Bill Kassel's Blog

Occasional reflections on things that come into my mind — plus links to episodes of my radio show / podcast, “Free Expression”

Moral Choices & Actions

Good Listening

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COMMUNICATING ABOUT
COMMUNICATION

If you’re interested in how communication shapes our lives — and in this increasingly wired world you ought to be — give a listen to my radio show, “Free Expression.”

It’s produced by Good Shepherd Catholic Radio (an EWTN affiliate serving south-central Michigan), and is available worldwide on the PodBean podcasting platform…

“Free Expression” touches on writing, media, online communication, preaching, evangelization — all the various ways in which messages about life (especially religion and morality) are conveyed.

In terms of subject matter, the show covers a lot of ground, demonstrating how we’re impacted by mass media, politics, science, technology, pop culture, and more.

As the title, “Free Expression,” suggests, a special focus of the show is defending First Amendment rights. That’s certainly a timely concern in the current atmosphere of censorship, cancel culture, and anti-religious bigotry — a world where faith and virtue have been turned upside down.

Here are thumbnails of episodes currently posted on PodBean:

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Jesus the Jew

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FREE SPEECH DISPUTE REVEALS
CONTRADICTION IN ANTISEMITISM

Elon Musk’s liberation of Twitter has warmed the hearts of those who value freedom of speech.

It’s terrified those who fear open discussion, in particular open discussion of Biden Administration policies, election integrity, and other issues (not to mention Hunter’s laptop).

Charges are flying that — bereft of its former content-moderation practices and the hoard of woke operatives who implemented them — Twitter is becoming a wellspring of white supremacy, racism, misogyny, and every other frightening variety of hate and hostility. Especially antisemitism. [Read more…] about Jesus the Jew

Decision in Kenosha

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LEFTISTS WILL DO
WHAT LEFTISTS DO

And you thought the Kyle Rittenhouse acquittal was a victory for simple justice and the right of ordinary people to defend themselves.

Ha, ha! Silly you.

Considering how good leftists are at using any development to advance their nefarious causes, I wouldn’t be surprised if, at some point, an armed rioter shoots somebody and claims the Rittenhouse case gave him the right to do so.

He’ll cite the principle of “equal treatment under the law”…

If a White boy can get away with using deadly force against three attackers, then a social justice warrior (of whatever color) should be able to use deadly force to defend against any violence or threat of violence — even by the police — no matter who or what provoked it.

I’m not saying this would hold up in court (on the rare occasion when leftist rioters might go to court, that is), but it’s likely to be attempted. And all those somber legal experts trotted out to offer their sage opinions on TV news shows will frown gravely and opine that the assertion is plausible.

You can see the groundwork being laid for just such a scenario in the hyperventilating that overwhelmed social media after the “Not Guilty” verdict was announced, such as in these tweets cited by the blog Legal Insurrection…

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The Point

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WHY IS THIS “JAB” GETTING
SUCH A PASSIONATE PUSH?

Let’s begin with the requisite acknowledgments…

The pandemic is real. This is a serious illness with which huge numbers of people have suffered, and substantial numbers have died.

The virus is highly contagious. Members of my own family have caught it. I could catch it myself.

I could die with it.

Granted, these things might be said of other large-scale disease outbreaks. Nevertheless, the pandemic is not an illusion or a product of mass hysteria. It’s a genuine global emergency.

Okay. All true.

Still, the question must be asked: Why has this illness been treated differently from other public health crises? And why the continuing panic?

[Read more…] about The Point

Praying in Brotherhood

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THE UNITY WE NEED NOW
FACES A POSSIBLE THREAT

Social Networks are abuzz with speculation that Pope Francis plans to impose restrictions on where, when, or under what circumstances the Traditional Latin Mass can be offered. While the specifics remain unknown, TLM devotees are bracing themselves for a serious blow to their spiritual lives.

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Free Expression

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THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS
AN INCREASING CONCERN

I’m pleased to announce that “Free Expression,” my radio show / podcast, is prepped to move from a monthly to a weekly schedule beginning the first weekend in July.

The premiere episode on this new timetable will be aired by Good Shepherd Catholic Radio at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, July 3. It will be rebroadcast at 9:00 p.m. Sunday, July 4. Those will be my broadcast slots each week.

While the GSCR coverage area is limited to south-central Michigan (FM 93.3 or AM 1510), “Free Expression” can be accessed online anytime from anywhere in the world at:

https://goodshepherdcatholicradio.org/radio-show/free-expression/

…where you’ll also find an archive of all past episodes.

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My Skeptical Friend — II

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MORE ON THE TOPIC OF
ONLINE CENSORSHIP

The friend I mentioned in a recent post — who had expressed skepticism about my remarks on censorship — has offered a comment. His observations are worth considering and responding to…

“The majority of online social media is the cyberspace version of the National Enquirer and just as reliable.

“I and my wife have had posts taken down by the Facebook police. We have both been sentenced to do time in Facebook prison. They are Equal Opportunity Discriminators.

“The left wing would have all right wing books, articles, documentaries, film, thoughts, acts, behaviors disappear.

“The right wing would have all left wing books, articles, documentaries, film, thoughts, acts, behaviors disappear.

“Does any of it disappear? NO! Is either wing happy about that? NO! Do both wings piss and moan and gripe and complain and cry foul about it? Endlessly, and with feeling.

“There are an infinite number of spots for messages to land and they do land, and we all do hear and read and view them. And we all make our own judgments about all of it.

“Are all the books still being written? Are all the books still being read? Are all the books having an impact in some degree or other?

“Is anything ‘effectively’ banned? NO!

“‘Banned’ Is a great tag line and marketing tool. It makes things more sought out. Tell us we can’t do it, it goes to the very top of our to-do list.

“Any other questions?”

Well yes, there are other questions.

[Read more…] about My Skeptical Friend — II

My Skeptical Friend

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PEOPLE MUST RECOGNIZE
THAT CENSORSHIP IS REAL

A dear friend, someone with whom I go way back, and who comments frequently on my blog posts, recently expressed skepticism about my remarks addressing online censorship.

He’s a very imaginative writer himself, whose creativity I respect (and with whom I’ve collaborated in the past). But we have — How shall I put it? — different worldviews. And so he dismissed my concerns as a “food fight,” and asked, “Who is banning books?”

I understand that the media which this friend (and many other people) follow aren’t inclined to pay close attention to the cancelling of works by rightward thinkers. So I shouldn’t assume that everybody is aware of the censorship issue, even though it’s certainly not made up.

[Read more…] about My Skeptical Friend