITING LUCRE SABBATH
ESSEN MEDIC SARAN
FREYA METHANE SELSYN

SOLUTIONS
CROSSWORD SUPER KAKURO 4NUMBERS

HARD 1

EASY 1

CHESS CHALLENGE
3.   Qe4#
2.   Nxc7+  Qxc7
1.  Nc5+  Qxc5
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 D5

SUDOKU CONSTRUCTED
BY KANNAN SANKARAN SUPERSUDOKU CONSTRUCTED
BY KANNAN SANKARAN

Fill in the boxes using numbers between 1 and 9 so that each column, each Fill in the boxes using numbers from 0 to 9 and letters from A to F so that each column, each row, and
row, and each 3x3 square contain all nine numbers only once. each 4x4 square contain all ten numbers and six letters only once.
Hard

FEEDBACK@EPOCHTIMES.COM
Easy
WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES TO
OUR PUZZLE PAGE IN RESPONSE TO
PUZZLER’S FEEDBACK. LET US KNOW
WHAT YOU THINK!
FEEDBACK@EPOCHTIMES.COM

CRYPTIC QUOTE
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
20

EPOCH DOKU CONSTRUCTED

BY EPOCH TIMES STAFF

WORK SPACE

KAKURO CONSTRUCTED
BY EPOCH TIMES STAFF JUMBLE BY DAVID L. HOYT
& JEFF KNUREK

Kakuro puzzles are like crosswords that use numbers instead of words. The goal THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME
is to fill the blank squares associated with a clue (called a “run”) with the numbers By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek
1-9 so that the numbers add up to the corresponding clues. Like Sudoku, digits Unscramble these Jumbles,
in a run cannot repeat. When the grid is filled, the puzzle is complete. one letter to each square,
Get the free JUST JUMBLE app • Follow us on Twitter @PlayJumble

to form four ordinary words.

Easy
VLAGE
EPOCH ESCAPE MAZE
AYRIH

SGPOIS

NCTEIE
Now arrange the circled letters
©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC to form the surprise answer, as
All Rights Reserved. suggested by the above cartoon.
Answer
here:

WORK SPACE

SOLUTIONS
SUPERSUDOKU SUDOKU: EASY JUMBLE EASY KAKURO
GREEN LIGHT On the QT
town officials gave the —
Patrick’s Day parade after
They got to have the Saint
Answers:

ENTICE
GOSSIP
HAIRY
SUDOKU: HARD EPOCH DOKU
GAVEL
Jumbles:

CRYPTIC QUOTE
to do ill.
all reforms … the ceasing
I hope to see the surest of

Contact the Puzzle Master @: Feedback@EpochTimes.com

D6 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE
Wash the outside of the car

How to Spring-Clean Your Car with a bucket of warm water

and a tablespoon or two of
liquid dishwashing soap.

MARY HUNT

W
hen you think of spring-
cleaning, you probably think
of your home. But what about
your car? It’s served you well all winter
long. It’s been through the mud—and
snow, sleet, sand, and salt. It needs a
good cleaning, too!

Using a full-size
vacuum (as opposed to
a car vacuum or other
model that doesn’t have
great suction), vacuum
the inside of the car
like you never have
vacuumed before.

You could take your car to a profes-

sional car detailer and spend $150 or
more to get it cleaned up for spring. Or
you can keep the cash and do it yourself.
Open up all the doors of the vehicle.
Empty everything from every nook and GREENMILES/SHUTTERSTOCK

cranny. Put all of the safety equipment ANDREY_POPOV/SHUTTERSTOCK

needed for changing a tire and other
emergencies in one area of the lawn or
driveway. Take an inventory, and make
sure that spare tire is in good working
order.
Limit the items you will keep in the
glove box to the owners manual, vehi-
cle registration (required to be kept in
the vehicle), service records, and other
pertinent information to the operation
of the car. Everything else should go
into the trash (if not needed) or in a safe
place in the house.
Now for the biggie: Remove the seats.
This is quite doable. Newer models may
have seats that are easier to remove.
Be careful removing the front seats be-
cause they may be connected to electri-
cal systems.
CAUTION: Read the owners manual
first to make sure this is advisable for
your particular make and model. If you
don’t find specific, step-by-step instruc-
tions for how to remove and then rein-
stall the seats for your specific vehicle,
skip this step!
Using a full-size vacuum (as opposed
to a car vacuum or other model that
doesn’t have great suction), vacuum
the inside of the car like you never have
vacuumed before. Take time to get all of
the sand, salt, and grit out of that carpet.
Using your favorite carpet cleaner,
scrub the carpet clean. Allow the car-
Empty extra items from the glove box.
BOGDANHODA/SHUTTERSTOCK
Vacuum the inside of the car,
especially the carpet.
pet to dry, and then follow that with making sure not to soak the fabric. Re-
another good vacuuming job. whisk the soap as necessary to get more
Use your favorite all-purpose cleaner homemade scrubbing bubbles. As you
(use the window cleaner you find be- work, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe
low, if you like) to clean the vinyl away the soiled suds.
walls, doors, and dashboard— Replace the seats, emergency
all but the headliner (“ceil- Your car equipment, and instructional
ing”). Get into all the cracks, has served you books. Spray your favorite air
grooves, and crevices. Use well all winter freshener, and close the doors
a cotton swab or soft brush long. It needs and windows.
around knobs and handles. a goodcleaning, Wash the outside of the car
Clean the windows inside too! with a bucket of warm water
and out with paper towels or and a tablespoon or two of liquid
newspaper and a 50-50 mixture dishwashing soap. Rinse it well;
of rubbing alcohol and household am- wipe it dry; and wax it using your fa-
monia that you have poured into a spray vorite brand of car wax.
bottle. It’s strong stuff, both in smell and There you go. A fresh, spring-clean car.
in cleaning power.
While the inside is drying, tackle the Mary Hunt is the founder of Every-
upholstered seats by vacuuming them dayCheapskate.com, a frugal liv-
thoroughly. If your seats are leather, use ing blog and the author of the book
a leather cleaner or conditioner recom- “Debt-Proof Living.” Mary invites you
mended by the manufacturer. If they’re to visit her at her website, where this
cloth, use a good upholstery cleaner, or column is archived complete with
make your own: links and resources for all recom-
Upholstery cleaner: Mix 6 tablespoons mended products and services. Mary
grated Fels-Naptha laundry bar soap invites questions and comments at
(find it at the supermarket or online), EverydayCheapskate.com/contact,
1 pint boiling water, and 2 tablespoons “Ask Mary.” Tips can be submitted
borax in a saucepan or bowl. Stir it until at Tips.EverydayCheapskate.com.
the soap melts and becomes smooth. Al- This column will answer questions
low it to cool until it gels. Whisk it or beat of general interest, but letters cannot
it until it foams. Use the foam on a rough be answered individually. Copyright
cloth or brush to scrub the upholstery, 2021 Creators.com

ASK THE VET

AFRICA STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK

Easter Lilies Cause Kidney Failure in Cats

LEE PICKETT
Q: I love lilies, especially Easter lilies.
My two recently adopted cats are very
inquisitive and explore every new item
I bring home. I don’t want them to dam-
age the Easter lilies that will decorate
my home over the holiday. Please tell me
cats aren’t attracted to plants.
My advice is to choose
some beautiful silk Easter
lilies for your home. You
and your cats can safely
enjoy them every spring
for years to come.
A: I’m more worried about the lilies
damaging your cats than the other way
around. Easter lilies—and other lilies,
including daylilies, stargazers, and tiger
lilies—are extremely dangerous to cats.
All parts of the plant cause kidney
failure in cats. The flower is the most
toxic part, though eating a leaf or even
brushing up against the pollen and lick-
ing it off the fur can severely damage the
kidneys. Cats also can be poisoned by
drinking the water from the vase that
holds the lilies.
Clinical signs, including lethargy, loss
of appetite, and vomiting, begin within
hours of exposure. Immediate veteri-
nary care is needed to reverse the kidney
damage and save the cat’s life.
For unknown reasons, many cats are
attracted to lilies. So, my advice is to
choose some beautiful silk Easter lilies
for your home. You and your cats can
safely enjoy them every spring for years
to come.
Q: I use an oven mitt to protect my
hands from bites and scratches when
I play with my puppy, Zoey. She loves
the mitt, and my thin skin remains in-
tact. She brings me the mitt when she
wants to play and stops when I remove
it and give her a verbal cue. My spouse
thinks I’m promoting aggression. What
do you think?
A: Though you may feel Zoey isn’t acting
aggressively, others may see her behav-
ior differently. What happens if she grabs
another adult’s gloved hand and dam-
ages the fine leather? How will the au-
thorities treat Zoey if she bites the mitten
on a child’s hand and breaks a finger?
Your job as a puppy parent is to teach
Zoey what her mother and littermates
would have taught her if she’d remained
with them longer. These lessons trans-
late well to living with humans.
One of the most important lessons
a puppy must learn is bite inhibition.
Once Zoey understands this concept,
she’ll gently carry your fuzzy slippers to
you, and she’ll have a soft mouth around
other people.
But you must teach her, because bite
inhibition doesn’t come naturally. Pup-
pies explore the world by putting things
in their mouths, just as human babies
do. Biting and mouthiness are normal
parts of puppy play and also help relieve
the discomfort of teething.
Moreover, biting is genetically pro-
grammed into many dogs. For example,
some working breeds control their flocks
and herds by nipping at their heels.
Pups also use biting as a communica-
tion tool. It can mean anything from,
“No, don’t do that” to “I want some at-
tention.”
As you can imagine, a puppy that
hasn’t learned bite inhibition may grow
into an adult that bites to get attention,
to resist nail trimming, or even to herd
running children together into a group.
To manage puppy biting, don’t play
tug-of-war games or tease with your
hands. Instead, redirect the biting puppy
to appropriate chew toys.
Distract your pup from biting by asking
her to sit or retrieve a ball.
If she bites, yelp as though you’ve been
hurt and walk away, just as her litter-
mates would do.
Lilies are extremely dangerous to cats—all
parts of the plant cause kidney failure.
Exercise Zoey to tire her out. If she gets
so wound up that she can no longer fo-
cus, calm her down with a brief timeout
in her crate.
If these measures don’t work, firmly
say, “No bites!” and move your hand
away. Don’t hit or otherwise punish
her, because that doesn’t teach her the
desired behavior, and it can lead to fear,
anxiety, and aggression.
Remember to always reward good be-
havior. Praise and pet Zoey when she’s
calm, and give her a small treat when
she’s not mouthy.
Lee Pickett, VMD, practices companion
animal medicine in North Carolina.
Contact her at AskTheVet.pet. Copy-
right 2021 Lee Pickett, VMD. Distrib-
uted by Creators.com
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE
How to Freeze Eggs, Dairy Products, and More
MARY HUNT
I’m sure my supermarket is not the only
grocery store with an area in the back I call
“My Bargain Bin.” It’s refrigerated and fea-
tures some dandy bargains, especially on
perishable items approaching that “sell by”
date. There are no limits on the number of
items I can load into my cart—all of them
with ridiculously low, rock-bottom prices.
You may be asking, “But Mary, what can
we do with all of these perishables to make
sure they don’t, well, perish?” The answer, of
course, is to freeze them. Yes, even the eggs,
milk, and cheese.
Butter
Freeze margarine or butter in the packag-
ing and containers they come in for up to
six months. Thaw to return to their original
texture and quality.
Cream, Whipped
Once whipped and sweetened, cream freez-
es well for one to two months. Note: Freezing
cream in its liquid state is not recommended
because it affects the quality of the product.
In most cases, freezing causes changes to the
fat, which can lead to poor texture.
Eggnog
Unopened eggnog may be frozen for up to
two months. Thaw in the refrigerator, and
shake well before serving, as there may be
some ingredient separation during freezing.
Eggs
You can freeze eggs, provided you remove
THE FAMILY TABLE
Readers share their treasured recipes
Memories
of Easter
Baking,
From My
Big Italian
Family
Submitted by
LAURA SEMENZA-MARCOS
WEST HILLS, CALIFORNIA
Memories of my childhood surround the
holidays and food. As an Italian Roman
Catholic from a family of nine, and many
relatives, I have stories to tell.
The family of my youth consisted of two
parents and seven kids—one boy and six
girls—in a three-bedroom house, with
one and 3/4 bathroom, in the suburbs of
southern California. My dad was a ninth-
grade-educated, smart, logical man who
was well-loved and respected by many. My
mom was a night-shift registered nurse (to
whom I owe my future success in life as an
advanced practice registered nurse). We
nine lived successfully despite the plethora
of hardships we endured.
My memories are often associated with
holidays, celebrations, and food: a huge
roasted Thanksgiving turkey and many
pumpkin pies, homemade ravioli at
Christmas, and lasagna at Easter. These
EASTER BREAD
We bake Easter bread to commemorate the raising of
Jesus on Easter Sunday. I use ground cinnamon sticks
because they add a nice texture to the bread. This
process was passed down in my family and I continue it
to this day. The finished bread has a beautiful balance
between anise and cinnamon.
Note: Early start advised due to multiple rising periods.
MAKES 5 LOAVES
5 pounds flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Freshly ground cinnamon sticks, about 5
tablespoons or to taste
1/2 cup Crisco
9 eggs
2 teaspoons anise oil
2 packages yeast
them from the shell first. Do not freeze whole
eggs in the shell. Raw eggs can be frozen
for up to one year. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Hint: Separate the whites from the yolks, and
freeze in small portions for easy use.
Milk
Milk may be frozen for as long as three
months, provided the sealed container is
frozen prior to the “best before” date. Skim
and low-fat milk freeze better than whole
milk. Thaw frozen milk in the refrigerator.
The milk will still have the same nutrients,
but it may separate. If it does, shake well, and
consume as soon as possible.
Cheese
Hard cheese freezes well, but it changes the
texture, making it nearly impossible to slice.
Frozen cheese is great for cooking and to
grate. Hint: Grate first, and then freeze.
Fresh Meat
Fresh beef roasts and steaks can be frozen for
up to one year if wrapped well to retard freezer
burn; pork and lamb for up to six months.
Processed Meats
You can freeze bacon, hot dogs, cooked ham,
luncheon meats, and sausage for up to two
months before these items begin to lose
quality and taste.
Fresh Poultry
Whole turkey, chicken, duck, and goose can
be frozen for up to one year. Poultry piec-
es, however, should be used within nine
months.
The author’s parents in 1964.
were joined by our numerous aunts, un-
cles, and cousins in our small home, since
my dad was such a great cook.
My husband remembers the multitudes
of Christmas cookies and fruitcakes that
were made, and to the demise of his waist-
line, we in our family still continue this
tradition. Baked goods of all types from
my kitchen are handed out to friends and
neighbors each Thanksgiving, Christmas,
and Easter—pre-COVID-19 pandemic.
My daughter remembers making the trip
to Los Angeles Grand Central Market to
pick up candied fruits for fruitcake. (Un-
til recently—I stopped making fruitcake.
Catholic monks do it better!) My son re-
members the biannual trips to the local
Italian store to purchase treats such as tor-
rone, antipasti dishes, and pizza dough
for zeppole.
One memory that always strikes me is
Easter time. Being that springtime is so
beautiful, with the flowers blooming and
the Christian celebration of Christ’s resur-
rection, I hearken back to happy times.
Warm water (110 degrees F) as needed
Mix all dry ingredients together first. Cut in Crisco, then
add well-beaten eggs, anise flavoring, and a little warm
water.
Dissolve yeast in 110-degree warm water and let
bloom for 5 to 10 minutes. Add yeast mixture to flour
mixture and knead. Add 1 cup warm water, then a little
more at a time as needed to make a soft, smooth dough
that is not sticky.
Grease a large bowl or two large bowls and divide
dough into both. Cover and let rise 5 hours in a warm
place. Punch risen dough down and knead again. Place
back in bowl(s) and let rise another 2 hours.
Punch dough down, knead, and separate into five equal
pieces. Form into long logs and slice each log into three
to make a braid. Braid each piece and place into a
Crisco-greased 8-by-5-inch bread pan. Let rise again
until doubled in size, about an hour.
Bake at 375 degrees F for about 35 minutes, or until
golden brown. Frost with powdered sugar icing when
cooled.
Yes, you can even freeze the eggs, milk, and cheese.
Flour
All-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, corn-
meal, and other baking staples, including
baking powder and baking soda, stay fresh
and bug-free indefinitely in the freezer. You
will experience no change of texture or taste.
Even better? You can ignore the expiration
dates.
Coffee and Tea
Storing coffee beans in the freezer has long
been the method of choice to preserve fresh-
ness. But die-hard coffee lovers tell us to
never freeze coffee beans or grinds because
it changes the flavor from fresh to “freezer-
stale.”
However, no one argues that freezing left-
over brewed coffee in ice cube trays to make
As a registered nurse, my mom would oc-
casionally be called off the night shift due
to low inpatient hospital census. My mom
and dad would go to early Easter mass at
6:30 a.m. and come home with smiles
on their faces. They would have a shot of
anisette, a licorice-tasting liquor, and we
seven kids would look at our Easter baskets
loaded with See’s chocolate candies that
we had fasted on for 40 days prior. My mom
loved chocolate, so seven baskets full of
chocolate was good for her, too!
Easter baking consisted of many reci-
pes—pizza Jane (ham and cheese pie),
poppy seed rolls, sesame seed cookies,
and Italian knot cookies, to name a few.
Two recipes that my family and I look for-
ward to each year are biscotti (pronounced
bish-coat-ee) and Easter bread. (As a pro-
nunciation teaching moment, bruschetta
is pronounced bru-skett-uh and ricotta
is pronounced rig-oath-uh. Just needed
to clarify this.) These recipes came from
my maternal grandmother Carmella, and
were then passed on to my mom Marian.
BISCOTTI
MAKES ABOUT 3 TO 4 DOZEN
1/3 cup margarine
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
3/4 teaspoon ground anise seed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon almond flavoring
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon anise oil or 1 teaspoon anise
extract
3 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup slivered almonds (optional)
In bowl, cream until light margarine, sugar, eggs,
ground anise seed, salt, almond, vanilla, and anise
extract. (Yes, this is how the original recipe reads.)
Sift flour and baking powder. Stir into creamed
mixture along with almonds until well blended.
D7
CHRISTIAN DRAGHICI/SHUTTERSTOCK
blended coffee drinks or iced coffee is a great
idea. Freeze leftover tea in the same manner
and you’ll have “ice” for your iced tea that
won’t dilute the drink.
Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheap-
skate.com, a frugal living blog, and the
author of the book “Debt-Proof Living.” Mary
invites you to visit her at her website, where
this column is archived complete with links
and resources for all recommended products
and services. Mary invites questions and
comments at EverydayCheapskate.com/con-
tact, “Ask Mary.” Tips can be submitted at
Tips.EverydayCheapskate.com. This column
will answer questions of general interest,
but letters cannot be answered individually.
Copyright 2021 Creators.com
ALL PHOTOS
TOS COURTESY OF LAURA SEMENZA
SEMENZA-MARCOS
The Semenza family. 
Dear Readers,
Do you have a treasured family recipe that
holds a special place in your family history,
heritage, or traditions? We would be
honored if you would share it with us.
Along with the recipe, tell us its story—
who gave it to you, its journey through the
generations, and the personal meanings
and memories it carries. Is it a special-
occasion dish, or an everyday family
favorite? Does it connect you to your
cultural heritage, or to a certain loved one?
How have you kept the recipe alive, and
why is it important to you to do so?
Send your recipe and comments, along
with your full name, state, and contact
information, to food@epochtimes.com,
or mail it to:
Food, The Epoch Times
229 W. 28th St., Floor 7 
New York, NY 10001
Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Divided
into two equal pieces. Shape each piece into a long,
narrow loaf about 12 inches long and 1 1/2 inches
wide. Place three inches apart on a greased baking
sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.
Remove from oven. Cut each loaf into 24 diagonal
slices. Lay slices, cut side up, on baking sheet. Toast
slowly under broiler. Turn and toast second side.
de.
D8 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

Have Your Mousse Cake and Eat It, Too

LYNDA BALSLEV

T
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE
he name of this dessert is potentially
misleading. It’s not exactly a cake,

LYNDA BALSLEV FOR TASTEFOOD

nor is it a bowl of fluffy mousse. But
imagine the two concepts combined
in a sublime chocolate confection that liter-
ally melts in your mouth. It’s flourless, too,
which is wonderful for gluten-free diets, Pass-
over, and frankly, for those chocolate fanatics
who prefer their chocolate straight up—or
chilled in a springform pan, as it were.
The beauty of this dessert is that for all of its
chocolate intensity, it is creamy and smooth
without the density and darkness of a tradi-
tional flourless chocolate cake. This is thanks
to the mousse component with its addition
of whipped cream and egg whites.
It’s also a convenient do-ahead dessert,
since it should be prepared one day in ad-
vance of serving. You can prepare it in a loaf
pan or a terrine; however, I like to use a 6-inch
springform, which allows the dessert to re-
lease easily from the pan. While a 6-inch cake
might look small, I assure you that each slice
is rich and just the right amount of chocolate
to finish a meal without knocking you over
(if that’s ever possible, that is).
When ready to serve, simply cut it into
wedges or slices. Serve as is, or with whipped
cream, or with fruit. I had some time on my
hands (don’t we all?) and repurposed a bag
of frozen raspberries and a pint of kumquats
into two fruit garnishes, which happen to
complement each other magnificently
while embellishing the cake. No pressure,
though—a simple sprinkle of confectioners’
sugar will do just fine, too.
PREP & COOKING TIME
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes, plus
chilling time
SERVES 6 TO 8
Neutral vegetable oil for the
pan
9 ounces dark (70 percent)
chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup (12 tablespoons)
unsalted butter, cut into 4
pieces
3 large eggs, separated
3 large egg yolks
3/4 cup sifted confectioners’
sugar
1/4 cup sifted unsweetened
cocoa powder
Pinch of sea salt
1/3 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Lightly oil a 1-quart baking dish,
loaf pan, or springform pan. Line
the dish with plastic wrap, leaving
an overhang for easy removal.
If using a springform, line the
bottom with plastic wrap or
parchment.
Melt the chocolate and butter
in a double boiler over barely
simmering water, stirring
occasionally. Remove from the
heat and cool to lukewarm.
Add the 6 egg yolks to the
chocolate and stir to combine.
Whisk together the
confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, and
salt and stir into the chocolate
mixture.
Beat the cream in the bowl of an
electric mixer fitted with a whisk
attachment until soft peaks form.
Transfer to another bowl and
refrigerate while you beat the egg
whites.
Clean the mixing bowl and then
beat the 3 egg whites with the
granulated sugar until soft peaks
form. Fold the egg whites into the
chocolate mixture, then fold in
the whipped cream.
Pour the mixture into the pan
and smooth the top. Cover with
plastic wrap and refrigerate for at
least 12 hours or up to two days.
To serve, remove the chocolate
from the pan. Slice into wedges.
Serve with whipped cream or
raspberry coulis and/or candied
kumquats (recipes follow), or
simply dust with confectioners’
sugar.
NOTE:
Consumption of raw or
undercooked eggs may increase
the risk of food-borne illness.

Lynda Balslev is a cookbook author, food Serve this

and travel writer, and recipe developer
based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where
she lives with her Danish husband, two
children, a cat, and a dog. Lynda studied
cooking at Le Cordon Bleu Ecole de Cuisine
in Paris and worked as a personal chef,
culinary instructor, and food writer in
Switzerland and Denmark. Copyright
2021 Lynda Balslev. Distributed by
Andrew McMeel Syndication.
RASPBERRY COULIS
MAKES ABOUT 1 CUP
10 ounces frozen raspberries
1/4 cup sugar
Combine the raspberries and
sugar in a medium saucepan over
CANDIED KUMQUATS
medium heat. Heat until the sugar MAKES ABOUT 1 CUP
dissolves and the raspberries
2/3 cup sugar
release their juices, stirring
frequently, about 8 minutes. 2/3 cup water
Cool and serve as is or strained 6 ounces kumquats, rinsed and
through a fine-mesh sieve.
sliced 1/4-inch thick
Heat the sugar and water in a
dreamy dessert
with one of two
homemade fruit
small saucepan over medium heat, garnishes—or
stirring until the sugar is dissolved. simply a dusting
Add the kumquats and simmer of confectioners’
over medium-low heat until the sugar.
liquid is syrupy and the kumquats
are translucent, about 15 minutes,
stirring occasionally. Cool and
store the kumquats in the syrup.

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