JCM 9/21/2025 1:29:20 PM

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WILLIAM BENNETT: What Charlie Kirk's murder tells us about the American mind

Let me advance an unconventional thesis: Charlie Kirk died because we have forgotten how to hate properly. G.K. Chesterton observed that "the true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind [or next to] him." We fight not for hatred of our enemies but love of our fellow soldiers and the ideals of our country. We have inverted this wisdom. We teach our young people to hate their opponents rather than love their own principles. We have made politics a blood sport precisely because we have drained it of transcendent meaning. When you believe in nothing greater than your own righteousness, the only thing left is to destroy those who challenge your certainty.

Kosh's Shadow 9/21/2025 3:59:21 PM

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Car registration renewal came with an ad for "Golden Nozzle" car washes.

Who runs that? WIlly Washer? Staffed by Oompa Loofahs?

Kosh's Shadow 9/21/2025 4:27:32 PM

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Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 2:

In Massachusetts, the RMV (we have different names - it is the Registry, not Department) has had online renwals for a while, They used to give a discount, but don't now; they don't charge extra, either.

And AAA also handles some of the transactions, like license renewals. I had to renew mine in the height of the COVID scare; AAA could handle RealID when the Registry wasn't. Last renewal was completely online; next one, I'll go in - to the AAA office.